Post by Tamrin on Sept 6, 2010 7:18:25 GMT 10
I must entreat your patience — your gentle hearing. I am not going
to question your opinions. I am not going to meddle with your belief.
I am not going to dictate to you mine. All that I say is, examine; enquire.
Look into the nature of things. Search out the ground of your opinions,
the for and the against. Know why you believe, understand what you
believe, and possess a reason for the faith that is in you…
But your spiritual teachers caution you against enquiry — tell you not
to read certain books; not to listen to certain people; to beware of profane
learning; to submit your reason, and to receive their doctrines for truths.
Such advice renders them suspicious counselors. By their own creed,
you hold your reason from their God. Go! ask them why he gave it
Opinions are not to be learned by rote, like the letters of an alphabet, or the
words of a dictionary. They are conclusions to be formed, and formed by
each individual in the sacred and free citadel of the mind, and there enshrined
beyond the arm of law to reach, or force to shake; ay! and beyond the right
of impertinent curiosity to violate, or presumptuous arrogance to threaten
Religion may be defined thus:
a belief in, and homage rendered to, existences unseen and causes unknown
Frances Wright
(Born this day 1795)
When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity.
When many people suffer from a delusion it is called a Religion
He felt that institutions such as schools, churches, governments
and political organizations of every sort all tended to direct thought
for ends other than truth, for the perpetuation of their own functions,
and for the control of individuals in the service of these functions
Robert M Pirsig
(Born this day 1928)
to question your opinions. I am not going to meddle with your belief.
I am not going to dictate to you mine. All that I say is, examine; enquire.
Look into the nature of things. Search out the ground of your opinions,
the for and the against. Know why you believe, understand what you
believe, and possess a reason for the faith that is in you…
But your spiritual teachers caution you against enquiry — tell you not
to read certain books; not to listen to certain people; to beware of profane
learning; to submit your reason, and to receive their doctrines for truths.
Such advice renders them suspicious counselors. By their own creed,
you hold your reason from their God. Go! ask them why he gave it
Opinions are not to be learned by rote, like the letters of an alphabet, or the
words of a dictionary. They are conclusions to be formed, and formed by
each individual in the sacred and free citadel of the mind, and there enshrined
beyond the arm of law to reach, or force to shake; ay! and beyond the right
of impertinent curiosity to violate, or presumptuous arrogance to threaten
Religion may be defined thus:
a belief in, and homage rendered to, existences unseen and causes unknown
Frances Wright
(Born this day 1795)
When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity.
When many people suffer from a delusion it is called a Religion
He felt that institutions such as schools, churches, governments
and political organizations of every sort all tended to direct thought
for ends other than truth, for the perpetuation of their own functions,
and for the control of individuals in the service of these functions
Robert M Pirsig
(Born this day 1928)