Forum Post: 5 Social Institutions Redefined.
Posted 11 years ago on March 30, 2013, 5:07 p.m. EST by quantumystic
(1710)
from Memphis, TN
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
1) Religion- Perhaps the most challenging social institution to redefine. It is time to take a theological and anthropological comparative look at religions to understand how they historically originated and how they progressed over time to the institutions failing us today. Let us also not deny the eternal existential yearning that man has for experience with the mystical, for connection and acceptance with divine/cosmic, the group, or another individual. Ceremony and ritual have played an important role in the creation and maintaining of social bonds for humans for eon. The break down of meaningful interaction in these capacity has led to much of the social strife and breakdown we experience today. True much of this is a result of social constructs and institutions failing other than religion but religion can not be absolved for it's failure to sustain the spiritual needs of man. In light of this I propose an adoption and fostering of technical and mystical techniques to achieve the purpose of fostering this connection and the adoption of a universalist doctrine of acceptance between all men and an open invitation for all to join. Obviously the techniques and philosophies that best apply for any group of people is best decided by them but ultimately it would be ideal to engage in rigorous scientific study to find the maximized mystical techniques and scientific methods to produce the desired results in mental/physical health, well being, productivity, social relationships, creativity, general happiness, personal growth, or whatever the case may be.
Please share your thoughts on the the failing social institution of religion and how to best address the institutional crisis. I will be updating soon enough with additional thoughts on other institutions soon enough.
I think secular humanism and science literacy are enough. Maybe add singularitarianism and transhumanism to that. Mysticism makes no sense.
Speaking of failed institutions, nationalism is another bad thing besides religion. I think world federalism is good.
Thank you for taking the time to post. And yes, I will be addressing nationalism at different points while addressing the 4 other major institutions.
That being said I respect your views and I ask that you understand that a universalist doctrine means I accept your views as working for you and feel no need to make you change them I only ask that you perhaps given the opportunity explore perhaps some of the scientific proven methods of experiencing the "mystical" experience.
"Mystic" experience which is what I am really talking about here whether in a religious, spiritual, or scientific setting makes perfect sense. Even in scientific context it is evident that the human organism was designed to function at its peak health wise, socially and creatively when incorporating certain mystical practices in ones life. This is not even scientifically debatable unless you don't count mental/physical health, well being, productivity, social relationships, creativity, general happiness, personal growth, or whatever the case may be as important to ones life.
I think it is not so much religion, in and of itself, that causes problems but the struggle for resources. So, like nationalism, religiosity pits people against one another in the struggle for land, food, water, energy, etc.
this may or may not be true however that does not mean that religion has or has not failed insofar as providing a context for social acceptance and personal growth.
Stop funding it.
???