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A hopeful approach for the future of international relations.

Redirect teen rebellion towards idealism and self improvement.

Read excerpts from unpublished book: Science, Religion and the Search for God —Bridging the Gap.

Poems of society, the human condition, and spiritual discovery.

Our student activities and curriculum materials instill an environmental, cultural, and global perspective, and integrate various academic disciplines.

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Archives 2002:
Vol. 1, Numbers 1-12

Read past articles including:
Hope for the Future
Six Part Series on Science and Religion
First Three Parts of the Series on Leadership
Archives 2003:
Vol. 2, Numbers 1-12

Read past articles including:
Series on Leadership continued
Avoiding Dictatorship in a Free Society

Art and Politics
Living the Good Life
Teaching Teens
World Peace in Less Than a Month?
Archives 2004:
Vol. 3, Numbers 1-12

Read past articles including:
Seven Part Series on Global Consciousness
Is "Liberal" a Dirty Word?
Can Idealism Solve Problems?
Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All

Archives 2005:
Vol. 4, Numbers 1-12

Read past articles including:
Standing up for Humanity
Unity in Diversity

Thought and Imagination
Imagination and Healing
Lessons of Katrina
Intelligent Design or Evolution

Archives 2006:
Vol. 5, Numbers 1-12

Read past articles including:
Human Programming and Conflict
Non-Violent Political Change
Sustainable Development
Legalizing Torture
Living Without an Enemy
"Fast Food" is really "Slow Food"

 

 

May, 2002
Vol. 1, number 5

 

Chapter I
The Search for God
(continued) Part 2

from the unpublished book
Science, Religion, and the Search for God: Bridging the Gap
by Richard Sidy

Scientists, philosophers, and theologians in western civilization have all defined "God" or "Nature" in human-centered terms rather than seeking to define humans in terms of divine laws of Cosmos. This is like trying to contain the ocean in a cup! An infinite concept can not be defined completely. The very act of definition limits it. However, one can understand it better and better as one learns to recognize its manifestations. This is why religion must not reject science nor must science reject religion. Both give a different viewpoint in the recognition of the laws and manifestations of "That" which we call "God," and both approaches are needed for the expansion of consciousness.

Most people would label a person a fool who stated that only that which is knowable by the senses and the mind is real. This would be like a toddler saying that the only reality is his house and his yard. We are toddlers in the Universe who wish to explore the Universe and travel beyond the known. It is the unknown which is fascinating. That is why human exploration and the urge to progress have been the main impetuses for historical change. Both science and religion are devoted to discovering the world beyond our senses and to find realities beyond the limits of mental reason.

The most far-out scientific speculations of a hundred years ago are today provable and observable elementary knowledge. Nevertheless, science is just now beginning to lift the veils between the physical world and the world of spirit, which religious mystics have sought to experience throughout ages. Just as the human search for the laws of matter through science have revealed many new realities, the spiritual search will reveal new spiritual realities and the laws which will make them a part of everyday experience. Both pure scientific research and pure religious striving may reveal and bring together different aspects of universal spirit.

Just as science is now demonstrating that matter is one manifestation on a continuum of existence, spiritual striving will reveal that the human being is also one manifestation in a continuum of human spiritual existence. The electromagnetic spectrum has ranges within human sense perception — visible light, color, sound, heat — but it also has ranges perceptible only by the most refined instruments. Some electromagnetic energies are still beyond the sensitivity of scientific instruments. Likewise, people are aware of the body, the emotions, and the mind, but generally speaking are not aware of their spiritual essence. They are not consciously aware of the spiritual existence beyond physical life.

The search for God in science must reveal the purpose of the laws of the Universe, while religion must search for spiritual experience beyond blind faith and self righteousness. Science has used the laws of matter and energy, largely ignoring a sacred purpose for such knowledge. This has resulted in increased dangers to our planet. Much of religion has been largely negligent of universal spiritual thought beyond worship and sectarianism.This has resulted in fanaticism, bureaucracy, the mechanical repetition of prayers, and the goal of amassing wealth or gaining power. Much religious devotion has become empty of spiritual energy largely becoming self-satisfying entertainment. Many religious people do not use spiritual laws to create self-transformation or to develop God-consciousness.

Both science and religion may lead to a realization of universality — to the conclusion that the Universe is governed by absolute laws and principles. Both may lead ultimately to moral foundations based upon the sense of human responsibility as part of this Universe, subject to the same laws and relationships. The sense of universality may be understood as a door to God-consciousness and to the understanding that any act to serve is an act of worship.

(Continued in Part 3, June)

Read Other Selections
March: Preface

April: Chapter 1, Part 1

May: Chapter 1, Part 2
June: Chapter 1, Part 3
July: Chapter 1, Part 4
August: Chapter 1, Conclusion

 

 

 

 

 

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Science and Religion

 

Archives 2005
Volumn 4
January: "Standing up for Humanity"
February: "The Wake of Disaster" – a poem
March: "Unity in Diversity
April: "Life is Calling"
May: "Entertainment" – a poem
June: "Thought and Imagination" part 1
July: "Thought and Imagination" part 2
August: "Imagination and Healing"
September: "Malice or Neglect? – Lessons of Katrina"
October: "Protecting Children"
November: "Intelligent Design or Evolution?"
December: "Building with one hand, destroying with the other"
Archives 2006
Volumn 5

January: "Conflict, Harmony, and Integrity"
February: "Satyagraha or Soul-force and Political Change"
March: "I Know I'm Not Alone - Wisdom of Michael Franti"
April: "Human Programming and Conflict Part I"
May: "Human Programming and Conflict Part II"
June: "Soccer Diplomacy"
July: "Sustainable Development is Nature's Way
August: "Parallel Universes"
September: "The News is not New"
October: "Legalizing Torture"
November: "Living Without an Enemy"
December: "Fast Food is really Slow Food"

Archives 2007
Volumn 6

January: "State of Fear"
February: Criminal Justice - "The Powerful Over the Weak"
March: "Culture Shock: The Good Life and Survival"
April: "March Madness"
May: "No Child Left Behind" Leaves Many Teachers Behind
June: "Personal Ecology"
July: Criminal Justice - "The Ethic of Custodianship"
August: "Exploring the Mind - part 1"
September: "Exploring the Mind - part 2: The Poetic Mind
October: "How Much Pain Can We Stand?"
November: "When Languages Disappear"
December: "Is it Enough to be Tolerant?"

Archives 2008
Volumn 7

January: "Beyond Ideology: Politics of the Future "
February: "Beyond the Bush Years"
March: "The Imaginary Economy - Part I
April: "The Imaginary Economy - Part II
May: Questions from Prison
June: "iGods and Connectivity"
July: "Energy Independence"
August: "Tribalism and the 2008 Elections
September: "Guilt, Shame and U.S. Justice"
October: "Have We Been Willing Slaves?"
November: "Are We Ready for the Future?"
December: "Are we done learning from pain?"

Archives 2009
Volumn 8

January: "Awakening"
February: "When Sacrifice is no Sacrifice"
March: "The Good New Days"
April: "The Power of Metaphor"
May: "The Conflict of Mythologies"
June: "The Time is Right"
July: "The New Anarchy"
August: "The Art of Living"
September: "Outrage"
October: "Are Women Becoming More Unhappy?

November: "Effect of the manufacturing culture on the American Psyche"
December: Who are the Real Game Changers?

Archives 2010
Volumn 9

January: The Music of Place
February: Earthquakes and Other Awakenings
March: Sense of Place, Sense of Self, Sense of Humanity
April: Why Do People Serve?
May: Decentralizing Food and Energy
June: Beyond Reading and Writing — Ecological literacy
July: Organization or Organism?
August: Fear and Cynicism = “Inter-fear-ance”
September: Are we afraid of our "Better Angels?"
October: Choosing Our Battles
November: Meeting the Need
December: A Living Canvas

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