Robert Wright has written a number of popular works on evolutionary
psychology, which in my opinion is a pseudo-science.

“Religion has always been a product of human beings, for better and
worse” is a purely atheistic assertion, as is “thanks to our designer,
natural selection, we tend to be self-absorbed”.

Of course, there are many examples of religious charlatans and
manipulators, but those are characteristic of the present age of
ignorance (Kali Yuga)..

I do recommend Mircea Eliade’s book on Shamanism.

–
St John
http://www.eternalfeminine.org

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Hi St. John,

Yes, I agree that religion has “been a product of human beings.” How else could it be? If I remember the teachings of Joseph Campbell correctly, the word religion comes from the Latin word religio meaning to link up, or link with. We begin religion with an effort to link to the Divine. When people first build theologies, such as Pagan theologies, its always by very personal, often connected to survival, its symbols tied to particular aspects of nature.

Post Christianity, when people like Marcion were building their theologies, whether others came on board or not, depended on people’s desires and whether or not the particular religion had momentum via either a charismatic leader, combined with historical timing. In the case of Roman Catholicism it was not via gentle persuasion but through the union of a particular religious view with a political machine that was replete with a military arm. (I just reviewed a book titled “Lost Christianities” on my blog/group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThePathoftheGrailSteward/ )

While religions may start out with a mystical aspect, or with a mystical experience of its founder, people seem to like to construct rules and regulations. I think that rules and laws in religions fulfill a need to control, another part of human nature. But the mystical experience can’t be controlled, its nature is liberating. Oftentimes the mystical is lost in the miasma of a church hierarchy, or in the judgmental nature of human-made religious laws.

Regarding purity, I might suggest changing the perspective. I don’t think its ’spirituality’ or ‘religion’ that is more, or less, “pure.” If we define purity as honesty, goodness, remembering to value the sacred, compassion, and love-in-action, then we might want to view these things from the perspective of seeing them in a single individual (or not seeing them), rather than judging an entire spiritual or religious movement or theological system.

Whether or not we say “no its not that way,” o r “yes it is that way”, is a separate arena when we compare to experiencing the mystical for ourselves. I think that in every case, it begins with an individual heart opening to the mystical experience with the words, “I love…”

Regarding author Mircea Eliade, I’d like to recommend his book “Rites and Symbols of Initiation: The Mysteries of Birth and Rebirth,” published in 1975. I got it about 30 years ago, and still find it to be a ‘classic.’

Love, Jennifer
The Holy Book of Mary Magdalene:
The Path of the Grail Steward
Author Website