GR organised religion cf. personal beliefs

[Mutualcode at aol.com]

Ah, very interesting. Both the owner/operator of a "personally
derived sense of grace," and, the clockpunching "Mary Hailer," 
are willing citizens of the same dream, transcendence, and no
matter how different they may appear, both- by looking
toward the beyond- acknowledge the inadequacy of material
existence to ultimately satisfy their needs. So their differences
may be more apparent than real.

In a message dated 4/24/2003 10:27:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
malignd at yahoo.com writes:


> Whether or not a purely personal religion is, finally,
> other than chimerical, one can still conjure a clear
> and readily graspable difference between the inner
> feelings of a pious freethinker and the rules,
> strictures, by-laws, et al of organized religion;
> between, e.g., a personally derived sense of grace and
> a directive to recite ten Hail Marys or to tithe over
> X% of one's income to the church.
> 
> <<What I'm asking is, is social organization itself
> what is being given the bad rap, of which religion,
> even in its most furtive- my thoughts are my own-
> variety, is  just another manifestation?>>
> 
> I think the answer to this is yes, although I might
> suggest religion is not "just another" manifestation;
> rather a particularly virulent manifestation.
> 
> 
> 

The "organized" variety I'm assuming you're referring to-
but I think all types are equally drubbed by the text, which
is unmerciful. No one gets out alive. There is no transcendence-
not even for "you," old fellow. You might as well enjoy the
pastries, or not, as it suits your fancy.

respectfully
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