Perspicuity in Religious Faiths - A Blogging Welcome

All discussions here will center around the kinds of world views, life views, views about the afterlife, and so forth found in the variety of religious traditions around the world. The purpose: clarity so that discussion can begin. The hope is that through discussion we may find a way to live in relative comfort with one another. This is one reason why respect as well as curiosity is not only encouraged, but is of utmost importance. It does not mean, of course, that difficult, challenging questions should not be forthcoming. On the contrary, the difficult questions are what allow us to delve deeper into views we may be curious about, views which we may hold ourselves, along with other persons of differing beliefs, without knowing why. This does not mean that we must hold these views with the other. We may in fact discover that our views differ widely, an important fact that may contribute to peaceful coexistence - or not.

This is the place where one could come into contact with the sense 'faith' has for him or her as well as others. But one should also be aware that one may not find what faith means by probing deeper. It could mean a loss of faith just as it could mean an uplifting of faith, yet it could also mean staying exactly the same. There is no consequential 'must' when it comes to understanding. What is important is the search, or the journey. While gnosi seauton, that is, 'know thyself', may have great meaning when speaking of building up of one's self-understanding, it is equally possible that it have demolishing significance. And as far as the other is concerned, it may be that greater understanding far from bringing love and agreement, may bring greater dissatisfaction and disagreement. The interest here is to become clear about oneself as well as others. This sense of perspicuity is where justice finds its greatest power. To become clear as to where there is agreement or disagreement with others' beliefs and why is where the importance lies. Only then can we know if whatever discomfort we may feel towards ourselves or especially others is truly justified. And perhaps then, when clarity pervades, is when we can begin to talk about how to live comfortably with one another.