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A question about belief.

lukethethird

lukethethird

unknown member
Amanaki said:
Today i have a very simple question:)

1: If we put to much of our own interpretation in to the text from spiritual teaching could that damage our understanding of the teaching?
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1: I totally damaged mine so if it can happen to me it could happen to anyone.
2: Can we be sure that our own understanding of the spiritual teaching is the right on, and others are wrong?
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Is that not the whole point of this exercise?
 
firedragon

firedragon

Veteran Member
Amanaki said:
Today i have a very simple question:)

1: If we put to much of our own interpretation in to the text from spiritual teaching could that damage our understanding of the teaching?

2: Can we be sure that our own understanding of the spiritual teaching is the right on, and others are wrong?

My answer to question nr.2 is no we can not say our own understanding is the only correct, nor can we say the spiritual teaching we following is the only true teaching :)
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1. This is inevitable, and fact, yet also something used as a weapon without analysis to debunk everything the beholder of the eye doesn't like or want. As an example I have seen many Christian theologians understand eye of the needle verse as something seen plainly in the verse where the rich will find it difficult to gain access to the kingdom, while there are other theologians who propagate making money as a very good thing in life interpret it as something said to already unrighteous persons. I think the latter theologian is missing the bible as a whole in his interpretation to see tickets and his books to a capitalist audience who are there to be motivated to be rich in life, but this is a good example to your first question.

2. Essentially one cannot deem that their interpretation is "The One". A lot of people cherry pick verses and misinterpret the whole books context either for a personal agenda of aggression or dismissal of a particular scripture. This is fact. But there is something called "reasonable" in interpretation and there is an old methodology of interpretation called Kithab bi Kithab which in modern days no one seems to employ for a multitude of reasons. Interpret the book by the context of the book is far superior than cherry picking one verse and imposing inherited dogma or ego. Thus the question begs a lot of study into the methods. One cannot marry one method or dismiss it totally dogmatically.
 
MonkeyFire

MonkeyFire

Well-Known Member
Amanaki said:
Today i have a very simple question:)

1: If we put to much of our own interpretation in to the text from spiritual teaching could that damage our understanding of the teaching?

2: Can we be sure that our own understanding of the spiritual teaching is the right on, and others are wrong?

My answer to question nr.2 is no we can not say our own understanding is the only correct, nor can we say the spiritual teaching we following is the only true teaching :)
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Unless you follow the path of all paths. I still believe in the oness of all spiritual beings.
 
Spirit of Light

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
lukethethird said:
Spoken like a true non-Christian.
As a Christian myself, I don't know what it's like to be wrong.
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Well i am not a Christian so you are correct there :)
But the difference is that i do not claim my own understanding of spiritual practice is the only correct like many Christian people do. I can see that there are many paths with many spiritual teachers that can be true, and lead to salvation/enlightenment
 
Hermit Philosopher

Hermit Philosopher

Selflessly here for you
I always go by this rule:

Does one’s interpretation lead to priorities and actions that affect what and whom one comes across in life in negative ways? Then one is contributing to existence negatively and one may wish to go back to scripture and see what has been misinterpreted.

Does it on the other hand, enhance peace (inner-, outer-, -of mind and spirit) not just for self and loved ones, but for whatever and whom ever is encountered? - This is a constant challenge; I call it Life - then, one’s interpretation cannot be entirely “wrong”.

Personally, I doubt I’ll ever master Living. Every day, I fail but every day, I try.

Humbly,
Hermit
 
Gandalf

Gandalf

Horn Tooter
This has already happened before thousands of years ago. Codifying one's religion is a very new concept in terms of religious tradition but nonetheless even if one codifies it there is the fact that just like the Bible it can create an assurance of multiple completely differing religions with little in common. The best example of this is the arrival of the Gnostics before the traditional Christian church along with the Hindus having such little similitude with its various religions . . . not sects, but religions.

Hinduism is as much of a singular religion as America is a racially homogenous society.
 
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