Plato’s Divided Line and the Iraq War

The Divided Line analogy of Plato’s Republic presents in a few lines perhaps the single greatest discussion of human epistemology among all philosophical works.  More than 2000 years later, we are still far short of realizing its full implications.
The passages identifies an essential distinction between discursive reasoning, dianoia, and a superior form of knowledge, noesis.
Modern [...]

Towards Positive US-Iran Cultural Relations

I am a citizen of the United States and a representative of the American Nation of people. The US Government is merely an administrative unit which has vastly overreached its legitimate powers. Unfortunately most Americans — and perhaps most people elsewhere — confuse the US Government with the American Nation. The former is [...]

Notes: On the unity of world religious culture

I recently ran across the following quote from 20th-century Christian author, C. S. Lewis in his book, The Abolition of Man. These remarks preface an assemblage of quotes that relate to what Lewis termed Natural Law, which he more or less equated with ancient Chinese term, the Tao:
The idea of collecting independent testimonies presupposes [...]

Notes: On how the people in America and in Gaza are brothers and sisters

On how the people in America and in Gaza are brothers and sisters
A logical proof:
1. I am an American currently living in the center of Brussels. Perhaps half of the dealings I have each day are with Muslims from countries like Morocco, Pakistan, and Turkey, whose shops I visit and whose services I use. [...]

Notes: the spiritual children of Abraham should not battle each other

Some entries in this blog are formal articles. Others, like this one, take more the form of working notes, outlines for later development, or ‘thinking out loud’. Some are complete, and some are just sketches. For now I will label such entries as ‘Notes’.
I am aware of and distressed by the [...]

Comments on “A Common Word between Us and You”

Comments on “A Common Word between Us”
In October of 2007, 138 Muslim leaders, clerics, and scholars published an open letter to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI titled, A Common Word between Us and You. The letter was unambiguously positive and well motivated. The summary of the letter states succinctly (and correctly): “The future [...]

A Reply to Osama bin Laden

A Reply to Osama Bin Laden
John S. Uebersax PhD
Preface
Following the attacks of September 2001, Osama Bin Laden has delivered several addresses to Americans (e.g., October 2004; April 2006; September 2007). Since the American people themselves, and not their government or corporations, were addressed, and further since the people were the victims the attacks, I, as [...]

On Religious Inclusivism and Exclusivism
John S. Uebersax
Summary
Here we make two main points:

Religious inclusivism – the view that “all religions are but different paths to the same goal” — is often presented as a means to promote peace. However, if religions actually are true to varying degrees, then radical inclusivism merely tries to sweep genuine [...]

Recognizing the Power of Prayer

The thing about prayer is that everybody knows it works, but they act otherwise.
The problem is not that prayer doesn’t work, or only works sometimes; it’s that people forget to pray. Scripture teaches, the saints affirm, and I am personally convinced that prayer works. And it always works.
You are not just some lump [...]

The Kucinich Plan For Iraq

Rep. Dennis Kucinich has drafted a plan for ending the US military involvement in Iraq.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rep__den_070108_the_kucinich_plan_fo.htm
“There is a compelling need for a new direction in Iraq, one that recognizes the plight of the people of Iraq, the false and illegal basis of the United States war against Iraq, the realities on the ground which make a [...]