HOLBROOK: PHILOSOPHY JOURNAL (Introduction)

There is no ultimate purpose in writing about my philosophy, other than to include it in my journal. I have no desire to evangelize, nor am I interested in any debate. It's just a personal project I've always wanted to start and the website seems to have become the impetus.

Employing only personal preferences, I use the terms "The Truth", "IT" and "God" interchangeably in this Journal. ( Admittedly, in everyday life, I do occasionally and instinctively assign gender with phrases like. . . "Dear Father", or "Come on Man. . . Gimme A Break".) The quality of a relationship ultimately depends on consideration, attitude and reverence. . . not a name or a pronoun.

Through the next few years, time and ability permitting, I intend to record additions to the philosophy alluded to below. I have absolutely no ultimate purpose in doing this, other than attending to that aspect of myself that is just me being me. It's simply my music and my dance, if you will. I've always been sort of a philosophical maverick . My explorations have always been for myself and by myself. I have no need or desire to convince anyone of anything. And, though I'm always serious about what I say, I'm not always serious about how I say it. What fun would that be.

Much like the rest of the Journal, and much of my life, there is no particular order other than chronological. I'll no doubt skip around on subjects and repeat myself. . .probably often. As a "train of thought process", that sort of thing happens. You return to certain concepts in order to advance an idea, or proceed in other directions, to verify or even alter where you've been. Someday, I'll organize it all into Chapters of some sort. . ..

There are a lot of concepts that tweak my interest: Knowledge and Knowing, Perspective, Attitude, Emergent Properties and faculties. Then there is "Belief". Despite what a thesaurus or dictionary might say, Belief and Faith are different animals in my book: There are people who BELIEVE Elvis is still alive. I have FAITH in the fact that there will be no appearances. As used today, "belief" and "believe" tend to fall short of accomplishing what they should. So many people "believe" in all kinds of "beliefs" that the words can seem rather flimsy. And though all of this may be mildly entertaining from a grammatical and psychological standpoint, I find the words rarely serve as effective answers to meaningful questions, so I'll try to avoid them. Plus. . .it'll be a challenge to write about what I'll be writing about without using them. . .very often anyway.

Starting at about 20 years of age, and as of 2007, my journey has lasted about 40 years. . . so far. Religious investigations alone would probably fill a book or two. Suffice it to say that along the way, I became disenchanted with how most organized religions are practiced today. Exaggerations, misinterpretations, guilt, tribalism and commercialism are a few reasons. Denominations and sects often seem more interested in information about religious differences, than what the religion is supposed to be religious about.

In these entries, I'll try to avoid specific religions, though there may be references to certain ideas and agreed upon concepts. Primarily, I'm just not interested in promoting or denegrating any of them. They all have things to offer, but it's up to every individual to research and decide whether they wish to fully participate.

I would never pretend that any religions or philosophies are indispensable. Revered or not, they are the work that others have done and some continue to be invaluable in my life. Nor would I ever deny the passion of those who have found a path through any of them. To each his own. For some people, however, a variety of perspectives and information along with personal observations and deductions are successfully integrated; and for that reason, I don't ascribe the title of "The Only path" to any single doctrine or method. I find delight and fulfillment in an open minded perusal of all that man has devised.

In the following short introduction (and no doubt a number of following entries), I address the concept of God. People tend to think of "Religion" (as we are familiar with it) and "God" as inexorably intertwined. They're not.

Pretend it's a mere 15 Thousand years ago. The principles of the universe are exactly the same (though when you look around, it's a lot more rural). You're still a human with all your senses intact, but . . .there are no Religions. At least none you've ever heard of.

The point is, while reading this, try not to allow preconceived definitions of the term "God" get in the way . On occasion, I substitute a couple of other terms. You can make up your own if you want. It's the principle that's of consequence, not what you call IT. In other words, if you've never considered God without some sort of associated Religion, you're missing . . . .quite a bit actually.

A short introduction:
The grandeur of "The Truth" is most assuredly greater than any one group of humans, or for that matter. . . all humans. It's not logical to presume that the quest for understanding would depend exclusively on ancient doctrines. As stated in another Journal entry: "The Truth is available to everyone, with or without memberships, dogma, rituals or robes . God and Religion are not mutually exclusive."
I can't seem to find my favorite book of quotes (which bothers me a lot) but one of my favorites (from a Christian monk. . .maybe 17th century) is : "I revere Truth so much, that if I had to choose between God and the truth , I would have to hold on to the truth and put God aside".
The quote states so perfectly how this Monk loves the God of his religion, but just can't bring himself to deal with life, if he has to do so without completely adhering to The Truth. His separation of the two concepts, God and Truth, perfectly outlines his dilemma, which was also once mine. Finally, as it turns out, it was only an imagined one. . .for me that is. . .I don't know about the Monk.
For many years now. . . I recognize no difference between "All that is God" and "All that is The Truth". I've come to realize they are figuratively and literally the same statement . (OK. . . I'm already going to use the word "believe"): Though a personal relationship with God is literally and absolutely intrinsic in what I have come to realize, I don't "believe" that God is some sort of A Super or A Supreme Being . I do "believe", however, that there is an aspect of "The Truth" which can be interpreted in that fashion .
"ALL THAT IS THE TRUTH" is THE most "encompassing" phrase possible. What remains, outside the phrase, is "all that is false". Consider this: Other than what mankind misinterprets, misunderstands, lies about and contrives, there is absolutely nothing. . . in the entire universe. . .that is false.
Whether ephemeral, perpetual, ethereal, spiritual or material. . . Actuality stands forth from the principle that underlies it. Ultimately, the underlying principle, the potential for expression, and ALL OF EXISTENCE in all dimensions are aspects of IT, of The Truth, of God.
THERE ARE NO PARTS in a universe undivided, which includes all that is, has been, will be, or might be. An undivided Universe has phases, facets, properties or features. . . . "Aspects", if you will. An important word. . . aspects. This perspective doesn't prohibit or discourage a scientific "parts" approach to investigation. It seems only natural for mankind to dissect and de-engineer in order to explore. It's only a sign that we are uninformed. . .but have a desire, a need, to know. I get tremendous enjoyment from what is revealed through all levels of scientific investigation.
Science is not out to undermine personal religious faith. It's not out to sidestep philosophy, particularly if there is substance to be offered toward perspective or method . It is, however, resolved by definition to overcome superstition and ignorance with fact, or I should say, with information closer to certainty. I am confident that, If mankind survives long enough, all investigations will lead to an inevitable wholeistic understanding.
THE TRUTH does not "HAVE" attributes as we would normally ascribe them to each other, or anything else for that matter. If you will, God is not a bigger and better Being, or even the biggest and best. The Truth (God) IS the attributes. IT IS Being and Knowledge and Knowing and Intelligence . IT IS Consciousness, IT IS the principle, the potential for and the expression of all that has ever been and ever will manifest. The universe is "The Truth" being itself and we are an aspect of its expression. How could it possibly be more beautiful, more complete, more humbling or more personal. Responsibility in and to our position should be obvious. The gift is individuality and free will and the ability to recognize what can be discovered. The joy is in realizing exactly what it is we are an aspect of.
This short introduction should provide at least this philosophical sentiment: All that is "THE TRUTH", ("IT") and God are the same thing, which is all that the universe has been and is being, and of which we are an aspect. The Truth, of course, is certainly not confined just to that . The Universe too is but an aspect of IT . All Universes are.

I have faith that "The Truth" has always functioned exactly the way it's suppose to. . .and always will.. .and that we are responsible for the aspect of IT that we are. (Joseph Holbrook)

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