Newsletter #23 - The Church of Spiritual Humanism

August 19, 2004 - Philadelphia www.SpiritualHumanism.org

Charity

If you want to make the world a better place by reducing suffering, protecting things that belong to every one, and otherwise promoting the principles of Spiritual Humanism it require some effort on your part either through the donation of time or funds. This is not a call for donations to the Church but rather a reminder that if you find any cause that you believe in you should help support it.

There are many religions that demand a tithe from their followers. The Mormon Church requires a donation of one-tenth of the income of all of its members. Zakat, the fourth pillar of Islam, requires all Muslims to tithe 2.5 percent of their net worth to Islamic charities annually. Obviously over many years this enables charities that advance Islam and Mormonism to become very powerful.

If you find a charity that you believe in you should contribute to it however you can, especially if it promotes humanistic ideals.

IN THE NEWS

Inmates at state prison learn as they train pups to serve disabled
Monday, August 16, 2004

By Bill Toland, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

MUNCY, Pa. -- Two women, two prisons, one warm and fuzzy link: Wheelchair-bound Donna Persing has cerebral palsy and needs a service dog to help her remove a coat or pay a grocery cashier. Tamika has known little but the inside of a jail for the last decade, thanks to her role in a botched robbery that ended in gunplay and, ultimately, murder.

Each is confined in her own way, one bound by walls and the other by muscles that won't move the way they're supposed to. And each woman finds liberation through service dogs -- Persing because the dog is her lifeline, and Tamika because she's the one training them.

see full story at

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04229/362396.stm

EDITORS NOTE:

The US prison system is a mess. The nationwide figure for the number of people on parole or probation was a record 4.8 million in 2003. Any effort that succcessfully teaches life skills to this population is worth supporting.

READERS WRITE IN

If you have a question feel free to email me at info ( at ) spiritual humanism.org
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Hi there, My name is Francis.
I¹ve been looking all over place. Saw your web and am interested to ask some questions. I am in need of some answers. (Ed's note: see questions below)

REPLY

Francis,
Like every one else, I don't have all the ultimate answers. I can only share my perspective. Here are my responses to your questions:

1. God is Light (literally) and can be seen with your inner eyes. He stays inside us located between the eyebrows?

I think you are confusing God with the feeling of spiritual and religious inspiration. There is plenty of evidence that religious feelings are real. Not so much for gods. Enjoy your spirituality, but do not attribute it to that which cannot be proved to exist or you will certainly be in error.

2. Our purpose in this world is to find a way to cut the reincarnation repeating by 'To know Him (GOD, TOO, Nirvana, Light etc)' when we're still breathing in this world so we become one with GOD after the change called Death (common word).

Reincarnation is a beautiful idea. Unfortunately there is no evidence whatsoever that it could possible work, let alone be true. Investing great effort in a false spirituality is at best a waste of time and at worst the cause of pain, suffering, and evil. I am not sure we have a purpose in this world. We are still a young civilization, perhaps we will learn more as we mature. If you need a purpose let it be to reduce pain, misery, and suffering, and to promote happiness, contentment, and pleasure in this life, the only one we can be sure that we will ever have.

3. We are always part of GOD (Literally)

This sounds like a definition thing, which is the sort of debate that I find distracting from the path of enlightenment. We are a natural part of the cosmos and it is our right to make a spiritual connection to it.

4. We have to find the teacher (Guru etc) to show how to meet GOD in this world.

Teachers often lead you astray, especially if believe they are the only conduit to an all powerful supernatural being. Believe in yourself. Learn from others but recognize that no one but you may have the answers that you seek. Those that claim a short cut on the path of wisdom undoubtedly have a hidden, less admirable agenda.

5. The world is just a game, not real (like The Matrix, but something else) the real life is after this life.

This world is very real and it's the only life we will ever have. What we do here matters and its up to us to make it a better place. Do what you can to reduce pain, misery, and suffering, and to promote happiness, contentment, and pleasure in this life for yourself and those around you. Find your spiritual inspiration from the natural world, from the trees and flowers around you, and from the clouds and stars in the sky above us. Probably those of us alive today will never know all the answers, but if the human race is lucky, some day some one will and they will depend on our contributions here, today to get there. I like to think they will look back in thanks for what we have preserved and accomplished for them.

6. Am I Crazy?

Probably not.

Best regards,
RA Zorger

CONCLUSION

Yes Ordained Minister Packages are available in our online store. The Ordination Certificates are printed on acid free paper for extra long life, and Clergy Wallet ID Cards are nice to have. The Officiant's Manual includes information on celebrating the solstices, sample ceremonies, etc., and the companion CD has marriage laws for all 50 states. The fees charged for these packs are our only income and help defer the cost of the web site, advertising, PO Box, and fund the purchase of a permanent location for our regular religious services.
RA Zorger
President, The Church of Spiritual Humanism

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