Van: "Integral World" Aan: Onderwerp: Only a Theory? Datum: zaterdag 2 augustus 2014 17:12 INTEGRAL WORLD MAILING LIST =========================== http://www.integralworld.net Newsletter Nr. 516 Amsterdam, August 2nd, 2014 ONLY A THEORY OR THE ONLY THEORY? - Controversies around the Theory of Evolution - FRANK VISSER In debates about the theory of evolution among its opponents, it has often been said that it is "only a theory". That, of course, is a bit disingenuous. It suggest it is very close to just an educated opinion among scientists. In reality, it is a very strong theory, that has survived 150 years of research and thought. So instead of saying it is just a theory we should say it is a great theory! Does that mean it is proven beyond any doubt? No, in science nothing is finally proven. The goal is to look for the best empirical support for a given theory. And if the scientific community agrees that some theory has the best available support, then we should consider it "settled science". Us mortals can do no better than go with that. Read more: http://www.integralworld.net/visser73.html THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS IDEA - BARCLAY POWERS Since the scientific endeavor is based on a quest to distinguish between fictional and nonfictional narrative structures, the true self may very well be the most dangerous idea in the world. Essentially contemplative religious myth is proving to be nonfiction, while the story of science has become the central obstacle to the successful individual and collective awakening of the human race. A post-materialist science of consciousness evolution is necessary to transform the semi-fiction of science into the truth of the superhero within. As Fu Jinquan (1765-1844) says in Wang Mu’s Foundations of Internal Alchemy, “ in the alchemical texts there are subtle words, plain words, clear words, elusive words, metaphoric words, murky words, as well as circuitous and cunning words. There are doctrines on the Elixir, and there are oral instructions. It is as if a divine dragon first hides itself and then emerges, only to vanish and become invisible again, leaving a scale on the eastern road, and a claw on the western road. This requires much attention from the reader.” Chinese civilization has always described itself as the descendants of the dragon. Read more: http://www.integralworld.net/powers16.html THE INFINITE REGRESS - Why Karma Theory is Nonsense - DAVID CHRISTOPHER LANE Even if we accept the idea of karma and its apparent universal applicability, we can never truly discern any one thing as not karmic since the implication in Eastern philosophy and mysticism is that everything is karmically bound. Thus karma as a concept cannot in any singular case be utilized as an explanation of some event, some action, some retribution. Or, if we do dare to use it as such, we are more or less speaking gibberish. A crude example may illustrate this better for us: let's say that a person gets infected with influenza. We learn about it later and with our newfound vocabulary we immediately say something like "Well, that's karma." Yet, if we are to be consistent in our understanding we must also say that everything preceding the event of getting sick is also karmic—even our statement to the effect that "that's karma" is itself karmic. Read more: http://www.integralworld.net/lane79.html To SUBSCRIBE to this Integral World Newsletter or change your email address, click here: http://www.integralworld.net/pommo/user/subscribe.php To UNSUBSCRIBE, update your account by logging in. For explanation, see: http://www.integralworld.net/nl_faq.html