Issue 23 of SoF Magazine was interesting reading especially for those who were not at the Conference. Not surprisingly, Don Cupitt’s ‘Our Dual Agenda’ focuses the mind once again and raises a few questions. in relation to the Churches. Regrettably some of us must now feel ‘outside’ the Churches, but if not, could we put it to them that an immediate start could be made by a radical change in language? They have responsibilities to those who are happy with the status quo, but for others might they offer at least one monthly gathering of people from many faiths or none,
1. The self 2. Dialogue 3. The self in relation to others and to the universe.
1. The self After breaking loose from doctrine and dogma, one still has to grapple with personal salvation — with finding god within — but that is the old language; what is meant by personal salvation and finding god within? For me, and I am sure for many people, it is closely allied to self transformation and a search after righteousness. It when — owing to the language used — dogma, denomination, gender and political correctness would be totally irrelevant. Possible rewordings of two familiar texts — the Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 139 — are offered in the panels accompanying this article. Secondly — in relation to our own religious vision — what are we looking for? Speaking personally, this involves three aspects, in all of which SoF has provided an invaluable anchor: seems that an earnest endeavour to transform oneself improves the understanding of compassion, kindness, forgiveness, etc. One can love, respect and even forgive a self which tries, but may fail; whereas indifference usually leads to self-gratification, alienation, unhappiness, dislike of the self and a ‘running away’ from the self with every available distraction.
When considering my own self I have been helped greatly by articles and letters in SoF Magazine, especially from Buddhist writers who helped me to look on prayer in quite a different way — more as a ‘desiring earnestly’, ‘with all one’s heart’, and in a receptive frame of mind.
2. Dialogue SoF has been invaluable to me. Through the magazine I have learnt of reading material which I never knew existed and which was exactly what I needed at the time of reading it. It is a privilege to learn from people schooled in a lifetime of research and experience in theology, philosophy, other religions and in life.
meaning, the implications, the responsibilities, the sacrifices. My vision for SoF for the future, apart from providing this vital anchor, is first of an ever increasing global current of people of goodwill in contact through the written, spoken and now electronic word. A sea of people with no special creed except that of a desire for self transformation in the interests of mankind and of the universe.
3. The self in relation to others Thirdly, SoF provides a medium through which to question and measure one’s attitudes against those of people who may look at the world in a different way. One is free to “change one’s mind’.
While looking at the self within, one longs to lose ‘self in a desire to help and to be part of a wider world. Relieved of former ‘beliefs’ we realise that human beings of goodwill the world over are “singing the same tune’.
I would like there to be more reference in SoF to the word ‘love’; its Secondly, I envisage SoF as a centre for learning; a medium through which people at the forefront of thought in the humanities, medicine, law, science, art, religion and music could speak to us — the people in the street — telling us of their findings and discussing the implications in the absence of any ‘axe to grind’, Finally, I would envisage SoF as a lasting testament to its founder and to those who nourish it while ‘the old order changes’.