Transcendentalism in the 21st Century.
Transcendentalism Today can influence the beginning of a new realization in many religions. The term Transcendentalism was derived from the philosopher Kant, who called "all knowledge transcendental which is concerned not with objects but with our mode of knowing objects." In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds...A nation of men will for the first time exist, because each believes himself inspired by the Divine Soul which also inspires all men."
In this 21st Century the Age of Technology, we are still plagued by religious beliefs that are contributing causes toward terrorism, killings and wars between nations. Belief in what much of mankind calls God, a deity who caused catastrophes, punished people and who created the universe out of nothing as if by magic was brought about by hysteria and superstition. The Holy Books were written or dictated by men whose social norms during the time period of their lives dictated their and their society's acceptance of a king-like God with immeasurable powers who would make his wishes known by physically conversing with his messengers. Open-minded people must now use common sense to determine whether this so-called God was incorrectly perceived, misinterpreted and misunderstood by the masses of a bygone era and consider whether this thought process should now to be reassessed and brought up to date.
Physical contact with the spiritual existence is an impossibility. Spiritual transcendence of a person's spirit into a Dimensional Beyondness has been accepted by believers to have been achieved by most well known religious leaders. Many were Spiritual Transcendentalists who have changed the course of mankind and have been known as individuals who have attempted to correct what they saw as misperceptions within societies. Abraham, Moses, Noah, Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Krishna, Bahá'u'lláh, Zoroaster, Ahmad, Nanak, Kawohl and many others of various faiths are believed to have achieved spiritual enlightenment by mastering the art of spiritual transcendence. Is this spiritual transcendence a possibility? My assessment thereof is in the affirmative as a result of my own personal spiritual experiences.
Our spirit is the only one capable of receiving inspiration and establishing lines of communication with the spiritual realm. The clean spirit or soul, after the body's physical death enters this realm to be with God, Allah or whatever one desires to call him/it, which is a spiritual collective society of souls or spirits; a government, the Ultimate Purity consisting of Pure Intelligence, Pure Logic, the Supreme Spirit.
Let us hope that man will eventually progress intellectually and evolve to a point whereby he can socialize with totally eliminated tendencies for barbarianism and without a fear of punishment from God; This would true enlightenment. Einstein felt that God may very well be the energy that is in all matter and energy, that cannot be separated from matter/energy. I submit that God is the pure energy and pure spiritual intellect of the spiritual realm, a progressive accumulation of the spiritual intelligence of the universe, a Oneness. It is of no importance during our physical life whether God exists or not if one so chooses. Whether or not one believes in a spirit or God really makes no difference to God. Righteous living will determine the continuance and destiny of our spirit/soul.
Human fallibilities and misconceptions have labeled God for the past several millennia as one who interferes with the natural forces and free will of people by threatening punishment to those who disobey his bidding. The spiritual existence of this deity, if one decides to accept this premise, could not have changed with time but the perception of who or what this deity is should change as societies eliminate their superstitious beliefs. Logically this God could not possibly be encumbered by human attributes and needs or desires to be worshiped, prayed to, exalted, venerated, deified, or anything else that mankind has to offer. It is also the human characteristics and attributes that exercise upon others: power, control, dominance, destruction, punishment, revenge, and judgment.
The destruction of civilizations, most sufferings and premature deaths are due to human frailties, stupidity or imperfections and are not God's doings. God, exists in a spiritual realm and never has and never will interfere with anything on earth or in the universe. God is interested in and is involved in humanity, but does not interfere in any way in our physical lives. God guides the development of the universe and everything thereon like a Master Planner. Our relationship and interaction of our spirit with the Spirit of God is for our, not God's benefit. All religions have the same goal and everyone is individually and personally responsible for his own soul's destiny.
When establishing an association with the present day problems between Jews, Christians and Muslims, we can come up with numerous answers, however if there were no distinctions between Muslims, Jews, and Christians, strife could be minimized. Muslims have been led to believe that they must expand Islam by any means at their disposal in order to please Allah/God. In many regions occupied by Muslims, conflicts have arisen with their neighbors. Many books have been written on various religious beliefs and most people have their own self attained or learned knowledge or deep religious convictions on spirituality. A Transcendentalist is often a spiritually enlightened individual whose ultimate goal is to unite and strengthen communities and religious organization and subscribes to the rationality and logic that should be applied to all religions. One needs to keep an open mind and allow the spirit to absorb the logic of who/what God is without being inhibited by what should be considered outdated religious dogma and conditioning.