h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Many years ago - I won't say how many because then you'll know how old I am - I read a small paperback book written by Floyd H. Ross and Tynette Hills titled "The Great Religions by Which Men Live." I was in high school at the time and was already looking for answers to life's questions beyond the parameters of the Methodist Church in which I had been raised. This small book launched me upon a lifelong journey, one that is still far from concluded.

I learned two very important lessons from this book and try to always incorporate them when studying world religions. One is to always measure a religion by it's highest principles, not it's lowest. All religions have both mountain tops and valleys. Wisdom and inspiration are found on the mountain tops; dogma and divisiveness in the valleys.

The second lesson concerns prophets and priests. Prophets are in short supply, while priests are plentiful. Our studies are better served by reading the words of the prophets and using our inner compass to interpret their words rather than relying upon someopne else's interpretation. Read the words of Jesus and Mohammed and Lao-tse rather than the words of their followers.

Whe you read the prophets themselves, separate from the religions they inspire, you will find amazing agreement. The agreement has been a great source of comfort and inspiration to me throughout my life.

So, if anyone is game, let's use this thread to explore the wisdom of the prophets.

H

Greetings Hypatia,

I, too, read that book. It was given to me by my great granddad. A wise and spiritual person. I just did a few paragraphs about him in response to you and Ed in the other thread.

I'll be back in later.







Blessings and Bubbles To You!!!!