Rev. William Fowler
Final Essay
This course has altered my beliefs. The term ‘altered' is used purposely because my basic beliefs (a GOD [my term herein for the ultimate singularity], that appears within, Golden Rule, all religions are different paths up the same mountain) are the same. However, my appreciation for the variety, intensity, and validity with which others hold varying beliefs, has truly grown in astronomical proportions.
Rev. Kythera Ann did an excellent job on both layout and content of the course.
The layout – picking a general topic and giving a parity/disparity comparison with different religions – worked very well for me. Combining those comparisons with the exercises (some were wonderful, such as St. Ignatius Spiritual Exercise) and the reading recommendations, gave me some very insightful moments.
A special accolade is offered to the author, on the depth and variety of the reading recommendations. A partial list of books read during this course: Book of Mormon, Bhagwad Gita (English version The Holy Geeta), writings of John Wesley, Gospels of Thomas, Mary, & Judas, The Emerald Tablet, Pistis Sophia (not finished yet), Guru Granth Sahib (also not finished yet), The Manichaean Body, Awakening the Buddha Within, etc. etc. Thank you!
Visiting different faith services was a favorite exercise. I attended Sikh Satsang, Hindu Temple & library (discovered one of the best on the west coast is here in Livermore, CA), Universal Unitarian, Catholic Mass, Ecclesia Catholica Evangelica (Isis based) & EGCH (Gnostic & Hermetic based) Masses, and Methodist Church, so far.
Particular lessons of interest included lessons 3 & 4, which helped strengthen my knowledge in similarities in the various religions. They also gave me a reference to use while reading religious and metaphysical documents. Before taking this course I was not consciously aware that all religions taught “seek within”, now I look and find it, in one form or another, in almost every text.
Lessons 7&10 contained materials I have studied before and still found new nuggets of useful knowledge. Beginning with Theosophy (I too had always associated that term with Madam Blavatsky) then Hermeticism and Alchemy, I reopened prior texts for a slightly new view of their materials.
Lesson 9 reminded me of a Pythagorian theme that GOD used geometry to create the Universe (so I perused an old tome on Pythagorus, noting that among reused symbols is the ‘christian’ fish, a story attributed to Pythagorus [500 years before Christ] and the square root of 3).
Lessons 13 & 14 again reinforced the commonalities, this time in architecture, that I can now recognize in other religion related structures. The picture of the Babylonian Ziggurat is almost identical to Mayan pyramids (as opposed to the Egyptian pyramids).
Lessons 16 & 17 were mostly new ground. Angels were really the only messengers of any previous familiarity, so these two lessons were delightful.
Lessons 18 & 19, on the other hand, impressed me most with the diversity of organizational systems ( and titles), that all seem to work. Successful military and business organizations around the world all fall into a rather finite number of variables in comparison. By this I mean, a Colonel in an American Infantry unit would have a counterpart with similar title and almost exactly the same duties, responsibilities, and organization under and over them, in any of the major militaries in the world. A Catholic Priest and a Buddhist Priest, other than title, would have completely different jobs and support organizations above and under them.
A Conclusion from the course
This course has, in my mind, validated that virtually all the religions studied, in one form or another, see us as all connected within to an ultimate reality other than the ‘perceived physical world’ (TAO and Buddhism by definition, Hinduism [Bhagwad Gita chapt 9-4], Christian [John 10:34-38], the principle of ‘HAL’ in Sufism, etc.). Yet the course also clearly points out how, thru inclusion of exclusion, virtually all the religions define themselves thru physical attributes that many will defend “unto death”.
In the past, when asked, “ which is right?” or “should I/we convert?” or similar questions, I had tried to counsel people on the commonalities of philosophy between the religions. They are basically the same so practice the one that makes you feel good about yourself and want to do good things (good being defined in the heart of the aspirant). Now it appears that, at least some of the time, I can counsel people on the differences between religions and still say the same, “practice the one that makes you feel good about yourself and want to do good things.
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Answers to author’s questions
What was gained from this course, as indicated above, was a greatly expanded knowledge and appreciation for the various religions studied.
What was best is difficult to say, too many items compete for that title.
What I liked least and a possible improvement (possible is used because it may have been the course’s design intent) area is the absence of conclusions (like the one above, which you may or may not agree with) that pull the information together is such a way as to answer the questions that will come at us as inter-faith representatives.
This comment aside, my satisfaction level is a 9 of 10, and certainly would be interested in future course by Rev. Kythera Ann.
Sincerely,
Rev. William Fowler
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