Syd Walker,
I read your peice on Organicism.
http://sydwalker.info/blog/2010/11/24/organicism-another-way-of-thinking-about-reality/



Quote:

. "Organicism provides an alternative to both dogmatic theism (based largely on faith) and blinkered atheism that blithely discounts pointers to phenomena imexplicable by chance and necessity alone." AND, "...organicists are interested in understanding, appreciating and living in harmony with the whole creative universe of which we find ourselves a part. We can draw on both theistic/idealistic traditions and scientific/rationalist traditions to aid our understanding and appreciation of the entirety of existence."

Your article is well written and logical, as far as it goes.
But, imo, Organicism still [obviously] seems to ignore one of the acknowledged problems you yourself highlight [in explaining the 'reality' which we experience], the problem which you term 'the problem of the original miracle'.
i.e.

Quote:

. "What explains the origin of the cosmos - the material whole we call the cosmos/universe which includes scientific 'laws’ that supposedly 'governed’ its subsequent evolution? (I’ll call this the 'problem of the original miracle')"

And while you say, "dogmatic theism ( [is] based largely on faith)", how do you account for the 1st hand existential experience of God [or of a godly being], which [clearly not all, but] many theists seem to claim?
e.g.
Check out this, 'vision of JC' experience, related in this Timesonline article,
Search for the name >> Yasmin << [in the article].
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article510589.ece

And i have to say, i have had an experience similar to Yasmin.
And, i am not on any medication, and i do not take recreational drugs.

Syd Walker,
Are these ppl mostly liars, or mostly just deluded, iyo ???
And if deluded, and if just a hallucinations, why are these accounts, of visions of JC, so similar ???
Are all of these people who claim to have had a 'vision' of a godly being, all deluded ???
Are all these persons suffering a mass hallucination [separated in time] of what is essentially, a very similar hallucination ???

n.b.
It is not just 'Christians' who experience these 'visions' of JC, but many, many, moslems today claim to have had a vision of Jesus, in which he called them to him.

Google;
muslim vision of jesus

And so profound are these experiences, that [at a risk to their lives], these moslems [as per Yasmin], abandon ISLAM, and seek to embrace Jesus Christ.
If these people were 'liars', why do they bother perpetuating such a seemingly dangerous charade?
A charade, which if they proceed with, and maintain, can threaten their very lives?
i.e.
Why, do these [ex-] moslems so willingly put themselves in harms way, from the intimidation and physical attacks, from their former family, friends, and moslems community ???


Does Organicism take account of, or explain such spiritual experiences, such spiritual 'visions'?


+++
Why would JC reveal himself specifically to myself [and to others] ?
I don't know.
I do not consider myself to be special.
I recognise that i am a flawed person [and that i am far from perfect].

But my past experiences, of my 'imaginary friend', God, and angels, were to my perception, very, very, real.
In fact, that experience [of being in the presence of God] seemed more real, than what we glibly term, 'reality'.
When you are in the presence of God [which i perceive that i was] reality seems 'transformed', expanded a thousand fold.

I would describe the experience as a 'bliss' event.
And while i only experienced a very small 'taste' of that enhanced reality, it is my desire to return there.
This 'life', this 'reality', offers me nothing, in comparison.
And this life, and the prospect of the death of my body, no longer hold the fear, that they maybe once did.


+++
But it isn't about me.
This life, this world, is a test.
It is an opportunity, for us to choose to be 'redeemed' from this 'type' of 'reality'.
From the 'bondage', of this 'reality'.

Do we want to be redeemed?
I do.

Delusional Yadda