Born again and again and again

I have recently been exchanging views with an evangelical Christian, and a ranter against the limitations of most New Age groups. In what follows I have used the story lines and linked them through evolutionary psychology

The Christian View

There is an omniscient, vital force (metaphor = good parent = God). It tells true ‘believers’ (metaphor = good children) what to think, say and do. There is thus a dualism of self and other (Metaphor – parent and child, shepherd and sheep). 

Christian believers obey the ten commandments. Sinners ignore them. This is because another omniscient, vital force (metaphor = bad parent = the devil) tells them what to think, say and do. SO - there are two parents. Two possible ways of thinking, speaking and doing.

People are initially ‘once  born’ – and they are born as sinners (?). The bad parent is the first to shape what the child will think, say and do. But, if the good parent so decides, certain people can be ‘born-again’ and, in their enlightened state, they will then obey the ten commandments.

The evolutionary view

There is a vital force. (Metaphor (words) cannot do it justice.) Through evolution it shaped the human brain and mind. The shaping initially enabled social life as hunters and gatherers.  Contemporary human brains and minds are shaped by the vital force manifested as nature (genes), nurture (socio-cultural learning) and serendipity (luck) – ie by geo-historical happenstance. Systems of morality are part of what evolves.

A wide range of shaping forces governs what people think, say and do. But the system is not totally deterministic. At any given moment at any level (quantum through cell, body, social group, ecosystem) there is an almost infinite number of possible futures. People have the free-will to choose which future becomes real. In theory the choice will be determined by past causes and effects but in practice there are far more of these than the brain can know or cope with. 

So most human decisions (social, technological, environmental, economic, political, legal, ethical and spiritual (STEEPLES)) are in effect based on inadequate evidence and serendipity; but, arguably, humanity is progressing in terms of being conscious of its consciousness (is born again) and of making changes for the better (for the greatest good of the greatest number).

The eastern view

Over the last 3000 years a wide range of views have been developed concerning philosophical and religious matters in the East. Many schools of thought have developed. The brief summary that follows is my own.

There is a vital force that is responsible for ongoing cycles of creation and destruction. Life is best when it accords with the natural cycles. The human mind does not initially appreciate the natural way of things. But the mind can be turned around (born-again?) by behaving well (eg by following the 8 fold path and the 14 precepts) so that there can be peace of mind in meditation and thus (a) release from the illusory notion of an individuated self and (b) appreciation of the Oneness in cosmic consciousness.