All One; All Different -- Addressing Spiritual Reductionism

"We're one, but we are not the same."-Bono, U2

Once I was in a train station waiting for a train with a friend. He pointed to a steel and cement column and said, "at the sub-atomic level, this column is mostly air. So are you. So am I?". And he went on to state we were the same as the column-no difference-and no different from one another. He went on to imply that there was, therefore, no meaning to anything. I stretched my arm out, made a fist, and pushed my fist at the column until it stopped with a thud. I looked at him and I said, "that may be so, AND at the same time, the world we move through is not the sub-atomic world".

Often we are addressed with reminders, assertions, and at times even pleas, that we are "all one". We are all human. We are all the same at some level. We all bleed red. At the sub-atomic level, we are all made up of the same stuff. In fact, at the sub- atomic level, at least at our current level of knowledge [see String Theory for an interesting hypothesis about how we may be very different from one another indeed], not only are we all "the same" as beings, we are the same as a rock, dirt, plant life, our dog, the wall, etc.

Eastern Spiritual traditions remind us that at the ultimate level, it is all vibrations, all wavelets. "Validated" by science, at the "ultimate" level, we are all the same-"just" sub-atomic particles.

And yet, anyone with eyes, ears, a tactile sense, and a mind can tell we are all very, very different. I challenge anyone who says that the ultimate level is the only important level ("we are all one") to Zen his or her way through me the next time we meet.

The problem with this is that most people cannot seem to contain both I.D.E.A.s intellectually, experientially, or spiritually, so then end up ignoring one or the other, or collapsing the informational and the practical. Does our having the same sub- atomic structures mean we are all the same?

Are you "the same" as a murderer? A rapist? A child molester? A terrorist? A priest? A politician? A man? A woman? A tribal leader? A shaman? A grocery clerk? A Fortune 500 CEO? Are you and I "the same" as Mozart, Bill Gates, Socrates, Thomas

Jefferson, or Ayn Rand? Of course not.

And, yes.

We have differing sets of skills, intelligence, symmetry, size, shape, and color. And yet...to paraphrase Ken Wilber, "while we are all perfect manifestations of the divine -of Spirit-yet how we demonstrate that is bound by our current level of development; we are limited to our current depth". Spiritual reductionism [we are all one and we are all perfect and we are all love] is usually accompanied by moral relativism. No act is inherently better than any other act. No world-view is more true than any other-and they are arbitrary.

I disagree.

Setting aside the performative contradiction (if no world-views are any more true than the other, then neither is that world-view-and thus it is false), compassion is better than anger because it possesses greater depth. Love is better than hate for the same reason. Grace is better than vengeance for the same reason-it requires an awareness of greater depth to exercise those choices, therefore, it is better.

Liberty is better than tyranny. Free Enterprise is better that centrally planned economies. In both cases they produce better results. Measurably better. Different beings possess different levels of awareness; different depths that that can reflect back by the development of their own depth. In this, we are very different indeed.

Is there utility in thinking we are all one-all the same? Perhaps. It can assist us in bridging potentially explosive differences in a world where differences in ideology can kill and maim. At the same time, in a world where ideologies can kill and maim, we had better keep the differences in mind as well.

In all things, be discerning, but not judgmental. Keep your mind open-but keep it working. Never allow someone to demand you turn off your common sense for their imagined utopia.

Jason McClain
IDEA
Evolutionary Guide
http://emotionalawareness.com

---

The Importance of Honoring Mothers and Fathers

With another year full of family events coming upon us,... Read More

The Universal Connection

I believe in a phenomenon I have been known to... Read More

He?s Jesus!

For we do not have a high priest who is... Read More

My Search for the Truth

I am a Falun Dafa practitioner. Maybe you've heard... Read More

Past Life: Wanting to Know Who I was in My Past Life?

Before we tread into the domain of Past Life... we... Read More

Christian Religious Addiction in Hawaii?

Surveys show that religion and spirituality play a central role... Read More

Spiritual Healing: In The School of Christ

Spiritual healing of the sick in Christ has many Christians... Read More

Who Is He?

"What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is... Read More

Looking for God - Heres My Story On Finding the Lord

Hopefully you're reading this article because you're intrigued by the... Read More

Living Successfully - Spiritual Answers for Modern Day Desires: Part 1

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me,... Read More

Jesus The Great Comforter! When Life is not fair!

We see it all the time in people's lives some... Read More

How To Fall With Style - The Art Of Sin

Adam had it right when he covered himself with fig... Read More

Tibetan Singing Bowls - Learn More Before You Buy

I recently had the pleasure to interview Richard Rudis, a... Read More

Lost is a Spiritual Problem

Lost, but you don't know where you're going.Lost is a... Read More

Sheltered in the Arms of God

"Mama, save me!"My six year old son jumped into my... Read More

Did You Know Everything In Your Dream Is About YOU?

Carl Jung, 20th century psycho analyst and dream researcher, said:... Read More

How to Hear the Voice of God

In this series I would like to take you through... Read More

Inner-Tubing With God: Understanding Gods Ways

It is so obvious that God works and thinks on... Read More

The Subconscious Mind: A Tool For Success

As a Coach and Psychotherapist I have found that the... Read More

Beneficiaries of the Promise

We are the beneficiaries of the promise God made to... Read More

Pioneering Insanity

"They're crazy!" That's what they're saying about us. The majority... Read More

A Medical Intuitive Look at Past Life Wounding

In my work as a Medical Intuitive, I come across... Read More

Book Ends

In the responsibility we have as Christians, we are displayed... Read More

An Illuminatus Speaks

An Illuminatus Speaks:You will have to decide if this Illuminatus... Read More

Is Your Pursuit of Money Robbing You Of Complete Fulfillment?

Do you think it's acceptable for people to make millions... Read More

African American Hiking for Spiritual Health

Hiking is gaining popularity within the African-American community. We're beginning... Read More

Grace - The Divine Influence of God

The greatest frustration in a Christian's life is not being... Read More

Expect the Best and Get It

The famous prayer of Jabez, where Jabez prayed for prosperity,... Read More

What is True Freedom?

Freedom....The cherished goal of humanity throughout its history.No society has... Read More

Contentment in Gratitude

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,... Read More

Do You Experience God?

Connor, a man in his late 40's, has achieved everything... Read More

Enlightenment Takes You to Selfishness

An act of selflessness is the highest expression of selfishness... Read More

Evangelical Skepticism: Pursuing Your Right To Be Wrong

Michael Shermer speaks with the energy and passion of an... Read More