At this time yesterday I had joined my former colleagues for our regular monthly breakfast, which I attend irregularly and in this I am not alone. It struck me that old age does not come equally kindly to us health wise. This prompted me this morning to affirm for my colleagues good health and comfort at this stage in our lives and patience with acceptance, when that is not so much the case.

Never in my life have I affirmed anything for my fellow workers, but our old age experience brings us together through its levelling effect. Young children in their innocence and old agers in their experience share in this gift of life erasing society erected discriminations include race as well in many cases.

Last night I perused a set of New Thought magazines that Don had given me, some dating back to 1976. There were some surprises hiding in their pages, such as a few ‘youthful’ pictures of my friend Herman at the start of the ‘Calgary Truth centre’ and article by him as well. Also an article by Steward Grayson who writes far more powerfully then you find in today’s New Thought editions.

All in all, those magazines witness of sense of conviction and mission that is absent from its present editions …

From the numerous centres listed in the back of those 1970 and 80ty editions it is clear that New Thought enjoyed wider interest than it does today. It also shows that Calgary had several centres even at that time, it being about half the size it is today.

All in all, those magazines witness of sense of conviction and mission that is absent from its present editions, which much more retentive and inward looking, preserving of its treasures rather than sharing and applying them to new situations on our society today.

Late last night I worked on the next category of my blue ‘Norcom’ cahier notes titled ‘Teaching’ after having completed section titled ‘Restructuring’ this past weekend. There are nine (9) note entries to extract for this category and I completed two last night titled ‘Teaching accommodation’ and ‘Process: Truth & Reconciliation’. Twelve (12) of the thirty and four (34) notes entries have now been extracted and I estimate that I should be able to complete the remainder in four weeks. This will leave me sufficient time to make use of the results for my talk on November 22.

While on my coffee break, I scan the note extractions for the category ‘Restructuring’. I do discern a connectivity among the nine (9) notes entries made between the dates 2015-05-28 and -09-08, which are dispersed among the other entries. Not easy, but I can detect a common thread, but it will take some witling to make the train of thought clear. I aim to do that under this heading of ‘Writings’ on a daily basis, composing an essay in draft form, which initially may consist of an articulated set of sections each with its own topic, but contained within the range ot the title ‘Restructuring’. This I will now start below.

Dream quote:‘The old teachings from 2000 years ago are no longer sufficient and we must add to them for our own time’.

Restructuring, a summary of note extractions.

The note entry #1, dated 2015-05-28 is the starting point for ideas that follow in this and the following categories. This entry records a dream in which I speak out at a meeting, saying more or less: ‘The old teachings from 2000 years ago are no longer sufficient and we must add to them for our own time’. This dream statement is the fulcrum from which the rest of the Norcom notes proceed.

In note #2 & 3 the theme of restructuring human traditions is broached by matching the traditional five categories of theology with five modern categories incorporating the findings of science such as evolution of the cosmos and archaeological findings.<10:53am & 7:45pm> To introduce these ideas a method of value adaptation could be used as a learning process.

#9 lists a number of ideas relating to the restructuring process , one of which is ‘concept space’, while #19 refers to the Journey’s treasure, which means the acquired insight from my search, that inter religious tolerance is a value that is lacking and must be added to all traditions. In aid of this a narrative about our common human heritage must be composed, while absolute exclusivist needs to corralled, but preserved at one of the many ways revelations come about.

Next three narratives are identified, to wit: Given narrative, common narrative of humanity and the narrative of Existence Divine, teaching how diversity enhances existence. #18 refers to my 2006 talk titled ‘In Search of the Sacred’ linking it to my last talk: ‘Body and Soul. Made in Africa’, which means a coming full circle this summer of my examinations of the major world religions.

#27 Starts with a call to formulate a theology for ‘Existence Divine’ listing five modern type categories in which the unquestioned creator of handed down traditions anticipates the concept of Existence Divine, which includes all there is. #28 continues with this theme, defining the theological categories of Existence Divine naming it a ‘Knowable Mystery’ in which humanity participates interactively. The ‘god-image’ as known from the traditions in its changing forms is explored using the aspects of Time, Place, People, Circumstance [TPPC] and the process of revelations, ideas and insights.

Two ordering processes are suggested, one the method of the narrative to identify the revealed insights over time and two the categories of theology giving an ordered structure to the revealed ideas. I reference my definition of religion, which emerged after reading J. Campbell’s four volumes on Mythology and C.G.Jung, who mentions the process of regression in religious symbolism formation when held symbols are discarded, (Nazi-WW-2).

Human inclination to personify neutral type power is examined, along with the way we describe authority and the ‘god-image’, as well as our tendency to look for sources or causes for good and evil.

#29 starts with a dream about abandoning traditional authority, which is followed by the idea of two types of authority, namely taught and discovered. Human inclination to personify neutral type power is examined, along with the way we describe authority and the ‘god-image’, as well as our tendency to look for sources or causes for good and evil.
Concepts like power, authority, good and evil are compared to the way we give names to a mountain, trees, animals and gravity for example. All making up aspects of the way we create a framework that orders our daily experience as humans in our world.

This completes my overview of the extractions of the note entries under the heading ‘Restructuring‘, which are all designated by the # sign, with entry number.
>8:29pm and 8:45pm~