Yesterday’s coffee with Rene and Eve at Phil’s lasted about an hour. Rene’s contribution to the conversation consisted of self made jokes and a smoke break. Eve carries a conversation and that what we did, ranging from the Life Enrichment Center, my miscued breakfast to quitting addictions.

I finished reading my ‘Congo’ book later in the day, but ‘Silk Roads’ is awaiting me at the book store. Juliet called to move our meeting to Thursday, while Elisabeth left a message thanking me for being a friend.

They [Indigenous fire fighters] form the major component of Alberta’s wild fire fighting force.

After supper I posted yesterday’s daily entry, watched the news and then read through half a dozen kept news paper articles. The one I recall is about the Indigenous fire fighters and their experience in this occupation going back for a long time. They form the major component of Alberta’s wild fire fighting force.

Christianity! An addition, but which one and where to start? If that is the problem, then why do I think an addition is needed? That is, because neither Christianity nor the other religions have been in such close contact in the history of humankind. To alleviate the tensions and reduce the conflicts that have arisen due to this situation, we need to find a teaching that addresses this problem.

Each religion defines a certain group and personal identity, which tends to be considered essential and unique. The problem arises due to the taught values regarding this identity, which tend to be absolute in nature resulting in a low tolerance level towards other believers. People feel threatened by the other belief system and each has its own teachings to safe guard against the other. This is often enforced by the local religious leader, who feels that his group may become diluted and may diminish. This notion results in a defensive attitude between various communities.

This diversity is experienced as a threat, but could just as well be viewed as an opportunity to enrich each others’ lives. This requires a new teaching aimed at that result and one that is acceptable to the parties concerned.

The above spells out my motivation for my search for teachings to be added to the existing religions.

The above spells out my motivation for my search for teachings to be added to the existing religions; added, because each human religion has a storied and much valued tradition that must be accepted. Hence, we add to it. And since I know Christianity from my upbringing, I chose to start with it.

What to add? That is the question! I will start at the beginnings of Christianity in Antiquity. Which were the new values it introduced back then and has been added later? I hope that such examples will lead to some insight as to what we need to add today.

Outline:
1. 40AD: Plagues and Charity; compassion as character weakness;
2. 1600: Aztec Indian are god’s creatures.
3. 1850: Have dominion.
4. 2015: Who’s the neighbour? Sharing the earth.
5. Addings: Extending the teachings through expanding a concept like neighbour and land to our world community and god’s intent for my specific my group, but not limited to that. Who wants to limit god’s generosity if it wants to include the diversity of its creatures. See #2. Going back to the ‘fundaments‘, then not reduce, but expanding from that.
<10:10am~