The energy of information: A theory of forbearance

https://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/acir/2011/Papers/4/thumbnail.jpgForbearance is the endurance of negativity from others or the world without responding in kind. Unfortunately, the transmission of negativity is ubiquitous among people at every level of social organization. Consequently, religion and the humanistic sciences view forbearance as critical to the well-being of persons and society. This paper introduces a scientific approach to the analysis of forbearance. First, it provides an understanding of the dynamic, yet information-based, context within which forbearance is relevant. Second, it presents a model of forbearance as one aspect of a spectrum of responses to negativity and, ultimately, as an ensemble of energy-modulating, information-based operators.</p

The nature and consequences of informational differences in exoteric versus esoteric spiritual practices

https://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/acir/2012/Papers/7/thumbnail.jpg Two broadly different approaches to spiritual practice exist within virtually every religious tradition. Though the specific characterization and evaluation of these different practices vary among authors, their general nature is reasonably clear. The exoteric path represents the more conventional approach to religion involving ongoing participation in the practices and activities of an established religious community (synagogue, church, mosque, temple, etc.). Alternatively, the esoteric path tends to be more individualistic and mystical in orientation. Within a given tradition, the two approaches are never in opposition to each other but can nonetheless involve complex, bivalent inter-relations. The present paper examines these two forms of practice in terms of their informational characteristics. It is primarily concerned with the amount of information each style of practice generates and processes within a small set of general but relevant contexts. It shows that the two styles of practice result in highly characteristic differences in the generation and processing of information. In addition, the paper argues that important consequences of these differences concern how they both reflect and impact the practitioner’s religious faith and their sense of self. </p

Whence God? The individual and social origins of ultimate concern

https://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/asir/vol3/iss1/3/thumbnail.jpgThe problem of the origin of religion is shown to be equivalent to the problem of the origin of the notion of a higher or transcendent power. For the sake of generality, this issue can be characterized as the problem of the origin of ultimate concern for ultimate meaning. Past perspectives have linked the origin of religious processes to evolutionary mechanisms, others to sociological processes, and still others to psychological functions. Each position has interest and sheds a different light on a necessarily complex process. Existing perspectives, however, fail to resolve four critical issues. The paper sketches a new, synthetic perspective which resolves these issues through the integration of critical theological, sociological, psychological, evolutionary, and neurophysiological concepts.</p

Whence God? The origin of ultimate concern

https://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/acir/2013/Papers/10/thumbnail.jpgSeveral recent works have addressed the issue of the origin of religion. Some have linked this occurrence to evolutionary mechanisms, others to sociological processes, and still others to psychological functions. Each position has interest and sheds a different light on a necessarily complex process. The paper examines several of these theories and offers a synthetic perspective which integrates psychological, sociological, evolutionary, and theological concepts in a new manner.</p

The Nature and Consequences of Informational Differences in Exoteric vs. Esoteric Spiritual Practices

https://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/asir/vol2/iss1/2/thumbnail.jpgTwo broadly different approaches to spiritual practice exist within virtually every religious tradition. Though the specific characterization and evaluation of these different practices vary among authors, their general nature is reasonably clear. The exoteric path represents the more conventional approach to religion involving ongoing participation in the practices and activities of an established religious community (church, mosque, synagogue, temple, etc.). Alternatively, the esoteric path tends to be more individualistic and mystical in orientation. Within a given tradition, the two approaches are never in opposition to each other but can nonetheless involve complex, bivalent inter-relations. The present paper examines these two forms of practice in terms of their strategies of information flow. It is primarily concerned with the amount and type of information each style of practice generates and processes relative to a small set of general but relevant scenarios. It shows that each results in highly characteristic differences in the generation and processing of information. In addition, the paper argues that important consequences of these differences concern how they both reflect and impact the practitioner’s religious faith, their sense of self, and their relation to their world.</p