Seasonal Reflections

We have reread Conan Doyle's "The Blue Carbuncle" and Poul Anderson's "The Season of Forgiveness" and have appreciated how appropriate it was that Anderson adopted a phrase from the conclusion of the former as the title of the latter, in which Ivanhoan polytheists appreciate a Christian festival. The season inspires me to address such issues.

I was brought up in one of the Abrahamic prophetic traditions but now meditate in one of the Indian contemplative traditions. In a prophetic tradition, it is necessary to be neither polytheist nor atheist but monotheist whereas, in a contemplative tradition, it is possible to begin from any premise or world-view, to be polytheist, monotheist or atheist, and also to reinterpret beliefs. Many gods may be aspects of one god and the one reality need not be personal. It is possible either to advance from polytheism through monotheism to monism or to remain theistic. Contemplation is comprehensive and inclusive.

Happy Midwinter Festival and Christmas.

See Traditions.