New Questions for a New Age: The limits of metaphysics and other belief systems

By SL Stanley

"Questions" could best be described as a philosophical critique of both the New Age movement and its antitheses; organized religion, primarily meant to address the increasing frustration of serious aspirants of the spiritual path.
Some of my readers may find humor where others are offended, but neither humor nor satire define this work, which is an invitation to those seeking truth (and ex-Christians in particular), to examine their ultimately preferred doctrine with the same scrutiny reserved for their religious ones.
Responses are more than welcome.

• Language: English
• Publisher: SL Stanley
• Release date: May 27, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476359694

SL Stanley

As a young person, I became increasingly dissatisfied with the typical Christian middle class roots of my generation and set about exploring the "something more" I knew was out there. Over time, I began to receive spontaneous insights, increasing in frequency and depth to the point where they became a constant in my life. Having always known they were given to me to share, I finally gathered them together and the result is this book. There is much more than I could ever put in one book, but I believe it pretty well summarizes the perspectives that the inner planes have given me. My background includes other similar writing projects; involvement with the metaphysical community for over twenty-five years (including many personal paranormal experiences), and working closely with people experiencing what appears to be extraterrestrial contact. Authors and philosophies that have facilitated my search on the mundane plane include: Religious Science (science of mind); the Ascended Masters studies; the Seth books; Carlos Castanada; Joel Goldsmith; Kenneth Hagin; and the early editions of both Connecting Link and Sedona: journal of emergence.

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New Questions for a New Age

The limits of metaphysics and other belief systems

S L Stanley

Copyright 2012 by S L Stanley

Smashwords edition

(First printed 2011)

Cover design copyright 2012 by (http://www.DigitalDonna.com)

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Eric—this one’s for you

Table of contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 Is It or Isn't It? The Harbingers of Confusion

Chapter 2 Heaven on Earth—A Fading Promise

Chapter 3 Free Will: Hidden Bondage

Chapter 4 Spoilers in the Mix: East and West

Chapter 5 The Masters: Why Bother Looking When They Have all the Answers?

Chapter 6 Truth: Fact or Repetition?

Chapter 7 The Fork in the Road: Giving in or Giving Up?

Chapter 8 The Nature of Reality: Could we Have it All Wrong?

Chapter 9 Little Me: If You Were Nobody, You Wouldn't Have to Hide

Chapter 10 First Cause: The Forgotten Element

Chapter 11 Psychology: Another Religion?

Chapter 12 Morality: As Good as God

Chapter 13 Issues —Mine

Chapter 14 Immortality: Are We Dismissing Our Heritage?

Chapter 15 The Trinity: Who Are These People?

Chapter 16 Hope and Trepidation: Walking the Ecclesiastical Tightrope

Chapter 17 DNA: Is There a Divine Connection?

Chapter 18 Sermons: Where is the Love?

Chapter 19 Authority: Thou Shall Not Question

Chapter 20 Preachers: Free Conditioning—Go to Church

Chapter 21 Christianity: A Religion—or Something Else?

Chapter 22 Conscious Creation: The Real Deal

Chapter 23 Damage Control: It's Not Easy Being an Alchemist

Chapter 24 Too Good to be True? When Good Sense Threatens

Chapter 25 Claiming Omnipotence: If Ye Faint Not....

Chapter 26 States of Mind: Breaking the Cycle

Chapter 27 The Future—Or Not

Summary

Epilogue

Credits

A Note to my Readers

New Questions for a New Age

The limits of metaphysics and other belief systems

Introduction

The title of this book was named for a friend of mine who often played devil’s advocate in my life by reminding me that my core beliefs were not necessarily the best basis for any subsequent insights I might have. I was first introduced to this line of thought in the Seth books made famous by trance-medium Jane Roberts. Although the idea wasn’t original with my friend, he persistently reinforced it. "Question everything," he would say.

While this won’t be a how-to manual, it addresses many of the stumbling blocks we can encounter when trying to implement the so-called simplistic instructions in those teachings. I have observed how long-time students of metaphysics are floundering just as much as those who have never heard of it. And if intellect were the deciding factor in our ability to create the life that we want, how do we explain the research claiming that metaphysics is the discipline of choice among even more educated people—something has to be missing. … Well, something is missing. There are holes in nearly every discipline I’ve studied.

This book is not necessarily comprehensive, since we all have our own unique issues and mind-sets. But it seems to me; if we’re not getting any closer to seeing the changes we want in our life, after years; even decades of trying, it might be time to re-examine what we’re being taught—or accepting.

We've all heard the story of "The emperor's new clothes," a popular fairy tale written by Hans Christian Anderson about a king whose vanity was his un-doing. But it's also a story of gullibility and denial, and the tendency of the masses to follow the lead of those who set themselves above them; or that they themselves have set above them. In this tale, it took a little boy to break the spell; an innocent whose own judgment was sufficient to him.

To me; there is not a more fitting metaphor for these times—or any other.

The Emperor's New Clothes

Once there was an emperor who was extraodinarily vain, and especially given to extravagant clothes—displaying his finery at every opportunity. Thus, he left himself vulnerable to charlatans who learned of his peculiar reputation and found a very clever way to use it to their advantage. Betting on his vanity for their success, they tempted him with a wardrobe that would not only be exquisite, but so rarified that only those of the finest intellect and caliber would be able to see it.

This pleased the emperor greatly, although he was troubled by the (of course unlikely) possibility that he, himself, might not be able to see the cloth and exposed as unworthy. But being most impatient, he sent his two most trusted advisors to monitor the craftsmen's progress and report back to him.

But neither one could see anything, and both were horrified to think they might be among the unworthy or simple-minded. So naturally, they raved over the beauty of the cloth, and embellished it with great detail. The emperor was pleased and relieved (lest he might not have the eyes to see it), that others had furnished him with the description he might need to spare him disgrace.

The craftsmen in the meantime, pocketed generous sums of money for supplies, and labored long hours at their contracted task: even working through the night in candlelight for the benefit of throngs of people, as word spread of the wardrobe and its significance. While the craftsmen went though all the expected motions, no one dared speak what was on their minds.

The elaborate charade went on and on; with an audience of all those of a social standing , and a great procession planned. Although the emperor himself still had trepidation—sseeing no evidence of anything but his now naked body—surely everyone else could not be mistaken—Surely his trusted companions would not mislead him. The pomp and ceremony had begun, and the emperor proudly paraded through the streets: assured that anyone who couldn't see his beautiful adornment was simply not worthy.

But then—out of the crowd, came a little boy's voice: "But he has nothing on!" he exclaimed.

One little boy had broken the spell—one innocent who wasn't concerned with what others thought of him—one voice who dared to speak what others could not. Only then did the throng awaken.

One thing I’ve learned is not to be afraid of taking a closer look—at anything. For me, that includes anything I’ve written in this book. Any belief; no matter how liberating at the time, can lead to bondage down the road. …For instance, metaphysics (the main focus of this book) has been an invaluable tool for me; but I’ve found it disturbing that while the judgment mentality of religion isn’t there, metaphysics is in some ways more limiting than Christianity, a subject I’ll be covering more in depth.

I don’t go into a lot of explanations as the book is geared towards people already steeped in metaphysics. And although I’ve been influenced significantly by others in my search... sometimes positively, sometimes not; except for acknowledging my most valuable resources, I won’t be making many direct references to them. Firstly; because I’ve skimmed through so much material over the years, I honestly can’t give credit to any specific person or philosophy. And secondly; while I have issues with some of the ideas presented to me, they are not necessarily with the people espousing them. That being acknowledged, you may notice my buttons get pushed just like anybody else’s.

I might also add that my sister and I grew up in the Protestant religion. It is interesting to note that although the church in our father’s hometown painted God as a gentle, loving being, our home church (of the same denomination ) terrified us with warnings of the eternal Hell-fire that God had in store for us and our unsaved parents. This disparity is probably what started me on my search.

Since then, I’ve been caught between my Christian upbringing and conversion to metaphysics—commonly known as the spiritual path. I can’t go back, but I can’t let go of it either—not entirely. Most of the people I know in metaphysics have wrestled with this same problem, having also come to it from a background in religion; something mission workers tend to forget when they try to convert us. Could there be some way to integrate the best of both, without compromising our commitment to substantiality? It’s been a process for me that has often led to more questions than answers.

Besides covering only the areas I have personally struggled with and had some insights about, I’ve pretty much skipped over others that have already been debated at length. I also try to avoid politics in spite of some very strong opinions (actually, because of those very strong opinions). There are others better suited to fight those battles.

Still, this book truly is about the emperor’s new clothes—the questions in everyone’s minds that no one addresses at all. This book is born out of that frustration.

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Is It or Isn’t It? The Harbingers of Confusion

The search for validation

I have searched for validation of my inner knowing my entire life. Many good books would be thrown out with the bathwater until I learned that even the best of channels must filter information through their own finite, conditioned mind and personality. There are certain prejudices the reasoning mind cannot easily transcend; and I’m sure I am no exception.

I needed this validation because I could not trust myself, and I didn’t want the responsibility of acting on something that there was no support for. I saw how misguided this was when I would question a Christian who would inform me that I had my facts wrong because of something Reverend so and so said ... and he’s a minister, so he knows. Don’t people realize that anyone can become a minister—including me? And that just because I or anyone else is certified by some religious institution doesn’t mean that our views will reflect the status-quo, anymore than Jesus Christ’s did in his time?

Not that I am comparing myself to Jesus; but my point is this: No one or nothing can define our truth but our own knowing, no matter how many others may agree with us. And I have come to understand that the trial inherent in the search for validation is an initiation that all serious seekers will have to pass before they can go any further.

Jesus didn’t look to others for validation. He understood that he needed to stay focused within his own inner being; the only place his answers would be. The alternative is a cycle of endless vacillation between what we are told and what we sense in our being—which could be one of the reasons why our prayers and pleas seem to go unheeded for years. Yet we are made to feel that the mere questioning of some established truth that doesn’t resonate with us must be some kind of flaw. We are chided for believing what we want to believe and not what is and there is a strong suggestion that the truth must be a bitter pill to swallow. That may be; but I can’t help asking myself, "How could it be that we, being only reflections of God, could have a greater, more unlimited vision than