A Disquisition on Religion, Science and the State: Essay

By Christian Jaramillo

Philosopher and historian Christian Jaramillo puts forward new and revolutionary approaches to understanding God, the stances that religions should adopt, the development of science, and the States role in the pursuit of human freedom.
By studying the evolution of mankind and its religious societies over the past thirteen thousand years, Jaramillo demonstrates that, through syncretism, man has ultimately worshipped the same one God under different names.
The author reaffirms the existence of God, the validity of universal philosophers and the significance of religions in the construction of ancient and modern societies.
In this book, Jaramillo proposes a new theology for life, rejects immortality after death, and unravels some of the religious myths that have created structural flaws for humanity in constructing their societies, such as the deterioration of human habitat, the destruction of ethnic groups and the many confrontations between races and peoples.
Jaramillo denounces the powerful obsession of religions in controlling mankind through their influence over State decisions, to the detriment of the spiritual freedoms and inalienable natural liberties of man, which supersede the State and inhibit science.
We believe that the works of this brilliant thinker will kick-start a revolution in theological, philosophical and social approaches ? all of which will remain the subject of hot debate in the coming centuries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palibrio
• Release date: Dec 20, 2010
• ISBN: 9781617644191

Christian Jaramillo

El historiador y filosofo Christian Jaramillo, presenta un documento de gran valor histrico sobre la violencia en Colombia, visto dentro de la concepcin de una Filosofa Liberal, que comprende desde la dcada de los aos 1942 hasta el 2012. 70 aos de violencia en Colombia, narrados con una prosa gil, vibrante y agradable, en donde describe su experiencia al describir los hechos de que fue vctima, hasta que los Estados Unidos le concedi el asilo poltico en el ao 2000. Todo ello enmarcado en un contexto histrico. Hace fuertes crticas al liberalismo aplicado en Colombia y a sus lderes, culpndolos del estado actual en que se debate el pas. Formula importantes correctivos a las instituciones y a los partidos. Y plantea una interesante agenda de desarrollo. Este nuevo libro de su produccin literaria complementa su visin del mundo contemporneo plasmada en su ensayo Disquisicin sobre la Religin la Ciencia y el Estado, publicado por esta misma editorial.

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Copyright © 2010 by Christian Jaramillo.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2010942238

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-6176-4421-4

                   Softcover                                 978-1-6176-4420-7

                   Ebook                                      978-1-6176-4419-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Palibrio

1-877-407-5847

www.Palibrio.com

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

Prologue

PART ONE

Chapter One

GOD EXISTS!

Chapter Two

MANKIND’S NEED FOR RELIGION

Chapter Three

PREVAILING GODS AND RELIGIONS

Chapter Four

RELIGION AND COSMOGONY

Chapter Five

MONOTHEISM

Chapter Six

POLYTHEISM

Chapter Seven

SYNCRETISM: CAUSE OR EFFECT?

Chapter Eight

ISLAM AND POWER

Chapter Nine

CHRISTIANITY AND POWER

PART TWO

Chapter Ten

THE CHURCH AND HOPE

Chapter Eleven

THE CATECHIZATION OF MAN AND GROUP POLARIZATION

Chapter Twelve

EVANGELIZATION

Chapter Thirteen

FROM THEOLOGY TO THE STATE

Chapter Fourteen

SCIENCE

Chapter Fifteen

THE STATE AND ITS PURPOSE

Chapter Sixteen

ISSUES THAT RESTRICT FREEDOM AND LIMIT THE STATE

Chapter Seventeen

THE TRUTH

Chapter Eighteen

A NEW ORDER

Chapter Nineteen

A NEW APPROACH

Chapter Twenty

UNDERSTANDING THE TRANSIENCE OF BEING

Chapter Twenty One

THE STATE AS THE EXECUTOR OF CHANGE

Bibliography

Religions and Estimated Followers—2010

DEDICATIONS

I dedicate this disquisition to my parents Ovidio and Fanny, who raised me to think freely and analytically about the fundamentals of life. To my brother Henry, and my sons Christian Rafael, Andrés Ricardo, Santiago and Nicolás. And especially to María Cristina for her patience and support.

Christian Jaramillo

Acknowledgements

It is my great pleasure to acknowledge the contributions of the many people who made this book possible.

To my father, who instilled in me my love of reading and studying; to my teachers, who sparked my interest in history and philosophy; to the Public Library System of Atlanta, GA, whose arsenal of knowledge allowed me to complete this book; and especially Álvaro Zuluaga Ramírez, a member of the Colombian Academy of History, for his serious and thorough review of my final draft and preface in this book.

And lastly, to Maya Ramírez, Cristina Lázaro, Alfredo Bendez Perea, the graphic designer at Palibrio publishing and LT Servicios Lingüísticos y Editoriales S.L. of Barcelona, Spain.

Preface

In this book, Christian Jaramillo proposes the need for a cultural change that allows mankind to abandon the religious fanaticisms that have hindered the development of our communities to such an extent, in order to prevent the humanitarian collapse of our planet. With this change, the author identifies the historical agents of the various religious proposals, and reassesses their role in improving society; he does so by interpreting the theistic concept of disparate human groups, and aims to redirect the prevailing unsustainable trends down other routes: tolerance, respect, the proper conduct of governments, respect for traditions and freedom of social movements.

This book offers a detailed explanation as to why current religious trends are unsustainable, and presents various change initiatives that are already taking place around the world. It covers issues as diverse as the new and old traditions, cloning, abortion, euthanasia, birth control, in vitro fertilization (IVF), homosexuality and all those other human acts that have been attacked by religious principles over the centuries, and that form part of an important and relevant proposal that allows us to look to the future with optimism and confidence.

The author asserts how the increase in life expectancy alone—which has been dramatic in developed countries due to science and creature comforts—should be cause enough for mankind to obey the moral and ethical life lessons in its continuous vindication of God. Jaramillo demonstrates that man can achieve full personal satisfaction through spiritual peace, but without the need to aspire to an afterlife, which is advocated in the clerical proposals defined by all those who have appointed themselves representatives of God on Earth.

Portraying God as a symbol of death in no way facilitates mankind’s understanding of His role in the advancement of humanity; as Jaramillo states in his book: God is not, and should not be linked to death; death is the antithesis of life, and God is life. And it is under these premises that the author proposes a reinterpretation of God, regardless of how current or past civilizations may have labeled Him. The word religion comes from the Latin "religare, meaning to re-bind, re-unite, or join something that is separate but that was once joined. Without wishing to denigrate the role of any particular religion as a promoter of the values needed for the peaceful coexistence of humanity, the author emphasizes his belief in the inherent values that immediately discard the incomprehensible postulates underlying these religions. The role of religion should be returned to directly linking man and God, which would lead to the creation of a new relationship between mankind and its environment: man can achieve full personal satisfaction through spiritual peace, but without the need to aspire to an afterlife, which is in fact meaningless.

God’s sense of purpose can only be comprehended and justified once mankind comes to understand that spiritual aspirations and peace of mind can be achieved in this life through knowledge and understanding of God, leaving the State to provide man with the amenities and basic needs in life, and using science to eradicate diseases and solve man’s daily concerns."

Responding to the fundamental question: Where is God?, the author rightfully locates Him in the minds of each and every individual; and it is from here that individuals should depart with their reinterpretations or new theologizations, and then proceed on this new spiritual platform with the proposed change of attitude. This is also where religions should pursue their future roles. We understand that at one time mankind’s relationship with God was all-embracing; however, when sin was introduced into the world, this relationship was broken and there was a separation between man and God. This separation also led to a change in the relationship between mankind and its environment. And that is why the author believes that now is the time for a change in direction to reconcile the viewpoint of humanity and its relationship with the environment.

This brilliant proposal by Christian Jaramillo is a welcome addition, and will meet the needs of those holding a wide variety of viewpoints who are seeking openings and alternatives on the horizon of humanity.

ALVARO ZULUAGA RAMIREZ

COLOMBIAN ACADEMY OF HISTORY

Prologue

For many years I had a burning desire that little by little turned into the need to write this book. This is the outcome of my interest and studies in understanding the reason why the gods and their ancient and modern religions exist.

On my travels to Cuba to study its religions, I had the opportunity to examine the Santeria religion with the valuable assistance of two professors from the University of Havana. Santeria is an excellent example of the syncretism of the Catholic religion in the Yoruba region, and confirmed my initial perception regarding the syncretism between all known ancient religions and beliefs and the current ones.

I spent years studying each religion individually and discarded several along the way, not because there was no influence from other religions, but because they had all but disappeared. I only cover the most significant ancient and current beliefs in this book, which in one way or another, influence millions of people.

My Christian upbringing and Thomistic education impelled me to study the theologies of Saint Augustine, Saint Paul, Saint Thomas and many other Christian theologians from a very early age, which left me with more questions than answers over the years. I only found answers to some of my questions by studying ancient and modern philosophers.

As a scholar of philosophy, history, cultures and ancient civilizations, I wrote this book having analyzed my observations on syncretism and its influence on the development of civilizations.

The influence of modern thinkers and the advances in science helped me to expose certain theories and put forward proposals, none of which are intended to inconvenience any venerable institutions or their believers.

I explain the unity surrounding the worship of God, and the various names adopted for Him due to syncretism.

I also explain why man accepts being catechized, and respectfully put forward a reform of Christianity and Islam, in order to bring them in line with science and the truth. I propose a religion of life that is consistent with the principles of the universal philosophers.

The ultimate objective of this disquisition: The free development of Mankind.

By proposing the radical separation of the Church and the State, there is a tendency towards freedom, in every sense of the word; it raises the question that freedom can only be achieved when man is free to make his own decisions, without rules or foreign influences.

I felt the need to write this book because I think I have something to say, which I express here with respect to the millions of people who will probably disagree with my views.

THE AUTHOR

Atlanta, September 2010

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PART ONE

BACKGROUND

Chapter One

GOD EXISTS!

Let’s not discuss or question the existence of God.

Any logical being with an analytical intelligence must accept that God is everywhere; He is the essence, energy, He is control, He is order, He