More and more I find that the English language, while allowing freedom of expression to some degree, also creates a mire of symbols that can often be confused with their meanings. It also tends to give a misconstrued sense of significance which can restrict our thought processes.

The words we use and the definitions which we deem to be official for them take precedence over those things that we can not put into words, and so we regard them as more significant. But as we have evolved, we've discovered that just because we may not be able to grasp something does not mean that it's any less significant.

The word 'life' is an excellent example. What is life? The dictionary's definition deliniates boundaries that separate life from non-life; metabolism, growth, reproduction. But do these attributes really separate life from non-life? If we are the ones drawing the line, who's to say where we chose to draw it? What if I decide to define 'life' as the ability to react? After all, aren't we just a more complex level of reaction than the mingling of quarks and atoms and molecules?

What about the words like 'death', 'love', 'hate', 'god', 'satan', 'sin', 'good', 'evil', 'soul', 'mind', 'thought', 'justice', 'freedom'?

In science, breaking things up into categories is essential; actually, that's about all science really is, a method of dissassembling things into parts to better examine them. But when it comes to spiritual matters, breaking things up is not always helpful; in fact, i'd say if anything it can be a great hinderance to seeing 'the big picture'.

Just remember, it's YOUR authority that creates these definitions, it's YOUR choice to accept them that makes them 'official'.

Don't be afraid to redefine, or even UNdefine your world.
afghooey Reviewed by afghooey on . How words constrict us... More and more I find that the English language, while allowing freedom of expression to some degree, also creates a mire of symbols that can often be confused with their meanings. It also tends to give a misconstrued sense of significance which can restrict our thought processes. The words we use and the definitions which we deem to be official for them take precedence over those things that we can not put into words, and so we regard them as more significant. But as we have evolved, Rating: 5