Giving the proclaimed religious 'funding' of some acts of terror dominating the world's modern history, there seem to have been top-religion-diplomatics gathering here and there.

In Belgium Catholic and Islam top got together some weeks ago and abused the event to state how well we all get together and how much better it could yet be if only the other party were a bit more liberal :-). And on a larger (European?) scale Switserland hosted representatives of just about any religion coming to a very striking observation: "since we all get allong mighty well, and find so much resemblance and joint vision we are truly left to believe that the real danger to this world is the (potentially) growing number of non-religious (unbeliever, kafir, heiden!) people."

Do you feel the same kind of dissapointment, as I did?

For sure I am no match for all the gathered whisdom. So assuming their conclusion is the honest truth, I keep feeling it is not complete.

I know my dissapointment comes from the fact that this is only a new version of the immensly old mantra 'you need to join our club". And while I recognise that the rule is just dictated by the human social nature (so a given thing) I only see the missed opportunity to loosen up more of the boundaries of their club.

So let me share my own view. Thanks to reading a load of wrong books The ZAAMM - Enigma - The dutch only "Meneer Albert", Frank Vermeulen - but even the more popular The shelters of stone. I've come to realize the true separating 'human' thing in this respect is to be looking for meaning and that, put in a historical context from before religion became an institute, this effort was lead by those who were practicing art, science and yes: mystics.

Why and when did those 3 become a specialization in their own right? With their proper purpose of existence? So strange to see that people can't cope with those 3 being different aspects of essentialy the same quest (be it discovering or creating, passive or active) for meaning. (might be scary exercise: what is the meaning of not allowing female priests? what is the meaning of letting your wife/doughter wear a burka, or grow your own beard :-) , what is the meaning of discouraging condom use in Africa?... and I'm quite sure it's equally scary for fundamental science: what is the meaning of 'succesfully' dropping a box on a 1.2 billion km distant moon of Saturn while a big part of our own planet gets washed over by a tidal wave?)

There is just much to be discoverd in tying the three together again: imagine that sunday's Mass got replaced by your priest doing a thorough explanation of the concepts of Kurt Goedle's work, or another good choice: a Woody Allen movie? Of course in Belium it means priests would no longer be payed by the ministry of Justice, but rather would need to file requests for goverment funding and prizemoney like artists and fundamental research groups. Hm, starting to like it more and more: the ministry of meaning.

Seems like a fairly long road ahead to get back to the essentials, no?