to the Soul Work Theology Project

A site for the development of a new belief system

No Divine Revelation. Just a human attempt to build the best system I can.
An attempt to engineer a belief system that could be meaningful. A system that provides hope, meaning, purpose and a sense of spiritual life Without surrendering modern thought and understanding. A system that encourages an individual to improve their own self, not their rank or standing.

Please explore these thoughts at your leasure, while remembering they are just thoughts. You are free to pick and choose any helpful concepts. You can mold them and shape them as need be. If you don't like something, feel free to throw it out.

May these pages, and subsequent thinking, lead to good, not evil, for the benefit of me, you, and all living beings.

Version 5 -  April 2019

 

Narrative A walk through of Soul Work ideas in story format

What is the purpose of a belief system?

  • To provide an external structure that people can adopt,
    which answers questions
    and gives the individual a framework or system to understand themselves and the world around them.

Why create a new belief system?

  • The modern world seeks to replace religious frameworks/systems with things that are not religious faith.
  • But there are powerful forces behind religious faith.
  • Better to re-invent a belief system that works with the modern world.
    And give religious faith a place to go
    Than to wait for religious faith to pass away.

Moral and ethical boundaries to stay within

  • A safe system that does not seek to pull people into a cult
  • A system that is not a power trip
  • The system must reject violence
  • The system must respect each individuals personhood
  • A system that gives each living being one being's worth of power and significance.
  • A system that accepts alternative lifestyles
  • A system that will not turn people into pretzels. Asking them to do, think or be things that will put them at odds with themselves
  • A system that will help people live in the life/situation they are in. not 'turn the world upside down' or start a revolution.
  • A system that will support existing social/authority structures (except in cases of extreme abuse by that authority)
  • A system that will will bend, change, break or even disband to avoid causing more harm than good.

Aspirations this system would like to meet

  • A system that helps people integrate their own life and interface with the world around them
  • A system that promotes conflict resolution
  • A system that seeks new ways to balance individuality and community
  • A system that is modern yet mystic.
  • A system that supports ethics without resorting to "because It/He/She says so"
  • A system that gives people hope no matter what situation they may be in

Limits to anyone following these beliefs

  • Retain their own personhood
  • Retain their own executive functions
  • Retain their own assets

General questions to open the mind to new possibilities

  • Faith and intellect
  • What is life really after
  • Questions about ourselves
  • Questions about divinity

Construction: Steps, Struggles to flesh this out

Problems with Soul Work Theology

Discipline: The work of Soul Work Theology

Usability: Stories and Sermons:

Usability: Soul Work Rituals