Uploaded December 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
How do we relate to God as an inspiring symbol, or to other possible inspiring symbols such as Truth or Nature, without projecting them? In this talk, Robert M Ellis argues that God as an archetype has the function of inspiring us, but that this function is impeded by projecting God as an entity beyond our own responsibility. A wide range of other symbols can have a similar effect in putting us in touch with religious experience and opening us up to wider potentiality, but all such symbols are also subject to the dangers of projection that go with 'believing' in God.
This talk was given on Zoom on 4th Dec 2022, at a meeting of the Middle Way Network. It is followed by questions and discussion, and then a practice focus to help relate the ideas in the talk to Middle Way Practice.
0:00 Introduction
10:18 Inspirational function of the God archetype, and its association with religious experience
21:07 The social function of the God archetype (not the whole story!)
24:38 Symbols of the God archetype - personal symbols
30:30 Conceptual symbols of the God archetype, e.g. Nature, Truth
37:33 Projection and responsibility. Supernaturalism.
41:39 Theological rationalizations of projection
44:46 Agnosticism as a method of avoiding projection
47:00 Integrating the God archetype - connections to practice
56:13 Comment on the idea of the 'Potentiality Archetype' as an alternative term. Question on relationship with the anima/animus
01:01:12 Question on provisionality and faith
01:08:34 Effects of religious faith on confidence
01:11:28 Idea of going beyond oneself
01:14:53 Practice focus
How do we relate to God as an inspiring symbol, or to other possible inspiring symbols such as Truth or Nature, without projecting them? In this talk, Robert M Ellis argues that God as an archetype has the function of inspiring us, but that this function is impeded by projecting God as an entity beyond our own responsibility. A wide range of other symbols can have a similar effect in putting us in touch with religious experience and opening us up to wider potentiality, but all such symbols are also subject to the dangers of projection that go with 'believing' in God.
This talk was given on Zoom on 4th Dec 2022, at a meeting of the Middle Way Network. It is followed by questions and discussion, and then a practice focus to help relate the ideas in the talk to Middle Way Practice.
0:00 Introduction
10:18 Inspirational function of the God archetype, and its association with religious experience
21:07 The social function of the God archetype (not the whole story!)
24:38 Symbols of the God archetype - personal symbols
30:30 Conceptual symbols of the God archetype, e.g. Nature, Truth
37:33 Projection and responsibility. Supernaturalism.
41:39 Theological rationalizations of projection
44:46 Agnosticism as a method of avoiding projection
47:00 Integrating the God archetype - connections to practice
56:13 Comment on the idea of the 'Potentiality Archetype' as an alternative term. Question on relationship with the anima/animus
01:01:12 Question on provisionality and faith
01:08:34 Effects of religious faith on confidence
01:11:28 Idea of going beyond oneself
01:14:53 Practice focus
