Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Here Robert M Ellis continues an introduction to a practical view of archetypes as meaning, together with suggested practices to use archetypes for inspiration without adopting absolute beliefs such as those of religious dogma. in his talk here he explains the distinction between meaning and belief, and why this distinction is so important for a helpful response to religion and its archetypal symbols (such as God). The key point is that we do not have to associate profound religious experience with absolute belief at all - they have become associated, but it is much more helpful to separate them, and profound experience is none the worse for not being a shortcut to 'absolute reality' or divine revelation.
This talk is the second of a series by Robert M Ellis for the Middle Way Network, which is a community of the Middle Way Society meeting on Zoom. Each talk is preceded by a short meditation (not recorded) and ends with a practice focus to carry over to the following event. This recording includes a talk of around 35 minutes on 'Archetypes and Meaning', followed by questions, an introduction to the practice focus and then further questions from the audience.
Here Robert M Ellis continues an introduction to a practical view of archetypes as meaning, together with suggested practices to use archetypes for inspiration without adopting absolute beliefs such as those of religious dogma. in his talk here he explains the distinction between meaning and belief, and why this distinction is so important for a helpful response to religion and its archetypal symbols (such as God). The key point is that we do not have to associate profound religious experience with absolute belief at all - they have become associated, but it is much more helpful to separate them, and profound experience is none the worse for not being a shortcut to 'absolute reality' or divine revelation.
This talk is the second of a series by Robert M Ellis for the Middle Way Network, which is a community of the Middle Way Society meeting on Zoom. Each talk is preceded by a short meditation (not recorded) and ends with a practice focus to carry over to the following event. This recording includes a talk of around 35 minutes on 'Archetypes and Meaning', followed by questions, an introduction to the practice focus and then further questions from the audience.
