It was my belief that, without subjective evidence of Holy Spirit Energy, the

CHAPTER 8: FAITH AND RATIONALITY It was my belief that, without subjective evidence of Holy Spirit Energy, the rush of reconfiguring transcendent experience, some glimmering of grace no matter how fleeting, an experience of intoxication with God, Martin Buber’s self authenticating /-Thou encounter, the many good citizens of this world, without these moments of illumination, must be attending church or temple to negotiate a better now and hereafter. Attending synagogue or church without the promise of a mystical high seemed like a superstitious rabbit foot rubbing for personal health and safety and a sharing of propitious contacts for social and economic advantage. Why else? | have had the good feel of what Jews call 7zedakah, the sharing of supplies by the haves for the betterment of the have nots. | have known the quiet calm of human right action as in the Unitarian Universalist’s serving the needy, open and flexible, intimate mindfulness of others and their needs. Considering E.O. Wilson’s brand of brain herd biology of altruism gives me a warm feeling about the potentially intrinsic goodness of man. But compared with the Jamesian brands of ecstatic transcendence, minds blown in Sufi twirling, Orthodox Jewish chanting, rocking and dancing, hands-in-the-air praying and hands-on-the-head healings of Wednesday night Pentecostal services, the soberly serious social engagement and 168 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_013668