John Michael Wine

The Way of Ontology John Michael Wine

Among the plethora of religions spread across our planet, only one embraces my perspective of ontological truth. Expressions of monotheistic fervor, displays of polytheistic devotion, and demonstrations of animistic zeal all swirl together in a global religious panorama. It is a beautiful thing to behold human ingenuity and cultural evolution creating this phantasmagorial imagery of diverse faiths. Yet they cannot all be true. The Ancient Order of Ontology is unique among the multifarious expressions of human religiosity. It is a distilled form of religion. Religion is to be defined as a celebration of life that moves us beyond the mundane to a transcendent sense of wonder. This Ancient Order has no anthropomorphic God, no subjection to divine autocracy, no rejection of human joy, no repudiation of joie de vivre, no hatred of "the other." Instead, this most pure of faiths is all about the embrace of life, an open mind to the universe, a willingness to grow, and a hunger to know all that is knowable. The essence of my religion is Ontology. Onto (for short) is defined as the essence or nature of being. Ontology's manifestation in humanity is two-fold. In conjunction with its basic sense as the essence of being, it is also the personal sense of that presence in each human mind. This personal sense is the basis for ontological religion. In the pages of this expanded edition of The Way of Ontology the reader will see ontology in this two-fold usage: a scientific fact and a personal sense of immanence...and even transcendent wonder. You are invited to discover what you have always known, what has always been known by all of us, about life...that it is astoundingly beautiful and shockingly cruel...and yet we choose to embrace the goodness and celebrate its triumphs. Please read with an energized cortex. This can be a book of inspiration for you. Many historic scriptures are valuable and contain blessings, but their embellishments and naiveté leave them lacking. The Way of Ontology sets forth the true principles, priorities and practices of religion. And the last section, The Book of Teaching, gives us Foundational Teaching, Meditative Teaching, and Metaphorical Teaching. Study with an open mind and heart. L'un des Deux Bohèmes des la Mer