He makes some good points, particularly on the confusion and other things,
but his approach would not sit well with a lot of traditional African beliefs.
Number 1 he says Do Not go Through a Mediator, but a lot of African beliefs have
just such a concept- whether it be the ancestors as mediator, or shaman,or priest
etc who can transact between men and non-human powers and/or provide guidance
on the mysterious and sometimes dangerous ground of the Afterlife, etc. Even Christianity is
built around the supreme thought of a Mediator or Advocate, God- come in human condition-
Christ, who died for men, so that those who accept this, have all their sins covered,
ensuring eternal protection and safety on the other side. You could say an eternal insurance
policy.
The Yoruba religion speaks of a separation of spheres in the afterlife. There is the
orun rere (good heaven) or orun apadi/orun buruku (bad heaven-or place of potsherds,
waste, desolation). Each goes to the appropriate place, depending on his conduct on earth-
with life on earth determining life beyond death. Even the Egyptians were very concerned about what
happened on the other side. Its a common thing in many human cultures to feel a need for this-
some sort of translator, or advocate, or mediator- someone sympathetic-someone in their corner.
Given human weakness, limitations, corruption, selfishness, etc what will happen to us on the
other side? Who is in our corner?
One of his big points is Loving Oneself- which is good on one level- in that we need to have a
certain level of self-confidence, and self care and so on. But the flip side many religions point
out is that the human heart is often corrupt, selfish and violent There is a lot NOT to love.
Hence again, many religions seek for a more pure, an uncorrupted, a greater unselfish force that
can transcend the limitations, deceits and corruption of self. Such an unselfish force is outside of self.
So like other beliefs, Yoruba religion recognizes this and is strongly opposed to selfishness. The
kind and unselfish have blessing from Olodumare, the supreme one. Here again, his approach is
at odds with various deeply felt human religious concepts, including African ones. Most religions
thus do not put self-love at the top of the heap of key things. Self-love can involve a lot
of selfishness, or self-delusion.
His is what some might call a New Age variant, but hey if it works for him...great. I just think
he needs to give some more thought to those deeply felt universal human needs- the need for an advocate
due to the uncertainty about the other side, or problems on this side of the death barrier, the need to
overcome selfishness, and so on. These it might be said are good reasons people, in different places,
have adopted a religion. But then again, I think his approach, is itself a religious approach in a way.
Note not saying what he is saying is a bad thing - it it works ofr him.. hey mo power..
I hear your concerns,but I just want to say a few things about his approach, for It's late. I have been studying the metaphysical for some time ; my mentor Dr.A. Ligon was a Black metaphysicaian out of Los Angles ,
along with his beautiful wife who are now among the ancestors, so much of what is spoken about in the video I'm somewhat conversant with. He is speaking about a Aquarian approach, & spirituality, as opposed as a strictly Piscean approach. If you like I can try to explain later
