The One (revised)

The single reality is neither homogeneous nor static but internally differentiated and dynamic.

Energised complex molecules changed randomly until one became self-replicating.

Self-replication, mutation and natural selection generated multi-cellular organisms.

Naturally selected organismic sensitivity to environmental alterations quantitatively increased until it was qualitatively transformed into conscious sensation.

Complex brains transformed bodily sensations into perceptions of discrete objects.

The One becomes conscious of Itself by appearing to Itself as other and many, then realises Its oneness.

The One is present in every particle but conscious only in organisms with central nervous systems.

It knows Itself as animals and human beings but not in any pre-, trans- or post-cosmic state.

Its internal relationships are spatiotemporal and physical or psychophysical.

Gods are personified natural and social forces.

"God" is unified personified external forces.

Science de-personifies reality.

Events are instances of laws which are instances of more general laws.

Scientists cannot explain the most general laws.

They observe consensually objective properties and processes.

Objectivity is abstracted from concrete experience.

Individual experience is subjective.

Empirically observable phenomena are objective.

We know consciousness by being conscious and by recognizing conscious behaviour.

But we do not empirically observe consciousness.

Empirical observation is part of consciousness.

Neurologists detect neurons but not experiences.

Objective brain states somehow cause subjective mental states.

Consciousness is an effect of interaction and a cause of action.

It is an organismic property, not an independent substance.

Pleasure and pain have survival value and require consciousness.

Therefore, mobile marine organisms became conscious.

Conscious organisms are motivated to move and to act.

Numinous experience is of an awesome presence.

Mystical experience is of inner oneness.

Visionary experience is of projected visions.

Experiences are interpreted either theistically or non-theistically

Theists personify ultimate reality.

Persons are self-conscious individuals.

Self is recognized as such only by contrast with other.

Therefore, the One incorporates all persons but is not Itself a person.

It is "God" as the object of numinous and mystical experience but not as a transcendent person.

The One imagines that It is us.

We imagine the gods.

They are in us and we are in It.

All is One.

(This revised version is more succinct. See here.)