More on T.O.

Hello again.

Many new posts here, almost all to do with the meaning of T.O. I can't say that I am convinved by some of the apparently physics driven explanations of T.O. that Andrew has presented- specifically the alteration of particulate placement by the mental focus of goodwill. This is likely due to a personal bias against such seemingly abstract concepts, but I simply have a hard time believing that the effort of one or many minds can directly alter the state of matter through thought alone, no matter how linked they are. Rather, I tend to think of T.O. , especially in the context of The Grapes of Wrath, more as something that can be manifested in the physical world by the unison of many people and the changes that they effectuate through honest, hard labor. In other words, in the mere ability to unite, people demonstrate a link and ability to work together towards changing their environment if they choose.

I'll also add my voice to those who have stated that T.O. can be, a spiritual concept rather than a religious one. I do however question how T.O. does relate to religion in The Grapes of Wrath. At what point do religion and this theory of an oversoul meet, and are they compatible? I've already mentioned that religion seems to drive a wedge between into the supposed oversoul of man by creating barriers between men. This is apparent in The Grapes of Wrath in the government camp, where the religious "fundamentalists" create dissension in an otherwise contented community. It can however be said that the oversoul is not incompatible with the idea of an organised religion, but actually with religion as it is commonly perceived and perpetuated by man. In simpler terms, The Grapes of Wrath seems to imply that most organized religions are in some form corrupt, and turn man away from his natural state of unity with his brothers.

That's all for now. I have some further ideas on the subject, but those already presented are confused enough as it is, so I'll try to organise them before I post them here.