I think it is more than just the beginning of theism. It is theism. Like the God the religious project externally, their own moral consciousness is the throne room they seek.
The religious conscience is not projecting what you have already conceded to be “real things too”. Set aside orthodoxy who do project God raining fire, reassembling his human corpse, etc. we are talking about the moral consciousness alone, the consciousness of Good, Truth, Love, Justice, you know, “real things too” found in the bonds that hold living souls together. To these people who value these things and PERCEIVE their absolute reality then, yes, it is as you say, these people are able to ascend into the very throne room of God. I concede it is an abstract meta-physical event in the life of a religious conscience, nevertheless, these are “real things too”.
I am not necessarily disagreeing with you, but where you pull up on the road to theism just after conceding something real about the emergent world we perceive, ie., good, love, justice, etc., others embrace the path to its final destination, the presence of God, who is the absolute reality. You call it a projection where others perceive it as an absolute reality beyond the material world, time, and space. You fear it whereas others embrace it.
Yes. Even though the true path leads within, it is as much a searchable mystery as the externalized religious projections.
That’s not possible in this paradigm we are addressing. I progress every day I live and figure out my effect on the world, on myself, and its effect back. It never stops. Those that never progress another step towards that personal reality are dead.
We may all be progressing to varying degrees but presumably, some people, even if a few people, have progressed further than most, for example, the Socrates, the Platos, the Buddhas, the Senecas, etc. And my favorite, Paul of Tarsus, who you absolutely reject, I know.
Everybody does all the time.
The moral thinkers do not progress in this paradigm any more or less than anybody else. Their skill is merely a closer observance, reflection, categorization, and reporting of the phenomenon they are swimming in with no more or less success than anybody else. It is a special brand of stoicism that tries to overcome with knowledge of reality as oppose to just stay properly integrated with it. A fish does not need to be told how he is swimming.
But if the fish does not train his muscles to swim fast then he will never catch the food he seeks or escape the enemy chasing him. People who consider the moral world, what is right, and practice the moral world,—the emergent properties “that are real things too”, are strengthening their moral muscles, if you will allow me, and can swim faster than they would if never considering, contemplating, meditating, praying about such things.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Phil 4:8)