What?

 

The Judeo-Christian-Muslim concept of man as separate from "God" has been a difficult thing for me to understand. I have felt that we are all a part of the Source or "God", whether we know it or not. In this regard, from my own experiences, since first becoming aware, I have never felt separate from but always a part of. My concept of sin, is that of not being aware of this truth. The darkness is the ignorance of being of Spirit. Likewise, being "Saved" is to become aware of this Truth. The light is the awakening to this and once known our hearts are changed forever. It is impossible to continue life as it was before "awakening". Whether you call it "The Holy Spirit" or "Buddha-Nature" or whatever, the "God Consciousness" or "Mindfulness" never leaves you. It has nothing to do with being Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist, the "Truth" is the understanding of this reality. As Krishna said in the Bhagavad-Gita :

"I am the one source of all: The evolution of all comes from me. I am beginningless, unborn, the Lord of the worlds. I am the soul which dwells in the heart of all things. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all that lives. I am the seed of all things that are: and no being that moves or moves not can ever be without me."

There are many "truisms" in the Christian Bible or Muslim Koran, Greek Mythology, or even Science Fiction that have many of the "Truths" if read within an allegorical context. The "Word" and instructions are found throughout many, many writings. What is important it the ability to see beyond the obvious and get the bigger picture. I attempt to invite all people to reach out and look beyond the "Institutional Gods" to find their own "Way". When I have been truly inspired it has always been a clear message without any doubt as to It's meaning, I think the same is true for all of us, we just need to quiet ourselves to listen. My studies of other faiths have helped me immeasurably to better understand my own beliefs and I continue to look to the things that are common to all faiths as that which may have more validity than that which attempts to separate us.

What is "the Word?" Is it a book written by men? Is it a smile from an old man, or a young child? Is it a glorious sunrise? Or the birth of a kitten? Or the rain nourishing the earth? Is it the cry of the coyote? Or is it a voice that comes from within our heart? What isn't "The Word?" I have become awakened in a profound and unexpected way. The message is so clear that once made aware, I could not imagine how I could have ever thought otherwise. It didn't just change my opinion, it changed my entire world. JonBoy, for me, this "Word" has always been very clear, it is the words of man that I have trouble understanding.

Although we can learn a lot from the experiences of others, our ultimate journey to awakening and "Oneness" is made alone. Learning of other's experiences can aid us (more like a catalyst) in our path to understanding, but it is a poor substitution for the real thing. We often rob ourselves of the richness of the teachings of all those that have come before us because of dogma or notions that we may cling to. I look to the wisdom of others as a guide, but prepare to make the last leg of the trip solo.

I really like the passage from the Gnostic gospels:

LET HIM WHO SEEKS, not cease seeking until he finds, and when he finds, he will be troubled, and when he has been troubled, he will marvel and he will reign over the All. - The Gospel according to Thomas, logion 2

It is through an open mind and heart that we create the environment to help us learn to look deeply and to develop understanding and compassion. As they say in AA; "Let go and let God." Free ourselves from the shackles of intolerance and distrust; live to the fullest every moment of this life we have. It is only a blink of time that we are here, and we must not waste the opportunity to uncover the truth because of fear of the unknown. It is through experience that we gain insight and wisdom, and only by leaving the bounds of our comfort zone do we gain the experience.

Let me close with a saying from one of the Desert Fathers in Thomas Merton's "Wisdom of the Desert":

"It happens that one man eats more and yet remains hungry, and another man eats less, and is satisfied. The greater reward belongs to the one who ate more and is still hungry, than to him who ate less and is satisfied."

May you always be hungry,

 

Ok Beavis, whatever! I can bounce a ball off a while and prove the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection. I can prove that if I drop a rock off of a cliff it will accelerate at 9.8 m/s ^2. I can prove that when water reaches 100 C it will boil. So how is science faith?

SiDriver stated previously that if there were a fire in the house wouldn't you want to let everyone know about it (in reference to my criticizm of Christians spreading their gospel on all the weak and poor)......well, how come I don't see you guys spreading the gospel in Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Saudi, Malaysia, Afghan? I'll tell you why, cause ya'll will get your head cut straight the F off! Hmm....so you only spread the word at your convenience even though your bible says you must do it everywhere in the name of Jesus. Hypocracy at it's finest.

Like all religious arguments this one will have no end, and no one will win. Some of you will continue to be sheep looking for your lost sheperd and some of us will continue to be wolves cackling at your blind following thinking your are going somewhere special that no one else can go. As it stands now by your standards...way more than half the world is going to hell....hmm, what a nice guy upstairs. Bleh!

 

Actually, the 2 angles wouldn't be the same since gravity plays a factor, the rock wouldn't fall at that rate unless it were in a vacuum (recalling from high school AP physics class from 7 years ago) - but that's beside the point. Science changes and needs to adapt at times to new discoveries. Regarding the foundations, it may need some tweaking down the line, maybe they don't. The point is, when you get down to the very basics, you are banking your faith that those are solid foundations to base all of the other theories on.

There have been many countless number of Christians who have been killed because they were evangelizing throughout the world, North Korea being a good example. Regarding the spreading of the Gospel, it doesn't mean traveling to other countries and proselytizing necessarily. It means testifying by how Christians live and spreading their faith where they are, be it where they work, where they attend school, etc. I'm a software engineer, I'm not a full time missionary. Now, I don't send out company-wide emails professing my faith, but people know that I'm a Christian and if they ask me about my faith, I will tell them. There are missionaries in Iraq I'm sure. The Bible says believers should have the desire to spread the faith, it isn't a hard and fast rule. If we formed a high profile group of a thousand people and went into Iraq to evangelize like you say we should, you would mock us anyway for polluting the world. Either way, we're mocked.

That's right, according to the Bible, most don't get into Heaven. It isn't because some are locked out. It is because those people choose not to have faith in Christ. About the nice guy comment, I've covered that already. If God were to send everyone who has ever lived into hell, including myself, I wouldn't like it, but it would be fair and just. God offering up Christ was an act of grace, something which no one deserved. That is why Christians regard Him as a God of love and He is.

Instead of asking inquisitively and giving a chance of rebuttal, you continually mock. Since I'm speaking from a Christian perspective, it might sound nasty and bashful as a result, but at least I don't have an attitude and I try to display as much respect as possible. I don't start posts on Christianity or religion, just reply and correct misconceptions.

 

The fact that people actually believe there is a physical place somewhere called heaven and hell and that one is up there and the other down there speaks massive volumes regarding the confusion organized religion has brought upon man.

 

hey 606...not trying to call you out or anything here, I just have a question for you.. I am assuming you don't believe in religion, but do you believe in miracles?? If not, how would you explain them, scientifically.

For example, people that are flatlined and dead and come back to life....So many people have described near-death experiences and linked them with a form of contact with a higher power. I'm just curious to hear your response.

 

Well, first I don't mean to have an attitude and I don't go around bashing Christians so if it comes off that way its not intended. I try to criticize what I feel is wrong which you keep calling a mockery. It's not meant that way, but you seem to think that you (you meaning Christians in general) are 100% right and won't even entertain a "what if" from another perspective about God and the afterlife. You believe 100% by faith in a writing done by MEN, not GOD...MEN (so by your definition it is flawed).

"God offering up Christ was an act of grace, something which no one deserved."

Ok I didn't ask for that, I really don't care because I think he was just a prophet..a man. You will say it was to forgive our sins...to forgive all sins of all man until he comes again. Let me tell ya, there are people that have given up more sacrifices than the lost of one God's son. Every time a soldier leaves his family to go fight for the freedom of his country and ends up dying, it should be considered no less than the same level of sacrifice. Have you ever heard God speak to you? Have you heard Jesus "SPEAK" to you? I grew up in a protestant family and tried and tried to get into the whole holy spirit thing. What I found out is it's all take and no give. A God who you have to worship or he will be jealous and cast you down. Then I see how much money they want, and it's just organized brainwashing in my opinion. I respect your beliefs, but I'm sad so many people are so unwilling to even consider the possibility that their bible/koran etc. may not be right. They believe blindly and I've always been told ignorance is bliss....so I guess thats why.

 

Many people have described being abducted by aliens too, that does not make it real either. Just because we don't understand ... yet ... why a person might show no signs of life and then come back to life does not mean it is a miracle. Our understanding is an evolving creature ... 500 years ago we might have thought the mending of a broken bone was a miracle.

I'm not quite sure how "miracles" (which are in my view a crock of shit) prove the existence of a "god."

 

Go rent Fire in the Sky and get back to me.

 

Wanna see miracles? Check this guy out! This guy has his own TV show in Europe. As you can see, he is very influential...touching the lifes of many, many people of the world and chaning them for better! I still can't bend a spoon tho .