some further thoughts

[dazed&fallen]

Really when many people speak of God they are speaking about an image. Already there is error as all images fall short of the true nature of God. There is the trinity, which is very beautiful and significant in its composition but still, it is a model and i wish it were viewed as such. I realize that very few people will agree with the things I say. Each individual has his or her own unique upbringing. To say that the truth is the same for everyone is bigoted at best, ethnocentric at worst (e.g. manifest destiny) if anything I’d like to make it clear that my contempt is not for Christ or Christianity. Throughout history there have been many pious, enlightened Christians as there continue to be today. However, I think that true understanding is often distorted with pride, dishonesty and egotism. It is too easy to fall into the mindset that whatever you are doing is right and that the system you serve is infallible. And the bible says “judge not lest ye yourself be judged.” I can’t think of a better saying from any doctrine. Look at me, I’m scum of the earth, automatically. Why? Not because I live a life of so-called, immorality but because I question social norms. Accordingly I dine with sinners because I prefer them to those that feel they are God’s elect. Similarly I have had the opportunity to sit and chat with a Christian, a Mohammedan and a Buddhist all in the same room without any fear of judgment. Their words were like poetry—an attempt to define the underlying reality, which is God. It occurred to me, that though their words differed slightly, they were really trying to say the same thing. We are all one with God, he loves us and there is nothing we can ever do to change that. The worst we can ever do is to fall short of this realization. It’s easy enough to say, but to be fully understood it must be experienced. Don’t hate me because I don’t hate you. I just like to stir things up, it’s kind of my job. I don’t think life is meant to be a battle, to me it’s a playground. If i've hurt your feelings in any way, I apologize.
om namah shivaya

 

[Dondi]

I tend to agree with you. I think that God can be found, however incomplete, in most major religions. There seems to be a system of good moral tenets is these religions that can be summed up to: Love God and love your neighbor (hence my sig line). I've hear of people in other religions beside my own who have felt the same kind of forgiveness and love despite what they believe. If I had grown up, say, a Muslim, I would be far pressed to give it up, especially if it has benefitted me and made me into the type of person God (or Allah in this case), would want me to be. I would find it hard pressed to turn to some other religion such a Christianity.

22Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: [emphasis mine]

28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Acts 17:22-28 KJV

You see, God placed us where we are. And I think that He would want us to seek Him out in whatever cultural and religious environment He has put us. I think by that basis, we will be judged.

As a Christian, I struggled in the thought that those who don't know Jesus are destined to Hell, even those who never heard of Him. Now I've come to think that if a person is truly seeking God, that God will take this into account. That the Blood of Jesus, in my view, will somehow cover those who are truly seeking God, even out of ignorance of who He really is. Indeed, even us Christians have no idea who God really is, when you get right down to it. All we have is what is written. We still see in a glass darkly.

BTW: Some karma points back to you!