I’m still working on it too Jeff. I met Christ at 14. I still believe in Jesus and God. Incoming what some call as blasphemous but I don’t think so: What if all gods are the same.
Hear me out. If God is a loving God then it stands to reason that He wants the people He created to join Him in heaven. So what if different religions are ways to meet God?
Maybe the human exsistence is culturally and spiritually different depending on location. Oh wait it is. So why wouldn’t an all knowing all powerful being who longs to have a relationship with us only provide one way to get to Him. That seems counterintuitive. Not to mention if the Bible is the utter true words of god why did kings and councils make changes to it? There are way too many questions and no satisfying answers. The too often spoken Christian phrase response is that is when faith comes in. I have faith. But I have 0 faith in my fellow men.
So I’ve decided if the greatest commandment Jesus gave me Is love your neighbor then I’m going to love everyone very hard. Other then that I’ll find out when I die.
Thanks for sharing this, Pamela. I appreciate people sharing something as personal as their experiences on this topic. I have felt the same way about the power of love versus some of the other stuff, and as mentioned in my comments with Jeff, the head and the heart seem to find balance in the presence of Love. It is why I can't help but feel some hope when considering stories of near-death experiences where LOVE is what folks find on the other side. It's why "God is Love" is a cliche I don't cringe at, because when we tap into THAT Love through the veil of our humanity, it seems to calm all those fears/anxiety/norms/resistances. I am still trying to better understand this, but in my experience, when I use love and my ability to love someone or something or some situation, it almost always reflects what I need to let go of to be a better beacon of Love. Peace and Love!
Thanks for sharing this journey, Jeff. It has been a long while since we chatted (Ragnar, maybe?), and in that time I have and am walking a very similar path. It can't be easy, especially when the people around us, coming from the places we have travelled, are still in that starting square of 'well this is truth (or Truth?) and there's nothing else that matters... except "The Truth". I am leaning heavy on experience, and when one sees that the mysterious is UTTERLY veiled in mystery, and the answers to questions like this are likely never found in the head, but rather in the heart... it's a tough movement. I have found some comfort in some 'practices' and 'approaches', as well as some great heart-led analogies of the various 'god-flavors' in our world, which sort of put me in a place of peace, yet are darn near heretical to certain folks, even though what I have felt allows for everyone and everything, but it makes doctrine of any kind slightly... overbearing(?). I say all this to say that I still consider myself a 'work in progress'. I should post this to Facebook, but I am afraid of what will happen when some of our common friends from 'the school', get ahold of it. So props to you for bearing this, and I look forward to reading the next few installments to see where the journey goes. Peace!
Hey, Rob! Thanks for chiming in. I actually prefer to have the discussion here. I think it's a safer place for others to comment, for the reasons you've pointed out. I love what you said here. I traded certainties for the mystery. I find it's easier to be open and learn new things that way.
Yes, the heart is so important. As long as we don't leave the brain out of the equation. Emotions can cloud judgement, even if they're good emotions. But I think you understand that. My next post will probably touch on what you've said, if not directly, at least by suggestion.
I have enjoyed your other musings as well! Definitely agree about the need for both the head and the heart. I had a number of very similar moments to your Sunday School moment with some social issues, and it took a moment of heart to put the head on ice for a second, and then have the pendulum swing back when the heart was getting ahead of itself. Definitely becomes a balance, and one reason why I believe we need more silence and stillness in this world of constant distractions. My opinion, but I have found that in the silence and stillness we are able to find more of that balance.
I’m still working on it too Jeff. I met Christ at 14. I still believe in Jesus and God. Incoming what some call as blasphemous but I don’t think so: What if all gods are the same.
Hear me out. If God is a loving God then it stands to reason that He wants the people He created to join Him in heaven. So what if different religions are ways to meet God?
Maybe the human exsistence is culturally and spiritually different depending on location. Oh wait it is. So why wouldn’t an all knowing all powerful being who longs to have a relationship with us only provide one way to get to Him. That seems counterintuitive. Not to mention if the Bible is the utter true words of god why did kings and councils make changes to it? There are way too many questions and no satisfying answers. The too often spoken Christian phrase response is that is when faith comes in. I have faith. But I have 0 faith in my fellow men.
So I’ve decided if the greatest commandment Jesus gave me Is love your neighbor then I’m going to love everyone very hard. Other then that I’ll find out when I die.
Thanks for sharing this, Pamela. I appreciate people sharing something as personal as their experiences on this topic. I have felt the same way about the power of love versus some of the other stuff, and as mentioned in my comments with Jeff, the head and the heart seem to find balance in the presence of Love. It is why I can't help but feel some hope when considering stories of near-death experiences where LOVE is what folks find on the other side. It's why "God is Love" is a cliche I don't cringe at, because when we tap into THAT Love through the veil of our humanity, it seems to calm all those fears/anxiety/norms/resistances. I am still trying to better understand this, but in my experience, when I use love and my ability to love someone or something or some situation, it almost always reflects what I need to let go of to be a better beacon of Love. Peace and Love!
Good thoughts, Pamela. I've considered a lot of what you mention here too. Thanks for subscribing! I'll hit on some of them in the future.
Thanks for sharing this journey, Jeff. It has been a long while since we chatted (Ragnar, maybe?), and in that time I have and am walking a very similar path. It can't be easy, especially when the people around us, coming from the places we have travelled, are still in that starting square of 'well this is truth (or Truth?) and there's nothing else that matters... except "The Truth". I am leaning heavy on experience, and when one sees that the mysterious is UTTERLY veiled in mystery, and the answers to questions like this are likely never found in the head, but rather in the heart... it's a tough movement. I have found some comfort in some 'practices' and 'approaches', as well as some great heart-led analogies of the various 'god-flavors' in our world, which sort of put me in a place of peace, yet are darn near heretical to certain folks, even though what I have felt allows for everyone and everything, but it makes doctrine of any kind slightly... overbearing(?). I say all this to say that I still consider myself a 'work in progress'. I should post this to Facebook, but I am afraid of what will happen when some of our common friends from 'the school', get ahold of it. So props to you for bearing this, and I look forward to reading the next few installments to see where the journey goes. Peace!
Hey, Rob! Thanks for chiming in. I actually prefer to have the discussion here. I think it's a safer place for others to comment, for the reasons you've pointed out. I love what you said here. I traded certainties for the mystery. I find it's easier to be open and learn new things that way.
Yes, the heart is so important. As long as we don't leave the brain out of the equation. Emotions can cloud judgement, even if they're good emotions. But I think you understand that. My next post will probably touch on what you've said, if not directly, at least by suggestion.
I have enjoyed your other musings as well! Definitely agree about the need for both the head and the heart. I had a number of very similar moments to your Sunday School moment with some social issues, and it took a moment of heart to put the head on ice for a second, and then have the pendulum swing back when the heart was getting ahead of itself. Definitely becomes a balance, and one reason why I believe we need more silence and stillness in this world of constant distractions. My opinion, but I have found that in the silence and stillness we are able to find more of that balance.
I really enjoyed this, especially the analogy. I’m excited to read more!
Thanks! I was worried the analogy had too many holes.