Topic : An Open Consideration of Reality and Religious Beliefs

Hey Turtlelove,  

Like someone else said, I can't seem to bend my mind around what you are saying here or in your other post, so, no I don't know what you're getting at. Sorry.  

Like ploppypop said, the New Age concept of god is different from the Christian God.  I don't believe that I am (a) god, I am a sinner who was/am saved by God's grace (His unmerited favor).  To the Christians, Jesus is the Son of God, the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, our redeemer, our friend, our soon coming King, our Messiah...the list can go on and on.   

Since we don't believe in the same God, I don't think there is any point where our two belief systems (New Age vs. Christianity) will ever meet.    

Sincerely,  

Sheltie  

Dear Sheltie, 

With respect to the list of Jesus "names" and titles, was it you who said a while back that thinking of "God as love" was a lot simpler (simpler than my much longer essay including ideas about "spiritual entropy" and the "process of God Realization")?  I tried to go back and find the specific post to check myself and got a little lost.  Maybe it was Joey John who said that.  I may try again later to find the specific post, but I wanted to go ahead and get this "transition" started over here for us. 

Anyway, if "God is Love" and "Jesus is Love" (or for Joey John, a loving person/Lamb of God who made the ultimate sacrifice of dying as atonement for our sins) then in those moments when you are loving, how is that different from "being love" and therefore being "God as Love"? 

What happens if you connect all of those moments together. . . . . . ? 

Turtle Love 

Thanks for making this forum. Turtle love.  I was frustrated because I wanted to respond to JoeyJohn in the twisted love forum and I couldn't. 

Joey you said: 

What good are us humans to God? What are we capable of doing on our own for him? We are of no use to him. 

I think you are completely wrong and the idea that God doesn't need us makes Christianity a joke-it's just  too easy.  We are absolutely necessary to God because we are the conduit for God's love on earth. We are his tools and we need to be strong and follow what he speaks in our heart. 

One of my favorite teachers is Mother Teresa.  She said: 

"When once a chairman of a multinational company came to see me, to offer me a property in Bombay, he first asked: ‘Mother, how do you manage your budget?" I asked him who had sent him here. He replied: ‘I felt an urge inside me.’ I said: other people like you come to see me and say the same.  

It was clear God sent you, Mr. A, as He sends Mr. X, Mrs. Y, Miss Z, and they provide the material means we need for our work. The grace of God is what moved you. You are my budget. God sees to our needs, as Jesus promised. I accepted the property he gave and named it Asha Dan (Gift of Hope). 

You and I, we are the Church, no? We have to share with our people. Suffering today is because people are hoarding, not giving, not sharing. When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.

Jesus made it very clear. Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me.
Give a glass of water, you give it to me. Receive a little child, you receive me.  

Judy Blue, 

I got chills reading that.  And I think you are right on target by drawing attention to the real power and responsibility that we have here and to each other. 

Peace, 

Turtle Love 

(And you're welcome with regards to my starting this topic. : )) 

I blame that flabby, passive kind of Christianity on Paul of Tarsus.  He adulterated Jesus' good news with the idea that God was all about rules and punishment. Paul was important to the early church because he mixed enough "law" with Christ's teachings to make them acceptable to the people back then and he was a Roman citizen so he was free to travel widely.  But I believe his teachings are the chaff that preserved the grain.  It is unfortunate that his teachings have been so very influential, particularly in the United States. 

I believe Jesus came to involve us directly with our God, not through rules and punishments but through a direct collaboration with God. WE are God's love here on earth and when our love is weak, others (who are Jesus) suffer.  When we hoard and grasp, we are failing to allow God to use HIS (it never was ours) wealth to spread his love. 

Single cells in the body of God are we 

Along with all other beings of earth, air and sea. 

Imagine in what kind of state we'd be 

If each of our cells were crying, "Me! Me! Me!" . . . .  

Turtle Love 

Yes, actually.  It's original.  Glad you can appreciate it. : )) TL 

I'm so happy that I located this thread, thanks TL for aiming me in the right direction.  Your poem TL is rather profound.  The beauty of it is that it can be applied to various circumstances although it's intent is clearly a spiritual one.......... to me that in itself is Art. 

I've recently rediscovered God and Goodness and what I refer to as Universiality...........I do not know if there is indeed such a word?   But the concept for me is that all things and all events in all times are One.  I believe in Jesus Christ as my saviour, and I for some reason believe that He is actually very pleased when one allows for an open heart in Loving all things.  Whether they be non-conforming beliefs, just so long as they are in keeping with Love and Understanding.  Does this make any sense to you all? 

thanks, Peace 

In previous posts in other forums there can tend to be what I feel are over zealous perhaps even in your face people with almost rigid criteria for what makes a Christian.  Am wrong for feeling sadness and sometimes even anger when they are clearly annoying others with continued 'preaching' so to speak? 

In one way I feel truly delighted when someone has found a path that is Good and Loving.  Yet there are moments that I question their sincerity of the Love for  God.  Yet when a few speak of fearing the Lord and really instill the negetive and even frightening aspects found in the Old Testament and the Book Of Revelations, I cringe.  I wonder whether it serves the ego, instead of the soul?   

I Believe that it is a wise and beautiful thing to 'fear' Our Lord.  Not in a trembling and worrisome way of thinking of fire and brimstone, more in the way one fears dissapointing their mom and dad.  A healthy fear that keeps in check with our conscience and allows us to live with dignity and pride.   

So aside from my annoyance of this behaviour, what is my root cause for feeling this way?  My intellect tells me that it may be due to my own dislike of perhaps an inner doubt I may unknowingly have regarding my own Spirituality?   

Plus another thing that I am working on is in discerning the Tiger.  It is very helpful, and I have met situations in a completely foreign manner from my former ways!  Yet there are times that I feel compelled to aid one who I feel is unjustly being treated, and especially if there was no provocation to warrant such treatment. 

If you search my posts you may find one I believe yesterday or perhaps the day before.  I was growing frustrated for Ploppypop, and Charles & Tracy and others..........and I posted a message.  I felt a need to protect Ploppypop and the others, (people I don't really know).  I have always carried this trait with me, it's just I'm learning to subdue my feelings of 'right fighting'.  Why do I want to help others - not a Saint here, I've been a contemptable sinner, and just wonder why I allow others' anger and affect me? 

 your thoughts will be appreciated, 

Peace