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Post by Admin on Mar 17, 2020 20:56:58 GMT
One example is the apostasy of the church in the times before Jesus' return. I can see that many churches are exactly what you hate about organized religion. Because they've departed from the simplicity of the way of Christ and care more about man-made traditions and theologies than following Jesus' teachings. The Bible predicted a falling away and a lack of love. It's happening. Every religion has always & does have these divisions between people claiming that theirs is the true faith / practise / understanding / denomination. Religions are always splitting / fracturing. Have you seriously studied the entire history of the Gnostic's & / or the Eastern Orthodoxy?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2020 20:57:43 GMT
But I hope that made sense. I can endlessly debate an idea. But an encounter with a Personal Being... It gets trickier. i don't have such an encounter / connection. It doesn't entirely make sense to me. That is normal. I didn't either.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2020 20:58:37 GMT
i think that we can state that Christ existed, & that he was a spiritual teacher & a significant figure. Other than that i don't know what we can categorically state about it all? i don't trust the Bible as an accurate text / document, for a number of reasons. Beyond a simple / down to earth story - & many have proposed one - Untold Jesus: The Two Thousand Year Old Secret Book by Grant H. Pealer Is well worth a read & very good example. It is all conjectures of faith / belief. Untold Jesus. Will take a look.
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Post by Admin on Mar 17, 2020 20:59:19 GMT
i don't have such an encounter / connection. It doesn't entirely make sense to me. That is normal. I didn't either. & so what makes you different? A chosen one? One of the elect / saved? One of the 144 thousand? i don't buy all this stuff.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2020 21:02:15 GMT
i don't have such an encounter / connection. It doesn't entirely make sense to me. i also don't see how it's intrinsically different to the relationship / encounters millions of other people have / do claim with countless other divine Beings / gods? Spiritual encounters are common. All spiritual encounters aren't good. Am encounter with a demon claiming to be God is still a spiritual encounter. Malcolm X had a spiritual encounter. He then became Islamic because it "worked for him" and "made sense". I don't think it was God. I believe the evidence of an encounter with God is living in love and righteousness. If you aren't doing those things, it wasn't the true God, you encountered.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2020 21:05:22 GMT
That is normal. I didn't either. & so what makes you different? A chosen one? One of the elect / saved? One of the 144 thousand? i don't buy all this stuff. My life has changed. My character is somehow like God. Before, it simply wasn't. Sin mopped the floor up with me. Now it doesn't. I didn't want to live anymore. Now I do. I didn't experience love. Now I do. This can happen to anyone, not just 144,000. We don't know who's chosen or not. We just know we have a choice.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2020 21:06:27 GMT
That is normal. I didn't either. & so what makes you different? A chosen one? One of the elect / saved? One of the 144 thousand? i don't buy all this stuff. Purchase is optional. All the best either way, : )
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Post by Admin on Mar 17, 2020 21:07:24 GMT
i also don't see how it's intrinsically different to the relationship / encounters millions of other people have / do claim with countless other divine Beings / gods? Spiritual encounters are common. All spiritual encounters aren't good. Am encounter with a demon claiming to be God is still a spiritual encounter. Malcolm X had a spiritual encounter. He then became Islamic because it "worked for him" and "made sense". I don't think it was God. I believe the evidence of an encounter with God is living in love and righteousness. If you aren't doing those things, it wasn't the true God, you encountered. Yup - we're back with your religion / God / Jesus / Belief system / spirituality is the one True one - everything / everyone else is wrong / false / Demonic.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2020 21:10:40 GMT
Spiritual encounters are common. All spiritual encounters aren't good. Am encounter with a demon claiming to be God is still a spiritual encounter. Malcolm X had a spiritual encounter. He then became Islamic because it "worked for him" and "made sense". I don't think it was God. I believe the evidence of an encounter with God is living in love and righteousness. If you aren't doing those things, it wasn't the true God, you encountered. Yup - we're back with your religion / God / Jesus / Belief system / spirituality is the one True one - everything / everyone else is wrong / false / Demonic. Most religions believe they are right. I don't really see an issue with that. My issue is when people say they are all equally valid. Logically, that is impossible.
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Post by Admin on Mar 17, 2020 21:11:42 GMT
Most religions believe they are right. I don't really see an issue with that. My issue is when people say they are all equally valid. Logically, that is impossible. & imo all religions are equally invalid.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2020 21:16:47 GMT
Most religions believe they are right. I don't really see an issue with that. My issue is when people say they are all equally valid. Logically, that is impossible. & imo all religions are equally invalid. What makes you think that?
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Post by Admin on Mar 17, 2020 21:22:34 GMT
What makes you think that? Thought that i had explained in the rest of the thread & at other times in other conversations on other forums. Because a Belief system / Religion is human made - it does not categorically answer the questions as to the whole of truth & reality / all that is. i find it interesting to look at a psychological perspective as to what people believe & why, & at human experience, & to look at all areas of science / philosophy & comparative religion / spirituality - as to to the ultimate truth of it all who categorically knows? i have my own belief system / thinking - i have my own soul / truth / wisdom - i don't personally follow any specific religion however. At best the highest spiritual teachings of all religions are simply a finger pointing to the moon.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2020 21:32:01 GMT
What makes you think that? Thought that i had explained in the rest of the thread & at other times in other conversations on other forums. Because a Belief system / Religion is human made - it does not categorically answer the questions as to the whole of truth & reality / all that is. i find it interesting to look at a psychological perspective as to what people believe & why, & at human experience, & to look at all areas of science / philosophy & comparative religion / spirituality - as to to the ultimate truth of it all who categorically knows? i have my own belief system / thinking - i have my own soul / truth / wisdom - i don't personally follow any specific religion however. At best the highest spiritual teachings of all religions are simply a finger pointing to the moon. In theory, though, if you had the moon, you wouldn't have to wonder about it all anymore. My belief is that we don't want the moon. We say we do. But darkness suits us because we like to hide. We want to live as we please. The moon is beautiful. But lest we be exposed, we keep it dim. I like that analogy. Thank you. I'm satisfied with this discussion. I'll take a look at that book you mentioned.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2020 21:47:25 GMT
Satisfied and happy.
We literally agree on nothing but you patiently allowed me to explain myself on a forum where you could've ejected me at any time.
It is rather big of you, and a rare thing in a world of constant strife.
It takes character to respect a person you disagree with. I hope all kinds of discussions can be more like this.
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Post by Admin on Mar 17, 2020 21:54:22 GMT
In theory, though, if you had the moon, you wouldn't have to wonder about it all anymore. My belief is that we don't want the moon. We say we do. But darkness suits us because we like to hide. We want to live as we please. The moon is beautiful. But lest we be exposed, we keep it dim. From the perspective of the experience / state of Being of genuine Self / God realisation - Gnosis / Samadhi / Moksha / Enlightenment etc, a surrendering of the Ego, realisation & allowance of what is - i think incredibly few people who even have / do attain such states. This is a Dark & Sick planet - it's an Age of the Ego. i don't think many people do want to even attempt to try & follow a genuinely dedicated & disciplined path of spiritual practise. & i'd wager it takes many thousands of lifetimes to graduate incarnation & attain a deeper realisation / awareness.
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