WHEN IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON

People always like something new. But they always like old things too.

Yes, there is good in both.

Thomas, I keep listening to you.

Leo: Thanks - the best compliment I've ever received.

"There is but one God, one human race, and, with all of its diversity, one religion - eternal in the past, eternal in the present, and eternal in the future."

Can you expound on this a bit for me?

Catherine: Here is an analogy. The child goes through school one grade at a time; each grade a different teacher, different texts, different lessons, all geared to his/her needs and capacity for greater knowledge. God is the source, His Manifestations His teachers - from Adam through Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad and others down to the present, each with a different Holy Book - comprising different chapters of God's eternal revelation. Religion is ONE, not multiple. Mankind is ONE. We have but to come to this realization and live accordingly.

Hmm simplistic way to perceive things however, I doubt the ONE RELIGION concept would fly especially in the Middle East and in the Southern Belt of the United States where interpretation of words is everything. I do agree with you that there is only one God being followed by different named Religions.

Your thought processes sound alot like Johns Lennon's. You are very young aren't you?

Catherine: Thank you for your thoughts. It seems to me that since there is only one God, and only one human race it stands to reason that the connection between God and man (religion) would have to be one and the same. The differing Religions are named by man and distorted by man, not by God.

Well said. Even if all we saw were smoke and mirrors, the true nature of smoke would have at its source fire, and the allegory for the mirror would be water, with which we are lost without.

Very well put. Thank you.

in your opinion.

It's the opinion of some that my words are merely my opinion; it is the belief of others that my words are an expression of truth. Thank you for commenting.

Very well put; and so succinctly also!!!

Why didn't you feature this?

Thank you Dennis. How does one feature a post? I am not familiar with this.

Sorry. I meant spotlight. Just click on "spotlight" when you are in this post.

Thank you Dennis. I did as you suggested, now we'll see what happens.

You can go to the home page and there find instructions for how to post.

Thomas, well put. Your opinion of unity is shared by many others.

In the Christian tradition -

John 10:16 " I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must lead them too, and they shall hear my voice. There shall be one flock, One shepherd."

John 17:11 "I am in the world no more, but these are in the world as I come to you. O Father most holy, protect them with your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one."

Randy: The John 10:16 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. I guess it means different things to different people, or nothing at all to some. To me it means that Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Moslems and others are all one.

We are all joined by our humanity, but slow to realize we are all brothers and sisters who share the same Father.

Randy: You are absolutely right.

The problem will always be one of voluntary submissiveness.......

........or submissive willingness....

Berfy: Submissiveness ONLY to God; therein lies man's salvation.

True, Thomas.....

Yet, to willingly submit one must first willingly cease to rebel........

It seems that the whole problem exist because we are constantly trying to make others 'THINK' & 'BELIEVE' the same.

Trying to convert others to our way of thinking is futile; it doesn't work. Every person must see the truth through his own eyes and not through the eyes of others. As the old saying goes, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink".

so true Thomas

Thomas:

You have wonderful insight. So true it can be carried further. Into stories of specific congregations breaking up. Giving scandal. That those that preach love don’t love themselves.

I think we move through continuous change. I need a word here. “Church” doesn’t work. It conveys a concrete building with a pastor and advertized services. But rather church with a small c. Church as us. As whenever two or three are gathered ... A little group of believers who mutually reinforce each other. Who love and affirm each other. A little instance of the kingdom of God. This is part of my experience. I felt a pull into religion, like a fly to a bright light. So warm and welcoming. So full of love and insight. It seemed like those people had the answer to fundamental questions. It seemed like a permanent home. But then just as quickly it vanished. We each went our separate ways.

Here’s a picture. In the grand scheme of things, those instances are like raindrops on a pond. You see the splash, God breaking through, you see the waves of goodness and good feeling rippling out and then just as quickly it’s gone. But then another splash comes. And each drop accumulates in the pond.

This seems to be the nature of things. Seems to be how God works. As if God realizes that each instance is imperfect. And though it is wonderful, the members could become self congratulatory and complacent if it were allowed to go on for long. Better to dissolve and start over.

If God works this way, it gives each of us responsibility. Each of us is capable of channeling God into this world. Of creating those temporary instances of the kingdom. It is a matter of bestowing smiles, of loving and affirming each other, of committing senseless acts of kindness and letting goodness ripple out and expecting it to get reflected back. Of enjoying this resonance for as long as it happens. And then moving on, believing strongly, oven knowing, that another instance is about to start and that we each have a role.

It could be.

Cheers.

Jim

Very interesting!