Great Love,

Cliff

Marco

Marco,
I used to be a person that felt I had to keep explaining myself until people understood things the way I do but I no longer have for the most part that compulsion. So my answer to your question is draw your own conclusion as to what my answer means.

Peace
Geo

Bruce, thank you for such a thought out response, in regards to how I perceive your understanding of God as separate male deity I can only say that I have gleaned that from your comments, perhaps too loosely, your understanding of God is very similar to mine, but thinking of life as an extension only of this deity still keeps it separate in the sense and this basically describes theism(the belief in one God as the creator and ruler of the universe), this being the traditional understanding of God that is so worn into our minds we find it strange to consider God any other way.

Theism is dead, the Father figure in the sky (remember it is recorded Jesus physically ascended to his father in heaven) understanding is nothing more than human perception based on the experiences of our ancestors.
Humanity has and is moving on from theism and so then its understanding and experience of God must change with the tidal wave that is an evolving consciousness, the new wine skins of awareness can not fit into the old wine skins of theism.

Jesus taught the realm of God is within, this is a realm where we find our true identity, one that is boundless, formless and beyond explanation with words, experience is the true measure and even that is relative to the one experiencing.

After over 10 years of traditional Christianity I too experienced much freedom when I came into the understanding of Gods Amazing Grace, the Gospel went from an exclusive one to an inclusive one. Any fear I might have held about God died in this new wake of understanding and what I considered revelation. No question it was an awesome experience and one I never thought I would stray from. I remember tears of joy literally rolling down my face, and I am sure many of you can relate.

Although I have moved on from the broken concepts of theism and bankruptcy of believing Jesus literally died for sins, I continue to embrace the spirit of much of what the gospel is you fellows here preach - one of inclusion, we are all equal on this planet, always have been always will be.
God is Love and Love is God. This love has the power to heal and restore.

But, the cross didn’t make this happen as an event, the best it can do is reveal a state that already is. Awareness makes this happen in experience with others. Jesus didn’t die for me to pay a ransom I just could never pay to the ruling male deity, no he died because he is one that lived Life so freely he was able to give it away gracefully and continually to the point where even in death he didn’t hang on to anything self, perhaps other than that he knew Being (as we all are in essence and through Awareness have the capacity for) and this was his empowerment to freely live and freely die. Not doctrines, not beliefs, they are just distractions.

The theism of the day wrapped their language around this mystical, amazing human being and created what we basically understand as Christianity, a shadow at best, a copy that tries so hard to satisfy but one that ultimately never can, why? Theism, layers and layers of it.

I have rambled enough for one night, thank you for your time,

In Christ,

Marco

Once again you have put into the written word exactly as if it came straight from my heart. It is truly an eternal connection we share. I know that we share this connection with all of creation but it’s nice to know someone who recognizes the same things that my heart is testifying to.

Marco, I’m not sure what I might have said that led you to believe that I think “God is out there with some divine plan”. I don’t think that at all, and if I mis-stated my position, I apologize. I believe, as you seem to, that God is in us, and all around us. He is the glue that holds the atoms of everything in the universe together (including our atoms), and is the power that keeps the physical in order. But he is also the source of all life (something beyond the physical), and placed this “life” in this place for a very specific reason. And I believe that he is always closely connected to the life he creates. It is an extension of himself, and it cannot be separated from him.

I think God created this place we call the universe to be a learning-ground. I don’t think for a minute that he is “testing us”, but rather, he is curing us… preparing us for the next great level of existence. I think he crafted this physical realm very carefully to expose us to all the good and bad, ups and downs, backs and forths… that we need to grow as spiritual beings. Problem is, we let our minds dwell in the physical, when we should be focusing on the spiritual. And the spiritual is not “us”, it is life… ALL LIFE. It manifests in the love we put into our relationships, and the hope we have for others. It is the kindness we heap on our friends, and the compassion we share for humanity.

Dwelling on the physical breeds fear. Fear is the enemy of love, hope, kindness and compassion. It causes us to withdraw in self-protection, making us distance ourselves from others. But, rising above fear, abandoning self, and embracing LIFE, breeds love. It is what is left when fear disappears. This is the message of the Cross. Have no fear. I think God said “what will it take to show you how much I love you?” He knew the hearts of his people, and he did what he had to do to prove his love.

It amazes me how so many people still don’t get it. But that has been the message of the church for so many centuries. They have made it their work to gloss over the real meaning of the Cross with a message of requirement, expectation, and obligation for all humanity. Instead of a story of freedom from fear, they preach guilt and shame… “you are not good enough for God, so here is what you need to do! And don’t worry, stick with us, and we will show you how! It won’t be easy, and you need us every step of the way. But, we will lead you through the complexities and confusions of pleasing God, and we will watch over you to make sure you don’t falter. God is demanding, and your quest for perfection is the only thing that will satisfy him! And in the end, it will be up to you as to whether you fall on the favorable side of God’s judgment, or not!”

And people wonder why I dislike fear-based religion so much.

But, there is good news! There is a safe place you can put your mind into, and that is the faith of Christ! He knew about God, and he trusted him. Not that he didn’t have his moments of “self-preservation” (it’s part of life on earth), but he had the courage to, in the end, abandon self and fully trust the Father. It is his faith in God that sets the perfect example of trust. And in perfect trust, there is no fear. Fear destroys love.

When I read the words, “it is finished”, my heart hears, “fear is finished”.

Have no fear.