Another Newbie- Completely With Religion

[UnitedLove]

Hi everyone

 

I am from Australia and new to all religious teachings. I have always been spiritual, but never raised with any religion. I was against religion from all what I did know about it, due to so many hypocrites amongst it and bad things done within the churches. My opinions were mainly based on other people's opinions and experiences drip fed to me through my life also.

 

My biggest memory from childhood was when I was about 7 home sick from school and someone came to the door selling bibles. My mum bought me a children's version. It felt so special straight away. I remember the first pages talking about how loving God was, and the description and pictures of what heaven was like which made me so happy and excited. Flick a few pages and things got ugly fast. God was saying and doing things that didn't make sense to me. Requiring sacrifice and declaring to be a jealous and envious God etc Total opposite to what I had felt in my heart which confused and angered me and I burst in to tears.

Being spiritual I have always had that connection but in a different way. When I finally starting reading the bible this year after getting visions of Jesus flash in my mind when I realised everything they try to make bad is good and vice versa in this world always steering us off the truth, I was left with the question "what did Jesus say". I started reading about Jesus and realised I resonated so much with him and his teachings which had always matched a lot of my beliefs. Thus made me keep reading, digging and seeking for answers, which has led me here in a whirlwind of change mixed with a billion questions and avenues to explore the last 9 months.

 

I realised so many of the problems I had with "Christianity" so did Jesus and God. I was blown away with what I read and how out of context people pinned their beliefs on from certain scripture. Either I am completely perceiving the message wrong, or many others are from being raised and indoctrinated in different times.

Longing to find other open minded people to discuss these findings with is hard. I am just trying to connect with like minded people to see if others have received the same message and awareness from scripture and hear others theories also to grow and learn together whilst seeking truth as a collective.

How do you explain what God and the bible mean to you?

How do you spread the message when your view is different on certain things, and the Christs name has been tarnished by the wolves in sheeps clothing?

Any help, or point in the right direction is welcomed. I have so many questions and theories to bounce around with anyone who is interested.

 

Looking forward to checking out the forum and getting to learn and grow with you all

[BillM]

Welcome, UnitedLove! Glad you found us!

 

Like you, I'm a bit smitten with Jesus but disillusioned with popular Christianity. So I think this is a good, safe place to explore both and see where the journey takes you.

 

For me, God is the Reality in which we live and move and have our being. I don't see God as a genie-in-the-sky, but as a Source of life and love all around us and in us.

 

The bible, for me, is a collection of books written by the Jews and the early Christians that describe how they saw and explained God and their relationship to God. Because, IMO, it is a human record, I don't see it as infallible or inerrant or as necessarily reflecting God's views on things. Nevertheless, I think these ancient groups had some spiritual insights that can be helpful today. But I bring the tools of critical thinking and reason to the scriptures, utilizing modern biblical scholarship.

 

My way of "spreading the message" is simply to live what I believe to be the truth -- that we should love God and one another. I think our actions speak louder than our words. You can find these concepts explained better in the "Eight Points of Progressive Christianity" part of our forum.

 

Again, welcome. I look forward to getting to know you better.

[UnitedLove]

Thanks for the welcome Bill. It's nice to have a place to share common views and thoughts without being thrown in the sin bin for using critical thinking when decerning the truth, which God reminds us to do many times throughout the bible so I can't understand being judged for doing so.

 

I agree with what you've said. Actions always speak louder than words, so walk the walk, so that people are drawn to talk.

 

I've always gone by the golden rule of treat other people the way you want to be treated. This also means honouring ourselves the same way though with self love. It is only when we go within and change internally, can we project that out externally and create change.

 

Look forward to sharing more in the future

[soma]

UnitedLove, I like the way you approach Christianity and the Bible, it seems many Christians use the Bible to shut down and bring to an end spiritual consideration when it is a means to open spiritual reflection. I like the way you take it in, digest and contemplate the material. May we let the Bible expand and deepen our minds with its mythology in order to go beyond it to a spiritual experience and a desire for more light.

[UnitedLove]

Thanks Soma I appreciate your words.

The spirituality of the Bible has been one of my biggest surprises actually , bringing joy and gratitude in a humbling way I never expected. It's like all the knowledge I've accumulated through my life through inquisitive investigation and wonder grows deeper in understanding of the whole with each added piece or layer.

The Bible has so much wisdom to teach on not only what to strive for, but what to avoid through the stories of others experiences, regrets and life changing events that awakened them some how.

 

To me it's become more than my own personal spiritual journey, and more community driven. The saying 'Be the change you want to see in the world' sums it up perfectly. If everyone did this, and as the percentage of people doing this increases, the tsunami of love effect could create dramatic change quite quickly when you think about it.

Ultimately regardless if we achieve the ultimate goal of global peace, we can achieve personal peace with dedication and reflection.

Either way I would rather be part of the change than part of the problem. Love, joy and peace is multiplied when experienced with others and brings a whole new dimension again.

If I had one wish it would be that in that instant the Golden Rule was applied by all beings. With that we could change the world in a instant. We are all responsible.

 

 

I've really enjoyed reading your posts and contributions. You articulate things so beautifully and in a way that really resonates with me. Thank you for sharing your wisdom

[soma]

Many times I take steps leading in different directions, towards the interior to feel love or externally to give love, sometimes feeling pain is purification and sometimes it is joy in inspiration. I also feel we are a part of the world and obliged to help humanity in the outer spiritual realm as others have helped us to transform internally on our unique way to wholeness. “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.” (Mother Teresa) We can’t help everyone in the world, but we can help at least one person smile even if it is just our self.

[UnitedLove]

Soma- I just wanted to thank you for sharing your wisdom. I have resonated deeply with every single post of yours I come across so far. Your perception of the teachings seem to match how my heart interprets the world and life. Reading the scriptures just reaffirmed my beliefs and suddenly all those missing pieces I felt was missing that I couldn't explain was clear. Your shared experiences and explanations on why you view things the way you do, fills me with peace knowing you have many years of searching and knowledge on me. I really appreciate your time and input

 

I have explored many realms seeking knowledge to distinguish if my inner "feelings" and never ending mind ponders were shared by others or could be plausible. Searching for something to help explain my views with validity, as to most I sounded a crazy dreamer gone mad when I expressed them. The Internet changed my world and gave me an Avenue I could explore so many of my ponders without judgement, and the further I looked the more I realized so many people "got it" a long long time ago, and in fields who mock it most were the ones who were defending it back then, standing up for the truth, regardless of persecution. Highly regarded Scientists, mathematicians, philosophists, astronomists etc, People I admired with far greater knowledge than I understanding the mechanics of things that I could never even begin to articulate. I didn't even know why it was I felt or thought the way I did, but it became even more evident that something seriously had gone wrong to be so off course.

I have never in all my searching turned to the bible. Through observation of religious mentality it never interested me in the slightest, for I listen to my heart, and despise control, oppression and injustices in the world. I've always believed in God in reality. My 'God', was an energy source, and that energy was love at its purest that connects us all. Why on earth would i choose a jealous, envious, self righteous, murdering, sacrificing, shaming, hypocritical God, who sounded more like a narcissistic conman, who never practiced what he preached? I never dismissed Jesus' existence, but regardless of his truth the followers didn't seem 'Godly' at all, which made me angry as it all seemed like a big joke, that ruined a lot of peoples lives.

I never expected to find so much truth and wisdom within the bible. How many times throughout the ages we were warned again and again to not be led blindly and foolishly by these so called people of power, within churches and governments. Rise up and stand united in righteousness, for they only gain power if we allow it. The realization, of a growing movement of people awakening to the true message, crying out to all who would listen of the truth with courage, knowing it could be the death of them left me humbled with gratitude and inspired me far greater to become part of the movement, in a profoundly different way than before

I certainly never dreamed it would bring me such peace and contentment. I didn't realize that all these seemingly insignificant thoughts, feelings, wonders, and synchronicities some of which I had given not a thought of or even remembered, would flood back like a movie reel to all the times God had guided me, and put out his hand, and even when I refused, kept calling me and whispering 'remember '.
I've always had that feeling I am here for a reason, and I'm aware how hard the dark forces tried to instil such worthlessness in me to put out my light. The times I was attacked and the times I was protected.
The God vs Satan battle (which I had never read) suddenly resembled so much with everything I believed in dark vs light energy, and what I had observed through my own eyes in the world through my life through corruption, greed, and manipulation of the masses (wolves in sheeps clothing) conditioning us to think, live and react a certain way.

 

In saying that I have also seen massive growth to a new way of thinking. I used to feel like a lone soilder in this world, but now I see an army full of peace and truth seekers actively fighting back with love. This gives me great hope and also understanding into the Bibles teachings.

[UnitedLove]

Many times I take steps leading in different directions, towards the interior to feel love or externally to give love, sometimes feeling pain is purification and sometimes it is joy in inspiration. I also feel we are a part of the world and obliged to help humanity in the outer spiritual realm as others have helped us to transform internally on our unique way to wholeness. “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you.” (Mother Teresa) We can’t help everyone in the world, but we can help at least one person smile even if it is just our self.

 

Whoops was meant to quote this in my post

Edited November 21, 2015 by UnitedLove

[soma]

UnitedLove, Thank you for the inspiration. The spiritual path is a path we walk on alone, but alone does not mean lonely, It means what your name indicates all-one, al-one, alone. I am glad you are reading the Bible with an open mind so your soul can interpret it without religion or denomination just the rapture of God’s pure consciousness which the Bible is pointing to composed of people with many different beliefs and non-beliefs in one love embracing all in atonement (at-one-ment).

 

Christmas is coming and no one can dim the light and joy of it even though people are trying, we have a TV station that starts a war on Christmas every year here in the US. When Christ is born again in the unity of our consciousness we can establish our rebirth in it. It does not demand sacrifice, but a celebration of the perception where we are deprived of nothing or no-thing as our communication with the soul is restored. It gets hold of us because we do not feel guilt or worry about anything because our perspective has changed from looking through the filter of the mind to looking through the soul. The soul never loses its communion with the pure consciousness of Eternity and neither will we when we identify with it and put our mind in the service of the spirit.

 

I use to work in half way houses and started two half way houses one for prisoners and one for the mentally disturbed and around this time of year we always had attempts at suicide. The expectations of Christmas can never be met especially with people manipulating us with their standards for this holiday.There is no need to feel pressured, frustrated and miserable affected by the traditions and expectations of others because there are ways to live with joy and peace by letting the spirit show the way. We are not here to just work and make a living, but to amplify the spirit and enrich the world with our consciousness by establishing the appropriate function of the mind with the thought that we are a soul with a mind. My best Christmases were in non-Christian countries where I was alone, but not lonely. Salutations to the Divinity Within you..........