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Originally posted by Akragon
reply to post by SuperiorEd
The tree of life is allegorical which i tend not to study much of...
Theres many ways of looking at it, but again it depends on whos point of view you learned it from... Some would say the tree of life represents the different chakras in your body. Others believe its a litteral story...like an actual tree located somewhere on the earth at one time *shrug*
I'd like to hear your view on it of course
Originally posted by SuperiorEd
The question is just a reflective question. All texts, other than the Bible, are missing something. Only the Bible can claim this. What would you surmise this to be? Use this Chart. This isn't homework. I'm just curious to know if anything stands out in light of my comment that I can find access to love as the point of life in most other texts.
Originally posted by Akragon
reply to post by SuperiorEd
The tree of life is allegorical which i tend not to study much of...
Theres many ways of looking at it, but again it depends on whos point of view you learned it from... Some would say the tree of life represents the different chakras in your body. Others believe its a litteral story...like an actual tree located somewhere on the earth at one time *shrug*
I'd like to hear your view on it of course
edit on 24-4-2011 by SuperiorEd because: (no reason given)
I'm just curious to know if anything stands out in light of my comment that I can find access to love as the point of life in most other texts
No other book can tell you what will happen tomorrow on the news 2000 years before tomorrow, and then give you a reason it happened.
My next question: How can you doubt?
Originally posted by Akragon
reply to post by SuperiorEd
I'm just curious to know if anything stands out in light of my comment that I can find access to love as the point of life in most other texts
I wouldn't really say that is the point of life, though ultimately that may be the goal... to love everything unconditionally. Life is about learning through experience...
No other book can tell you what will happen tomorrow on the news 2000 years before tomorrow, and then give you a reason it happened.
My next question: How can you doubt?
I don't think the bible can predict the future. I've seen many claims but its always after the fact.... Some event happens and then people find passages in the bible that they can relate to the situation. Then they get all wound up and freak out because they think it was predicted by the bible which it wasn't. Theres a lot of wisdom in the bible theres no doubt about that... but i think people read to far into who wrote what, when they can just find the one message that can spread peace and harmony through out the world.
How can i doubt? I don't doubt, i discount nothing from what i read... though i will say that some passages in the bible were Not inspired by God but instead greedy hateful men trying to further their own agendas. Then again i don't know, and i won't make any claims to know exactly who wrote what. The fact is it was inspired, yet still written by the hand of men, which leaves doubt as to what the true messages and teachings were. Gnostic texts were the major belief before christianity, and look what happened to them... The church wiped them out... God inspired people commiting mass murder in the name of God...
I have my issues with believing every word is from God, but it doesn't matter anyways. I know the message and i don't need any book to spread it.
edit on 24-4-2011 by Akragon because: (no reason given)
I know the message and i don't need any book to spread it.
Originally posted by SorensDespair
reply to post by SuperiorEd
It's not a single book, but a series of multiple books.
What about the non-canonical scriptures (those not in the bible)? And which bible? Some texts that are in the Catholic bible aren't in the protestant. Some that are in the Ethiopian orthodox canon aren't in the Eastern Orthodox canon.
Originally posted by SuperiorEd
You are possibly starting your search in the wrong direction. Most of us did or are doing this. Start with the root.
If we want to cure cancer, the best starting point is to find the environmental trigger for the cancer.
It would be presumptuous to say God is wrong or the Bible is flawed if you have not been searching from the right direction and perspective. If you need to ask what that direction or perspective is, then you haven't found it. When you have, there will be no doubt.
Disagreeing with me is bias. What I just said is bias. At some point, someone will be right and it takes the removal of the bias to know and agree. By running around saying that it is incorrect is chasing your tail. Examine and test everything. The Bible says this by the way.
The root for knowing truth is knowing 'self' for what it is--pride.
We are all driven by pride until we are not. Until then, we are driven only for self and little else. It doesn't start with a search of texts, engraved rocks or anything in the material world. You have most likely read many texts and come across the part about approaching truth with clean hands and a pure heart. This represents eliminating bias and pride. If you remain proud, you are the only one that can be right. Are you sure you are?
To do this, develop loving-kindness to others.
If you are reaching from within the material world, then you can only draw more of it in. It never fills you up.
Don't be biased against God unless you can claim to be above Him. Make the claim and you will find you are wrong.
Is God the Biblical God?
Originally posted by Akragon
Harming another being is wrong no matter which way you look at it... the problem is when people start saying things like "God condones murder" This is why i feel im here many times, to provide understanding to those that believe such foolishness.
Regardless of what you read in the bible or anywhere that mentions God, he/she/it....never has a reason to harm another... that my friend is a fact
And no i wasn't having a "go" at you lol....theres a lot of versions of the bible, i was refering to whatever one you might read.
Originally posted by awake_and_aware
I know the message and i don't need any book to spread it.
Without the bible and/or words of other men....God is only God. God is what we don't understand. If someone states they can extract moral and ethical teaching from simply observing reality then please show us how to do so.edit on 25/4/11 by awake_and_aware because: (no reason given)
Your conscience guides you through out your life, wether you chose to listen is your issue and no one elses.
Originally posted by awake_and_aware
reply to post by Akragon
oh please
Your conscience guides you through out your life, wether you chose to listen is your issue and no one elses.
Tell that to someone who's ever made a mistake. Tell that to a killer. Morality is not objective. "Rights" and "Wrongs" are subjective from culture to culture, country to country and one time in history to another.
Stop with the pseudo spiritualist nonsense.
Do you really think telling me to stop will actually work?
Worth a try. You give the impression that you are able to reveal wisdom beyond what is known by man - As if youre belief in a sky being, or "infinity" or "eternity" somehow makes you enlightened, or more open-minded than everyone.
I guess i seem hostile, i'm just jelous of your enlightenment to these special forces. At your ability to be able to determine any moral position by consulting the "spirit within"
Im no better or worse then you or anyone else my friend, i just have an understanding of things most people don't, but that doesn't make me any better then another man
27But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you
Originally posted by awake_and_aware
reply to post by Akragon
Im no better or worse then you or anyone else my friend, i just have an understanding of things most people don't, but that doesn't make me any better then another man
Well, when it's regarding the source of the universe and all creation, i'd say you're at least a pretty respectable and commendable guy, if you specialised to such a degree in "GOD".
Why do you think there's no PHD for a belief in God? Maybe the knowledge that you have, could be made into an academic subject?edit on 25/4/11 by awake_and_aware because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by awake_and_aware
27But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you
Love those Nazis.
Love the Westboro Baptist Church.
Love Stalin.
Love rapists.
If no one hated them, they'd get away with a lot more. If we love the Nazis, "god forbid" what would happen.
Originally posted by awake_and_aware
reply to post by Akragon
oh please
Your conscience guides you through out your life, wether you chose to listen is your issue and no one elses.
Tell that to someone who's ever made a mistake. Tell that to a killer. Morality is not objective. "Rights" and "Wrongs" are subjective from culture to culture, country to country and one time in history to another.
Stop with the pseudo spiritualist nonsense.