Zone1 Henry David Thoreau did not believe in organized religion, but that God was all around and in us.

[MarathonMike]

I don't question anybody's faith though I know those who don't believe in God are wrong about that.

Einstein wasn't a believer of a "God in us" but he was a believer in some sort of cosmic intelligence ordering and driving the entire universe. Just figuring the odds, he didn't think everything that is could just be via chance or even natural selection.

Then there are the believers in strict religious rules and dogma. Others who put far less importance on that than they do with a personal relationship with the living Christ.

But however one looks for God, I leave it up to God on how and when and by what means they will ultimately know Him. I am confident all who want that will get there especially if they don't expect to make the rules about when and how that will happen.

Those are fair points. From my perspective, Deists and spiritualists etc. don't expect to make any rules about meeting God. It's more like God is unknowable and "unmeetable" (not a word) and that's ok.

 

[Foxfyre]

Those are fair points. From my perspective, Deists and spiritualists etc. don't expect to make any rules about meeting God. It's more like God is unknowable and "unmeetable" (not a word) and that's ok.

Still there seems to be an insatiable curiosity about God and I think there is always a little pull at their hearts/intellect for answers. So again, I think all who want to know will know.

I also think it important that Christians be wise, gentle, and loving about that. I shudder to think how many have been turned away from the Christ/God by the unattractive, unpleasant, judgmental way He was introduced to them.

 

[Cougarbear]

He seemed to be a fine, peaceful man from what I have read about him. What are your thoughts on Henry David Thoreau? Were his anti-religious spiritual views wrong?

Thoreau’s Religious Views | The Walden Woods Project

Henry Thoreau lived through a time in which the Church was fracturing. When Puritans first settled New England, they adhered to the Church’s strict rules, such as fully confessing sins. However…

www.walden.org

Why did you say they were anti-religious if he said God is all around and in us? You mean, anti-organized churches or organizations. The fact that Jesus Christ organized a definite church in his days and the Apostles continued it with the Priesthoods, Bishops, Teachers, prophets, apostles and so on, he's wrong that there could be no actual true church of Jesus Christ. And, he was right in that until the Godhead came to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the churches from about 100 A.D. to 1820 A.D. were apostasy churches.

 

[ding]

He seemed to be a fine, peaceful man from what I have read about him. What are your thoughts on Henry David Thoreau? Were his anti-religious spiritual views wrong?

Thoreau’s Religious Views | The Walden Woods Project

Henry Thoreau lived through a time in which the Church was fracturing. When Puritans first settled New England, they adhered to the Church’s strict rules, such as fully confessing sins. However…

www.walden.org

Pantheism - the belief that God is a part of everything - is a religion so to speak.

Pantheism is a belief system that equates God with the universe or nature, suggesting that the divine is not separate from the physical world but is instead immanent within it. Pantheists believe that the universe is divine and sacred, and they often emphasize the interconnectedness of all things.

 

[MarathonMike]

Pantheism - the belief that God is a part of everything - is a religion so to speak.

Pantheism is a belief system that equates God with the universe or nature, suggesting that the divine is not separate from the physical world but is instead immanent within it. Pantheists believe that the universe is divine and sacred, and they often emphasize the interconnectedness of all things.

Yes, similar to American Indian beliefs that always made sense to me.

 

[MarathonMike]

You mean, anti-organized churches or organizations.

Yes, that is what I meant.

 

[ding]

Yes, similar to American Indian beliefs that always made sense to me.

I’m more in the personal God camp. I don’t believe the painter is the painting.

 

[ding]

Yes, that is what I meant.

Pantheism doesn’t necessarily mean anti organized religion as that implies they are against organized religion. I think it is more like they are indifferent at worst and supporting of the choices of others at best. Its the do unto others thingee.

 

[Eman623]

Thoreau's views align fairly closely with my own. I believe in God but not religion.

I don't really look for spiritual guidance though. My belief in God is self-contained and no seeking after truth or striving for whatever is required. All one has to do to believe in God, is to believe in God.

 

[MarathonMike]

Pantheism doesn’t necessarily mean anti organized religion as that implies they are against organized religion. I think it is more like they are indifferent at worst and supporting of the choices of others at best. Its the do unto others thingee.

Yes, anti-Religious does have a bit of a negative connotation that I did not intend.

 

[Carl in Michigan]

God is everywhere at once.
, so he was partially right

So why did He send angels (one was the Son of Man) to VERIFY that the REPORT of Sodom's sins justified TOTAL ANNIHILATION of the city?

There are many such examples. No, God is not omnipresent, but more like He senses a disturbance in the force.

God DELEGATES responsibilities.
And yes, His People should meet together whenever possible. This is THE DEFINITION of the Church -- a HOLY CONVOCATION

 

[my2¢]

I don't see Thoreau as wrong or anti-religious. I gather Thoreau held that religion was a personal matter.

As the article states, he lived during the time when the church was fracturing. In 1833 Massachusetts ended the use of public funds going towards a state sponsored church as religious matters were separating into varied denominations.

 

[toobfreak]

Henry David Thoreau did not believe in organized religion, but that God was all around and in us.​

So, that puts Henry very much in a similar school of thought as the Taoists or Jainists, even if he never realized it.

 

[Manonthestreet]

So why did He send angels (one was the Son of Man) to VERIFY that the REPORT of Sodom's sins justified TOTAL ANNIHILATION of the city?

There are many such examples. No, God is not omnipresent, but more like He senses a disturbance in the force.

God DELEGATES responsibilities.
And yes, His People should meet together whenever possible. This is THE DEFINITION of the Church -- a HOLY CONVOCATION

He sent his Angels to escort Lot out, not to verify the situation....Lot loved his sin and barely made it out

 

[Carl in Michigan]

He sent his Angels to escort Lot out, not to verify the situation....Lot loved his sin and barely made it out

Genesis 18:20

Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

Like I said, He senses a disturbance in the he force.

 

[Manonthestreet]

Genesis 18:20

Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

Like I said, He senses a disturbance in the he force.

You have a small god..... Multiple verses attesting to his omniscience

 

[Carl in Michigan]

You have a small god..... Multiple verses attesting to his omniscience

This is what pride and ignorance looks like. Everyone wants to create their own gods rather than understand Scripture

 

[Manonthestreet]

This is what pride and ignorance looks like. Everyone wants to create their own gods rather than understand Scripture

If he is not....then he he is not God

 

[Manonthestreet]

30 Powerful bible verses about god's omniscience (Full Commentary) - Bible Study For You

Today we will talk about Bible verses about God's omniscience. Many Christians do not fully understand what it means for God to be all-knowing. At its core,

biblestudyforyou.com

 

[Carl in Michigan]

If he is not....then he he is not God

He is not your concept of God.
It's easier to just believe His Word