Dear
GreatestIam
RE: God here I define as the best laws and rules to live life with
That's good, we can agree on this.
I believe this is consistent with laws of nature and the universe.
Whatever might be called "supernatural" forces that come with collective energy,
the patterns of cause and effect, can be demonstrated by natural science and studies based on scientific method.
So whatever sickness comes from playing with witchcraft, sorcery voodoo and dark energy,
if this is true, then it can be shown by science, at least correlations even if causality still remains faith based.
Like theory of gravity can be shown to work consistently even if it remains faith based.
Or patterns of dreaming occur in the brain, and can be shown by science to occur, but the contents of the dreams remains faith based.
And whatever healing comes from forgiving and removing the cause of addiction or abuse,
this effect can be shown to be a process and pattern using science.
If you are going back to the natural laws, and consider the teachings of Jesus connected more with that,
I believe that works, again, by including the cause/effect of "forgiveness/unforgiveness"
in with the natural laws that govern man and affect our conscience,
both individually and collective.
What I align with this God/Christ/HolySpirit is
the COLLECTIVE level of body/mind/spirit of man.
Ideally the individual level and collective level should be one in spirit.
So that is what religions can be used for -- to define the
LAWS or RELATIONS between individual man and whatever we call the
COLLECTIVE level of truth, will, laws etc. that God's law represent.
In secular terms Jesus would translate into Justice,
and as you and I both see in human history there are two sides
to this double edged sword -- the divide and conquer abuse of justice as Antichrist
that is fear based and coercive; the unifying and healing use of Justice with Mercy
which is the Christ Jesus I understand to be universal and positive, including all humanity in Salvation.
Restorative Justice is the opposite of the evils
you and I see as religion has been abused POLITICALLY for greed and control which is ANTICHRIST.
I agree that the true meaning and teachings of Jesus
fulfill the natural laws.
You may be one of the Righteous Gentiles who follows natural laws
and isn't into all the Scriptural authority and rebuke of the churched tribes, the Jewish Christian and Muslim
who try to incorporate God into the laws and live them religiously.
I am also more of the Gentiles/natural law tribe that uses the language of
nontheists, Buddhists, even Constitutionalists for secular laws of governing man's relations and equal justice.
I happen to have received the fuller understanding of Christ that the religious do under Scripture.
and use that as a second language to speak to fellow neighbors in Christ who respond to rebuke using that venue.
Likewise if people commit to Buddhist principles I use that language with them so we can reach agreement and help each other solve conflicts.
If people use Constitutional language, I find that extremely helpful to resolve political issues and abuses by spelling out the violations and grievances
using common terms.
So these religions these languages for the laws
can be used as a tool to communicate among neighbors of that tribe that responds
and follows that path. We can reach agreement this way, tribe by tribe,
and bring peace one situation at a time.
COLLECTIVELY this brings about the world peace or paradise/heaven on earth
so many religions prophecy. But in the natural world,
as you and I, this takes work in the real sense and is not some "supernatural God" changing it for us.
The only part that might seem "supernatural" is how forgiveness
and divine grace seems to transform people and relations into new beings and new life.
Bringing people from death to rebirth.
That might seem "supernatural" in a sense.
But again, if you follow the patterns of unforgiveness causing destruction and death, sickness and suffering,
while forgiveness brings healing and restoration,
it follows a natural law that can be quantified by science.
So that doesn't have to be supernatural but just a fact of life.
Thanks
GreatestIam
I see no reason we should reject each other.
The natural laws are the second fold of the same flock
and Jesus governs both.
In honor of our friendship and future understanding
I hope this conversation leads to DL, I will dedicate
this song to you under the thread for song dedications:
http://www.houstonprogressive.org
I have been greatly outraged and aggrieved in the past how poorly
Christianity has been taught, and how dangerously and genocidally abused,
but the more I can forgive the easier it is to correct the misteachings.
So I hope forgiveness opens the door for you and others like us
who understand Jesus fulfilling the natural laws to share with others
and not run into this age old rejection that is dividing and destroying humanity.
May we come away from these discussions with a newfound sense
of wonder, appreciation and renewal from greater understanding of
God's laws. Thank you so much, and I hope this song speaks to you:
http://www.houstonprogressive.org
(A) "Tell the Tribes" to the tune of "Terrible Lies" by NIN
(B) SEE also: http://www.houstonprogressive.org
Second Coming (also sung to NIN):
.... The Jesus you know Is jealous and small-minded,
Judges by appearance
And not heart, mind and soul
The Jesus you know Is selfish and short-sighted
Rejects half His sheep In a separate fold
Jesus loves us all - I know
My own conscience tells me so
The truth was written there all along
Bless the churches who teach it all wrong
If we don't forgive what we were taught
The Lord will say He knew us not
We must forgive what we were taught
False prophets in the eyes of God