Re: Second "regression" -- Seekers

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Date Posted: 21:06:39 07/26/02 Fri
Author: Appy20
Subject: Re: Second "regression"
In reply to: gnossis 's message, "Re: Second "regression"" on 18:20:35 07/26/02 Fri

I believe Jesus' true message got lost after He died. I also tend to think moving away from most organized religions is spiritual progression. Most organized religion is exclusive and conforming. In contrast, the divine loves diversity. After some point, dogma kills love for fellow human beings when they don't conform to the rules. Eventually, many great lovers of humanity are excluded from or disenchanted with the church. They often have to pull away from the Church to do what they must do. Jesus upset the orthodox in his day by preaching about God's love. They killed Him for it. Mother Theresa could not begin her ministry until she left the Catholic Church.

I have told this story before til I am blue in the face but I think it sums up a seeker's experience. Kirby Godsey is president of Mercer University in Macon. He wrote this awesome book. After a lifetime devoted to religious studies and deep religious commitment, he came to the conclusion that no one goes to Hell. He thinks religion is just really two commandments. Love God, Love people. He was nearly thrown out of the Southern Baptist Convention. Most organized religion cannot deal with the fact that God loves everybody. Even a religion that professes God's love on bumper stickers.

People get into a church and the worst of group dynamics eventually takes over. Many spiritually unevolved people can only feel loved as long as there is somebody somewhere unloved (going to hell). Many groups can only feel warm and fuzzy about their organization as long as they have a common enemy somewhere. When the enemy is vanquished, they start on each other until another foe appears on the horizon. Seekers are often sensitive to this and question it. Even when it is not happening to us. We wonder where the love went. We are the first to start wondering if it was ever there. So, we either lose our faith in God entirely or we hit the trail searching for a path of our own.

When we follow our own path, I believe we are following a beacon from God. He wants us to find the love and not settle for anything less.

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Replies:

Re: Second "regression" -- gnossis, 12:31:05 07/27/02 Sat