This goes back to the argument that I was having with you the other day.
If the Bible is not literally true (whilst considering genre, syntax, narrative, etc.) - what is the point in believing anything that it says?
You could relegate it to "literature" which would make sense to me but anything beyond that seems very strange.
I am a person who isn't deeply religious or abide to any organised religion. I suppose you could describe me as someone who is looking, or searching. You're talking about a Christian perspective, and a Christian perspective I imagine that is orthodox. That doesn't necessarily mean you can't gain influence though from other religions just as long as it doesn't contradict the core doctrine of your own. There are schools of thought that interprets the bible more esoterically as opposed to literally. In other words, they view the stories of the bible as allegory, communicating a deeper esoteric meaning. The Jewish Kabbalah is a good example of this.
The Kabbalah in some ways has similarities to other religions. It believes in reincarnation and the idea that we will continually be reincarnated in the world until we reach perfection. Once perfection is reached we will return to the absolute. Of course this is contrary to Christian thought.
In the more esoteric schools of thought, not just christianity, but all religion is viewed in a similar way. The stories are metaphor, allegory communicating a deeper truth. In that sense all religion is viewed as being similar on an esoteric level, having the same core ideas and views of god. A universally accepted view for instance is that god is infinite. He is without form, the nothing, or rather the
no-thing; He is no thing. He has no beginning or end. Time has no meaning. The universe is mental. It is conceived within the infinite mind of god. Absolute reality is infinite. Finite reality then is merely how WE perceive it. It is there simply because we observe it. Behind our perception of it, there is no past or future only the NOW. The infinite no-thing.
Of course such a concept doesn't need you to believe any specific religion it is universal. Based on the logical conclusions of an infinite god.
If original sin is preposterous/if God commands immoral things/if Jesus never died for anyones sin - why believe in heaven or hell?
Because you want to? Because it's a nice thought? What evidence do you have for your opinion?
Another way of viewing sin is simply being the opposite of god. We are opposite simply because that is the nature of the created. The creator has no beginning or end. That which he creates is of course the opposite; that which has beginning and end. However, absolute reality is infinite. There is no space outside of absolute reality for a finite reality and universe to exist. Perception then is what separates us. It is like the sun shining through a stained glass window. The light does not change, it is merely how the stained glass window filters that light. Perception could be seen as the veil that protects us from the burning light of the sun(god). To be completely exposed to the light would bring us to the realisation that the world we perceive is an illusion, which would also mean WE are an illusion. Observation of absolute reality brings us to the realisation that only god exists;
no-thing exists.
In esoteric schools of thought there is this idea that god is becoming. That creation is god experiencing himself. There is a concept known as Yesh and Ayin. Yesh is everything that there is and Ayin is nothing. The world in which we live is essentially an illusion. All that exists is ayin. To confused things, god is both. Yesh and Ayin are one and the same. This brings me to Atzmus (the essence). This is the paradox of paradoxes. The atzmus consciousness, the essence of god, is neither absolute nothing or absolute something; rather it is both. While god as
no-thing is limited by infinite expression, the essence of god is neither absolute nothing or absolute something. Nothing and something are one and the same thing. The illusion exists infinitely within the mind of god, therefore it is very much a part of god. Of course this can not be explained or understood fully as it is incomprehensible.
Perhaps you could view evolution in the sense of becoming gradually perfected to the point where absolute reality within the Atzmus can the be revealed. Where we are not burned by the perfection and purity of god.
This also gives you a unique view of orthodox Christianity. This view states that no one can see the face of god because everyone has sinned. If finite reality infinitely exists then the corruption of physical existence, the animalistic self exist for all eternity. In other words through the revelation of god we are returned to the fire and sent back to the essence. Christ in the literal sense then would be that which unites the finite with the infinite. God is flesh. He was conceived within the womb of Mary(beginning) and died on the cross (end). However, He exists before the creation of the earth and lives forever (resurrection). He is neither one nor the other but both. God is all and god is nothing. Christ unites the physical making it REAL bringing heaven down to earth. In other words the 'I' the ego, the self exists infinitely. The individual YOU exists infinitely within the body of christ. Through which you experience the atzmus.
And here lies the reality. It is all interpretation. Gnosticism for instance is shown as one universal theory, but in reality there were different gnostic sects that, while having very similar beliefs, also interpreted things differently. The same in organised religion of course. No one person can state they have the absolute answer, they can only interpret those scriptures, create views and theories that they feel best fits.
I don't know for sure what the truth is, but what I do know is, it isn't completely far-fetched to believe god exists. I live quite earthly really, it is hard not to as that is the reality we experience, but a part of me wants to live my life the best I can. I at least try to treat people the way I want to be treated myself. And that is the main principle of my living at this point. Maybe one day I will find what I am truly looking for,
