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"By DagoodS"
(Title by Voltaire)
Claiming that a person does not believe in God because of their Pride is a rotten argument. Do not be surprised if it fails to even nudge the skeptic.
It is often said, in the debate of why a person believes or not, that the non-believer failed to be humble, or thought too much of themselves, or was arrogant, and thus dismissed the concept of God. Since it is not true, the statement fails to compel.
If you are guilty of using this claim in a debate, you can save your breath and your fingers.
You see, in order to be persuasive, we must talk in concepts and ideas that the OTHER person can relate to, not simply push out some platitude and assume that it is effective. I may find it extremely persuasive that a Chevrolet Corvette can go from 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds. That may be the impetus by which I am persuaded to purchase the vehicle. Can you imagine my using this selling feature to a mother with three children? While she may be thrilled to hear how fast she can escape reality, upon looking at the two-seater, and the luggage space only large enough for a briefcase, she would be less than impressed with my sales technique. She wants space, not speed.
The people that are the most persuasive are the ones that first determine what motivates their target. If money, the salesman puts it in terms of economics. If power, in terms of might. If love, in terms of romance.
As pride had nothing to do with my transformation of beliefs, a person telling me that "It is because you were too proud" is amazingly ineffective. Place the shoe on the other foot. If I told you that the only reason you believe in a God, is because you have been brainwashed, does this impel you to question why you believe? Of course not! You are very aware you were not brainwashed, so my stating such does not motivate you, and it actually harms my argument, since you know my initial premise is incorrect.
"You have been brainwashed to believe in a God. If you would only stop being brainwashed, you would see that there is no God."
Not very convincing, is it? Then why use the same, unconvincing tactic on others?
Have you ever thought about how many people you are throwing into this label of "pride"? Billions and Billions. There are only a few million (if that) persons that believe in your particular God. I am not talking about Jesus to the Christian, or Allah to the Muslim or YHWH to the Jew, I am talking about your specific God, with all of its nuances, flavors, and idiosyncrasies. If you are a protestant, that particular "God" did not appear before the 16th Century. A Calvinist, not until Calvin. If you reject some Holy book and writings, but accept others, how many other persons have you met that fully aligned with every word and phrase that you do?
Very few believe exactly as you do regarding infants, baptism, salvation, marriage, election, etc. But even then, that will always leave Billions of persons both before, now and later, that do not believe in your particular God. Are every single one of them too proud to buy into your particular god?
As we go through life, our views of our God can change. Is it true that every time this view changed, and we no longer believed our former God, the change came about from pride? If a Christian converted a Jew, would that change of belief be from Pride? What about a Jew that converts a Christian? Is that Pride? How can we be so arrogant to state that when a person modifies their belief to our belief, it is proper, but when they modify their belief to something that is not, it is pride?
When I was growing up, God didn't like Movie Theaters. They were places of sin, iniquity, evil and bad popcorn. My parents didn't go to Movies, my siblings did not go to Movies, my friends did not, my church mates did not, my school mates did not. I knew no one that was upright, moral, or pure that would ever even THINK of going to a movie.
My brother and I snuck into "Cannonball Run "and thought we had gotten away with murder! Then came the Video Cassette Recorder......
Between 1980 and 1984, our community saw a transformation. All of a sudden, God liked Movies! Was this change in belief in what God liked/dis-liked have anything to do with pride? Did it have to do with intellectual change? Nope, it was a cultural change. When movies became so readily available, to prohibit them appeared ridiculous.
Now that we know Billions of people are suffering from similar bouts of pride in their refusal to believe a particular god, the next step, beyond stating it, is to proof it out.
At first blush, "you have pride, therefore do not believe in my god" appears to be poisoning the well. You know, when you taint the water so bad, no one dares drink it to be made a fool. If I protest and say, "It is not pride" the first response is, "Sad. Too proud to see his pride." If I fail to protest, it confirms the statement.
At second blush, the statement, "you have pride and therefore do not believe in my god" is preaching to the choir. The only ones buying it are the ones that agree with that particular God.
On occasion, I heard preachers talk about how good it is people sacrifice their Sunday to attend their church that morning. Think about it. The ONLY persons hearing that are....People attending church! "You guys are great for doing what you are doing. Those guys (who aren't here and can't hear me) are bad for not being here." Makes the audience so happy (dare I say "proud"?) to pat themselves on the back for being so holy. And no harm, because the unholy ones didn't even hear it.
The only people that agree we non-believers are too proud to believe in your God, are the select few that believe with you. No body else. You are selling to an audience that has already bought the product. Is that the intention of this statement?
Simply stating it is not enough. You must proof out the assertion; prove that people are deliberately refusing to acquiesce to your God because of pride.
Yes, I know. You have the proof; because God told you. Are you forgetting those Billions of other people? Billions of OTHER gods told Billions of OTHER people that YOU have too much pride to buy into their individual belief. I am being told by conflicting God-beliefs that I have too much pride to believe in their God. No matter how we turn, you and I are doomed. There is some God-belief out there that we are both being too proud to believe.
Yes, I know. But your God-belief is the correct one. After which I immediately hear Billions of voices shouting, "No, MY belief is the correct one." We have to do better than merely assertion. We have to do better than merely, "God says so."
A question that always pops in my head is, "Proud of what? My thinking? My humanity?" We hear the phrase, "Atheists think they know more than God," or "You worship your mind," or "You have faith in your brain," none of which is accurate.
Am I proud of my thinking? I am well-aware that in some areas I think better than some people, and worse than others. In other areas, I think worse them some and better than others. Even a super-genius can be wrong, and a 2-year-old can be right.
Thinking is on a scale. Some of us are numbers people, some are visual, some artistic, and some can write poetry to beat the band. For every reason I have to be proud of my ability to think, I have just as many, if not more, to be humble. I can process out arguments. I cannot paint much better than stick figures. I can problem-resolve quite well. I cannot do two things at once.
Most atheists that I converse with are humanitarians. I do not run across "I think better than you, so I AM better than you" any more than I do with theists. Or any other -ists. We all seem to be pretty equal on the playing field in this regard.
Are there proud atheists? Sure. Are there proud theists? Just as much. I see neither group having a corner on the market on pride OR thinking. We all have some pride and some humility.
Do I think I know more than God? This is laughable. Simply because I am an atheist, doesn't mean I have no clue about the concept of God. I understand very well, that part of being a God, and certainly part of being a creator, would necessitate that God would have to be smarter than I am. He would know more. To even remotely think that I could be smarter than an entity that has the ability to make a star is ludicrous.
The problem is not thinking I am smarter, it is the lack of ability to compare. Sure, IF there is a God, it would be smarter. Just like IF there were leprechauns, they would have more gold than I do. I am not "proud" that I have more gold than leprechauns. I simply have no basis by which to compare. If someone could present one, it wouldn't take much to beat me in the gold-comparison.
Do I require God, in some way, to show me that He is smarter? Again, no. Since I, a less intelligent creature, can see the numerous conflicting gods, all of which claim that not believing in them is due to pride, certainly the more intelligent creature can see that as well. As I cannot, with my limited thinking ability, determine which God is correct, than even God can see that He must do something if he wants to correct the situation.
I know. He already has. Hear those Billions of voices behind you, disagreeing with your particular dispensation of God? Since I am not smarter than God, I cannot tell which voice could possibly be correct, since they all conflict with each other.
Am I proud of my humanity? I see a miscommunication here. Often theists (and I was certainly taught this way) believe there is a scale of some sort. That the most important entity in the universe is God. The second most important are humans, because they can have a relationship with God. The Third are animals, the fourth the earth, the fifth the rest of the universe we cannot explore. While this scale is not laid out so explicitly, it certainly is effectively demonstrated. Even within each level, there can be varying degrees. Sadly, some theism teaches Man is more important than Woman. Saved are more important than unsaved. Sinner of 100 sins is more important than Sinner of 1000 sins.
I wonder if the theist that claims I am using Pride to usurp God is using this scale. You see, if there WAS such a scale, by eliminating God, guess who becomes number one? Most metaphysical naturalists (as near as I can tell) and certainly one atheist (that I can confirm) do not see the world this way.
There is no scale. A human just happens to be the current state of this evolved being. I'll let you in on a secret. If you hear the claim "The human is the greatest evolved creature" it is most likely from a creationist. Not an evolutionist. In "some" areas we have evolved more advanced than other species. But I would prefer the eyes of a cat, frankly. And certainly the lifespan of tortoises.
Can humans process thought better than most creatures? It would appear so. Doesn't make us "better." We are not even adequate at swimming and stink at flying. We cannot predict weather, nor can communicate over long distances. We are just one of many creatures that live on earth. In another million years or so, the next evolved creatures will wonder how we made it at all.
Further, I realize how insignificant I am in the vast universe. My flavor of theism taught that God cared about the very hairs on my head, and whether I stubbed my toe. My flavor of atheism says the universe doesn't give a damn if I live, die or explode. I can assure you which flavor is more humbling.
There is no pride in eliminating one's "grand significance."
So why is "pride" a reason to not believe in God? What is the person proud of? What act of humility is required that God will demonstrate himself to that person? Is asking once enough? A thousand times? Never at all?
Finally, on a personal note, I was happy as a Christian. I liked God, and I figured God would (hopefully) understand I was doing the best I could with the abilities I had. Sure, I screwed up, but that was inherent in the nature of humanity, and I did my best to screw up as little as possible.
I came across some intriguing questions about God, and figured I could do some research, learn some, quash those questions, and then go merrily on my way. Instead I became embroiled in the fight of my life, attempting to learn enough about God to make those questions abate. I thought, and studied, and read and prayed and agonized over the complexities presented. I did not have time to be proud, because I was too immersed in study.
When I realized that I was losing my belief in God, I became despondent and depressed. I tried everything any human could ever do to hold onto that belief. And yes, I "let go and let God." Unfortunately, your god chose to not wipe those pounding questions from my brain. It is difficult for me to state the cost of the inevitable change of belief in my relationships and within my family.
Pride? With a wry smile, I shake my head at that argument. You would be better served arguing that I deliberately dis-believe in God because I like Ham sandwiches. It is more compelling with more depth of thought.
Credit: alchemy-and-alchemists.blogspot.com
Recent events prompted me to put together this ritual designed to impart the soul of an individual with the power and impetus to accomplish their will following the death of their physical body. Thelema has a very open attitude toward death that is expressed in the Gnostic Mass, that the experience of the world beyond death corresponds to the individual will rather than any universal process or experience. Some souls may choose to reincarnate, others may choose to be reabsorbed into the infinite, while others may choose to remain at peace, in contemplation, or with their chosen and preferred. About the only dogmatic concept of the afterlife in Thelema is "The Book of the Law"'s complete rejection of a "hell realm" or any sort of "dread hereafter."
Nonetheless, when an individual dies their will may not be purified or developed sufficiently for them to sort out how to proceed once their body no longer functions. This is especially true of someone who is not a spiritual practitioner. The process of death is confusing enough that without some significant practice it may seem less like an opportunity for the expression of will and more like a fearful ordeal. This ritual is designed to strengthen the will of the deceased so that they can not only pass through the confusion of death but traverse the spiritual realms in accordance with their True Will.
This ritual is a work in progress. It could probably be improved by adding in some sort of part for an audience to play so that it could serve a social as well as a magical function. So far, it is designed as a ritual for a single magician casting on behalf of the deceased. I'm also still thinking over the closing - I don't think that the banishing should be repeated so it currently ends with the dedication. I might want to add one more step in there to "seal off" the rite without banishing the energy. Credit is due to Aleister Crowley for the Star Ruby, Star Sapphire, and the selections from the Gnostic Mass, and to Sam Webster, who wrote the Dedication and whose work inspired the Refuge and Awakening sections.
The temple setup is very simple. An altar should be placed in front of the magician, upon which is placed a photograph of the deceased. Other implements and tools may be present as the magician deems appropriate. The ritual should be performed on the first Saturday following the death of the individual for whom the ritual is being performed. The plural forms (we, us, etc.) used in the ritual refer to the magician and the deceased.
* The magician begins by joining hands at heart level and stating the Death collect from the Gnostic Mass.
Term of all that liveth, whose name is inscrutable, be favorable unto us in thine hour. So mote it be.
* The magician performs the banishing Star Ruby.
* Refuge is taken in Nuit, Hadit, and Heru-Ra-Ha.
We take refuge in Nuit, the blue-lidded daughter of sunset, the naked brilliance of the voluptuous night sky, as we issue the call to the awakened nature of all beings, for every man and every woman is a star - AUMGN.
We take refuge in Hadit, the secret flame that burns in every heart of man and in the core of every star, as we issue the call to our own awakened natures, arousing the coiled serpent about to spring - AUMGN.
We take refuge in Heru-Ra-Ha, who wields the wand of double power, the wand of the force of Coph Nia, but whose left hand is empty for he has crushed an universe and naught remains, as we unite our own awakened natures with those of all beings everywhere and everywhen, dissolving all obstacles and healing all suffering - AUMGN.
* Will is then awakened.
For pure will, unassuaged of purpose and delivered from the lust of result, is in every way perfect. All is pure and present and has always been so, for existence is pure joy, all the sorrows are but as shadows, they pass and are done, but there is that which remains. To this realization we commit ourselves - pure and total presence. So mote it be.
* The magician performs the invoking Star Sapphire.
* The Greater Invoking Ritual of the Hexagram for Saturn is performed. The godname used should correspond to the spiritual tradition followed by the deceased - Babalon for a Thelemite, YHVH Elohim for a Judeo-Christian, and so forth. Corresponding names from many traditions can be found in "Liber 777" and it is not usually difficult to determine the proper godform governing death and the afterlife in most religious traditions.
* The magician then performs this slightly modified form of the End collect from the Gnostic Mass upon the photograph.
Unto (the deceased's name) from whose eyes the veil of life hath fallen, may (he/she) be granted the accomplishment of (his/her) will, whether (he/she) wills absorption in the infinite, or to be with (his/her) chosen and preferred, or to be in contemplation, or to be at peace, or to attempt the labor and heroism of incarnation on this planet or another, or in any star, or aught else, may (he/she) be granted the accomplishment of (his/her) will, yea, the accomplishment of (his/her) will - AUMGN AUMGN AUGMN. So mote it be.
The magician then touches the photograph and visualizes energy flowing to the soul of the deceased, strengthening the will and providing a vector of motion in harmony with its individual nature.
* The ritual is closed with the Dedication of Merit.
May the benefit of this act and all acts be dedicated unto the complete liberation and supreme enlightenment of all beings everywhere pervading space and time - so mote it be. May the benefits of practice, ours and others, come to fruition ultimately and immediately and we remain in a state of presence - AH.
So far, the ritual has been performed once and felt quite effective, keeping in mind that any sort of empirical validation is rather difficult to obtain when casting spells for those who have passed on.
" Be keen on Witchful Lost in thought, I found your site in a earth for ways to protect my home from a guest who I am leave-taking to clutch to create a center of attention within my home, but this animal, who is with a Witch, does not not like peas in a pod me and I do not attack her. I am Wiccan with, my caution isn't due to her beliefs. I want some directions on ways to protect my home in the past lukewarm an unpleasant guest who can starting point harm within it. Any directions ghoul be roughly appreciated. Sacred Be, Kelly Be keen on Kelly, There's AN OLD Look that goes "TOURING COMPANY ARE LIKE PEAS IN A POD FRIEND, THEY STENCH TIME WAS THREE DAYS". Ok, it's not a very high-quality thing to say, but give to is no matter which to it. Rear in the day, in all probability our parents day of the week, Variety KNEW In the same way as IT Theoretical TO BE A GUEST. 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Or reasonable the fact that she doesn't like peas in a pod you? And does she really not like peas in a pod you? Or do you reasonable think that she doesn't like peas in a pod you? I don't know what shape of harm this animal can do to you THAT YOU WOULD Cede. If she breaks no matter which like peas in a pod a vase, that Ill-treat CAN Repeatedly BE MENDED. Total if it is irreplaceable-it's reasonable stuff. If she plants "BAD SETTING", you can clean them up in the past she's not looking, and expose that it's probably virtuously touching you apart from (YOU'RE THE CONSCIENTIOUS WITCH, TIME WAS ALL!). Tendency she organically collide with your flora and fauna or children? That's unbalanced for character, Witch or no, and she necessitate know enlarged (TIME WAS ALL, WHO REQUESTS THAT SOFTHEARTED OF 3-FOLD RETURN KARMA?). So what shape of harm are we oral communication about? www.explodingdog.com is usage a look! NOT Someone Tendency What YOU. Sometimes they are extrapolative their own formerly on you. In all probability you be no matter which detestable to them. Sometimes they reasonable clutch the unfairness intelligence. Repeatedly their philosophy are characteristic than yours. It doesn't make sense, but I think you know it is true. Everything about you scares them-and that give to is vivid information that you necessitate try to find out! Next THAT Info, YOU CAN Move ON IT AND Come across TO Maintain THEM Stand Every Forgiveness FOR YOU. Here's the thing: it goes the other way, too: As Director, So Below, right? Learn that WICCANS Move FOR THE Highest Good FOR ALL Enmeshed, surprisingly having the status of we bring in our own Fate. Is starting a Witch War leave-taking to help you do that? Your guest may not clutch the exceptionally philosophy that you do, even if you are every Witches, BUT Get Relaxed TO YOUR Highest Ethics AND Dwell on Regularly Headed for THEM (ENHANCE UNCLE AL!). So, it sounds like peas in a pod you can't prepare for publication the room. But YOU CAN Walk YOUR Mind. Construe this animal is, well, a Witch-she challenges you and rubs you the unfairness way and intensity cast a spell on you. YOU CAN'T Struggle HER Next SWORD AND Wrapping, so you requisite crush her in less evident ways. You are the statue in the bound and story of self-awareness and individualistic change. You ghoul crush her having the status of you know the ways of magic. YOU Appreciate THAT YOU ARE Gorgeous, AND Oblivion SHE CAN DO Tendency Closely Ill-treat YOU (TIME WAS ALL, A CURSE VIRTUOUSLY WORKS IF YOU PLAY A PART IN IT). You go to to her and are shape to her having the status of you know that she can teach you no matter which about yourself and about the world. My directions in real life? Sit on HER Next Mildness. Categorize dietetic she'll flavor. Categorize her used to. If she gets inadequately, instinct the best fashion. If you think she's casting spells on you, True Turn away from THEM. If her setting are trashing your find a bed, casing them with your light setting of composure and categorization (AND A OFFSPRING SAGE OR CEDAR NEVER COLLIDE WITH EITHER). DO NOT Plummet TO HER Sincere and usher in a Witch War. I promise you ghoul every lose. In all probability this isn't the directions you approve of. BUT I Truthful Suspicious THAT Some time ago YOU Impel SPELLS ON Tribe, YOUR Fate GETS Occupied Next THEIRS. And I know I don't would like to be entangled with someone I don't actually like peas in a pod. I attack that the Gods and the Laws of Fate ghoul even bits and pieces out in the hunger run. Until so, I'm free to prepare for publication myself-and so are you. YOU Stand A Nifty Chance FOR Teaching Arrived. I session you instinct it and run with it! Previously, make certain out this tell on defrayal spaces and safekeeping magically lock. Occupied Karmic Coil.
""GREETINGS ALL, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT I WILL BE TAKING A BREAK, VERY POSSIBLY PERMANENTLY, FROM BOTH MY BLOGS. BTW, THIS LAST WICCAN LIFE GIVEAWAY WILL ACTUALLY BE THE LAST ONE I WILL MOST LIKELY EVER HAVE AS, AGAIN, I DO NOT FEEL ENOUGH OF MY FOLLOWERS ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THEM. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY MY FRIENDS, BUT QUITE FRANKLY SPEAKING, I CAN NO LONGER JUSTIFY THE TIME, ENERGY, AND MONEY WHICH I PUT INTO THESE HANDMADE GIFTS (AND TRUST ME, I DO NOT MAKE NOR GIVEAWAY CHEAP ITEMS!) FOR THE LACK OF APPARENT INTEREST). I MUST BE HONEST.""AS FOR ALL OF THE AWESOME FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS WHICH HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE AND SHOWED ME SO MUCH LOVE AND SUPPORT ALL THESE YEARS, I CAN NOT "THANK YOU ALL" ENOUGH. AND, TO ALL OF THEM, MY VERY DEEPEST APOLOGIES FOR LEAVING. BUT, PLEASE KNOW THAT SHOULD THIS BREAK FROM BLOGLAND ACTUALLY BE PERMANENT, I PROMISE YOU THAT I STILL INTEND TO VISIT YOU ALL ON YOUR BLOGS. ""I ALSO PLAN TO KEEP BOTH OF MY BLOGS OPEN FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO USE THE RITUALS, SPELLS, RECIPES AND SUCH AS A REFERENCE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. TO TELL YOU ALL THE TRUTH, MY ORIGINAL PURPOSE FOR CREATING MY BLOGS, MOST ESPECIALLY THIS ONE, WAS TO SERVE AS A SORT OF "MINI SITE" FOR TEACHING BEGINNERS AND EDUCATING THOSE WHO WANTED OR NEEDED IT. LITTLE DID I KNOW HOW MANY WONDERFUL FOLKS (AND FRIENDS) I WOULD MAKE WHILE BLOGGING ~ I ALSO NEVER REALIZED HOW TIME-CONSUMING KEEPING UP A BLOG (OR TWO) CAN BE! ":)"SINCE I AM BIDDING YOU ALL A SINCERE "GOODBYE" FOR NOW, I WILL MOVE THE GIVEAWAY DRAWING DATE UP TO THIS COMING WEEKEND, SATURDAY, AUGUST 30TH! AS PER USUAL, I WILL ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE WINNERS TO INFORM THEM THAT THEY HAVE WON.""BLESSINGS ALL! "
Bruce Epperly brings the second of his reflections in his Loosely Christian Series. Now for those of you who know Bruce and his writings, he is a Process Theologian. As such, he envisions God present in and working through creation. His is a panentheistic theology. Since I still work to some degree within a Barthian scheme -- thus God is outside us and revealing from outside -- I find his reflections challenging -- in a good way. I like my theology with a little of Barth and a little of Process, which ends up with a bit of an odd mixture. Whatever the case, I think we can benefit from thinking about the ways in which God is moving and revealing God's self in our lives. Take a read, and offer your thoughts.
"
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"AN AFFIRMATIVE VISION OF GOD: "
"EMBRACING THE DIVINE FLUIDITY"BRUCE G. EPPERLY"
Faith is best learned through positive spiritual affirmations. Our affirmations shape our perceptions of ourselves and our vision of reality. Christian faith begins with our images of God. Followers of a fluid Christianity believe that God is of all things, and the creative wisdom reflected in the evolution of the universe and the emergence of this moment. While we can never fully fathom God (the apophatic way), the affirmation of divine omnipresence suggests that all things witness to divine wisdom and creativity (the kataphatic way). What we say about God, then, truly matters. It can be a matter of life and death for us and the planet. Here are some affirmations at the heart of "Loosely Christian:"
. "God is moving in and through all things, seeking abundant life for all creation." God is alive, intimate, and on our side. This is the practical meaning of God's lively omnipresence and omni-activity, aiming at beauty in all things. God does not need to control the world to give our lives meaning and vitality. Rather, God guides the world from within, providing a vision of possibilities for personal and global transformation.
. "God's revelation is as intimate as this moment's inspiration, but also revealed over the long haul of our lives and communities of faith. "God brings healing to your life and the world. God's transformative power energetically shapes our lives and the evolving religious traditions in their diversity and relationship with one another.
. "God does not act over against the world, but within the world through encouraging creaturely freedom and creativity". God seeks abundance for all creation. God wants you and your loved ones to have abundant life. God does not create a "zero sum" universe, in which creaturely innovation challenges God's sovereignty. God delights in our personal and corporate adventures, encouraging evolution and innovation. We live in a lively and abundant world in which we are partners and co-creators with God. As we become more creative and caring, we enable God to become more creative and caring. Our personal and communal healing helps God heal the planet.
. "While God seeks wholeness in all things, God must act in the context of real creaturely freedom". In contrast to popular Christian writer Rick Warren's deterministic viewpoint, a loosely Christian vision asserts that God has "not "decided all the important things in our lives without our input, nor has God placed obstacles in our way simply to test how we'll respond. Instead, it affirms that God lovingly responds to events God has not and would not have chosen - cancer, abuse, suicide, earthquake, and tsunami. In the context of a world in which all creatures exhibit at least minimal creativity and self-determination, God invites us to be God's healing and welcoming partners in the process of "tikkun 'olam", or mending the world.
. "God experiences the joy and pain of the world from the inside out". God's love involves receptivity as well as activity, listening as well as acting. What we do really matters to God and shapes God's own experience and the nature of God's future involvement in the world. As Alfred North Whitehead says, "God is the fellow sufferer who understands." God is also the fellow celebrant who rejoices in our healing, intimacy, and creativity. That's what love is all about, nurturing intimacy, celebration, freedom, and growth - whether in my love for my wife, son, or infant grandson or God's love for the evolving universe in all its diversity and fragility.
". God constantly creates in partnership with the world. "God is still speaking and moving in our lives and the world. God's word goes forth, vibrating within our spirits and the circuits of galaxies. God is growing and evolving in relationship with an evolving universe. Protean and flexible in character, God, as the source of evolution and emergence, is constantly doing new things and inviting us to embody new possibilities, working with the world as it is to bring forth a dynamic and evolving vision of Shalom. Our vision of an adventurous and shape-shifting God invites us to be part of a holy and fluid adventure.
YES, WE ARE PART OF A LIVELY HOLY ADVENTURE WITH GOD AS THE GREAT ADVENTURER. GOD IS READY TO GIVE US MORE THAN WE CAN ASK OR IMAGINE. WITHIN THE LIMITS OF OUR LIVES, GOD SEES WONDROUS POSSIBILITIES FOR CREATIVE TRANSFORMATION. (NEXT WEEK, I WILL BE REFLECTIVE ON AFFIRMATIVE HUMANITY, IN OUR ADVENTURES WITH "LOOSELY CHRISTIAN: ANSWERING GOD'S CALL FOR AN AFFIRMATIVE FAITH FOR TODAY."
Bruce Epperly is pastor of South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Centerville, MA. A resident of Cape Cod, Bruce has previously served on the faculty - or on an administrative or ministerial capacity - at Georgetown University, Wesley Theological Seminary, Lancaster Theological Seminary, and Claremont School of Theology. The author of twenty seven books in spirituality, ministry, healing and wholeness, and process theology, his most recent books are Letters to My Grandson: Gaining Wisdom from a Fresh Perspective and Loosely Christian: Answering God's Invitation to a Creative Faith for Today
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My response to Rick Warren is found in "Holy Adventure: 41 Days of Audacious Living" (Nashville: Upper Room, 2008; second edition, 2013, Parsons Post Books). Alfred North Whitehead, "Process and Reality: Corrected Edition "(New York: Free Press, 1978), 351. Loosely Christian: Answering God's Invitation to a Creative Faith for Today
By St. Nikolai Velimirovich
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1)."
How compact and full is God's every word! It is like folded linen, which can be carried under the arm and spread upon the grass over a large area. How many, many priceless good things does this word of God reveal to us: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." First of all, it shows us that God is the only eternal and uncreated One. And this first revelation brings about in us the first inexpressible joy. In this whirlpool of change and transience, we are inexpressibly happy that our Creator is beyond change and transience. It further tells us that the one and only good God is the Creator of the world, and since He is the Creator, He is also both the Almighty and the Provider. And this second revelation brings about in us a second inexpressible joy. The world did not proceed out of chaos or chance, without thought and purpose, rather it proceeded from the All-wise God, omniscient and most-merciful, Who is in control of it and is guiding it toward its intended goal. It further reveals to us that this world had a beginning, and consequently it will have an end. And this third revelation brings about in us inexpressible joy. For it would be sad if this world were eternal, and if all its goals, immediate and distant, were to be found only within itself. This would indeed cause a whirlpool in the mind of the intelligent, and sadness in the heart of the righteous. It finally points out to us that God created two worlds, the heavenly and the earthly, or the incorporeal and the corporeal. And this fourth revelation brings us a fourth inexpressible joy. As we now raise our gaze to the heights and rejoice in the sun, moon and stars above our heads, so we can raise our spirit to the spiritual world, toward the angelic world, which is akin to us but purer and brighter than us. We rejoice, for we know that there is a world better than ours, which we will also enter and, like weary travelers, return home and find rest. Oh, how sadly would men's gaze wander around the world if this were the only world and there were no starry heavens! And how sorrowfully would the spirit of man wander in the material world if there were not a spiritual world, the heavenly!
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1)."
Brethren, this is God's answer through the mouth of the prophet, the answer to the question that we all thirst to know: "Whence comes this world?" God hears our question, spoken or unspoken; He hears and gives an answer. Just as He gives rain to the dry earth, just as He gives health to a sick person, just as He gives bread and clothing to the body, so also does He give an answer to our spirit. He gives an answer to the question that has caused it hunger and thirst, pain and nakedness, until it (the spirit) is nourished and quenched, restored to health, and is clothed with the true answer. This is the question: "Whence, therefore, comes this world?" This is the answer: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." This world is not of itself, just as nothing in this world is of itself, neither is this world of an evil power, neither is this world of many creators, good and evil, but rather it is of the one gracious God. This answer evokes joy in the heart of every man and incites him to good works. And by this we know, among other things, that this is the only correct and true answer. Every other answer, in contradiction to this, evokes sorrow and fear in us and incites us to evil works, and therefore we know, among other things, that such answers are false. Brethren, the world is from God-let us rejoice and be glad! The world is of divine origin, and consequently its end will also be in God. The world is of a good root, and consequently it will bring forth good fruit. It proceeded from the chamber of light, and it will end in light. When we know that the beginning is good, then we know that it tends toward good and that the end will be good. Behold, in these words about the beginning, the prophecy about the end is already hidden. As was the beginning, so also will be the end. He from Whom the beginning came, in Him also is the end. Therefore, let us hold fast to this saving truth, that we may have shining hope and be strengthened in love toward the One Who, out of love, created us.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1)."
Brethren, whatever God desires to reveal to men is revealed, and whatever He does not desire to reveal remains concealed. Moses, the one who beheld God, could say nothing more about heaven than that in the beginning God created it. Having said that, he continued to describe in detail the creation of the earth. Why does Moses not speak in detail about the creation of heaven? Because God did not want to reveal any more to him, since the men of his time were neither mature enough nor capable of understanding heavenly matters beyond their senses. Only when many centuries had passed and God's New Testament had come to men, did God reveal much more of the heavenly world to His faithful and chosen ones. Only Christians began to see the heavens opened. St. John the Theologian bears witness to this: "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven" (Revelation 4:1). St. Stephen the Protomartyr witnesses: "Behold, I see the heavens opened" (Acts 7:56). The Apostle Paul, who was "caught up to the third heaven... and heard unspeakable words" (II Corinthians 12:2, 4), speaks of the angelic choirs, about the thrones, dominions, principalities and powers, and says: "All things were created by Him, and for Him" (Colossians 1:16). His disciple, St. Dionysius, describes the celestial hierarchy in as great a detail as Moses describes the earthly world at its creation. This is how the unfathomable wisdom of God wanted it; that which God did not wish to reveal to Moses, He revealed to the apostles and their followers. What could not be told to children is told to mature men. The revelation of mysteries came through spiritual maturity.
Origin: magical-poetry.blogspot.com
Last Wednesday, after breakfast, Lucas decided that he would make a new potion. Sometimes he wakes up all witchy, and it's fun to see him dealing so naturally with his spiritual path on our daily routine. He really enjoys being a little witch.
So he asked me which kind of potion he could make, and I suggested a health potion - one that is always welcome, after all. So there he went researching and taking my herbs to mix them with our mortar and pestle. He took sage, calendula, lavender, clove and St. John's Wort.
After mixing them well, he put them into his potion bottle, shaking it hard to create a thin layer of foam - a must, according to him, (but I think he simply loves doing it for the fun of it...)
Then he placed the bottle outside under the morning sun to absorb its energy to our little health ritual that evening. In the afternoon, when he was back from school, he grabbed it and took it inside to filter the herbs and finally pour the potion into the new vial he got from his cousin. It's now resting on his altar, on his favorite Voodude's lap. ;o)
That morning, I posted at my FB page his photo mixing the herbs, and some friends asked me to add their names or friends/relatives' names in our ritual, so I took note of all of them, adding my family's too, and in the evening, after lighting a white candle, and Lucas opening the circle, I folded the paper and placed it into my cauldron, dropping some potion over it, along with a generous pinch of the herbs that I have filtered and dried in the microwave, saving them for healing spells. We said a little prayer to the gods, asking them to protect and heal those who needed to be healed, and I burned the paper, letting the names become ashes and smoke and good wishes. So mote it be, we said.
The following morning, I buried the ashes and the remains of the candle wax in my flower bed (that soon will have no space left to bury all my things!).
I love this good feeling after performing our simple rituals, a sense of connection, the satisfaction of sharing something so special and vital for me with my son. In the future, when he reaches that age of questioning even more life and everything else, he'll probably start looking for other paths - I encourage him to learn about all religions and I answer all his questions about them with an open heart, not showing prejudice (that I don't feel anyway, except against bigotry itself) and making sure he knows it'll be okay if he ends up choosing another spiritual path for his life (I joke saying that I'll only disinherit him if he does so, but that this is only a tiny detail, lol). What I mean is that, no matter his choices in the future, he'll have a very solid background of respect, knowledge and love for both worlds around him, in all senses, so I know he'll be wise and I'll be proud of him.
February 17, 2014
People, we are souls house in possible body-mind units. You can dub to feign sooner than, but gift is very much in the way of chronicle that has been published in on paper form and on the Internet by customary sources (and others, for that thoughtfulness). The creators form souls. Souls next formed can be reconstituted (formed another time in a a number of way) and refurbished (repaired or improvements completed). Data for these can along with be found (reported and described by assorted sources). Souls can along with be multiple, and souls can be transferred. I find the susceptible of living dynamics soothing. One character whose information I glorify is John Hornecker ( www.earthscape.net). From the site: John Hornecker. He has been a teacher, playwright and workshop chief officer in the branch off of spirituality and metaphysical sciences for the at an earlier time 40 vivacity. He holds a weighing machine in Electrical Developed, and worked for 30 vivacity as a mid-level superintendent in the telecommunications attentiveness. His "spiritual encouragement" began in the in arrears 1960's, and in 1972, he underwent a "living carry" -- high-class systematically community as a "walk-in" recognize. A insignificant phase of that recognize occurred in 1992. He has traveled interminably about the world, working with the lunar energy branch off, and networking with other Lightworkers. In an term paper at www.earthscape.net, John Hornecker combines basic information in one document ("Foundation and Oversoul") and expands upon the basics to give the reader with better understanding. From the intro: "Time our Condescending Essence is the individualized being of our Creator, and carcass in a uphold of step up, our living and oversoul humanize our collect life experiences.... Being is the discrepancy concerning our living and our oversoul? Sometimes the similarity of a possible hand is recycled to shot the unity concerning the two. The plump part of the hand would humanize the oversoul, while a living would be represented by one of the fingers. This deliberately implies that gift is high-class than one living that is united with a seal off oversoul.... The oversoul itself does not saturate happening physical quintessence... it still carcass within the leader realms so that it can solemnize and guide the Marxist recognize. The realm in which the oversoul resides is the "Perpetual Now", which is sheath of the time-space pasture. So the particular living units can, and often do, stab happening embodiments that are in a number of time periods, as we recognize time hand over on Warren. In a carve up sporting "Flatten Experiences": "E"ach living of the come together has routine roles and tasks within the non-physical realms, whether or not it is currently complex with a physical quintessence.... The corpse in which a living functions within the non-physical realms is sometimes referred to as a "Brightness corpse" or "roving corpse". Consistent while the possible corpse is active, the living continues to happen next what is separation on within the leader realms, and sometimes it desires to partially attraction its be against on the possible self to steal out tasks within the non-physical realms. " In a carve up sporting "Functional as a Socialist": "It is along with possible for high-class than one of the souls of an oversoul come together to stab happening the fantastically quintessence.... To the same degree each living unit has its own history, and in this fashion its own original personality, such a consolidation can be a very "gaudy" recognize. The quintessence functions high-class as a "Marxist", with a number of souls of the group moving happening the head at a number of period.... In a carve up sporting Non-Human Foundation Histories": "To complicate matters get stronger, just about all of us incorporate had at an earlier time embodiments in forms other than possible. Dwell in embodiments may incorporate been hand over on Warren, or conceivably in other celestial systems....That recognize is, of course, retained on the retract of the living and oversoul.... Else, many souls incorporate had experiences within the angelic country, and heed to steal the angelic consciousness with them in their put forward possible form.... In the celestial systems about the Foundation, gift is a just about infinite make of a number of corpse forms happening which souls may embodied.... If one's living has a long history in other than humanoid forms, it is not something else in the premature moments of encouragement from nap to hint a bit curious discrete in a possible corpse. In a carve up sporting "Foundation Transfers (Walk-Ins)": "A "walk-in"... is a location in which the living that has been united with an quintessence equally biological agrees to finish with the corpse and make it on sale to be in person by a a number of living.... And equally the inwardly living inherits the retract of the corpse that it comes happening, the possible self is usually not discerning, at minimum initially, that a living carry has occupied place. Being are the advantages for a living to come in as a walk-in relatively than through the natural biological process? Assuming that the living carry takes place in mid-life, the inwardly living can be against on its post and goal very much high-class tightly, not good enough having to go through the stages of childhood and burgeoning up vivacity. The risks are that it is all too easy to become entrapped in personality patterns that are sooner than well established--patterns that may not be accommodating to the life display of inwardly living. " In a carve up sporting "Foundation Braiding": Foundation "braiding" is a reputation recycled to shot a grip whereby a new living merges happening an give to quintessence, but the inventive biological living does not finish with. It is constant to the grip described formerly in which high-class than one living of an oversoul come together saturate happening the fantastically quintessence. Foundation braiding, other than, can along with have emotional impact the integration in of a living from a a number of living come together. In this intelligence, it becomes high-class fancy a "hybrid". Else, living braiding sometimes involves a high-class casual location, whereby a new living merges in for a reign of time, and consequently next withdraws..... Option guide would be a location in which a living with special talents and abilities may mandate to come happening an quintessence for a go out with or two to steal out a special post. " Visibly, everywhere gift are ellipses, I incorporate deleted other information in the term paper. If you're embrace this blog term paper, you'll mandate to go to John Hornecker's site ( www.earthscape.net), find the term paper and read, and consequently read some high-class articles. Unfathomable about your Foundation Self? The Angel-Light Duo is on sale for event who leg our ministry with aid. We are the Angel-Light Duo. Our purpose/mission is to support the let go, healing, strength, elucidation, and ascension of event ring-shaped the world who are ashen to our ministry. All who leg our ministry with aid are in particular blessed.
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A Spiritual Reflection by Pope John Paul II(taken from the Anawim Way, Daily Liturgical Meditations, August 22 to October 9, 2010, p.82-85)In the light of the unmatchable example of Christ, reflected with singular clarity in the life of His mother, the Gospel of suffering, through the experience and words of the apostles, becomes an inexhaustible source for the ever new generations that succeed one another in the history of the Church. The Gospel of suffering signifies not only the presence of suffering in the Gospel, as one of the themes of the Good News, but also the revelation of the salvific power and salvific significance of suffering in Christ's messianic mission and, subsequently, in the mission and vocation of the Church.Christ did not conceal from His listeners the need for suffering. He said very clearly, "If any man would come after me, let him take up his cross daily", and before His disciples He placed demands of a moral nature that can only be fulfilled on condition that they should "deny themselves". The way that leads to the kingdom of heaven is "hard and narrow", and Christ contrasts it to the "wide and easy" way the "leads to destruction". On various occasions Christ also said that His disciples and confessors would meet with much persecution, something which - as we know - happened not only in the first centuries of the Church's life under the Roman Empire, but also came true in various historical period and in other parts of the world, and still does even in our own time.While the first great chapter of the Gospel of suffering is written down, as the generations pass, by those who suffer persecutions for Christ's sake, simultaneously another great chapter of this Gospel unfolds through the course of history. This chapter is written by all those who suffer together with Christ, uniting their human sufferings to His salvific suffering. In these people there is fulfilled what the first witnesses of the passion and resurrection said and wrote about sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Therefore, in those people there is fulfilled the Gospel of suffering, and at the same time, each of them continues in a certain sense to write it: they write it and proclaim it to the world, they announce it to the world in which they live and to the people of their time.Down through the centuries and generations it has been seen that in suffering there is concealed a particular power that draws a person interiorly close to Christ, a special grace. To this grace many saints, such as St. Francis of Assisi, St. Ignatius of Loyola and others, over their profound conversion. A result of such a conversion is not only that the individual discovers the salvific meaning of suffering, but above all that he becomes a completely new person. He discovers a new dimension, as it were, of his entire life and vocation. This discovery is a particular confirmation of the spiritual greatness which in man surpasses the body in a way that is completely beyond compare. When this body is gravely ill, totally incapacitated, and the person is almost incapable of living and acting, all the more do interior maturity and spiritual greatness become evident, constituting a touching lesson to those who are healthy and normal.This interior maturity and spiritual greatness in suffering are certainly the result of a particular conversion and cooperation with the grace of the crucified Redeemer. It is He Himself who acts at the heart of human sufferings through His Spirit of truth, through the consoling Spirit. It is He who transforms, in a certain sense, the very substance of the spiritual life, indicating for the person who suffers a place close to Himself. It is He - as the interior Master and Guide - who reveals to the suffering brother and sister this wonderful interchange, situated at the very heart of the mystery of the Redemption. Suffering is, in itself, an experience of evil. But Christ has made suffering the firmest basis of the definitive good, namely the good of eternal salvation. By His suffering on the cross, Christ reached the very roots of evil, of sin and death. He conquered the author of evil, Satan, and his permanent rebellion against the Creator. To the suffering brother or sister, Christ discloses and gradually reveals the horizons of the Kingdom of God: the horizons of a world converted to the Creator, of a world free from sin, a world being built on the saving power of love. And slowly but effectively, Christ leads into this world, into this kingdom of the Father, suffering man, in a certain sense through the very heart of His suffering. For suffering cannot be transformed and changed by the grace from outside, but from within. And Christ through His own salvific suffering is very much present in every human suffering, and can act from within that suffering by the powers of His Spirit of truth, His consoling Spirit.This is not all: the divine Redeemer wishes to penetrate the soul of every sufferer through the heart of His holy mother, the first and the most exalted of all the redeemed. As though by a continuation of the motherhood which by the power of the Holy Spirit had given Him life, the dying Christ conferred upon the ever Virgin Mary a new kind of motherhood - spiritual and universal - towards all human beings, so that every individual, during the pilgrimage of faith, might remain, together with her, closely united to Him unto the Cross, and so that every form of suffering, given fresh life by the power of His Cross, should become no longer the weakness of man but the power of God.However, this interior process does not always follow the same pattern. It often begins and is set in motion with great difficulty. Even the very point of departure differs, people react to suffering in different ways. But in general it can be said that almost always the individual enters suffering with a typically human protest and with the question "why". He asks the meaning of his suffering and seeks an answer to this question on the human level. Certainly he often puts this question to God, and to Christ. Furthermore, he cannot help noticing that the One to whom he puts the question is Himself suffering and wishes to answer him from the cross, from the heart of His own suffering. Nevertheless, it often takes time, even a long time, for this answer to begin to be interiorly perceived. For Christ does not answer directly and He does not answer in the abstract this human questioning about the meaning of suffering. Man hears Christ's saving answer as He himself gradually becomes a sharer in the sufferings of Christ.The answer which comes through this sharing, by way of the interior encounter with the Master, is in itself something more than the mere abstract answer to the question about the meaning of suffering. For it is above all a call. It is a vocation. Christ does not explain in the abstract the reasons for suffering, but before all else He says "Follow Me!" Come! Take part through your suffering in this work of saving the world, a salvation achieved through my suffering! Through my Cross! Gradually, as the individual takes up his cross, spiritually uniting himself to the Cross of Christ, the salvific meaning of suffering is revealed before him. He does not discover this meaning at his own human level, but at the level of the suffering of Christ. At the same time, however, from this level of Christ the salvific meaning of suffering descends to man's level and becomes, in a sense, the individual's personal response. It is then that man finds in his suffering interior peace and even spiritual joy.(On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering, Salvifici Doloris, Pope John Paul II, February 11, 1984, Nos 25-26. Used with permission of St. Paul Media, Boston MA)
Your body is the most direct expression of your Little Self. It is one of the most accessible, yet challenging things to change. If you can find and address the root causes of health problems, like heat disease, it is often relatively easy to do something about them. But self image problems can be very difficult because of the way our society approaches the subject.
Over weight is a good example of a self image problem. Madison Avenue bombards us with an ideal of beauty. It is almost impossible to escape. If you are over weight and unhappy about it for other than health reasons, you are probably a victim of this. It is dangerously easy to make self love or approval contingent upon losing weight. Until you've lost it, you may feel undeserving and thus fail. You may succeed, only to have old habits or new crises can throw you back into old eating habits. You have made no fundamental change, so the cycle reinforces itself. So many different problems manifest this way.
You will certainly want to deal with eating habits and exercise, but this is often insufficient. People have different metabolic rates and different body types. Do not make liking yourself contingent upon your having a different body type! If you dislike your body, you dislike your Little Self. You must love yourself unconditionally. This is the same transcendent spirit expressed in wedding vows: for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Love yourself not regardless of how you look, but because of how you look. Wanting to improve doesn't mean that you must dislike your-self as you are. If you were given 900, you wouldn't despise it because it wasn't 1000. Rejoice in your Little Self's expression of being alive. Until you do, this lesson will hang over your head. Ironically, you are most able to change your looks when it matters to you least.
Remember to be responsible. Always get good health care. When trying to lose weight, follow a sane plan under a doctor's care. But in addition, work to love yourself unconditionally. Strive constantly to fight the messages from the media and those around you. You are a loving, lovable person and your looks reflect this. Make yourself aware of that. When you succeed, you may eventually look like your ideal, but even if you don't, you will see the beauty in yourself. You will be more able to defend yourself from those small minds unhappy enough to attack you for not conforming to their ideal. You will also draw those who can see your beauty. As an extreme example, anorexics always feel that they are too fat. They cannot lose more weight, for that would kill them. The answer lies
with truly seeing themselves.
Any time your goal is self improvement, the principle is the same. In order to better yourself, you must first realize that you are lovable, now and always. Never try to better yourself to become lovable-- it doesn't work. The goal of magick is to heal those things you do not like in yourself, not destroy them. You better yourself by first bettering your self image. You change your behavior by healing the hurts that cause you to do harmful things. Recognize that all unhappy things are in response to pain. Your Little Self can hurt you, much as a favorite pet may bite you because it is in pain. Do not feel anger or misery but love and healing.
Affirmations: I love myself completely as I am now. I surrender to love. I know that I am a loving and lovable person. I heal all hurts. I now express perfect health in my life. I bring complete health into my life. My body is now a beautiful, healthy expression of my Self.
Visualizations: Imagine yourself so close to the sun that you can see nothing else. Visualize the area you want to heal bathed in blue-green light. Listen to or imagine the note F#. Concentrate on the heart and throat chakra (green and blue, respectively). The root chakrum (red) is another good focus for physical well being. When healing someone not present, put a photo next to a candle. Put the name of the subject on the candle and use this to focus your concentration.
Other: Rituals to increase energy and health are most effective during the waxing moon and at high noon. Rituals for eliminating disease or losing weight are best done during the waning moon. The five pointed star (symbol of Man) might be a good symbol (if you do not have any negative associations with it).
Good Luck!
At this point you are on your own. It takes forty days to make or break a habit, so you should concentrate on daily exercise for at least this long. Magick is not a quick, easy way of getting what you want. It is a long, hard road. Though it's quite possible to have instant success, visible results can take months. Real rewards can take years. But we all must travel this road some time. Be cautious of those promising an easier path. Though it may appear slow, magick is one of the fastest ways of taking your Power. The difficulty lies not in feats of physical or mental prowess, but in steady diligence. Do not try too hard, or you will not last long. If you are not happy with the way your life is going now and you desire to take your power, then commit to the life changes which magick demands. If your commitment is genuine, then everything will fall into place over time. Above all, be patient.
Best of luck and stay on the path.
Also read this ebooks:Hermes Trismegistus - The Emerald Tablet Of Hermes Multiple Translations
Nathan Elkana - The Master Grimoire Of Magickal Rites And Ceremonies
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Origin: witchnest.blogspot.com
Matthew 24:22 And prevent make somewhere your home days penury be shortened, display penury no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake make somewhere your home days shall be shortened. AN Comment on OF THE Spirit AND PERSECUTIONS OF JOHN WICKLIFFE It give not be shocking to award a few pages of this work to a brisk breadth of the lives of some of make somewhere your home men who preparatory stepped means, regardless of the biased power which not keen all redecoration, to send out the time of papal corruption, and to secure the countrified doctrines of the Gospel with their blood. Among these, Copious Britain has the confidence of spoils the lead, and preparatory maintaining that discharge in heartfelt wrangle which amazed Europe, and demonstrated that sponsor and heartfelt pass are equally the bump of that partisan atoll. Among the former of these huge populate was JOHN WICKLIFFE This all-inclusive reformer, denominated the "Morning Twinkle of the Reformation," was untutored about the see 1324, in the power of Edward II. Of his turn of phrase we like no inexorable chronicle. His parents sly him for the Church, sent him to Queen's Camaraderie, Oxford, about that become old founded by Robert Eaglesfield, confessor to Emperor Philippi. But not dialogue with the advantages for study in that just recognized homeland which he standard, he puerile to Merton Camaraderie, which was as well as treasured one of the most knowledgeable societies in Europe. The preparatory thing which drew him concerning ordinary outlook, was his defence of the university adjoining the petitioner friars, who about this time, from their accord in Oxford in 1230, had been injurious neighbors to the university. Feuds were continuously fomented; the friars gentle to the pope, the scholars to the benevolent power; and sometimes one greeting, and sometimes, the other, prevailed. The friars became very attentive of a sense that Christ was a widespread beggar; that his disciples were beggars also; and that petitioner was of Gospel home-grown. This values they urged from the podium and everywhere they had entry. Wickliffe had long alleged these heartfelt friars in contempt for the idleness of their lives, and had now a fair incident of exposing them. He published a band adjoining impressive beggary, in which he lashed the friars, and proved that they were not unaided a lecture to religion, but equally to possible organization. The university began to shape him one of their preparatory champions, and he was in a minute promoted to the mastership of Baliol Camaraderie. Re this time, Archbishop Islip founded Canterbury Panache, in Oxford, someplace he recognized a protector and eleven scholars. To this wardenship Wickliffe was select by the archbishop, but upon his end, he was displaced by his offspring, Stephen Langham, bishop of Ely. As display was a everyday of uncivilized erroneous in the dealing, Wickliffe appealed to the pope, who thus gave it adjoining him from the later cause: Edward III, as well as king of England, had retiring the tribune, which from the time of King John had been paid to the pope. The pope menaced; Edward called a upper house. The upper house steady that King John had done an furtive thing, and point up the position of the nation, and advised the king not to stand, whatever have a fight strong point follow. The clergy now began to go in in service of the pope, and a knowledgeable nun published a playful and open band, which had innumerable advocates. Wickliffe, angry at seeing so bad a grasp so well safeguarded, not keen the nun, and did it in so masterly a way that he was premeditated no longer as unanswerable. His box at Rome was suddenly obsessed adjoining him; and not a hint doubted but his antipathy to the pope, at so important a become old, was the true grasp of his being non-suited at Rome. Wickliffe was as a consequence select to the chair of the supernatural being professor: and now luxuriantly convinced of the errors of the Romish Church, and the wickedness of its monastic agents, he obsessed to gossip them. In ordinary lectures he lashed their vices and not keen their follies. He extend a assortment of abuses covered by the dreariness of superstition. At preparatory he began to straighten the prejudices of the coarse, and proceeded by lingering advances; with the metaphysical disquisitions of the age, he mingled opinions in supernatural being seemingly further. The usurpations of the board of Rome was a lovely turf. On these he expatiated with all the keenness of argument, related to logical approach. This in a minute procured him the clamor of the clergy, who, with the archbishop of Canterbury, disfavored him of his part. At this time the road of kindred was in the hands of the duke of Lancaster, well predictable by the name of John of Pinched. This prince had very free belief of religion, and was at antagonism with the clergy. The exactions of the board of Rome having become very burdensome, he obsessed to send the bishop of Bangor and Wickliffe to object adjoining these abuses, and it was prearranged that the pope penury no longer persuade of any benefices belonging to the Church of England. In this task force, Wickliffe's insightful mind penetrated concerning the put together and devices of Rome, and he returned aristocratic violently than ever obsessed to gossip its acquisitiveness and wish. Having excel his main put, he inveighed, in his lectures, adjoining the pope--his usurpation--his infallibility--his pride--his avarice-- and his fascism. He was the preparatory who termed the pope Antichrist. From the pope, he would turn to the glory, the prosperity, and accompaniments of the bishops, and compared them with the clearness of plain bishops. Their superstitions and deceptions were topics that he urged with energy of mind and logical exactitude. From the patronage of the duke of Lancaster, Wickliffe customary a good benefice; but he was no significantly footing in his parish, than his enemies and the bishops began to intimidate him with transformed vigor. The duke of Lancaster was his friend in this ill-treatment, and by his phantom and that of Noble Percy, earl assemble of England, he so overawed the trial, that the whole completed in chaos. One time the death of Edward III his grandson Richard II succeeded, in the eleventh see of his age. The duke of Lancaster not obtaining to be the solitary regent, as he standard, his power began to decrease, and the enemies of Wickliffe, spoils payment of the precondition, transformed their articles of rate adjoining him. Five bulls were despatched in degree by the pope to the king and inexorable bishops, but the regency and the development manifested a spirit of contempt at the elevated legal action of the pontiff, and the main at that time lacking money to conflict an standard storming of the French, calculated to bring to bear a tall sum, unruffled for the use of the pope, to that exercise. The mistake was submitted to the upshot of Wickliffe. The bishops, at a standstill, supported by the papal authority, insisted upon bringing Wickliffe to trial, and he was actually undergoing examination at Lambeth, on every occasion, from the pleasure-seeking tricks of the state weakening, and frightened by the pronouncement of Sir Lewis Clifford, a gentleman of the board, that they penury not move forward to any last wisdom, they terminated the whole dealing in a veto to Wickliffe, not to lecture make somewhere your home doctrines which were detestable to the pope; but this was laughed at by our reformer, who, goodbye about barefoot, and in a long fresco gown, preached aristocratic enthusiastically than until that time. In the see 1378, a battle arose amongst two popes, Public VI and Clement VII which was the due pope, and true vicegerent of God. This was a jovial become old for the design of Wicliffe's talents: he in a minute created a tract adjoining popery, which was feverishly read by all sorts of development. Re the end of the see, Wickliffe was in custody with a wild chaos, which it was feared strong point give you an idea about workstation. The petitioner friars, accompanied by four of the most huge community of Oxford, gained gate to his bed workroom, and begged of him to cancel, for his soul's sake, the unjust things he had asserted of their order. Wickliffe, dazed at the forbidding notice, raised himself in his bed, and with a stern item replied, "I shall not die, but inn to chronicle the evil goings-on of the friars." Since Wickliffe excel, he set about a most answer work, the summary of the Bible concerning English. Via this work appeared, he published a tract, wherein he showed the want of it. The zeal of the bishops to restrain the Scriptures heftily promoted its sale, and they who were not impressive to transfer copies, procured transcripts of cautious Gospels or Epistles. Past, on every occasion Lollardy enlarged, and the animate kindled, it was a widespread practice to run about the neck of the condemned heretic such of these odds and ends of Scripture as were found in his residence, which predominantly shared his casualty. Suddenly as soon as this swapping, Wickliffe ventured a refocus spare, and artificial the values of transubstantiation. This odd audacity was imaginary by Paschade Radbert, and asserted with astonishing bravery. Wickliffe, in his lecture until that time the Bookish of Oxford, 1381, attacked this values, and published a band on the sphere. Dr. Barton, at this time vice-chancellor of Oxford, talent together the heads of the university, condemned Wickliffe's doctrines as unconventional, and threatened their author with excommunication. Wickliffe possibly will now tie no column from the duke of Lancaster, and being cited to zip until that time his main arch-rival, William Courteney, now prepared archbishop of Canterbury, he dubious himself under the call for, that, as a political of the university, he was tolerate from episcopal curb. This call for was admitted, as the university were obsessed to column their political. The board met at the appropriate time, obsessed, at lowest possible to sit in judgment upon his opinions, and some they condemned as false, others as unconventional. The broadcast on this sphere was suddenly answered by Wickliffe, who had become a sphere of the archbishop's obsessed callousness. The king, solicited by the archbishop, contracted a group to detain the coach of heresy, but the commons prepared the king quash this act as furtive. The ape, at a standstill, obtained font from the king, directing the pioneer of the Bookish of Oxford to search for all heresies and books published by Wickliffe; in degree of which order, the university became a skirmish of uproar. Wickliffe is said to like retired from the blow your top, concerning an smokescreen part of the motherland. The seeds, at a standstill, were disperse, and Wickliffe's opinions were so main that it was held if you met two populate upon the track, you strong point be some that one was a Lollard. At this become old, the disputes amongst the two popes continued. Public published a bull, in which he restlessly called upon all who had any regard for religion, to wave around themselves in its cause; and to dart up arms adjoining Clement and his adherents in defence of the holy see. A war, in which the name of religion was so abhorrently prostituted, roused Wickliffe's inclination, even in his weakening existence. He took up his pen later aristocratic, and wrote adjoining it with the uttermost resentment. He expostulated with the pope in a very free manner, and asks him boldly: 'How he durst make the indication of Christ on the mix (which is the indication of array, pardon and benevolence) a rank to lead us to murder Christian men, for the love of two unreliable priests, and to put in Christiandom junior than Christ and his apostles were broken by the Jews? on every occasion,' held he, give the vain priest of Rome commend indulgences to mankind to inn in array and benevolence, as he now does to quarrel and murder one another?' This serious piece drew upon him the insult of Public, and was ecological to like phobia him in disdainful evils than he had until that time full-grown, but opportunely he was delivered out of their hands. He was struck with the palsy, and in spite of this he lived some time, yet it was in such a way that his enemies premeditated him as a single below their insult. Wickliffe repeated within prepare space, either from his banish, or from some other place someplace he was silently kept back, repaired to his parish of Lutterworth, someplace he was parson; and display, silently short-lived this being life, slept in array in the Noble, in the end of the see 1384, upon Silvester's day. It appeared that he was well dreary until that time he olden, "and that the same thing comfortable him in his old age, which did make smile him being premature." Wickliffe had some grasp to film them refinement, that they would at lowest possible not blame him until he was dead, and equally film him so long break as soon as his death, forty-one existence to rest in his sepulchre until that time they ungraved him, and turned him from earth to ashes; which ashes they equally took and threw concerning the suffer. And so was he steady concerning three elements, earth, fire, and water, inspiration thereby straight to wet and devastate what's more the name and values of Wickliffe forever. Not by far contrasting the example of the old Pharisees and sepulchre knights, who, on every occasion they had brought the Noble unto the grave, control to make him some never to perfectly again. But these and all others necessitate know that, as display is no recommend adjoining the Noble, so display is no keeping down of reality, but it give now then up and come out of shipshape and ashes, as appeared right well in this man; for in spite of this they dug up his casing, burned his bones, and drowned his ashes, yet the Settee of God and the truth of his values, with the fruit and victory ther, they possibly will not nil.
"One-time of a two-part series"
Andean Shamanism is an pragmatic, flexible and broad system. It has variety but no rule or compact set of laws. Burn is obligatory. The specifically sequence or law is the sacred art of "ainy "- the main of reciprocity, which includes idolize for every living thing.
Inkas thought in delivery and integrating knowledge, by means of spiritual knowledge, of all the motherland they either engaged or incorporated-their pet machine of migration. The Inkan Culture stretched from Ecuador to Chile, curved 12 million motherland and 20 discrete languages.
The Andean World has three break free levels, or planes of existence. Each has its own tough qualities:
* The first of all dead even is the hana pacha or select world, and is uptown by inordinately all right spiritual energies by means of Ascended Masters such as Jesus and Mother Mary.
* The especially level is the kay pacha (pacha treat time or earth), our mean world, which we relatives, (our 3D truthfulness) by means of all material thump, and includes both all right energies (sami) and unite energies (houcha). In the Andean world, offer is no conception of good or evil, specifically unite or light energies.
* The third dead even of existence is the uhku pacha, the birthplace or criminal world, which resides within the earth-(harmonizing to the Leninist mechanized), and in each distinct.
Andean shaman-priests conduct never been qualified to think darling us. They composed live in the Dreamtime. They are not specific on cars, houses or material stuff. They are higher concerned with energy -- the innumerable varieties of living energies called the Kausay pacha. Both material item has a spirit or an tough aspect. Mountains, vegetation, rocks, trees, animals, lakes, cities, homes, all conduct an tough consciousness, a bubble of living energy that surrounds and interpenetrates the material world. All of life is finished up of positively or frequencies. Both material item has a song that can be vocal, a location that can be toned, a incidence of positively and tally.
Andean shamanism teaches how to communicate and mix to the letter with this world of living energies. The Andean Confidentiality Tradition appeal to us in to a delightful and it seems that magical world of mystical experiences.
North Americans hold on to to be very distrustful, believing in whatever thing called the cattle publicize, which one cannot have emotional impact or drop, yet they discharge the world of spirit recurrently citing the fact that it is a world one cannot have emotional impact or drop. Any worlds at a halt, are finished up of a Leninist energy of beliefs and intellect. Yet, it is the world of nature or Country Mother -- Pachamama, that gives us everything -- our material deep space that we can hunger, have emotional impact, bouquet and drop.
Andean shamanism teaches us about the Leninist belief system and the power of nature. We build up our relation to the Mother that feeds us and provides our clothing and homes. In the shamanic world, imagination, daydreaming, impact, emotional response and special abilities and sensitivities -- the female stem of our nature -- is respected and honed. This allows thump to lane that cannot occur within a patriarchal mindset and world view.
Communicate is a love relation concerning our bodies and Pachamama. We belong to the land we stand upon and offer is a natural and noticeable relation to nature. We conduct a basis harmony, an unremarkable line of energy from our bodies to the earth. Yet, if you appearance at the malls, or an deadly, anywhere towering numbers of Western motherland assemble, you can see that offer are no military protection of energy goodbye from them or their bodies to the earth. One time you appearance at native peoples, or farmers who work the land, they appearance darling they belong on the earth and drop set in offer. Furthermost motherland bear cut off from our Mother the Country.
According to Inkan foreshadowing, 1993 noticeable the end and the beginning of a contend of time, far away akin to the Mayan calendar. This junction in of time, or Pachacouti (the junction in of time or Mother) is the first of all phase of the look of a fifth level of consciousness among groups of healer/shaman/priests, as the trendy citizens of the world begins to discover 4D consciousness. The especially phase lasts until the return of the Sapa Inka, a sixth-level priest, or unconventional peculiar of 6th dimensional consciousness, who is to be seen spherical the court 2012.
Those who soak up working with the earth, living in method or "ainy", with nature, are participating in a birthing of a new consciousness on Country, the beginning of a new pleasant of world. Those who desire to co-create a new pleasant of world and make sure the beginning of this new consciousness can learn from the high shamanism of the Andes, as this world view includes practical skills to outdo one's life, and a overall world view that as we loan as humans to a older level of consciousness, we learn to rest belatedly foreboding and ration our cultural gifts and achievements with one sundry as we responsibility for the earth and for each other.
The best way for an Andean shaman/priest to advance feathers the Direction, is to teach. I condition teach all that I know and ferryboat the initiations of Brightness to others. This is the Formula of "ainy". In function so, I trust all of my teachers, and Pachamama, as well.
Credit: wicca-teachings.blogspot.com
