Hello

[I Am]

Just checking in and saying hello. I have a lot on my mind lately as it relates to spiritual matters. I hope this forum can serve as some logical sounding board as I delve deeply into areas that I'm very anxious about. I have some radical ideas about spirituality and I'm not sure where my people are. I hope to connect with those who might understand my perspective. Let's see how this goes.

Cheers

 

[Cino]

Welcome to the forums!

 

[wil]

I am wil and was before wil I am.

And I don't know Neville...<sheepish yet inquisitive look yet not quite enough to google but concerned he'll feel silly when he does>.... Should I?

 

[RJM]

Welcome @I Am

I am wil and was before wil I am.

And I don't know Neville...<sheepish yet inquisitive look yet not quite enough to google but concerned he'll feel silly when he does>.... Should I?

I did Google him. I have never heard of him. He seems like a sort of self-fulfillment guy:

https://freeneville.com/neville-goddard-wiki/

"Neville Lancelot Goddard (1905-1972) was a prophet, profoundly influential teacher, and author. He did not associate himself as a metaphysician, with any ‘ism’ or ‘New Thought’ teaching as commonly advertised by these collective groups. Goddard was sent to illustrate the teachings of psychological truth intended in the Biblical teachings, and restore awareness of meaning to what the ancients intended to tell the world."

The link below publishes hundreds of his quotes:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/53919.Neville_Goddard

Here are the first two:

"Change your conception of yourself and you will automatically change the world in which you live. Do not try to change people; they are only messengers telling you who you are. Revalue yourself and they will confirm the change."

"Chance or accident is not responsible for the things that happen to you, nor is predestined fate the author of your fortune or misfortune. Your subconscious impressions determine the conditions of your world.

The subconscious is not selective; it is impersonal and no respecter of persons. The subconscious is not concerned with the truth or falsity of your feeling. It always accepts as true that which you feel to be true. Feeling is the assent of the subconscious to the truth of that which is declared to be true. Because of this quality of the subconscious there is nothing impossible to man.

Whatever the mind of man can conceive and feel as true, the subconscious can and must objectify. Your feelings create the pattern from which your world is fashioned, and a change of feeling is a change of pattern."

 

[I Am]

Neville was one of many catalysts that formed my view of spiritually today. I was raised traditional Roman Catholic, turned agnostic, then found faith again. After researching many religions to find something that felt right, that resonated with me, I came across unity teachings. Still needing more, I found Thelema, a spiritual philosophy of sorts that seemed right at first, but soon discovered there are many rituals that I don't feel like I can get into whole heartedly.

So, here I am now. I've begun writing my own philosophy, though leaning heavily on Neville Goddard's teachings that we are God; we are in the sense that we are desire/imagination manifested in flesh form to experience all there is to experience in a collective effort to gather knowledge. Religions teach that God, Allah, Krishna, etc. are out there, somewhere. But I believe we're as much a part of God as your fingers to your hand, or your leg to your body... we are God.

Thank you for reading. I look forward to your comments and questions.

 

[RJM]

Religions teach that God, Allah, Krishna, etc. are out there, somewhere. But I believe we're as much a part of God as your fingers to your hand, or your leg to your body... we are God.

I believe I am in God and God is in me, but that doesn't make me God, not in the sense some use the term -- not you perhaps.

I was raised traditional Roman Catholic, turned agnostic, then found faith again

I was raised a Catholic, went on a long exploration of mostly Eastern spiritual and New Age ideas, and God eventually led my way back to Catholicism, but with the provision that the whole is more than the sum of the parts and that no-one human is entitled to tell me what to believe or to think.

'Wisdom is justified of all her children' Luke 7:35

I came across unity teachings. Still needing more, I found Thelema,

Is there a closeness between Neville Goddard and Unity ideas? Unity and Thelema are both discussed in these forums, mostly by @wil and @Cino respectively.

Thank you for reading. I look forward to your comments and questions.

It has been a pleasure so far. Thank you for bringing Neville Goddard into the mix

 

[marceltr]

Not agree with all.

 

[Truthseeker9]

I was raised a Catholic, went on a long exploration of mostly Eastern spiritual and New Age ideas, and God eventually led my way back to Catholicism, but with the provision that the whole is more than the sum of the parts and that no-one human is entitled to tell me what to believe or to think.

I find that very interesting. I never knew that about you before. I'm glad you think for yourself, but that's been obvious anyway before this. I don't know what you mean though by the whole is more than the sum of the parts in this context.

What is Thelema, Cino mentioned this. I never heard of it. I'm not sure what Unity is. I heard some quotes on TV that were supposed to come from Unity, a word for the day. Is that what we are talking about?

 

[Truthseeker9]

Never mind, I looked up Thelema, I consider it weird:

Thelema (/θəˈliːmə/) is a social or spiritual philosophy derived from Western esotericism. The word thelema is the English transliteration of the Koine Greek noun θέλημα (pronounced [θélɛ:ma]), "will", from the verb θέλω (ethélō): "to will, wish, want or purpose". While Thelema is most often regarded as a religion it is also often called a philosophy.

Thelema was developed in the early 1900s by Aleister Crowley, an English writer, mystic, and ceremonial magician.[1] He believed himself to be the prophet of a new age, the Æon of Horus, based upon a spiritual experience that he and his wife, Rose Edith, had in Egypt in 1904.[2] By his account, a possibly non-corporeal or "praeterhuman" being that called itself Aiwass contacted him through Rose and dictated, through Rose, a text known as The Book of the Law or Liber AL vel Legis, which outlined the principles of Thelema.[3]

The Thelemic pantheon—a collection of gods and goddesses who either literally exist or serve as symbolic archetypes or metaphors, depending on one's viewpoint—includes a number of deities, primarily a trio adapted from ancient Egyptian religion, who are the three speakers of The Book of the Law: Nuit, Hadit and Ra-Hoor-Khuit. Crowley described these deities as a "literary convenience".[4] The religion is founded on the idea that the 20th century marked the beginning of the Aeon of Horus, in which a new ethical code would be followed: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law". This means that adherents of Thelema should seek out and follow their true path, i.e. their True Will.[5] The philosophy also emphasizes the ritual practice of Magick.

As Crowley developed the religion, he wrote widely on the topic, as well as producing more "inspired" writings that he collectively termed The Holy Books of Thelema. He also associated Thelemic spiritual practice with concepts rooted in occultism, yoga, and Eastern and Western mysticism, especially the Qabalah.[6]

Aspects of Thelema and Crowley's thought in general inspired the development of Wicca and, to a certain degree, the rise of Modern Paganism as a whole, as well as chaos magick and Satanism. Some scholars, such as Hugh Urban, also believe Thelema to have been an influence on the development of Scientology,[7] but others, such as J. Gordon Melton, deny any such connection.

Wow, it seemed to have influenced a lot of things. I know something of Wicca and Scientology. There is a Wiccan follower that helps take care of my son. My wife was once somewhat interested in Wicca somewhat before she became a Baha'i.

Edited to say that the Unity I heard of on TV seems to be in line of what I found on Wikipedia:

Unity, known informally as Unity Church, is a New ThoughtChristian organization that publishes the Daily Word devotional publication. It describes itself as a "positive, practical Christianity" which "teach[es] the effective daily application of the principles of Truth taught and exemplified by Jesus Christ" and promotes "a way of life that leads to health, prosperity, happiness, and peace of mind."

On the whole, I like Unity.

 

[RJM]

don't know what you mean though by the whole is more than the sum of the parts in this context.

Hi @Truthseeker9

I meant the imperfections of the Catholic Church do not take away from its power, in Christ. Sort of?

"Upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it"

 

[Cino]

Never mind, I looked up Thelema, I consider it weird:

It is! At one point, Crowley even set up a commune, the Abbey of Thelema, in Italy

There are a few weird parallels to the Baha'i faith, and it would be fascinating to know whether Crowley had any previous knowledge of it. Examples: Thelema has a direction of prayer centered on Crowleys house (in Scotland, now destroyed); Their Book of the Law is also their most holy book, there is a large corpus of inspired writings, Crowley tried to found a bloodline lineage of spiritual leaders, Crowley also published mystical texts and spent time in the desert to pursue his mystical goals, a bit like Baha'u'llah in Kurdistan...

Anyway. Each a fascinating religions in its own right, I think.

 

[RJM]

On the whole, I like Unity

What Unity Teaches:
https://www.interfaith.org/community/threads/5940/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKZz4dUw2EBDQbCMZOBYSPQ
Click 'videos'

 

[Beautiful]

I listened to Feeling Is the Secret last night and its a nice little book. Refreshing, efficient, and true. Its a theory on the subconscious (or consciousness as a whole) and its relation to the whole of reality, as the hermetic principle and most all religious texts state; as above, so below, as within, so without. Its a helpful book capable of reminding one to breathe deeply...to "never go to sleep with a bad idea in your head"... I particularly liked the use of the word feeling/feelings. I like hearing that word, I like to hear a book which accepts feelings for what they are; perhaps the single most important value of all of reality. I liked this book and I'll listen to it again. Its a different perspective on this same old eternal truth which unites us all here.

Its con is its slight "this will help you achieve success" type lines which I cringe when listening to because I dont like books or any art marketed in this fashion...another little con perhaps is its outdated sense of reliance on terms and concepts of Freudian Psychology which were extremley popular at the time of publication.

Welcome god bless

 

[wil]

Lol, well it sure appears he.is right up my alley!

 

[Truthseeker9]

I meant the imperfections of the Catholic Church do not take away from its power, in Christ. Sort of?

Ok, I understand. I just see the Catholic Church as just one Christian organization among many. I don't think there should be such divisions in a religion. I think really there should just be Christianity with each person free to form their own understanding of Christianity.

 

[wil]

I don't think there should be such divisions in a religion.

Well ya got your...

• Haifan / Heterodox Bahá'ís.

• Baha'is Under the Provisions of the Covenant (followers of Neal Chase)

• Orthodox Baha'is (followers of Nosrat'u'llah Bahremand)

• Heart of the Bahá'í Faith (followers of Jacques Soghomonian)

• Followers of 5 Elders.

• Free Bahá'ís

And more...wait till ya been around 2000 years!

 

[Truthseeker9]

What Unity Teaches:
https://www.interfaith.org/community/threads/5940/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKZz4dUw2EBDQbCMZOBYSPQ
Click 'videos'

Ok, I went to the thread and responded to what Wil said early on. I don't have time to watch those videos.

Well ya got your...

• Haifan / Heterodox Bahá'ís.

• Baha'is Under the Provisions of the Covenant (followers of Neal Chase)

• Orthodox Baha'is (followers of Nosrat'u'llah Bahremand)

• Heart of the Bahá'í Faith (followers of Jacques Soghomonian)

• Followers of 5 Elders.

• Free Bahá'ís

And more...wait till ya been around 2000 years!

These are not following the explicit covenant. There is only one Baha'i Faith that has valid leadership according to the covenant. All of the Baha'is are entitled to believe what they want about the teachings, but they are not entitled to try to usurp the leadership of the Baha'i Faith. This is different from all other religions, where there is no explicit leadership established by the founder of the faith, and within each division independence of thought is discouraged.

 

[Cino]

This is different from all other religions, where there is no explicit leadership established by the founder of the faith, and within each division independence of thought is discouraged.

Do you really believe that the Khalifs felt they were not legitimate? Or the Popes and Patriarchs of Christianity? Or the Buddhist Monastics? The Rabbis? The protestant Bishops? Do you really think all of them harbor doubts that their lineages go back all the way to their authoritative source? How do you reach this conclusion?

 

[wil]

These are not following the explicit covenant.

Doesn't matter the religion most feel theirs is the right one.

Doesn't matter the denomination or sect, most feels theirs is the right one.

It is natural to feel your beliefs are on the right path... That is why you believe them, why you are on that path.

 

[RJM]

Doesn't matter the religion most feel theirs is the right one.

Doesn't matter the denomination or sect, most feels theirs is the right one.

It is natural to feel your beliefs are on the right path... That is why you believe them, why you are on that path.

Yes. And next the unwillingness to allow others their diferences, and the drive to cast them out as heretics, etc?