Your religious/spiritual journey

Faithfulservant said:
I see evidence every day. A year ago a friend from church had a tumor in her brain our church prayed over her and when she went back to the doctor they scanned her brain getting ready to do surgery and the tumor was gone. I had bursitis and arthritus in my hip and had to use s cane for the last two years. My church prayed over me. I havent needed my cane ever since. Another man had stage 3 cancer in his stomach he couldnt walk without assistance.. the church prayed over him when he went back to the doctor to have the cancer removed the cancer was gone he walks on his own now. Science cannot explain these miracles. My God is a healer and He heals His people.
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These things can and do occur. I just wish they were more abundant: More often, more thoroughly, for more people.
 
otherbrother said:
Do our beliefs get in the way of our truly “believing” in (as in willing to take a leap of faith)?
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Probably. If what you mean is people getting so wrapped up in preconceived notions they don't actually see what is there.
 
Thomas said:
The Greek term used to describe the eternal mutual indwelling of the persons of the Trinity is perichoresis (in Latin, circumincession). All three are in the one Divine essence; where one is, the other two are ... we cannot see God without seeing all three persons at the same time.
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What is being missed out on by those who believe purely in the indivisible Oneness of God?
 
Faithfulservant said:
I see evidence every day. A year ago a friend from church had a tumor in her brain our church prayed over her and when she went back to the doctor they scanned her brain getting ready to do surgery and the tumor was gone. I had bursitis and arthritus in my hip and had to use s cane for the last two years. My church prayed over me. I havent needed my cane ever since. Another man had stage 3 cancer in his stomach he couldnt walk without assistance.. the church prayed over him when he went back to the doctor to have the cancer removed the cancer was gone he walks on his own now. Science cannot explain these miracles. My God is a healer and He heals His people.
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Nice stories.
 
TheLightWithin said:
What is being missed out on by those who believe purely in the indivisible Oneness of God?
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When you introduce God, the oneness is lost. I believe physical energy/Space/time creates the sensation of the universe and all things without exception, humans, animals, vegetation and non-living substances are that only.
This is extreme Advaita Hinduism (complete non-duality). God has no place in this.
That is what our books said: 'Sarvam khalu idam Brahma' (All things here are Brahman).
 
The oneness of God has been a profound challenge in my journey of faith. Whatever our beliefs might be, the same God hears all our prayers, despite our differences. You will never look into the eyes of anyone who does not matter to God.

When we go out with the Street Pastors, we often come into contact with angry drunken violence. If I perceived them to be thugs, I would look for a more violent solution. If I see them as people who matter to God, then I can look for a kinder and more caring solution. Faith in God has helped me to walk in the middle of many violent fights, broken bottles and tools have been used as weapons.

Even in these fearful situations, when you search for the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, profound outcomes happen. We shall be out again tonight possibly until 3 - 4am.
 
Aupmanyav said:
The problem of originator does not exist in Hinduism. It is the child of many beliefs (including those of Indian Aryans) and has fathered many beliefs.
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The notion of continuous self-origination could work from a kind of overall reality that unfolds (and is taken back into) a deep zone that has no time or space. The creator God would be how we see it from a time/space perspective. But perhaps it is continuous creation all the time from everywhere?
 
TheLightWithin said:
What is being missed out on by those who believe purely in the indivisible Oneness of God?
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I would say nothing, because God is One and indivisible. (The Trinity is not God divided into three.)

But I see you point ... So in a broader sense, I'd say as the distinction between the Three Persons is one of relation, it's how a person relates to God.

I'm not trying to avoid the question.

Jesus (infamously) says: "No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6), which seems pretty dogmatic :eek:

But, He also says: "No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, drag him and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44).

So I would say that those who believe in God in some other way, are drawn towards God through whatever provision and whatever (religious) form God provides for their salvation.

I cannot say, much as 'we' like to, that we have 'exclusive access' to the Divine, and I would be sorry if that old joke about a walled-off garden in heaven exists for those Christians who think that Christians are the only ones there, were true.
 
Thomas said:
I would say nothing, because God is One and indivisible. (The Trinity is not God divided into three.)

But I see you point ... So in a broader sense, I'd say as the distinction between the Three Persons is one of relation, it's how a person relates to God.

I'm not trying to avoid the question.

Jesus (infamously) says: "No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6), which seems pretty dogmatic :eek:

But, He also says: "No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, drag him and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44).

So I would say that those who believe in God in some other way, are drawn towards God through whatever provision and whatever (religious) form God provides for their salvation.

I cannot say, much as 'we' like to, that we have 'exclusive access' to the Divine, and I would be sorry if that old joke about a walled-off garden in heaven exists for those Christians who think that Christians are the only ones there, were true.
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I've long time refused the Gospel of John. But I took the effort to dive into the complex answer of this book on its inherent main concern,: Who is Jesus?
The key is John's thesis that Jesus is not only Jesus, the man, but he "is" also the Word of God that existed before mankind. Many of the sayings John attributes to Jesus may be well understood on this background, if we replace "I/me" with "His Word".

"No one comes to the Father except through His Word” makes sense; if it referred to himself, the man, it would not make sense because it would deny that any prophet before him had access to God, entirely denying Judaism or any religion before. But John didn't intend to say that, even less Jesus.

Now, coming back to the original post, we are discussing our spiritual journey. I think what I learned is to listen carefully to the thoughts of others, to focus on understanding and not to judge before that. That doesn't mean that I have to agree to any opinion, nor that I make no difference between good and evil. But there are so many shades between good and evil, between the absolute truth and the manifest lie.

This created or deepened my doubt on the prophecy of the binary final judgment.

I think it is a myth, not telling the objective truth on the future, but giving guidance here and now.
 
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Thomas said:
I would say nothing, because God is One and indivisible. (The Trinity is not God divided into three.)
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It sounds like it is though, which is why I find it an obstacle to conceptualization of God, and certainly to prayer.
Thomas said:
Jesus (infamously) says: "No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6), which seems pretty dogmatic :eek:

But, He also says: "No man can come to me, except the Father, who hath sent me, drag him and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44).
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On the face of it the two statements either sound contradictory, or like a no-win situation.
Thomas said:
So I would say that those who believe in God in some other way, are drawn towards God through whatever provision and whatever (religious) form God provides for their salvation.
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I always thought so
Thomas said:
I cannot say, much as 'we' like to, that we have 'exclusive access' to the Divine, and I would be sorry if that old joke about a walled-off garden in heaven exists for those Christians who think that Christians are the only ones there, were true.
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Perhaps a walled off garden that is like a lounge with an open door... for those of any religion who feel the need to think they are the only ones there, because they are made unhappy by seeing others in heaven as well, and it is a voluntary proviso so they can be happy without limiting anybody else. (There would have to be one for each religion that has adherents who feel that way)
 
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