SeaAndSky
Senior Registered
Hi John,
In response to what I think is your query about whether I am having problems in my spiritual life, I’d say yes and no. To explain what I mean I have to first explain what I consider to be the “life of faith”. To me, this has 3 main parts: (1) direct encounter/communion/ relationship with the divine; (2) the life encompassing impact in living out, assimilating and acting in accordance with (1); and (3) our understanding of what is going on. So, in response to your query, I would say that (1) is unchanged for me. I still have my same love, faith, etc. in/for the divine I have encountered in various ways (most of which you would refer to as “mystical”) in my life. As to (2), it is always a challenge to know what to do with (1). In a general sense, I think that the prophet Micah put it best: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” That is very good advice in a general sense, even though it can often be hard to live it (even when I want to). However, there is also the issue of specific goals and missions that may exist for me. (I’ll not quote scripture on that, but it is also an issue—what is it, and am I willing/able to do it?). So, to summarize so far: (1) is doing fine and (2) is always an issue and a challenge, so not that much different there. The real problem is with (3)—understanding what is going on!
Understanding what is going on, no matter what religion is being discussed, mostly comes under the general rubric of “theology”—and there are a variety of subdivisions in Christianity to this study/understanding. Two of these subdivisions are Eschatology (the study of “last things”) and Soteriology (the study of “salvation”). Twenty years ago I thought I had these things pretty well understood, though I did have some discomfort on certain fronts. However, various problems had arisen for me over a period of time making me less and less sure that Christian theology was, in these two areas, correct and correctly reflective of the scriptural witness (and what my own heart/spirit) told me about God. Then I got hit unexpectedly by my own putative PL memories, etc., do some study making me aware of the current status of modern scientific reincarnation research, and get thrown even more out of whack in terms of “understanding” what is going on. So, I can safely say that my theology/understanding of what is going on is a bit of a mess right now in these two areas. This is what I spend a lot of time trying to resolve.
Anyhow, I think you and I line up in certain categories and diverge in others. On (1), your relationship with the divine was tangible/physical and took place a very long time ago, but you remain faithful to it. Mine has been more recent, intangible and mystical, but I likewise seek to remain faithful to it. On (2), we both have to struggle to know what (1) requires in terms of our actions and to do it (though once again my struggle has to do more with the present life, whereas yours seems to have more to do with what you are to do in your next lifetime). On (3), we’re both currently struggling to understand what is going on. You are looking primarily to “mystical” sources for your understanding and only very secondarily to historical or written sources. I am doing the opposite, but I think that I am going to have to start striving harder on the “mystical” side of my faith if I’m going to really advance my understanding.
Overall, we’re on somewhat parallel paths, but I can’t say whether our paths will meet or diverge further down the road. I hope they will meet, but that could only happen from my standpoint if we somehow can find that the sun gods that you worship are somehow aligned with the one God that I worship. From your standpoint, I guess you would put it the opposite way.
Cordially,
S&S
PS--I have only responded to your query about my faith, but I am totally intrigued by the things you have alluded to in the remainder of your post, especially what you have said about separate destinations/endings for different spirits, etc.
In response to what I think is your query about whether I am having problems in my spiritual life, I’d say yes and no. To explain what I mean I have to first explain what I consider to be the “life of faith”. To me, this has 3 main parts: (1) direct encounter/communion/ relationship with the divine; (2) the life encompassing impact in living out, assimilating and acting in accordance with (1); and (3) our understanding of what is going on. So, in response to your query, I would say that (1) is unchanged for me. I still have my same love, faith, etc. in/for the divine I have encountered in various ways (most of which you would refer to as “mystical”) in my life. As to (2), it is always a challenge to know what to do with (1). In a general sense, I think that the prophet Micah put it best: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” That is very good advice in a general sense, even though it can often be hard to live it (even when I want to). However, there is also the issue of specific goals and missions that may exist for me. (I’ll not quote scripture on that, but it is also an issue—what is it, and am I willing/able to do it?). So, to summarize so far: (1) is doing fine and (2) is always an issue and a challenge, so not that much different there. The real problem is with (3)—understanding what is going on!
Understanding what is going on, no matter what religion is being discussed, mostly comes under the general rubric of “theology”—and there are a variety of subdivisions in Christianity to this study/understanding. Two of these subdivisions are Eschatology (the study of “last things”) and Soteriology (the study of “salvation”). Twenty years ago I thought I had these things pretty well understood, though I did have some discomfort on certain fronts. However, various problems had arisen for me over a period of time making me less and less sure that Christian theology was, in these two areas, correct and correctly reflective of the scriptural witness (and what my own heart/spirit) told me about God. Then I got hit unexpectedly by my own putative PL memories, etc., do some study making me aware of the current status of modern scientific reincarnation research, and get thrown even more out of whack in terms of “understanding” what is going on. So, I can safely say that my theology/understanding of what is going on is a bit of a mess right now in these two areas. This is what I spend a lot of time trying to resolve.
Anyhow, I think you and I line up in certain categories and diverge in others. On (1), your relationship with the divine was tangible/physical and took place a very long time ago, but you remain faithful to it. Mine has been more recent, intangible and mystical, but I likewise seek to remain faithful to it. On (2), we both have to struggle to know what (1) requires in terms of our actions and to do it (though once again my struggle has to do more with the present life, whereas yours seems to have more to do with what you are to do in your next lifetime). On (3), we’re both currently struggling to understand what is going on. You are looking primarily to “mystical” sources for your understanding and only very secondarily to historical or written sources. I am doing the opposite, but I think that I am going to have to start striving harder on the “mystical” side of my faith if I’m going to really advance my understanding.
Overall, we’re on somewhat parallel paths, but I can’t say whether our paths will meet or diverge further down the road. I hope they will meet, but that could only happen from my standpoint if we somehow can find that the sun gods that you worship are somehow aligned with the one God that I worship. From your standpoint, I guess you would put it the opposite way.
Cordially,
S&S
PS--I have only responded to your query about my faith, but I am totally intrigued by the things you have alluded to in the remainder of your post, especially what you have said about separate destinations/endings for different spirits, etc.