• Miracle July 1 - 09:11 pm

A purely secular question: Was Jesus Christ a
Being of such intense psychic sensitivity that He
could feel the whole world's pain? And if so, did
this intense burden of our pain drive Him into
such torment that in the end the only path open to
Him was to be crucified? Did His pain, his
crucifixion, then become a catalyst for a whole
world's psychic awakening? If so, can it happen
again?

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound
more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
so that you may be able to discern what is best
and may be pure and blameless until the day of
Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and
praise of God. --Paul of Tarsus (Philippians
1:9-11)"--from the PeoplesBook2000.

Cinzia and I just got back from a trip to Egypt,
though she's still in Rome, where we traveled
down/up the Nile to visit various temples and
tombs, pyramids, etc. mostly to do with the 18th
dynasty, about which I am planning to write a
novel set in that time period of ancient Egypt.
Quite a fabulous journey, but I sense that
religious tolerance and the values of human
freedom and compassion are being lost in today's
Moslem fundamentalist revival taking place there.
A pity, since at the same time the Egyptians are
very eager to join in the information age and
progressive developments of the West . We found a
very heavy military presence there, which makes
the streets safe to walk, even at night, but is a
bit oppressive to be around soldiers with loaded
sub-machine guns, even if they are very friendly.
We'll post pictures on the web at
HumanCafe/author's gallery, when they are ready.
Generally, the people of Egypt are very friendly
and hospitable, especially the Nubians further
south. We had a wonderful time visiting with
them, and Cinzia even became pretty good at riding
a camel around the pyramids. We stopped at a
couple of internet cafes to check our mail, but
the computers were down. Progress comes slowly, I
guess. We did help out a very lovely young
village women near the Valley of the Kings who was
very pregnant and had fallen, losing a great deal
of blood. She was going into shock and was in
danger of losing her baby. The villagers were all
in alarm, since there was no transportation
available other than donkeys. Our taxi was the
only other transport for miles, so we commissioned
our taxi to take her to the local clinic, about
three miles away. The villagers got her into the
car, with much blood, and we all drove away to see
a doctor. By then she was listless and faint.
Her husband held her hand all the way. Cinzia and
I sat in the rear, while the whole village, it
seemed, was in the front. The doctor felt he was
not up to the situation and referred her to the
general hospital in Luxor, so we all packed back
into the bloody car and took off for the bridge
across the Nile and back to Luxor, about 20 miles
away. We got her to the hospital and she was
still alive, where they gave her a massive
transfusion of blood. We found out the next day
that she was fine and her baby was saved, so we
were much relieved. God works in mysterious ways,
and we were sure that if we had not been there at
that time in that village visiting a lovely rural
family, this young woman would have died, with her
baby. Funny, but we never knew her name.

'A pity, since at the same time the Egyptians are
very eager to join in the information age and
progressive developments of the West'.

Ivan I found your comment to be rather primitive especially as you have developed this cafe for the purposes of human understanding and equality. I do not know you, but it appears that you, like many Americans, have a sense that those living in "developing countries" are backwards because they have not jumped on western values and religions. I just ask that as you learn and grow you think about some of the assumptions you have regarding people in other cultural settings.

In response to Nov. 19th comment: Indeed, you are
right, that I should be more sensitive to
understanding how other people in the world think
and feel. I expressed above what was a feeeling
for me at the time, regarding the Egyptians I met,
who seemed eager for our so called "western
values". But I am sure that there are many who
would not agree with me. All we can do is live
and learn. Thanks for your comment. Ivan

On Global Community:

"From the beginning of the time the light of unity
hath shed its divine radiance upon the world, and
the greatest means for the promotion of that unity
is for the peoples of the world to understand one
another's writing and speech... Thus will the
earth be regarded as one country and one home.
The most glorious fruit of the tree of knowledge
is this exalted word: Of one tree are all ye the
fruit, and of one bough the leaves. Let not man
glory in this that he loveth his country, let him
glory in this that he loveth his kind."

Baha'u'llah. (The Tablets of Baha'u'llah,
pp. 127-128)

NEW GOD, THE SON...

"The process, which is taking place on Earth, is
the process of God's making it fertile for the
birth of a New God, God the Son. Therefore, among
us, the Universe and its structure arouse
interest. In the best instants of life our soul
directs by the ideas to stars and further them.
The brain and genetic code, were absorbed into our
process of perfection from the laws of physics,
and furthermore have a kind and all-understanding
soul. They are the embryos of the new God,
released from the burden of unnecessary memory of
the material world."


h
ttp://hometown.aol.com/Parkhom/Ch9.html by Vlad
Parkhom: God and the Idea, ch.

SOMETHING TO SHARE FOR RICHER OR POORER.

ONE DAY A WEALTHY FATHER AND HIS SON TOOK A TRIP
TO THE COUNTRY WITH THE FIRM PURPOSE OF SHOWING
HIM HOW POOR PEOPLE LIVE. THEY SPENT A DAY AND A
NIGHT AT THE FARM OF A VERY POOR FAMILY.
ON THEIR WAY BACK TO THE CITY, THE ASKED HIS SON,
"HOW WAS THE TRIP?"
THE SON REPLIED, "VERY GOOD, DAD." THE FATHER
THEN ASKED OF HIS SON, "WHAT DID YOU LEARN?" THE
SON ANSWERED, "I SAW THAT WE HAVE A DOG AT HOME
AND THEY HAVE FOUR. WE HAVE A SWIMMING POOL THAT
REACHES TO THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, THEY HAVE A
CREEK THAT HAS NO END. WE HAVE IMPORTED LAMPS IN
THE GARDEN, THEY HAVE THE STARS. OUR PATIO
REACHES TO THE FRONT YARD, THEY HAVE THE WHOLE
HORIZON."

WHEN THE SON FINISHED WITH HIS COMMENTS AND
COMPARISONS, HIS FATHER WAS SPEECHLESS. HIS SON
ADDED, "THANKS DAD FOR SHOWING ME HOW POOR WE
ARE."
ISN'T IT TRUE IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE WAY YOU LOOK
AT THINGS? IF YOU HAVE LOVE, FRIENDS, FAMILY,
HEALTH, GOOD HUMOR, AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
TOWARDS LIFE---YOU HAVE EVERYTHING. YOU CAN'T BUY
ANY OF THESE THINGS. YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE
MATERIAL POSSESSIONS YOU DESIRE FOR TODAY AND THE
TOMORROW'S TO COME, BUT IF YOU ARE POOR IN SPIRIT,
YOU HAVE NOTHING. EXHIBIT YOUR TRUE SPIRIT AND
SHARE THE REALITY OF THIS WITH OTHERS.

_____________________________

Humility is the grace of life:

We will know when the world had changed, when
historians will rewrite the past not to glorify
the powerful, those who killed the most men, but
instead those who had brought into the world the
most good, to make life better for all men and
women. Those will be remembered for their
humility and grace.

fly!

"not all of us can walk yet. some of still must
crawl. that is why we still make mistakes, do
foolish things that hurt us, or others. this is
why it is so important to forgive, so we can grow
and learn to walk. then we can fly!"

from a conversation with a friend over wrongs done
to us, and how they hurt

HUMAN SOULS ( in their stations of fellowship):

"The people of Bahá, who are the inmates of the
Ark of God, are, one and all, well aware of one
another's state and condition, and are united in
the bonds of intimacy and fellowship. Such a
state, however, must depend upon their faith and
their conduct. They that are of the same grade and
station are fully aware of one another's capacity,
character, accomplishments and merits. They that
are of a lower grade, however, are incapable of
comprehending adequately the station, or of
estimating the merits, of those that rank above
them. Each shall receive his share from thy Lord.
Blessed is the man that hath turned his face
towards God, and walked steadfastly in His love,
until his soul hath winged its flight unto God,
the Sovereign Lord of all, the Most Powerful, the
Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful...

...Our purpose is to show that should the loved
ones of God sanctify their hearts and their ears
from the vain sayings that were uttered aforetime,
and turn with their inmost souls to Him Who is the
Day Spring of His Revelation, and to whatsoever
things He hath manifested, such behavior would be
regarded as highly meritorious in the sight of
God.... "

--Bah'u'll.h, in His writings on "The Human Soul".

http://www.bahai.org/bworld/frame.cfm?token=285507
&CL=1

"THE One true God may be compared unto the sun and
the believer unto a mirror. No sooner is the
mirror placed before the sun than it reflects its
light. The unbeliever may be likened unto a stone.
No matter how long it is exposed to the sunshine,
it cannot reflect the sun. Thus the former layeth
down his life as a sacrifice, while the latter
doeth against God what he committeth." --the B.b

(from: Selections from the Writings of the B.b

DIVINITY

From Ch.32, "Witness", of Habeas Mentem:

"To turn to the message rather than to the teacher
does not mean that in any way we belittle the
divinity of the man. That the human
teacher is divine is borne out by the greatness of
his teachings. God's love is everywhere present in
these, and when we choose to believe
in this Love, then we are honoring the teacher
with our love for God. I do not think any one of
the great manifestations would argue with
this, but rather would happily endorse it, since
it puts the focus of our worship where it belongs.
Was it not Buddha who asked not to
have his image worshipped? And was it not the same
for Mohammed or Baha'u'llah? They are to be loved
for what they brought to us,
but not to be loved for who they are. As witnesses
in our faiths, we adore all the teachers, but even
more, we adore what they told. In
each message was the plea, even the order, to
bring to Earth God's Kingdom. And in each teaching
was the common faith that to do this,
we need to surrender our will to God's. But that
is not the same as surrendering our will to
another human being. If we are free as human
beings, then to surrender to the will of another
only takes away that freedom, which is not what
the teachings of God are all about. So it
becomes a contradiction, that to worship the man
is to not obey the will to God's Kingdom. If we
obey the teachings, then we become
more free to do God's Will in our souls; if we
obey anything else, we fail in God's Kingdom. And
this is what is universal, what is
universally catholic to all the faiths, to do
God's Will. So this leaves us with the necessary
question: What is God's Will? And the answer
lies in the hearts of each one of us as a free
human being."

http://www.humancafe.com/chapter_thirty-two.htm

(Teach while they sleep!)

You can teach, you can show by example, you can
write your ideas for guidance, but you cannot
force their minds to awake. Earth sleeps and is
happy in her slumber. But there will come a time
when her people will stop killing each other, when
acts of goodwill and random kindness will be more
important than sports scores, when the
interrelationships of all people will make sense
to them. But until then, let her sleep.

Dear Nguru, (see entry April 22, 2000)

Even gladiators stopped killing each other in
ancient Roman arenas. The world's humanity can
change. I think we are all connected, that we
already know what is to happen, in this time.
Earth's people will rise up and awaken in their
own wonderful resurrection.

Best regards, Ivan A.

Easter Sunday

Response to "Human Souls" April 2, 2000, in the
Forum, Christ's Awakening the World, Quote:

"They that are of the same grade and
station are fully aware of one another's capacity,
character, accomplishments and merits. 'They that
are of a lower grade, however, are incapable of
comprehending adequately the station, or of
estimating the merits, of those that rank above
them.' Each shall receive his share from thy Lord.
"

by Bah'u'll.h, "The Human Soul"

As I understand it, a greater person, more
enlightened and capable of greater mental or
spiritual capacity, is more or of higher station
than a lesser person. Therefore, being of lesser
station, the lower grade person is incapable of
understanding the full merits of the person who is
above. But this goes contrary to experience: a
teacher, who is above the pupil, is able to
transmit knowledge and experience to the pupil,
who is a lesser person, so the lower can
understand the greater. Why would this not apply
to all men, so that they could in fact be treated
as equals? If there is to be a unity of mankind,
than the idea of a greater or lower station of the
soul should be replaced with the concept of
equality of beings, because a greater person is in
that higher station mainly because he can transmit
his knowledge to those who are beneath, to make
them equal. This is what makes them great
teachers in the eyes of God. Do others agree with
this? I am seeking consensus on this.

Jebel

NEW COVENANT:
(Inspired by the writings of Herbert Armstrong on
the new Kingdom of God.)

Rev.19 [15] From his mouth issues a sharp sword
with which to smite the nations, and he will rule
them with a rod of iron;

http://www.hti.umich.edu/relig/kjv/

http://www.hti.umich.edu/bin/rsv-idx?type=DIV1&byt
e=5534755

(I believe the "rod of iron" is a standard which
is unchangeable, and from which all other measure
follows. It is the Law of laws, a Law of God, the
Mystery of the Ages.)


Heb.8 [10] This is the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.

http://www.hti.umich.edu/bin/rsv-idx?type=DIV1&byt
e=5433128

(I believe that this is what the Law of God is
about, a New Covenant for Earth's People.)

Jebel

NO ONE'S PERFECT (humorous)

This letter was (allegedly) sent in response to Dr
Laura's claim that
homosexuality is an abomination because it's
against the Bible...

Dear Dr. Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people
regarding
God's law. I have learned a great deal from you,
and I try to
share that knowledge with as many people as I can.
When someone
tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for
example, I simply
remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it
to be an
abomination..... End of debate !

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding
some
of specific law and how to best follow them as a
true believer.

When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I
know it creates
a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The
problem is my neighbors.
They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. How
should I deal with
this?

I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as
it suggests in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you
think would be a fair
price for her?

I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman
while she is in
her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev.
15:19-24). The problem
is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most
women take offense.

Lev. 25:44 states that I may buy slaves from the
nations that are
around us. A friend of mine claims that this
applies to Mexicans
but not Canadians. Can you clarify?

I have a neighbor who insists on working on the
Sabbath. Exodus 35:2
clearly states he should be put to death. Am I
morally obligated to
kill him myself?

A friend of mine feels that even though eating
shellfish is an
abomination (Lev. 10:10), it is a lesser
abomination than
homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle
this?

Lev. 20:20 states that I may not approach the
altar of God if
I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that
I wear
prescription glasses. Does my vision have to be
20/20, or is
there some wiggle room here?

I know you have studied these things extensively,
so I am confident
that you can help. Thank you again for reminding
us that God's word
is eternal and unchanging.

NOTE: This posting is meant only in the spirit of
humor and not to offend. Of course, the Book of
God can have humor too!

Can it happen again?

I think not. It happened. Only one holy teacher
of mankind was crucified, though many had come to
teach us, and many more will come again. Christ
was unique, in that He gave His life for our
redemption. The next teacher will not need to be
sacrificed, as His-Her message will be pure Joy.

POST THOUGHTS AT A BAHAI' FIRESIDE

Hi Isaac, Sheila,

I've been thinking about your fireside last week,
about uniting the world's religions into a greater
world peace. In fact, I think only a spiritual
awakening of humankind can deliver a great peace,
not mere political agreements between heads of
state. What came to mind is that most likely,
because the great religions have philosophies that
differ greatly from each other, above and beyond
the areas where they agree, there can be one area
on which they can all agree, and bring us a world
enlightenment at the same time: Tolerance. If we
cannot make the religious leaders agree on their
fine points of their respective spiritual laws and
beliefs, then let them at least agree on being
tolerant of one another's beliefs. As you so
succinctly pointed out in your and Sheila's talks,
there already exist threads that tie the great
religions together: peace, love, forgiveness, one
God, the golden rule. These are powerful glues
between them. But there are also irreconcilable
differences which tear them apart: heaven and
hell, reincarnation, who is the true Messiah (as
opposed to the false ones), social laws,
priesthood, correct methods of worship, how to
deal with the infidels, etc. I think the list of
disagreement is longer than the one of agreements.
But, if they all come to agreement on one
important point, that they all be tolerant of the
other's religion and beliefs, then we can see
humankind rise finally above petty squabbles over
who is right or wrong, and certainly eliminate an
important motivation for war between the peoples
who believe in different religions. After all,
there is only one God, and I do not believe that
He-She is at war within his-her Self. It is only
us humans who can create such intense disagreement
that we are willing to kill each others over it.
So, maybe we cannot reconcile religious
differences totally, but we can reconcile the need
to be intolerant of one another's belief. And
this already exists in our US Constitution which,
from a secular point of view, grants us the
freedom to believe as we choose. Not such a bad
idea, is it? May the future heads of our world
religions be as wise as were the founding fathers
of our country.

Just some thoughts to share with you. Cinzia and
I had been talking about this, so we wanted to
exchange this with your fine ideas. Special
thanks to Sarah Taraz from a great talk at
Huntington Beach, Ca. fireside in Lake Park, on
the individual in an ever advancing civilization.

With all the best wishes, Ivan and Cinzia

Dear friend,

The living Truth unfolds in Thee as it is
and shall always be,
for this Life shall sail through form
according to its
immaculate design.
And be not discouraged in time, for there
is no
possibility of failure, whatsoever.
The bondage of dogma is a mirage... a
vacuous state of
limited thought, imitating the web of a
spider. The Truth is
the living God, dwelling in all places...
resonating in each
Center... filling the Temple with symphonic
Spheres.
John Denver sang, "On the road of
experience, join in the
living day. If there's an answer... it's
just that it's just
that way."
Be in the Heart, dear friend. Contact
the living Issue,
and let out the endless joy.

Warm regards,
Carl Schmidt

http://ww
w.thehOMefoundation.com


OM

Bruno - Cristo
DUE DIVERSI SACRIFICI
In questa pagina, non si intende assolutamente,
mettere a confronto i due diversi tipi di
sacrificio. Si vogliono soltanto mettere in luce i
diversi aspetti che li caratterizzano, sotto la
luce delle rispettive e differenti Fedi.
A ciascuno trarre delle conclusioni in merito... 
Giordano, stretto sotto accusa e processato dal S.
Uffizio, decide, dopo ben otto anni di carcere e
torture, di non abiurare e di morire per le sue
idee. Cristo catturato dai romani, viene
processato e condannato dalla sua stessa gente.
Pilato: "Chi dei due volete che vi rilasci?". Essi
risposero: "Barabba!".
                          Matteo 27,21
Bruno crede fermamente in una vita dopo la morte e
quella che segue, credo sia la migliore delle
spiegazioni che egli da della sua fede nella
reincarnazione. Dice riferendosi alla materia in
senso assoluto e in senso circoscritto (creature):
"Quella è insieme tutto, ed essendo che possiede
tutto, non ha in che mutarsi; ma questa, con certa
vicissitudine per le parti, si fa tutto, e a tempi
e tempi si fa cosa e cosa: però sempre sotto
diversità, alterazione e moto. Cossì dunque mai è
informe quella materia, come nè anco questa,
benchè differentemente quella e questa; quella ne
l'istante de l'eternità, questa negli istanti del
tempo; quella insieme, questa successivamente;
quella esplicatamente, questa complicatamente;
quella come molti, questa come uno; quella per
ciascuno e cosa per cosa, questa come tutto e ogni
cosa". Cristo crede nella vita dopo la morte.
Definendosi figlio di Dio, dirà più volte di
salire in cielo e sedere "alla destra del Padre".
Non solo, prevedendo il suo "assassinio", dirà ai
Giudei:
"Distruggete questo santuario e in tre giorni lo
farò risorgere". Dissero i Giudei: "In quarantasei
anni fu costruito questo santuario, e tu in tre
giorni lo farai risorgere?". Egli però parlava del
santuario del suo corpo. Perciò, quando risuscitò
dai morti, i suoi discepoli si ricordarono che
egli aveva detto questo e credettero alla
Scrittura e alle parole che aveva pronunciato
Gesù.
                          Giovanni 2,19-22

Il che vuol dire che la materia infinita
dell'Universo e di Dio, non muterà mai forma nella
sua infinità perchè già tutto essa contiene. A
differenza del tutto, le singole parti, le
"forme", noi, le creature, mutiamo continuamente
aspetto nei diversi istanti del tempo. Come
preciserà lo stesso Giovanni, Gesù parlando di
tempio, non si riferì all'edificio ma ad egli
stesso.
Dunque Bruno sapeva che sarebbe tornato in vita e
ne era fermamente convinto, ma sapeva che non
sarebbe mai più tornato in vita come Giordano
Bruno... e questo comportava tutte le
complicazioni del caso. Tutte le rinunce alle
quali andava incontro Bruno rifiutando l'abiura.
Gesù sapeva che sarebbe tornato in vita dopo il
suo "sacrificio" in soli TRE giorni. Ma non solo:
sarebbe tornato in vita come Gesù Cristo, con la
sua solita identità, senza rinunce e senza
perdite.
Ma c'è un'altra cosa che salta all'occhio. Ed è
abbastanza particolare.
Dopo vari tentativi per cercare un compromesso che
rendesse l'abiura meno pesante alla propria
coscienza, e comunque, soddisfacesse i giudici,
Bruno scrive un'epistola indirizzata a papa
Clemente VIII. Un testo del quale non si conoscono
i contenuti, ma che presumibilmente, conteneva un
ennesimo tentativo di spiegare la natura delle
dichiarazioni di Bruno, e cioè, prettamente
filosofica. I giudici di Giordano, interpretarono
male l'ennesimo tentativo dell'imputato, e il 10
settembre del 1599, venne pronunciato un
ultimatum. In 40 giorni Bruno avrebbe dovuto
decidere fra un'abiura completa e senza eccezioni,
o la condanna per eresia. Anche Gesù, si trovò in
difficoltà per 40 giorni. Nel deserto, tentato dal
demonio. Come Bruno, anche Gesù si trovò a
decidere tra il Padre e le lusinghe di Satana.

http://jull.super
eva.it/

Translator program, copy and paste into:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/translate.dyn
* * * *
Il Vecchio Paradigma Il Nuovo Paradigma


Il Vecchio Paradigma è costruito su una serie di
credenze e convinzioni che rinforzano la
esperienza della realtà così come ci è trasmessa
dai nostri apparati sensoriali,cioè l’esperienza
comune.

Il Nuovo Paradigma è costruito sulle intuizioni
della Fisica Quantistica e delle Neuroscienze,che
sono molto affini alle intuizioni dei ricercatori
e saggi della tradizione millenaria Vedica
indiana.

1-Vecchio P.- Esiste un mondo oggettivo al di
fuori e indipendente da colui che lo osserva.

- Nuovo P.- Noi viviamo in un Universo
partecipante.La nostra ATTENZIONE crea e modifica
gli oggetti della nostra osservazione.


2- Vecchio P.- Il mondo materiale,inclusi gli
esseri umani,è fatto di aggregati di materia
che sono separati l’uno dall’altro sia nello
spazio che nel tempo.

-Nuovo P.-Il mondo è fatto di non-materia.E’
composto di campi di energia che provengono tutti
da un unico campo energetico sottostante e
non-manifesto.Spazio e tempo sono parti del campo.


3-Vecchio P.- La Mente e la Materia sono entità
differenti e indipendenti.

-Nuovo P.- La Mente e la Materia sono
essenzialmente la stessa cosa.Il Campo
sperimentato soggettivamente è la Mente.Il Campo
sperimentato oggettivamente è il mondo degli
oggetti materiali.


4-Vecchio P.-La Mente è incastrata nel
cervello.L’Intelligenza è localizzata nel Sistema
Nervoso o al massimo nel corpo.

-Nuovo P.-La Mente non è racchiusa né nel cervello
né nel corpo.E’ in grado di estendersi ai confini
del cosmo ed è illimitata.Può trovare espressione
in forme localizzate e in fenomeni.L’intero
Universo è questo campo di Intelligenza.Quando il
Campo interagisce con se stesso,cioè "pensa", il
mondo materiale appare alla
manifestazione.L’Intelligenza non può essere
localizzata,solo la sua Espressione può esserlo.


5- Vecchio P.-La Coscienza è l’epifenomeno (il
prodotto finale) della materia.Noi siamo macchine
fisiche che hanno imparato a pensare.

-Nuovo P.- La Materia è l’epifenomeno della
coscienza. Noi siamo pensieri (Eventi quantici nel
Campo Unificato) impulsi di intelligenza che hanno
imparato a creare macchine fisiche.

6-Vecchio P.- Gli esseri umani sono racchiusi in
se stessi. Sono entità indipendenti.

-Nuovo P.-Gli esseri umani non sono entità
indipendenti ma sono di fatto punti di
focalizzazione nel Campo Unificato: Noi siamo
inseparabilmente interconnessi con gli schemi di
intelligenza dell’intero cosmo.:Noi siamo una rete
di relazioni interconnesse.

7-I nostri corpi hanno confini ben definiti.Noi
siamo separati:I nostri bisogni sono distinti.

-Nuovo P.-Non ci sono confini ben definiti per i
nostri corpi: Noi non siamo separati. I nostri
bisogni sono totalmente interdipendenti.I nostri
corpi sono uno schema di Energia ed Informazione
in continuo e pulsante cambiamento ,una parte
dell’intero processo.I nostri corpi sono parte del
corpo universale.La nostra Mente è un aspetto
della mente universale.

(translated from teachings of Deepak Chopra)

DIVINE MAN-WOMAN
...a divine man-woman is one who achieves through
kindness and agreement what another achieves
through fear and coercion....

TRUST IN LOVE

It takes courage to trust;
It takes trust to find agreement;
It takes agreement to have cooperation;
It takes cooperation to form goodwill;
It takes goodwill to have an open heart;
It takes an open heart to love.

If anyone asks: Who are you?
Answer: I am who I am.
I do not live in competition,
But like water flowing into a calm pool,
I live in compassion and love.
With my open hands, I live in peace.


IA.
(dedicated to Nazareth Carmel, born 10 October,2000)

BE BEAUTIFUL

Most people I look at are not beautiful, even
physically ugly, until I see them as the shining
light of their soul, then they are beautiful, all
of them, always. When I see them like this, then
I too feel beautiful.

Old Age

I am an old man, happy in age.
What lies ahead?
The limitations of very old age,
Limitations and death.
Yet I am happy.
I have something to say that must be said.
I have learned how to pray.
Prayer is not asking or craving.
Prayer is stillness before the infinite.
It is quietness of heart.
Timeless experiences of eternity,
Stillness, serenity, joy and peace.
Death we must accept with relaxed gratitude.
Gratitude that we can put the burden down.
Gratitude for the wholeness of which we are a part.
Gratitude that we have touched the joy and peace of eternity.
Happy in old age?
Yes, beyond measure happy.
For we can be still and know.
This experience of prayer we call Eternal Life.

Ian Alexander

Copyright ©2000 Ian Alexander

http://www.poetry.com

IF CHRIST RETURNED to this world, He would very
likely thank us for preserving His Church. Then
He would tell us to dismantle Her.

CONFESSION is one way of having to tell the Truth,
to a priest or psychotherapist or friend, but that
is only half, and misses the point. To be Truth,
you have to live it.

Om-keh-an

SECULAR GOD?

Can there ever be a belief in a secular God?

http://www.humancafe.com/chapter-thirty-one.htm

http://www.humancafe.com/chapter_thirty-two.htm

WITNESS
Even in secular terms, leaving religion or
spirituality aside, we do God's Will when we are
true to who we are... There is no great mystery
here, since we each know this in our hearts...
The divine teachers and prophets, the great
religions and beliefs, and love of all natural
wonders and of each other, are all instruments in
bringing the Light of a Great Being into our
own...

FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness comes with understanding. When one
truly, truly, really, really understands, one
forgives.

GOD IS ONE

GOD IS THE WHOLE THING

GOD IS WON

Amen

John 16:7 :: New International Version (NIV)

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that
I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor
(FRIEND)* will not come to you; but if I go, I
will send him to you.

ONLINE SCRIPTURES/INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY
http://www.gospelcom.net/ibs/bibles/index.php

*("The Jesus Way New Testament" p. 117)

What does this mean?

THE JEFFERSON BIBLE

The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth
Extracted Textually from the Gospels

Compiled by Thomas Jefferson

http://www.angelfire.com/co/JeffersonBible/

Thomas Jefferson believed that the ethical
system of Jesus was the finest the world has ever
seen. In compiling what has come to be called "The
Jefferson Bible," he sought to separate those
ethical teachings from the religious dogma and
other supernatural elements that are intermixed in
the account provided by the four Gospels. He
presented these teachings, along with the
essential events of the life of Jesus, in one
continuous narrative. This presentation of The
Jefferson Bible offers both a revised King James
Version of the text, corrected in accordance with
the findings of modern scholarship, as well as the
original unrevised KJV. The selection and
arrangement used for both versions are by
Jefferson...

(Edited by Eyler Robert Coates, Sr.)

Happy Easter, Bonne Paque, Buona Pasqua to All.

12th Commandment?

If there was to be a 12th Commandment, it would be this:

"Thou shalt cease to coerce one another."

(per Habeas Mentem)

WALK THE EARTH WITH THE SOUL

"When we walk the Earth, we are walking on it not only with the soles of our feet but also with the visions of our mind."

--Ch. 21, Patterns of Triads. Habeas Mentem
http://www.humancafe.com/chapter-twenty-one.htm

PEACE IN PERFECT UNITY

Be in perfect unity. Never become angry with one
another. Let your eyes be directed toward the
kingdom of truth and not toward the world of
creation. Love the creatures for the sake of God
and not for themselves. You will never become
angry or impatient if you love them for the sake
of God. Humanity is not perfect. There are
imperfections in every human being, and you will
always become unhappy if you look toward the
people themselves. But if you look toward God, you
will love them and be kind to
them, for the world of God is the world of
perfection and complete mercy. Therefore, do not
look at the shortcomings of anybody; see with the
sight of forgiveness. The imperfect eye beholds
imperfections. The eye that covers faults looks
toward the Creator of souls. He created them,
trains and provides for them, endows them with
capacity and life, sight and hearing; therefore,
they are the signs of His grandeur. You must love
and be kind to everybody, care for the poor,
protect the weak, heal the sick, teach and educate
the ignorant.

(`Abdu'l-Baha: Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.
93) B

CHRIST'S SEVEN WOMEN DISCIPLES?

In "The Sophia (Wisdom) of Jesus Christ" book in
the Nag Hammadi Library, there are seven women
disciples of Christ mentioned. Where are they?
Why are they never mentioned? The book says:
"After he rose from the dead, his twelve disciples
and seven women continued to be his followers, and
went to Galilee onto the mountain called
'Divination and Joy'."

The Sophia of Jesus Christ.
http://home.online.no/~noetic/nagham/sjc.html}

(As posted in the Examined Life Discussion)

Hello WJ,
In answer to your question: "Does all or any of
that explain a (psychological)'force'? Is it an
illusion? Or, is it simply ignorance. And if it
is, there must be a 'truth' out there waiting for
(higher) human understanding. What are we
searching for when we even ask ourselves these
questions?" here's something that kind of came
together without much effort, so can't vouch for
its worth.

THE DREAM: a random speculation.

If we were to think of ourselves as the random
factor in existence, that our human consciousness,
for good or ill, what is capable of action through
the indeterminate factor of free will; then maybe
we can answer to the question as to why we seek
the answers we do. I read somewhere in the
Gnostic texts of the Nag Hammadi Library, I think
it was in the 'Sophia (Wisdom) of Jesus' that the
beginning of the universe was Light.
(http://home.online.no/~noetic/nagham/sjc.html)
If this Light, in a secular sense, this Energy,
was from whence all of existence sprang, then can
we imagine that the Light was too all inclusive
for itself (it had no shadows), and that it needed
to create some part of itself that would be
outside of Itself? An analogy would be when we
are asleep, and in that period of rest we dream.
The dreams are often disjointed, random,
nonsensical, and yet scientific research seems to
indicate that the mind cannot live without dreams.
So imagine that this perfect all inclusive Light
needs to dream, and in so doing plays the same
randomnized nonsensical games that our own mind
plays in dreams; except these dreams coming from
a source so great and powerful they actually
materialize, or become manifest in reality. This
would then be analogous to the many random events
of life as it exists. But there is a difference
here from our dreams and those of the Light: once
the creations are created, because they come to
life, they want to continue to exist (this is
universally true). So now the dreams are taking
on an existence of their own, but having come from
randomness (illusion?), they have inherent
imperfections which makes them play also in a
dream like way. So because Life wants to live, it
defies the dream and pherhaps randomly at first,
but later with greater determination, it begins an
evolution of that same characteristic that is
dreaming it in the first place: the Mind. So now
this mind is finally waking, and thus is thinking
of its Dreamer. However, it is not happy with the
randomness of the dreaming, so in the same way it
wanted to live when first created, it now wants to
order and organize, to preserve, to bring
understanding, to what it is within this greater
whole of the Dream, its universe. And thus we ask
the big questions. But it is actually more than
just that: because we are the random factor,
through the activities of our imperfect nature and
the always bipolarity of each choice we make, we
interplay into this cosmic dream in a way it could
never interplay itself. And this, to the cosmic
Dreamer, is probably most satisfying, same as it
is most satisfying when we wake from a good dream.

Now, given the above idea, (which is truly only
speculation and has no philosophical basis, at
least none known to me), it may be one possible
answer to the big question. Thinking about it
further, one wonders if the dream had not gone bad
at some point, and the Light is cosmically tossing
and turning. However, I would think not, and in
fact all the foibles of human nature, even its
cruelties that are so odious to us, are
nevertheless welcome in the Dream, because it is
the random factor that always creates more. So we
cannot, in this case, turn to some greater Deity
as our ancestor did (though they had a pretty good
idea of their gods' foibles), because the answer
does not lie there; it lies in us. We may be
connected to a much bigger Dream, but the reality
within which we exist requires that we dream at
the local level, and make it happen here. And
that, I believe, is why we as thinking and living
human beings ask the big questions. But the
answers to the Big question... that's for all of
us to work on, for lifetimes. Is this a Truth? I
don't know, but I think the Cosmic trick will be
to convince the Dream that we can do better than
mere chance, and that we can achieve more in the
Dream with love than with destructions.

Heartfelt with good wishes,

Ivan

The GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARY

These are beautiful quotes from the Book of Mary
(of Magdalene):

Ch. 5: " Then Mary stood up, greeted them all, and
said to her brethren, Do not weep and do not
grieve nor be irresolute, for His grace will be
entirely with you and will protect you... Peter
said to Mary, Sister we know that the Savior loved
you more than the rest of woman. Tell us the
words of the Savior which you remember which you
know, but we do not, nor have we heard them.
Mary answered and said, What is hidden from you I
will proclaim to you... The Savior answered and
said, He does not see through the soul nor through
the spirit, but the mind that is between the two
that is what sees the vision and it is [...]"
Ch 9: "Peter answered and spoke concerning these
same things. He questioned them about the Savior:
Did He really speak privately with a woman and not
openly to us? Are we to turn about and all listen
to her? Did He prefer her to us? Then Mary wept
and said to Peter, My brother Peter, what do you
think? Do you think that I have thought this up
myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the
Savior?"

http://www.webcom.com/gnosis/library/marygosp.htm

Beautiful!

BAREFOOT IN THE DESERT (a Meditation)

I walk barefoot in the desert,
To feel the Earth beneath my feet,
Sensually, step by step,
To remember the beauty of my love.
I walk alone in the hot sun,
And feel the desire;
As sharp thorns cut into my feet,
I remember...
That there is pleasure, and there is pain.

Salty sweat falls to my eyes,
Yet I can see the sea, and all life in it.
I walk in silence, feel the air, it is morning...
And I am awed by the emptiness.
My crude wood staff taps a steady beat,
And I can hear the heart of all being: "I am human."
I walk in my thirst,
And taste the sweetness of life;
As a hawk circles high, it reminds me,
That there is life, and there is death.

My skin burns, yet I walk with joy,
For I can see smiles in faces, everywhere.
Awed by the silence...
I walk inside nature's stark, cruel beauty,
And remember that we are all souls.
I've walked far, far more than I expected,
Only to know, that I am one, speck in the universe.

I walked naked in the desert, and was not afraid,
For I felt my soul,
And sent my spirit into the world.

I walk in Peace.

Pax vobiscum.


--Anza Borego July 4, 2001

To you

Whoever you are, now I place my hand upon
you, that you be my poem,
I whisper with my lips close to your ear,
I have loved many women and men but I love
none better than you.......

W.W.

DISCOVER Vol. 22 No. 6 (June 2001)

The Incorruptibles

The bodies of many medieval Catholic saints and martyrs have resisted decay for centuries— just the sort of mystery that begs for scientific inquiry.
By Heather Pringle.
Photography by Bastienne Schmidt [Adapted from the new book The Mummy Congress: Science, Obsession, and the Everlasting Dead by Heather Pringle, Copyright 2001 (Hyperion, $23.95).]

Whole and astonishingly intact 693 years after her death, the hands of Saint Clare of Montefalco pose a difficult question for researchers. Is her eerie preservation due to divine intervention, human embalmers, or the powers of nature?Inside a side chapel at the cathedral of San Frediano in Lucca, Italy, bouquets of lilies and orchids perfume the air with the sweet fragrance of sanctity. A respectful hush descends over the curious and faithful alike as they gaze up at a reliquary of gold and glass. Lying on a bed of brocade is one of Roman Catholics' most beloved icons, Saint Zita. Born in 1218 in the village of Monte Sagrati, Zita led a life of singular virtue. Raised in abject poverty, she was sent out to work as a child in the home of a wealthy merchant in nearby Lucca, where her kindnesses were legion. She gave up her bed to homeless women and dispensed her own meals to the poor. When she died at around the age of 60, her body was laid to rest in a burial vault in San Frediano. Memories of her holiness remained vivid, however, and people pressed the Church to declare her a saint. When ecclesiastical officials exhumed the humble servant nearly 300 years after her death, one of the miraculous signs of sainthood was immediately apparent: Zita was whole and intact, her body resistant to the decay reserved for ordinary humans. And so she has remained through another 400 and more years. Crowned with a ring of dried pink roses and wearing a gown of soft green velvet, she lies on her bier virtually untouched by time. Her gaunt face is dark but smooth. Her hands are soft and supple looking. Her lustrous nails gleam.

http://www.discover.com/june_01/featsaints.html

Dear Kevin, Isaac,

RE Religion, national identity, and terrorism:

Kevin writes: "What are the philosophical reasons for this dramatic resurgence of religion as an often illiberal force uniting people who feel left out of Western secular culture? And why the thread or actual practice of violence that seems everywhere to accompany this religious resurgence?"

I consider your question extremely timely and important not only because I had been thinking of it myself, but because it has the potential of pitting the European-American 'West' against the predominantly Moslem 'East'. This would include Russia and westernized Japan on the West side, and all the Asian countries with Moslem populations on the East side, with perhaps the exceptions of China, India, which may become opportunistic and take the side most likely to suit their purposes. Hence, we are looking a the Mid East Conflict as a flash point for a potential World War.

Firstly, I think it is important to separate those 'wars' that appear to be 'religious' from those that really are. For example, the North Ireland conflict appears to be between Protestants and Catholics, however that may be more of a label of who is the enemy in a political conflict rather than a war of religious ideology. On the other hand, the conflict between Tibetan Buddhists and the Chinese Communist authorities, though it may appear to be a conflict of Tibetan independence from China, is perhaps even more a war of ideologies between Buddhism and Chinese Atheism-Communism. The conflict as it has taken shape in the Middle East perhaps fits both patterns: it is both a war of liberation by the Palestinians to regain their homeland lost to Israeli occupation of what is now Israel, and an ideological war between the Jewish State's religions (both Orthodox and reformed Judaism) and the religions of the Arabs, though they are ideologically descended of Judaism. My Baha'i friends have taught me to see how the great world religions, starting with Zoroastrianism and other ties into Ancient Egypt, have evolved into Judaism Christianity-Mohammedism-Baha'ism as a progressive continuum of the same general idea of One God, and mankind as the inheritors of this Deity's instruction on how to bring God's Kingdom to Earth, as it was communicated by each successive manifestation of God's ideas via Moses, Christ, Mohammed, and Baha'u'llah. My Baha'i friend Isaac (of Judeo-Egyptian background), who is active in the Interfaith Dialogues asks: "Suppose you have been charged to form an interfaith discussion... what guidelines will you recommend and why, for a meeting to be successful, at is end, (so) each person assembled feel a real sense of friendship towards each other..." (This was posted under 'Interfaith Dialogue' at Humancafe's Forum, July 12, 2001, which can be viewed verbatim at: http://www.humancafe.com/discus/). Isaac had also at another time discusses how the Golden Rule is common to all world religions: to not do onto others what you would not have done onto yourself. So, the question is: How do we find common ground, of Interfaith, to bring all parties to the table without them feeling hostility towards one another and to open a dialogue?

I think this will be an important first step, to bring the warring religions to the table for dialogue. Isaac had suggested that one gesture of goodwill is the willingness to celebrate each other's holy days, but this may not be in agreement with all parties, since some may consider it blasphemy for non-believers to partake in this. My idea is to find those elements of each religion's belief system that honors the outsider, non believer, into their midst. An example of this is that on my trip through the Fundamentalist Sudan, I had the occasion to be a guest in a refugee village outside Omdurman, near Khartoum. The hosts were Moslem, not strict believers since they partook in alcohol. When the party was over, one of our guests, a very tall and strong Nuba, wanted to sleep with the attractive young English-American girl with whom I was traveling. They knew we were not husband and wife, so she was fair game, in their eyes. This happened in the middle of the night and no transportation was available out of the village until morning, and many miles of potentially hostile desert lay between us and 'civilization'. There was no question of battle, since I would have easily lost. However, having been well read, I knew that it was in their tradition that the host of a guest in his home had the obligation to protect the honor of his guests, even with his life if necessary. I reminded the still somewhat inebriated guest that I was obliged to wake the master of the house, since he was making an unwanted approach to my friend (at least I thought it was unwanted!). He immediately backed away, and by morning was profusely apologetic for his advances. I bring up this story as an example of where my knowledge of the other's culture was a pathway to solving a possible disagreement, even coercion, rape, that needed not take place. So the question regarding the Middle East Conflict that naturally arises is this: What do we know of the cultures and belief systems of the warring parties that could lead to dialogue, even make it welcome as an alternative to the self sacrifices, even suicide bombings, the participants are now willing to make on behalf of their cause? This would be a beginning, and I still do not know the answer to this.

The second approach would be to examine what underlying grievances may exist that are not outwardly spoken, but which are subconscious and power beliefs more than reason. For example, how is Jewish or Palestinian manhood affected by what is going on? Do Palestinian men feel emasculated by their lack of empowerment within their homelands? Do Israeli men and women feel that they live under the shadow of a holocaust, what happened to their parents and grandparents? These are questions raised in addition to the knowns, the fact that Israelis feel they are occupying their true Homeland, and that Palestinians feels that they are being forced out of their true Homeland. Obviously no agreement there. What about 'water rights'? Is water being distributed fairly to both sides, or not? What about the holy temples on the sites of Israel-Palestine? Both Jews and Moslems claim that the Temple on the Mount is theirs. Even the Christians fought the Crusades in the Middle Ages to preserve the sanctity of Christian sites, so it was said. Would it be an act of unification (a Baha'i prime directive) to build a temple on the Mount where all religions can worship freely and in peace? Where people pray is most important to them, and though prayer may appear an irrational act to some, it is most real to those who worship through these prayers. Should this be part of the Peace process? I have many questions, but few answers, and that is why I find the resolution of the Mid East Conflict so challenging. If it can be resolved peacefully, I believe, then we would have take a giant step towards inter-human understanding and with it World Peace. This is most important for the future of our world.

So these are some of my thoughts I leave on the table. I had visited on my world travels many houses of worship, temples and churches and mosques and synagogues, and I always felt welcome and reverent in them. Or, as isaac would say (I paraphrase his words), "...if we were invited to attend a religious service at each other's house of worship, would we feel completely at ease?" Could it be possible to lay aside our philosophical differences in a spirit of tolerance and understanding so that we could feel at ease in each other's worship of God? We would have to choose our words carefully, and be respectful of the needs of the religions we visit, take off our shoes or cover our skin if needed, but I think that this is achievable. We need to find pathways of agreement for the coercions to stop, and though the pain of past wrongs will not go away for generations, as is the case in North Ireland and India and Tibet and Kosovo and Armenia and elsewhere, in time healing will take place. And when it does, then a new spirit of tolerance and goodwill can replace the deep wounds we all had suffered throughout history.

I welcome additional thoughts from all who read this, since this is definitely a group philosophical project towards a greater World Peace.

Sincerely,

Ivan Alexander

(As posted July 13, 2001, at The Examined Life Philosophical Journal Forum> Religion, national
identity, and terrorism: http://examinedlifejournal.com/discus/index.html)

22 Aug 1999/Peoples Book 2000:

Comments

UNITY OF RELIGION: The Three Golden Rules.

The following are quotes found in the Scared Scriptures of the western world's three main religions: Judaism, Christianity, Mohammedanism. Their common thread of belief sharing in Love, Peace, and the Golden Rule, are as follows:

GOLDEN RULE: "Do onto others as you would have them do onto you." Matthew 7:12: "Whatever you would have people do for you, do the same for them." Mohammed, the Hadith, 138: "Do unto all men as you wish to have done unto you; and reject for others what you would reject for yourselves."

PEACE: Mishna 1:18: "The world is preserved by three things: truth, justice, and peace." Isaiah 2:4: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Proverbs 24:17: "Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles." Matthew 5:44: "Love your enemies, bless them who curse you, do good to them who hate you. And pray for them who spitefully use you and persecute you." James 3:18: "The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by peacemakers." Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." Mohammed, Koran, 5:35: "He who slays one human being, it is as if he had slain all mankind; he who saves one human being, it is as if he had saved all mankind." Mohammed, the Hadith, 340: "Shall I tell you what are better acts than fasting, charity, and prayer? Making peace between enemies are such acts; fir enmity and malice tear up the heavenly rewards by the roots."

LOVE AND COMPASSION: Mohammed, Koran, 2:191: "God loves all those who do good." Mohammed, the Hadith, 198: "God is gentle and loves gentleness." Matthew 19:19: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 1 John 4:16: "God is love; and he who dwells in love dwells in God." Leviticus 19:18: "You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Micah 6:8: "O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of your? Only to do justly; to love mercy; and to walk humbly with your God." Christ, John 13:34: "A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another."

*************************************************************************************************
The above are only a few examples, and there are many more not only in the scriptures of the Judeo-Christian-Moslem teachings, but also in the teachings of all the world's great religions. As compiled by Isaac Cavaliero and posted into "Peoples Book 2000". - Ivan

Dear WJ,

You write:

"But now it may be appropriate to add in the discussion:

- In terms of anything that we ever have experienced, or will experience, we have no knowledge of the existence or non-existence of:
(A) our own free will;
(B) our soul's immortality;
(C) God. "

In his Eternal Life? (Image Books, NY, 1985), Hans Kung writes:

"But does the demand for verification mean conversely that life after death is demonstrable? Perhaps by those arguments for the immortality of the soul which have been used constantly since Plato's time? Like his great master Socrates, who had gone to his death serenely and confidently, struggled to work out new arguments for the immortality of the soul, regarding the soul as the principle of life and for that very reason as immortal." -pg. 74.

This is the question I often ask myself as well: Is the infinite chain of connections that define a life, a point of life at the end of this chain: is this the soul? What is it that constitutes a definition of our being that is continuous, immortal, that is some value in us which survives us upon the death of our body? Does the concept of 'interrelationship' as a defining force of things in existence lend itself to a definition of the soul, and ultimately of God? Or does it require some higher consciousness in man to reach such an immortality, such as found in the life of the saints? I do not know, and can only offer a guess on this: I suspect the answer is 'yes'. Or in the words of the Buddhist masters: 'Thou art that.'

Kung then writes in his "Summary" at the end of the book:

"God all in all: For me it is expressed in unsurpassed and grandiose poetic form -- interweaving cosmic liturgy, nuptial celebrations and quiet happiness-- on the last pages of the New Testament at the end of the book of Revelation by the seer in statements of promise and hope, with which I would like to close this series of lectures on eternal life: 'Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea (the place of chaos). I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, 'You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them: they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past will be gone.' It will no longer be a life in the light of the Eternal, but the light of the Eternal will be our life and his rule our rule." pp. 233-234.

Kung wrote earlier (pg. 232): "Not a human kingdom, but only God's kingdom is the kingdom of consummation: the kingdom of definitive salvation, of fulfilled justice, of perfect freedom, of unequivocal truth, of universal peace, of infinite love, of overflowing joy --in a word, of eternal life."

So eternal life is not necessarily in the physical sense, but one where that final point of life, our being, is now connected completely, consciously, and in total agreement with the universe within which it exists; and this is by choice. Think what this can mean! Imagine a world where fear is replaced with joy because of the certainty that one is part of the whole universe in such a way that the connections never end. Imagine a world where finding agreement between individual human beings is sought as passionately as a philosopher's quest for truth, or a true believer's quest for the holy places of their saviour, or lovers for each other. Imagine a world where the structure is one of agreements rather than coercions. Can such a world exist? I think it is a philosophical possibility, but to get there will take a level of awareness that I fear is not yet amongst us. Our mind, as a planet-wide- consciousness, is still too weak, and we lose sight of our goals too easily and fall back into the confusion which we so comfortably know. The answer to an eternal life is beyond birthing and dying; it is in knowing that we are part of a much bigger picture, and that this picture asserts itself here on earth when we do things through agreement rather than through coercion. And this is done of our own free will. I think this will be the path to what the seers of the book of Revelation wrote about, a perfect freedom and universal peace. The question is: If this is demanded of us as our next stage of human evolution, of our being and soul; and we who are still lost in our confusion do not know how to get there; how can it happen? I do not know, but I can venture a guess: It will happen when we realize that we can freely choose to be free of coercions. Alas, I am too pessimistic to think this can happen. But if it did happen, imagine the Joy!

Most sincerely,

Ivan Alexander

PEACE for the new Millennium.

Coercion is the most difficult thing to avoid;
agreement is the most difficult thing to begget.
But coercion beggets coercion; whereas agreement
beggets agreement. If anyone can understand this,
then reform of all our past human errors is
possible, even for the world's main religions,
even for Judaism and Christian and Islam.
Agreement as opposed to coercion can usher in a
new world, a new millennium of Peace.

Ivan Alexander/10.02.2001

A post from the "Examined Life Philosophy Journal Forum, Philosophy of Religion and Theology, Is God/Man Logical?" -pg. 32

http://examinedlifejournal.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/topic.cgi?forum=15&topic=2&start=217


WJ, Mitch, Dave, G-man, Anon-1, Seeker, Gentlemen all,

After giving it much thought, and reading the posts, I have come to a conclusion about God:  He is both good and bad, which to me is logical.

Or as Jose' Saramago said in his book "The Gospel According to Jesus Christ (the Son)", a
benign parody on the Gospels, where the Son says to his father:

"Being God, you must know everything."
"Up to a point, only up to a point."
"What point is that."
"The point where it becomes interesting to pretend I do not know."
-pg. 308 (Harcourt Brace, NY, 1994)

And again on pg. 310:  "My son, never forget what I'm about to tell you, everything that
concerns God also concerns the devil."

In fact, according to Saramago, though he is writing fiction, is that God needs the devil, same as the devil needs God.  This is not to say that I believe in Satan, nor do I believe in God in the traditional religious context.  What I do believe in is that in the universe as it exists, God is both the good and that which is an absence of the good, which from our point of view we call evil.  This is the image of a secular God, a pantheistic view, where one cannot exist without the other.  So it is totally logical that God is both good and evil, at least for us humans.  And so? The reconciliation of good and evil is then up to us, our choice.

I have not yet read the end of the book, so do not know how Jesus resolves this paradox,
except to know that the historical Jesus was crucified.  The rest is history.

Always a joy, it's been fun.  Ha!

Ivan


Ps: Jesus in the end does solve the riddle of God's paradox when he answers to Peter saying: "You speak as if we had to choose between you and God." To which Jesus replies: "You will always have to choose between God and God, and like you and all other men, I am in the middle." -pg. 369

But to the real answer to the riddle, which Jesus speaks at the end when He is on the cross, I will leave out here in order not to spoil the reader's surprise.

(Jose' Saramago was born in Portugal 1922 and received the Nobel Award in literature in 1998.)

CHRIST BLESSING THE WORLD

The true secular meaning of Christmas is that the
longest nights are behind us, and there is hope in
the new lengthening days ahead, because Christ
gave us God's Love for His Kingdom on Earth. And
for this, we are Merry!

The true religious meaning of Christmas is that
God so loved the world that He sent us His only
Son. And for that we are truly Blessed.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!


God Bless, with Love,

from the Editors at Humancafe

--------------------------------------------------
Below is something sent by Baha'i friends for this
Christmas day:

"Sheila and myself would like to wish all of our
Christian friends and families a joyful Christmas
and a wonderful new year.

May the Spirit of Christ, His love for mankind and
His divine teachings, be the source of
inspiration, of love and reconciliation among all
of God's children.

Let us all share together some beautiful words of
wisdom from the New Testament

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after
righteousness, for they shall be filled.(Matt.
5:6)

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see
God.(Matt. 5:8)

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be
called the children of God.(Matt. 5:9)

Love your enemies, bless them who curse you, do
good to them who hate you, and pray for them who
spitefully use you and persecute you .(Matt. 5:44)

When you pray, do not use vain repetitions, for
your Father knows what you are in need of before
you ask him.(Matt. 6:7-8)

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.(Matt.
19:19)

You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind. This is the first and great commandment. And
the second is like it: You shall love your
neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments
rest all the Law and the prophets.(Matt.22:37)

When you pray, forgive if you have anything
against anyone, that your Father who is in heaven
may forgive you your trespasses. (Mark 11: 25)

A new commandment I give unto you: That you love
one another.(John 13:34)

He has made of one blood all nations of
men.(Acts17:26)

It is more blessed to give than to receive.(Acts
20:35)

There is one God and Father of all, who is above
all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephes.4:6)

Speak evil of no man.(Titus 1:2)

Out of the same mouth come blessings and
curses.(James 3:10)

The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by
peacemakers.(James 3:18)

God is love; and he who dwells in love dwells in
God.(I John 4:16)

If a man says, “I love God,” but hates his
brother, he is a liar.(I John
4:21)

He who loves God loves his brother also.(I John
4:21) "

the mind is that part of the universe that can
interact with itself. it is how the who, or it,
or that, looks back upon itself. it is ego and
detachment and being. it is the swaying of the
sea kelp, or the rhythm of the waves beneath a
darkening sky. mind is a dream that creates
itself.

shamu

COOPERATION

It takes courage to trust;
It takes trust to find agreement;
It takes agreement to have cooperation;
It takes cooperation to form goodwill;
It takes goodwill to have an open heart;
It takes an open heart to love.

If anyone asks: Who are you?
Answer: I am who I am.
I do not live in competition,
But like water flowing into a calm pool,
I live in compassion and cooperation.
With my open hands, I live in peace.


Ankheom

Caro Humancafe

La New Life Mission sta distribuendo la serie dei libri cristiani del rev. Paul C. Jong assolutamente Gratis.
Puoi scegliere tra i libri stampati e gli e-books, ti preghiamo di cliccare la parte sottostante.
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Caratteristiche dei libri della serie di Paul C. Jong!

1.. Messaggi di fede che sono testimonianza di verita e che ci permettono di ricevere il dono dello Spirito Santo.
2.. I libri di anime vittoriose che mostrano chiaramente il modo di rinascere di acqua e di Spirito. (Giovanni 3:5)
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Dopo la lettura degli e-books o dei libri stampati, puoi richiedere altre copie aggiuntive della versione stampata (Libri in carta).
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In Cristo
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HELLO... GOD?

http://168.143.173.209/IWGnet.swf An interview with God

JESUS MYTHS?

"Origins of Christianity" as posted by Fikshen, 19 March, 2002, on the Examined Life Interdisciplinary Forums. For full text, see: http://examinedlifejournal.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/topic.cgi?forum=16&topic=3

Fikshen makes a case, through a paper written by Acharya, which claims that Jesus is not one person, but rather the embodied composition of a multitude of Messiah myths of ancient times.
---------------------------------------------------------------

"The Origins of Christianity & the
Quest for the Historical Jesus Christ
by Acharya S

Introduction
Around the world over the centuries, much has been written about religion, its meaning, its relevance and contribution to humanity. In the West particularly, sizable tomes have been composed speculating upon the nature and historical background of the main character of Western religions, Jesus Christ. Many have tried to dig into the precious few clues as to Jesus's identity and come up with a biographical sketch that either bolsters faith or reveals a more human side of this godman to which we can all relate. Obviously, considering the time and energy spent on them, the subjects of Christianity and its legendary founder are very important to the Western mind and culture.
...
"The Characters
It is evident that there was no single historical person upon whom the Christian religion was founded, and that "Jesus Christ" is a compilation of legends, heroes, gods and godmen. There is not adequate room here to go into detail about each god or godman that contributed to the formation of the Jewish Jesus character; suffice it to say that there is plenty of documentation to show that this issue is not a question of "faith" or "belief." The truth is that during the era this character supposedly lived there was an extensive library at Alexandria and an incredibly nimble brotherhood network that stretched from Europe to China, and this information network had access to numerous manuscripts that told the same narrative portrayed in the New Testament with different place names and ethnicity for the characters. In actuality, the legend of Jesus nearly identically parallels the story of Krishna, for example, even in detail, as was presented by noted mythologist and scholar Gerald Massey over 100 years ago, as well as by Rev. Robert Taylor 160 years ago, among others. The Krishna tale as told in the Hindu Vedas has been dated to at least as far back as 1400 B.C.E. The same can be said of the well-woven Horus mythos, which also is practically identical, in detail, to the Jesus story, but which predates the Christian version by thousands of years.

The Jesus story incorporated elements from the tales of other deities recorded in this widespread area, such as many of the following world saviors and "sons of God," most or all of whom predate the Christian myth, and a number of whom were crucified or executed.

Adad of Assyria
Adonis, Apollo, Heracles ("Hercules") and Zeus of Greece
Alcides of Thebes
Attis of Phrygia
Baal of Phoenicia
Bali of Afghanistan
Beddru of Japan
Buddha of India
Crite of Chaldea
Deva Tat of Siam
Hesus of the Druids
Horus, Osiris, and Serapis of Egypt, whose long-haired, bearded appearance was adopted for the Christ character
Indra of Tibet/India
Jao of Nepal
Krishna of India
Mikado of the Sintoos
Mithra of Persia
Odin of the Scandinavians
Prometheus of Caucasus/Greece
Quetzalcoatl of Mexico
Salivahana of Bermuda
Tammuz of Syria (who was, in a typical mythmaking move, later turned into the disciple Thomas)
Thor of the Gauls
Universal Monarch of the Sibyls
Wittoba of the Bilingonese
Xamolxis of Thrace
Zarathustra/Zoroaster of Persia
Zoar of the Bonzes
The Major Players
Buddha
Although most people think of Buddha as being one person who lived around 500 B.C.E., the character commonly portrayed as Buddha can also be demonstrated to be a compilation of godmen, legends and sayings of various holy men both preceding and succeeding the period attributed to the Buddha.

The Buddha character has the following in common with the Christ figure:

Buddha was born of the virgin Maya, who was considered the "Queen of Heaven."
He was of royal descent.
He crushed a serpent's head.
He performed miracles and wonders, healed the sick, fed 500 men from a "small basket of cakes," and walked on water.
He abolished idolatry, was a "sower of the word," and preached "the establishment of a kingdom of righteousness."
He taught chastity, temperance, tolerance, compassion, love, and the equality of all.
He was transfigured on a mount.
Sakya Buddha was crucified in a sin-atonement, suffered for three days in hell, and was resurrected.
He ascended to Nirvana or "heaven."
Buddha was considered the "Good Shepherd" the "Carpenter" the "Infinite and Everlasting."
He was called the "Savior of the World" and the "Light of the World."
Horus of Egypt
The stories of Jesus and Horus are very similar, with Horus even contributing the name of Jesus Christ. Horus and his once-and-future Father, Osiris, are frequently interchangeable in the mythos ("I and my Father are one"). The legends of Horus go back thousands of years, and he shares the following in common with Jesus:

Horus was born of the virgin Isis-Meri on December 25th in a cave/manger, with his birth being announced by a star in the East and attended by three wise men.
He was a child teacher in the Temple and was baptized when he was 30 years old.
Horus was also baptized by "Anup the Baptizer," who becomes "John the Baptist."
He had 12 disciples.
He performed miracles and raised one man, El-Azar-us, from the dead.
He walked on water.
Horus was transfigured on the Mount.
He was crucified, buried in a tomb and resurrected.
He was also the "Way, the Truth, the Light, the Messiah, God's Anointed Son, the Son of Man, the Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God, the Word" etc.
He was "the Fisher," and was associated with the Lamb, Lion and Fish ("Ichthys").
Horus's personal epithet was "Iusa," the "ever-becoming son" of "Ptah," the "Father."
Horus was called "the KRST," or "Anointed One," long before the Christians duplicated the story.
In fact, in the catacombs at Rome are pictures of the baby Horus being held by the virgin mother Isis - the original "Madonna and Child" - and the Vatican itself is built upon the papacy of Mithra, who shares many qualities with Jesus and who existed as a deity long before the Jesus character was formalized. The Christian hierarchy is nearly identical to the Mithraic version it replaced. Virtually all of the elements of the Catholic ritual, from miter to wafer to water to altar to doxology, are directly taken from earlier pagan mystery religions.

Mithra, Sungod of Persia
The story of Mithra precedes the Christian fable by at least 600 years. According to Wheless, the cult of Mithra was, shortly before the Christian era, "the most popular and widely spread 'Pagan' religion of the times." Mithra has the following in common with the Christ character:

Mithra was born of a virgin on December 25th.
He was considered a great traveling teacher and master.
He had 12 companions or disciples.
He performed miracles.
He was buried in a tomb.
After three days he rose again.
His resurrection was celebrated every year.
Mithra was called "the Good Shepherd."
He was considered "the Way, the Truth and the Light, the Redeemer, the Savior, the Messiah."
He was identified with both the Lion and the Lamb.
His sacred day was Sunday, "the Lord's Day," hundreds of years before the appearance of Christ.
Mithra had his principal festival on what was later to become Easter, at which time he was resurrected.
His religion had a Eucharist or "Lord's Supper."
Krishna of India
The similarities between the Christian character and the Indian messiah are many. Indeed, Massey finds over 100 similarities between the Hindu and Christian saviors, and Graves, who includes the various noncanonical gospels in his analysis, lists over 300 likenesses. It should be noted that a common earlier English spelling of Krishna was "Christna," which reveals its relation to '"Christ." It should also be noted that, like the Jewish godman, many people have believed in a historical, carnalized Krishna.

Krishna was born of the Virgin Devaki ("Divine One")
His father was a carpenter.
His birth was attended by angels, wise men and shepherds, and he was presented with gold, frankincense and myrrh.
He was persecuted by a tyrant who ordered the slaughter of thousands of infants.
He was of royal descent.
He was baptized in the River Ganges.
He worked miracles and wonders.
He raised the dead and healed lepers, the deaf and the blind.
Krishna used parables to teach the people about charity and love.
"He lived poor and he loved the poor."
He was transfigured in front of his disciples.
In some traditions he died on a tree or was crucified between two thieves.
He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven.
Krishna is called the "Shepherd God" and "Lord of lords," and was considered "the Redeemer, Firstborn, Sin Bearer, Liberator, Universal Word."
He is the second person of the Trinity, and proclaimed himself the "Resurrection" and the "way to the Father."
He was considered the "Beginning, the Middle and the End," ("Alpha and Omega"), as well as being omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent.
His disciples bestowed upon him the title "Jezeus," meaning "pure essence."
Krishna is to return to do battle with the "Prince of Evil," who will desolate the earth.
Prometheus of Greece
The Greek god Prometheus has been claimed to have come from Egypt, but his drama took place in the Caucasus mountains. Prometheus shares a number of striking similarities with the Christ character.

Prometheus descended from heaven as God incarnate as man, to save mankind.
He was crucified, suffered and rose from the dead.
He was called the Logos or Word.
Five centuries before the Christian era, esteemed Greek poet Aeschylus wrote Prometheus Bound, which, according to Taylor, was presented in the theater in Athens. Taylor claims that in the play Prometheus is crucified "on a fatal tree" and the sky goes dark:

"The darkness which closed the scene on the suffering Prometheus, was easily exhibited on the stage, by putting out the lamps; but when the tragedy was to become history, and the fiction to be turned into fact, the lamp of day could not be so easily disposed of. Nor can it be denied that the miraculous darkness which the Evangelists so solemnly declare to have attended the crucifixion of Christ, labours under precisely the same fatality of an absolute and total want of evidence."

Tradition holds that Prometheus was crucified on a rock, yet some sources have opined that legend also held he was crucified on a tree and that Christians muddled the story and/or mutilated the text, as they did with the works of so many ancient authors. In any case, the sun hiding in darkness parallels the Christian fable of the darkness descending when Jesus was crucified. This remarkable occurrence is not recorded in history but is only explainable within the Mythos and as part of a recurring play.

The Creation of a Myth
The Christians went on a censorship rampage that led to the virtual illiteracy of the ancient world and ensured that their secret would be hidden from the masses, but the scholars of other schools/sects never gave up their arguments against the historicizing of a very ancient mythological creature. We have lost the arguments of these learned dissenters because the Christians destroyed any traces of their works. Nonetheless, the Christians preserved the contentions of their detractors through the Christians' own refutations.

For example, early Church Father Tertullian (@ 160-220 C.E.), an "ex-Pagan" and Bishop of Carthage, ironically admits the true origins of the Christ story and of all other such godmen by stating in refutation of his critics, "You say we worship the sun; so do you." Interestingly, a previously strident believer and defender of the faith, Tertullian later renounced Christianity.

The "Son" of God is the "Sun" of God
The reason why all these narratives are so similar, with a godman who is crucified and resurrected, who does miracles and has 12 disciples, is that these stories were based on the movements of the sun through the heavens, an astrotheological development that can be found throughout the planet because the sun and the 12 zodiac signs can be observed around the globe. In other words, Jesus Christ and all the others upon whom this character is predicated are personifications of the sun, and the Gospel fable is merely a rehash of a mythological formula (the "Mythos," as mentioned above) revolving around the movements of the sun through the heavens.

For instance, many of the world's crucified godmen have their traditional birthday on December 25th ("Christmas"). This is because the ancients recognized that (from an earthcentric perspective) the sun makes an annual descent southward until December 21st or 22nd, the winter solstice, when it stops moving southerly for three days and then starts to move northward again. During this time, the ancients declared that "God's sun" had "died" for three days and was "born again" on December 25th. The ancients realized quite abundantly that they needed the sun to return every day and that they would be in big trouble if the sun continued to move southward and did not stop and reverse its direction. Thus, these many different cultures celebrated the "sun of God's" birthday on December 25th. The following are the characteristics of the "sun of God":

The sun "dies" for three days on December 22nd, the winter solstice, when it stops in its movement south, to be born again or resurrected on December 25th, when it resumes its movement north. .."

---------------------------------------------------------------------
I think this is all worthy of consideration, though it need not change the way we see Jesus, as He who taught us to "Love one another", the most important message of humankind.

Ivan A. --ed.

Hi Ivan,

As to the post (above). It's quite fascinating, and actually supports many other
revelations from other sources I've come across. Even the book Sophie's
World by Jostein Gaarder and The Alphabet Versus the Goddess by Leonard
Schlain imply the many influences that pervaded the Middle East in Jesus
times. It was all part of the Silk Road and all the trade of the day must
have involved much intercultural sharing.

There was mention somewhere in there about the way a given culture will
'demote' the god-figure of another culture when it embraces the religious
ideas of that other culture. One of the examples given was the demotion of
the Indian 'Brahman' to the Hebrew oriented 'Abraham' who then became the
source of Hebrew faith.

The paradox and contrdiction is that as history proceeds in the various
cultures, the religions formalize their teachings and 'cast them in stone'
so to speak. Then syncretization becomes anathema to them, even though
syncretization formed the basis of their origin.

It's all a case for the benefits of intercultural communication in my book,
exemplified by the very religions which argue for just the opposite. More
arguments for the need for the acceptance of non-contradiction, tempered by
a ready admittance of the existence at the same time of contradiction in all
its richness and profundity.

Take care my good buddy,

Dave.

The Thunder, Perfect Mind, Nag Hammadi Library

...For I am the first and the last.
I am the honored one and the scorned one.
I am the whore and the holy one.
I am the wife and the virgin.
I am <the mother> and the daughter.
I am the members of my mother.
I am the barren one
and many are her sons.
I am she whose wedding is great,
and I have not taken a husband...

This Codex of opposites has always puzzled me, yet it may be my favorite. I think the writer was trying to explain the totally encompassing nature of the Universe, of God, that both natures of good and evil, of great and small, a paradox of opposites, are all part of the Truth. In so doing, this was an early attempt to reconcile the dual nature of God, that the paradox of opposites can exist in our world.

I think this was an attempt by the ancients to understand something that did not fit well in the mind, that God could be both good and evil, that the One could have a dual nature. But could this have been instead an attempt by the mind to find reconciliation within itself of this duality? And if so, then perhaps this duality was not more than a mind struggling to find itself in consciousness as opposed to unconsciousness. This consciousness may have been what Mohammed or Jesus or Buddha, or all the great prophets and teachers, may have been reaching for, a consciousness of God.

This may be the true duality the writer, a Gnostic Christian, was expressing unconsciously, that we can either be conscious of God, or unconscious, and in the same way either be conscious of ourselves, or remain in the great unconscious. And if so, then our reaching, choosing for consciousness may be the great awakening the Ages had been waiting for.

Or as the Oracle of Dephi advised, echoed by Socrates:
"Know Thyself."

Ivan


Nag Hammadi Library Codex Index

AWAKENING

I had a subliminal dream upon waking from an afternoon nap. In it was a message that we should be so grateful to be alive, no matter how lowly our position in this life, so that a scullery maid, or in my dream me as a guano farmer, should feel exalted; and if we have the good fortune to be born to greater things, as leaders or teachers, kings and savants and creators, then we should be even more exalted for the high privilege.

Upon waking into a more alert state of mind, I was saddened by the thought of how many who have the honor to be born to a high destiny, and yet who squander it on mean pursuits, to harm others, to seek vainglory, when theirs is such a higher calling; and how the scullerymaids of this world are not to be looked down upon, but by being alive alone, when they do good, they are already great.

We should seek to always do good, without harm, to exalt the high privilege of being alive, all of us. That is our awakening call.

Ivan