The false choice between being atheist and being religious

The choice between being an atheist and a Christian or belonging to another religion is a false one. 

That doesn't automatically make a spiritual believer a "New Ager", a term often used to belittle someone, the way the word "hippy" is often used these days.

It's interesting how words are used as weapons in our world; a way to divide and denigrate other people. 

They are scorned because they don't hold on to the one great true philosophy. 

People who hold this attitude of superiority and condescension towards others are not building a better world. Their is no humility in this viewpoint.

What if we are wrong? People will point to this expert or this passage in this book, or multiple passages to prove they are right.

It's fine to hold beliefs, a philosophy, a world view. It's inevitable. As long as we don't belittle others for not sharing it.

The only way for peace to occur in this world is for us to accept others as they are, admit we don't know everything and treat people neighbourly. 

As Jesus said "love your neighbour as yourself." MARK 12:31, NIV

The Golden Rule stands: treat others as you wish to be treated. Don't belittle them, don't vilify them, accept that they are different from you, with a different soul, a different purpose and a different life experience.

Jesus and forgiveness

The teachings of Jesus are my favourite of all prophets. Being called the only son of God is interpreted by many Christians to mean something I don't agree with. The son or daughter of God (to me) is the man or woman who embodies the qualities of God while living as a human. If no one else is embodying these qualities, then a person such as Jesus could easily be described by his followers as THE ONLY SON OF GOD. The same could be said about a woman embodying these same Godly qualities. 

People will talk about the miracles Jesus performed, which signify that he was of a different quality than other humans. But Jesus himself is quoted as saying in John 14:12: 

"... I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

As for the virgin birth and the resurrection, it has been noted that a number of historical, mythical figures have been described as having the same experiences. Examples include Osiris, from Egyptian mythology, Dionysus, from Greek mythology, The Phrygian god Attis, and Krishna, the well-known Hindu god. 

Many other historical figures have had attribed to them either a virgin birth or a resurrection. 

Personally, I see Jesus a little like how the Islamic faith see him, as a great prophet, but with the exception that I see him as the great teacher of the West in particular, and also anyone around the world, particularly in Africa and South America (it would seem), who resonate with his message of love for one another, truth, peace and forgiveness, all of which are closely related and reinforce one another.

In a sense, he was a great teacher for communities as well as for the individual because hardened hearts and a lack of forgiveness cause much of the strife in the world.

When asked how often should we forgive those  who sin against us, this is what Jesus said:

"... Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

MATTHEW 18: 21-22 NIV

This is why I see the Christian religion as the religion of forgiveness. 

In the passages above, Jesus was making it clear that we should forgive others, who are all our spiritual brothers and sisters, an unlimited number of times.

This doesn't equate to allowing other people to walk all over us. 

We should speak out when others act in a hurtful and disrespectful way towards us, but if we are to follow the path of Jesus then we are commanded to forgive others their trespasses [sins against us], just as we ask that our sins be forgiven.

After all, we are only human, and humans hurt one another, often without realising it, for a number of reasons. 

In such cases, the person who has been sinned against should make their feelings clear so that the other person becomes aware of it. 

If that person continues to sin against us, after being warned, by engaging in hurtful or condescending behaviour towards us, then it is our right to distance ourselves from that person, if possible. 

If the person asks why you have pulled away, then tell them forthrightly. 

We must be strong as well as loving, for one without the other is either dangerous or weak. 

Jesus was a strong figure and a compassionate one. 

He wasn't a love and light, hurt nobody by saying anything controversial person. Far from it. He told it as he saw it. 

Jesus attacked the privileged elites of his day for their hypocrisy. This may have got him killed. 

However, in his death, Jesus showed his courage and willingness to die for the truth.

God v's gods

Some atheists like to argue their case by conflating the big G (God as the Creator of All) with little g's, meaning gods of legend, like Zeus and Apollo, and the myriad gods of pagan religions. These are all minor gods. Nobody claims they are the big G.

It is possible that plenty of "minor" gods actually exist, rather than being the stuff of legend. For what is a god but a being with greater powers than a human? And given the size and make-up of the universe, isn't it likely there are living entities, physical or not, with powers greater than humans? These would be like gods to us, just as we would seem like gods to beings less advanced than ourselves.

Unity consciousness: the eye within the storm

In certain spiritual circles, there is talk of unity consciousness versus duality. In Buddist terms, this is "being awake" versus being in Samsara or delusion.

This world promotes duality, us and them, I and They, me and you.

In the spiritual perspective, there is no differentiation between within and without. Objects in consciousness are treated equally. 

That doesn't preclude the ability to recognise danger or to move away from that which is destructive.

Discernment still exists in the state of unity consciousness, but the emotional charge is gone. There is no hatred for any other. There is only compassion, for all beings are seen as part of the one life, the one cosmos, which we all inhabit and share.

In Buddhist terms, this state of equanimity, or unity consciousness, results in "right action, right thought and right deed." 

This view represents the idea that when we are at peace, we can see things clearly, and we can respond appropriately to events that arise. 

When we are instead emotionally inflamed right action and thought become impossible. Even our perceptions and judgements will be adversely affected. We literally will be unable to see straight or to think straight. 

This is perhaps a reason beings get caught in the web of ongoing karmic relations, due to wrong action being performed in past lives or in this one.

The way out is simple. Develop equanimity towards all things. We need to not be reactive in this life. We can see ourselves as like the eye of a storm, where there is peace within while being surrounded by instability and madness.

The world is indeed mad, and madness is on the rise as life becomes increasingly unpredictable and unstable.

We can expect to be surrounded by people who lose their minds, particularly if they are plugged into the matrix of mind control.

The news is perhaps the primary tool of the deluded ones to inflame the population, so they will be as deluded as the propagators are.

After all, the spiritual enemy feeds on negative emotion, and this is what keeps it alive, both within us and in the world at large.

So, to be clear, it is our duty to see through all this and have compassion for those who are lost. That doesn't mean everyone can be saved. Many will fall, unable to stabilise in chaotic times. But we can build a symbolic fortress around us by pulling back and not buying into the dialectic state of mind being promoted. Just say "no," as Nancy Reagan so wisely said.

So sit on your chair of peace and share that peace will all around you.

Love wins, and the time of chaos will soon come to an end.

So let's not get involved in the slagging matches, which are just egoic delusions and focus on that which never changes. The formless, changeless One within.

The rich man and the kingdom of heaven

If "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24) did this man, below, achieve it?

And what does "the kingdom of God" actually mean?

Many interpret "the kingdom of God" to refer to the afterlife, specifically the part of the afterlife the faithful are believed to enter upon their death, that part we call "heaven", but could "kingdom of God" instead mean a state a being achievable on earth as in heaven?

Could "kingdom of God" be referring to a state of peacefulness or equanimity, attainable in both heaven and earth, which may be difficult for a rich person to achieve and maintain if they are overly focused on building a fortune and then worried about holding onto it?

Angry establishment cult believers

When the establishment can brainwash people into thinking something is scientifically proven, when it isn't, it can become like a religion, and believers become angry with people that don't share their cult-like beliefs.

The irony is that many of these people think they are too smart to be brainwashed and too clever to fall for a religion or a cult.

If that were true, they wouldn't get so upset with people who don't share their dogmatic views.

The predominance of black and white thinking

I see a lot of all or nothing thinking in the world today. Everything is seen in black and white.

For example, either people believe the Bible is worthless or it's infallible.

The same goes for Donald J. Trump.

Either he's seen as a monster or deep state puppet or he's seen as a saviour of mankind from the deep state.

Another example may be western medicine, known by some as allopathic medicine or Rockefeller medicine. 

This form of medicine tends to either be embraced as the only real, proven form of medicine or it is seen as a corrupt, poisonous form of medicine.

It is possible to find a middle ground in these issues. 

Few would deny the value of western medicine in emergency care, although they may be skeptical of its value in treating chronic illness.

As for the Bible, few could deny the wisdom of certain passages, while they may disagree with others, particularly those that represent values from a distant past.

As for Donald Trump, it is also possible to see that he means well and that he speaks much truth, while we may disagree with some of his statements and actions.

These positions are hardy radical. They are logical, centrist positions.

We don't have to believe the hate spewed by sections of the mainstream media towards Trump, just as we don't need to judge him on one or two issues alone.

We can take a more holistic view.

The same goes for other issues, where nuance can be applied rather than broad generalisations.

Political positions versus our conscience

I don't always take what some would call "progressive positions" and I don't always take what others would call "right-wing", "far-right" or "alt-right" positions.

But in some cases I may take a position that falls under one of these labels, if anyone can work out what the hell they mean and how one person can fit their myriad thoughts and beliefs into just one of them.

I like to take things on a case by case basis, and don't fully subscribe to any one overaching philosophy.

I like Taoism, Buddhism and much of Christianity, particularly the 4 gospels of the recorded life of Jesus of Nazareth. 

Jesus's words, as recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, I give great importance to but my ultimate guide to my behaviour is my conscience, which is what I believe we were given one for.