Christian Spiritualism

[rosesaredeadvioletsaretoo]

I’m wanting to find out more about Christian Spiritualism and was wondering if anyone might have an recommendations for resources/books/courses/groups and so on?

@Feelingathomenow reactance is something I also think is something to be aware of. Psychologically some people often feel uncomfortable and resistant to a convincing argument, as they feel their freedom is being eroded due to feeling persuaded. However, no choice has actually been taken away from them, it is only that one option has been presented to them in a convincing and persuasive fashion.

@Feelingathomenow

This idea is what I was thinking about regarding my earlier post concerning pride/ego:

"10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom."(Proverbs 13:10 KJV)

Well I suppose it depends on your definition of ego, I tend to use a more Jungian interpretation in that ego is necessary to interact with the world, in order to interact with physical reaction we need a seperate sense of self. Without ego we would up d never be able to protect our own interests., we need it to survive. An inappropriate use of ego would be thinking that is 100% of our being, or just acting to inflate this portion of us over all else.

Yes, it is an issue where people ignore all the evidence to the votary in order to perpetuate their own world view. But I guess that’s faith for you. Why do you keep engaging with this thread? Pride?

Yes, it is an issue where people ignore all the evidence to the votary in order to perpetuate their own world view. But I guess that’s faith for you. Why do you keep engaging with this thread? Pride?

@Feelingathomenow,

I see the Christian faith as being the exact opposite of pride! Pride is self serving to the glorification of self. Christian faith seeks to serve and glorify God.

I engage with this thread to discuss, explore, develop and clarify the points made and ideas discussed. To learn. Engage with others, share, compare and contrast ideas. Do you think I post out of pride?

Well I suppose it depends on your definition of ego, I tend to use a more Jungian interpretation in that ego is necessary to interact with the world, in order to interact with physical reaction we need a seperate sense of self. Without ego we would up d never be able to protect our own interests., we need it to survive

@Feelingathomenow, interesting point. Thankyou for making it. I've been reflecting upon this and ideas of unity. If we were all in complete unity with God we would act as one being with God directing us as all the parts.

As an analogy it's like our own bodies that contain many microscopic foreign organisms, more than our own cells in fact. If they are not in unity with our direction and there is overgrowth of one species we get ill. Ultimately not very good for that single species because if we take steps to eradicate them or they cause our death they lose their home.
Equally for good health we provide for and sustain our microbiome with what it needs to survive.

So how much of survival is about separation? I suppose separation is only necessary for survival when there is conflict and competition for resources.

Looks like I need to catch up with the thread.

Why do you think Jesus is talking about Eden in Matthew 7? @Feelingathomenow. He refers back to the Old Testament regularly but usually says "You have heard it said" or "It is written". That's not the case here.

I like Iron Maidens use of the phrase in their song “For the Greater Good of God”.

What does this mean?

The video is 50 minutes and I haven't been able to get through more than 10, but I'm still sure the Apostle Paul wasn't a Mystic.

https://withallwisdom.org/2021/04/09/6-solid-reasons-why-you-can-trust-pauls-gospel

My great aunt was a chapel going Methodist - she seemed to see the bible more as a guide.

I would disagree with her. I believe the Bible to be the Word of God. Individual interpretation is good up to a point. There is a danger of using mental gymnastics and woolly translations to twist it into fitting a personal agenda.

so which esoteric schools have you been initiated into?

Well that would be telling, wouldn't it 😉. What about you? 33rd degree? Is this sort of thing a hobby or have you been recruited to gather followers on social media and chat forums?

Lol, I’m certainly not a Freemason! Esotericism has been almost obliterated from Freemasonary unless you go down the SRIA route and I’m the wrong sex for that Nah, we don’t have followers or recruit off social media- no need!

Interesting that you disagree with that fairly common interpretation of Methodism

Maybe it would be best if you did some more research around the rest. Try watching the whole video.

Well, in that case many Cristians aren’t following that view of the Christian faith.

Unless we had separation/ego we wouldn’t be able to contemplate God

I'll give it a go @Feelingathomenow. In the meantime, I'm watching you. 👀

Well, in that case many Cristians aren’t following that view of the Christian faith.

@Feelingathomenow, I never said letting go of pride was easy. I'm constantly checking my own motivations. Sometimes it's just hard to really know, there is so much that can go on in the subconscious. I just hope and pray that I will do God's will, think, feel and understand according to His will. And I can have faith that that is a prayer that will be answered.🙂

Do you think the same of people who aren't Christian?

Unless we had separation/ego we wouldn’t be able to contemplate God

I don't follow. If we were in complete unity with God we would partake in His consciousness, wouldn't we? You'll have to elaborate, I don't get what you mean.

@Feelingathomenow ah, unless you mean because in unity we would be part of God? So not observe the difference between God and ourselves? But we would still only be a part along with other parts acting in unity, as one. Just as cells in our bodies have a nucleus and our organs communicate back to our brain in biofeedback. There is a type of consciousness there that communicates. Electrical impulses and chemical processes can be viewed as a type of language (study of this is Biosemiotics) So we wouldn't be separate, acting independently, we would be completely connected.

And what on earth is that supposed to mean? Are you ok?

Well I suppose it depends what you mean by “unity” your analysis still implies a separation a difference - lots of different cells performing different jobs. To be at one with God to me means that we are all part of the same cell, there is no difference or separation we are part of the same energy.

Well I suppose it depends what you mean by “unity” your analysis still implies a separation a difference - lots of different cells performing different jobs. To be at one with God to me means that we are all part of the same cell, there is no difference or separation we are part of the same energy.

@Feelingathomenow, I am thinking unity as described as the Kingdon of Heaven in the Bible:

"2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John14:2-3 KJV)

@Feelingathomenow, even a single cell has within it different structures (organelles) that perform different functions.

@Feelingathomenow so I might be being thick but I still don't understand your idea of unity. What is there to be unified if there are no composite parts which work together in unity?

And even cell organelles have components within them...

@Feelingathomenow, what is it you have been fond of quoting?

“As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul…”
― Hermes Trismegistus

Yes it’s all indistinguishable, the separate parts are an illusion of the physical world- such as shown by your example.

@Feelingathomenow, sorry, still not understanding you.

There are structures, in Heaven, all of which is in unity with God. The 'mansions' as described by Jesus. There are numerous heavenly beings described.

All the same as God, we just split them up to aid our limited understanding

@Feelingathomenow but anyway, if all is 'indistinguishable' where is the room for ego? And following on from this, if complete unity is achieved are you saying consciousness is lost? Relating to your earlier post, where you said:

"Unless we had separation/ego we wouldn’t be able to contemplate God"

Because without contemplation we would not be conscious ....would we?

Sorry, still confused.

But that is the purpose of creation, to enable God to contemplate itself, look at it like a mirror. It creates the illusion of sepetate things but there really isn’t. But rather than just a mirror reflecting the physical looks, imagine that mirror reflecting every aspect of being. In reality that ego is the mechanism we see the reflection.

@Feelingathomenow

So to clarify, my understanding of unity doesn't preclude composite parts which work together.

You seem to be saying there are no composite parts, that is an illusion. Yet at the same time you are saying we need separation in order to understand / contemplate. We need to be an 'outside observer' to understand properly. If I understand you correctly? (Hence you feel you understand Christianity better than Christians)

Yet I feel understanding is complete only in unity with that which is to be understood. And further on from this, complete unity with God would lead to complete knowledge and understanding of all things.

I do wonder why you feel I have to be involved with the Spiritualist church in order to understand it?