The topic of God is highly divisive one. For many, their religious beliefs define who they are and they defend them vigorously. Exchanges concerning God’s existence on social media are interesting.
Rene Descartes, ( 1596-1650 ) said, “ I think, therefore I Am “.
I am of the opinion that this conversation has been going on a very long time. It has reached the time of it’s greatest scrutiny. This is the time of Humanity’s Great Awakening ! It is individual for everyone. Make peace within yourself for your beliefs. If that is not possible then you should reconsider your chosen path ! When a conversation triggers you emotionally, that is a sign to you from your soul level. The part of you that is your connection to God. Rationalize that statement as you wish, but pay attention !
I am not a peace when powerful institutions impose rules on me that overstep my autonomy of beliefs. I some cases, I can walk away. It others, I cannot (particularly when government institutions are involved)
I am inclined to beleive there is an afterlife, based on the many similar descriptions of people who have revived after being declared dead. Many describe a bright light and a luminous god-like being, as well as long-dead relatives. This does not sound like an individual/personal consciousness.
You claim that all living beings have consciousness. You state, "It is where my reality is registered, my every perception throughout life." Isn't this what you depend upon whenever you make a decision? Even if a situation has more than one option or choice, won't your "perception of reality" determine the choice you make? I'm not sure this is what we understand to be "free will."
Consciousness is the Creator and the nature of Reality. I don't think so. I'm with Ayn Rand, Existence exists. Especially if you beleive we share a universal consciousness. If we lived in "The Matrix" we could all have different realities, since we wouldn't actually react with reality. Give we are not, we do interact with each other, and that pretty much depends on a shared reality. We all know a chair is to sit on and a table is to put things on. A dictionary defines an "artifact" as "an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest.." Artifacts are objects. I think you are just trying to be erudite. 😀
I don’t expect anyone to fully comprehend the metaphysical paradigm in which I believe after they reading one Substack essay. I have spend 30 years with these ideas and they are as deeply held as anyone else’s beliefs. You are certainly entitled to believe what you will. I simply shared what I believe with no expectation of understanding by any reader.
My personal belief is that our connection to God, the Universal source, whatever one chooses to call that special divineness is WITHIN all of us...if we merely listen to that voice, meditate, raise our vibrations and stay in the love frequency (yes that IS a thing), do good things and be of service to others while staying tur true to ourselves. There is so much the PTB have kept hidden from us, to keep us controlled and malleable. I believe religions are a way to control us, and keep us from rising to our full potential as divine beings.... that is my humble opinion Gene.
Because we have different “lenses”, it’s fascinating to read your thoughts on The Bible and Spiritual matters.
Also, because we have different lenses I need to really pause and digest the information. I try not to dismiss anything foreign to me as “wrong” right off the bat. It’s just different from my scope of perception. That’s how we learn, right? If every idea we came across never varied from our previous view point, how narrow minded would we be?
David Fairthorn does not believe in God.
Gene Balfour does not believe in a Biblical God.
Rene Descartes, ( 1596-1650 ) said, “ I think, therefore I Am “.
I am of the opinion that this conversation has been going on a very long time. It has reached the time of it’s greatest scrutiny. This is the time of Humanity’s Great Awakening ! It is individual for everyone. Make peace within yourself for your beliefs. If that is not possible then you should reconsider your chosen path ! When a conversation triggers you emotionally, that is a sign to you from your soul level. The part of you that is your connection to God. Rationalize that statement as you wish, but pay attention !
I am at peace with my beliefs.
I am not a peace when powerful institutions impose rules on me that overstep my autonomy of beliefs. I some cases, I can walk away. It others, I cannot (particularly when government institutions are involved)
I am inclined to beleive there is an afterlife, based on the many similar descriptions of people who have revived after being declared dead. Many describe a bright light and a luminous god-like being, as well as long-dead relatives. This does not sound like an individual/personal consciousness.
You claim that all living beings have consciousness. You state, "It is where my reality is registered, my every perception throughout life." Isn't this what you depend upon whenever you make a decision? Even if a situation has more than one option or choice, won't your "perception of reality" determine the choice you make? I'm not sure this is what we understand to be "free will."
Consciousness is the Creator and the nature of Reality. I don't think so. I'm with Ayn Rand, Existence exists. Especially if you beleive we share a universal consciousness. If we lived in "The Matrix" we could all have different realities, since we wouldn't actually react with reality. Give we are not, we do interact with each other, and that pretty much depends on a shared reality. We all know a chair is to sit on and a table is to put things on. A dictionary defines an "artifact" as "an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest.." Artifacts are objects. I think you are just trying to be erudite. 😀
Jim,
I don’t expect anyone to fully comprehend the metaphysical paradigm in which I believe after they reading one Substack essay. I have spend 30 years with these ideas and they are as deeply held as anyone else’s beliefs. You are certainly entitled to believe what you will. I simply shared what I believe with no expectation of understanding by any reader.
Interesting topic today....just finished reading Ray Horvath's Substack also related to religion....
https://rayhorvaththesource.substack.com/p/the-one-world-religion-and-islam?publication_id=877783&post_id=138949908&isFreemail=true&r=18xl84
My personal belief is that our connection to God, the Universal source, whatever one chooses to call that special divineness is WITHIN all of us...if we merely listen to that voice, meditate, raise our vibrations and stay in the love frequency (yes that IS a thing), do good things and be of service to others while staying tur true to ourselves. There is so much the PTB have kept hidden from us, to keep us controlled and malleable. I believe religions are a way to control us, and keep us from rising to our full potential as divine beings.... that is my humble opinion Gene.
Post Script-
Because we have different “lenses”, it’s fascinating to read your thoughts on The Bible and Spiritual matters.
Also, because we have different lenses I need to really pause and digest the information. I try not to dismiss anything foreign to me as “wrong” right off the bat. It’s just different from my scope of perception. That’s how we learn, right? If every idea we came across never varied from our previous view point, how narrow minded would we be?
As usual, Gene, this is a well written and methodically thought out article. I am taking my time weighing in on this….
This comment to be continued…