Actually, this I already answered in my first post to these boards. But here I will go into detail.

It has long been asked what is the meaning of life, what is our purpose? I was raised up a baptist, then baptized Pentecostal, and finally independently chose the Church of Christ. My faith and devotion at that point was unquestioned. But my questions were not satisfied. In fact my choosing the church of Christ implanted a rift between myself and both sides of my family. On my father's side are the Pentecostals. Obviously, my mother's soul found rest in the baptist faith.

And that is what keyed it for me. For years I wondered if my mother was burning in Hell. She was not a member of the Church of Christ as I, at the time, understood it. The church is very specific. That, coupled with the fact that my father and my father's father were pastor and son in their own church had me in dire straights. He's quite the local celebrity, my grandfather. But I digress.

It was impossible for me to reconcile the Church of Christ's teachings with those of my grandfather. Either I was wrong, or they were wrong, and the bible taught me very strongly that they were wrong. So I questioned everything I believed in. Here is what I found.

Life is the same for all of us. We are in an incubator. Our parent is our God. Knowing this, for those of you who are parents, an ever lasting worship is not the aim of most parents.

Taking this into account, coupled with the three scriptures I provided in my first post, the rest is simple. We are born to inherent not just the earth, but our own earth. Our very own earth to create and to populate. Our very own corner of the galaxy. Ultimately, possibly, even our own universe. Such a thing exists inside of ourselves even now.

All of the little circles of atoms combined together to make an organism as mysterious and majestic as the human body is are a wonder in and of themselves. Is it any wonder that, when cut, we bleed? Quntum physics have reveal that all solid matter is basically made up of little tiny particles that are surrounded by empty space. Empty space. Can you image it? There is, literally, nothing in between you and I but our minds.

In fact, it is our minds that separate us as a people. it allows us to be compartmentalized into segments of culture, 'race', and religion. It allows us to think that we are different from or better than someone else, when we are all born of the same thing.

If then, as the old hermetic axiom holds true 'As above, so below', then it is our destiny to live among the stars. To become the stars. To rule over them as our God-our parent-rules over them. For this is the reason we are born. Not to live and die. But to live, and to live again until we learn to embrace that which we are.

Divine sparks of God. Little itty bits of Life itself. Life dwelling within bodies of flesh we call human. And so we suffer their little foibles. The lusts of our desire are actually the lusts of our flesh, and often times things we do not need, but simply want. And these we often pay for in blood. If not our own, then the blood of the innocents we over look in order to get.

All things can be boiled down into a little nutshell. Beginning with wants or desires and simple need. Can you image it? To ultimately become a God in your own right? With all the privileges and responsibilities such power entail? Think about it. For this is what you have been given 'time' to do. Each lifetime is time to contemplate and to learn from-and by-the consequences of your words and deed. At the heart of the matter is 'why', for in the book of truth this is what determines evil.

Why give a dollar to a bum? Why kill the one who will reveal your secret? Or take your life? All of these are merely experiences upon which we build our godhood. They are the memories we will draw upon when we judge others or lend our hand to assist them. They will be the times you remember when someone else is suffering. You will know how to assist them. Should you chose to assist.

For herein lies the reason we have been given free will. So that we can chose to give freely. To do right freely. Or to do whatsoever our heart desires, freely, without concern for who we hurt or how. That is where God comes in. To use you, to punish you, or to punish others. Or to bless you, so that you may be a blessing to others.

What is it to be blessed? To be gifted with what you need the most at the time you need it. That is blessed. It is not a new car. A fancy wardrobe. A big house. A nice job. All of these these are material and transient. Misleading. Illusionary. If anything they allow you to assist others, to be a blessing to others at will. But it is an ability that goes misused and unappreciated.

So there you have it. In shortened form. I tried not to add in 'religion' in the modern sense, but to be as concise and to the point as possible, without ignoring the context of the content. We are free to be who we are, but we have been bound by the illusion that is modern society. By the illusion that all we desire are actually things we need. That is why 'community' is a curse word in capitalism.

'Communism' was man's attempt to provide for the common person equally. But it is within man's nature to be selfish. To be greedy. And so those in power take more than they need, while leaving less than is needed. This is why wisdom movements usually fail. Because someone gets the reins who's desires do not coincide with the needs of the people. They lose sight of the goal. Or we do.

We laud them, heap our praise upon them, promote them as God among men. And their ego grows. Leading to the inevitable crash and burn. The ridicule, the wonder, the questioning, the rejection of God. The necessity for someone else to make an attempt to restore peace. This is mine.

I am not here to convince you that I am right. You already know whether or not this is true. I am here to convince you to change. To change your heart. To change your mind. To dispense with conventional thinking, and to take up the reigns of your own freed mind. To let it run like wildfire... Or to temper its gait to a more sedate state.

Look up! Look up! For there is your destiny. There is your future. The future of your children. The future of your children's children. Wouldn't you like to grow up to be just like God? Isn't your every effort to be like God? Then know God in order to become God. It is time to put away the toys people, and to get down to the business of realizing yourself.

Embrace your divinity.

Guidance,
soul

Bismillaah ir Rahmaan ir Rahiim. Salaam/Peace, soul_doctor73. Know that The One And Only GOD, does not pardon calling another God, along with HIM; The Almighty, The Subtle, although HE, All Praise Is Due HIM, Alone, will forgive anything else for whom HE please. However, we may become God-like, with the Grace, of THE ONE GOD, Blessed Be HE, Forevermore.




quote:
"All things can be boiled down into a little nutshell. Beginning with wants or desires and simple need. Can you image it? To ultimately become a God in your own right? With all the privileges and responsibilities such power entail? Think about it. For this is what you have been given 'time' to do. Each lifetime is time to contemplate and to learn from-and by-the consequences of your words and deed. At the heart of the matter is 'why', for in the book of truth this is what determines evil."




Wassalaam. OriginalBM

I think you misunderstood my statement. I did not, in any way, impugn upon the sovereignty of God. What I said was it is our destiny to become Gods in our own right. To be masters over our own earth. It is no different than what we do for our children now. We prepare them for entry into this world, equipped with the best we are able to provide.

Does a child become ruler over his own parent? Certainly not in the spiritual order of things. The ability to become a god (not *the* god) does not promote us over the one who gave us life. No more than moving out of your parents house and buying your own removes the need for you to honor and respect your parents. This is the same case here.

soul

Bismillaah ir Rahmaan ir Rahiim. Salaam/Peace. It isn't a point to argue, but, I think the word for that is semantics. You cannot call your self your parent(s). The point that I was making is The One GOD, does not pardon your calling yourself, God. I often come into contact with people who want me to believe that they are a god, or the supreme being, as if it were a joke! I suspect that they hold The One GOD, in very low esteem. Because they do nothing to elevate their consciousness to the level whereby they can experience The One And Only GOD.


Wassalaam. OriginalBM

Maybe you hold yourself in very low esteem, and thereby the one you call The One and Only GOD in very low esteem. Do you know, I mean *know* what your GOD has planned for you? Or are you merely among the faithful who believes in his the doctrine of his faith?

I don't mean to offend, but I am quite aware of how often believers verbalize scripture and doctrine as evidence and proof of their positions. I refuse to accept this as proof on its own merit. Information is information. Understanding information is what turns it into knowledge.

Again, I don't mean to offend, but if you're arguing that because your GOD is the One and Only GOD, that no other being of divine composition can attain to a like status, your premise if flawed. Surely, as you mention, you cannot become your parent, but you can become a parent in your own right. Follow?

Likewise, you cannot become your One and Only GOD, but you can hope to become *like* him. At the very least you should hope to. Wouldn't you like the opportunity to do for others what your One and Only GOD has done for you?

soul

"Do not think saying "I am God" is proclaiming one's greatness. It is actually total humility. Some one who say's " I am the servant of God" infers two - God and himself - whereas someone who says, "I am God" negates himself. He relinquises his own existence. "I am God" means I don't exist. Everything is God. Only God exists. I am nothing. I am utter emptiness." This is complete humility not arrogance, but people often misunderstand. When someone says he is God's servant, he still sees himself as a doer, albeit in God's service. He is not yet drowned in the ocean of God. When he is, there will be no such thing as "his actions" , only movements in the water."
Jalaluddin Rumi

Bismillaah ir Rahmaan ir Rahiim. As salaamu 'alaikum. If I wanted to be offensive, I would ask those whom equate themselves as the supreme being, or God, to make the sun rise in the west. Or, to create a fly from (nothing) zero, as this it is to create.


"For all creatures united together could not create a single new fly from nothing, and this it is to create." The Gospel of Barnabas Chapter 63


"Now this world, again, loves God; because by nature they long after God, forasmuch as according to nature every one longs after God, even though they err in seeking God. And know you wherefore all long after God? Because they long every one after an infinite good without any evil, and this is God alone. Therefore the merciful God has sent his prophets to this world for its salvation." The Gospel of Barnabas Chapter 158



"Jesus answered: 'Philip, God is a good without which there is naught good; God is a being without which there is naught that is; God is a life without which there is naught that liveth; so great that he filleth all and is everywhere. He alone hath no equal. He hath had no beginning, nor will he ever have an end, but to everything hath he given a beginning, and to everything shall he give an end. He hath no father nor mother; he hath no sons. nor brethren. nor companions. And because God hath no body, therefore he eateth not, sleepeth not, dieth not, walketh not, moveth not, but abideth eternally without human similitude, for that he is incorporeal, uncompounded, immaterial, of the most simple substance. He is so good that he loveth goodness only; he is so just that when he punisheth or pardoneth it cannot be gainsaid. In short, I say unto thee, Philip, that here on earth thou canst not see him nor know him perfectly; but in his kingdom thou shalt see him for ever: wherein consisteth all our happiness and glory.'" The Gospel of Barnabas Chapter 17




''Not only has God created man, as I say, but he created him perfect. He has given him the whole world; after the departure from paradise he has given him two angels to guard him, he has sent him the prophets, he has granted him the Law, he has granted him the faith, every moment he delivers him from Satan, he is fain to give him paradise; no, more, God wills to give himself to man. Consider, then, the debt, if it is great! [a debt] to cancel which you would need to have created man of yourselves out of nothing, to have created as many prophets as God has sent, with a world and a paradise, no, more, with a God great and good as is our God, and to give it ne all to God. So would the debt be cancelled and there would remain to you only the obligation to give thanks to God. But since you are not able to create a single fly, and seeing there is but one God who is lord of all things, how shall you be able to cancel your debt? Assuredly, if a man should lend you an hundred pieces of gold, you would be obliged to restore an hundred pieces of gold. " The Gospel of Barnabas Chapter 182



Chapter Index



Wassalaam. OriginalBM

I don't follow his line of reasoning. This doesn't makes sense. It sounds like chaos theory wrapped up in Buddha's nirvana. If we are to be drowned in the ocean of God, where there will be no differentiation between us and God, then why make the distinction in the first place? On the surface, it sounds like wisdom, but underneath....

It sounds like a bunch of clap trap. No offense, but it really does.

Is this supposed to grant someone understanding? It sounds almost as convoluted as the quote that came earlier. I can come up with some doozies myself. If I wanted to make this a war of words that is.

Let me ask you something, BM, what exactly are you try to show me? I've never read the gospel of Barnabas only because I know I've never seen a book with Christian references with that many chapters. I've read the dead sea scrolls and the nag hammadi codices, and a few other obscure books like Stitchen and Cayce, but always with a goal of furthering my understanding. I need not be convinced of the existence of God, if this is what you are trying to do. I am fully aware of this fact.

If you are trying to refute me, then say so in your own words. I doubt you fully understand what you are quoting to me any way. If that is not true, then please don't come at me from the left field with somebody else' opinion as proof of your own without detailing your position. This doesn't make sense to me. I hope you're taking me more seriously than this.... If you have something to say, then say it. Don't hide behind another's words.

soul

Bismillaah ir Rahmaan ir Rahiim. Salaam/Peace, soul.

quote:
Again, I don't mean to offend, but if you're arguing that because your GOD is the One and Only GOD, that no other being of divine composition can attain to a like status, your premise if flawed. Surely, as you mention, you cannot become your parent, but you can become a parent in your own right. Follow?


Reply:
So, you believe in a multiplicity of gods. You are saying that everyone can be The One And Only GOD, separate and apart from The Most Compassionate, The Most Merciful, The Beneficent, The Unconquerable; and be the same as The One GOD. How, is this thing possible? How, is it not flawed?


quote:
Likewise, you cannot become your One and Only GOD, but you can hope to become *like* him. At the very least you should hope to. Wouldn't you like the opportunity to do for others what your One and Only GOD has done for you?


Reply:
That sounds much like confusion; it doesn't agree with the previous statement, but, perhaps you will clarify the intended meaning. If The One GOD, All Praise Be To HIM, is as an ocean, and we are as drops in that ocean, then we are returning to that form of life, from which we have become alienated. How, shall this best be accomplished, say you? What type knowledge are you suggesting towards accomplishing your idea of assimilation?


quote:
I don't mean to offend, but I am quite aware of how often believers verbalize scripture and doctrine as evidence and proof of their positions. I refuse to accept this as proof on its own merit. Information is information. Understanding information is what turns it into knowledge.


Reply:
I've added this here, because it sounded a bit strange after reading your reason for rejecting The Gospel of Barnabas. So, are you saying that because I quoted from that gospel, that I have no understanding of what it was that I have quoted? It appears that you found no merit in it because you could not fathom its content.


quote:
Do you know, I mean *know* what your GOD has planned for you? Or are you merely among the faithful who believes in his the doctrine of his faith?


Reply:
Well, I am interested in learning what you are referring to. If you will, please provide the details.

************************************************** ***************

quote:
Is this supposed to grant someone understanding? It sounds almost as convoluted as the quote that came earlier. I can come up with some doozies myself. If I wanted to make this a war of words that is.

Let me ask you something, BM, what exactly are you try to show me? I've never read the gospel of Barnabas only because I know I've never seen a book with Christian references with that many chapters. I've read the dead sea scrolls and the nag hammadi codices, and a few other obscure books like Stitchen and Cayce, but always with a goal of furthering my understanding. I need not be convinced of the existence of God, if this is what you are trying to do. I am fully aware of this fact.


Reply:
I'm not looking for a war of words, but you may if you will to, place a sample of un-convoluted writing here for perusal. I will be very interested in gaining understanding from such.


quote:
If you are trying to refute me, then say so in your own words. I doubt you fully understand what you are quoting to me any way. If that is not true, then please don't come at me from the left field with somebody else' opinion as proof of your own without detailing your position. This doesn't make sense to me. I hope you're taking me more seriously than this.... If you have something to say, then say it. Don't hide behind another's words.

soul


Reply:
If as you state, -- you are here to dispense knowledge, and understanding, then why must I be trying to refute you? Why, must I be "coming from left field" because I've evidently presented, new knowledge? I understand the words that I have quoted. I stand loyally, by those words. What don't you understand about them. Where, is the difficulty?



Wassalaam. OriginalBM