Esoteric Christianity

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by truthseeker

I took a look at theveil website and it was pretty deep. I didn't know the catholic church went that deep with the Word. Got me pretty interested...

Hmmm, not to boast, because I am not, by any means. But the catholic church was on scene pretty much first. There is a lot of tradition and "mysticism" about the Church (esoteric I suppose is an accurate definition).

If you noticed, the Vatican, does not slam others of the faith. Did once but that was when it was 'highjacked' by ungodly people with an ultimate agenda to fill their coffers with money, and their thrones with power. That is why Luther, began the reformation.

My sister, father and I once had a conversation about Catholicism and other Christian faiths. My dad likened Catholocism to a Caddillac, and other Christian faiths to being Fords. To which my sister replied "some of us like the simple but efficient vehicle, while others like all the wingdings and high price tag". She also said that "Fords" though not as smooth a ride are easier to repair as well as cheaper to maintain, and can handle alot more dirt in the gas tank.

She has a very valid point.

v/r

Q

[InLove]

Hello, and Peace to All Here--

I have always been a Ford "guy", myself

InPeace,
InLove

[capthowdy]

Originally Posted by LothlorienHeadRush

For the past few months I have been avidly researching a hidden sect. of Christianity in which, is similar to the Judaic sect. of Kabballah. This hidden sect. happens to be like Kabballah, in that it is a form of mysticism belonging to one of the world's utmost popular Abramic religions.

This 'hidden sect.' is known as Esoteric Christianity, and practices the Christian faith as though it were a 'magical' religion. They manage to follow the Christian doctrine, ten commandments, and a rede not unlike the one followed by Wiccan practioners, and follow Christianity in a more mysticaly involved form than any other sect. of Christendom. The rede in which they call the, "Christian Magick Rede" is quoted below:

I have searched desperately, and have only been able to find two sources that have provided me with minimal information. The latter is more informative and professional whereas the former is the one which first informed me about this religion. The links are listed below:

Charmed-Boards - Esoteric Christianity: http://charmed-boards.com/showthread...c+christianity

WNRF.org - The Cornerstone of Esoteric Christianity: http://www.wnrf.org/cms/esotericn.shtml

If anybody could provide me with any other information on this sect. of Christianity, it would be very much appreciated. Any further information would help me in extending my research and that is something I hope to be able to do on this subject in the near future. I would really like to hear from anyone who has heard of this before and who can give me any information at all regarding the subject.

Please do not reply to this thread if you are going to post about the on-going contridiction of magick v. Christianity v. mysticism. That is NOT what this thread is about. It is simply about my request to learn more about the mysticism sect. of Christianity called Esoteric Christianity. Thank you.

Sincerely,

- Jay - (LothlorienHeadRush)

If you're researching that, you may want tlook into this as well (though you've probably already ran across it)...you mentioned Kaballah, check the website for the Heremtic Order of The Golden Dawn...they are christian Kabalists, you may want to look into the Thelemites as well. I hope that helps but like I said you've probably already came across this.

[Thomas]

Hi InLove -

"Christian esoterism is ... growing in the wisdom of the Spirit ..."

Yes. Christian esoterism is precisely that - it is a gnosis in its pure and proper form. It is not a set of facts.

Today I drove over 100 miles. I get in the car, turn the key, and go through the motions. Do I understand how an internal combustion engine works? Well, yes, sort of. Could I build a carburetter? No.

The 'workings' of a petrol injection system is 'esoteric knowledge' to me, it is an interior knowledge of mechanics that I do not possess. There's a bloke down the road who is a 'tuning specialist' and only works on expensive cars (so not mine then) and charges a great deal of money, and has a string of very satisfied clients, who believe he is a 'genius' and 'magic' and 'a wizard with motors.'

Curiously, I met him because he's a musician, a pianist, and when I asked him how come he was such a good mechanic, he was as perplexed as the next man: "They bring the car in, and I can hear what's wrong," he said, "what I don't understand is why no-one else can." A 'musical ear' seemed a pretty significant clue to me. He still doubts it. He just thinks the others are lazy.

+++

Mankind has persistently tried to make Christianity esoteric in a way other than it actually is. Why? Loads of reasons, here's a few:

1 - Because it gives that person power over others.
2 - Because I feel special to think they are part of something special.
3 - Because it enables them to asert themselves as an authority.
4 - Because it's a way to make money.
5 - Because I am diffferent.
6 - Because I am special.
7 - Because I read the bible, didn't get it, but think I know better.
8 - Because I don't want to have to make the effort.
9 - Because I am clever, I'm obviously better than someone who's not.
10 - Because I'm a good guy - why should I change?
11 - Because I can't see the wood for the trees.
12 - Because there's got to be more to it than Love.

... And this 'special knowledge' has different forms, but St Paul, who is the voice of Christian Gnosis, called it 'agape' - which is translated as 'charity', but often as 'love'. This 'love' (as opposed to eros from which we derive erotic, etc.) is often exemplified as that between mother and child, it is a love that asks for nothing in return, but delights in the existence and being of another.)

"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity,
I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And if I should have prophecy
and should know all mysteries
and all knowledge (gnosis),
and if I should have all faith,
so that I could remove mountains,
and have not charity,

I am nothing.

And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor,
and if I should deliver my body to be burned,
and have not charity,

it profiteth me nothing.

Charity is patient, is kind:
charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is not puffed up,
Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own,
is not provoked to anger,
thinketh no evil:

Rejoiceth not in iniquity,
but rejoiceth with the truth:

Beareth all things,
believeth all things,
hopeth all things,
endureth all things.

Charity never falleth away:
whether prophecies shall be made void or tongues shall cease
or knowledge shall be destroyed.

For we know in part:
and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect is come,
that which is in part shall be done away.

When I was a child,
I spoke as a child,
I understood as a child,
I thought as a child.

But, when I became a man,
I put away the things of a child.

We see now through a glass in a dark manner:
but then face to face.
Now I know in part:
but then I shall know even as I am known.

And now there remain faith, hope, and charity,
these three:
but the greatest of these is charity."
St Paul 1 Corinthians 13

In closing, let me say that anything that qualifies itself as Esoteric is a (false) Way of Knowledge. False in the sense that, in Christianity, 'knowledge' counts for nothing - the heart is everything.

Christianity is the Way of Love.

And this special knowledge is a love because we know we are loved.

Thomas

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by Thomas

Christianity is the Way of Love.

And this special knowledge is a love because we know we are loved.

Thomas

Hi Thomas, just wanted to say that I really enjoy this post of yours. Thank you.

lunamoth

[GalaazV]

It is the Way of Knowledge (mind/occult) joining the Way of Love (heart/mystic).

It is not Esotericism/Esoterism as it is not hidden anymore but being brought into light; it is Esoteric (gr. esôterikos) as it is inner to each one of us: within.

Let each one of us do our best, and work ourselves inwards, as a new external Center rises in the "New World" following the ancient path (the Sun's path) from East to West: offering its Light to all mankind, for our eternal benefit.

N: N: D: N: N: S: N: T: D: G:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esoteric_Christianity

P.S. - Esoteric vs. Esotericism/Esoterism:

Esoteric is an adjective originated during Hellenic Greece under the domain of the Roman Empire; it cames from the Greek esôterikos, from esôtero, the comparative form of esô: "within". It is a word meaning anything that is inner and occult, a latinate word meaning "hidden" (from which we get the term occlusion). The opposite of this is exoteric, from the Greek eksôterikos, from eksôtero, the comparative form of eksô: "outside". Plato (427-347 BC) uses in his dialogue Alcibíades (aprox. 390 BC) the expression ta esô meaning «the inner things», and in his dialogue Teeteto (aprox. 360 BC) he uses ta eksô meaning «the outside things». The probable first appearance of the adjective esôterikos is employed by Lucian of Samosata (aprox. AD 120-180) in his satiric work "The Auction of Lives", § 26 (also called "The Auction of the Philosophical Schools"), written around AD 166.


Esotericism (also sometimes written as «esoterism») is a word and concept created in the 19th century and it was first used as the noun substantive l’ésotérisme in the work Histoire critique du gnosticisme et de ses influences (1828) of Jacques Matter (1791-1864). Following this, it was the occultist and cabalist Eliphas Lévi (1810-1875) who made common the use of the termos «esotericism» and «occultism». Then the term became fashion, mainly after Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831-1891), and other personalities of the Theosophic Society using it through the last quarter of 19th century and through the beginning of the 20th century. Esotericism gives reference to anything private, specifically such things which are or were forced to be kept private, or in secret, due to fears of persecution or to the unhability to be understood and also of being misused by the outside world.


P.S. 2 - CR (comparative-religion.com) forum is the deepest english language forum on Religion and pursuit of true knowledge and of common ground I have been in touch with.
As I see it you are doing and excellent work; Congratulations.

[Thomas]

If one wishes to 'engage' in any serious fashion with Christian esoterism - I reject the notion of an 'esoteric Christianity' as presented by the various Hermetic Orders (Rosicrucians, et al) as I have explained elsewhere - then one is obliged to do two things:

Contemplate the Mysteries
Practice the Liturgy

The idea of 'a mystic' or a 'mystical way' did not come into play as it is understood today until the 17th century. Prior to this time, and certainly for the first millenia, the 'Christian Mysteries' are its Liturgical Rites.

Thomas

[tiernfalcon]

Hi everyone, first I just have to say I'm really impressed with these forums

Thomas, I thought your above posts were well thought out.

There's a bible quote I hear people...emm...quote.. :P often, something about not casting your pearls before swine, not sure where in the bible it is. I was just thinking that this might be hinting at a deeper hidden knowledge of christianity, knowledge that may be revealed to you as your understanding and wisdom grow. Wouldn't this suggest at least a modicum of esoteric practice within christianity, presuming the church follows the example set by Jesus.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts this, or if I have totally missed the mark (which has been known to have happened on more than at least one isolated occasion :P)

[Thomas]

Hi tiernfalcon:

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."
Matthew 7:6

In the early Church there were the catechumens (under a 3-years course of instruction) and the initiates, and at a given point within the Liturgy, commencing the Mystery of the Eucharist the deacons would call something like 'let the dogs go out' at which point the catechumens would leave and only the initiates would remain to witness the Mystery.

"Wouldn't this suggest at least a modicum of esoteric practice within christianity, presuming the church follows the example set by Jesus."

Absolutely - but the point is that Christianity is an 'esoterism in plain sight' - it is an 'open secret' and that is why it is vilified. Everyone who is called is engaged in a Mystery whether they understand it or not, comprehend it or not, sense it or not. Every liturgical act and action reeks of a profound interiority, every line of Scripture opens onto infinite vistas ...

Love is the most occult force in creation - occult in the proper sense (occluded, obscure or invisible) - because love transcends knowledge and all that is illuminable by the light of the intellect ... where love is, there God is also ... love is the source and cause of the light 'that lights the lives of men'.

One should point out at this stage that the west has lost almost entirely the true meaning of love - people today love what makes them feel good, be it another person, place, or thing - love is thus reduced to a material commodity and a trading value - there is no love without sacrifice - there is no love without the gift of self ...

... and now we are into deep esoteric realms, for such a love finds its source in the Trinity ...

My point is that there is nothing more profound, more esoteric, more occult, than the Liturgy, and there is nothing that comes anywhere near it. The fact that these days anyone can walk in off the street (as they do), witness it and then decry or ridicule it does not alter it one jot - they ridiculed Christ on the cross, and they ridicule Him today. Nothing changes.

In fact today is worse ... today it is cool to believe in nothing ... faith in anything is a weakness ... modernism is an intellectual and existential nihilism ... nothing matters

What I reject - absolutely and with vigour - is the notion of an 'esoteric Christianity' as a 'secret', belonging to an elite, as something 'real' professed by a few in locked chambers whilst the vast majority fuddle around in some vague and meaningless exoterism - my soul abhors it with a passion that Christ displayed in the cleansing of the Temple, my spirit revolts against it, because it mocks God, and it mocks my neighbour.

It is Luciferian in its ontology.

It is the same Lie that the serpent whispered in the garden.

Sorry for the rant, but it's my Church.

Thomas

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by Thomas

Love is the most occult force in creation - occult in the proper sense (occluded, obscure or invisible) - because love transcends knowledge and all that is illuminable by the light of the intellect ... where love is, there God is also ... love is the source and cause of the light 'that lights the lives of men'.

One should point out at this stage that the west has lost almost entirely the true meaning of love - people today love what makes them feel good, be it another person, place, or thing - love is thus reduced to a material commodity and a trading value - there is no love without sacrifice - there is no love without the gift of self ...

This reminds me of two quotes from C.S. Lewis:

This is one of the miracles of love: It gives a power of seeing through its own enchantments and yet not being disenchanted.
C. S. Lewis


I sometimes wander whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy.
C. S. Lewis

Good post, Thomas.

[taijasi]

Perhaps it would be well, in specific response to Thomas, to also eschew the erroneous statement - at whose mention my soul sickens as much as yours - that any liturgy (be that Christian, Eastern, or otherwise) is the true essence, or profoundest aspect, of Christ's Love.

I certainly agree that to enter into the higher Mysteries (of Christianity or any spiritual practice) is to plumb the depths of a relationship - between Humanity and her Divine Parent - to which there is no end ... nor a beginning. No true mystic would claim to fully understand this relationship, or make pretense to explain it, save to say that it is characterized by perfect, unconditional Love.

I would even go so far as to say, imho, that the keys to the Kingdom are held at all times in front of the earnest seeker - in plain sight. But not anyone is fit or spiritually ready to grasp the entire keyring, nor would this be prudent. To press the analogy further, at any given moment that we ask, there are perhaps several possible keys that will open the door in front of us. But let us correct a mistaken notion ...

Surely the Kingdom of God is not a darkened realm, each of whose portions or "layers" is simply a little less dark. Yes, it's been awhile since I read of Teresa's Castle, so forgive me if I take liberties ... but the Kingdom of Heaven has always seemed to me to be a place of splendid Light Supernal!

As we enter more & more deeply into this realm - going both within ourselves and transcending our earthly limitations (two actions that are complementary and not at all exclusive of each other) - we come into a greater measure of Light with each door we open. Or as St. Paul put it, we draw closer to "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).

And the best part of all ... is that the KEYS to G-d's Kingdom are indeed presented to all persons, and all that is required is that we earnestly seek, in order to find them (Matthew 7:7-9). But too many seekers stop there, content with the realization that the Kingdom of Heaven does exist, and (understandably) overjoyed with the deeper participation G-d's Love and Bliss. To continue building the relationship mentioned by St. Paul above, in Ephesians, we must apply discipline (as did the disciples) ...

... and speaking from experience rather than speculation - I would like to state unequivocally that there is certainly an esoteric aspect ( or dimension) to Christianity, just as is the case with every religion. It is simply our understanding of such that is imperfect, especially if we begin with any kind of notion that Deity is willfully concealing things from us - which is but an expression of our mistrust or paranoid thinking ... the conspiracy bug, if you will.

Nothing could be further from the truth - and yet, in the greater scheme of things, we are meek - and is it any wonder that we are not fully prepared to behold the Divine face to face? Christ did say, Blessed are the pure of heart ... for they shall see G-d. If, as sometimes happens, there are those who rush forward to proclaim their purity - then perhaps it could only be said to devotees of such fervor: Become more pure.

The idea that there is a spiritual elite is perhaps an offensive (and intuitively erroneous) notion to us ... precisely because of semantics. Better stated, there is an avante-garde - but They are egoless. And I suggest that while not every Tom, Dick & Harry may "belong" to this avante-garde, nevertheless, it is composed of much more than simply Christ and a couple of archangels. As many mystics have witnessed, there are many, many members of this Heavenly Host (sic) ... and the Christ is but the Head (and the Heart, as it were) of a spiritual body that bridges between Humanity and the Divine.

Let us not be hasty to dismiss the Finger of G-d, nor his Eye, nor the Word of Power ... as these seek to inspire & guide us. For as it seems, in this Heavenly Mansion, though we cannot truly isolate ourselves from Deity, nevertheless in the closing of but one door we can make it exceeding difficult to be ministered to ... or for others to thus receive, through us. And yet, so many are content to huddle in a corner, with vain repetitions, eyes closed - and blind to the Glory that is all around.

And these will sometimes speak loudest that there is nothing hidden, despite the Master Poet's words: There are more things in Heaven and earth, than are dreamt of in your philosophy, Horatio. Perhaps it is well to state, that in one lifetime ... certainly there is not time to discover and master all that we encounter, on earth. And that is why we have --.

protokletos

[Thomas]

Hello taijasi -

Perhaps it would be well to also eschew the erroneous statement that any liturgy is the true essence, or profoundest aspect, of Christ's Love.

Well, we need tread carefully here.

The locus of Christian life is the church;
the locus of the Church is the Liturgy, and;
the locus of the Liturgy is the Eucharist.

The actuality of the Eucharist is itself indeed 'the true essence' and 'profoundest aspect' of Christ's love, precisely because it is Himself present therein - this then is the 'free gift of self' manifest in the Sacrifice of the Mass - so I find it hard to conceive of any act of love by Christ that surpasses the Sacrifice of the Cross.

The Eucharist is founded not simply upon the Paschal meal, but also upon Christ's extended meditation thereon, chapters 13-17 of John, of which I shall quote just a part:

"I pray ... that they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us ... And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me..." (17:21-23)

As long as one remains 'without', then 'we are NOT all one' and this is a profound point. Christ did not come to save one, nor save an avant garde, He came to save all, and all will be saved when all are one - any notion of a discreet few is only valid when they serve the many.

There is another scandalous point here - no individual act, no individual experience, no individual event, not Paul's elevation to the 'third heaven', nor Eckhart's 'ground of being' is the equal of the Eucharist because nothing man can say or do can merit such reward.

The great saint and mystic, theologian and philosopher, Thomas Aqinas, the Doctor Angelicus, was known to spend hours on his kness in Eucharistic adoration, and one day heard a voice speaking from the cross, "what would you have of me?" to which he replied, "you Lord, only You."

Everything flows from the Eucharist

Thomas

[taijasi]

Although I may commit a sin of sorts to point this out, I would like to quote from the Syrian Master regarding the Eucharist:

"Of rites and ceremonies have I spoken, and their usefulness to those who stand in need thereof. And yet not all rites performed in my name originated with me; from older religions have some of them been taken.

Hark to the words which [priests do] enunciate, believing them to have first been spoken by me to my disciples at the last supper we partook together. Nevertheless they were derived from a more ancient Creed, as delvers into the Past have since discovered.

Verily no more have these words aught to do with my body and blood than with the body and blood of him who repeateth them. Only a symbolic significance have those words; but, knowing it not, have learned unbelievers made them one more pretext to call my religion a fraud and a fabrication.

But this I would ask; what proof have they that I did not teach my disciples the ancient rite, so that it might be enacted in memory of me?

Ah, a mystery hath that rite been even to my followers, yea so deep a mystery that they must needs invent the doctrine of Substantiation in their endeavor to explain it, thereby persuading themselves that one mystery could be solved by an even greater one.

A mystery forsooth it may be, but not to the clear-visioned and to the initiated. For verily the rite if correctly performed doth invoke a great Deva (an Angel, in Christian terminology) whose Radiance, streaming forth on to all participants, uplifteth their hearts and purifieth their emotions, according to their capacity and willingness to receive.

But the day of understanding is not yet; for only when Man hath acquired the faculty to see those subtler things which as yet are hidden, will the truth anent this invocative ceremony be proven and known."

This rather lengthy quote is from Part I of The Vision of the Nazarene, available very affordably to the earnest seeker ... from Amazon.com. Emphasis, btw, is my own.

I heartily recommend this book to anyone seeking the plain words of the Nazarene (Jesus) as faithfully committed to paper by one of his disciples less than a century ago. I believe there will be found many a revelation in what the author has to share. I would quote again, from the section preceding the above, as there is relevance ... again, forgive the length:

"For know that those who are gathered together in harmony, peace and love, and who call to me in the spirit of Service, they verily are gathered together in my Name, and to them I come, because like attracts like.

But those who are gathered together to perform ceremonies with errant minds and hearts yearning for worldly things, to them I do not come, for their wandering thoughts do not reach me at all.

And yet, think not that I am averse to all ceremonies even though I raised my voice against vain repetitions; for know that ritual and ceremonies are as the crutches to the lame of spirit, to be discarded when man has become whole in spirit.

Lo, nowadays many do scoff at these crutches of the halt and feeble. And their scoffing is born of intolerance; yet in ritual devoutly performed there is my Power and my Love.

And in some repetitions also there is my Power, but in others there is only foolishness and even harmfulness; for man, by reason of his materialism, has lost the Golden Key to the right use of my Ritual and my Words of Power.

And now would I say; he who prays with true sincerity for the happiness of others shall obtain happiness himself, and he who prays for the enlightenment of others shall obtain enlightenment himself; for so doth he open the door to that Pure Consciousness which is Unity and Joy."

If I might be so presumptuous as to comment, imho it would seem that the Master has made a statement in his final sentence which is both the code and the Law for the Mystic, as well as the key & the watchword for the Occultist (or Esotericist). I should think one need be neither (occultist nor mystic) to follow in Christ's footsteps, yet to draw close is to begin to have what are called mystical experiences ... and to transcend these is truly to become an esotericist - if one can but keep one's feet on the Path.

This is more than I have managed for some while, Thomas. And further, I'm afraid I can be a bit intolerant at times (hence my choice to emphasize that part) ... so that even as I choose to disagree with your statements regarding the Eucharist, I do not mean to suggest that there is no signficance to that Sacrament. Just the opposite - as the quotations support - though I cannot claim to begin to fathom the Mystery.

What I do feel moved to attest, if I may be so bold, is that in my own experience - attending the Lutheran Church (LCA, not Missouri Synod) until the age of 13 or so, and in my Xmas attendances with the family - I feel quite confident that I have been so fortunate as to bear some witness to the very Deva to which the Nazarene refers. Such a presence, after all, just as the Christ whom is thereby served (Teacher alike of Angels and of Men) ... is quite literally in more than one "place" at the same "time," again, despite our utter ignorance as to how this actually occurs in the inner, spiritual worlds.

I do not claim to fully understand the Mystery - but I do attest to the existence of such Devas, and to the spiritual avante-garde which Mystics sometimes call Christ and His Church. And yes, such of Humanity (or the Angelic Kingdom) as have attained to this measure of the fulness of the stature of Christ before us, continue to serve with Christ ... and this is why I think they merit the phrase "Christ's elite," or the avante-garde - or whatever is least offensive. Certainly this has nothing to do with the so-called "Christian Right" in America (esp. the deep south, or states like my own North Carolina) ... which, as the bumper-sticker states, is neither.

On a deeply personal note, I can say that "Communion" as the Lutherans call it, always did have a special significance to me - but this has entirely to do with the character and the actions of the Pastor who performed it during my early years of church attendance ... and the greater signficance centered around his actions with the young people of the (small) church following the church service, as he would distribute the remainder of the bread outside. He may as well have been St. Francis feeding the birds - for in this way he nourished the souls of the children ... and never a kinder man have I met in 33 years. This has everything to do with the (Christlike) Spirit of the Nazarene, and his words as quoted above ...

Peace ...

protokletos

[Rev Wayne]

This reminds me of two quotes from C.S. Lewis:

Great thread!

Considering the above comment, and the discussion thus far, I am reminded of Lewis' "A Footnote to All Prayers," in which he says that "all prayers blaspheme," meaning that to some degree every one of us has faulty conceptions of God, and at best all we come up with are "limping metaphors."

His words ring true to me. The more I study and learn, the more conscious I become of just how little I know. Truly we see things "through a glass, darkly" in this world.

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Rev Wayne

Great thread!

Considering the above comment, and the discussion thus far, I am reminded of Lewis' "A Footnote to All Prayers," in which he says that "all prayers blaspheme," meaning that to some degree every one of us has faulty conceptions of God, and at best all we come up with are "limping metaphors."

His words ring true to me. The more I study and learn, the more conscious I become of just how little I know. Truly we see things "through a glass, darkly" in this world.

Welcome to CR Reverend.

Blaspheme:

1 : to speak of or address with irreverence
2 : REVILE, ABUSE
intransitive verb : to utter blasphemy

The problem with that statement is that in order to "not" blaspheme God, we would have to stop praying to Him...in otherwords, to sin not, speak not.

On the other hand, did not Jesus specifically state that what so ever we do to the least of our brethren we do unto Him? This would imply that in order not to "blaspheme" God we would have to stop speaking with eathother, dealing with eachother, or helping eachother. And did He also not state that if we cause little children to stumble before the Lord, there would be "hell to pay"? (para)

Lewis, presents us with (it appears) a catch 22. Damned if we do and damned if we don't. I'm afraid I can not agree with Lewis' concept of reviling God by being ignorant of His true nature. There is no sin, in not knowing. Rather, the sin is in knowing what we do know, and not acting on it...

my thoughts, and once again welcome to CR

v/r

Q