The Abrahamic Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Card?

I think of this in comparison to an alcoholic. The longer and more you drink the harder it is to get sober. If you sin/misbehave your entire life, the harder it is to connect to the One to grant your forgiveness. The separation is too great.

 

Hi Elfiet —

It is beginning to dawn on me that true healing is a whole-body thing. Like muscles have 'memory' and the physiology can pattern as a result of events, I think there is an area of physical healing — and I don't mean like a broken leg mending or a cut healing over — that is beyond mental healing.

I remember listening to Roseanne Barr, talking about the abuse she suffered as a child. She said mentally she has come to terms with what happened, but emotionally it becomes 'real' and she's right back there, reliving her childhood self — so the mental healing is one thing, but it is not all-encompassing.

I can remember my sisters 21st birthday, a landmark in my teen years, but cook up the breakfast she served the next morning and I am right there. My sense of smell triggers a lot stronger memory than my memory ...

Agreed, but then I am increasingly critical of those who pursue 'the path of spiritual enlightenment' — most of it is pure self-serving egoism, self-aggrandisement, self-delusion. It's consumer spirituality ... If one wants to be truly spiritual, try putting oneself out of the picture and serving one's neighbour, or putting oneself out of the picture and serving God in whatever traditional form one can engage with.

Look at Scripture, and the people whom Christ praises for their faith and their closeness to God: the publican, the widow at the temple, the centurion ... any 'spiritual masters' on the list? Nope. Any spiritual practitioners? Nope.

Look at the Beatitudes. Look at Matthew 25 — who are 'the blessed of God'? "For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me." (v35-36)

Where is the spiritual practice? That is the spiritual practice. It's caring for one's neighbour ...

All the 'technique' is a discipline to get you to the start line, to get you to the point you're fit to even begin ... whereas it has evolved a 'mystique' and has become something in itself ...

The more I contemplate Christianity, the tougher it becomes.

 

In Judaism "I'll sin and [later] I'll repent" is one of four cases where G-d does not give the person an opportunity to repent.
Aside from the fact that repentance only helps with sins between man and G-d, not between man and his friend. That requires forgiveness on the part of the injured party to be absolved from.

 

LOL, yeah! My advice – don't even think about trying to out-smart God ...

 

No, in Islam one is given many chances to repent but God says in the Qur'an that waiting last minute is not going to mean that you are all forgiven. In fact, the drowned Pharaoh is said to had pleaded in the moment of death but it was useless.

 

Aint that the truth...

I'd add the adverb metaphysical in my case.

 

It seems that way to me, but you got to consider that's the same "god" who flooded the world and said "oops" sure in more words, but that's it. He didn't go to hell for a bit to show he was truly sorry...but you know who he did throw in hell? Lucifer, the angel that...wait what did he do to get kicked out...oh right he was prideful, and somehow "god" isn't despite the claims that he's "all powerful, and all present and all knowing (not to mention "all loving" bah as if...says the god that kills) I'm not a follower as you can tell, Christans did some bad things...here it goes, The same "god" that said "thou shall not kill" ordered the killing of non believers...which at the time were pagans, and pagans did witchcraft (which isn't evil for it's healing...) and they were burned at the steak for such too. I don't get why though. Even if it is "the work of the devil" or whatever...you're telling me that he'd help heal? Must not be as evil as one would want to say, considering he provided healing, when "god" wouldn't...then there are Christians whining about Muslims "they say they're a religion of peace but look at what they're doing" pure karma

 

So...seems you have a lot of opinions to get of your chest. For a lizard looking for answers you sure are making a lot of statements!

 

LOL, really?

Well stating the truth is not necessarily pride, whereas pride is often self-delusion.

Sure can. Like most of the opinionated non-followers, your ignorance of basic metaphysics/philosophy is clearly evident.

 

Well Lucifer was making a mockery of "god" and also take a look at what "god" even said about humans...oh the irony.
Genesis 6:6 The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.
I'm laughing right now, I was looking for the part where he did his half attempt at an apology but I found a virgin...mmm

 

Ah, the myopia.

I'm sorry, oroborousDragon, but really, if you're going to come into the Abrahamic boards on IO and dish it out, there's a good chance someone will dish it straight back.

The first chapters of Genesis are regarded by scholars as a Hebrew mythopeic commentary on the human condition and in that light are packed full of wisdom and insight. If you can't see that, don't blame Scripture. It was always understood it needs be read in the 'light' of informed commentary.

The account of the flood, Noah, etc., is far, far more sophisticated and metaphysically insightful than the Epic of Gilgamesh, another written account from a pre-history source.

But don't take our word for it. Ask a Buddhist or a Hindu scholar for example, about the Scriptures, and you'll hear them wax lyrical about its wisdom and insight and worth.

It's invariably fundamental atheists who fail to see it — those who cannot see beyond the literal; those who, because they can read, assume they understand what it is they're reading.