I so appreciate your comment!

I’m unable to make the same leaps that
you make, but I respect your right to think
and believe whatever you want.

I can’t, for example, agree with your
rationale of why God is not ‘all that is.’

The reason, of course, is that my use
of the word, God, is different from yours.

I don’t even like using the word because
of all the different meanings that people
attach to it.

I think that which we call ‘God’ is, as the
Bible says, “omniscient, omnipotent and
omnipresent.”

How does anyone or anything get above,
beyond or outside of all knowing, all powerful
and present everywhere?

I don’t think it’s possible, myself.

To me (and others, like Tolle), God is a
presence, Universal intelligence, life force.

There’s a very BIG word, anthropomorphize,
which means to ascribe human characteristics
to …

so I think various religious dogmas/doctrines
have ascribed human characteristics to that
which we call ‘God,’ which is impossible, in
truth, IMO.

To me, God has nothing to do with that
which mind labels good or bad.

I think God or infinite intelligence, divine essence
(or whatever) is THAT which allows for it all to
occur.

It (God) has no favorites, I think. That’s a human
characteristic, anyway. Also no agenda and
no rules. More human characteristics.

It is mankind/society who makes up rules. And
it is also mankind/society who decides which
ones to break — and under what circumstances.
Question? What ‘truth’ do you
pray my eyes of understanding will be
opened to?

Namaste,

Carolyn

If your worldview can be de-constructed in
4 short sentences, it’s time for a new one.

I pray that the eyes of your understanding may be
opened to the Truth worth knowing and not merely
what’s “right in your own mind”.

With grace,
Tony

Nice to see you again!

You say, “The truth is often divisive, but it doesn’t have to lead to
killing.”

See, I don’t get that truth can be divisive. I, personally, sense that the ultimate truth is not about some mental constructs — a set of beliefs ‘about’ God.

Truth just IS, I sense. It’s the constant in an ever-changing world. The
life force that allows it all to spin around! (God? Goddess? All that is?)

There’s really no name and no need for a name, except to give the
mind something to ponder and argue, IMO.
The very ability of man to *think* has given rise to concepts, beliefs, dogma and doctrine. It’s all in our heads!

And the danger is inherent in this thinking, as it pits one belief against another, saying “I’m right and you’re wrong, if you disagree with me … therefore, I’m going to kill you!

Again, it’s just part of the human condition in an unenlightened state, IMO.

I get that Jesus’ message was one of oneness, also. I sense that he was an enlightened being, fully aware that he was divine essence (God).

Things like, “I and the Father are one, as you and the Father are one.”

“Before Abraham was, I AM.”

“I AM that I AM.”

And, I get that he was also trying to tell the people of the day that they, too, were that I AM, saying things like …

“… the kingdom of heaven is within you.”

I don’t see, sense or know anything that Jesus said (or is reported to have said) that divides. Quite the opposite, as his message was one of love and acceptance.

ONE is not divisive … it can’t be divided, can it?

Words, labels, concepts, beliefs are, inherently, divisive. And, taken to the farthest extent do, have and will continue to lead to burning children … unless we wake up.

I fear, as do many, that if we don’t find a way to go beyond these old, worn-out, Neanderthal notions that we will continue to be divided.

And, as we’re divided in our heads; fighting about ‘mental constructs,’ our Mother Earth is suffering, dying. We’re killing her.

We’re all cells of the same family … the human family. The same life that sustains me, you, everyone and everything … that is what IS-ness is … and it is the truth.

It just IS. And just are that. Not just some of us, but all of us.

Apologies, if I sound like I’m on a soapbox.
It’s just that, as I look around me and see all manner of man’s inhumanity to man and our planet … it’s such a travesty.

It’s a travesty to realize that we’re, perhaps, the most technologically-advanced civilization ever to be on Earth — yet, we’re still in kindergarten, as it relates to evolving our consciousness.

Sad, indeed.

And this is the over-arching problem of our time. The answer to which begins with dissolving division and uniting as ONE family — the human family.

You closed with, “I think it all boils down to loving God and loving people. It doesn’t get any simpler than that.”

Beautiful! I’d only add to that: God = ALL that IS.

Religious zealots often kill in the name of their god. I don’t agree with this at all.

For instance, during certain periods of history, people killed in the name of Jesus. That’s called hypocrisy.

Clearly, those people were misguided in their beliefs.

I think it all boils down to loving God and loving people. It doesn’t get any simpler than that.

You DID post!
Well, at least you agree about asking questions!

I absolutely respect whatever ‘truth’ you hold. But,
I can’t ascribe to your proof … that being the Bible.

I don’t accept that as proof, myself. And there are
millions of people who don’t either.

Now, to talk about what you ‘believe,’ is a completely
different story. Your beliefs (mental constructs) are
yours for the thinking.
I just get that we all are one … the same essence. The
same life force.

And, I also feel that any dogma or doctrine that divides
cannot unite.

Taken to the farthest extent, the silly notion that “my idea of
God is better than your idea of God,” leads to killing.

Throughout the ages and continuing through today, these divisive
belief systems continue to discriminate, maim or kill … all in the
name of God, Allah, Jehovah, Jesus or whomever.

I think it’s madness. You think it’s truth. OK.

I really don’t care what anyone’s beliefs are. But I do care
deeply about the actions that result from those beliefs, under
various circumstances.

Let us all seek to find the common denominator between
ourselves and each other … we’re all part of Life!

I think we all can respect and honor Life.

Carolyn

But while I agree with you on the practice of asking questions, I disagree with the idea that “we are the truth we seek.”

At the root of most New Age teaching (like Eckhart Tolle’s) is a primary belief that man is god and/or that man has the ability to shape his future.

I believe God is God, not man.

I also believe God’s name is important. His name is found in the Bible. It is YHWH/Jesus.

To say the name of God doesn’t matter is a bit misleading. The person of Jesus is quite different than, say, the concept behind the Greek goddess Athena or the Greek god Pan.

To say all gods are one and all the same is not true. And to say man is god is not true either, although that is what’s popular in today’s humanistic “spirituality.”

“Let the name of God be blessed from age to age, for wisdom and power belong to Him.” (Daniel 2:20)