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1.6. What I Tend to Believe So
Far
(and (to Some Extent), why)
(These are some of the thoughts, somewhat in order, that I currently want
to include in my attempted defense of Jesus.)
(04/15/09)
1. Unfortunately, I have to judge religious
matters for myself. I can’t believe something, or follow some creed,
simply because someone -- or some book -- tells me that I should. Though,
I would like to.
2. Somehow, I have to look inside myself for confirmation…
3. It is easy to suspect that Jesus was just a very charismatic, religious
fanatic -- liberally embellished by his biographers -- taking advantage
of the pressing need of humanity to worship something…
4. I mean, those biographers were talking about miracles!
5. At the same time, however, it seems to
me that there is some very interesting evidence that Jesus really was
who the New Testament said that he was…
6. But then, I want him
to be the Messiah. I am biased,
and can't really trust my own leanings.
7. Whatever, the following are my broad suspicions so far.
8. First of all, the world is probably “magical.”
The whole is more than the sum of its parts. The world is not the deterministic
machine that we analytic types tend to think that it is. (Magic)
9. There is a Singular Source of conscious being and caring. In that sense
at least, there is a G-d. (Link)
10. I exist. This is a miracle, but most humans do not recognize the miracle.
11. There is “free will.”
12. We are not indifferent (at least, I
am not indifferent -- I can't swear that you aren't).
13. There is good and bad.
14. There is something we’re supposed to do.
15. Love seems to be the bottom line. It crosses the barrier. Love is
something that we really can take with us.
16. G-d is the Good, and the Good is Love.
17. Love is all we need.
18. Love is Good.
19. Love is all that matters.
20. Love makes it all better.
21. All we need is Love.
22. That’s all I need to know.
23. We can love animals.
24. We can love humans
25. The idea here is that we NEED to LOVE G-d.
26. We need a change of heart.
27. That just following His will is not good enough.
28. Not if we want to be consumed by love.
29. Not if we want to enter G-d’s Kingdom here and now.
30. Not if we want to rise above the pains of life and experience peace
and joy here and now.
31. Not if we want to experience the “good news.”
32. But then, we can’t love a "cloud" (G-d).
33. (The Cloud of Unknowing?)
34. That seems to be where Jesus comes in.
35. Jesus makes it “Personal.”
36. And, at least many humans CAN love Jesus.
37. That’s what they mean by a “personal relationship.”
38. That’s why we humans need a Messiah.
39. At the very least, it is much easier to love a Messiah than it is
to love G-d directly.
40. And, we need to love someone who will never leave us, who will always
be with us.
41. But note that we humans are animals, and our
love inherently involves dominance and submission.
42. And, it won’t be us telling G-d what to do.
43. In other words, we need to SURRENDER to G-d…
44. “Surrender” is a real neurological phenomenon.
45. That’s what dogs do with their pack leader.
46. They have a “change of heart” when they do.
47. Their very reflexes change.
48. But then, we humans cannot surrender to a cloud (not
most of us, anyway).
49. But at least many of us CAN surrender to Jesus.
50. At least many of us humans can experience a real change of heart regarding
Jesus.
51. These humans accept Jesus as being G-d’s Son, as well as G-d
Himself.
52. (Perhaps, Jesus is G-d’s projection of Himself into our 4 dimensional
reality…)
53. These people have their lives turned around for the much better.
54. Some people pretend to surrender and (to some extent
at least) even believe that they have.
55. To surrender seems a lot like going under hypnosis – which some
people also “pretend” to do.
56. Whatever -- we need to love G-d, and we need to take
Him as our “Pack Leader.”
57. But directly speaking, that seems to be difficult or impossible to
do.
58. On the other hand, at least many of us humans can relatively easily
take Jesus as our Pack Leader.
59. When we do, we say that we take Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
60. Note again, that this is not just surrendering to G-d’s will.
61. This is surrendering to G-d, Himself.
62. Surrendering to G-d involves a real change of heart – love.
63. Bringing peace and joy -- if, we can do it.
64. Just surrendering to His will is analogous
to using band-aids.
65. We humans sense, or imagine, something we call “transcendence.”
66. Transcendence is an alleged non-physical dimension.
67. Consciousness is non-physical.
68. We conscious beings are immortal. (http://www.messiahornot.com/ACT2Scene1.php)
69. Nothing really “makes sense” (and miracles
are not so far-fetched). (Link)
70. And, this conundrum is the result of our reasoning being analytic,
while the reality it tries to reason about is holistic -- and again, the
whole really is greater than the sum of its parts…
71. So, our reasoning is intrinsically incomplete, and we should always
take it with a grain of salt.
72. Think about the square root of 2, for instance. The square root of
two is an “irrational” number – nevertheless, it is
real.
73. Using reasoning to understand reality is like trying to cut a round
pizza with a rectangular pastry cutter.
74. And, Zeno’s tortoise does reach the finish line.
75. This could be the broad explanation for such things as free will,
and nothing making sense – and, in part, Jesus and his miracles…
76. See what I mean?
77. You need to open your mind a little bit. Analytically speaking, the
world appears to be “magical.” (Link)
78. (Keep in mind that the following is what I tend to believe so far.)
79. We humans are immortal. (We may simply be the consciousness
basic to reality (and life in general may be immortal.)) (Links to follow.)
80. We are transcendent. (Links to follow.)
81. We have free will and responsibility. (Links to follow.)
82. Ultimate meaning is real – life has meaning. (Links to follow.)
83. And “love” is the bottom line. (Links to follow.)
84. There probably is a G-d (or at the very least, a very reasonable facsimile
thereof…) (Links to follow.)
85. One way or another, we humans do sense – or imagine –
G-d. (Links to follow.)
86. (For Einstein fans -- we sense a “living,” and unifying,
Field Theory.) (Links to follow.)
87. The world is magical. It is not the deterministic machine that our
analytic reasoning would have it. It is
a. Alive
b. Free
c. Personal
d. Conscious
e. Meaningful
f. Magical. (Links to follow.)
88. In other words, personally, I cannot dismiss Religion (in general)
out of hand – and, I must judge Jesus (as a religious figure) on
his own merits. No “summary judgment” here.
89. The reason "G-d" doesn't make sense to so
many of us (even those who believe in 'Him') is that there is an aspect
of reality that most of us simply take for granted without ever recognizing...
90. We look right through this aspect of reality without ever realizing
that it is an aspect of reality. We look right at it, but are oblivious
to it -- probably like a fish is oblivious to the water in which it swims.
We take it for granted. We are aware of it, we just don't notice it. We
don't recognize its implications. We don't realize that it’s "magical."
91. This is where G-d comes from. This is why 'He' does actually make
sense, and why we don't realize it.
92. There is a magical (alive, conscious, free, timeless, meaningful,
irrational) dimension to reality. We have another -- magical -- world
right alongside of us. Think of this other world as analogous to the rabbit
hole, or looking glass -- or, the square root of 2.
93. The reason that Jesus doesn't make sense to so many
of us is that we're not expecting the nature of our connection to G-d
to be dictated by human nature -- but as it turns out, we should. The
Jesus idea seems so foolish to us intellectual types because the characteristics
of a "Savior" for us humans would naturally have to fit with
our needs -- but we never thought of it that way...
94. So … do we need a Savior?
95. Superficially, at least, the answer is “yes.” Here’s
why.
96. We seem to need something -- a “Savior”
it seems -- and Jesus seems to fit the bill.
97. For at least most of us, in order to rise above the 2 “banes”
of human existence (guilt, and the fear of death), and experience real
peace on earth, a Savior IS necessary. At least most of us can't do this
by ourselves.
98. And, the Jesus concept/story comes through. Jesus can take us into
that other, magical, world -- up the rabbit hole if you will. Where the
whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And where the fear of death,
and the pain of guilt, are left behind.
99. I don’t know much, but I know I love you. And, that’s
all I need to know.
100. It is a whole other way of looking at the world.
101. As you will see, it is a right hemisphere (RH), or “holistic,”
way of looking at the world.
102. So, reflecting on #1 above, each of us has to judge
the New Testament, and Jesus, for him or herself. There is no way around
this.
103. And so, we must ask ourselves, as a religion, does the Jesus concept/story
“stand up”?
104. While life is not fair, if there be a G-d, He --
ultimately -- has to be fair.
105. If Heaven and Hell actually exist they must be ultimate.
106. G-d's Will = The Good; The Good = G-d's Will.
107. And, Effort to do The Good is the only dimension of a person's behavior
that should be taken into account if ultimate rewards are to be meted
out fairly.
108. Therefore, our entrance into Heaven or Hell should be based solely
upon our effort to do The Good…
109. Consequently, when Jesus speaks of "salvation," He must
not be referring directly to our "after-lives" -- rather, He
must be referring to the "here and now," and our ability to
enter G-d's Kingdom here and now. He is telling us what we need to do
in order to get in touch with our own transcendence, and to rise above
whatever pain it is that we’re suffering through.
110. Good works can help us to feel better in this life, but they don’t
allow us to rise above the earthly pains of this life.
111. Taking Jesus as our Savior does.
112. And, this was Jesus’ “Good News,” His (individualized)
“peace on earth” (He really wasn’t talking about “World
Peace” in the usual sense), His “good will towards men”
and His “joy to the world.”
113. We can enter G-d's Kingdom right now -- in this lifetime.
114. Jesus was simply offering His hand up.
115. Our only requirement is to accept it.
116. Jesus needed to "allude" to the Big Picture,
to the after-life, to “Heaven” and to “Hell” --
but these are things that we normal humans can’t begin to understand...
117. But then, if we really follow His instructions, we needn't worry
about Heaven and Hell, anyway -- the little picture will see us through...
118. So anyway, if this G-d does exist, He (It) probably does help those
who help themselves. Effort has to count. Ultimately, G-d has to reward
us for working hard.
119. (It is probably useful to “metaphorize” G-d, and to metaphorize
G-d as a Father rather than as a Mother.)
120. In addition, life must be analogous to a dream, and
we do have some potential to control it.
121. Our control comes through prayer and our own efforts to do the right.
122. Doing the right is being unselfish.
123. Our salvation depends upon surrendering to being unselfish.
124. We need to work hard at determining what is right – and then,
work hard at doing the right.
125. If we surrender ourselves to being unselfish, we surrender to G-d.
126. The trouble is -- we cannot surrender to being unselfish first. We
cannot surrender to being unselfish before we have surrendered to G-d…
127. But then, it could be that “we are all in this
together,” and it’s ultimately the group effort that counts.
We are meant to help each other – we are meant to help each other
to do the right.
128. You can offer me your hand; I can offer you mine.
129. I can “hitch a ride” on your effort; you can hitch a
ride on mine.
130. Though, my ultimate salvation cannot depend upon yours…
131. If you notice, there seems to be some “overlaps” in the
logic here…
132. That’s an unselfish (and good) reason for posting
this stuff on line. Hopefully, I will have something useful to offer.
133. (Unfortunately, inevitably, I have selfish reasons also…)
134. Most important is the being “Saved” aspect
of this other world.
135. To be “Saved,” to be “born again,”
to “take Jesus as one’s Savior,” to “die in Christ,”
to “let Jesus into our lives,” to “receive,” “accept,”
or “find” Jesus, all refer to the same concept.
136. They refer to a real neurological, life-changing event.
137. Christians didn’t make it up.
138. It seems to be related to the “enlightenment” of Buddhism.
139. Probably, we can experience a sense of transcendence and “salvation”
through either Buddhism or Christianity.
140. (When Jesus said that the only way to the Father is through the Son,
he might have meant this just for his particular audience, or just that
“the Father” is not a concept used by Buddhism and other Eastern
philosophies. And/or Buddhism and the others might be missing something
despite their similarities in religious experience – love, for instance.
It could be that the only way to love the Father Cloud is to love the
Cloud’s projection – the Father’s Son. )
141. The left hemispheres (LH) of our brain is analytic;
our right hemisphere (RH) is holistic.
142. Our LH cannot deal with transcendence; our RH can.
143. Either the LH is transcendence blind, or the RH is hallucinating.
144. My money is on the former.
145. A whole other world; a whole other way of thinking.
146. The RH learns through a kind of “osmosis.”
147. Stories teach through this kind of osmosis.
148. There is such a thing as “supernatural”
(SN) – or at least, “paranormal.”
149. There is such a thing as “prophecy” – in scientific
terms, this is called “precognition.”
150. The “Old Testament,” or “Hebrew Bible,” is
substantially prophetic.
151. Jesus can be G-d, and G-d’s Son, at the same time.
152. He can be wholly G-d, and wholly man, at the same time.
153. The Trinity does not defy the unity of G-d.
154. “Heaven” is a metaphor for something real.
155. So is “Hell.”
156. Having free will, we may be able to go to Hell (though, I hate to
think so).
157. Human nature is very complicated.
158. Our “salvation” has to take our nature into account.
159. Unfortunately, we humans are naturally selfish.
160. This is what they call “original sin.”
161. But then also, somewhere down deep (in our “racial-memory,”
or “collective-unconscious”), we know that love is the bottom
line, and the way out…
162. Somewhere down deep, we know that there is good and bad, right and
wrong -- things we are supposed to do and things we are supposed not to
do -- and these things have to do with “thy neighbor.”
163. We feel guilty for being selfish and/or lazy –
for not doing the right.
164. Our guilt piles up -- and confirms our mortality.
165. And -- the banes of human existence are these senses of mortality
and guilt. (Without them, life would be an exciting game – a bowl
of cherries.)
166. But, we can rise above this pain, and “enter G-d’s Kingdom”
by shedding these impediments.
167. Without these impediments, life is beautiful. After all, life is
transcendent and meaningful -- and love is the bottom line.
168. (But then, what about chemical in-balance and other things preventing
us from being able to surrender?)
169. But whatever, we seem to need help in order to shed
these banes.
170. That’s where the Jesus concept/story enters the picture.
171. Jesus brought
a. “Good news,”
b. Individual peace on earth,
c. Good will towards men, and
d. The keys to G-d’s Kingdom.
172. Jesus told us what we needed to do, and offered us a hand up.
173. We just need to take it.
174. When dogs turn on their backs, exposing their bellies,
they surrender. This is a real neurological phenomenon, resulting in a
drastic change in attitude between the previous contestants (whether dog/dog
or dog/human). The victor dominates; the loser submits; suddenly, they
love each other, and all is right with the world.
175. We humans need to quit fighting with the G-d we sense
(or imagine).
176. The only way to “win” our fight with G-d is to give up.
By giving up we are “Saved.”
177. That’s how we shed our guilt -- and the bane of our existence.
178. Surrendering to G-d makes all the difference. If we surrender, He
won’t hurt us.
179. (“Islam” means “surrendered to G-d.”)
180. But G-d, Himself, is too abstract for (at least) most of us.
181. Most of us need a more tangible, or personal, conqueror to which
to surrender.
182. The concept/story of Jesus fills that need for us.
183. Jesus makes it personal. Whether Jesus is real or not, we can form
a relationship with him. We can sense him as a real person.
184. And, it works.
185. By believing that Jesus was G-d -- or the son of G-d, and that he
allowed himself to be tortured and crucified so as to pay for our sins,
we can surrender to him – or, to G-d, through him.
186. And by surrendering, we are cleansed.
187. By enslaving ourselves to him, we are cleansed.
188. We become “team players.”
189. And team players play much better.
190. We can suddenly sense our own transcendence and immortality.
191. And, our lives can suddenly turn around for the much better.
192. If Jesus wasn’t the Messiah, he was probably the best -- and
most selfless -- Psychologist ever.
193. So, it turns out that we need a lot of help in climbing out of our
pit -- in shedding the guilt.
194. Shedding our guilt takes a lot more than being remorseful, changing
our ways and working hard to be unselfish. The sense of guilt becomes
deeply embedded and highly irrational, and hangs on for dear life.
195. That’s where animal sacrifice came in for the Jews.
196. Shedding their guilt required serious punishment -- and magic.
197. The most serious punishment was death.
198. And clearly, that’s what was required for all that sin…
199. But then -- that didn’t allow for the person atoned to do better…
200. But then, blood in general being magical to them, the Jews figured
that the death of a prized and pure young animal might substitute for
their own deaths.
201. So, once a year, the Jews would send a prized and pure young male
goat to its death -- in a magical ceremony -- as a substitute for themselves.
202. But this was really only a partial solution in that it had to be
repeated each year and was not to be done minus the Temple.
203. And besides -- it left something to be desired in the way of believers
feeling saved.
204. But, religions evolve.
205. And, Jesus came along.
206. So when Jesus came along, he told the Jews that they
should repent, work hard at being unselfish, and “take him as their
Savior” -- take him as their substitute in death.
207. He would do the rest – he would replace the “scapegoat”
and substitute his own life for theirs. He would lift their sense of guilt
and assure their immortality.
208. But, to take Jesus as their Savior meant that they were to surrender
to him.
209. They needed to enslave themselves to him.
210. But then, to enslave themselves to Jesus was, in effect, to enslave
themselves to G-d, or to the good, or to love…
211. And, what’s not to like about that kind of “slavery”?
212. There is a ‘face’ in the Old Testament
cloud. (http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/messianicprophecies.html)
213. That face could easily be Jesus.
214. Jesus spoke about the “after-life” because
his audience needed to be assured of it.
215. But, while we humans can – to some extent -- understand the
goings on in our current lives, we can’t begin to understand the
“goings on” in G-d’s mind.
216. And Jesus was often forced to speak cryptically, metaphorically and/or
hyperbolically.
217. But, for the most part, when Jesus spoke of “salvation,”
he was referring to entering G-d’s Kingdom here and now –
rising above the fear of death and the pain of guilt.
218. If there is such a thing as supernatural, Jesus probably
was the Messiah.
219. If there was anything divine about ancient Judaism, Jesus probably
was the Messiah.
220. We didn’t need a “warrior king” -- we needed help
with our love.
221. The Sanhedrin was more political than spiritual and had Jesus crucified
because he was a threat to their power.
222. If Jesus wasn’t the Messiah, he should have
been.
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