Why making God unfashionable never works..

[aroundthetable]

Yes Beren, simple living, high thinking, thats the key.

It is also important to get the support and encouragement of like minded people and for Christians the church is a place to gather in this way, just like this site is a gathering place where people seek like minded people for support and encouragement, it is no different than a church in that respect. People with similar attitudes will always seek each other out, that is natural.

[beren]

Originally Posted by aroundthetable

Yes Beren, simple living, high thinking, thats the key.

It is also important to get the support and encouragement of like minded people and for Christians the church is a place to gather in this way, just like this site is a gathering place where people seek like minded people for support and encouragement, it is no different than a church in that respect. People with similar attitudes will always seek each other out, that is natural.

I agree. But even word "church" was twisted from original meaning. In the beginning Christians didn`t had buildings or special places because that was not the point. Later on when "wolves" took over as Paul was and others were signing the alarm over it ,slowly they started to import back postulates from Judaism ,which on the other hand took postulates from Babylonian system and... you got a mess ...

Christ said where are two or three people in his name ,there he is with them in spirit.
That essentially means that even two of us talking now about truth and love and Christ are forming one congregation ,one church.

Because if you are inspired by holy spirit you are always with God and Christ, you don`t need building or anything other man made on this earth. You are then 24/7 connected with Creator. Also when you are able to speak about truth freely with people willing to do that, then you got a feeling of belonging and friendship with people alike.

It was always high above man made assumptions about God and what does he requires from you. It was always through spirit ,never other way round.

No matter what people imagine or are persuaded , never they can understand Creator or be close to him if they don`t shed and cast down old patterns of thinking and behaving.

[greybeard]

your are right Bern.

Also think Jesus said. "Even the wisest of my disciples will enter heaven by faith alone"
The Truth has been handed down since time began through the Vedas Upanisheds Krishna The Buddha Christ. Truth is eternal unchanging. One God.
That which is formless is the Provence of non duality. The Mystic live it.
It can be pointed to alluded to but is That which can not be spoken of.
It cant be measured it is beyond all human description.
Thats is why faith alone is required.
Thats simple but hard until something in your life brings this about.
Hitting rock bottom in whatever form that takes opens the heart to God who is always available.
Chris

[Rareheart]

Too few venture the hard path.

Why?

[aroundthetable]

Originally Posted by Rareheart

Too few venture the hard path.

Why?

There are many distractions

[Rareheart]

Very Nice Celine,

Religion is about Man

Spirituality is about God

[Rareheart]

There are many distractions

...and what wonderful fun to be had.

[greybeard]

Originally Posted by Rareheart

Too few venture the hard path.

Why?

The power of Maya the illusion created by ego is very seductive Rareheart.
It throws you little crumbs of comfort from time to time, promises a better future, takes you out of the eternal Now, the only moment that ever exists.
Many are called few chose.
People do not react to gentle reminders of the power of God sometimes the going has to get tough before the tough become receptive.
It takes humility to ask God for help.
The ego has no humility.

Anyway thats my understanding of it.
Chris

[Rareheart]

Yes Greybeard...the ego strives to understand Love.
Yet, is composed of it.


To me...God and Love are interchangeable.

[aroundthetable]

We are by nature pleasure seekers, but we are looking in the wrong place and accept fleeting and temporary material pleasures instead, this path always ends in frustration and anxiety.