As a spiritual-futurist, I interpret current events in light of possible macro-universal forces at play leading up to 2012, but not limited to it.
I so appreciate the stories from the Old Testament, the metaphors, allegories, poetry, and yes even the narratives. Furthermore, I love the fact that the Hebrews brought humanity more into the awareness of a monotheistic God, though that concept had been around. But, the carryover from the "God punishes" paradigm has done great harm in so many ways.
God is LOVE!
One of the pit-falls of calling the Creator FATHER and taking the anthropomorphic symbol too far is that we make Father God much like OUR concept of father human. Thus is human father spanks or punishes us because he loves us, Father God MUST do the same. Where'd the MUST come from? :-(
Furthermore, thus every catastrophe, (can you say Katrina and New Orleans?) is the judgment of God!
What we can pull from the Old testament is that God has set some LAWS of nature in order to effect that are provided to HELP us. But, it's our choice. Jump off of a ten story building and your lie is over. God didn't do it. Neither did God send AIDS, floods, tornados, nor an illness in your life to "get your attention". Now, you can USE any of those things to help you "right your thinking", but they are not the punishment of God.
God USES all. God is ALL and beyond ALL (panentheism not pantheism).
God didn't create us to be ROBOTS though much of religion has tried to make people into automatons who just go about following the law and not thinking. Thinking can cause one harm. You might question your religion, your pastor or priest, and he might not have answers. Then what do we do?
We have FREE WILL! In addition, we can decide to stay on the GOOD ROAD, or we can take many a detours that will lead us to flat ties, getting stuck, and who knows what all. God is not going to get angry or mad at us for taking a detour. Life and our friends will handle to punishment. Life does indeed have more PAIN than we'd like, but I subscribe to the adage that says, "Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is optional".
The Creator has given us some basic common sense laws to help protect us- and others. We have free will and we get to CHOOSE. But, choose not those religious laws that serve only the purpose of the religious institutions. Choose to obey those laws that show your love for God and mankind. It works so much better that way!
My God LOVES! Moreover, so does yours whether you acknowledge that or not!
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
Who Is Setting Your Goals In 2010?
By: Joshua J Reed | 05/01/2010It is now 2010 and many of us have already set goals and made plans for what we would like to accomplish in the year. Some of us spend hours trying to figure out what it is that we want to do in 2010. However, most of us never take the time to consider what God wants us to accomplish through us this new year.
Stay away from Ungodly People!
By: Shaila D Touchton | 04/01/2010Ungodly people are the people whose lives are not godly and are ALWAYS opposed to God and his ways.
Stay away from Ungodly People!
By: Shaila D Touchton | 04/01/2010Ungodly people are the people whose lives are not godly and are ALWAYS opposed to God and his ways.
Stay away from Ungodly People!
By: Shaila D Touchton | 04/01/2010Ungodly people are the people whose lives are not godly and are ALWAYS opposed to God and his ways.
Stay away from Ungodly People!
By: Shaila D Touchton | 04/01/2010Ungodly people are the people whose lives are not godly and are ALWAYS opposed to God and his ways.
Stay away from Ungodly People!
By: Shaila D Touchton | 04/01/2010Ungodly people are the people whose lives are not godly and are ALWAYS opposed to God and his ways.
Stay away from Ungodly People!
By: Shaila D Touchton | 04/01/2010Ungodly people are the people whose lives are not godly and are ALWAYS opposed to God and his ways.
Stay away from Ungodly People!
By: Shaila D Touchton | 04/01/2010Ungodly people are the people whose lives are not godly and are ALWAYS opposed to God and his ways.
Raising Rates Risk
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 04/01/2010 | EconomicsSo how far into 2010 will the Fed go before raising interest rates and putting a damper on the stock market?
The Ego Bar
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 04/01/2010 | SpiritualityLife has so many cycles but one of the largest and most critical is that of gaining and then losing our ego, lest we lose our soul.
Religious Rock Skipping
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 02/01/2010 | SpiritualitySkimming along the surface of life is good, but diving deeper into the rabbit hole of love is really what life is all about.
I See You
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 02/01/2010 | SpiritualityWHat do we see when we look into the mirror? We need to SEE love because if we don't, we'll not find it anywhere else and that's not self love either.
The Big Bang?
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 29/12/2009 | NatureIs there but one universe- ours? What's up with the BIG BANG and how have we come to the theories that we now embrce?
2010 Predicting
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 29/12/2009 | NatureIt's a good thing that we're co-creators and in anoterh sense, it's not a good thing because we're subject to the whims of the neigbors next door and in the Orient.
The Dresden Codex
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 29/12/2009 | PhilosophyWho knows what we might find or better yet what we might be smart enough to discern from what we've already found?
Happy New Year- 2010
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 29/12/2009 | News & SocietySo, you've made it to 2010. Will you make it to the end of 2010? What might you do to make the year more enjoyable for both yourself and your friends?