Am I a Christian? Are you?
Wednesday is Question and Answer Day on the blog...a time for exploring many of the questions that people have recently asked about the nine Conversations with God books and the New Spirituality. Here's this week's entry... Topic: Are you a...
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I do not believe that there is only "one way to God", and that everyone who does not take that way is going to hell. I simply do not believe that. And frankly, I don't know many people who do.
I live in North Carolina and it's hard to find someone who doesn't believe in hell, and you will go to hell if you aren't a Christian, go to church, and are baptisted. I read your books about 10 years ago and released my need for organized relegion. I homeschool my daughter and it is very hard to find a group that believes as I do. There are two groups of homeschoolers, the religious fanatics (the majority by far) and the atheists (not many).
Thank you for your books. At the time I read them, they answered a lot of questions for me and saved me from a lot of heartache.
Gratefully,
Dawn Allison
I find the belief in hell is a dying concept slowly and eventually quickly being reborn into the idea that we create our own heaven and hell right now.
While as you say you may not know many people who believe in hell (neither do I) that doesn't mean a larger percentage of people don't. They do, and it seems a bit naive to think that they still don't.
I think this is that you like many of us here, do not come into a lot of contact or draw that type of energy to us.
Yet there are a lot of fundamentalists out there and they helped elect Curious George W. Bush.
I think many liberal spiritual thinkers don't like to think about how many fundamentalist mentalities are out there but there are more than we may care to give credit too.
When asked what religion I practice, I refer to my spiritual leanings as "Everything, and nothing." Seems to get people thinking...... Which is my true purpose in life.
Hello everyone
I don't know how accurate this observation is, but it seems like anyone that believes in such things as devil or hell, rarely take responsibility for the so-called mistakes or faults they cause by the choices they make.
They believe in punishment and do so to themselves and others. That way of thinking is always about "someone else" "it's that person's fault" or "he/she said or did this and now i feel bad" "he/she deserves it"
I was such a person for a long time.
Here's an analogy I find helpful.
I have a brother, "Joe". He is also a son, a father, husband, teacher, uncle, grandfather, neighbor, counselor. Certainly, my niece and I know him in very different ways. Should I make my niece "wrong" because her experience of him is different from mine? Am I "wrong" because I know Joe differently than his students, or his wife? He is Joe, and each of us knows him in a different way. We all know his Joe-ness differently based on our personal experiences of him.
helo everyone,and to day BLOG of Naele and Jacquelin
quetion,de fel me target,
i dont want to comment this,
because i dont want somboday de get mad to me,
or misuntherstand me, i go ruond of my ketchen
to ask my self? ef i put my comment,
and im remember GOD word to me ,
was 1989 am draem of haeven iwas theree
am saet like a child,,heaven lok like all djamant
all over and veryvery big huose and de stand of de
sky,and after that am draem de nex nigth,
agein of de geil hill,
in my life i play to rol inseigth my felling
iplay like a non, and i play de huosewife,
MR Giinew i hofe you are not mad to me,
OH Neale you maeke me smill your words,
love and peace ,,
I think all the labels are unnecessarily confusing. People condemn each other when they don't really even know what they mean. I praise Jesus and I think he's the son of God... but I happen to think we're all the sons/daughters of God. I'll go one step further and say I believe we're all a PART of God. Technically, this belief system makes me not a Christian. Bizarre.
We need to start feeling more comfortable thinking outside the box and not feeling the need to put a label on everything.
...I forgot to add I thought Neale's response was adorable. :)
while i understand that all roads lead to Him, i wonder if any of the other prophets or teachers of other religions than christianity have the aspect of innocent blood sacrifice for all humanity & resurrection from the dead as Christ?
not to be disrespectful neale, but doesnt that everythingness make you a unitarian universalist?
The problem with Christianity, is not even Christians know what that word means, simply because everybody assumes the meaning of words (or Word) Right off the top Christianity's Messiah, was not Jesus, but Joshuah or Yeshuah in Hebrew (the "J" is pronoinced as "Y" as in Yahweh. Jesus is a Greek name, what do you figure the odds are that this Ju(dah) boy had a Greek name? Secondly, it is "The Christ" a term meaning to be rubbed on, touched by (assumedly by God) which could and is included for everyone. This annointing, as it were and is, is the Life force that animates simple earth, into a living breathing creature. This is commonly refered in the Bible as "The breath of God" and without it you would not be alive, or anything for that matter!
If we could ALL grasp the significane of that, either scientifically or spirituality, or preferably together, we would realize that we are indeed, ALL One body of "Christ in/by God" It would then not be a far stretch to come to the realization that we are ALL brothers and sisters united as in the One God. We are not God, only part of God, the Whole. Does the right hand fight the left? Does the left foot kick the right? Do not the both eyes see togeter. Both ears hear together but differently. Are the two sides of a body in conflict with each other, or do they work in unison to acheive a common goal? Did we actually choose "intelligence" in the Garden of Eden, or was it "ignor-ance" ... Christian? ... We are ALL Christian, we have no choice, or we cease to exist, or revert back to God as souls/spirits/ghosts or whatever imagery we like to attach to super-natural beings. There is no death, only a change of address!
LUV 2 ALL
Wisdum
I agree 100% person with Neal's response. I finally found the right thing to say to my christian friends who keep urging me to become a Christian. I am a human who has respect for every religion in the world. Every good God's way is always a path to reaching God.
There are 12 ways to leave youre lover.
Dear Neale,
Praise the Lord, I've finally somebody who expresses what I have come to believe over my 68 years. I am one that firmly believes that there is just one God. The thing that happens is that the various cultures around the world have adapted that one God to fit in their cultures. The Buddhists monks have a dedication to their God that we Christians would be smart to immulate with our God. (Since they are the same),
I guess that instead of a Christian I am really a "Everythingian". It is difficult to explain this to many of my Christian friends but if they had been where I've been and seen what I have seen I believe that many of them would feel the same.
Be Blessed.
Riley
When anyone uses the term "Christian" in America these days; please do NOT inlude me! The Neo-Conservatives/Republican Party/Fundamentalists have ALL destrpyed the word "Christian". I am "Spiritual".
Spirituality is much more evolved than "just being Christian".
The Neo-Cons have aligned "Christianity" with: HATE, severely judgemental people, self-righteousness, and nazism.
I am compassionate to others' situations, I actually listen to others' thoughts (OMG!), and respect others' beliefs. If being a loving, honest-living, understanding, INTELLIGENT human being sounds evil to YOU; then YOU are "Christian" these days.
God Bless people of ALL faiths. Peace to our World! NOW!
I am an ex-Methodist minister who has been trying to decide "what I am" for many a year. I'd never thought about your word "Everythingian" but that is a good one. I changed courses in my life when I became disgusted with a group of "Christians" who wanted to insist that everyone who is not like them is going to hell. I had a degree in theology so I want and got a doctorate in the most "everythingian" discipline I could think of (library science) and became an academic librarian and professor of humanities (religion and philosophy) and taught world religions for 40 years. I am glad to see that there are people who are realizing that the narrowness of ANY KIND of fundamentalist (including scientific fundamentalism and atheistic fundamentalism) is suspect and very likely dead wrong. What really matters is to love your neighbor.
A point in every direction is the same as no point at all.
A God in every direction is the same as no God at all.
And a religion that claims to encompass all paths, is no religion at all.
from my perspective:
A point in every direction is EVERYWHERE
A God in every direction is EVERYTHING
A religion that claims to encompass all paths is LIFE.
I am believer in a God that is everything everywhere... the source of LIFE
if i had to label myself... i would say
I am a seeker of I am that I am
keep coming back!
"there's more where that came from"
Jimmie T
It has been my experience that labels are gross generalizations, and as such are almost always woefully insufficient to the task of describing who a person is or what they believe. I love hearing stories about people who have transcended their labels, who realize that they do not need to be bound by them, that they are capable of approaching faith and spirituality on their own terms, in their own way, and that it becomes more meaningful in so doing.
This system of expectations and predisposition is nothing but a weight on the shoulders of anyone who seeks something more than just fitting in, and it saddens me to see so many seekers still carrying it. It reminds me of a short story by Kurt Vonnegut (Harrison Bergeron - google it.) That weight serves no purpose other than to keep you on par with everyone else. Who are you handicapping yourself for?
Say it with me Jimmie T:
A point in every direction is,
A God in every direction is,
A religion that claims to encompass all paths is,
Just a person forging their own path. Leave 'em be.
i'll say it with you!
What is is!
it is what it is
So it goes!
"a religion that claims to encompass all paths is no religion at all"
that is correct and a GOOD thing! who was talking about "religion" anyway? what Neale was saying and most here agreed with is that the very notion of organized "religion" is limiting and divisive. and the dissapation of such thinking is THE path to peace.
Re -Rebecca Winters | November 29, 2007 11:23 AM
A point in every direction is the same as no point at all.
** Uhhh... a point is a dot heading in no direction, or ultimately the destination !
A God in every direction is the same as no God at all.
** God is no direction ... God is the point of direction, production, action,cut,fini! ... It's a wrap, let go home!
And a religion that claims to encompass all paths, is no religion at all.
** Religion means to be tied to, to be bound by. You can be bound by and kind of bondage you so desire ... On the other hand, Yeshuah "Came, to set you free!"
LUV 2 U / LUV 2 ALL
Wisdum
May God bless all the people involved in this tragic incident. My Roman Catholic faith teaches me that although premarital sex is a sin,against the will of God, God is all merciful if the person truly with his or her whole heart is sorry,,that is why we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation...It is against my Catholic faith to kill any person and that even extends to hurting a person's feelings...It is also a sin "not" to visit the people in prison..God is so merciful He would have had forgiven Hitler if Hitler apologized...My Catholic faith teaches me to love all peoples even more so the sinners because Jesus loves them the most...My Catholic faith teaches me to do penance (such as fasting i.e.not eat for one day during the week)for poor sinners so they may accept God's mercy and enjoy Eternal Life in Heaven....I love my Catholic Faith!!!!
HOW GREAT ARE ALL YOU!? I read this question (are you a christian?) and wasn't sure what I would find, I have encountered some REALLY scary and mean "christians". Well, they weren't really, but THAT is what they called themselves. Meanest hearted people I ever met! But, reading all these wonderful posts was really great. I am like the rest, believing the saying that there are many roads to God and that in my father's house there are many rooms. There is love enough to go around. I don't call myself a christian or even believe in religion (oranized),unless you feel YOU need the bonding, but I believe in God and am spiritual and my heroes are people who give of themselves out of love. These posts were so nice to read. Some of the views were different but all seemed to understand that we should all live with love, tolerance, peace and whatever belief feels true and fits for us. How nice it is to see people being happy in their truths and accepting what others feel as well. Mercy, love, kindness is so very needed and how great to see that you are all out there spreading it! And Jacque, If that church did the snooty, holier than thou deal on you and the people you were helping who desparately needed it, maybe find a pastor willing to work with you and get together somewhere else, where "riff-raff" doesn't matter. THOSE are the ones that Jesus chose to be with and help because they need it the most. Think of the possibility of changing lives! Or maybe another church in the area? OR look into getting the people you need together and start your own? They do that at the park by my house. They have the picnic tables where they eat and they have service right there under the sky and trees. If it is too cold maybe you can see if it is possible to get some donations to use a room in the rec. center? Don't let people with problems make problems for you. You are doing something extraordinary.
Hi,
Why calling yourself a Christian when you can call yourself a Christ?
Isn't that what we really are?
I know that i am a Christ or a Buddha.
I am not Jesus the Christ or Gautama the Buddha.
But i am a Christ and a Buddha in my own unique way.
So is everybody else
I recently came across a term lately that applies to me and maybe others as well. It is "post-Christian." Having been raised in a liberal Christian Protestant denomination, I definitely share Christian values and culture, and I continue to be a follower of Christ's teachings among all the great spiritual teachers. In these respects, I am "Christian." However, I no longer subscribe to Christian church doctrine, which I believe is understood by most people as part of the label "Christian." That is why I like the new label.
I always wonder, when people say "I follow the teachings of Christ", does that mean:
1 - the teachings of the man Jesus, or
2 - the teachings of the way to the Christ within me?
****
I observed and noted the other day (at his Messenger Circle blog) that Neale wrote that we are heading into the Christmas Season.
Instead of saying the Holiday Season.
Dear All,
Rather than put a label on ourselves as: Christian, Jew, Moslem, Buddhist, etc. .
Instead make a commitment to BE:
CHRIST-like
GOD-like
BUDDHA-like
MOHAMMED-like.
We are all spirtual beings. We are all a piece of GOD.
Valentine
In continuing Valentine's train of thought...
I look at my body as a vehicle for who I am (personality, soul, spirit, conscience), and that who I am will continue to exist after this vehicle stops functioning. To borrow a line from "What The Bleep Do We Know", we are spiritual beings having a human experience.
In my heart of hearts, I'm convinced that what Christ did in being obedient unto death was the most important event in the history of this planet, as without Christ being obedient to His Father's will, nobody anywhere would have a "snowball's chance in hell" of being spiritually alive.
However, Christ told many that not himself, but God, the Father, is the One to be worshipped and believed in. Even after proclaiming Himself as The Way, The Truth, and the Life, Christ stated the main spiritual goal that we all should have, to go to The Father. By Christ's obedience unto death, He had every right to proclaim Himself as He did in John 14:6.
Rebecca
"A God in every direction is the same as no God at all.
And a religion that claims to encompass all paths, is no religion at all."
Wow, is this your belief? Interesting. For me, God is ONE, the sum of everything which truly can not be separated. And everything, yes everything is equal...that is the beauty of it. And to me, no religion at all is not a void, it is truth.
Suzy
Okay Neale,
you`ve done me in!
Officially be noted that I have finially found the human terminology for my religion:
" ChrismuslijewdHindudibuddiMormonishintodJacquelinian "
Thank you so much for your help in verbalising it.
You really deserve a big hug!
Nannerghost
most of neale's story i consider it a big impact to the religious community. i was raised also in a christian catholic faith and i've been exposed to so many different faiths as i live where various religion present. when i obeserved them carefully, i finally find the way of truth that is faith in Jesus Christ. neale's also right, instead of thinking which religion is right before God, why not we become:-
christ-like etc...
but when u make comparison with all this stuffs, christ has the greates love of all mankind because he died for us...we have the relationship with God in Jesus. i am convinced in this for i have witness how God call me to His anynomous vocation yet i hear His voice everday through the deepest soul in my heart...
begin now, ask God to show u the way and reveal the truth to u..I am the way to truth and life. it is the word "i am"...it is through u, Yourself because you are His beloved Child...
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