We know that physicists are searching to find a theory of everything that can take into account quantum mechanics and the general theory of relativity. They want a theory that explains the quantum world and space time. I think that we have entered a new spiritual age where we need a theological theory of everything. We need a theology that is inclusive, and will honor all the mystical revelation of all religions across the centuries. It should be a theological theory that would make it possible for most religions to accept each other, and admit that over the course of human history the Spirit of God has given mystical revelation to many different spiritual seers, and from many different religious traditions. It is important to realize that this mystical revelation was not given to just one tribe of people. It was given to benefit all tribes.
The tribe that I was born into as a child, and participated in as an adult is the tribe of Christ followers. I hesitate to use the term Christian as I believe that it has a problematic connotation these days. However, the fact remains that I was raised Christian and now will quite likely die Christian. That does not mean that I embrace all of the dogma attached with Christianity. The fact is I do not. I was taught from childhood that one can have a personal relationship with Jesus, and I have just that. Jesus is real to me and is not just an imaginary friend. He continually speaks to me by his Spirit. We have actual conversations almost daily and for sure weekly. These happen within my mind but, I can clearly tell who is who, and there is no doubt that it is Jesus. I want to be specific. It is Jesus of Nazareth, the one written about in the New Testament. It is the one who spoke the words of the Sermon on the Mount, and it is the one who revealed himself to the Apostle Paul. It is Jesus who's Spirit is the Spirit of Christ that indwells humanity.
I want to also make it very clear that Jesus is not as exclusive as Orthodox Christian Dogma would lead one to believe. In fact he is ALL inclusive and that is the mystical message that he revealed to Paul. However, one has to discern the difference between Paul the mystic and Paul the rabbi to really understand how Jesus used Paul to teach an all-inclusive doctrine. Spiral dynamics is a current theory that explains the development of humanity on an upward spiral showing progression toward more and more enlightenment. It is imperative to realize that the bible has progressive revelation. It is also important to realize that the early church shut off progressive revelation by codifying the canon in the late fourth century. This resulted in a stagnation of progressive revelation within Christianity.
It is my belief that each of us chose our path in this life prior to arriving outside the womb. That means that we chose our location, time of birth, parents, and all of our social and natural circumstantial environment . The choice is made with a specific purpose in mind. It can be that a lesson to learn or an accomplishment to fulfill or quite likely both. This means that we choose what religious tradition if any we will be a part of. We choose the cultural level of enlightenment we will experience. This is based on our past and especially our past lives. Yes, I believe that reincarnation is a fact of this universe, and of our purpose here.
This can be observed in the material world around us. Everything is cyclical. The water cycle is a great example. Rain is followed by evaporation and ultimately results in rain again. Leaves grow, fall, return to the soil and new leaves replace them. The cycles are many. If one believes as I do that the material universe is created by conscious energy, then it logically follows that this conscious energy would be cyclical as well. Paul hints at it in Galatians. In chapter six, he says, Gal 6:7 "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow." It is reasonable to conclude that he is speaking of God's restorative justice.
As I stated earlier, we choose our life path every time. It does not have to be a recycle of life here. Jesus said that in his Father's house were many rooms, dwelling places. It could be that we chose other dimensions within heavenly places. The possibilities are limitless.
Since I chose to be born into evangelical Christianity, and have since been spiritually led to an inclusive and universal expression of Christianity, then my beginning focus must be Christianity, and if Christianity, it must be with a significant connection with Jesus of Nazareth. While some may believe that they need to separate themselves from Jesus, I on the other hand see Jesus as an integral part of my spirituality. Therefore it is incumbent on me to articulate what I see as Jesus teaching and the role that he plays in my spirituality.
What do I see as Jesus essential teachings? First and foremost he introduced God as a loving father. He went on to teach that love was the most important attribute that a human can have. According to John, Jesus taught them that God is/was love. It was such an important concept that John stated it twice in his short first epistle, (1John 4:8&16.) This then is my premise. The teaching of Jesus begins with God is love. In the Greek original text it would read that God is agape'. Agape' is the highest form of love, it is selfless love and it is the love that Jesus taught.
The second essential teaching is found in Paul's definition of love and spiritual fruit. Love is defined in 1Co 13:4-8 CSB "Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, (5) is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. (6) Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. (7) It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (8) Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end." So then, when Jesus says that all will know that one is his disciple by the love they have for one another, it provides a specific detailed explanation of what Jesus meant. Paul went on to define the fruit or action that would stem from the Spirit of God. It was love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness.
If John was right, and if God is love, then it follows that the definition of love is the definition of God. Further, if the above is the definition of God is true then Yahweh is not a good representation of God. Much of the genocide found in the Old Testament does not fit with the idea that God is love, and it definitely does not model the idea that God keeps no record of wrongs. This requires spiritual discernment about what is divine revelation and what is cultural. I will explain this a little farther on in this post.
You may say to me. You have mentioned Christianity, the Christian view of God so how is this the Theological Theory of Everything? That is a fair and important question. I wrote earlier that one should leave the dance with the one that brought them. This is a metaphor for the idea that we all chose our life-path and in so doing set the conditions for our sojourn here on planet earth. Since I readily admit that I was born a Christian and chose that as my life path then it is incumbent on me to see the universal aspect of my faith in Jesus. In that I should not be exclusive of all other religious traditions. In fact, I can gain much by embracing some of their tenets and beliefs.
How should I choose which ones? Another great question. The standard, the measure should be found in Paul's definition of love in 1 Corinthians thirteen, and the fruit of the spirit found in Galatians five. Anything that fits with all of those defining characteristics is from the creative source of the universe. All that are not should be relegated to cultural human input. To give an example, that is not all inclusive but rather a sample of what I mean, I will quote the Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu. This shows that the Tao is similar to the Logos.
"The Tao that can be understood is not the eternal, cosmic Tao, just as an idea that can be expressed in words is not the infinite idea. And yet this ineffable Tao is the source of all spirit and matter; expressing itself, it is the mother of all created things. Not to desire material things is to know the freedom of spirituality; and to desire them is to suffer the limitations of matter. Yet these two things, matter and spirit, so different in nature, have the same origin. This unity is the mystery of mysteries, and the gateway to spirituality." ~Lao Tzu. Tao Te Ching . Ancient Renewal. Kindle Edition.
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