Where Christianity, Other Religions, Metaphysics, and the Law of Attraction Meet. There is but one creative source, and the source has given mystical revelation throughout the millennia. My goal is to point the recovering Christian toward eclectic and syncretistic spirituality and a panpsychist view of reality.
This is the next video in a series of God Beyond Religion that I plan to release over the next year or so. In this one I begin to speak about my presuppositions and the conclusions I have reached and the process that got me there. I would love to have you subscribe, like and click the bell to get updates. I also would appreciate comments.
GBE session2 God Beyond Religion, Eclectic Spirituality - YouTube
Here is the first of what I hope to be many vlogs on the topic of eclectic and syncretistic spirituality examining God beyond religion. As I get more comfortable with video, I may make these live broadcasts as well. Here is the first of many.
God Beyond Religion: Eclectic Spiritualty - YouTube
Dan 12:4 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."
I am not suggesting that this passage of Daniel was written
as prophecy for today, but in view of fractals, and repetitive fulfillment of
prophecy it certainly can be applied to today. One of the earmarks of the Age
of Aquarius is the advancement of technology. The last four decades have been
defined by a quantum leap in technology. Beginning with the personal computer,
the development of the world wide web, and social media people can literally
run to and fro without leaving their office chair or a recliner in their own
home, and likewise it has caused knowledge to increase, and more than that, be
at the fingertips of the masses.
Further, people can gain the knowledge that once was only
available through the most prestigious universities without attending a class
or receiving a degree. I am certain that this played a strategic role in my
deconstruction and reconstruction. I am equally as certain that it played a key
role in the deconstruction and reconstruction of everyone that has
deconstructed and reconstructed.
The internet and social media have allowed our world to
expand at a pace never before experienced. Many voices can now be heard that
would not have otherwise been heard because of this advancement in technology.
In many ways it is unfathomable what will continue to develop from this
advancement in technology. Through the internet and platforms such as zoom people
can meet, teach, and exchange ideas without the limitation of location.
One can research ideas, read, and order books, present ideas
through blogs, vlogs, and podcasts and gather with others across the entire
planet. This will only continue to add to the numbers of people that are
deconstructing their current beliefs and reconstructing a radical new set of
beliefs. It will also help people to amalgamate and synthesize their beliefs.
If one does not like to read or finds reading difficult… no problem, there are
apps that will read the material, and there is a plethora of YouTube videos
that will inform without needing to read anything.
Prior to the technological advancements of this last half
century, most people were confined to regional and local environments and
social structures. It is little wonder that local norms and beliefs had such a
strong hold on a person throughout their life. Most people were unable to think
past the input of their family, teachers, and pastors. It is little wonder that
so many were held captive to ideas that were not really beneficial beyond
locality and were in reality toxic to the psychological health of people.
Think of the way in which it is now possible to synthesize
and syncretize spiritual beliefs and practices. All of the mystical revelation
from across millennia are now available. It is easy to pick and choose ideas
and beliefs that resonate with ones being and reject those ideas and beliefs
that do not resonate. It seems like the technology of the age of Aquarius creates
fertile ground for eclectic and syncretistic spirituality and spiritual
practices. As we begin to understand who we are as conscious agents in a world
that is created by consciousness, we will be able to find more and more common
ground of beliefs for more and more of the population of the planet. Instead of
being tribal our new tribe will be global.
In this way we will be able to incorporate all of the
ancient mystical wisdom of eastern, western civilization and will be able to
embrace the wisdom from the indigenous people of the Americas. Through our spiritual
and mystical discernment we will be able to incorporate the beliefs and ideas
that resonate with the spiritual nature of the universe, and thereby reconstruct
a spirituality that is global, syncretistic, and genuinely eclectic.
Do you sense that you are more than your physical self? Does it seem that your consciousness is outside of you as well as within you? Are you sensitive to feelings that inform you of people and situations without actual firsthand knowledge? Do you feel that you can communicate telepathically with your pets or other people? Can you sense when someone is staring at you from your back? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you are participating in the unified field of divine consciousness. The fact is that on an unconscious level we all do. It is the realm of dreams and visions, and it is the creative source of the universe.
So, what do I mean by the unified field of divine
consciousness? In order to answer that one needs to look at a narrative that
developed over time, from at least 5,000 years ago in Egypt and Sumer to cognitive
studies in universities across the planet today. It is being investigated by
quantum physicists and theorized by psychologists and philosophers. And I believe
that it should be of interest to anyone who is seeking and experiencing
spiritual enlightenment.
Over the millennia it has been called by various names. It
has been called the Logos, the Tao, God, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Father, Son,
Holy Spirit, and Atum. Recently it has been called the Divine Matrix by Gregg
Braden in his book of the same title. It is suggested by quantum mechanics,
quantum entanglement, and by the discovery of the Higgs Boson. Likewise, it is proposed
by the fields of morphic resonance of Rupert Sheldrake, and the theories of
Carl Jung. The ancient Greek Meta physicists called it the ether. Whatever it
is called it is logically only one thing and most important of all, its
existence resonates with my consciousness.
Like the wind, it is an unseen force that is only visible by
its effects on material reality. It is a gnosis that lies deep within the human
soul, and yet it is elusive and mysterious. It is the fact that it has been
thought about, written about, spoken about by a preponderance of humanity over
millennia that points to its existence. While it does not have to be
acknowledged as any one of the many ideas about the creative source, it must be
given consideration by the sheer ubiquity of the concept of something beyond
the material that is greater than and the source of material existence.
Gregg Braden in his book “The Divine Matrix” puts it this
way: “As far-fetched as this idea may sound to many people, it is precisely
at the crux of some of the greatest controversies among some of the most
brilliant minds in recent history. In a quote from his autobiographical notes,
for example, Albert Einstein shared his belief that we’re essentially passive
observers living in a universe already in place, one in which we seem to have
little influence: “Out yonder there was this huge world,” he said, “which
exists independently of us human beings and which stands before us like a
great, eternal riddle, at least partially accessible to our inspection and
thinking.”
“In contrast to Einstein’s perspective, which is still
widely held by many scientists today, John Wheeler, a Princeton physicist and
colleague of Einstein, offers a radically different view of our role in
creation. In terms that are bold, clear, and graphic, Wheeler says, “We had
this old idea, that there was a universe out there, [author’s emphasis] and
here is man, the observer, safely protected from the universe by a six-inch
slab of plate glass.” Referring to the late-20th-century experiments that show
us how simply looking at something changes that something, Wheeler continues,
“Now we learn from the quantum world that even to observe so minuscule an
object as an electron we have to shatter that plate glass: we have to reach in
there… . So the old word observer simply has to be crossed off the books, and
we must put in the new word participator.” The Divine Matrix, Gregg Braden,
Introduction, page x.
He goes on to make solid case that science, metaphysics, and
religions all point toward a divine field of conscious creation, and since that
resonates with me, I accept it, and I will encourage others to embrace that
which resonates with them.
According to the quantum physicist John Hagelin it is likely
that the unified quantum field is consciousness. In the interest of full
disclosure, John is also very invested in yoga and eastern Vedic thought. Yet,
I too, on an intuitive level believe that the unified field is consciousness. I
am not alone in this idea. According to Donald Hoffman, a cognitive scientist
at Stanford University, the universe is consciousness. Rupert Sheldrake with
his biological fields of morphic resonance believes that the universe is basically
mental, and Bernardo Kastrup, a Jungian Philosopher believes that the universe
is mental. As I point out before and frequently, all of the ancient religious
traditions suggest that the universe is a mental construct. The Logos is
mental, the Tao is mental, and both the Hindu and subsequent Buddhists
traditions believe the universe is a mental construct. I am comfortable
accepting this as a given fact but am also aware that others may have differing
opinions. However, this is meant for those who also believe that the universe
is consciousness at its most basic level.
It occurred to me recently while meditating that perhaps a
good metaphor for the unified field and our relation to it could be an iceberg
floating in an ocean underneath a sky. The ocean and sky are the unified field
of consciousness, the divine matrix, and the iceberg is a metaphor for us as
individual conscious agents participating at all levels. In reality the ocean,
the sky and the iceberg are merely different states of conscious energy.
Individual Consciousness
The level that we operate in mostly is the largest portion
of the iceberg that is above the water line. This level is individual consciousness.
It is all that we experience on a day-to-day level that we are aware of. It is
our interaction with the material world and our relationship with other
conscious agents including our pets. For some, it may be wider than that, but I
will leave that for another discussion. It should be noted that our
consciousness is just a small fraction of the iceberg,
Individual Unconsciousness
Right below the surface of the water is individual
unconsciousness. It is the location of what Jung called the shadow self and is
made up of all the experiences that we have chosen to forget and ignore. Some
of them are simply not that important, but some are emotionally significant but
often painful. This shadow consciousness can be the source of all kinds of
emotional blocks. It is the source of unexplained anger and fear. This is an
area that we need to attend too. It can be done by mindful meditation where we
simply ask what areas blockages are. If we are silent, they will emerge, and we
then need to sit with them in a non-judgmental way, and if they are traumatic,
we need to offer love to ourselves in this area. It is suggested that, when
possible, one should seek the assistance of a trained mental health
professional to help with this process. If not possible one should use caution
and have patience and lots of self-love.
Collective Consciousness
Right below that is the collective consciousness. This has
been called the Akashic Records or the Akashic Fields. From here stems all the
creativity and knowledge available to all. This is the area that has from time
to time been referred to as the muses. It is the source of the information used
in our art works, inventions, and developments in knowledge. It should be noted
here that all are participants in one way or another, whether consciously or
unconsciously in all of the levels of consciousness.
Collective Unconscious
This is the level where the collective memory is stored. It
is the source of the fields of morphic resonance that Sheldrake referred to. It
is the source of the underpinnings of society and growth that Jung wrote and
taught about. It is the source of similar ideas happening in various cultures
that had little or no interaction.
Pure Consciousness
Pure consciousness is the unified field in its totality.
That would be the entire photo of the ocean, sky, and iceberg, but in reality,
there are billions of icebergs and perhaps more than we can count. This is the
creative aspect of the universe. This is composed of light that is seen and
light that cannot be seen. It is composed of matter that can be seen and dark
matter. It is composed of light energy that is seen and also dark energy that
is not seen. It is the Logos, the Tao, God, the Source, Brahman, Atman, Atum,
and any other named god that is but one single god. It is the source of Christ Consciousness.
We participate in this as well and it is called our divine nature, our higher
selves. It is the source of mental alchemy. It is the place where Jesus was
able to walk on water, walk through walls, turn water into wine, and raise the
dead. It is what Paul called heavenly places. YES! It is available to all of
us!
Super Consciousness
Finally, at the very top of the iceberg is super
consciousness. It is available to each of us as we do the inner work, as we
meditate on the nature of the divine field of consciousness. It is the source
of our ability to do mental alchemy and take advantage of the law of
attraction. LET ME REITERATE! IT IS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, AND EVEN IF UNCONSCIOUSLY,
WE ALL PARTICIPATE IN IT DAILY. We are there in our waking hours and in our
sleep. We are always in heavenly places. Perhaps the goal should be to become
more and more aware of it!
Have you ever heard someone say karma is a bitch, when insinuating that a person was getting what was coming to them? I’ve probably had someone say it to me a time or two, but I don’t think I have ever said it back. But, when I think about it, in the presence of evil deeds and justice, karma is by far the best and most logical answer. I know, evangelicals will get their back up at the statement, but really, I don’t care and simply say chill and listen for a change. Karma would make the golden rule make even more sense. If one knew that karma was a reality, then one would likely begin to examine what they do to others in relation to having the same done to them.
I am referring to karma as it is understood in Buddhism.
However, I do not accept some of the more superstitious teachings about Karma
from Buddhism. For example, I do not believe that the Buddhist unpardonable
sins result in instantaneous placement in hell. I do however believe that karma
can play out in this life, but also in subsequent incarnations. I also want to
emphasize that I do not see reincarnation as a punishment. I see reincarnation
as a chosen avenue for growth in knowledge.
So many seem to react negatively to reincarnation and karma.
I can understand that if one sees it as merely a punishment that one can eventually escape
to nirvana. However, that’s not the way I see it. My youngest grown son is an
avid video game player. Yes, he is old enough to have a job and does and is
responsible but in his spare time he plays video games online with his friends.
One of his favorite games is Call of Duty. This is a military game where people
die regularly and are instantaneously reincarnated. In Call of Duty death is
not final. It is merely the end of a phase of the game. If the universe is first
and foremost consciousness, if we are active creative agents within that
consciousness, and if our self, the I AM in all of us is eternal, then for us,
death is nothing more but the end of a phase or stage of the game of material
and corporeal existence.
In my view, karma and reincarnation are merely pre-agreed
upon rules of the game. This does not cheapen the life experience. The life
experience is precious and valuable to each of us. Making the most of it,
learning the most from it, growing the most toward enlightenment is the goal. It
is obvious that this is the case from mere observation of the development human
culture. Likewise, it is obvious from viewing the natural world around us. All
things are growing toward a more complicated and efficient expression.
So, why was it rejected out of hand by Christian Orthodoxy?
There are claims that it was accepted by Origen and others late in the second
century and early in the third century. Orthodoxy and the Roman Catholic Church
vehemently deny that it was ever accepted, but the truth is that it was
definitely accepted and taught by certain of the Gnostic groups. Furthermore,
according to Josephus it was widely believed by the Jews of the first century
and subsequent centuries after. It was also believed by Philo a contemporary of
Jesus of Nazareth. You can find a wealth of arguments against reincarnation and
karma in the orthodox writings of the church, but the fact remains that it
could have been taught by Jesus and Paul. I am not trying to prove that it was,
I am simply stating that if it was it would have made far more sense than orthodoxy’s
and evangelical orthodoxy’s idea of heaven and hell. Further, it makes more
sense than the idea of purgatory because the acts that require justice were
done in the material and corporeal plane, and therefore having the circumstances
that bring about restorative justice happen in the material and corporeal plane
seem logical.
Finally, the Hermetica makes a lot of sense when it is
stated that as above so below and as below so above, meaning that the material,
corporeal world is a mirror of the matrix of conscious creative energy. Cycles
are everywhere in the material world, and it would make sense that the eternal
spiritual world is cyclic as well. If one objects to being forced to repeat
over and over, they are not viewing it as I believe it likely is. We each have
an active choice and say in reincarnation. At any rate, it would facilitate
restorative justice effectively.
I see the Word/Logos and “the Christ” as synonymous. When I speak of “the Christ” I am not equating that with Jesus of Nazareth, yet I believe that Jesus of Nazareth was a human incarnation of both. However, while Jesus was the incarnation of the Logos and the Christ, I believe that he taught that all of humanity is as well. He was simply more advanced in his understanding of it and was chosen to be so to annunciate it as fact. When I speak of “the Christ” I mean something more than the Jewish Messiah. I see the Logos and “the Christ” as God Consciousness which are a combination of spirit and energy.
I likewise believe that “the Logos” and “the Christ” are the
source of all mystical revelation of many varied traditions across many
millennia. This is evidenced by ancient Egyptian spirituality in Thoth, the
Hermetica that was taken to Greece, the Tao Te Ching, and the mystical
revelation of Christianity given through Jesus and Paul. I limit it to the four
because those are the belief systems that I am most familiar with. I
intuitively believe that the concepts of “the Logos” and “The Christ” are also
foundational in other mystical traditions but cannot definitively say one way
or the other.
Further, I believe that “the Logos” and “the Christ” are the
prime foundational substance of corporeal and material reality. I believe that
cognitive science, quantum mechanics, and the biological fields of morphic
resonance are indicative of this fact. This causes me to believe that the material
world is a mental construct of the Logos and the Christ. I see the logical and
sensible understanding provided by the Hermetica. Yet, it is merely one way of
communicating the underlying reality of the material. The Tao Te Ching uses
different language to communicate essentially the same message.
Greek philosophy culminating in Philo of Alexandria, brought
the concepts into Christianity. While Philo was not Christian, his ideas and
the mystical philosophical revelation he received were instrumental in the
development of Christian thinking. For me, the importance of Christianity is
focused on the teachings of Jesus about love, the concept of the Logos and the
Christ, the connection between heavenly places and the unified field of consciousness,
and the new humanity that will result from awakening to Christ Consciousness
and the Cosmic Christ. These are the important offerings that Christian
Mysticism has for the world in general. Not in the exclusive orthodox way but
in a universal expression of Christ awareness.
I assume that the Hermetic concept of correspondence is
accurate. It simply states that as above so below and as below so above meaning
that the conscious creative realm can be best understood by observing the behavior
of the material and corporeal world. This would mean that since cycles are
everywhere in material reality, the spiritual realm also has cycles, and this
would suggest that reincarnation is a reality. But, just as humans are
autonomous and have the ability to choose in the corporeal plane, so can the
spiritual underlying aspect of the person, the soul for lack of a better
understood description has choices in the spiritual realm. Also, assuming that
the cycle can result in a spiral in corporeal reality, the same is true in the
advancement of conscious awakening.
I think that each of us are conscious agents of the one
supreme divine, and as such are fully human and fully divine. That is what
distinguishes us as being connected to Christ Consciousness. For reasons that
we choose in realm of the divine. I also believe that it is folly to try to
ascend above the human and just be divine, and likewise, it is unwise to just
focus on the human aspect, and that the ideal is an integration of the two.
This is the best way to achieve self-actualization. It is by embracing the divinity
in all humanity that one can truly begin to love the other as they love
themselves. I believe that this was the essence of Jesus teaching. We should celebrate
our humanity and our divinity equally.
I list these presuppositions because while I may use terms
and language that are familiar, the meaning varies greatly from the norm.
There is a simple test that has steadied me over the years whenever questions begin to surface, whenever inherited theological structures st...
