The only way Christianity as a religion can redeem itself from the swamp into which it has fallen is for Christians to turn away from the dogma of Christianity, to stop following Christ, and to become Christs, to put on the mind of Christ. Embodying the consciousness of Christ is an ongoing process requiring total surrender, openness, and vulnerability. This means discarding all previous thought of what it means to be a Christian. The ego cannot do it but the experiencer of the ego can. Two states of being are required: humility and attentiveness. This is not easy. It is easier to lollygag along, to do "good works," and to insist that others live up to your standards of moral virtue -- the path of death.
A post like this will rouse the ire of all who wish to slam Christianity (and all religion). I have no interest in that -- too easy and leads nowhere except righteous indignation, a trap itself. My interest here is in the redemption of Christianity.
ReplyDeleteI do not know if my comment will meet your expectations of no bashing or not. Can we agree there is a swamp? With a spirit of openness, and vulnerability, I'll simply report that just yesterday I began researching the mechanism for formally withdrawing from the Catholic Church. I know this is not what you mean, and it may also indicate the power I allow an earthly organization to continue to have, but formally renouncing the organization while continuing to understand Christ is important to me. There used to be a formal means of declaring one’s “defection” from the Church built into canonical law. Recently, all reference to that means has been removed from the canon. The Church now says you cannot formally leave; vote with your feet if you want, but we’ll always count you as one of ours. Something about needing to have laws that govern the organization seems antithetical and may have served as the early basis for what became the swamp. Yes, this is too easy. Breathing is easy too, but necessary. It’s the living that’s hard.
DeleteBlessings to you Anonymous 6:48 a.m. Yes, that's the swamp alright. I had no problem with that part of the swamp since I was already a Protest-ant (which has its own swampiness).
ReplyDeleteIts what we do, or try to, rise from the swamps. I receive your blessings, and return them, stronger and energized.
Deletein the begining there was the truth and the truth became flesh and the flesh died for the worlds sins and the flesh rose from the dead as an example of the promise of the truth those who believe in the truth will never know death for those who have died in the truth are asleep in the truth and wait to rise in the truth from the flesh to the death to the sprit this is the promise of the truth
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