[posted: 14 Dec 2008, 11.51pm]
As a child-race we have naturally looked up to our spiritual source, as do many children with their parents: as being all-powerful, all-knowing and perfect.
When we apply Key Principle 1 (the Community-as Principle) we are invited to let go the immature perception that God is some disconnected, separate and superior Father-figure that sits "up there" in judgement of us.
The KPLL No. 1 (aka The God-as Principle), being infinitely inclusive, affirms that all apparent disconnections (exceptions, divisions, separations and independent entities, physical or spiritual) are, in deeper terms, interconnected in oneness.
The "God-as Principle" affirms that we are God-as-Us. We are each God’s spokesperson. Accordingly, no one can stand apart and say that they are more His spokesperson than anyone else.
The God-as Principle affirms that we are each His voice expressed through the lives we lead. We are each, in a sense, speaking words of God every time we speak.
The God-as Principle does not negate the wisdom that is variously contained within religious texts such as the Bible or the Koran. The God-as Principle affirms the core wisdoms of all the major religions (see above).
The God-as Principle also affirms that there are no inherent spiritual hierarchies. We each have the freedom to tap and utilise whatever potentials exist. Hence Jesus’ assertion that if we desire a mountain to move, if we have faith as a grain of mustard seed, it will move. Such are the potentials available within each of us. However, implicit in such statements is the need to gain the cooperation of the collective, community or gestalt that we seek to move.
For example, if we are at a rock concert, and we find ourselves being pushed in an unwanted manner or direction by the crush of the crowd, we need to gain the cooperation of the crowd to change direction, or to avert the pushing. The ‘cooperation’ can of course be gained by force or fear (e.g. by firing a gun), but invariably, the cooperation, by whatever means, is required.
The same occurs for any part within a collective – there is always the need to gain cooperation of the collective or community if we seek to have some influence upon ‘it’.
As Princeton University PEAR laboratory's press release explains,:
The research confirms that even though these mind-matter interactions remain relatively 'small', they are nonetheless measurably real.
In regards to 'moving mountains' through mind, or performing extraordinary feats with one’s body, such as ‘walking on water,’ the key element is a deep emotional connection, or a ‘mindful coherence’ with said mountain, body and environment. Clearly, most, if not all, within current human civilisation have yet to evolve and develop the emotional depth, empathy and power to gain such cooperation. Hence the seemingly impossible feats of Jesus appearing magical or God-like.
While we may believe everyday electronic, mechanic devices, or inanimate objects are merely inert ‘things’, the objectification of such ‘things’ is necessarily (as required by KPLL’s 1-3) a result of our limited, immature emotional capacity and development.
Well, so can we talk to God?
In view of the above concepts, the short answer to that question is a resounding "no", and "yes" ... we can talk to "gestalts" of awareness (spiritual entities), but we cannot talk to God independently of also talking to all those within God. And since all (including all people, and all of life) must be within God (for reasons explained here), and since those who purport to have spoken with God have not spoken to all in creation, we can definitively conclude they have not spoken to "God" anymore than babbling babes, and drunken dolts have.
We can (in view of the above concepts) definitively conclude that any and all religious texts including the Bible, are not THE word of God, anymore or any less than the words on this website, or any other, are THE word of God.
When a holodynamic-systems view is gained, we can appreciate the wisdom of the Christian Bishop, John Shelby Spong:
The Bible is a profoundly human, deeply flawed, tribal history that has created as much pain as blessing in our world.1
The reason many people take great comfort in the Bible and other religious texts is for the same reason children take comfort in having a wise, capable parent ("father") who provides security, food, shelter and certainty for them.
Religious texts offer "rest-stops in the sky".
See also
- 1. John Shelby Spong, "The Word of God", online article from John Shelby Spong website
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