Summa 21
The Natural Theology
of a 21st Century Christian
Let us unite our
perception of the physical
with our experience of the spiritual
Ronald R. Cooke
Copyright
Copyright 2015 and 2022 by Ronald R. Cooke
Auburn, California
All rights reserved
The Natural Theology of a 21st Century Christian is a philosophical
and theological work. It is intended for the personal use of the reader, and
may be copied in whole or part for the reader’s personal use, provided no
changes are made to the content. Parts of this book may be used by the reader
in verbal presentations including sermons and lectures, and as reference
material for the reader’s written documents. Please observe the author’s rights
under United Sates of America copyright law and provide suitable attribution if
the content is used or referenced.
This text and the analysis of the information herein has been sourced from
publically available historical, scientific, theological, and media
publications.
Published by Ronald R. Cooke
Auburn, CA.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Fundamentals for a 21st Century Christian
Somewhere – Far Away in the Cosmos
Multiple Universes and Dimensions
Chapter 2. Consciousness and Connection
Characteristics of Consciousness
Chapter 3. About Our Bipolar Reality and Infinite Possibilities
Reality is a Unity in a Bipolar Cosmos
The Principle of Infinite Possibilities
Chapter 4. Creation: What Really Happened?
The Black Hole Creation Hypothesis
Chapter 5. Rethinking Evolution
The Mechanistic View of Evolution
The Mechanistic View is Incomplete
Consciousness as a Creative Force
Traditional Christian Beliefs about God
The Holy Spirit in Christian Tradition
Can We Connect With a Personal God?
Chapter 7. When We Pass From This Life...
Conventional Visions of Heaven and Hell
The Principle of Transformation
Is Jesus the Christian Messiah?
Chapter 9. The Christian Bible
Chapter 10. 21st Century Christian Values
Chapter 12. Where Do We Go From Here?
Appendix 1 Christian Statements of Faith
The Relationship of Jesus and God
Are The Creeds Still Relevant?
Sam Taught Me about God’s Love
Stephen Hawking on Black Holes
About the Decline of Traditional Belief
What Do Americans Believe About The Bible?
Preface
Is Christianity in decline?
Yes, I know; dedicated Christians will be with us forever, Christianity still has a strong following in many nations, and the number of people who identify themselves as Christians is projected to increase. But deteriorating European and American statistics prove a different point: Faith in the Divine has seen better days. Church attendance and belief surveys, along with a growing disaffection for Christianity among people under 50, tell us Christian theological influence is fading in the United States and Europe. Hundreds of Christian churches have already been closed. Hundreds more have an uncertain future.
In America, the moral influence that held together a virtuous, civil, and faithful social structure has fragmented. It has been challenged by an immoral secular pop-culture theology that despises Christianity and mocks Jesus Christ. Trust has eroded. Lies are expected. Moral perceptions are frequently superficial, often hypocritical, and likely to be driven by a political agenda. Anti-Christian socialism drives contemporary thinking in most of our schools, colleges and universities. Traditional family values are mocked. Abortion is routinely advocated as just another form of birth control.
Church and family statistics show the deterioration of Christian influence is even more pronounced within the European Union where Christianity now competes with both right and left philosophies as well as the growth of a Muslim population.
The problem: Lethargy, indifference, disbelief, and competition from secular theologies. Christian beliefs are frequently viewed as being tired, dogmatic, irrelevant, fallacious, and absurd. Christians are often labeled as racist, sexist, homophobic, or oppressive. Existing cultural attitudes encourage a rejection of Christian doctrine. If existing social trends in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and Western Europe continue to unfold as they have for the last 60 years, then Christian doctrine is unlikely to survive as a significant moral influence within these nations.
The solution: Christian theology must combine God’s spiritual wisdom with 21st century human knowledge. Christianity must experience a theological renaissance and institutional reformation that embraces a credible and consistent doctrine. That does not mean Christianity must accept every conclusion or theory human imagination has created. It does suggest ancient beliefs about our physical universe and the nature of our spiritual existence need to be updated. We need to be open to contemporary expressions of the spiritual and we need to rethink our relationship with the divine.
Christian leaders and believers cannot run away from these challenges by pretending they do not exist. Endless quotations from the Bible fall on mostly deaf ears. The anger of religious zealotry only serves to increase the derision and disdain of those who believe it is politically correct to despise Christianity. We need to deal with reality. If Christians wish to increase the positive and constructive influence of Christian theology, then it must – with some discretion - assimilate 21st century knowledge.
Thus my motivation for writing this text: I firmly believe Christian theology – which started with the words of Jesus Christ – is worth saving. His message provides a solid moral and spiritual foundation for humanity: just as God intended.
Ron
Introduction
As a little boy (age 6 or so) God was my ever present companion and friend. The
following verse from one of my favorite hymns expresses it best:
This is my Father's world:
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is the God of my childhood. Simple beliefs, held with a high degree of confidence. Fond memories of standing in the pew beside my sister on Easter Sunday, bathed in the warm sunlight of a nearby window, singing with all the gusto and joy my small thin frame could command.
Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
It is therefore with some trepidation, great sadness, and genuine humility I tackle this effort. The following text is not perfect. Think of it as a starting point for thoughtful discussion.
Those who read this book will tend to fall into one of two groups: supporters and doubters.
· Supporters will share my conviction there is a logical and natural basis for believing in God and the message of Jesus Christ. With confidence and great joy we go forth. God’s message, and his omniscient presence, resonates with our very being. If we love one another and if we work together, we can increase the reach of Christian theology.
· Doubters will scoff at the science, the assumptions and the conclusions. They may be right. The following text is certainly disruptive. It challenges traditional cosmology and conviction. Many will find fault. Vociferous rejection is certain. But to the scientist and the atheist I pose a simple question: If we only see ourselves as living in a single physical universe, are we are limiting our knowledge? And to those who cling to ancient Christian beliefs, I ask an equally simple question: if God wants to speak to us, are you willing to listen?
What follows in this text is system of theology that attempts to bridge the gap between Christian doctrine and human knowledge. During this century, contemporary theology and science will recognize we live in a Cosmos that is both physical and spiritual in nature because – as shown in the following text - that conclusion is perfectly logical.
Reason and Faith
are Compatible.
Let us unite our perception of the physical
with our experience of the spiritual.
Both were created by God.
Ron
Author’s Notes
Gender
Within the following text I have used the masculine gender when referring to God, or the Holy Spirit, I am forced to do so because, unfortunately, there is no neuter gender in the English language. Thus in a few instances, the masculine gender has been used when the neuter gender may have been more appropriate.
How to read this text
The logical format of the following text is meant to be read from beginning to end, in the sequence indexed. Please resist the temptation to jump around or you will lose the continuity of the logical presentation.
Am I Your Son
Written as a novel, but in the format of a gospel, “Am I Your Son” follows the entire life of Jesus Christ from conception to resurrection. The story tells about the life, theology and philosophy of Christ through the lens of 21st century research, analysis and interpretation. “Am I Your Son” can be viewed as a companion text for Summa 21.
Ron
To Cynthia
My friend and companion
The best marriages are made in heaven.
Chapter 1. Fundamentals for a 21st Century Christian
If God wants to speak to us,
we should listen
Somewhere – Far Away in the Cosmos
We like to think we know all about our Cosmos.
But we don’t.
Somewhere, far away in the Cosmos, there is a kingdom of happy people who live in a two dimensional universe. We’ll call it the Kingdom of Flat, because it only has two dimensions. The people of Flat can see right or left, and backward or forward. But they cannot see up or down. To them, everything in their universe has two dimensions. All their science, all their intellectual achievement, and all their accumulated knowledge is based on what they can see, hear, smell, touch, and taste in a two dimensional universe.
Now the people of Flat have developed a very sophisticated understanding of their two dimensional universe. Their scientists have probed the very small with powerful microscopes. They have discovered atom and electrons, quarks and neutrinos. They understand the physical characteristics of energy and matter. The people of Flat have developed theories about the origination of the universe, and the evolution of plants and animals. Their scientists have studied the geology, biology, chemistry, and physics of Flat. They have created complex mathematical models of everything they can observe in their two dimensional physical universe.
With all this technology and intellectual achievement, the people of Flat believe they know all there is to know about their physical universe. But they are in for a surprise. One day an event occurs which even their most intellectually advanced scientists cannot explain. A huge round footprint appears in the desert sands. No one knows where it came from, or who or what made it. The people of Flat are truly alarmed. Something has happened which they are unable to understand. Although they develop several clever theories, they are at a loss to explain this round footprint in the sand. Is this the evidence of some new, fundamental force in Flat’s universe? How can the physics of Flat be reconciled with the physical forces that made this footprint? And does this mean the Cosmos actually runs by a set of rules the scientists of Flat really do not understand?
***
Somewhere, far away in the Cosmos, there is a kingdom of happy people who live in a three dimensional universe. We’ll call it the Kingdom of Round, because it has three dimensions. The people of Round can see right or left, backward or forward, and up or down. To them, everything in their universe has three dimensions. All their science, all their intellectual achievement, and all their accumulated knowledge is based on what they can see, hear, smell, touch, and taste in a three dimensional universe.
The people of Round have developed a very sophisticated understanding of their three dimensional universe. The scientists of Round have probed the physics of the very small with powerful microscopes. They have discovered atoms, electrons, quarks and neutrinos. The cosmologists of Round have probed the physics of the very large. They have developed theories about the origination of the universe where they see planets, stars, galaxies, nova, black holes, and all kinds of wonders. The scientists of Round believe they understand the evolution of plants and animals, as well as the physical characteristics of energy and matter. They have studied the geology, biology, chemistry, and physics of Round. Complex mathematical models have been developed to explain everything they can observe in their three dimensional physical universe.
With all this technology and intellectual achievement, the people of Round believe they know all there is to know about their physical universe. But they are in for a surprise. One day an event occurs which even their most intellectually advanced scientists cannot explain. They discover dark matter. After a series of careful observations of their physical universe, the scientists of Round postulate that dark matter occupies ~27% of the Universe. They also make another startling discovery. The scientists of Round identify a new phenomenon they call dark energy. It seems to occupy ~68% of Round’s Universe. To everyone’s amazement, visible matter (the stuff they can actually see or detect) makes up only a very small ~5% of Round’s universe. Something has happened which they are unable to understand. With even the most sophisticated tools of Round Science, it is impossible to detect 95% of the universe! Although they develop several clever theories, they are at a loss to explain either dark matter or dark energy.
But the consternation of Round’s scientists doesn’t end there. They discover the physics of the very small do not follow the same trusted rules the scientists of Round have developed for the physics of the large. In the realm of the very small, energy and matter appear to be interchangeable, appear out of nowhere, and disappear into nowhere. Something comes from the void of nothing and may disappear into the void of nothing. They are unable to measure the properties of this phenomenon because the object exists simultaneously in several states. Is this the evidence of some new, fundamental force in Round’s universe? And since the rules appear to be quite different, how can the physics of the very small be reconciled with the physics of the large? And does this mean the Cosmos actually runs by a set of rules the scientists of Round really do not understand?
***
Somewhere, far away in the Cosmos, there is a kingdom of happy people who live in a four dimensional universe. We’ll call it the Kingdom of Cube, because it has four dimensions. The people of Cube can see right or left, backward or forward, up or down, and ahead or back in time. Four dimensions. To them, everything in their universe has four dimensions. All their science, all their intellectual achievement, and all their accumulated knowledge is based on what they can see, hear, smell, touch, and taste in a four dimensional universe.
The people of Cube have developed a very sophisticated understanding of their four dimensional universe. The scientists of Cube have probed the physics of the very small with powerful microscopes. They have discovered atom and electrons, quarks and neutrinos. They understand the physical characteristics of energy and matter. The cosmologists of Cube have probed the physics of the large. They have developed theories about the origination of the universe where they see planets, stars, galaxies, nova, black holes, and all kinds of wonders.
The people of Cube know all about the origination of the universe, and the evolution of plants and animals. Their scientists have studied the geology, biology, chemistry, and physics of Cube. They have created complex mathematical models of everything they can observe in their four dimensional observation of time and space.
With all this technology and intellectual achievement, the people of Cube believe they know all there is to know about their physical universe. Call it the physics of space-time. Their scientists believe they understand the properties of dark matter and dark energy. They have resolved the relationship that exists between the physics of the very small and the physics of the large. But they are in for a surprise. One day an event occurs which even their most intellectually advanced scientists cannot explain. They discover alternative dimensions. After a series of careful observations of their physical universe, the scientists of Cube postulate there are multiple dimensions in the Cosmos. Each dimension has a different measurement of time and space. Some of these dimensions are physical, and some are ethereal. Is this the evidence of some new, fundamental force in Cube’s universe? And since the rules of each dimension appear to be quite different, how can the physics of Cube’s dimension be reconciled with the physics of the other dimensions? And does this mean the Cosmos actually runs by a set of rules the scientists of Cube really do not understand?
***
Somewhere, far away in the Cosmos, there is a kingdom of happy people who live in a five dimensional universe. We’ll call it the Kingdom of.....
***
And so, what is the lesson of this story?
We cannot be smug about our knowledge. We cannot be arrogant about our scientific achievements. We have only a limited perception of matter, energy, time, and space because our sense of reality is limited by our observations. We humans, like the people of Round, frequently make the mistake of believing we know all there is to know about our universe. But in reality, our scientific curiosity continues to uncover phenomena our most distinguished scientists are at a loss to explain.
For example, we want to believe we live in a single three dimensional Cosmos. But if we want to be intellectually honest, we must ask ourselves a key question:
If we are unable
to observe other dimensions
in our Cosmos;
does that merely demonstrate we do not have the ability
to observe other dimensions?
Consider these points:
Our scientists have discovered some physical phenomena are best explained by the existence of other dimensions. We suspect these dimensions exist, but we do not have the technology to detect, measure and describe them in either physical or not-physical terms.
Our scientists have discovered multiple “Black Holes” in our universe. Matter, energy, and even light disappear down into an abyss of unimaginable size. This raises an interesting question. If there are “Black Holes” in our universe, then do some of them create an opposite effect in an alternative universe that we are unable to experience? Where does all this matter and energy go when it leaves our universe? Is it possible this matter and energy pours out into another universe through a “White Hole” that can be detected, measured and described by intelligent beings that live there? Or does all this energy and matter somehow find its way back into our known universe?
Energy and mass are interchangeable. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. In the physics of the very small, matter and energy are two forms of the same phenomenon that can appear, or disappear, without explanation. We can only “sense” them while they are in our dimension.
A rock cannot create life. A rock cannot create light or time. A rock cannot even create another rock. That means a purely mechanical explanation of the Cosmos is unlikely. On the other hand, consciousness is energy and enables awareness. Energy is the basis of all life and matter. Intelligent consciousness is aware of its creative self and the potential of creation. Intelligent consciousness therefore has both the energy and sensitivity to create space, light, time, life and matter.
It is likely there are multiple dimensions and multiple
universes in the Cosmos. Each one is unique in time and space. But like the
people of Round, our comprehension of the Cosmos is restricted by the limits of
our perception. If we are unable to physically “sense” phenomena that exists
outside our dimension, that merely demonstrates the limits of our human
capability.
If we see
ourselves
as only living in a physical world,
we are limiting our knowledge.
Therefore, be not overconfident when describing matter, energy, time, and space. We have much to learn.
###
Truth and Reality
Truth is
reality... Truth is unpopular.
What is truth? Truth is reality. It is the right answer. It describes how things really work. It is the ultimate understanding of the Cosmos. It is the perfection of knowledge.
But truth is unpopular. There is a natural conflict between truth and the knowledge we have gained from prior experience. We have learned concepts, established convictions, and formed opinions. We like to think our knowledge provides a reliable understanding of reality. We are usually reluctant to change our mind. Old ways of thinking are familiar; easy to handle. New knowledge can be disruptive and uncomfortable. We become stubborn. Even though we may question the truth of prior knowledge, its existence is often preferable to the uncertain credibility of new ideas.
But we must always be open to the possible, and attentive to that which is probable. How many times have we been forced to embrace new knowledge, because we discovered our prior beliefs were in error? It is a natural process by which we use our intelligence to discover and reason. The path to truth – and understanding reality – requires we are willing to discard or modify prior knowledge.
Absolute truth is unknowable. One can only hope to discover that which is highly probable. We have, for example, reasonable explanations for many of the mysteries of our physical universe. Good answers. But they rely on acceptance of theory. And theory is not absolute fact. Theory is belief. Sophisticated and tested theory - is belief in the highly probable. But it is not absolute truth.
Truth may not be evident. It must always be discovered. To do this, we must be willing to pursue the evidence of reality no matter where our investigation may lead. Our inquiry must include the creative powers of imagination, the rigorous testing of a hypothesis, and a willingness to include constructive skepticism in the process that leads to our conclusion. Our search will be tested by the discovery of new information. Alternative scenarios are always possible.
Reality exists. It exists regardless of our perception, awareness, knowledge, or opinion. We can only discover reality through our limited powers of observation. We perceive a conclusion. But perception is an act of observation. Observation is constrained by ignorance and bias. Objective knowledge or scientific discovery is therefore constrained by the inherent weaknesses of human observation. Can you think of a scientific conclusion that has been modified or discarded? Was it because we improved our powers of observation?
If we see ourselves as merely physical beings living in a physical world, we are limiting our knowledge. If we wish to comprehend the entire character of the Cosmos, we must understand its not physical attributes. Consciousness, awareness, transcendence, extrasensory experiences, and the spiritual all exist. They are a form of reality.
If we start an inquiry with the assumption of a conclusion, then no amount of additional study will discover the truth. Arguments and systems of knowledge usually start with multiple assumptions. Present knowledge rests upon prior learning. We may accidentally discover the truth during our inquiry, but most likely our preconceived conclusion will lead us astray. The presumptive process of investigation is unlikely to discover truth; or reality.
The idea that all things we observe are separate one from
the other is an illusion of our perception. We sense energy and matter. But
that which we sense does not exist by itself. It acts and reacts with all other
energy and matter. Although we may not be aware of this action and reaction,
that failure is merely an illustration of our limited ability to sense reality.
The attributes of energy and matter continue to exist, even if they evade our
observation. The physical universe exists in ways we cannot experience… That is
reality. The not-physical universe also exists in ways we cannot experience…. That
too is reality. We should have learned from science that many things exist - even
if our senses are too limited to experience them. And that is the paradox of
truth. Absolute truth is unknowable.
Although we humans
do not have the ability to understand all reality;
it exists.
Physicists have worked long and hard to identify a unified theory that can be used to explain the fundamentals of energy and matter in the universe. Certainly there are many forms of energy, just as there are many forms of matter. When we speak of going to Heaven are we not contemplating the transformation of our energy – our Life Force - from one dimension to another? Science has often denied there is any evidence of this transformation. But to those who doubt we ask a simple question: have you looked? Think about it. Just over 100 years ago our best scientists did not believe atoms existed. But they eventually found them. And then they found protons, electrons, neutrons, neutrinos, quarks and a long list of theoretical bits and pieces to the puzzle that is energy and matter. Now here is a question: Why did they find them?
- Because they looked.
My father used to say: “Seek and ye shall find.” Our best and brightest must start with theoretical mathematics, as Einstein did when he was looking for the equivalency of energy and matter. Could mathematics derive a formula for the transformation of energy from one universe to another? Does quantum theory suggest the possibility of alternative dimensions? Does a Spiritual Universe exist?
Science cannot start with the assumption such domains do not exist, must have a physical explanation if they do exist, or cannot possibly exist because we don’t know how to measure them. These are all specious arguments – and unworthy of genuine scientific inquiry. Which raises a key question: Will science ever be able to deal with the not-physical aspects of our Cosmological reality?
Albert Einstein understood the process of discovery. “The free, unhampered exchange of ideas and scientific conclusions is necessary for the sound development of science, as it is in all spheres of cultural life. ... We must not conceal from ourselves that no improvement in the present depressing situation is possible without a severe struggle; for the handful of those who are really determined to do something is minute in comparison with the mass of the lukewarm and the misguided.” ...
Amen to that....
###
What Is Reality
“Truth is reality.….
But unfortunately
- truth is unpopular….
We humans have a long history of denying truth
and since truth is reality,
I suppose that means we humans
frequently refuse to accept reality"
Father Giovanni
Let’s start with a fundamental concept. Reality is (sometimes) unpopular. We may not like the reality of our existence. We may choose to ignore reality because it does not support our self-image or pre-conceived beliefs. Our perception of reality is likely to be influenced by multiple factors including – among other things - the physical condition of our five senses, our psychological state at the time of our observation, and how past experience manipulates our perception of the present.
Reality, it would seem, is subject to interpretation.
We thus have a subjective reality that is perceived as a true representation of our personal physical universe. In addition, there are degrees of reality. There is all we can observe; anything we can imagine; and everything that actually exists. These realities are all simultaneously present in our personal ecosystem.
If you and I exist in the same space time reality, then our perception of reality is framed by the same laws of physics. If however, we do not share the same space time reality, then your observations will be different from mine. If we are in the same universe, our experiences will be bound by the same laws of physics. If however, you move into another universe, then your experiences will be governed by the laws of physics that exist in your new universe. Those laws may, or may not, be the same as those of the universe you left.
Let us look at this from a different perspective. What it is like to be a dog cannot be fully understood by a human because a dog’s experience can only be fully understood from a dog’s point of view. In like fashion, what I experience can only be understood from my point of view, and even though you are near me in space-time, your experience can only be understood from your point of view.
Reality is relative – and it is subject to personal interpretation.
###
Energy and Mass
Matter cannot be created. It cannot be destroyed. But matter can be rearranged into a different form, and matter can be transformed into energy. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. But it can be transformed. Mass refers to the quantity of matter in an object. Einstein determined there is an equivalency of mass and energy with his now famous equation: E = MC2. A unit of Energy is equal to mass times the speed of light, squared. It is interesting to note that c in this equation is not just the speed of light; it is a fundamental principle of how space and time are unified. He called this principle: space-time.
The concept of space-time can be interpreted as combining the three dimensions of space with time as a fourth dimension. Time is not separate from the three dimensions of space, because the rate at which time passes depends on one’s velocity through space relative to the speed of light and the effect of gravity on the perception of time. The faster we go, the slower time passes. Where we are in space, is a function of time.
Quantum Theory deals with physical systems at the submicroscopic scale. Within this reality we find molecules, atoms, electrons, protons, neutrinos, and so on. In comparison with the physical universe we can observe, where the workings of physics may seem stable and predictable, activity within these very small systems exhibit a dual wave and particle like behavior of matter and radiation. In this reality, the behavior of matter and energy is less certain. We speak of actions and reactions in terms of probabilities, rather than certainties. It is important to recognize that within this reality we find the fundamental workings of physics, chemistry and biology.
Now let us turn from the very small described by Quantum Theory, and our familiar physical world described by conventional physics, to the reaches of outer space. Here we find that everything is on a very large scale; billions of galaxies; trillions of stars and planets. Distance is measured in light years (how far can you go if you traveled at 670 million miles per hour, 24 hours a day, every day, 365 days a year). There are Black Holes larger than our galaxy where gravity is so strong it pulls light out of the universe. It would take more than 100,000 light years to go from one side to the other.
In outer space we find the energy density components of the universe include dark energy (~68% of space), and dark matter (~27% of space). These two components of our cosmological reality are invisible. That leaves only 5% of the energy density in space for stars, planets, rocks, dust, clouds of gas, crystals of ice, the chemistry of life, and the atoms of matter. Or to put it another way, the familiar stuff we can see (or directly detect) in our physical universe is only about 5% of what actually exists in our universe. We know far less about the other 95% of our astrophysical reality. It truth, science is just beginning to understand the composition and activity of the energy density components found in space.
As we discover the mysteries of our Cosmos, we have become aware that energy, matter and mass may exist in forms we are unable to detect with our limited physical senses. From the very small of quantum mechanics to the infinite reaches of outer space, science does not actually know how it all works. Furthermore, our current body of knowledge fails to explain how all this energy and matter originated: i.e. where did it come from?
Energy, matter, mass and space: all challenging subjects. The space-time dimension we actually experience is incredibly complex. We should refrain from claiming we understand everything there is to know about them. Neither religion nor science has all the answers. In many respects, our voyage of discovery has just begun. The more we know, the more questions there are to answer.
###
Multiple Universes and Dimensions
Science is in the midst of a great revolution. Long held beliefs about matter, energy, time and space are being challenged. The characteristics of dark energy and dark matter are unlike anything we have discovered in our most advanced experiments. The four dimensions of space and time do not provide an adequate explanation of all scientific theory and observation. Many believe science will eventually confirm there are multiple universes, and multiple dimensions.
With the exception of the speed of light (which appears to be a constant in our perceived physical universe), energy, matter, space and time are all relative to one another. Our senses limit our ability to observe reality because of this relativity. For example, a motion can be observed as being either positive or negative, and can occur at different times, depending on the position of the observer in space-time. And if there is positive and negative energy, as well as matter and antimatter, then there must also space (which we can sense) and antispace (which we cannot sense). And finally, if space can have more than one dimension, then it follows that the time component of space-time must also have more than one dimension.
Inquiry into the nature of multiple universes and multiple dimensions poses an interesting problem for conventional 21st century science. The scientific method relied on physical proof in order to confirm theory. Proof depended on human sensual observation, mathematical calculation, or measurements using sophisticated instruments. Empirical science excluded not-physical (or spiritual) information because it was not thought to be rational.
But as we make new
discoveries,
we are finding science cannot continue
its exploration of reality
unless it is willing to deal
with unconventional not-physical theory.
Conscious wisdom and intelligence are obviously not materialistic. It is irrational to believe the natural universe created itself. It is becoming irrational to believe all physical phenomena exist only in the universe which we can easily experience.
Sound far out? Just remember that ~ 120 years ago the majority of scientists denied the existence of the atom. The idea that matter was composed of atoms seemed absurd since it was only a theory inferred by studies of temperature and viscosity. No one could see atoms, so therefore most scientists believed they did not exist. But atomic theory has now gone way beyond anything anyone – including proponents – could have imagined 100 years ago.
During this century science will discover the existence of multiple universes and multiple dimensions. In order to explain the Cosmos, will a growing number of researchers discover the energy of a conscious force?
###
Self
Our Brain
Our most basic animal functions are built into our brain-stem and central nervous system. Automatic stimuli from these two components ensure our digestive, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems go about their assigned tasks without disruption. They also provide the means by which we acquire information from the physical universe, react to stimuli without thinking, and detect the presence of spiritual phenomena.
Surrounding the brain-stem is a collection of complex organs called the limbic system. It interacts with the neural functions of the central nervous system and brain-stem to monitor and produce our reactive emotions (pain, fear, joy, aggression, lust, and so on), social emotions (awareness of social hierarchy and the need for ritual for example), our self -preservation instincts (satisfying our need for food and water, avoiding danger, and such), as well as our sensory perception and our instinctive association of events with emotion.
The largest and most recently evolved part of our brain is called the cerebral cortex. This is the thinking part of the brain where we calculate formulas, conjure images, deal with complex social situations, compose poetry, think about the future, remember our schedule, and interpret our experience of the spiritual. It is the size and functions of the cerebral cortex that separate us from other animals. This is also the root location of our sixth sense and our ability to experience spiritual transcendence. When we are truly inspired, we “transcend” the limitations of prior knowledge and are open to creative thoughts which may come from a source that is outside our physical and spiritual self.
Operation
Each part of this three layer brain system can operate on its own, operate interactively with another layer, or dominate the information processing activity of all three layers. The limbic emotions of lust, for example, may be tempered by thoughts of love in the cerebral cortex. Emotional disturbances such as anxiety or aggression frequently reflect a continuing conflict between the emotion prone limbic system and more complex thought processes of the cerebral cortex. Either part of our brain can dominate a specific stimuli response.
Development
A relatively accelerated expansion of our human cerebral cortex began about 500,000 years ago. Science is at a loss to explain the rapid evolution of the human brain that led to the presence of species homo sapiens between 400,000 and 250,000 years ago, anatomically correct humans about 150,000 years ago, humans in organized bands or communities ~ 30,000 years ago, or the rapid development of civilizations that began ~ 6,000 years ago. The normal rules of evolution fail to explain the complex patterns of coordination that exist between the three parts of our brain. Although there are several reasons to explain the need for this rapid evolution (including the development of ever more complex social structures), there is no persuasive biological or physical explanation of how it occurred. Is it possible these progressive improvements were encouraged, and perhaps guided, by an external influence?
Chapter 2.
Consciousness and Connection
We are connected to the Cosmos
as a whole:
all life and
energy.
Human Consciousness
If we understand the basic structure and activity of the brain, we realize how our intellect interacts with the consciousness that exists everywhere in the Cosmos. It is this mechanism that connects us with God through prayer and meditation.
We humans operate on three levels of consciousness: animal, human, and social.
We are, at the core of our being, animals. This is the level of automatic body functions, involuntary reactions, basic emotions, and unthinking response to external stimuli. Heart muscle, digestive system, and pain reaction are examples of biological functions that work without conscious thought. Our action and reaction to external stimuli are driven by the basic autonomic mechanisms of animal behavior which drive thirst or hunger; sense and exhibit hostility; lust for sexual pleasure; experience hormone driven emotions such as anger, terror and excitement; and so on. We do not think. We act.
At the human level, the primitive functions of the animal are tempered by the emotional response, rational thought processes, and physical capabilities of Homo sapiens. We exhibit the adaptive physical and emotional responses of human behavior. Self-centered thinking shapes our actions and reactions. Most of us are competitive (although sometimes in subtle ways). We are aware, and sometimes driven, by our human need for things like sex, food, shelter, clothing, recognition, love, and social status.
At the social level, we interact with other humans using a complex combination of sensual stimuli and learned behavior. We are socialized by human interaction from birth, and these experiences (good and bad) shape how we reason, communicate, associate, rationalize, fanaticize, dream, plot, and plan our relationships with others. Our responses can be intellectual, emotional, and physical – all at the same moment. We hate or love. We submit or dominate.
We know energy may dissipate, or it may change in form, but it never ceases to exist. Neurons in our brain generate and receive the energy of consciousness. These “packets” may be positive (projected as loving), neutral (no emotional reaction), or negative (given as hateful). When these packets “arrive”, the recipient may generate a like reaction (loving and united, neutral and passive, or hateful and alienated). Positive thoughts encourage a connection (coming together reaction) through love, peace, generosity, humility, and so on. Negative thoughts include the alienating (repelling) energy of hate, anger, greed, arrogance, and so on.
Our five senses (hearing, seeing, smelling, taste and touch) transmit stimuli to our brain for evaluation and possible reaction. The high level of interaction between the three levels of consciousness often leads to conflicting emotions. A malicious personal confrontation, or external physical threat, can drive us to a primitive state where we make panic choices. Human and social reaction is at first confused and subordinate to our animal response. This interaction may also be responsible for some types of mental incapacity: i.e. elevated feelings of animal anxiety that can only be resolved only when rational cerebral cortex activity eventually dominates the interaction.
On the other hand, the sensitivity of this interaction provides us with the ability to sense transcendent phenomena. We are able to connect to the spiritual with the elusive “sixth sense”, that has been much discussed but whose attributes remain largely incomprehensible. Although human intellect usually filters it out, we may become aware of a greater consciousness; one that surrounds and connects to our psychological state. Elevated unfiltered brain activity, as in prayer or meditation, increases our conscious awareness of the physical and not physical ecosystem within which we exist. If we are sincere in our effort, it is possible to sense, and then share, another person’s conscious spiritual state. Conscious energy flows from one person to the other. It is this same mechanism that creates a connection with the spiritual energy of God.
The existence of a sixth sense is not an element of faith but rather a matter of fact. We are able to sense the energy of consciousness. It is unfortunate our “rational” cerebral cortex filters out spiritual energy (external consciousness) because it is – apparently – outside our normal experience and is therefore considered as being irrational. Our conscious mind is focused on, and limited by, centuries of conditioned behavior in the way we process information from the five senses. External stimuli are normally filtered because our survival demands we focus on the reality and activity of our immediate physical environment. But thousands of sixth sense examples have been described by participants. A twin sister, though miles from her sibling, senses her sister’s anguish. A mother senses her baby is in trouble, even though he is in the next room. We may sense danger before it happens. We are able to detect the emotional stress of another person, even if we cannot see them. We know someone is calling us before the telephone rings. And so on.
When we accept the existence of a “sixth sense”, we enable our ability to experience the spiritual though the mechanisms of prayer and meditation. In this, all three levels of our consciousness operate interactively to enhance our sensitivity. We discover the energy of the spiritual flows around us. It is everywhere. We are connected to the Cosmos as a whole: all life and energy. And if we let our being go with the flow, we are able to sense the Spiritual Universe. We may not be able to identify where it is located. We don’t know how it works. But we come to understand it exists.
And with this discovery, it is possible to find a spiritual connection to conscious energy.
###
Characteristics of Consciousness
Consciousness
Neither science nor philosophy has reached a consensus on the nature of consciousness, or its relation to awareness. There is a more universal agreement we need to have a better understanding of consciousness and awareness in order to comprehend their relationship with other aspects of physical and not-physical reality.
For our purposes, we can define three levels of consciousness: active consciousness, semi-consciousness, and core consciousness.
Active Consciousness
Active consciousness is an adaptive mental process, and it is this characteristic that gives us the flexibility to deal with new concepts and physical stimuli. We are awake. We consider possibilities, and evaluate options, often by integrating the memory of past experiences and beliefs with present reactive thinking. At this level of consciousness, there is the possibility of self-determination and a freedom of choice that is linked with our self-awareness. Our thoughts are the result of an electrochemical transfer of information between neurons, or between neurons and other cells.
Being fully conscious means we are aware of our being, sensations, surroundings, external activity and internal thoughts. I am aware, I am also aware that I am aware (self-conscious), and I am aware that other living entities are aware that I am aware (ecosystem conscious). Active consciousness is thus interdependent with our being capable of sensing and responding to our physical and not physical environment.
The conscious mind manages our sense of self and our relationship with the world. If I have an active conscious desire for a glass of water, for example, I am also aware that I have a conscious desire for a glass of water. We are both conscious and self-conscious at the same time.
An ever changing flow of uninterrupted thought during active consciousness is sometimes referred to as a stream of consciousness. However, external events and images may occur too fast for our conscious awareness to track them. When this occurs, a clear mind (our cerebral cortex) is able to subsequently reconstruct them from fragments of information which other parts of our brain have previously sensed. A mind dulled by alcohol, drugs or emotion, however, is less likely to create an accurate perception of our social and physical ecosystem.
Semi-consciousness
In a semi-conscious state our reactions are more likely to be instinctive, unstructured, and imperfectly formed. Actions, sensations, and reactions are more likely to be governed by past (and often random) bits of memory, than by lucid thought processes. We enter a semi-conscious state when we dream, fall under the influence of hypnosis, or take certain drugs. We are likely to have an abstract awareness of self, surroundings, companions, or physical activity.
Core Consciousness
Core consciousness is sometimes referred to as our sub-conscious mind, or inner being. With the exception of semi-conscious states introduced by certain drugs, deep meditation, hypnosis, or a near death experience, we are usually unaware of any activity within the core of our conscious being. Core consciousness processes are faster and more efficient than active conscious activity because they are not impeded by other conscious activity. For some observers, quantum theory suggests we may have a profound spiritual connection with the conscious energy of the universe at this level of consciousness. If so, it is the link to our most powerful sense of the beautiful, the majestic, and the noble. It is on this level we connect with God.
Unconscious (or a lack of consciousness)
The term “unconscious” lacks specific meaning. It is used to characterize a person as not having any conscious brain activity, is not actively conscious, or has deceased. It is also used to describe core and semi-conscious brain activity. Because the use of this term is so vague, we cannot use it to describe a level of consciousness. It is best used to describe a condition where there is no medical evidence of brain activity.
###
Connection
Is it possible there are two kinds of physical reality? We are able to measure our normal physical environment, the reality constructed by atoms and energy, with our five physical senses. We cannot influence this reality with our mental activity.
We are not able to measure the empty space within and between the atoms of our perceived reality, nor are we able to measure the quantum entanglement that occurs between different forms of energy. These phenomena are invisible to us, always in motion, and do not exist at a specific location. The very act of measurement changes the result. But there is a theoretical possibility we are able to influence this reality with our mental activity.
The most obvious result of quantum entanglement would be the possibility of communication between the physical reality of my being and the physical reality of another living organism. In a quantum sense, they become “entangled”. If this is true, then we need to re-conceptualize our understanding of how we interface with the physical universe. The implication: if this mechanism of communication can be used to link one human with another, then it can also be used to enable human communication with the divine consciousness of the Cosmos.
We normally think of our physical reality as energy and matter. But we must remember no living activity would occur without the presence of information. It exists in the DNA of the cell, for example, where it tells a ribosome how to use amino acid building blocks to synthesize proteins. Information transferred within the nervous system enables us to walk, makes our heart beat, controls how we breath, determines our immune system responses, and so on. But then, what is the source of information?
Software instructions may reside as ones and zeroes within the memory cells of a computer, but the information they convey is intellectually separate and distinct from the physical mechanics of the processor. The program in computer memory is information that came from a source outside the computer – the programmer who assembled information into a meaningful set of instructions. Did the programmer create an information reality?
The information that flows through our being (enabling active life) is a natural component of our internal biological processes. But where did it come from? Do cells learn or create new information? Is it possible new information may come from a source outside the human body? Is it OK to believe a mechanism of consciousness and awareness (God) was the information source that created our physical and not physical reality? If not, then where did this information come from (or how did it originate)?
Most cognitive scientists assume consciousness is the result of a complex interaction between brain neurons and other cells. But a few researchers are intrigued by the possibility consciousness is also the result of quantum entanglement that occurs deep within the brain’s neurons. According to this theory, information can exist in an infinite number of states (quantum theory calls this phenomenon a superposition) within the neuron at the core level of consciousness. Quantum information behaves as waves of energy that move within the neurons, and it is this activity that creates our core conscious thoughts and awareness. Recent theoretical work also suggests quantum processes, which until now have been perceived as a purely physical-energy phenomenon, may also appear as biological-energy activity. Even more fascinating, they apparently occur within the DNA molecule. If this theory proves to be correct, then this explains how our consciousness - at the core level - interconnects with the consciousness of other living beings and the omnipresent intelligence that is the consciousness of the Cosmos. It may even suggest the path by which consciousness of the self can continue to exist after death. Quantum information within the neuron at the core level of consciousness is able to connect upward, with information stored in the semi and active levels of consciousness. These waves of energy are also able to connect outward (outside the body) where they are entangled (paired) with quantum information that exists throughout the fabric of the universe.
It is likely science will confirm the correlation of measurements performed on entangled pairs. This correlation has been already been observed even though the pairs may be separated by an arbitrarily large distance. If entangled, the interaction of one constituent cannot be fully described without describing the interaction of other paired constituents. Recent experiments also appear to prove this transfer of information between pairs occurs at least 10,000 times the speed of light (it may be – from the perspective of our physical universe – instantaneous). Furthermore, this phenomenon may occur even if one or more of the paired constituents did not exist at the same time. Thus neither space nor time appears to limit the possibility of pairing between us and another living being (or God).
Think of it this way. What is the “compass” that guides birds during their migration? Do quantum superposition and entanglement allow them to track the earth’s magnetic field? Why do flocks of birds or schools of fish suddenly change direction, all at the same time? Is it because of quantum entanglement? If identifiable parts of the cerebral cortex are responsible for a specific biological activity, then how do they coordinate with other parts of our brain, and control the outcome? How do we interpret the idea that greater consciousness can be stimulated by electric stimulation? Is there a (relatively unused) part of the brain that can assume responsibility for connection with external conscious thought? And how are left brain thought and reaction processes synchronized with right brain processes, even though there is no apparent electro-chemical connection? Is it because they are connected at a quantum level we do not yet understand?
These are a few of many interesting questions. Neither theologians nor scientists should ignore the possibilities.
There is more. Under “normal” circumstances, our free will is preoccupied with the physical and emotional stimuli of everyday life. This means we are consciously able to ignore or override our inherent connection with the intelligence of the Cosmos. Indeed, most humans are so preoccupied with active conscious activity, the closest they come to having a core consciousness experience is when they dream or take certain drugs. During near death experiences, however, active consciousness is no longer a filter or barrier to the information available to us within the Cosmos, or our connection with people and events that have shaped our life in the past. Evidence for the biological theory which enables this phenomenon to occur has been documented. Near death, drug induced and meditative experiences include a reduction of brain metabolism, blood flow and neurological activity. Unrestrained cognition occurs. It would appear a fractal hierarchy of brain activity within the neurons exists in all three levels of consciousness. In altered states, a more intense experience is associated with the faster quantum effect of brain activity that occurs deep within the neuron cores (as versus the slower neuron synapse level of connection that is a characteristic of an active conscious state).
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Theological Implications
Science
Atheistic science has limited itself to the mythology of the physical. It is therefore unable to answer a simple question: where did the information that underlies all the laws of physics, chemistry, biology, cosmology, and so on - originate? Have we substituted a seemingly infinite and excruciatingly complicated set of circumstances and explanations for what should be an obvious and simple solution? The atheist cannot explain the lawful nature of our universe. Who created the multi-variable differential equations? And who solved them before or during the process of creation? Why do inanimate particles obey these rules? How do we explain the origination of genetic material? Do we really want to believe the Cosmos had no beginning and it simply – is? Did our universe which had no intelligence, no will, no mind, and no consciousness devise the laws of nature and then create itself out of nothing? Isn’t the existence of a creative consciousness more logical?
Jesus
And what about Jesus? Did God enhance his ability to make a quantum connection between his conscious self and the conscious self of God? Does it not seem that the prayer sessions between Jesus and God were in fact more like a conversation between two identical levels of consciousness?
Is it this conscious connection that makes the essence of Jesus indistinguishable from the essence of God?
Of course Jesus was a biological human. There is no evidence to refute his human physical attributes. It was his extraordinary ability to become one with God through a conscious connection that makes him intellectually indistinguishable from God. After he went to be with his father, his biological form was no longer necessary to establish his presence among us. However, the conscious energy of his presence continues. It is this quality we invoke when we pray.
Conscious Energy
Philosophers and theologians of multiple faiths from all over our planet have long believed we humans are all interconnected. Consciousness is energy. Energy is the basis of all life and matter. The energy of consciousness enables awareness. Since consciousness is not a material entity with length or volume, nor weight or mass, it must be treated as a singularity that surpasses our inadequate perception of the Cosmos.
It would appear our active conscious, semi-conscious, and core conscious thoughts are influenced by quantum connections (or coherence) with an intelligence whose character we can only guess at, but whose universal principles frame our understanding of what is moral, what is virtuous, what is beautiful, and what is true. This omniscient cosmic intelligence may also be the creative source of our universe and all forms of life.
It would exist, even if we did not.
###
Chapter 3.
About Our Bipolar Reality and Infinite Possibilities
Opposite singularities
express the same reality.
The one would not have meaning
without the other.
Astronomers tell us the Cosmos is in constant change, and our continuing observations appear to confirm this conclusion. Yet, it is also important to understand there is order underlying this transformation. There are laws of interaction and existence that guide the change we observe. In the following paragraphs, we examine three of these important principles.
Reality is a Unity in a Bipolar Cosmos
Reality is often a bipolar unity of opposites. Each phenomenon is the compliment of its counterpart. If there is up, there must be down. If there is right, there must be left. If there is forward, then there is also backward. Poverty is the opposite of wealth. The light of the sun alternates with the darkness of night. We may be healthy while having the potential of illness. Evil is judged versus good. Death follows life.
Destruction often precedes creation. Each fall the leaves of a deciduous tree cease to live. Yet even as they fall to the ground, one may find the buds of new leaves on the bare branch. Next spring, they will burst with new life. Each ice age destroyed much of life on earth; however each period of warming that followed included the creation of new life (including new species).
Our planet has two poles with opposite magnetic properties. Many planetary nebulae exhibit a bipolar structure. Bipolar outflows of molecular material are often found where young stars are being formed. A polar molecule has a positive electrical charge at one end and a negative charge at the other end. The bipolar characteristic of a water molecule gives water its cohesive nature. A bipolar transistor has two poles which are joined by a semiconductor layer.
If there is matter, then there must be anti-matter. Both are forms of the same quantum reality. If there is a physical universe, then there must be a not-physical (or alternative opposite) Universe. Each is a demonstration of the bipolar unity that exists in our Cosmos.
There are many examples of our bipolar existence. Each of these opposite singularities is an expression of the same reality. There is unity because each pole in a bipolar state of being is related to its opposite pole.
###
The Principle of Infinite Possibilities
If two poles express a unity of reality, and each pole is the compliment of the other, the resulting unity can be infinitely divided into a continuum of being between the two poles.
Some examples:
· If we wish to characterize a data set as all the fractions between one and ten, there are an infinite number of possible fractions between these two poles in a continuum of values. However, since none of the fraction values may fall outside the bipolar reality of one to ten, the poles establish a boundary for the expression of reality.
· We can be really happy or we can be very sad. Most likely, however, our actual state of mind will generally exist somewhere between these two extremes of possible bipolar emotions.
· Cold is recognized as the opposite of hot. But there are many gradations of temperature between that which we my sense is cold, and that which we would call hot.
· Very few of us are absolutely female or absolutely male. Most of us are genetically and socially somewhere in between these two poles of sexual taxonomy. We are most likely male, with some degree of the feminine, or female, with some degree of the masculine. The further we are from our sexual pole, the more we exhibit the characteristics of the opposite sex. This is all a very natural manifestation of the complex mechanisms that make us male or female.
###
Equilibrium Is Unlikely
Equilibrium is a balance of what is positive, what is neutral, and what is negative. But each one of these three of these components can become unstable. That which is positive can become unstable. That which is neutral can become unstable. That which is negative can become unstable. Perhaps only one component will become unstable, or perhaps two, or perhaps all three. Further, each component may become unstable at a different time, and for a different length of time.
It is also possible (perhaps inevitable) that the positive, the neutral and the negative will assume a fuzzy instability; one that is hard to detect and may include both finite and infinite elements. What we think we observe may be a temporary reality, a partial reality, or not reality. And one more point:
Reality may appear to be stable, but it is not.
On the other hand, although anything is possible, far less is probable. We are not mentally equipped to deal with unending instability. We seek a bipolar reality which (at least) appears to have order and predictability. Thus we seek to interpret our existence as a circumstance somewhere between the two poles of a bipolar reality.
Our bipolar Cosmos is actually characterized by a complex set of tensions, which are also correlations. These tensions and correlations, in which each component is interdependent with all other components, characterize our spiritual expressions. We see them in our music, art, literature, philosophy, and theological concepts. We also see or sense them in our exploration of the fundamental elements (truths) of science.
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The Spiritual Universe
We live in a bipolar Cosmos. But we really don’t know much about the majority of our astrophysical reality. Our known physical universe consists of matter (both visible and not visible), and energy (both detectable and inferred). As we have potentially discovered, the familiar stuff we can see (or directly detect) is only a small percentage of what actually exists in our physical universe.
We know even less about the not-physical universe. But it would appear reasonable to characterize it as a universe that is primarily composed of energy (in various forms). Since energy can become matter and have mass, we can expect the not-physical universe to also include matter, although perhaps in unfamiliar forms. In other words, both universes have multiple forms of energy and matter. However, in contrast to our physical universe - where our perception of physical reality dominates awareness and consciousness – in the not-physical universe it is likely conscious energy dominates awareness and consciousness.
These two complimentary realities co-exist in the Cosmos.
One is physical. One is energy (not physical). There is a boundary between them
where the physical dimension of our universe intersects with the energy
dimension of the not physical Cosmos. We have been given clues about the nature
of this intersection by the scientific observations (and theories) of quantum
mechanics. Einstein’s famous equation E=MC2 suggests a mechanism
exists for transformation (or transcendence) from one universe to the other.
In order to
distinguish our physical universe
From the not physical universe,
We can refer to
the not-physical universe
As the Spiritual Universe.
Both universes are all around us. We have trained ourselves to identify the evidence of the physical universe through our five physical senses: hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting and touching. Our conscious awareness is focused on this dimension. The neurons within our brain sense and create a conscious interaction with the physical universe through stimuli within our human body. However, if the neurons in our brain are able to connect with the conscious energy of the physical universe within our body, then it is perfectly logical to conclude they can also interact with the conscious energy that exists outside our body - the conscious energy of the Spiritual Universe. Deep meditation, earnest prayer, and the experience of being near death, block the conscious and subconscious activity witch normally dominate our sensory condition. We are then free to sense and create an interaction with the consciousness that flows throughout the Spiritual Universe.
The Spiritual Universe exists in a space-time dimension that is parallel with our physical universe. Think of it this way: we are familiar with the dimensions of space-time found in our physical universe. They provide the reference points for how we view and move in our physical environment. In a like manner, the Spiritual Universe has its own space-time dimensions. When we communicate with God (The Holy Spirit), those who have deceased, or another life form, we connect with them in the space-time dimensions of the Spiritual Universe.
Death, meditation, and sudden mental stress may give us an opportunity to experience the consciousness, existence and reality of the Spiritual Universe. We drift into another dimension of space and time. People who are very ill or near death may have the sensation of floating back and forth between physical and spiritual reality. For them, the boundary that separates our physical universe from the Spiritual Universe becomes transparent. Physically, they are in this universe. Their spiritual energy is somewhere else.
Our pursuit of the spiritual will lead us to the Spiritual Universe. Never underestimate the passion and joy this discovery can release within us. We all benefit from having a sense of contact and interaction with the spiritual force that exists all around us. Our understanding of honor, integrity, compassion, justice, and love all flow from the influence of Spiritual energy. It encourages moral behavior, personal responsibility, and loving procreation.
Faith in the energy of the Spiritual Universe can be a source of great personal strength.
Chapter 4. Creation: What Really Happened?
This process of creation and destruction
suggests time has
no beginning or end.
Introduction
According to scientific theory, the initial state of the universe was a singularity. Then came what has been called “The Big Bang”. Our universe was created when a small, highly compressed, very hot object exploded 13.8 billion years ago. Subsequent events account for the formation of our universe.
Should we reject this hypothetical explanation of creation on the basis it is illogical?
There are, in the Christian Bible and other sacred texts, various explanations of creation. However, they were inevitably framed by the contemporary knowledge of our universe and nature that existed over 2500 years ago.
Are these explanations any more logical than scientific theory?
Should we accept God’s effort to inspire us with a
greater comprehension of creation? If human knowledge of the Cosmos and our
universe has been inspired by God’s wisdom, then does it not seem logical that
we should base our perception of creation on contemporary 21st
century knowledge?
Perhaps it is time to consider our obligation.
If God wants to
speak to us, we should listen.
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Definitions
We need to distinguish between the Cosmos and a universe. As Carl Sagan, astronomer and astral chemist put it: “The Cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be.” When we speak of the Cosmos, we are referring to something that is larger and more complex than a single universe. By contrast, a universe is “all that exists within a single set of space time dimensions.” The Cosmos includes multiple universes, each in its own space time dimension. The Cosmos, by these two definitions, embraces everything there was, is and will be. It includes multiple universes of differing size and characteristics. Each universe is a separate reality. The laws that govern the activity of energy, matter and mass differ from one universe to the next. The characteristics of a specific universe may influence the characteristics of one or more other universes. And if there are physical universes, there may also be parallel not-physical universes.
###
The Big Bang
According to popular theory, the initial state of our known universe was a singularity. Nothing existed. No matter. No energy. No gas. No life. Space was either an empty void, or did not exist. Cosmologists believe our physical universe was created when a small, highly compressed, very hot, object exploded over 13 billion years ago. This event is called “The Big Bang”.
After the “Big Bang”, it took about 300,000 years for atoms of hydrogen and helium to form. Light was released. As the universe continued to expand, primordial matter began to appear. The creation of these components was followed by the formation of larger structures that would eventually become galaxies. These events also spawned the physical chemical elements of the universe as well as the elements of organic chemistry.
That’s what cosmologists and most of the scientific community accept as fact. The idea that the universe was created by God has been firmly, sometimes vociferously, rejected. The U. S. National Academy of Sciences has stated “creationism, intelligent design, and other claims of supernatural intervention in the origin of life or of species are not science because they are not testable by the methods of science.” Even the Supreme Court of the United States, in the 1987 case of Edwards v. Aguillard, determined this explanation of creation was correct.
But there are problems with the “Big Bang” explanation. This theory describes what happened, but does not explain the pre-existing condition that gave birth to the “explosion”. It is an interesting theory; and a credible theory. But it is incomplete. Here is a sample of the enigmas which challenge this explanation:
· Although there are several theories, physicists and cosmologists have been unable to explain why temperature and matter are uniform from one end of the universe to the other. In addition, they are puzzled by the fact that the universe appears to be expanding faster and faster. Do these two problems suggest perhaps science does not know all there is to know about the creation of the universe?
· Science has been unable to explain the existence of alternative forms of energy and matter. What is the strange kind of energy named quintessence that permeates the entire universe? What is “Dark Matter” and why does it exist? What is “Dark Energy” and what does it do? The existence of these phenomena can only be inferred by observation. They have not, as yet, been tested directly by the methods of science. Could they be a veil in the space time continuum between our universe and a different universe?
· Most of the time, we humans can only experience four dimensions: the spatial dimensions of up/down, right/left, backward/forward, and the fourth dimension of time. Does that limitation obscure the reality of additional dimensions of both space and time? Think about it. We have been able to “discover” phenomena which are invisible to our natural senses. They exist. We “found” them when we had the right tools. Are we like the people of Round?
· Organic matter exists everywhere in our Universe. All life – plant and animal – has a common heritage and is composed of the same elements of organic chemistry. The structural similarity of most animal life on our planet suggests a cohesive force that laid out the rules of development. Proponents of unthinking evolution believe life is the result of a random process that combined just the right combinations of several million bits of matter and energy at just the right time and in precisely the right order. But could life be the result of deliberate design? Does that seem more logical?
· When science carefully examines the facts of living organisms, it becomes evident that life – as we know it – would not exist on our planet if the laws of nature were slightly different. Called the anthropic principle, it is clear the characteristics of our planet are “just right” to support human life. Our planet, for example, is just the right distance from our sun. Any closer and the earth would be too hot. Any further away, and it would be too cold to support life. Was there an intelligent conscious intention to set our planet just the right distance from the sun?
· A rock cannot create a rock. A rock cannot create life. A rock cannot think. Yet, our physical universe would not exist without the process of creation, and the act of creation infers the existence of consciousness. Does the existence of consciousness require intelligence?
· Some astrophysicists are willing to consider the possibility time and space are infinite. One scientific theory of what happened before the “Big Bang” is this: There are multiple inflating bubbles in an infinitely large metaverse (Cosmos) which has no beginning and no end. If two bubbles collide, inflation would occur resulting in a singularity (Big Bang) in (possibly) both universes. But this thesis raises other questions about space, time and other dimensions.
There are many more unanswered questions. But the firm belief that our universe started
with a “Big Bang” appears to be less credible.
The “Big Bang”
theory for the origin
of energy, matter life or species
is not science because
it is not fully testable
by the methods of science.
On the other hand, many intellectuals have refused to even consider if there is a way to test the theory that God is the creator of the Cosmos.
What a shame.
###
Multiple Universes
Scientists are more comfortable when they are dealing with the physical. Consequently, science has focused on discovering the characteristics and laws of our physical universe. Or perhaps one could more accurately say: the characteristics and laws of our perceived physical universe. This of course presents us with a conundrum: What if everything in our perceived universe is not-physical? What if the reality we can perceive is influenced by realities we cannot detect? Would we reject their existence because they do not appear to be in our physical reality?
The scientific method relies on physical proof in order to confirm theory. Proof depends on human observation, mathematic calculation, or measurements using increasingly sophisticated instruments. Empirical science excludes not-physical (or spiritual) information because it is not thought to be rational. But as we make new discoveries, we are finding science cannot continue its exploration of reality unless it is willing to deal with unconventional not-physical theory. Wisdom, intelligence, and consciousness, for example, are obviously not materialistic. It is irrational to believe the natural universe created itself. It is becoming irrational to believe all physical phenomena exist only in the universe which we can easily experience.
Sound far out? The theory and discovery of atomic structure can be traced back to Democritus ~ 442 B.C., John Dalton ~ 1803 A.D., J.J. Thomson ~ 1898 A.D., Hantaro Nagaoka ~ 1903 A.D., and many other scientists who were exploring atomic level phenomena. Yet until early in the 20th century, most humans denied the existence of the atom. No one could see atoms, so therefore they did not exist. Public awareness of atomic theory began to emerge in the 1930s. It became a subject of great interest in 1945. Atomic theory has now become accepted fact, and has progressed way beyond anything anyone – including the original proponents – could have imagined. And why did scientists discover the atom?
Because: they looked.
We want to believe we live in an observable Cosmos. But if we want to be intellectually honest, we must ask ourselves a key question:
If we are unable to “sense” other universes
in our Cosmos,
does that merely demonstrate
we do not have the ability
to sense other universes?
And does the failure of observation
really prove they do not exist?
###
The Black Hole Creation Hypothesis
Theories of multiple universes, multiple dimensions, and energy in forms we have yet to recognize (let alone understand) pose an interesting challenge. Can they be linked to explain the origins of our perceived physical universe? The answer is yes. Quantum theory and the Multiverse Hypothesis suggest there is more than one universe in our Cosmos. We need only add one more observed phenomenon:
- Black holes.
Our black hole creation hypothesis starts with the probability there are multiple universes in the Cosmos. Each one is unique in time and space. Then we add contemporary astronomical observation to our proposed probability.
Cosmologists have observed “Black Holes” in the universe whose gravitational pull is so strong that even light cannot escape being pulled down into a seemingly limitless vortex. There are multiple known black holes in the entire galaxy. But where do the black holes go? Do they eject the accumulated energy, light, and matter back into our universe? Or do they create a new singularity in another universe? Is it possible there are “white” holes at the opposite end of (some) black holes? Could they be the physical counterpart of (some) black holes? Does the stuff of a universe travel through the vortex of a black hole and reemerge into a different universe? If white holes exist as opposite ends of some black holes, then more than one physical universe is possible.
Will science reject the possibility our universe was created when an incredibly large black hole developed in another universe? Did all the original source material for our universe come from another universe? A white hole that expels into a different universe would need a huge source of “stuff” from the parent universe, and the transfer would take millions of years. In addition, a source black hole may be unstable. Is it not logical the white hole from whence our universe came eventually collapsed and disappeared? Or is it out there, waiting to be discovered?
It would appear this is a better explanation of the sequence of subsequent events and the huge volume of “material” that constitutes our perceived universe. It would also seem current scientific theories about gravity and light, the fundamental building blocks of matter, and the characteristics of energy we have developed would not need “drastic” alteration. Only the source of the “big bang” is different. Furthermore, in another dimension, the speed of light may not be a limitation of distance traveled per unit of time, and the laws that govern how things work may also be different. That means the “genetic” makeup of the original flow from another universe could have been quite different from its evolved current state in our perceived universe.
The creation, expansion, function, and collapse of black
and white holes appear to be a natural and continuing process of our Cosmos.
These cosmological events may occur in many different universes.
As difficult as it
is for western
intellectual philosophy to understand,
this process of creation and destruction
also suggests
time has no beginning or end.
There was no “beginning” in the sense the “stuff” of our universe existed elsewhere before creation. It was simply located in another universe. Our universe was created by a black hole “event” which transferred matter and energy into our universe from a different universe. We may not understand all the mechanics, but the process of discovery promises to be exciting.
Is it possible that during this century, science will confirm the existence of multiple universes? In order to discuss the beginning of our universe, do we need a theory which combines General Relativity with quantum theory? Will the role of black holes in the process of creation and destruction of individual universes become a challenge for future scientific study?
This hypothesis is certain to be the genesis of many thoughtful discussions (and occasionally rancorous debates).
###
Final Thoughts
Tradition
One cannot deny the immense size and complexity of our perceived universe, nor is there any rational reason for doubting it is very, very old.
So: what about the traditional Christian views of creation?
These views were made in good faith by men who were doing their evaluations based on then-current knowledge about our universe (the Heavens). There was no way for them to have a more sophisticated understanding of astrophysics, nor would they have been able to comprehend the meaning of a more complex explanation of stars, planets, galaxies, nebulae, black holes, and so on. And even if they had known everything there is to know about creation and the structure of our universe, the general population would have thought they were crazy. So a simple explanation best served the then current extents of sophistication, knowledge and theology. God was the source of inspiration, but God wisely explained the universe to our ancestors in terms they could understand.
Discovery
Did our physical universe start with a Big Bang, or a Black Hole Event? Maybe our perception of the universe is distorted by its geometry. This may support the idea, as some theologies contend, that it has always existed. In any event, let us always remember one thing: Creation is a conscious process and a conscious process requires intelligence.
With God’s help (including moments of divine inspiration), we have gradually developed more sophisticated tools to examine, measure, and understand our physical surroundings. With this progress has come a series of hypothetical ideas to explain how our universe was created. God will continue to reveal the truth of our physical and not-physical reality as we pursue our exploration of the universe.
We should always be open to new discovery.
Chapter 5. Rethinking Evolution
We have been challenged to establish
a reasonable consistency
between the doctrines of faith
and our
comprehension of the Cosmos
The Mechanistic View of Evolution
Secular mechanistic views of evolution typically avoid any reference to the participation of non-physical forces in the process of creation and evolution. According to proponents, the creation and evolution of all life on our planet is a purely mechanical process, subject only to the natural laws of nature, an organism’s need to adapt to its contemporary ecosystem, and the mathematics of pure chance. Secularists assert the whole process of evolution, from primordial slime to the development of the human species, is a continuous chain of cell mutation (changes in an organism’s hereditary information), random selection (which causes the genetic drift of a population from generation to generation), and natural selection (a non-random and gradual process of natural variation in a population). These three physical mechanisms allowed organisms to adapt to a changing environment and evolve more complex life forms. Evolution took over three billion years. There were, of course, interruptions to this process when dramatic changes to our planet’s ecosystem caused widespread species extinction. But despite these setbacks species mutation, selection and adaptation led to increasingly complex biological systems, and an ever greater diversity of biological life forms.
According to popular secular theory, thousands of plant and animal species have been created by the process of mutation and selection, thrived for hundreds, thousands or millions of years in enormous numbers, and then disappeared from our planet. Species that are able to adapt are more likely to survive changes in their contemporary ecosystem, and then reproduce progeny that will carry the new adaptation. Species that fail to adapt, or are unable to pass a biological advantage to their offspring, die out. Mutations for adaptive living take place over a long period of time, and involve multiple generations of a species. Not all adaptations are successful. Nearly all animal and plant species that have previously lived on Earth are now extinct, and extinction appears to be the ultimate fate of all species (including Homo sapiens). Present-day extinction rates are greater than “normal”, and humans are the primary cause.
Cosmologists believe our planet is approximately 4.56 billion years old, about one third the age of our universe. It took (roughly) 10 to 20 million years to complete the formation of our planet. All life on earth, plant or animal, has descended from a common ancestral gene pool that appeared about 3.5 billion years ago.
Anthropologists believe that approximately five million years ago humans and chimpanzees shared the same common ancestor. Humans evolved into a unique and separate primate species, acquiring the look of Homo sapiens about 250,000 years ago, anatomically correct humans about 150,000 years ago, began to exhibit (what we would identify as) human behavior about 50,000 years ago, and organized into communities 30,000 years ago. We began to farm the land and domesticate animals about 12,000 years ago. These developments led to the formation of nation states about 5,000 years ago. Our ancestors came out of Africa to colonize Eurasia 125,000 years ago, Australia about 40,000 years ago, and the Americas about 15,000 years ago. Apparently humans didn’t make it to remote islands such as Hawaii until after the birth of Christ. It should be noted there is some disagreement among anthropologists as to the accuracy of this information, but this appears to be the most widely accepted data.
The blueprint for reproduction, mutation, and natural selection is coded in plant and animal DNA. Several billion bits of biological code in helical strings establish the attributes of our form, growth, function, and reproduction. DNA, a nucleic acid, along with proteins and carbohydrates compose the three major macromolecules essential for all forms of life on our planet. Genes, which are found within a region of DNA, provide the basic means of transferring inheritance from generation to generation. All organisms share the same mechanism for copying DNA and translating DNA data into proteins. The chromosomes in a cell make up its genome. The human genome, for example, has approximately 3 billion pairs of DNA elements arranged into 46 chromosomes.
Secular evolutionists believe all living organisms pass their genetic information to their offspring through the reproductive process. There is no blueprint to guide any changes in this code. Random and non-random mutations occur naturally and are passed from generation to generation. Mutations which improve the ability to survive create a stronger species. Mutations which reduce the ability to survive create a weaker segment of a species that will eventually die out. If certain members of a species mutate to the point where they can no longer mate with their relatives in the same species, then a new species has been created.
###
The Mechanistic View is Incomplete
However, the evidence of a common ancestor is incomplete. A purely mechanistic theory of evolution can (and should) be challenged. There is ample data, much of it based on recent scientific inquiry, which suggests the chain of evolution is neither purely mechanical nor continuous. Questions about the mechanistic theory of evolution include the following issues:
· The undirected process of mutation and natural selection cannot adequately explain the complexity of well-matched, mutually interacting biological systems because each part of the system is interdependent with the other parts of the system and must, therefore, have been created at the same time. There is no viable evolutionary pathway that adequately explains how millions of small successive changes could create these complex systems.
· Popular secular theories of evolution fail to explain how genetic information and novel proteins for animal life forms, along with the systems to regulate their activity, can be produced by mutation and natural selection. To put it another way, there isn’t an adequate explanation for the diversity of life found in the fossil records that suddenly appeared in the Cambrian period, nor can evolutionary theory explain why there are so many missing intermediates and a lack of biological antecedents.
· There is a lack of convincing evidence that environmental necessity stimulated the development of appropriate genetic mutations. If there was a compelling environmental reason for man to walk upright, for example, then why didn’t horses and wolves respond with the same genetic mutation?
· Secular evolution does not explain the incredible complexity of the microscopic biology. Even the tiniest bacteria are – in reality – exquisitely designed pieces of intricate molecular machinery: billions of atoms in just the right configuration. Are we to believe these all happened by random chance?
· After living on our planet for millions of years, dinosaurs were largely wiped out in a very short period of time. As our planet’s ecosystem returned to some measure of normalcy, new life was possible. If evolution controls destiny, then why didn’t random selection simply spawn another generation of dinosaurs? Why was there an almost complete change of plant and animal life?
· Why does evolution create complex solutions to simple problems of survival? If external stimulation were the only reason for biological change, then the evolutionary process would stop as soon as a less complex adaptation was found. There would be no reason to evolve further.
· Although it may be argued that complex solutions and adaptations are merely a series of continuing steps in a random process, why does this process produce a successful solution? And how does this process explain the elegance of the complex solution?
· How do adaptations among a few members of a species get transferred to the entire population of a species? If, as seems likely, a few members of a species make a successful adaptation to a change in their ecosystem, then how does this change get transferred to all (or at least most) of the members of that species? Do only the progeny of successful adapters survive? If so, this would narrow the success of an adaptation down to a few families, leaving hundreds, thousands – and perhaps millions – of the species to either live without the adaptation - or die off.
· Mutagenesis experiments have shown that a gene’s basic control logic either rejects, or will not tolerate, random mutation. The mutating organism does not morph into a stable, inheritable, life form. Cellular control logic must necessarily protect itself from change because it is this logic that permits a cell to replicate itself, organize its intended activity, differentiate itself from other cells at a precise time, and in a precise sequence of events. Gene regulatory networks are control systems. Random variable change through mutation is exactly the opposite of what a control system is supposed to do. Biologists have thus far been unable to detect the kind of adaptive flexibility in these control systems that the evolutionary process would require.
· The evolutionary process would have been required to develop a whole range of different proteins, all at the same time, in order to produce, build and support the diversity of animal life that appeared in the Cambrian period. Mathematical biologists, using standard population genetic models, have shown there would not have been enough time for this to occur by random mutation and selection. Natural selection operating as a sequential set of random mutations is an incredible slow and inefficient mechanism for biological change, and certainly fails to explain the development of complex biological systems.
· Most animals have four limbs, two eyes, two ears, and dual nostrils. If animal attributes were the result of mutation and natural selection, then why are there not animals – for example - with six limbs, one eye, three ears, and multiple nostrils? Is it not more logical that nature followed a basic blueprint in the evolution of animals, and that is why they have common physical attributes?
· Molecules of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contain the genetic coding for the biological development and activity of all known living organisms. But the process of random selection did not evolve multiple mechanisms for the functions that DNA performs. This appears to be contrary to what we would expect if all specie developed through a string of successive mutations. Instead, all plants and animals appear to share the same complex DNA control mechanism. Does this suggest intelligence directed the process of creation and evolution? Was there a master plan?
· The activity of DNA involves the acquisition and storage of information. Billions of bits in just the right order. But if information is not physical, then how is it acquired and transferred? We can understand that once information has been acquired, it is stored as data in the DNA molecule. But in order to evolve, an organism must acquire new information. Where does it come from and why is it allowed to change previously stored data?
· Darwin started with a materialistic conclusion and then assembled the observations necessary to support that conclusion. His work was not science. He was using the tools of science to support his preconceived philosophical beliefs. If they had known what he was doing, his scientific contemporaries would have rejected his work.
· Contemporary counter arguments to the mechanistic theory of evolution are based on the verified biological record of organism development and the findings of molecular biology. They are science because they can be tested by the tools of science. By contrast, those who defend mechanistic evolution find themselves in the position of rejecting contemporary experimental observations and descriptions of how biological systems actually work. They must rely on observations that cannot be tested by the tools of science.
###
More Thoughts
1. Science would like to identify an ultimate mathematical description for everything that is (considered) reality. But since we will never be able to segregate physics from metaphysics that objective is impossible to achieve. For example, until we know what consciousness is, how can we claim to understand biology? The idea that science is the only path to a complete and all-encompassing truth puts an artificial limitation of the pursuit of the very truth we seek.
"Notions of final theories are incompatible with the scientific method. Given that we can only accrue scientific knowledge from measurements of natural processes, it is by definition impossible to be certain that we know all the forces of Nature or the fundamental particles that exist; ." - Marcelo Gleiser
2. Contemporary scientific theory includes the possibility that multiple universes exist in the Cosmos. Called the multiverse theory, it attempts to explain some of the physical phenomena that puzzle science. The results of the Higgs Boson experiment suggest the multiverse theory needs to be explored in greater detail. This exploration will take time. No one knows where multiverse inquiry will lead. But let us not reject the hypothesis or conclusion that there are in fact, multiple universes, nor should we ignore the probability God resides in one or all of them.
3. Proponents of Intelligent Design (ID) will continue to challenge conventional scientific doctrine. ID will not go away. Intelligent Design does not question the evidence of evolution, or the fact it has occurred. Instead, ID asks the simple question: what is the mechanism of biological complexity? Is it possible that the elegance of biological development has been guided by intelligence?
4. It is well known each increment of random complexity
creates a geometric increase in the possibility of failure. In theory, the more
complex organisms become, the greater the chance they will malfunction.
Therefore, complex organisms
(like humans)
have no
statistical right to exist.
First the organism had to encounter an environmental or internal need for adaptation. In order to make a successful adaptation; it had to respond biologically with a mutation that was the correct response, assembled with right DNA instructions, using available biological material, and executed in just the right order. But if each mutation is a series of random events, then each item on this list was also a random event. Do the math. It is unlikely the biological journey from a simple solution to a complex response was driven by a billion random events that just happened in the right sequence by accident. Any other conclusion infers intelligence either within, or external, to that which is evolving.
5. Advancements in genetics and molecular biology suggest cells have the ability to receive, process, store and act on information created within a cell, as well as information received from sources which are external to the cell. This is analogous to a biological computing network which uses information to make decisions that control growth, movement, differentiation, and response. Think of it as natural genetic engineering. Decisions are made for a purpose and then carried out by the cell’s internal biology.
Darwin assumed all genetic change was accidental and random. But recent work suggests the functions of the genome are not static. Instead, cellular change is affected by the cell’s external environment, mutation depends on internal biochemical processes which can be altered by the cell, and active cell response can drive rapid evolutionary changes in a cell’s DNA. Thus while Darwin’s accidental and random genetic change cannot explain the rather abrupt events we see in DNA and fossil records, a cell’s ability to acquire, store, process and transmit information does encourage rapid adaptive change. Information may come from the disruption of an expected internal function, the external environment, or (gasp) external intelligence.
6. Statistically, random mutations are unlikely to
produce the desired result within the desired timeframe. But if the biological
functions of the cell are actively directed by processing acquired information,
then the cell (and hence the biological host) is more likely to achieve a
successful mutation. By receiving, storing, processing, creating and transmitting
information, active organisms are able to adapt to changes in their external
environment and shape their own evolution.
But let us ask a
reasonable question.
Where does all this information come from?
If it does not originally reside in a cell’s DNA,
Who or what is the source?
###
Consciousness as a Creative Force
Mechanistic evolution is essentially accepted as an undisputed fact within the scientific community and academia. But secular evolutionists have chosen to force a theory of creation and evolution on us that is totally devoid of consciousness, awareness, or intelligence. We know, however, these attributes are fundamental characteristics of all animals that can think, including and especially humans. How can any discussion of evolution leave out these fundamental attributes? Do they exist? Of course they do, and any discussion of life must include a consideration of consciousness, awareness, and intelligence. Future scientific debate needs to consider both the physical and the notphysical elements of evolution. Where possible, theories must be confirmed by the methods of science. Intelligence, in the form of consciousness, is no longer considered a myth. This change in the evolution debate has prompted a few scientists and theologians to suggest the ultimate answer will be the result of cooperation, rather than confrontation, between theology and science. This is a journey that demands intellectual honesty, an open mind, and the tools of thorough inquiry.
Over the last few years our understanding of how our physical universe works has been challenged by new discoveries. Rather than confirm the Standard Model of physics, our search for the Higgs Boson (the “God particle”) has produced more questions. Over the next few years science will place greater emphasis on exploring the Multiverse Theory, the properties of dark matter and dark energy, and the biological concepts of evolution. It promises to be an interesting quest for knowledge. There is no doubt; however, science will eventually understand the driving force behind evolution. It will happen when scientists are willing to acknowledge consciousness as a creative force. A few scientists have already started down this path of discovery.
###
Christian Doctrine
Let us agree with the atheist or (confused) cosmologist who despises a creator solution to the origins of our Cosmos because religion and religious practices (as opposed to spiritual theology) have failed to live up to our expectations of Divine Providence. Yes.... we have done some awful obnoxious and murderous things in the name of religion – and we continue (sadly) to do so. Shame on us: shame on all of us. If we want to embrace 21st century Christianity, then we must review and reject that which is obviously superstition, illogically dogmatic, inanely ritualistic, or willfully intolerant. But let us not make the mistake of substituting the dogmatic and equally intolerant mythology of science for intelligent inquiry into not-physical explanations for creation and evolution. For us, the current debate is not about God’s power to create our universe, it’s about the mechanisms and timing of his creative activity.
Once again God has inspired us with new information about our ecosystem, and we should listen. God established the rules of evolution and biological development, just as he did for physics, chemistry, and geology.
Evolution was designed by God.
Science has not been able to voice a plausible rejection of this belief. There is no need for Christians to become entangled in the current scientific debates. Instead, it would be far more constructive if Christians simply insist conclusions about evolution are based on a renaissance of scientific thinking that includes a forthright assessment of what actually happened during the history of human development.
Christians may choose to believe it took extraordinary intelligence to design the mechanisms of evolution. Let us not forget we have a spiritual connection with the Cosmos that transcends the mechanical laws of the physical universe. Christians have a name for this transcendent spiritual connection: - God.
Chapter 6.
Our Quest for God
If we wish to know God,
we must be willing to discover and embrace
that which is
revealed to us
The Path Well-Traveled
In Christian tradition the Holy Trinity brings together God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Many have chosen to believe the spirit of God can exist in human flesh, as it did – for example - in the person of Jesus Christ. It also suggests a personal God in the form of a fatherly figure, and a spiritual God (Holy Spirit) that governs the universe. For many Christians, these beliefs provide the bedrock upon which to build a lasting faith. If you are comfortable with these concepts, then keep them close to your heart. It is a path well-traveled.
In the discussion that follows, we explore an alternative description of God. It builds upon our contemporary understanding of the physical universe and the essence of our human spiritual experience. Like the traditional interpretation, it also encourages us to believe God can exist in human flesh, is spiritually close to us, and governs the Cosmos. But there are significant differences in this alternative interpretation of our spiritual and physical existence. We gain a new perspective about the nature of God, where God exists and how God interacts with humanity.
###
Our Search for Understanding
We humans have searched for God since the beginning of human intelligence. We have been very creative in our interpretation of what or who is a God. Our explanations have typically been drawn from current experience, our fears, and our desires. God is a woman. God is a man. God is an animal. God is a star, the sun, or the moon. God is an invisible being. God exists in the earth. God lives in the sky. God reigns over our universe from a place outside our Cosmos. Human literature and traditions claim God is compassionate, God demands obedience, God is fickle, and God is steadfast. Our search for what is, or who is, God has produced a plethora of contradictory beliefs that have frequently been the source of bloody human conflict.
Gradually, however, most Christians have come to perceive God as a supernatural being, creator of all that exists in the Cosmos, the source of Christian values, and the essence of moral perfection. God provides us with a message of love, and teaches us how to become one with the transcendent principles of the Cosmos. In the final analysis, God is both a teacher of values and judge of individual conduct. For many, faith in the word and character of God provides life with its intrinsic meaning.
###
Traditional Christian Beliefs about God
There has been a continuing development of our Judeo-Christian concept of God ever since the first scribes put metaphysical thought to tablets. Jesus characterized God for us and his apostles often spoke of God in familiar terms. Since then Christian ideas about the nature of God have been the subject of limitless discussions, debates, and written text. A set of core doctrines has evolved that express our traditional beliefs about God. Here is a list of the most widely held attributes:
There is only one God.
The idea there is only one God is a fundamental doctrine of Christian faith.
God is omniscient.
God knows everything there is to know about everything (including what we are thinking).
God is omnipotent.
God is the most powerful force in the Cosmos.
God is omnipresent.
A favorite theme of both Christians and spiritualists, God is everywhere and always close to us.
God is the creator.
God created everything that exists, seen or unseen.
God is the process of creation.
God will continue the process of creation forever.
God is sovereign.
God rules as the highest authority in the Cosmos.
God is immutable.
The nature (or being) of God will never change.
God is Holy.
To be holy means to be totally separate from evil.
God is love.
God’s love is pure and genuine. God is the essence of love.
God is eternal.
God has always existed and will always exist in the future.
God is righteous.
We are all judged by God and his judgment is just (moral and irreproachable).
God created humanity in God’s image.
God created us as a likeness of his being.
Most Christians accept the sovereign nature of God. There is less agreement God’s specific persona. The most contentious is whether or not God has a gender.
###
The Holy Spirit in Christian Tradition
Although referenced many times, the Christian New Testament does not tell us much about the nature of the Holy Spirit, preferring instead to focus on God as the Father and Jesus as the son. It’s difficult to tell if early church scribes understood the nature of the Holy Spirit. References do not give us a clear differentiation between the nature of the Holy Father and the characteristics of the Holy Spirit. For the casual reader, God and the Holy Spirit appear to be interchangeable descriptions of the same being.
Although New Testament Biblical authors clearly believed the Holy Spirit exists, it was up to early Church authors to gradually create a description of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle’s Creed simply states “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” The authors of the Nicene Creed, however, gave us a more descriptive interpretation of the Holy Spirit:
“We (I) believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver
of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.”
The early Church believed the Holy Spirit (sometimes identified as The Holy Ghost) is the Lord, is the one who gives life, and proceeds from (perseveres with) the Father and Jesus. The Holy Spirit, the Father, and the son (Jesus) are to be worshiped and glorified. The Holy Spirit communicates with (and through) the prophets who speak (or teach) what they have heard from the Holy Spirit. The word “Holy” means the Spirit is blameless, without fault, and without sin. The Holy Spirit is the source of wisdom.
###
God in the 21st Century
Core Beliefs
There is no need to alter most of the core beliefs about God. Certainly we can choose to believe there is only one immutable God who is the sovereign of the Cosmos. That God the Holy Spirit surrounds us with his presence is rather comforting. He knows each of us on a personal basis. He understands who we are, what we are doing, and our emotional condition. He is there if we look for him. We also know God is Holy, God is love, God is eternal, and God is righteous. God’s presence as a spiritual force is the basis of the fundamental moral order that permeates the Cosmos, and it is entirely logical God preferred to create us in his image.
God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (everywhere), and omnipotent (all-powerful). Through his conscious will, he can create something out of nothing: His conscious energy is the source of the natural energy and physical matter of the Cosmos. God is sovereign, judgment, justice (the sinner shall be punished), merciful (foregoes the punishment we really deserve), and gracious (in his judgment). God himself is the standard of love and all that love embraces. To say that God is holy is to say that he is eternally separate and distinct from all impurity. God may choose to reveal himself to us as a personal God whose character and identity embrace unique attributes that are special to us as individuals.
God is love, God is immutable, and God is eternal. God is self-sufficient (he needs neither material possessions nor personal assistance). God’s existence has no beginning or end. God is not material (not composed of matter); rather God is the substance of transcendent spiritual energy. Because of this, we identify God as the Holy Spirit.
God is certainly the source of all creation. However, we may wish to make a slight adjustment to the statement that “He created everything that exists, seen or unseen”. Let’s qualify that belief by saying God is the creator of everything moral, constructive and positive, seen or unseen. We don’t want to get caught in the metaphysical trap of asserting God created that which is immoral, destructive, negative, or evil.
Perception and Discovery
God is a supernatural power. Spiritual phenomena (experiences) are real. There is nothing in current human knowledge to refute these contentions. Throughout human history, humans all over our planet have experienced the supernatural. Although it is not well understood, it will not go away. Even science admits experience of the supernatural has occurred. For 21st century Christians, we can choose to believe the power of the spiritual exists in another dimension that surrounds our being. If we are unable to detect the spiritual, that deficiency merely demonstrates the limits of our sensory capability. We do, however, have the ability to connect with the spiritual grace of God through earnest prayer and deep meditation.
Our human identification of a moral code and our empathy for other living organisms suggests a set of natural laws that come from a spiritual source. They certainly do not come from our experiences of an unfeeling physical universe. They have been revealed to us by the epiphanic thoughts of philosophers and theologians for over 3000 years. They are inspired by enlightened thought, intellect and introspection. The universality of these concepts in cultures all over our planet suggests they were created and communicated to us by intelligence outside the experience of our physical universe.
Things which are without intelligence, whether having life (plants) or not (rocks), almost always react to the forces of energy which surround them, be it water, snow, ice, wind, sun, cold, hot, or whatever, in the same way, and with the same result. The evidence also suggests these reactions follow a set of rules which govern the result. We can choose to believe these orderly rules of action and reaction were devised by intelligence; else the results would be a random walk. Or to put it another way: there appears to be a certain order to the rules of energy and matter that are more likely to exist if there is a God than if there is no God. And finally, since our universe displays a chain of causes, which would not have occurred without a first cause, then it follows there must be a rational being who established the chain in the first place.
One can ponder these thoughts endlessly. But to no avail if the mind is closed to the enlightened exploration of the spiritual. It is time for us to rethink our perception of God. That understanding which has served us in the past will not suffice for our future. We have lived long enough on this planet to comprehend a more sophisticated system of beliefs. We have been endowed with creative intelligence and a natural curiosity. Let us use these tools to discover a new understanding of God and his relationship with humanity.
If we wish to know God, we must be willing to discover and embrace that which is revealed to us.
###
The Nature of God
The Challenge
We will not understand the Spiritual Universe until we have the intellectual and emotional tools to realize its wondrous beauty. For each individual, this quest for faith can only be fruitful if we are ready to accept the truth of our discovery.
Our Christian concept of God followed the ancient traditions of Eastern Mediterranean religious beliefs. God was powerful and God was male. Descriptions of God and his relationship with humanity were based on a very limited knowledge of the physical universe. Male centric cultural mores provided a framework for accepted theology.
Almost 2000 years have passed since the resurrection of
Jesus Christ. We have learned much about our Ecosystem: physics, chemistry,
geology, astronomy, biology, medicine, and over 100 other sciences have
contributed to a substantial collection of knowledge. Theoretical mathematics,
philosophy, and theology have developed more sophisticated concepts of time,
space, matter, energy, and consciousness. Whether this knowledge came from God,
or through the diligent pursuit of human curiosity, one thing has become very
clear:
We have been
challenged to establish
a reasonable consistency
between the doctrines of faith
and our comprehension of the Cosmos
Most of the human knowledge upon which early church fathers and biblical authors based their theology is obsolete. While the wisdom of early doctrine will never be outdated, its expression needs to be reframed in 21st century terms. If we are to make the best use of our accumulated information, we must be willing to bridge the gap between theology and knowledge.
Perception
The spiritual, the masculine and the feminine are incarnate expressions of God’s being. They come alive, and have meaning, as materializations of divine energy. God is the absolute, pure, and perfect unity of energy in all its forms, its laws and elements, the physical and not physical, and the expression of life through the male and female. God makes his presence known through the power of his energy.
Energy is the basis of all life and matter. God is the
intellectual energy (or force) of consciousness and awareness. Since
consciousness enables awareness, intelligent consciousness is aware of its
creative self and the potential of creation. Intelligent consciousness has both
the energy and sensitivity to create space, light, time, life and matter.
Although God has the power to appear in whatever form he chooses;
We cannot think of
God as a material entity
or as a body of flesh.
He does not have length or volume,
nor weight or mass.
God is the ultimate singularity,
a force that surpasses
our inadequate perception of the Cosmos.
A unified set of fundamental principles underlie all physical and spiritual existence. We may not comprehend all that exists in the Cosmos, but all physical matter and living beings adhere to these natural laws. Both scientific inquiry and philosophical reasoning confirm we were created according to these principles (or laws of nature).
Let us be humble in our assessment of the divine.
In His Image
There is also a consistency of natural law that underlies
all life; including the attributes that personify Homo sapiens. We may choose
to believe this consistency is derived from the characteristics of God’s being.
It is highly unlikely God would create life forms that are alien to his
essential essence. Instead, the consistency of natural law (and the essence of
God’s being) tells us that in the process of creating humanity, God created us
as a mirror image of his self. Or to put it a different way, we humans were
created in God’s image.
If we believe God
loves us,
and wanted us to be close to him,
then then it is highly likely
God created us in his image.
Why would He do otherwise?
What would be the point of creating an alien life form?
If humans (and other animal life) were created by the laws of nature (which were established by God), then it follows that our existence embodies characteristics that are familiar to God.
The male and the female are a fundamental reality of our existence on our planet. If we believe God created us in his image, then the image of God must include both the male and the female. Isn’t that perfectly logical? Why would we assume God has no female attributes?
The process of creation has both male characteristics (as
in physical creation) and female characteristics (as embodied in the creation
of life). The process of creation also proves the nature of God.
The process of
creation would be incomplete
without the male and the female.
Both are required
to establish a complete Ecosystem.
It is not logical to believe the nature
of God
includes these same characteristics?
We can choose to believe God projected the essence of his being when he created us.
God the Holy Spirit
God can present himself in any way that suits his purpose. The source of this consciousness, awareness and spiritual energy is the Holy Spirit. When we directly refer to God, or seek out a direct connection with God, we are seeking God the Holy Spirit.
Since we are more comfortable communicating with a human image than an abstract persona, The Holy Spirit created God the Father. We humans usually seek out God the Holy Father when we pray because he relates to us as a familiar image. The masculine nature of God the Holy Spirit is revealed in the existence and energy of the God the Holy Father. He is the personification of the Holy Spirit’s power and wisdom.
God the Father caused the creation of Jesus who became God the Son. Jesus was the biological issue of DNA created by God the Father. When he went to heaven Jesus transformed into the same substance as his father
Thus it should be obvious there is a symbiotic relationship between God the Son, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. But there is more. God the Holy Spirit is capable of presenting both the male and the female as divine.
Many prefer to communicate with God through the persona of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Women are especially comfortable with the image of a compassionate female. The Holy Spirit has apparently chosen to support the divinity of Mary for this purpose. The Holy Spirit created Mary. The feminine nature of God the Holy Spirit is revealed in her existence.
If we want to find God (The Holy Spirit) we can do so directly, or through the father, through the son, or through Mary.
The Spiritual Universe
Since the Spiritual Universe is parallel with our known
physical universe and is the source of existential conscious thought, it
follows that the Spiritual Universe is the location of transcendent
intelligence. It is here we find the essence of all the highest positive and
constructive virtues of life. When we accept the existence of a “sixth sense”,
we enable our ability to interact with the energy that activates our awareness,
and it is then possible to experience the divine though the mechanisms of
prayer and meditation. We can choose to believe our consciousness is linked to
the fundamental geometry of space-time; and we can also choose to believe the
Spiritual Universe is an essential building block of the space-time continuum.
In Christian
tradition,
the Spiritual Universe
is called the Kingdom of God.
In moments of meditative introspection, we are able to experience a positive spiritual connection with the divine. Inner peace and a sense of self-confidence may come through prayer. We may also connect with the spiritual through the experience of natural beauty – a spectacular sunset, the vision of a mountain lake, and so on. In both cases, our five senses bring forth the physical sensual experience while our sixth sense connects with the spiritual energy of the Cosmos – God in the form of the Holy Spirit.
###
Spiritual Connection
In order to fully understand God, we must abandon the requirement that all phenomena have a physical material explanation that we can detect and test with human technology. Human technology has been unable to explain (or even find) all that is physical, and has thus far proven to be totally inadequate in our quest to understand the not physical (spiritual).
In Chapter 2, Consciousness and Connection, we explored the natural biological mechanisms that enable the interaction of our conscious self with the spiritual consciousness that is the Holy Spirit. We humans are certainly conscious beings, and we are capable of experiencing the spiritual as an extension of our awareness. We become aware of the spiritual through prayer, meditation, our sensitivity to the thoughts and feelings of others, the awe and joy brought forth by a beautiful experience, and our emotional response to someone we love. There is no physical dimension to loyalty, honor, integrity, love, morality, and righteousness. These are embodied in the spiritual nature of our being.
Although Jesus retains his identity as an individual, he became one with God the Father after his ascension into God’s Kingdom. Think of it this way. A mountain stream joins with other streams to become a river which continues to increase in volume until it reaches the ocean. The waters of the river mix with the waters of the ocean until the river is no longer distinguishable from the ocean. They have become one and the same. Yet the water of the river still exists.
For those who are worthy, there is a similar connection after we transform into the spiritual self that will live in Heaven. In simple terms, we are like the river that becomes one with the ocean. We connect with the consciousness and awareness that is the Holy Spirit. We are aware of God’s divine unity. We are able to find and communicate with those who have also ascended into heaven. It becomes possible to observe, and - if God allows – to communicate with those we have loved in our prior life.
###
Can We Connect With a Personal God?
For educated 21st century Christians, the image of God as a nice old man with a long flowing white beard is charming mythology. We believe this cannot possibly be true in a literal sense. But then, this raises a question: are we able –each one of us – to have a personal connection with God?
Unfortunately, our human concept of a Christian God has not changed much in almost 2000 years. Jesus wisely framed our understanding of God in terms we could understand circa 27 A.D. Jesus clearly believed in a personal connection with the God he knew and loved. He encourages us to embrace our own personal relationship with God, either though him or through sincere prayer and sensitive states of consciousness. But what is the methodology of this connection?
Fortunately, 21st century scientific knowledge, philosophical concepts, and enlightened theology do give us the clues we seek. But we need to sort through all the available information in order to develop a consistent and logical answer to this question.
The personas of God exist in the dimension of another universe. Although they may exist as a form of energy that is unfamiliar to us, they are everywhere. There is no limit to the number of simultaneous appearances that may occur at a moment in time, nor is there any limit to where they may happen. The Holy Spirit can appear (or connect) to us as God the Father, God the Mother, God the Holy Spirit, as Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, or in whatever form the Holy Spirit creates. The personas of God surround us at all times with compassion, love, and the energy of life. Creation of the familiar makes it easy for us to relate to the spiritual. The more open we are to them, the closer we get to the moral life-force that exists throughout the Cosmos.
Although this term
is philosophically over-simplified;
Contemporary western linguistics
encourage us to think of God as
“The Force”.
All over our planet there are people who use meditation as a means of connecting with the universal consciousness of the Cosmos. They become aware of a higher level of spiritual being. However it may be expressed, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, and Christian theology all support the reality of this connection. For some, a connection with a higher consciousness (or higher plane) is a sufficiently rewarding spiritual experience. But for many of us, we yearn for a one-on-one connection with a personal God.
And we can. Does it not seem logical that if God is powerful enough to create Heaven, earth and living creatures, then God is also able to manifest himself in the form of a familiar person?
The separation between the dimensions of our familiar universe, and the dimension within which he dwells, is but a very thin veil in the space time continuum. If we make an honest, sincere and humble attempt to seek God, he will listen and counsel. God may connect with us as a stream of consciousness (a stream of thoughts) in our meditative state, or may choose to reveal himself as a familiar life form. God can appear to us in whatever form best serves his purpose – a beloved relative, a long lost friend, a favorite pet, or a natural wonder of nature. Life connects with the living. God in the form of the Holy Spirit is living spiritual energy – the essence of life and love.
###
Can Science Find God?
Scientists and engineers, bless their hearts, are usually more comfortable when they are dealing with our physical universe. Experimentation and observation are based on the sensory perception of physical evidence that can be seen, heard, smelled, touched, and tasted. For them, belief is best served by an orderly set of physical laws that describe how things work. The tools of science and engineering are designed to enhance and extend human sensory observation. There is, in all this work, an underlying assumption: everything that exists – can be found in our physical universe.
This assumption
creates a fatal flaw in scientific thinking. If we assume the observable
physical universe is the only universe that exists, then we preclude any
discovery that would support the concept of alternative dimensions and
universes.
Failure to discover a Spiritual Universe
is a failure of intellect and observation:
not of fact.
If one accepts (or is willing to consider) we live in a bipolar Cosmos, then the existence of the physical universe must be complemented by a not-physical (spiritual) universe. Perhaps we have been given a clue in the juxtaposition of matter and energy described by Quantum physics, the discovery of dark matter and dark energy, or the exploration of matter versus anti-matter. In any event, if science wants to find God, it can do so. We can start by abandoning the assumption only directly observable physical phenomena are real.
After that, anything is possible.
Chapter 7.
When We Pass From This Life...
God abandons only those
who abandon themselves.
- George Sand
The Option
We could create wonderful concepts of Heaven and lurid details about Hell based on ancient sacred teaching; and many believers have chosen to do so. But we also have the option of basing our thoughts about the afterlife on the logical interpretation of available evidence. For a 21st century Christian, a belief in the afterlife shaped by observation and analysis is not only more realistic, it provides a greater sense of spiritual confidence.
Conventional Visions of Heaven and Hell
We tend to think of Heaven as “up there” and Hell as “down there”. Just as there are several levels (or places) where one may find the experience of Heaven, there are also several levels (or places) where one may experience Hell. Heaven is good, desirable, joyful, pleasant, peaceful, and beautiful. In Heaven one may find love, companionship, friendship, wisdom, and truth. Hell is bad, repellent, depressing, repulsive, painful, and hideous. In Hell one will experience hate, hostility, animosity, ignorance, and deception. In Heaven there is plenty. In Hell there is hunger. In Heaven one has good health. In Hell one must deal with the experience of debilitating disease and painful injury.
Within Christian tradition, we find many references and descriptions of punishment for acts against God and man. With great conviction, we are told Hell awaits the sinner in the afterlife. As an alternative, there are promising visions of a perfect paradise for those who believe and practice the word of God. Heaven is the reward for true believers.
These ideas may have been inspired by God, but they were written by men who had only a limited knowledge of the universe. We can forgive them for being influenced by their existing frame of reference. Superstitious, biased by the mythology of oral tradition, and motivated to explain Hell and Heaven in terms that would be familiar to their peers, these men would record their vision in the language of their age.
But we have gradually acquired a better understanding of our universe. We are compelled to respect the knowledge God has given to us. With it, we can express our understanding of Hell and Heaven in 21st century terms.
###
The Two Dimension Thesis
We live in a bi-polar Cosmos, where for most constructs of reality, there is an opposite and complimentary construct of reality. Hence, if there is a physical universe, then there must be a not-physical universe. Our known universe, the one we can detect with our five senses and with the occasional help of specialized machines/devices, is one pole of our bipolar order. The other pole is the not-physical universe, which we have chosen to describe as the Spiritual Universe and the location of heaven.
There are, of course, other philosophical constructs to describe the relationship of humanity (us), with our physical universe, hell, and heaven. But we need to focus on a 21st century version of the two dimension thesis:
The material reality of our perceived physical universe exists within a single tangible dimension. Here we find the stuff of matter, energy and mass. The human soul exists within the structure of a physical body. Our physical senses (touch, vision, hearing, smelling, and taste) create a conscious awareness of this universe. Although this dimension exists throughout the Cosmos, we are only aware of its physical components.
There is a bi-polar opposite dimension of our familiar physical universe. There is a not-physical universe within which the components of reality exist as a different form of matter and energy. The human soul resides within the ethereal structure of an astral body. Within this spiritual dimension we are able to reconnect with life forms we have loved in the physical dimension. The not-physical universe surrounds us and is everywhere in the Cosmos.
We can choose to believe the two dimension thesis. It works just fine for those who prefer a spiritual view of heaven.
###
Both Hell and Heaven Exist.
The philosophical reasoning of the two dimension thesis is not complicated. We live in a bipolar universe. If there is a Heaven, then there must also be a Hell. If Heaven is paradise, then Hell must be a nightmare. If Heaven is a place of tranquility, then Hell is a place of constant mayhem. When we talk about paradise, our most perfect example is called Heaven. When we talk about severe physical and emotional pain, we often reference Hell in describing our experience.
Here on earth, in this physical universe, we have the intellectual and emotional capability of producing an existence that is closer to Heaven, - or nearer to Hell. We have a choice. We have free will. It’s up to us. Jesus wanted us to use our intellectual and emotional capacity to establish a paradise (often referred to as the Kingdom of God) on earth. He taught us the word of God provides us with the necessary moral blueprint to achieve our objective.
Heaven exists within a separate dimension of time and space. Here we find God, angels, and those who have learned, adopted and practice the wisdom of the Cosmos (the wisdom of the Holy Spirit). “Heaven is good, desirable, joyful, pleasant, peaceful, and beautiful. In Heaven one may find love, companionship, friendship, wisdom, and truth. ...In Heaven there is plenty. ...In Heaven one has (the feeling of) good health.” When we speak of going to Heaven we are contemplating the transformation of our energy – our Life Force - from one dimension to another.
We must always remember this essential point. Just as there are physical laws that govern the natural physical universe, there are spiritual laws that govern the not physical universe. In this sense, when we wander from God’s canon, we deviate from the laws of the Cosmos. The more we ignore the word of God, the greater our sin and the probability we will create the conditions of Hell. On the other hand, if we learn and follow God’s commandments, we are more likely to create the Kingdom of God here on earth.
###
Updating Our Views of Hell
There are three problems with traditional Hell mythology.
It’s not “down there”.
There is no Hell beneath the surface of our earth. Geologists, seismologists, volcanologists, geophysicists, and oil field workers have never found any evidence of Hell under our feet. To reach the center of the earth we must descend through 62 miles of semi rigid crust, 410 miles of plastic upper mantle, 1392 miles of semi rigid lower mantle, 1367 miles of semi liquid outer core, and 378 miles of rigid inner core. To be sure, it is very hot at the inner core – about 12,600 degrees F. But we will not find Dante’s Hell. It does not exist.
Hell would be too big to hide.
In order to hold all the sinners who have been sent to Hell by all the world’s religions, Hell would be a sprawling place with several hundred miles of tunnels, planes, and caverns. It would have to be big enough to hold over a billion people. It would be impossible to conceal a place that big. But despite exploring our entire globe by satellite and boots on the ground, we have never been able to find a physical Hell on earth – at least not in this dimension.
Death Creates a New Self.
When death overtakes us, our physical form is usually buried in the ground, or burned to ash. It does not matter when, where, or how we decease. Our physical remains do not vanish into the unknown. They remain where we put them until we move them again. Assuming we choose to believe there is an afterlife, the soul (spiritual self) obviously leaves the physical self, and becomes a new form of being.
###
Hell Exists
But if there is no Hell in the traditional sense, then we are confronted with several questions.
· If there is no Hell beneath the surface of the earth, then where is it?
· Is there any place where sinners suffer great physical suffering?
· Is there a place of punishment, reflection, and repentance?
· Does God judge us when we die?
The short answer: we are judged, hell exists, and there is suffering. Repentance is possible.
Let us start with the world we know.
Hell is actually easy to find. But we must understand the events and conditions we are observing. How often have we heard the phrase: “War is Hell”? Going through a divorce is Hell? It’s hotter than Hell? These phrases describe the physical and mental suffering of our experience – and they happen right here, in our life, on this planet.
Up until the late 20th century, it was assumed that one must live by a strict moral code. The Church told us that if we failed to abide by the rules, we would go to Hell. Other religions took a similar approach to enforcement. Obey or be punished. Although the direct moral influence of the Church has declined over the years, following the rules continues to frame our human activity and thought. We cannot break the natural laws of the Cosmos without exposing ourselves to physical or emotional injury. Because we have free will, we have the means to create our own personal Hell. If we sink into the abyss of moral decay, if we defile our being with drugs or alcohol, if we participate in perverted lust, if we are filled with vengeful hatred, if we are deceitful, arrogant or contentious, if we debilitate ourselves with too much stress, or if we ignore the wisdom of experience: we are doomed to suffer the consequences. In so doing, we create our own self-inflicted Hell; right here on this earth; in our lifetime.
If our rejection of God continues unto our death, then our destiny is annihilation. Upon our death, we cease to exist. That is the result of our willful rejection of God’s commandments, our refusal to seek to be one with God, and our denial of God’s love.
But wait. Does that mean we are always responsible for the creation of the hell we experience?
No. We may have little or no control over the experience of hell in its many forms on this earth. Terrifying storms, floods, earth quakes, and forest fires inflict the destructive power of natural events. Human history is filled with examples of the hell created by people who use their political, economic or personal power to dominate others. Disease, injury, hunger, war, hatred, and grinding poverty are a constant source of suffering. Good people suffer injury and privation, beautiful children are murdered, mental illness destroys rational thought, people die of starvation and disease, and we are plagued by the fear of losing our economic well-being. The events and conditions of Hell are imposed on us from an almost unlimited number of sources. In these however, the genesis is frequently the result of human conduct. Unlimited greed, a lust for political power, military aggression, blind ideology, willful ignorance, visceral hatred, and so on. These are the failings of the human character. The result is physical suffering and mental anguish, often for both the sinner and the innocent.
We all become victims.
Yes, Hell certainly exists. It is a state of being, located on this earth, and in this life. But we often make our own Hell, we humans.
###
Hell is a Place on Earth
The existence of hell is summed nicely in this verse.
When it comes to descriptions of Hell,
We have been very creative.
Fire, pain, and humiliation greet the sinner.
Our literature is littered with ghosts and devils.
Hell does exist. It is here.
We make our own, we humans.
With often ugly words and thoughts,
We descend into the abyss of hostility.
Hell exists on this earth.
It is both physical and spiritual.
Where else would one find human suffering?
Where else the stress of despair?
How else can one explain random illness?
How often strikes accidental injury or death?
Why do events and persons make us victims?
Why suffer malicious wickedness or wretched despair?
We are witness to the misery of Hell on earth.
Even the just may experience the pain,
Of failure, frustration, injury, or death,
Whether their own or someone they love.
Yes, this is Hell. It is here.
But mostly it is our own fault.
We become sinners when we break God’s law.
We are the creators of our own personal Hell.
War. Torture. Violent behavior. Vile words.
The sins of arrogance, conceit, fraud,
Drugs, alcohol, and perversion lead to
Misery, death, injury, disease and famine.
But we can avoid the Hell of human sin.
God the mother gave us the ability to think and reason.
The Holy Spirit gave us commandments to follow.
By these we are able to create God’s Kingdom on Earth.
Be aware of the Holy Spirit’s counsel.
Avoid the road to Hell.
Punishment follows the sinner.
Grace comes to the faithful.
###
Updating Our Views of Heaven
There are three problems with traditional Heaven mythology.
It’s not “up there”.
Popular mythology often describes Heaven as a place somewhere in the clouds. There is a set of “Pearly Gates” through which one must pass in order to enter Heaven. Like a stern school master, St. Peter carefully looks up the record of our life in order to determine if will be permitted to enter Heaven, or sent “down” to Hell. Elsewhere in the clouds, God sits and watches over human events as they unfold on earth.
But try as we might, we cannot see Heaven from earth. Although we typically look skyward when we think of Heaven, neither our eyes nor our most advanced scientific instruments are able to detect any evidence of Heaven.
Heaven would be too big to hide.
Heaven obviously does not exist “in the clouds” or in the space between the planets. Its physical existence would obviously be far too large to hide in the clouds, or for that matter, anywhere in our near solar system. Although one could imagine Heaven exists out there “somewhere” in the vast reaches of outer space, such a probability is highly unlikely. We may be able to imagine the location of Heaven, but we have never been able to determine its physical location - at least not in this dimension.
Death creates a new self.
When death overtakes us, our physical form is usually buried in the ground, or burned to ash. It does not matter when, where, or how we decease. Our physical remains do not vanish into the unknown. They remain where someone put them until they are moved again. Assuming we choose to believe there is an afterlife, the soul (spiritual self) obviously leaves the physical self, and becomes a new form of being.
###
Where is Heaven?
We just need to look. Let us start with our experiences.
Most of us wish for the experience of Heaven in this life. We yearn for the joy of love; the contentment of companionship; the warmth of friendship. We often equate moments of happiness with being in paradise, and God encourages us to create the environment of paradise here on earth.
Most of us also yearn for a life after death. No matter how tough life has been for us, no matter how many sorrows and frustrations have plagued our everyday existence, most of us look forward to an existence after death that is free of the physical and emotional hardships of this physical universe.
After death, the worthy find their way to Heaven. It is not a reward; we have already been judged while we are alive. Over the years our fault or innocence has already been established by our peers and the observation of an omnipresent and omniscient God. Passage into Heaven is a continuation of our spiritual existence. Our soul dwells in a new tangible physical self.
Heaven exists within the Spiritual Universe. It spans the entire Cosmos. We experience joy as we pass into the spiritual dimension of the Spiritual Universe. Those who pass through the portal to Heaven are escorted into an entirely different space-time experience.
Those who are worthy transform into the spiritual self that will live in Heaven. We connect with the consciousness and awareness that is the Holy Spirit. We are aware of God’s divine unity. We are able to find and communicate with those who have also ascended into heaven. It becomes possible to observe, and - if God allows – to communicate with those we have loved in our prior life.
Heaven is real. There are multiple vivid accounts of people who have had a glimpse of Heaven and who were able to sense the all-consuming inner peace of being there. It is a positive, constructive and joyful Kingdom created by the Holy Spirit.
###
The Path to Heaven
We live in a bipolar Cosmos. If there is a physical self, then there must also be a spiritual self. The physical human body is the temporary home of a spiritual self. God will judge if our soul is going to be immortal.
The home of God and angels,
Heaven exists; but not up there.
A reality we cannot measure
It surrounds us everywhere.
God will reveal Heaven;
To those who deserve a space.
We journey as so many before us;
To find peace in a better place.
###
The Principle of Transformation
The fact that neither matter nor energy can be created or destroyed leaves open the possibility that we humans (matter and energy) can be transformed into the mass and energy of another universe. For most of us, our human form (matter) remains in this universe and our energy (soul) is transformed into the stuff of the Spiritual Universe. We acquire a new physical and spiritual self. Many people believe they have been able to experience their presence as energy or mass in another dimension during near death experiences. For some, this temporary transformation enabled them to come into contact with familiar persons in the Spiritual Universe.
The resurrection of Jesus is a good example of transformation. Human matter and energy were both transformed into a figure that can appear as a person in any universe. God followed his rules of physics. Neither the body (matter) nor spirit (energy) was destroyed. God’s power made the space-time conversion. After that Jesus could appear in our physical universe whenever he wanted to be with us.
###
The Evidence
Neurologists frequently explain the human mind is a physical result of neurochemical reactions in the cortex. Near death and out of body experiences, it has been claimed, are the result of transient brain activity as the cortex ceases to function. Since death is not a specific event, but rather a process by which the body shuts down, the brain may continue to recall flashes of images and sounds over a period of minutes or hours.
But this explanation fails to explain what people have actually experienced. In the description of some near death incidents, medical science determined the brain had ceased to function, and it would therefore be impossible for the unconscious cerebral cortex to experience any internally derived sensations. Normal consciousness and awareness - thinking if you will - were no longer active. Yet upon awaking, persons going through these near death experiences were able to report their accounts with remarkable clarity and vivid detail.
Experiments and personal experiences would appear to confirm the reality of an out-of-body experience. It may include a sensation of floating outside one’s body and perhaps even seeing one’s body from a different location in space. During the course of this experience, the spiritual self has separated from the physical self. We may be aware of our physical environment, or have our experience in a surreal dream world. The psychological experience can range from benign to intense, from tranquil to confused. Extrasensory perception, mental telepathy, and clairvoyance occur in this state. Persons who go through a near death experience often report transcendental visions of dead relatives, going through a tunnel, and encountering a very bright light. The perception of reality may not come from our five physical senses. Instead, the Core Consciousness of our brain creates an awareness of our being and the environmental reality of our experience. We enter a state of sublime meditation. Our conscious reality transcends into the Spiritual Dimension. This is the process by which so many humans have become one with God as death draws near.
We also have to be impressed by the astonishing similarity of these near death experiences irrespective of the respondent’s geographic location, religion, culture, ethnicity, or education. Although some respondents reported an initial intense feeling of confusion and panic, for most this quickly gave way to a feeling of peace and serenity. There was a sensation of relief and inner peace. Thoughts were pure, trustworthy, and generally positive. There was no physical pain or feeling of regret. Respondents often reported they were floating outside their body, and drifting through the darkness toward a golden light. Many saw images of the past and deceased friends or relatives. Some were accompanied through their experience by a person or being. Communication in a near death experience may occur by the transfer of thoughts, rather than spoken words.
After a near-death experience, many respondents believe they became more spiritual, altruistic, intuitive, and loving. Life assumed a deeper meaning. It now had purpose. There was a change of values, and a sense of serenity. Over time, many lost their fear of death.
It would appear from near death experiences that when a person passes through the portal between dimensions, the spiritual energy of the soul leaves the physical body of this dimension and acquires a spectral form that replicates the body that has been left behind. The spiritual self is able to experience (sense) information, emotions, communication, and pseudo physical sensations through extrasensory channels. We are able to “feel” our environment and how it affects us. There is a vastly heightened awareness of self as it transcends space and time. Concepts and knowledge are easily understood. Communication with other beings is both sensitive and pleasant. Transcendence into another dimension transforms our being into an ecstatic state. It is a wondrous sensation of brilliant joy, awe, and reverence. We are introduced to an uplifting religious experience by a guide who directs our travel and thoughts. Our consciousness quickly acquires an understanding of our new dimension. We are soon at one with the Holy Spirit and the energy of the Cosmos.
In this entire process, the soul (our spiritual self) is linked to the energy (the conscious force) of the Cosmos. It is able to transcend the familiar physical limitations of the body we leave behind in this physical universe. Although we may question the veracity of some near death experiences, there is mounting evidence they are very real, happen to people all over our planet, and may reveal the characteristics of a Spiritual Dimension.
###
Crossing the Ethereal Line
Our flesh has no money value.
It goes the way of all matter when we die.
Our soul has great spiritual value.
Nourish its growth in wisdom and faith.
Resurrection transforms the worthy soul.
It is this person
who dwells in the Kingdom Of God.
Father Giovanni
We start with a disarmingly simple question: is the afterlife very different from life in this dimension, in this physical universe? Let’s see if we can frame a satisfactory answer.
The line between our physical universe and the universe that is Heaven is not like a stone wall, or Iron Gate. Think of the line that separates the physical experience of our universe (which we can perceive with our five senses) from the Spiritual Dimension (which includes the consciousness and awareness of the Cosmos) as a crossing point where the energy of our self comingles with the spiritual energy of the Cosmos. The Spiritual Dimension exists within the Spiritual Universe (or if you prefer – Heaven, the Kingdom of God). Upon entering the Spiritual Universe our conscious self (or soul) blends into a harmonious whole with the energy of the Spiritual Universe. We are ready to begin an incredibly positive and constructive journey.
In the beginning, we are encouraged to go through a period of self-evaluation and repentance. We are encouraged to grow intellectually and spiritually. Knowledge flows into our soul. We become at one with the Spiritual Universe. We are reunited with family, friends, and even beloved pets. Heaven is a place of compassion and deep feelings of love for the Holy Spirit, those around us, and those we left behind on earth.
Think about it. Those of us who try to follow the wisdom of the Holy Spirit will usually experience remorse and guilt for our sins. We feel shame for the deeds and thoughts we know are wrong. Our initial experience in the afterlife continues this process of self-evaluation and repentance. It is a place, or state, of purification and growth. This concept is synergistic with the idea that God is love. The emphasis is on contemplation and self-evaluation, as well as emotional, moral and intellectual growth. We discover the truth and substance of all the lessons we were supposed to learn while we were on earth. But didn’t. We are cleansed and purified by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Repentant souls are encouraged to seek intellectual wisdom and emotional dignity.
God gave us his message. It’s in the word of Jesus Christ. It can also be found in the teachings of Buddha, Hindu tradition, Taoist philosophy, and so on. The Holy Spirit works with the soul of the sinner to bring about spiritual regeneration and salvation. God’s love is infinite. God’s justice is forever. Both are unconditional.
And let us never forget: God also loves the salvaged sinner.
###
Judgment
We are judged by our family, friends, associates, and strangers. They will evaluate what we say and how we act. Peer judgment frames our existence. We are judged by our peers and by the Holy Spirit our entire life. Rejection or ignorance of the spiritual is a rejection of God. Censure for bad behavior by peers or God may materialize in an unexpected way. At the moment of physical death, we encounter the Holy Spirit’s final judgment.
Think of this life, here on this earth, as a test of our character. We have free will. We make choices. We can choose to pursue a positive and constructive path to personal growth. Acceptance of spiritual wisdom strengthens our personal tranquility, no matter what our circumstances. For the thoughtful, sincere transcendent contemplation enriches our connection with God. Prayer and meditation create a connection with the love and peace of the Holy Spirit.
Or we can become a casualty of our own bad behavior. Self - punishment takes many forms. It may be subtle, or it may be harsh; often resulting in personal physical and emotional trauma from disease, injury, declining health, or mental anguish.
God sums his judgment with the opinions of our peers at the time of our death. There is moral order in our universe. God is not indifferent to evil. The pure of spirit, and sinners worthy of redemption, are encouraged to find the portal to Heaven. Souls for whom there is no hope of redemption cease to exist at the time of death. Their life energy dissipates into the ether.
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Is There Life After Heaven?
Interesting question: many have yearned for the peace and tranquility of Heaven. Think of it as a lovely place to rest, contemplate, learn, and atone for prior sins. Become one with the Holy Spirit. Reunite with deceased loved ones and beloved pets. Become a stronger and better spiritual person. Receive answers to questions that may have perplexed us in a prior life. Travel to the far reaches of the Cosmos. Perhaps interact with persons and animals that are still living in our physical dimension. Be assigned as an angel to guide a living soul.
Worthy Christians look forward to an existence that is spiritually uplifting, positive and constructive: but then what? Eastern theologies tell us we are destined to exist on multiple planes, each one a new life experience. Life follows death. If our accumulated karma is positive, we progress upward until we reach the ultimate Heaven. For a 21st century Christian, this is a fascinating concept. We have to wonder. Can 1.5 billion souls be wrong? Did God reveal something about Heaven to our far Eastern brethren that Christians are just now learning?
Those of us who are worthy of salvation will find the answer when we cross the line into the dimension called Heaven. Until then, the rest of us can only contemplate the possibility.
Chapter 8.
Jesus Christ
God’s messenger is a living example of his values.
Chronology
Interpreting History
It is amazing. Curious. Jesus is one of the most important humans ever to walk on the face of our planet, yet nobody seems to have had the presence of mind to write down the dates of his birth, ministry or death. Although there are many historical and Biblical references to his life and work, there are only vague references to tell us when these events occurred.
It is therefore impossible to establish confirmed dates for the birth, ministry and death of either John the Baptist or Jesus. Biblical references are subject to interpretation, and the Roman historian Flavius Josephus – who does mention both men in his texts – may have been more interested in the narrative he was writing than accurate historical information. Most scholars believe John and Jesus were born sometime between 6 and 4 B.C. (Before Christ, Before the Christian era). It would appear John was born sometime in March or April. Jesus was born about six months later in September or October. Other dates are possible. John started his ministry between 26 and 28 A.D. (Anno Domini, in the Year of Our Lord). Jesus began his ministry between 27 and 28 A.D. John was imprisoned in the spring, and beheaded in August, of 28 or 29 A.D. Jesus was crucified in 29 or 30 A.D. It should be noted the popular date of birth we observe for Jesus, December 25, was established by the Catholic Church in 336 A.D. (Julian calendar) in order to replace a pagan Roman holiday (Saturnalia) with a Christian holiday. Ironically, this is also the date when Romans gave tributes to the Sun God.
To further confuse the date issues, we should note the calculation of years and months in the Hebrew calendar does not match the calculation of these time spans in the Julian (old Christian) calendar; the Hebrew New Year may have actually started between the birth of John (in March or April) and the Birth of Jesus (in September or October); and finally, there is no year zero.
So, what can we do? In the absence of better information, we can establish a reasonable, logical, and credible time line that may, or may not, be entirely accurate, but does give us a way to lay out the events that shaped the lives of these two men. The dates are an interesting way to visualize history, but in the final analysis what matters to us is that both men existed and both men had an incredible influence on human history.
Jesus was born in 5 B.C.
So here goes. Tradition tells us our Christian calendar starts on the date Jesus was born. That would be at the beginning of the first year A.D. (There is no year zero). But the date of his birth was accidentally miscalculated. In 525 A.D. Pope John I asked Dionysius Exiguus to create a set of tables that would establish the proper dates for Easter. Dionysius invented a method called Anno Domini (A.D.) to number the years for the Julian calendar (introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C.). Dionysius renumbered the years of the Julian calendar, using the incarnation of Jesus Christ as year 1 in the Roman numbering system. Unfortunately, Dionysius miscalculated the date Jesus was born. He apparently misunderstood how the years in the Hebrew calendar were numbered.
But we can determine the probable date Jesus was born.
Under orders from Emperor Augustus, an enumeration was taken in Syria in 8 B.C. In the lands of the Jews, however, it was delayed by a political quarrel between King Herod and the Emperor. Herod was finally forced to order the enumeration, and it was taken in late 6 B.C. or early 5 B.C., when Quirinius was special legatos Aogusti to Syria. Because it was believed only God could number the Jews, Galilee would have been seething with anger and a very dangerous place to live. Like many Jews, it is likely Joseph chose to flee south to Egypt to protect his pregnant wife from harm in 5 B.C. There was a large Jewish population in Alexandria and the Romans were looking for skilled laborers.
It is likely Jesus was born before the death of King Herod the Great in 4 B.C. Herod had totally alienated the Jews and when he died the temporary gap in Roman rule encouraged Judea and other provinces to erupt in full revolt. Publius Quintilius Varus crushed the Jewish rebellion. Thousands of Jews were killed. It took several months for the Romans to quell the revolt and establish Herod’s son Herod Antipas as the tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, Philip as tetrarch of the territories north and east of the Jordan, and Herod Archelaus as ethnarch of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea. Since all these events occurred after King Herod died, it is likely Herod died in early 4 B.C. Because of the bloody rebellion that followed, it is unlikely Joseph and Mary would have dared to travel to Bethlehem in 4 B.C. This suggests Jesus would have been born before 4 B.C.
It is likely Mary was born in 20 B.C. Assuming her marriage to Joseph followed Jewish cultural custom, she would have been betrothed at age 13 in 7 B.C., married in 6 B.C. (probably after harvest), and gave birth to Jesus in 5 B.C. Given the timeline developed for John, this suggests John was born in the spring and Jesus in September or October. In an irony of counting the months of pregnancy, Jesus could have been conceived on December 25, 6 B.C.
Joseph, perhaps with God’s help, left Galilee during the only time of relative safety in September or October of 5 B.C. Jesus was born as they traveled south in the little town of Bethlehem.
Jesus was baptized in 27 A.D.
An educated guess is July. He would have been 30. John the Baptist had begun his own Ministry in 26 A.D. and by the time Jesus went to see him at the Jordan river, John had already accumulated a number of apostles and followers. John knew Jesus because they were cousins. Over the prior 3 years the two friends had pursued the study of religious beliefs and they had exchanged ideas about theology. Thus before the baptism John already knew Jesus was destined to have a significant ministry. His observations also convinced him that Jesus had become the Messiah; the savior of mankind described in ancient prophesies. As Jesus walked toward him down the gentle slope to the river, we hear John cry out in joy: “Here is the one I have been talking about!”
At first an elated John wants to have Jesus baptize him. He believes the act of baptism will wash away all his sins, as is the custom. However, Jesus has a different purpose for coming to see John. He tells John that he is the one who has come to be baptized. But his purpose is not to wash away his sins. For Jesus, the ceremony of baptism will mark the beginning of his ministry. It will be his personal moment of dedication and commitment to the task God has given him. From this day forward, there is no turning back. The baptism occurred in a pool near the Jordan River where a shallow ford permits travelers on the road between Jerusalem and Amman to cross the river.
Jesus was crucified in 30 A.D.
When word of John’s beheading reached Jesus in the fall of 29 A.D., he was at the peak of his public mission. But Jesus knew his own Ministry would soon be over. He was encountering the same opposition that had ended John’s work. Thereafter, Jesus spent more personal time with his disciples in order to prepare them for their own individual ministries. Jesus brought his Ministry to a close with his entry into Jerusalem in April, 30 A.D. When he died, Jesus was 33.
There has been much debate about these dates. There is a line of thought, for example, that Jesus died in 33 A.D. But there is a problem with this conclusion: Neither the Biblical nor the historical records reveal reliable dates. Mark, Matthew, Luke and John were written to present a narrative of personalities, events and doctrine from the viewpoint of the respective authors. The timeline was less important than the story. In like manner, the only other records of this period and place we have reflect the cultural perspective of the author. We can, however, infer reasonably accurate dates by relating them to historical events that occurred in the same timeframe. This analysis favors the dates described above.
Both John and Jesus would have been characterized as rebels. Think about it: They were critical of government power, and frequently censured religious behavior. This was an era when challenges to established authority were regarded as a way to commit suicide. It is unlikely their activities would have been allowed to go on for more than two or three years. John was arrested because he had the audacity to denounce Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Peraea and Galilee, for the ruler’s adulterous and incestuous marriage with Herodias, wife of his half-brother Philip. Although it is apparent the Romans were not particularly worried about Jesus, the priests who ran the affairs of the temples were furious. Jesus was more popular, and drew larger crowds. Not only was he challenging temple authority, he was even criticizing institutional morality. His demise came when he triumphantly rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey (or colt). For temple priests, that had to be the last straw. It would appear John’s ministry lasted about 33 months before he was imprisoned. He was beheaded five months later. The ministry of Jesus spanned a period of approximately 32 months before he was arrested and crucified.
But in the final analysis, we should not be overly concerned about the chronology of his life. Why? Think about it. Jesus brought us a message that is timeless. His resurrection is about everlasting life. If we do not know the exact dates, perhaps it is because God wants us to focus our thoughts on the significance of what Jesus is teaching. Not a point in time and space.
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His Life
God’s Purpose
Before we explore the life and work of Jesus, we need to understand the answer to one simple question: What did God the Holy Spirit want to accomplish? Its obvious God had a purpose for the birth, life, ministry and death of Jesus Christ. God focused a great deal of attention on this single human life. Jesus was given a mission to convey the word of God to all who would listen. His ministry was a spectacular success. His life provided us with eternal inspiration... That was God’s purpose.
We humans are naturally quarrelsome. Fifty thousand years of struggling for survival has made most of us organically cautious, apprehensive, confrontational, and aggressive. We are too quick to judge, frequently hostile, and prone to animosity. Over the last ~ 5,000 years we have acquired a thin veneer of civilized behavior, easily broken, frequently ignored, and often the source of oppressive social rules.
God wanted to modify our behavior. He selected Jesus to communicate His message with instruction and inspiration. Jesus would seek to convey God’s values to humanity, reinforce our belief in God’s existence, teach us about God’s love, inspire us to love God, encourage us to love one another, and show us the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. God wanted to confirm to us that immortality is possible if we adopt His code of conduct.
God has often sent a message to us through a chosen human messenger. For example, God’s instruction to Moses resulted in the Ten Commandments. The story of Daniel in the den of lions teaches us to trust in the Lord. And so on. There are multiple Biblical stories of men and women who were inspired to do extraordinary things because God instructed them to do so. And God continues to communicate with us: we humans all over this planet. We need only listen to understand.
With this background, we can understand God’s purpose. But why select a young Jewish couple? Why not pick a nice couple from China, or Egypt, or perhaps Central America?
The answer, of course, lies in the Biblical history of Hebrew culture and its existing views about God. This culture had already developed a complex system of theology. Old Testament teaching and tradition was an integral part of this belief system. The Jews believed there is only one God and they had already established their spiritual relationship with God. The message Jesus was destined to deliver would enrich these traditions and values for all humanity.
Becoming God’s Messenger
His mother was a bright, compassionate, and intensely devout 15 year old young woman named Mary. She epitomizes the ideals of spiritual purity and maternal grace. Because of her character, the mother of Jesus holds a special place in Christian theology, ritual, and history. She has been venerated in music, art, poetry, text, and countless sermons. Her story can be found in both Christian and Muslim literature. The veneration is well deserved.
Mary (also Mariam, or the Virgin Mary) apparently lived from ~20 B.C. to ~39 A.D. According to tradition, she and her husband Joseph were selected to become the parents of a very special baby boy who was to be called Jesus. Mary would have been 15 years old when she gave birth to Jesus. From the 2nd to the 20th centuries, most Christians believed God caused (or seeded) her pregnancy, and for many Christians she is known as the “the mother of God”.
Mary played a key role in the life of Jesus. She is considered to be the perfection of motherhood, and an outstanding example of a life dedicated to God’s work on earth. It is likely Mary is the one who made sure Jesus knew Hebrew religious law and customs. During his ministry, Mary was always close to Jesus with her love and support. As a mother and a friend, she was devoted to her son, his ministry, and his message. In many ways, we may choose to think of Mary as the first Christian.
Over the years, millions of Christians (especially women) have addressed their prayers to Mary, seeking the comfort and compassion of a woman they can trust. For them, she is the feminine presence of God. It is a role she continues to fulfill with grace and compassion.
His father, Joseph, was a quiet, conservative, and thoughtful young man of 16. Already an established carpenter and stone mason by trade, he conveys an image of spiritual strength and personal responsibility. Jesus would learn to be a man, the traditions his culture, and a trade from his father.
Like other Jewish boys, Jesus was challenged to learn the law before age 13. He could then join the men of his community in prayers. From his father, he learned how to work with wood and stone. Jesus was a carpenter by the age of 12, and a recognized artisan by the age of 18. As a teenager he often went to Sepphoris with Joseph to find work. When Jesus moved to Capernaum he found many friends among the fishermen who were sailing on the Sea of Galilee. He would continue to follow his trade until he was 30 years of age. Jesus had four brothers (James, Jude, Simon and Joseph) and two sisters (let us name them Deborah and Rachel). His brother James was destined to become the leader of a Christian group in Jerusalem. For his entire lifetime, Galilee and the rest of Israel was under the rule of a brutal Roman dictatorship.
When he was 27, it would appear Jesus had an intensely spiritual experience that brought him very close to his Holy Father. He started his search for spiritual truth among many competing religious theologies, political ideologies and personal philosophies. Jesus shared many of these experiences with John (who would become the Baptist), and they had many thoughtful discussions about their beliefs. God was there to guide his search. Jesus wanted to understand God’s values and the underlying theology of his teaching. It was during this time Jesus learned God’s purpose and the message he was to deliver. From these experiences Jesus developed a profound philosophy, one that would elevate his ministry above the cacophony of competing voices. When Jesus was in his 30th year, God told Jesus “It is Time. Now is the hour for you to begin your ministry. You have been well prepared to deliver my message.” It was a very solemn moment. Jesus decided to mark the beginning of his ministry with a baptism of dedication to God’s mission. He went looking for John who had, by now, earned the name “John the Baptist”. When Jesus arrived at the river Jordan, John immediately understood: here is a man who has a very special relationship with God.
Jesus first went back to Nazareth, an isolated town of about 700 people by 27 A.D., to preach his message. According to the New Testament, his ideas were largely rejected by the members of this small community because they conflicted with established tradition. Undaunted, he decided to base his ministry in Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee. This town had approximately three times as many citizens as Nazareth. Most of them were fishermen, farmers, and people who provided services to the caravans that passed by on the Imperial Roman road. The citizens of Capernaum had already been exposed to the Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism beliefs of travelers from as far away as India. They were more tolerant of the message Jesus taught. Here he found John and James Boanerges, and the tax collector Matthew. Capernaum would also become the home of Peter and Andrew. Jesus began to assemble a core group of 12 disciples. He frequently traveled to nearby towns, teaching the message God had given to him. As his popularity grew, he was able to add more than 100 others to his list of faithful disciples.
As the months passed, word of Jesus and his popularity became a cause of concern among the priests. Many were hostile because they viewed his teaching and healing as being outside the conventions of established beliefs. They were both jealous and fearful of Jesus. Although more passive, the Romans viewed Jesus as a potential threat to their political authority. These two forces constituted the “establishment”. The work of Jesus eventually became much too disruptive to the established order. He had to be stopped. Jesus was arrested, tried and crucified in the spring of 30 A.D.
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His Ministry
This was an age when most human cultures were passionate about religious ritual, and prone to accept belief systems based on widely held superstitions. The people of the Eastern Mediterranean were mostly farmers living in a highly structured culture. A relatively small percentage made their living as full time fishermen, traders, craftsmen, soldiers, government employees, or members of the religious community. Jesus would have been viewed as a craftsman, or artisan, with the skills of a carpenter and a stone mason.
Although Jesus was not aware of his destiny until he was 27 years of age, his entire life up to then was one of preparation. Every experience he had and every concept he learned, both the good and the bad, contributed to the process of educating this man who would become the Christ. In this culture, a man was expected to have a family with many children. God wanted Jesus to experience all the joys and love of family life (else there was no reason for him to be a human). Thus it is highly likely Jesus was married. Unfortunately, either Jesus never became a father, or his children did not survive. This loss left a place of sadness in his heart and accounts for why he had such love of children during his ministry. A thread of caring would weave itself into the compassion of his ministry for all people, of all ages, means and position. He would be a teacher of men, a light of faith for women, and a safe haven for children.
Jesus brought God’s message to the people of Judea, Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, Caesarea, Decapolis, and Syrian Phoenicia through the use of parables, metaphors, proverbs, and sermons. Jesus was passionate in his belief that God loves us all. He knew God placed a great value on every individual, no matter how far he or she may have strayed from spiritual awareness. Because of these truths, we know that God is always with us, and we can become one with God’s kingdom on earth. Included in these thoughts is the concept that God wants us to love one another, and God will forgive those who earnestly and honestly seek to repent. Jesus taught that if we help another person, we are helping him (and God); the innocence of children is to be preserved; The Kingdom of Heaven is here (all around us); and God cannot help you unless you give him your trust. “If you believe in God,” Jesus said, “you are my brother or sister.” Jesus encouraged us to love our enemies, to refrain from judging others, and to treat other people as we would want them to treat us. God gave Jesus the gift of healing, and Jesus used his gift on many occasions throughout his ministry.
Jesus began his mission when he was 30. His ministry lasted approximately 32 months. During his ministry, he never traveled more than 200 miles from his birthplace. Because his message was very close to what many people needed and wanted to hear, and because of his growing reputation as a healer of the sick, Jesus was soon regarded as competition to the authority of established political and religious institutions. Scribes and scholars participated in a closed social structure that discouraged outsiders. Priests felt they had the exclusive right to teach about God and the law. The Romans dictated matters of State. Jesus was considered an outsider and a rebel to all three groups. Although he was very familiar with the law, he frequently ignored it. For example, Jesus was perfectly willing to heal the sick on the Sabbath, he was never a strong believer in formal ritual, and he did not believe ritual cleanliness was necessary.
The ministry of Jesus was on a collision course with destiny.
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His Resurrection
As his popularity grew, the people of Galilee, Samaria, and Judea began to look upon Jesus as their Messiah, a military leader who would defeat the Romans and free the Jews from the tyranny of a hated dictatorship. He was already held in high esteem as a venerated religious teacher. It was but a short step to imagine he also had overwhelming political power. Thus when Jesus announced he would journey into Jerusalem one last time a large crowd gathered to welcome him. On what would become Palm Sunday, people cheered his arrival, throwing palm branches onto the dusty road in his honor.
But Jesus already knew what lay ahead. On Monday he went to the Temple and in a rare fit of anger, cast out the money changers and merchants who were using a place of worship for (sometimes illicit) commercial gain. He began to speak to the assembled crowd. His passion resonated with them and he spoke to them for most of the day. He again went to the Temple on Tuesday, and once again spoke to the crowd that had gathered to hear him. It was on this day that the Chief Priests, backed by other priests and Levites, as well as elders and scribes, challenged his authority to speak about God and theology. Jesus answered their challenge and they went away. His popularity and the content of his teaching irritated the priests and Levites who feared Jesus would diminish their religious authority. The priests and the Levites were also fearful Jesus would disrupt their use of the Temple as a commercial venture. They sent spies into the crowd to ask Jesus if he was loyal to Caesar. Jesus was careful, however, to avoid any words that could be construed as a challenge to Roman rule.
By Wednesday morning, however, Jesus had dispelled any notion he was the Jewish (political) Messiah. Disappointed, frustrated and angry that Jesus would not free them from Roman rule, the crowds began to disperse. Adoration quickly turned to animosity. The Chief Priests sensed they had an opportunity to humiliate this outsider.
Because he knew what was coming, Jesus spent most of Thursday in prayer and discussion with his disciples. The mood was both solemn and reverential. He invited them to join with him for a special Passover meal, an event we know as the last supper or Holy Eucharist. Jesus told his disciples he would be arrested and crucified. He also told them he would arise from the dead three days later. His resurrection would prove the truth and value of all he had taught them. With this truth in their hearts, he told them, they were to go out and spread his message to all who would listen. He then retired to the Garden of Gethsemane to have one last peaceful conversation with the farther he loved.
In the meantime, certain religious leaders, elders and scribes in Jerusalem had developed a plot to get rid of Jesus once and for all. They would convince the Romans that Jesus was a dangerous man and a threat to Roman rule. They were ready to act as soon as Passover ended on Thursday evening (by Jewish tradition that would be at sundown).
With the help of Judas, they found Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The mob seized Jesus and took him into the city of Jerusalem. They held a mock trial before the Chief Priests. The agony of the confrontation lasted for more than an hour. Jesus was condemned by false testimony and the contempt of all who were there.
Friday was Preparation Day. In the morning, Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate. But he quickly discovered Jesus was from Galilee and thus under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas. Pilot wanted no part of this confrontation and sent Jesus to be tried by Herod. Although Herod didn’t believe this lonely individual before him was much of a threat to the Roman Empire, and puzzled by the anger of the jeering crowd, he sent Jesus back to Pilate for punishment. Pilate turned to the Jewish priests for their counsel. When they demanded the maximum penalty, the crowd roared its approval. The people of Jerusalem had lost all hope Jesus was their Messiah and they were angry he had interfered with their merchant activity. Frustrated and angry, the crowd had turned against Jesus. Pilate saw a chance to accomplish three objectives at the same time. He could get rid of a potential political challenge to the Roman Empire, take an action that would be popular with the mob, and do a favor for the Temple Priests. Pilate immediately sentenced Jesus to death.
Jesus was whipped until the flesh on his back and legs was in bloody ribbons. The Romans gave him a crown of thorns and mocked his claims about the Kingdom of God. Dazed and struggling to stand upright, he was led to a small hill. His hands and feet were nailed to a cross. A sign was tacked to the cross above his head. It read: “King of the Jews”, a mocking reference to the idea He was the Jewish Messiah. Then Roman soldiers raised the cross upright and plunged the end of the post into a hole. Tortured by ceaseless pain that coursed through his body, it took Jesus three long hours to die.
Gradually the crowd began to disperse, leaving only a small guard of Roman soldiers to watch over the crucifixion site. The grief-stricken figures of Mary, his mother; Mary Salome; and Mary of Magdala, remained by the cross.
A disciple of Jesus and a member of the Sanhedrin council, Joseph of Arimathea convinced Pilate to let him have the body of Jesus. Joseph had prepared a crypt for burial and he assured Pilate the body would be safe until the Jewish hierarchy could be sure the Messiah prophecy had not been fulfilled. Satisfied a burial in a vault would assure the whereabouts of Jesus, Pilate sent word the body was to be given to Joseph.
The Roman soldiers lowered the cross, removed the nails, and carried the body of Christ into the tomb. There it was wrapped in a linen cloth. The crypt’s heavy stone door was rolled into place, and the seal of Rome was placed on it as a warning – no one was allowed to enter.
Saturday morning dawned cold and wet. Because it was the Sabbath, no activity was permitted at the tomb.
Sunday was a glorious sunny day. A warm playful breeze carried the sweet scent of flowers and grass. Mary the mother of Jesus; Mary Salome; Mary of Magdala and Peter the apostle returned to the tomb. They planned to ask the Roman guard to let them in to anoint and wrap the body of Jesus for burial, as was the custom. But as they approached the area, a feeling of wonder overcame them. The ground shook as from an earthquake. The door of the tomb had been moved aside. Slowly, fearful of what they might find, they walked one by one into the chamber. It was empty. Jesus was gone.
Peter summoned the guards and returned with them to the tomb. The Roman soldiers were astonished by what they saw. The heavy door had been moved away from the entrance to the tomb and the seal of Rome had been broken. Inside the tomb they found only a piece of cloth where they had laid the body to rest. After making a quick check of the area outside the tomb, they left to report the disappearance to the High Priest. They would ask him to protect them from Pilate’s anger.
For the priests, the news that the body of Jesus had disappeared was an unpleasant surprise. The disappearance could be construed as answering the prophecy of resurrection and that would vindicate all that Jesus had been preaching. A missing body also created a quandary for Pilate. It was a challenge to his authority and a violation of the seal of Rome that had been placed on the tomb. Pontius Pilate immediately issued orders for a thorough search of Jerusalem.
The Romans would find no trace of Jesus. And as for the disciples, they were nowhere to be found. Jesus had instructed them to leave Jerusalem and go to Jericho right after the last supper. Four of them remained, however, to witness his crucifixion (Peter, Judas, Jude and James).
Jesus was now one with God. He would appear several times that day; first to console his mother and Mary of Magdala, and then a number of times to inspire his startled disciples. Later that week, he would appear among a crowd in order to again prove the reality of his resurrection. The disciples were joyous in their discovery of the risen Christ. God had prevailed. The message of Jesus was confirmed.
A new Chapter in his ministry had begun.
Although we have chosen to take poetic license with the story, the resurrection of Jesus has been confirmed as historical fact. While many have tried, no rational inquiry has ever been able to cast a credible doubt on his resurrection. There were simply too many witnesses.
The life of Jesus has been dramatized in my novel:
“Am I Your Son?”
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His Legacy
Why have the few
rejected
the birth, ministry, and resurrection
of Jesus Christ?
It’s not because
they are unable
to find the evidence.
It is because they are unwilling
to believe what they find.
Father Giovanni
No one can doubt Jesus was very close to God. His ability to attract a following wherever he went, the magnetism of his ministry, and the compassion of his demeanor was something very special in the history of the human race.
The trial and crucifixion terrified his disciples. Confusion replaced confidence. Despair replaced hope. Rome had asserted its authority. The Jewish leaders had shown they were more powerful than Jesus. Fearing for their lives, the Disciples headed for Galilee. But when the risen Christ confronted them, they were suddenly and overwhelmingly inspired by the joy of his return. Jesus had proven the truth of his teaching in a way no one could challenge. The son of God had accomplished his mission.
The Apostles began to prepare for their own ministries. Inspired by the miracle of the resurrection, they developed an overwhelming passion for their mission. With incredible personal intensity, they would begin to spread the message they had learned from Jesus. Despite the threat of torture and death, they successfully converted thousands to the word of Jesus the Christ. Within 50 years, a new religion called Christianity would begin to disrupt Jewish tradition and law. Within 300 years it would be able to challenge the religious authority of the Roman Empire.
During the first four hundred years Christianity went from a persecuted sect to the national religion of the Roman Empire. Emperors from Nero (54 to 68 A.D.) to Diocletian (284 to 305 A.D.) tried in vain to stop the spread of this new theology by sending Christians into slavery, forcing them to work in the mines, subjecting them to torture, and condemning them to a painful death. But the message continued to spread and converts were incredibly loyal to their adopted Christian faith.
The Roman Emperor Constantine was proclaimed Caesar by his troops in 306 A.D. No matter what he may have personally believed, in 313 A.D. Constantine made Christianity a lawful religion throughout the Empire by his Edict of Milan. He also convened the religious Council of Nicea (325 A.D.) to reconcile differences of Christian doctrine in order to bring unity to the emerging Church (and his empire). Theodosius made Christianity the “official” religion of the Roman Empire with the Edict of Thessalonica in 380 A.D.
This movement would continue to grow until it was able to deliver God’s message to humans all over our planet. The cross (crucifix) became a symbol of his suffering, his love, his resurrection – and a defining insignia of Christianity. Jesus had become the savior of humanity. The popularity of Christianity was unstoppable.
For those who chose to follow, Jesus is the path to the Spiritual Universe. Jesus is the human personification of God.
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Why Was Jesus Successful?
Competition
We can envision Jesus walking through the fields and towns, talking to the local merchants and farmers, occasionally visiting a fishing village, and telling stories – with a moral - to small groups of people. With the exception of local temple priests, it may appear he had little competition. He was preaching the word of God. Right? No one could possibly ignore his words of wisdom.
Wrong. Jesus had intense competition, both philosophical and physical. His voice was one of many in a cacophony of competing messages. There were multiple Jewish theologies (sects). The two most popular were the Sadducees and the Pharisees. Most Sadducees were associated with the upper class. They favored a strict, parochial, and legalistic interpretation of the Torah. The Sadducees conducted the affairs of State, collected taxes, equipped and led the army, and acted as a buffer between Judaea and the Romans. The Sadducees apparently believed man has free will, and since there is no afterlife, there is no need for the theology of resurrection. In this they clashed with the Pharisees. Although some Pharisees were priests and aristocrats, most were lower income fishermen, farmers, tradesmen, and merchants. The belief system of the Pharisees allowed them to be more flexible in the way they interpreted the Torah, and they were likely to give oral tradition as much weight as the written word. A third sect, called the Essenes, had a more apocalyptic theology. Based in the hills above the Dead Sea, it is likely this much smaller group of Jews collected the Dead Sea Scrolls, and may have had a great influence on both Jesus and John the Baptist.
To all these groups, Jesus was an outsider. It is highly likely his preaching really annoyed the Sadducees and Pharisees. One can guess they were only too willing to cast the cloak of derision over this man who had no formal training for the priesthood, but was attracting larger and larger crowds to hear his message of faith. It was this irritation that would eventually lead to his crucifixion.
But what drove public perception to make the leap from viewing Jesus as an upstart teacher, to regarding him as a leader who would somehow free Judea from the Romans? And why was Jesus incredibility successful in a land flooded with competitors?
Mission
At first, his mission was only a modest success. One can only guess at the disbelief and skepticism Jesus encountered when he started to preach in Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. Jesus and his disciples were religious reformers with a profound message that challenged ancient beliefs. It was a provocative message of wisdom that elevated the soul and gave meaning to life.
Jesus eventually prevailed. His passionate demeanor held the attention of those who congregated to hear him speak. Here was a man who was obviously close to God. Sage, charismatic healer, philosopher, teacher, and social reformer, Jesus offered a new conception of humanity. There is, he revealed, a spiritual future for the individual that will be free from the disease, poverty, oppression, hatred, and isolation of this life. Jesus began to attract ever larger crowds. His disciples took his message to other settlements. People began to listen.
There are four elements of Jesus’ message that were (and still are) revolutionary:
1. In an age when oppression, cynicism, callousness, and hatred were the norm, Jesus brought a message of spiritual freedom, understanding, compassion and love.
The Pharisees gathered together to question Jesus. One of them, an expert in the Law of Moses, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus earnestly replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like the first: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the words of the Prophets center on these two commandments."
2. In an age when most religious expressions were male centric, Jesus taught us we are all equal in the eyes of God. He specifically included women and children in his message of equality; Jesus was passionate in his belief that God loves us all. The idea we are all encouraged to communicate with a loving and personal God must have resonated with the women who heard Jesus preach. In that culture, men dominated political, military and religious institutions; created (and enforced) the rules of religious and civil law; carried out most of the community’s commercial activity; provided most of the labor for art and craft positions; were more likely to read and write; and were expected to be responsible for family affairs. The belief that a woman has value in the eyes of a personal and loving God must have been an uplifting and exhilarating message.
3. At a time when society was divided into a strict hierarchical system of social classes, Jesus offered a new concept of community; In contrast to the authoritarian Roman social system, which demanded one be viewed as belonging to a class of persons in a strict hierarchy of privilege, Jesus taught there is neither Jew nor Greek, male or female, rich or poor. Instead he emphasized our inherent equality with all others who are Christians. One is not condemned to forever be at the bottom of the sociological pyramid. Even the slave can have dignity and status. Within this community there is love and compassion for the sick, the elderly, the very young, the hungry, the widow, and the poor. No one need live in the loneliness of isolation. One can have a sense of belonging to a community of friends, all brothers and sisters in Christ. Salvation is offered to everyone. His message responds to a very basic, deeply felt, human need.
4. In an age when there was much despair (famine, oppression, conflict, disease), Jesus held out a message of hope;
He taught us to embrace a constructive theology, to have compassion for others, to follow the wisdom of God’s values, and to seek the reward of everlasting life. His words inspire a nobility of purpose, the courage of a positive faith, and the comfort of spiritual peace. Our faith can make us whole. If we believe in ourselves, nothing is impossible.
Jesus knew God placed a great value on every individual, as an individual, no matter how far he or she may have strayed from spiritual awareness. Because of these truths, we know that God is always with us, and we can become one with God in his kingdom.
Success
Jesus delivered a message that would resonate throughout the Roman Empire. Many were seeking an alternative faith to give them courage, hope, and spiritual strength in an age of amoral cultural norms. There had to be something or someone who was more divinely credible and morally just than a pagan idol or an emperor who claimed to be God.
They found their answer in the message Christ delivered. He brought forth a faith that valued all human life. It did not matter if one was a slave or a patrician, a man or a woman, an adult or a child. Every soul was equally important to the Holy Spirit Jesus described. Furthermore, this was a personal loving God. Although there were commandments to be learned and followed, one could approach and be at peace with the Holy Spirit. Prayer could be spiritually private. Jesus set the example, and his resurrection confirmed the truth of his teaching in a wonderfully positive and joyous way.
There are four additional elements that contributed to the success of his ministry.
1. This small, struggling, often persecuted collection of Jewish congregations began to encourage the Gentiles to join them. The Gentiles were generally unwilling to fully accept the polytheistic religions of Rome, and were unwilling to convert to the strict kosher dietary laws and circumcision practices of Jewish law. For them, Christianity offered an attractive theological alternative because these congregations were less likely to insist on following Jewish traditions. During the first and second centuries, Gentile conversions quickly swelled the Christian population and the number of Christian congregations increased throughout the Roman Empire.
2. From the very beginning, Jesus inspired a sense of community. The basic foundation was (and still is) the family. Extended families were common. Multiple families gathered together to form congregations. Jesus encouraged these congregations to welcome the stranger, the widow, and the young as extended family. In his eyes, anyone should be able to join and experience the courage, hope, and spiritual strength of a Christian community. This sense of family gave Christian congregations the strength to persevere, sometimes against overwhelming odds. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the tireless work of Paul, a wonderfully talented organizer who foresaw Christianity would be strengthened if local congregations were able to nurture a sense of unity.
3. The development of the New Testament, including the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, various letters, and Revelations provided a written continuity of theology for Christian faithful to follow. The letters of Paul, along with his ability to organize successful congregations, encouraged the growth of the Christian church. Early church elders were challenged to discuss and resolve most of the differences in belief that arose, and the Council of Nicaea (which began in 325 A.D.) established the first written foundation of faith.
4. His apostles did an incredible job of spreading Christian doctrine. They traveled south into Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the lands of northern Africa; East as far as India; as well as north and west to Turkey, Greece, Armenia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Serbia, Romania, Moldova, Croatia, and Rome. Disciples of the original Apostles then carried the message of Jesus west into Europe, and south into Africa. One may get the feeling God encouraged the enthusiasm with which the message was received. By the 21st century, over 2.2 million souls believed in the ministry and theology of Jesus.
For Jesus, faith in a loving God is inclusive. There is no hierarchy of believers. We are all equal in our search for spiritual serenity and salvation. He encourages us to follow Him. He sets the example. That message was carried by disciples and converts throughout the Roman Empire and is still true today.
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Was Jesus Married?
A Coptic Script
A very small fragment of papyrus has been verified as an authentic record of ancient Coptic belief. Scientists have extensively tested the papyrus as well as the ink used to inscribe the badly aged fragment. They have analyzed the handwriting and the grammar of the author. After careful review, it has been concluded the fragment dates back to at least the ninth to sixth century, and may date as far back as the fourth century.
Called by some the "Gospel of Jesus' Wife", the fragment contains eight mostly legible lines on the front and six barely readable lines on the back. Harvard Divinity School professor Karen L. King emphasized the fragment does not confirm that Jesus was married. Rather, it suggests early Egyptian Coptic Christians believed Jesus was married.
Written in the Coptic language, the text affirms that women who are mothers and wives can be Disciples of Christ. The words on the front of the fragment appear to record a conversation between Jesus and his disciples. The fourth line of the text says, "Jesus said to them, my wife." Line 5 says "... she will be able to be my disciple," while the line before the "wife" quote has Jesus saying "Mary is worthy of it" and line 7 says, “As for me, I dwell with her in order to ..."
Cultural Influences
In order to determine the probability of whether or not Jesus was ever married, we need to evaluate his activity within the cultural norms that would have influenced his life. This was a culture bound by long standing traditions and social rules. Peer pressure was a strong motivation for personal decisions, and none were stronger than those which guided personal attitudes about family, social behavior, and religion. We may be critical of the superstition and reliance on ancient law that governed social activity, but they were non-the-less the basis for personal behavior.
The Gospel of Mark, which was written more than 15 years after Christ’s crucifixion, does not mention his wife. Neither do the later Gospels of Matthew, Luke or John. Many have chosen to believe this omission proves Jesus was never married. We must remember, however, the four Gospels were written ~ 15 – ~ 90 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If the Gospels fail to mention any marriage, this omission does not necessarily prove Jesus was never married. The Gospels focus on Jesus the man and Jesus the son of God. They celebrate his birth, ministry, and resurrection.
With these thoughts in mind, let us examine the options.
Jesus Was Never Married: Possible
Gospel references to Jesus emphasize the spiritual importance of his birth, his special relationship with God, and his knowledge of Jewish (religious) law and history (even as a 13 year old boy). Jesus is a man (the son of God in human form) who has a direct access to God through prayer. He is on a mission to spread the wisdom of God’s message. It would be easy to envision a youth spent in study and contemplation, followed by a young man’s commitment to celibacy and spiritual growth until he is ready to begin his ministry. For many, this is the pure Jesus, untouched by the rigors of manhood or the sins of sex.
But if we are honest about Jesus the man, particularly at the time he commits himself to a ministry he knows will result in his death, then this scenario fails to explain how he acquired his intense charisma and passion. He didn’t stumble around in a spiritual fog for 17 years (from age 13 to 30). Here was a man with spiritual credibility, intellectual focus, and strong emotional conviction. Jesus was a man on a mission whose charisma and warmth captivated those who knew him.
So; how and why did Jesus develop his passion and counter-culture theology?
Marriage as a Young Man: Likely
Unlike almost all of the other spiritual teachers, Jesus went out of his way to include women in his group of followers. Joanna, Susanna, Mary and Martha of Bethany, Mary Magdalene, Mary his mother, Mary Salome, and others are mentioned in the New Testament. Treating women as equals contradicted the wisdom of the prevailing culture, and on occasion was the source of some irritation among his male disciples. But where and how did Jesus learn to respect women as equals in the eyes of man and God? For that answer we must construct a likely scenario of his life as a young man.
Within ancient Jewish culture it was believed a man could achieve immortality through his children. His status in the afterlife was closely linked to the number of living descendants. Hence, it was important to have as many children as possible and to encourage them to raise families of their own. Sexual deviation was frowned upon not only because it violated the Law of Moses, but also because same sex relationships produced no children.
In this culture, during this period of time, boys were usually married by the time they were 16. There is no reason to believe Jesus would have been an exception. Biblical revelation celebrates sexual intimacy in marriage. Marriage was expected, even among religious teachers. Jesus would have been under incredible peer pressure to marry and raise a family.
Marriage to Mary Magdalene: Unlikely
There is a popular belief that Jesus met and married Mary Magdalene during his ministry. It is true he developed a very close relationship with her. Jesus met Mary of Magdala during a trip to Caesarea. Wealthy in her own right, she was attracted to Jesus because of his intense charisma, quiet grace, wonderful knowledge of the spiritual, and compassion for everyone he met. She was included within his inner circle of disciples in an age when women were seldom allowed to be students or disciples of a spiritual teacher. Mary was a courageous woman who accompanied Jesus throughout his later ministry; impressed Jesus with her spiritual insight; helped Jesus financially; was faithful even when the other disciples were afraid to support Jesus at his trial; was the first person to see him after his resurrection; and was the first to announce to all who would listen that Jesus had arisen. The fourth-century theologian Augustine called her the "Apostle to the Apostles", in recognition of her role in the life of Jesus.
But the idea that Mary Magdalene was his wife fails for at least eight reasons:
First: It was the custom of the time to refer to married women as being the wife of their husbands. If Mary had married Jesus, the Gospels would refer to her as “Mary, the wife of Jesus”. But this association has never been made in any of the texts.
Second: In one of the most emotional moments in the story of the resurrection, a grief-stricken and weeping Mary Magdalene is desperately looking for the body of Jesus. He calls out to her: “Mary”. Turning, she sees him for the first time and calls out “Rabbuni” (translated as teacher or master). She calls him by the same name used by the other disciples. If Mary had an intimate relationship with Jesus, it is likely she would have used a term of marital endearment. But she does not, indicating their relationship was one of disciple and teacher.
Third: Before he started his ministry at age 30, it would appear Jesus decided to adopt the discipline of celibacy. There is a remarkable resemblance between Christian doctrine and the Essene system of beliefs. The Essenes considered celibacy to be praiseworthy behavior of any man who wanted to be close to God. Jesus was influenced by these beliefs as he was developing the theology for his ministry. Indeed, his forty days in the wilderness may have been as a guest of the Essenes near the Dead Sea. The adoption of celibacy allowed Jesus to focus all his energy and intellect on his mission.
Fourth: Jesus was a very intelligent man. He must have known his ministry would not provide the time or environment for a successful family life. In addition, Jesus would have certainly understood his counter-culture theology would lead to a confrontation with contemporary religious and political leaders; a conflict that he was sure to lose. With no dependent family and a vow of celibacy, Jesus was free to concentrate on his mission.
Fifth: Mary Magdalene’s position within the group that followed Jesus was of a devoted and worthy disciple. She appears to have been sufficiently independent financially to help fund the ministry of her teacher. The Gospels respect her intelligence as a disciple and the importance of her witness to the trial, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That a woman could be the primary witness to these events was a radical idea, and confirms her independence as a disciple.
Sixth: Jesus treated the members of his inner circle with respect. He embraced men and women as equals. He refused to reduce the importance of a woman based on her sexuality. His love for women, and their love for him, was a primary driving force for the eventual success of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. Hence women, including Mary Magdalene, surrounded him whenever he took his ministry into the countryside. They were disciples and observers, not familiar partners.
Seventh: Jesus had enemies who were looking for every chance to criticize his beliefs and activities. Nowhere do we find an accusation of sexual misconduct in his relationship with any woman. If Jesus had married Mary Magdalene, they would have found a way to find fault with his choice of a partner.
Eighth: If we accept he had been married as a young man, it is likely his wife died – perhaps when he was 27. The emotional devastation of her death may have been a turning point in his life. Jesus would have refrained from a second marriage out of respect and love from the woman who had been his marriage companion.
And a final thought. Mary Magdalene became a trusted and influential apostle within the growing Christian movement. Who was this woman whose maturity and character encouraged belief and commitment? Was she actually an older woman, perhaps recently widowed, who was seeking spiritual consolation when she met the charismatic and sympathetic Jesus? Did they connect because he understood her grief? Did she find transcendent comfort and inspiration (as so many have done) in a loving association with Jesus Christ?
From the Gospel of John:
It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,” she said, “and we don’t know where they have put him.”
Peter and the others rush to the tomb to see for themselves, and then leave. Standing alone outside the tomb, still weeping, Mary Magdalene once again peers cautiously into the tomb.
“Then, still weeping, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, “Woman, why are you weeping?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” As she said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognize him. Jesus said, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.” Jesus said, “Mary!” She knew him then and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbuni!”—which means Master. Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to...my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” So Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had said these things to her.”
Mary of Magdala found her beloved teacher.
What Would God Want?
And of course, we must consider – what would God want?
1. God would want Jesus to be thoroughly familiar with Jewish (religious) law and religious customs. Jesus would need this knowledge if he was to defend his theology against the challenges of his critics and effectively bring God’s message to those who followed him. Both Mary and Joseph heeded God’s counsel by making sure Jesus was well versed in contemporary Jewish beliefs. By age 13, he understood the law well enough to engage in a discussion of considerable depth with temple priests in Jerusalem. This episode also reveals an independent and remarkably mature Jesus.
2. God would want Jesus to be passionate about his mission. In addition to having an intellectual understanding of theology and the law, Jesus must also have the innate ability to deliver a powerful message. If he is to minister with a voice that resonates with his contemporaries, then Jesus must live the compassion of love and experience the suffering of hatred. The obvious solution: Jesus would live and experience human life with all its joys, sorrows, triumphs, and tragedies. Jesus would acquire his credibility, and his passion, by taking his place among the men of his community. His life, and his life style, would be influenced by the cultural norms of his community.
If God is compassionate and loving, would he not want Jesus to be the same? Would he want Jesus to experience human life with all its joys, sorrows, challenges, and triumphs? One can acquire an intellectual understanding of theology through study, but in order to value the deeply emotional significance of theological concepts one must live them. The experience of married love would round out Jesus the man and Jesus the teacher. After all, how can one teach about life if one has not experienced it?
Marriage
Following cultural norms, it is likely Jesus was married by the age of 16. Mary and Joseph would have known the girl’s parents. Perhaps they participated in the selection of a suitable companion. In any event, it was perfectly natural for Jesus to be married according to the customs of his community. But it is unlikely Jesus and his wife produced any progeny. If they had done so, the men who wrote the gospels would have mentioned them by name because children (especially males) were a mark of a man’s wealth. Instead, this young couple would have been subjected to intense social pressure and belittlement when their marriage produced no progeny. One can guess Jesus drew ever closer to his beloved wife as the years went by. They both longed to have children. But they did not. Was it from this experience that Jesus developed his very strong sense of compassion for women and his love for children? Does that not seem logical?
Why Isn’t She Mentioned in the New Testament?
Since there were no children, the marriage was not important. Any revelation about a marriage would have been seen as a distraction to the main purpose of the male centric Gospels. In order for Jesus to be a symbol of spiritual purity, and the son of God, earthly details about his life must be discarded. Within this cultural environment, there is nothing unusual about Matthew’s description of Jesus, or the details of how he started his ministry. Matthew clearly wants to prove that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah and does so by giving us a striking image of Jesus in vivid detail.
But if Jesus was married, then what happened to her? Did she pass away from disease or accident? Possible; these were tough times. That would certainly explain the passion with which Jesus launched his ministry. The loss of his beloved wife after a marriage that produced no children would have been emotionally devastating. It could have been the event that sparked his search for spiritual union with God.
On the other hand, is it possible she is “the disciple whom Jesus loved?” mentioned six times in John? Tradition says this disciple was male and the reference may have been to John himself. But the references appear confused. At least three authors contributed to the Book of John. The early church went out of its way to ignore the silent years. But could it have been his wife? Of all the Gospels, does John (or whoever wrote the Gospel of John) have the best understanding of Jesus the man and the meaning of his message?
Many questions: we can only contemplate possible answers.
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Is Jesus the Jewish Messiah?
The author of the Book of Matthew was determined to prove Jesus is the Jewish Messiah chronicled by the prophecies found in the Old Testament. Unfortunately, his text has been the source of incredible confusion, contention, and constant bickering for almost 2,000 years because it creates a lot of theological baggage. In order for Jesus to be the Jewish Messiah, he must be a member of the tribe of Judah and a direct male descendent of both King David and King Solomon on his father’s side. But according to Matthew, Jesus was the son of a male God. This means his lineage cannot be traced back through Joseph, a requirement under Jewish law. In addition, in order to be the Jewish Messiah Jesus would have to usher in an era of world peace, stop oppression, end suffering, and cure every disease. According to Jewish theology, the messiah would also have been a great political and military leader who returned all Jews back to the lands of Israel, and establish Israel as the center of all world government.
For Jesus, the concept of Messiah had another meaning. His mission was to save humanity by bringing us closer to God, teaching us God’s values, and proving salvation (resurrection) is possible for the faithful (no matter who they are or their circumstances). He was a teacher of morality, making ethical ideas easy to remember and popular among the people. If he had simply been another Jewish radical nationalist, Christianity would not exist. There would have been nothing unique about his crucifixion.
Thus: Jesus does not fulfill the role of a Jewish Messiah.
In addition:
1. God never planned for Jesus to become the Jewish Messiah.
If we review God’s purpose, it should be clear Jesus was to deliver God’s message of spiritual inspiration. It did not include rebellion, the slaughter of oppressors, or a hostile victory over mortal evil.
2. Jesus did not want to be the Jewish Messiah.
During his entire life, Jesus witnessed the brutality of Roman oppression. Jesus knew one does not challenge brutal authority and established religious hierarchy without consequences. He would deliver his message and prove to all humanity life after death is not only possible; it is probable for those who adopt God’s values. Jesus was on a mission to bring God’s message to all of humanity.
3. Most Jews do not consider Jesus to be their messiah.
Although admired for his ministry, most Jews do not believe Jesus was the Jewish Messiah.
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Is Jesus the Christian Messiah?
For Christians, Jesus does fulfill several prophesies
found in the Old Testament. As prophesized in Isaiah, Jesus has provided a
message of inspiration and has been a source of spiritual guidance for leaders
of many nations; his message has attracted people from most nations and
cultures; he is viewed as the Prince of Peace; and because of his ministry,
Christianity has been established as a monotheistic theology. Jesus was
faithful to the mission and message conveyed to him by God, he taught both
gentiles and Jews (and anyone else who cared to listen), he was seen as a
suffering servant of God, he was a charismatic leader who inspired others to
follow his example, and he taught we who believe in him now will be saved (in
the future). Thus:
In carrying out God’s mission,
Jesus defines the
role of a Christian Messiah.
Jesus set the example, and his resurrection confirmed his message in a wonderfully positive and joyous way. His words inspire a nobility of purpose, the courage of a positive faith, and the comfort of spiritual peace.
By these measures, the character, life, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus fulfill the requirements of a Christian Messiah.
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Was Jesus the Son of God?
According to Matthew
For most Christians, the birth of Christ to a Virgin Mary is a wonderfully uplifting and spiritually thrilling story. It represents the excitement of new life, the promise of spiritual grace, and a living proof of God’s love. We must always respect the beliefs of those who find spiritual joy and inspiration in the concept of a virgin birth.
But perplexing questions and controversy have always surrounded the virgin birth story.
Translations
It only appears in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. The concept of a virgin birth does not appear in Mark, considered by scholars to be the first Gospel to be written, nor does it appear in John, which focuses on the theology of Christ’s ministry. In the older Masoretic text Mary is simply referred to as a “young woman”. Paul tells us Jesus was “born of a woman” (not a virgin), and “born under the law” which indicates Paul believed the birth of Jesus complied with Jewish law. Premarital intercourse was forbidden. Joseph would have been expected to “plant his seed” after a proper marriage.
Hebrew has a specific word, betulah, for a virgin, and a more general word, `almah, for a young woman. If one is translating from the Hebrew, the proper translation of Isaiah 7:14 is "young woman" or "young maiden". A translation of almah into "virgin" is apparently unusual. Almah is used in the Tanakh to describe a young woman of marriageable age, unmarried or married. Thus Isaiah describes a young woman who might or might not be a virgin. A later Greek version of the New Testament translated the word almah into parthenos, the Greek word for "virgin".
Problems
In addition, Matthew’s story is based on obsolete medical science (discussed below). As a result, a virgin birth creates several problems that have plagued Christianity for almost 2,000 years:
1. A birth outside of marriage would be contrary to Jewish law. God would not ask these two young people to commit an act that could be construed as mortal sin.
2. In order to assure it was God who seeded Mary, early Church leaders decided Joseph was really an old man (who could not, presumably, seed Mary). But this conflicted with the image of Joseph as a young father.
3. If it was God’s seed, it could not be Joseph’s seed, and Jesus would not be able to trace his ancestry back to King David; a very important attribute for Matthew and early Christians.
4. To solve the lineage problem, it was decided to trace the ancestry of Jesus through Mary to King David. But this was in direct conflict with the ancient concept a person’s ancestry could only be traced through the male who seeded the pregnancy.
5. And finally, many early Christians wanted to believe Mary was never seeded by a human. She was “immaculate” and “innocent” of all earthly sin. This conflicts with the evidence of her six other children.
It is likely the author of Matthew believed God’s “seed” would be a complete human baby (a tiny fetus), ready to grow in Mary’s womb. Because it was a seed created by God, Matthew assumed it would have the divine characteristics of God (in effect, it would be the progeny of the Holy Father). Jesus was thus expected to be the son of God with the physical characteristics of a human male.
Let us discuss the lineage problem in more detail.
According to Matthew and Luke, Joseph was not the father of Jesus. Thus early church theologians were put into the position of trying to trace the lineage of Jesus though Mary to King David, an effort contemporaneous Jews would reject because they believed a baby’s lineage must be traced through the male. In addition, if it was generally believed a woman contributed nothing to conception, then how could there be a connection? Thus we have a conundrum; neither Mary nor Joseph provides a link to King David because neither one contributed to the conception. On the other hand, if we accept Joseph was the father, and Mary was a natural mother, the connection with King David is theologically and biologically correct.
Matthew’s Mission
The author of Matthew is definitely a man on a mission. His devotion and love of Christ resonates throughout his text. He wants us to believe and he does a marvelous job. The story of the virgin birth has been the inspirational source for several million prayers, lines of text, and sermons; thousands of paintings and graphic representations; and hundreds of songs and poems. The concept of a virgin birth has become a fundamental construct of traditional Christian theology.
Despite this success however, there remains the nagging suspicion that the author of Matthew created the story of the Virgin Birth in order to elevate Jesus above other kings and emperors. He also wanted to show the birth of Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies that predicted a Jewish messiah. We have to admit the claim of a virgin birth was a common practice in ancient Rome. The intent was to extoll the superiority of a ruler over the value of the rabble in a highly structured class system. Having Apollo, Hercules, Jupiter, or Mars as a father gave an emperor or King unquestioned imperial status. If Jesus was to be the “King of Kings”, he must have a lineage that was above all human rulers.
Thus the authors of Matthew and Luke have created an enigma. They established an unresolvable confusion over the conception of Jesus and how his genealogy can be traced back to King David.
This leads us to (at least) two more questions: Is a virgin birth the only way to establish divinity? What did God want?
God Has the Power
God obviously wanted his message to have a maximum impact on human theology and behavior. He needed a way to deliver a very clear message that would have lasting value. The best way for him to have a lasting impact on human philosophy was to frame the message with a person who could not only preach with conviction and credibility; his messenger must also be a living example of his teaching.
God had two choices: He could create his messenger by seeding Mary, or he could influence the natural conception of a baby who would become his messenger. Either way works, and in both cases God would have a very close spiritual relationship with the person who became his messenger.
God certainly has the power to create a perfect fetus (or zygote), and it would not be difficult for him to place it in Mary’s womb. However, God could also provide the DNA for Mary’s egg and Joseph’s sperm. In so doing, God can guarantee baby Jesus would be predisposed to have good health, strong intellectual capability, and emotional composure. He could even include the DNA to link Jesus with King David.
God would have been able to ensure Mary’s fetus had all the physical, intellectual and emotional characteristics He wanted in the person of his messenger. By giving life to the fetus, God would also make Jesus divine.
But wait. What is it that made Jesus divine? It was not his physical appearance. By all accounts he was a human male with all of the physical characteristics we would expect in a human male. It also appears his internal organs were like those of any other male. Although Jesus exhibited the intellectual and emotional characteristics of a very intelligent man, and was blessed with an intense charisma, these attributes can be found in other men.
The term divine means devout, holy, pious, saintly, transcendent, righteous, and Godly. Many humans have exhibited one or more of these attributes. Jesus was all of these. But what sets him apart from other mortal men?
Remember our discussion of consciousness in Chapter 2? Somewhere within our brain is the seat of consciousness and it is here where we find the ability to make a profound spiritual connection with the conscious energy of the universe. It is the link to our most powerful sense of the beautiful, the majestic, and the noble. It is on this level the adult Jesus was able to connect with God.
Jesus had the God given power
to make this
deeply spiritual connection.
Jesus had an extraordinary ability to enter into a conversation with the Holy Spirit. The DNA he received from God gave him the physical ability to make a conscious connection and created the spiritual basis for a father - son relationship.
Given the cultural environment within which Mary and Joseph lived, they would have been thrilled when the angel told them they would be the parents of a baby that would be close to God. They would have joyfully accepted their responsibility.
The Natural Birth Thesis
We can choose to believe the story of a virgin birth. Nagging questions aside, it is a beautiful and inspiring story. However, there is an alternative theory of how Jesus became divine. Called the natural birth thesis, it is based on 21st century medical knowledge and shows us how Jesus was groomed from conception to be God’s son. It is both a credible and natural explanation of his life.
During the time the New Testament was written and the early Church was developing (~30 – ~451 A.D.), it was generally believed that a woman contributed nothing to the creation of a baby. A man planted his “seed” (a complete human) into a woman’s body and if she was fertile, the seed would attach to the womb and grow into a baby. The agrarian idea a woman could be infertile (or barren) and hence incapable of providing the “soil” for the seed persisted into the 20th century.
The discovery of how conception works had to wait for the invention of the microscope, attributed to Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 1632–1723. By the late seventeenth century, both key components of fertilization — the egg and sperm — had been postulated, yet the contribution of the human male and female remained a matter of theory. Oscar Hertwig (1875) showed how the sperm head fused with the female genetic material in sea urchins, giving a conceptual basis for genetic inheritance. But the discovery of how the human female egg is fertilized would not be confirmed until the 1900s (by Edgar Allen 1928). The importance of DNA was not clearly recognized until 1953.
A molecule of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contains the genetic instructions that govern the growth, development, function and reproduction of a living organism. Our physical characteristics are largely determined by our DNA, and the information contained in DNA also influences our intellectual and emotional persona. DNA instructions (information) are passed from parent to child during conception. We inherit half of our DNA from our father and half from our mother.
For Joseph, and early church fathers, it was an either or proposition. Either Joseph would be the father or God would be the father: Joseph’s seed or God’s seed. But of course God knew all about DNA, a woman’s egg, and the role of a man’s seed in the act of conception. There was no reason for God to prevent a natural conception.
It’s time we revisited the birth of Jesus and revised it to reflect our 21st Century understanding of biology and medical technology. There is no biological reason why Jesus could not have DNA from two fathers (God and Joseph). There is no biological reason why Mary’s egg could not have contributed half the DNA attributes God wanted in a son. God could have created Mary’s egg, or Joseph’s seed, or both sources of DNA. God could have simply modified Mary’s and Joseph’s DNA to create the son he wanted. Medical science has rendered the early church’s concern, and constant argument, about the creation and lineage of Jesus obsolete. Jesus was (and is) God’s son and divine by God’s will. The lineage of Joseph’s seed can be traced back to King David. It’s in the DNA.
God’s Plan
God had a simple objective. He wanted to create a man who would carry His message to humanity. It is unlikely the god/man status of Jesus could be kept a secret for 30 years; through all the adventures of childhood, the challenges of being a pre-teen, growing up as a teenager, and then becoming a recognized member of the community. It is also unlikely Jesus was oblivious to the lure of hormone driven sex. It is far more logical Jesus lived the life of a mortal boy, grew up to be a man who participated in the affairs of the community, was influenced by the attributes of the culture in which he lived, matured intellectually, gained in wisdom, and then developed a very close relationship with God.
This would appear to be God’s plan. He understands we humans do not acquire the passion of personal commitment as the result of a sterile intellectual exercise. A genuine compassion for others is seldom the result of an indifferent analysis of human circumstances. We become passionate about our mission and compassionate in our understanding of human character by experiencing both in our one-on-one encounters with family, friends, and community. If we are the sum of all our experiences, then our attitudes and energies will be shaped by our participation in this thing we call human life.
By watching over Jesus from conception to adulthood, God brought forth a man of vision and integrity. We can believe Jesus was both passionate about his mission and compassionate toward others because he led a very human life with all its joys, sorrows, triumphs, and tragedies. His ministry was that of a man who had experienced the breadth of human life. He had an absolute empathy for the people he helped.
If a loving God is close to Jesus the man and brings him back to life through the miracle of resurrection, then one cannot deny the truth and resounding power of his message. It proves there is a path to heaven for ordinary mortals. It also proves the truth of his message. He was a human who was able to establish a deeply spiritual conscious connection with God, became divine by the will of God, and delivered God’s message to humanity.
Let us thank him for his sacrifice.
The Connection
Divinity is created by establishing a deeply spiritual conscious connection with God. The core conscious self becomes one with the consciousness and awareness that is God. It is a living dynamic relationship.
In Chapter 2, Consciousness and Connection, we examined
how it is possible to make this connection. When God wants to establish a
spiritual relationship with us, it is through the activity of our core
consciousness. When God the Holy Father created his relationship with Jesus, he
established a connection the depth of which surpasses anything any other human
has ever experienced. It is this bond that makes Jesus divine.
We can choose to
believe God created
a consciousness connection with Jesus,
and made him divine.
We may also choose to believe
God nurtured this connection
with the man He called his Son.
Whether one chooses to believe the traditional story of a virgin birth, or feels more comfortable with the natural birth thesis, we know there is only one God, a remarkable divine person, who reveals himself in many ways. When Jesus ascended to the Kingdom of God for the last time, he became one with the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 9.
The Christian Bible
How you value the Bible
is between you and God.
Father Giovanni
Author’s Note
After many hours of research it became apparent there is no possible way to accurately date the creation of the written Bible. Very little text originally created before the birth of Christ still exists. What we have are copies and fragments that have survived the centuries. Although the preservation of texts has gradually improved, their interpretation and historicity are still the cause of some confusion and contention. Hence the dates in this brief essay should only be used to provide the reader with a frame of reference to answer the question: when was our Christian Bible created?
History
The development of the Hebrew Bible canon, the synagogue, Jewish apocalyptic expectations for the future, and the initial rise of Christianity can all be traced to the Second Temple period, 537 B.C. to 70 A.D. (when the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans).
Rabbinic Judaism recognizes the twenty-four books of the Masoretic Text, commonly called the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible. In rabbinic literature the word Torah denotes both the five books: torah shebichtav "Torah that is written" and the Oral Torah: torah shebe'al peh, "Torah that is spoken". The ancient Hebrew word mesorah broadly refers to the whole chain of Jewish tradition (Oral and written Torah). The majority of Biblical scholars believe the books were a product of the Babylonian captivity (597 – 539 B.C.), based on earlier written sources and oral traditions, and that the written books were completed with final revisions during the post-Exilic period (by 332 B.C.). These books are drawn from four "sources" (distinct schools of writers and oral tradition rather than individuals).
Sometime in the early third century A.D., the Mishnah (“study by repetition”) was completed, the first written collection of the Jewish oral tradition, organized around 63 topics. The Masoretes first came onto the scene in the sixth century, and they produced a more advanced system of punctuation and accents, building on previous scholarship to more precisely define how to read the Hebrew text. In 930 A.D. Aaron ben Moses ben Asher produced the first complete Jewish Bible, called the Aleppo Codex, utilizing Masoretic symbols and ordering. For several centuries, various Masoretes continued to influence the pronunciation and writing of the text. However, the first “official” Jewish Bible text that is still used today was the Great Rabbinic Bible, published in 1524-1525 by Daniel Bomberg (a Christian in Venice).
The Septuagint is the oldest translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek. It was translated and written in Alexandria (280 – 130 B.C.), and bound together with the Greek version of the New Testament in the 4th century A.D. to create a manuscript called the Codex Sinaiticus (the Sinai Book). The Greek Septuagint includes some books not found in the Hebrew Bible. Although many Protestant Bibles exclude these added books, some are included in the Roman Catholic Bible texts, and Eastern Orthodox Churches include all of them. The Codex Sinaiticus includes many text edits and corrections, some made as late as the 12th century. There are some differences between the Septuagint and Masoretic texts. Scholars and translators have occasionally relied on the Septuagint to clarify the Masoretic text.
Our existing Western Christian Bible consists of 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books that were written, translated, arranged, edited and selected as canon over a period of 947 years (dated from the beginning of work on the written Jewish Old Testament in ~ 537 B.C. to the completion of the Catholic Vulgate in ~ 410 A.D.). A very large number of scholars and scribes have made contributions. Subsequent translations and edits have been made since the Vulgate was completed. The Christian Old Testament is largely based on a translation of the Hebrew Masoretic Text. Protestant Bibles had a complete translation sometime after 930 A.D., the King James Bible used it in 1611, and it appeared in some Catholic Bibles after 1943 A.D.
The Christian Old Testament thus draws upon an oral tradition that dates back to ~ 2150 B.C. (Abraham) or earlier, and a written translation of Rabbinic Bible. The New Testament, which focuses on the life and ministry of Christ, was originally written ~ 48 to 125 A.D. Although the New Testament has a consistent theological focus on Christ as a savior, the Hebrew Old Testament includes more than one theology. All these theologies are alike, however, in the presentation of common themes such as an insistence there is only one God, the concept and punishment of sin, the emphasis on personal responsibility, and the idea of redemption.
Almost all of the New Testament was written in Koine Greek, a language widely used in commerce and government from ~ 336 B.C. – 300 A.D. Subsequent revisions, enhancements and translation adjustments have been made to both Testaments. However, the message content of the present day Bible is remarkably consistent with the original text.
The 27 books of the Christian New Testament were canonized at the Synod of Carthage in 397 A.D. The Roman Catholic Church defined the canon of all 66 books at the Council of Trent in 1546. Selection of the books that would make up the Bible was established by the Church of England in 1563, Calvinism in 1647, and the Greek Orthodox in 1672.
###
The Gospels
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are collectively known as the gospels. For Christians, the English word "gospel” means "good tale" or "good news." Matthew, Mark and John were Jews. Luke was born in Greece. Most of the gospel material is written in Greek. Of the three Synoptic Gospels (they are similar in content and construction), Mark was written first. Matthew and Luke drew upon Mark’s account of the ministry and life of Jesus, as well as other source material, for their gospels. The gospel of John is primarily a declaration of faith.
Mark
There was a young man named John Mark who was a relative of the Apostles Simon (Peter – in Aramaic: the rock) and Barnabas. Simon’s wife was Mark’s sister. Barnabas was a cousin. After Mark’s father died, Simon became a surrogate father, and would always regard the youngster as his son. Mark’s mother was destined to become a prominent member of the first Christian congregation in Jerusalem. Mark would have known the Apostles, and was a witness to the passion and crucifixion of Jesus.
Mark accompanied Peter and Barnabas on their early missions to spread the word of Christ. He later became the faithful companion of the apostle Paul, was an interpreter for Peter, and was a witness to the execution of both St. Paul and St. Peter (~ 67A.D.) in Rome. Mark wrote down the notes and passages of the book that would bear his name from ~ 66 to 70 A.D. He characterizes Jesus as a powerful and earnestly suffering servant of God. Jesus is portrayed as immensely popular with the people in Galilee during his ministry. We see Christ as a human being. He reacts to the crowds that gather to hear him. He has both intellect and emotions. Mark wants to give Roman Christians a book of faith and so he focuses on what he had witnessed or learned from Peter – the Galilean ministry and last week of Christ.
Earlier versions of the Book of Mark were used as source material by the authors of Luke and Matthew. The final version of the Book of Mark was compiled and edited after his death. It includes some new text (most notably to ensure Jesus is seen as a prophet), and adds verses 16.9 – 20 which describe the resurrection and revelation of Jesus.
Matthew
Under contract with the Romans to collect taxes in Capernaum, Matthew was also known as Levi the publican (tax collector). Relatively wealthy, he was summoned by Jesus to be one of the 12 apostles. With the exception of the gospel that bears his name, we know little about Matthew. Tax collectors were held in low regard by other Jews. His identity and activity are not mentioned in Mark, Luke or Acts. His name does not appear in John.
The book of Matthew was written sometime between 75 and 85 A.D. by a second generation Jewish Christian. The unknown author drew not only upon the Gospel according to Mark but also upon material called “Q” (“source”). In addition his gospel contains material that is found only there. There are five great discourses of Jesus, the “Sermon on the Mount”, the missionary discourse, the parable discourse, the “church order” discourse, and the eschatological discourse.
The author of Matthew is on a mission. He wants to convince the Jews that Jesus is actually the Messiah described in the Old Testament. In order to do this, the life of Jesus must fulfill all the Biblical prophecies about the coming of a Messiah. Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus combines the majestic serenity of the obedient Son who fulfills the scriptures, is confident of his ultimate vindication by God, and experiences the depths of abandonment when he feels faces death. It is a beautiful and compelling story.
Luke
Using material from earlier versions of Mark, the works of an unidentified author that historians call Q, and other sources, Luke wrote his text sometime between 85 and 95 A.D. Luke was a Greek doctor from Antioch, and a close friend of the Apostle Paul. He knew Peter and was able to interview witnesses to the ministry of Jesus. Luke was inspired by what he experienced. He wants to bring the story of Jesus to a Greek audience. God’s promises to Israel have been fulfilled in Jesus. Luke portrays a very spiritual Jesus. The savior of mankind is wise, compassionate, and a good teacher. Women play a more prominent role in Luke’s portrayal of the events surrounding the life of Christ. He is careful with the sequence of events. Luke often explains Jewish customs. Luke shows that the preaching and teaching of the representatives of the early church are grounded in the preaching and teaching of Jesus. After writing the Book of Luke about the life of Christ, the author of Luke characterizes the first 30 years of Church history in the Book of Acts.
John
Matthew was intent on portraying Jesus as the Messiah foretold by Jewish prophets. Mark wanted to record the ministry and passion of Christ for Greek speaking Romans. Luke addressed his efforts to a Greek population. The Book of John, by contrast, is a book of faith for gentile Christians. Its highly developed theology was written by three authors from 90 – 105 A.D. They emphasize that Jesus is the Son of God, an eternal deity, who has been sent by God to deliver a message: If you believe in me, you shall have eternal life. The gospel narrative contains a series of “signs” that illustrate the wondrous deeds of Jesus. Discourses in the upper room interpret the meaning of the passion, death, and resurrection narratives. Women are not inferior to men in the Christian community.
###
The Apostles
Who Were The Apostles?
There were, apparently, over 100 people who thought of themselves as Disciples of Christ. Less than 20 were apostles. These men were “sent forth” to teach, preach and administer the affairs of the movement (eventually) called Christianity. They were selected by Jesus or other apostles, to go forth on a definite mission, with the full authority to act on behalf of the sender, and were held accountable by the sender for their work. They counseled and managed the growing number of congregations, resolved questions of doctrine, and allocated collected funds to missionary work.
But who are the recognized disciples who became apostles? Jesus appointed 12 men to be his Apostles. Most of them knew Jesus as a friend, brother or cousin before he called them. They were tasked to support his work and to protect him from harm. After the death of Jesus, several of his Apostles became missionaries, teaching his message to people in Judea, India, North Africa, Asia Minor, Rome, and elsewhere.
Andrew was Peter’s brother, a fisherman, and a disciple of John the Baptist before he met Jesus. A gentle man, Andrew at once recognized Jesus was the Messiah when John the Baptist introduced them. He was so impressed by Jesus, he moved from Bethsaida to Capernaum to be with him. Andrew in turn introduced Jesus to his brother, Peter. After the crucifixion of Jesus, Andrew apparently evangelized in Scythia, Epirus, Achaia and Hellas.
Simon Peter (Cephas), known as The Rock, was Andrew’s brother, and also a fisherman in the Sea of Galilee. He also moved from Bethsaida to Capernaum to be with Jesus. Like his brother, Simon was a follower of John the Baptist before being called by Jesus. Emotional, impulsive, bold and charismatic, Peter was one of the greatest leaders of the early church. He spread the gospel in Rome until he was crucified. The Catholic Church recognizes Peter as the First Roman Pope.
James (the elder) Boanerges; a cousin, severe of temperament, likely a nationalist, a strong defender of the Jewish nation, and usually carried a sword for protection. He was a fisherman who lived in Bethsaida and moved to Capernaum to be with Jesus. After the death of Jesus, James ministered in Jerusalem with evangelical zeal until martyred by Herod Agrippa I in 44 A.D.
John Boanerges: a cousin, brother of James, brave, intense, and full of nationalist zeal. He was, however, softer of temperament than his brother. He was a fisherman who lived in Bethsaida until he moved to Capernaum to be with Jesus. He and James were initially disciples of John the Baptist. Jesus called James and John the Sons of Thunder because their father, Zebedee, was an outspoken critic of the Romans. Their mother Salome was Mary’s sister, helped Jesus financially after he began his mission, and witnessed his crucifixion. Like the other Apostles, John was deeply influenced by Jesus. He was an evangelist in Asia Minor.
James (the younger), was a brother. Short in stature, he became (affectionately) known as James the Less and later on as James the Just. He lived in Nazareth, and moved to Bethsaida to be a fisherman. James was present at the crucifixion, became the first Bishop of Jerusalem, and authored of the first Catholic Epistle.
Jude (Thaddeus), was a brother. He also moved from Nazareth to be a fisherman in Bethsaida. He was present at the crucifixion. Jude became known as the patron saint of lost causes, and was the author of the epistle of Jude.
Judas Iscariot, son of Simon Iscariot, was from Judah. Judas was a Jewish nationalist, young, impressionable, educated, and intelligent. Judas frequently saw things as amusing and could be sarcastic or deferential. Although Judas frequently challenged Jesus, he became a very close friend. His role in the crucifixion is debated. The idea that he betrayed Jesus is totally illogical.
Matthew (Levi) was a tax collector who lived in Capernaum. He was educated, wealthy, and literate in both Aramaic (the language of Jesus and his Apostles) as well as Koine Greek (the language of government and commerce). He went on to preach the Gospel to the Jewish community in Judea and elsewhere.
Philip is described as a tall, thin fisherman who lived in Bethsaida. He recognized Jesus as the savior and subsequently brought his friend Bartholomew and many others to meet him. It has been suggested Philip was an Apostle in Greece, Phrygia, and Syria.
Bartholomew (Nathaniel) lived in Cana. He may have come from royal blood, being the son of Tolmay. Bartholomew was a friend of Philip, recognized Jesus as "the Son of God" and believed Jesus was "the King of Israel". Known for his honesty and integrity, he is alleged to have been an Apostle in Armenia and India.
Simon Zealotes a cynical, suspicious man who lived in Cana, near Galilee, (also known as a Canaanite). He may have been a fanatical Jewish Nationalist or simply very zealous in his support for Jesus. Inspired by Jesus, Simon Zealotes traveled to N. Africa as an Apostle.
Thomas Didymus a carpenter, stone mason and fisherman who lived in Tarichaea by the Sea of Galilee. Sometimes referred to as “the twin” or “doubting Thomas”, he apparently had a sharp intellect and an analytical mind. Thomas traveled as far as India to spread the message of Jesus Christ.
About the term “Messiah”.
To early Jews, the term “Kingdom of God” was a reference of defiance. It meant only God had the right to rule Israel. The desire to be free of oppressive Roman rule was universal among most Jews. The term “zeal” usually meant one was passionate about religion and politics. The term “The Kingdom of God” was a code phrase and metaphoric reference to establishing Jewish rule over Israel under the watchful eye of God. Since Jesus frequently spoke about the Kingdom of God, it was taken by many Jews as a reference that here at last was their savior and a military leader who could fulfill their dreams of independence.
By tradition, and Biblical reference, Jesus inspired his Apostles with his character and message. They recognized Jesus was very close to God. By inference, it could also be argued that at least some of them also believed (at first) Jesus would lead a successful rebellion against the Romans. Hence they called him “Messiah” (savior or liberator). Under his political leadership, they hoped the Jewish nation would be able to sweep away the oppressors and establish the Kingdom of God here on earth.
But Jesus gave them a very different interpretation of what he meant by the term “The Kingdom of God,” and the term Messiah eventually took on a new meaning: Christ; the Son of God.
In Jewish folklore the Messiah would be both a religious savior and a political leader. Since popular gossip had already confirmed Jesus was very close to God, it was but a short step to imagine he was also a political leader. This explains why the peasants were so excited to welcome Jesus to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. It also tells us why the mob turned against Jesus by Wednesday, when it became obvious he had no intention of being their political savior and liberator.
Occupations.
Although many of his followers are described as fishermen, it should be noted the Jesus and his disciples were also part time farmers. Crops were a source of fresh vegetables and grains, a very important component of their diet. In addition, it is likely some of them had fruit or olive trees.
Arms.
It is likely that whenever they traveled away from Capernaum, Bartholomew, Simon Peter, Simon Zealotes, James and John Boanerges, and Judas (and possibly the other Apostles) were armed with swords. Because of bandits and errant Roman mercenaries, travel could be dangerous. All twelve Apostles were also responsible for helping to organize his travels, promoting his mission, managing crowd control, and protecting Jesus from overzealous Philistines and Sadducees.
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Is The Bible The Word Of God?
God’s Message
Given that it was written and canonized over a period of ~ 1,200 years, the content of the Bible has an amazing continuity. The Christian Bible conveys a caring message of inspiration and comfort to the millions who turn to it for counsel. Although the Bible presents us with a text drawn from another age, its lessons are timeless, the characters we meet are dramatic, and the drama is ageless. There is a unity of purpose. There are prophecies and the lessons of history. There is moral right and wrong, the best and worst of human behavior, and the experience of both pain and joy. The Bible is a book about tribes, families and individuals. The Bible’s authors tell us about marriage, divorce, adultery, obedience, authority, honesty, parenting, nature, revelation, moral behavior, God, and much more. It presents us with real life stories of spiritual vision, high ideals, and great moral depth.
Think of the Bible as a text to guide humanity. Biblical characters have hills to climb that test their moral and physical strength. Overcoming evil provides a sense of divine exhilaration. God urges us to embrace a constructive theology. These beliefs are spelled out in multiple stories that encourage us to have a compassion for others, to follow the wisdom of God’s law, to be responsible for our actions, and to seek the reward of everlasting life. There is inspiration. There is hope. We come to understand the truth of God’s wisdom, the benefits of sustaining a positive faith, and the elation of compassion. The Bible challenges us to search out and understand spiritual truth.
We recognize the Bible is the most enduring and popular book of theology and philosophy ever written. It describes our triumphs and failures, our strengths and weaknesses, our wisdom and our folly. We are capable of gentle compassion and fierce passion. We are good and we are evil. We embrace both love and hate. The Bible is about us. We are the people in the Bible. If we mock the Bible, we mock humanity. We have, we humans, struggled to understand the spiritual since the beginning of human consciousness.
His Intent
Since the Bible is a collection of books, it should not be surprising that the number of books included in various versions of the Bible vary from religion to religion, and from period to period in human history. Because Christians are human by intellect and emotion, it should also not be surprising theologians continue to interpret both the Old and New Testaments in different ways. For example, there is no universal consensus on the nature of God, the divinity of Jesus, the concept of original sin, or the characterization of hell. Although most of the changes and edits were insignificant, the text of the Bible was under continual revision up through (at least) the 1500’s. Individual words and phrases continue to be revised in order to match the Bible’s text with contemporary languages.
This raises a question that has been the source of passionate discussion and occasionally acrimonious debate since the Bible’s text was first created. Is the Bible, word for word, the inerrant word of God? Although we must always respect the views of Christians who choose to believe this is true, it is highly unlikely the Bible is the inerrant word of God. There have been too many authors and incomplete texts in multiple languages with subsequent changes, corrections, translations, and edits.
On the other hand, if we are willing to ignore ceaseless (and unresolvable) arguments about the meaning of individual words and text, the Bible’s content has remained remarkably consistent throughout the ages. We can, therefore, choose to believe the Bible’s content conveys the intent of God’s message to humanity. This is especially true of the New Testament.
Two Caveats
Canon
Let us ask a simple question. Should the existing books of the Bible be considered as irrevocable and final canon? A canon is a list of books that are considered to be the authoritative scripture of a religion. Most of the Christian canons are considered to be closed, which means books cannot be added or removed from the list. Our Christian religions assume all revelation has ended. God no longer speaks to us – using the written word.
But should other books and texts be rejected as religious
canon because they do not fit the established narrative? Does the translation
of the Book of Judas, for example, present us with a more compelling
explanation of his relationship with Jesus? Why do we reject the Gnostic texts? Should we pay more
attention to the texts written by early Coptic Christians? Do any of the many contemporary
texts (such as this one) create a
better understanding of the spiritual? Is it really true God has never attempted to
speak to us since the Bible was first written?
Why have
established religions
decided God is not allowed to talk to us?
Is that what God wants?
As 21st century Christians, we can choose to believe God continues to communicate with us spiritually, in the texts of selected theologians, and through those of us who have been touched by God’s grace.
Is the Bible Obsolete?
The simplistic answer to this question is: No and Yes.
No… the Bible will never be obsolete. As a way for God to convey his word to us, as a chronicle of Middle Eastern cultural history, and as a testament of western philosophy and theology, the Bible will never be obsolete. No college graduate can claim to understand western cultural history unless they have studied the Bible: not as a religious text, but as a historical record of human cultural development. The Bible conveys to us the moral basis of Western political and social cultural progress. And for those who chose to believe in God, the Bible will forever be a source of inspiration, courage, support and comfort.
Yes… in some ways the Bible is obsolete. The intellectual content is limited by the human knowledge that was available to the authors. God inspired many authors to create the text of the Bible. He knew they would express their beliefs in terms their intended audience would understand. God realized a sophisticated description and explanation of our physical world would be confusing and rejected. So he encouraged early authors to write in terms they understood. Thus while all of the sciences have evolved and become more sophisticated, the Bible has not.
The word of God has been given to us through the evolution of Christian theology and philosophy over a period of centuries. God’s values have not changed. God’s commandments have not changed. Our yearning for a spiritual connection with God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit is as strong today as when the Bible was created. But human knowledge is only useful if it provides a context that supports his narrative.
It's the 21st century. Christians are being challenged to establish a reasonable consistency between the doctrines of theology and accumulated human knowledge. Creative science must come together with enlightened theology. Let us combine our perception of natural law with the revelation of God's wisdom. Can we find the courage to reframe our beliefs with 21st century human knowledge? Would the result be more credible?
Chapter 10.
21st Century Christian Values
Christian values
reveal the nature of God.
They express our understanding
of His
commandments.
We are often asked: What are Christian values? The following collections of metaphors, psalms and short texts are a good way to describe and illustrate the values of a 21st Century Christian. They reveal the constructive nature of God’s commandments, our relationship with a loving God, and serve as a practical guide to moral behavior.
The Ten Commandments
Jesus was an earnest advocate of the Ten Commandments. We
have free will. We make choices. But the willful commission of sin inevitably
impairs the exercise of free will, resulting in unhappiness – or worse. These
commandments are consistent with God’s commandments about love.
1. I am the one true God. Do not create other Gods or icons to worship, for they will lead you astray.
2. Never use my name in vain or as an expression of profanity.
3. Labor for six days and then honor the Sabbath by doing no work on the seventh day. Keep it holy by honoring your Lord God and those whom He loves.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. Do not kill another human.
6. Do not commit adultery.
7. Do not steal. Retribution will weigh more than an ox’s yoke.
8. Do not lie or make false statements against anyone.
9. Do not want to have your neighbor’s house or possessions; do not desire to possess your neighbor’s wife, nor any person in his household.
10. Avoid
the temptations of greed and envy, for they will do you no good.
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About Life and Love
In addition to the Ten Commandments, the core values of a 21st century Christian are taken from the New Testament of the Bible. Within these pages one finds the best expression the theology taught by Jesus Christ. These beliefs, along with selected passages from the Bible’s Old Testament, provide a moral foundation for the cultural values of Western Civilization and are the philosophical basis of Democracy.
Life
Life is precious.
We cherish the miracle of life.
Let us protect
that which God has given.
Jesus had a profound respect for human life. He spent his ministry bringing us closer to God. His compassion was unlimited. Jesus loved and blessed the infant. In many ways, every new life is both a spiritual gift and a reminder of our own transience on this earth.
Jesus asks us to follow his example. It does not matter if one is young or old, healthy or infirm, rich or poor, a man, a woman, an adult or a child. We know every soul is equally important to the Holy Spirit. We are therefore challenged to cherish and protect human life from conception to death.
We do not believe in a class social system where there is a hierarchy of privilege. We believe in the inherent equality of humanity. One is not condemned to forever be at the bottom of the sociological pyramid. Even the poor can have dignity and status. Within our Christian community there is love and compassion for the sick, the elderly, the very young, the hungry, the widow, and the poor. No one need live in the loneliness of isolation. One can have a sense of belonging to a community of friends, of every age, all brothers and sisters in Christ. Salvation is offered to those who follow God’s commandments.
Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak with compassion, and
Leave the rest to God.
Love
The Commandments to Love
Jesus often spoke about love. These two commandments are at the very core of his message. The first one encourages us to love God without reservation. It reveals a loving relationship between us and the Holy Spirit is both possible and desirable. If we ignore this commandment, we abandon our chance to enter God’s Kingdom (the Spiritual Universe).
The second commandment encourages us to love others with the same sensitivity and empathy we have for ourselves. It assumes we are able to take a thoughtful view of our interpersonal relationships. People with a healthy outlook on life will not choose to hurt themselves either physically or emotionally. We are expected to project this same caring attitude in our personal relations with others. It does not matter whether our contact is casual and brief (as with a stranger we meet on the street), or the result of a long term relationship (as in marriage), God wants us to love others as we would want others to love us. Our failure to obey this commandment is often the source of inexcusable sorrow, friction and hatred.
The more we try to follow these two commandments, the closer we come to creating God’s Kingdom on Earth, which is paradise. The further away we move from these two commandments, the greater the risk of creating a personal and social hell here on earth. From the New Testament:
· The Pharisees gathered together to question Jesus. One of them, an expert in the Law of Moses, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus earnestly replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like the first: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the words of the Prophets center on these two commandments."
Jesus suffered the pain of revulsion whenever he witnessed brutal confrontation. All too often, brief encounters of even inconsequential disagreement led to fights that resulted in injury or death. His counsel to “turn the other cheek” was a way to avoid the escalation of a casual incident into a bloody confrontation. He believed it is better to love, than to hate.
Should we follow his example?
Paul's Letters about Love
Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians teaches us about the importance of Love. This is a wonderful expression of God’s counsel. It is as true today as the day it was written.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
Where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know tongues, knowledge, and prophecy are imperfect. But sincere love never fails. When the perfection of love comes, the imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. All we know is but a poor reflection, as in a mirror. When we understand and embrace God’s love, however, then we shall know the truth face to face.
In truth then, of all the beliefs we cherish, the three
most important are: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
By loving others
we express our respect
for God’s commandments
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of God’s law.”
The expression of God’s affection for all mankind is an essential part of nature. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. Our relationship to God is like the loving relationship between a child and parent. Like a loving parent, God knows and cares deeply for each of us. And like children, some of us return God's love, and some do not. Nevertheless, God continues to love all of us.
God's love and salvation are freely offered to all, even to those who choose the path of wickedness. Indeed, the sun rises on both the good and the evil, and the rain nourishes both the righteous and the immoral.
The words of our Lord are very clear: “When I talk to you about love, I am speaking of affection, benevolence, good-will, high esteem and concern for the welfare of the one you love. It is thoughtful, deliberate love rather than emotional or impulsive love. It is the love I have for you. It is the love you have for your family.”
“Do not fear; you are of more value than any of the other things I have created. Even among all the creatures of the earth, all the living things that grow on the land and under the sea, and all the thousands of things of the universe, I shall not forget you.”
“Love your neighbor as yourself. This includes all of the peoples of the world for as I love them, so shall you. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Draw close with your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you! Extend your love to them. In all your relations with my children, you will live more fully if you remember to do unto others as you would have them do to you.”
We Want to be Loved
We humans are born innocent. We have, at birth, the rudimentary capabilities of an infant’s nerve and brain system. By the age of two, most of us are well on our way to developing the second and third level intellect that will guide our interaction with life. We learn as we grow. Every contact with the natural universe is a learning experience. The extent and nature of our education defines the strength of our knowledge and the limits of our wisdom. From these multiple experiences we acquire our awareness of self, our patterns of behavior, our adopted values, and our ability to interact with others. If we love, it is because we have experienced the warmth of compassion. If we hate, it is because we have experienced the indifference of emotional isolation.
We naturally want to love and be loved. We are taught to hate.
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Thoughts in Verse
Of God’s two commandments about love, the toughest one to practice is “Love for Strangers”. It may be a brief encounter, a person we observe, an unwelcome confrontation, something we hear or an item we read that exposes us to a stranger. Although most of these experiences pass without having much impact on our life, some will demand our undivided attention. We are forced to interact with a person we do not know, perhaps under difficult circumstances. We are challenged to love a stranger. Following God’s counsel requires a conscious effort framed by compassion and thoughtful behavior. But if the end result is a new friendship, the effort is well worth the energy we put into it.
After all: Love is the best solution.
Love for Strangers
Have good will toward the stranger.
Love the unfamiliar person as yourself.
Welcome strangers as extended family.
Connect with them in friendship.
Practice hospitality.
Scorn evil thoughts; proffer compassion.
Bless those who persecute you.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is hurt, bind his wounds.
If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
Transform your enemy into a friend through acts of grace.
Remember this commandment in my name.
Find new friendships among people of every kind.
Live at peace with all who cross your path,
For those you meet may have value in the eyes of God.
Only Love
Those who hate, accept a desolate death.
Depression follows them everywhere.
The ravages of distrust drain their
senses.
They condemn themselves to mortal despair.
Happiness eludes the cynic.
Love avoids the arrogant.
Anger creates hostility.
Indifference invites isolation.
Murderers are condemned to Oblivion.
Torture is the handmaiden of death.
Suicide desecrates the energy of Life.
Abortion violates natural law.
Where is happiness?
How do we decide who we are?
What do we want from others?
What do they want from us?
Put acts of hatred behind you.
Find peace with acts of love.
Practice harmony with the living.
Show others the compassion within you.
Love those who are your enemy.
Welcome the stranger.
Assist the injured.
Comfort those in need.
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
Embrace what is positive and constructive.
Experience the wonders of the Physical.
Sense the loving energy of the Spiritual.
Acts of love connect us the spiritual.
Acts of compassion project God’s love.
The joy of giving nourishes our soul.
We are in harmony with the universe.
Only love will bring us peace.
Anger
Anger makes me
smaller.
Without mercy, life is an endless cycle
of resentment and retaliation.
Hatred does not change the past,
but it diminishes the future.
Forgiveness allows me to grow.
Tolerance does not change the past,
but it does enlarge the future.
Marriage
Honor the one
you love above yourself.
Show consideration in word and deed.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,
and faithful in commitment.
For true love must be sincere,
both in purpose and in act.
A good husband values his wife.
A good wife respects her husband.
Be your partner’s best friend, and most trusted
companion.
Your love will be measured by your devotion to one another.
These are the efforts that bring you together as one.
And make your union precious in the eyes of God.
My Spouse
My spouse is my best friend.
Love has united two as one.
We comfort and encourage each other.
We share the joys and sorrows of life.
Two are better than one.
Together we are united in purpose.
In moments of distress;
We find strength in a loving hug.
I will be quick to share my affection;
And be steadfast in my commitment.
For as we journey through life,
I value the friendship - of my spouse.
Birthing
If you wish to
follow God’s commandments,
Do not participate in the conception of human life,
Until you are ready, willing and able,
To love and support the infant you have created.
Your baby will be precious in the eyes of the Lord,
And no matter how difficult the challenges of your life,
He expects you to be a loving and responsible parent.
Parental Responsibility
Parents love
your children.
They are the tangible evidence of your union.
Nurture your children with compassion.
Teach your children faith, hope and charity
Lead them away from evil temptation.
Defile not their bodies with drugs and drink.
Instead, encourage each child to excel.
Teach them mutual respect and fidelity.
Draw your children close to you.
Bring your family together each day.
Create the security of a loving home.
Encourage a belief in the spiritual.
Be thoughtful in your parental obligation.
Success requires commitment and participation.
What your children are - is your responsibility.
What they become - is your mission.
Love your growing children.
Share in their accomplishments and dreams.
Then be joyful on the day they leave your nest;
To create a loving family of their own.
We know God created the family.
In his name we nurture and protect the young.
We try to make our home a place of harmony;
And a loving sanctuary for precious life.
Education
Education is a personal right;
It is Essential for a productive life.
Even in primitive societies the young must learn
The boundaries of acceptable behavior,
The norms of social conduct, cultural rituals,
And their participation in the community.
How much more important, therefore
The role of education in complex social structures
Where economic success is tied to knowledge, and
Personal satisfaction benefits from achievement.
Home
Home is a
refuge.
Within we find the best expression
Of faith, hope and charity,
And the compassion of those we love,
Our family.
Imperfection
My friend,
is still my friend,
even when I - am imperfect.
My friend,
will continue to be my friend,
even when my friend - is imperfect.
Humility
Be not
arrogant. It is far too easy to be wrong.
Be not be conceited. Sincere modesty leads to friendship.
Be not dour. People want to be with individuals who are happy.
Love yourself in a modest way.
Develop a quiet sense of personal confidence.
Our capacity to love others begins with self-respect.
Be not vain, in this regard, but rather
humble in spirit.
Friendship
Friendships
are an expression of Love.
“I love you" can be translated as:
"I have you as a friend."
If you want to have a friend, then be one.
Learn to be a
good friend to yourself.
As my father has said: If you do not like yourself;
Can you truly love someone else?
Approach your
enemy.
Connect with sincere caring.
Heal your relationship by listening.
Use the power of love to make a new friend.
A lasting
friendship
Combines the security of mutual confidence
With respect for personal beliefs,
And the attributes that make us unique.
A friendship
is like a valued book.
It takes months to write a treasured text;
But it only takes a thoughtless moment to burn.
Friends rely
on our cooperation and support.
Friends share feelings of esteem, affection, and loyalty.
Friends share mutual trust, empathy and sympathy.
Friends work together in a harmony of interests.
Friendships
are created from the essence of the Spiritual.
Lasting friendships are not confined by the limits of space and time.
We often
strive for things
which cannot provide us with lasting happiness.
The objects of our desire are transient in time and space.
Beauty will fade, metal will tarnish, and wood will rot.
Wealth provides an empty vessel for the soul.
But lasting friendships are the joy of life.
To love, and be loved, is forever welcome.
As my father
has said:
“I love those who love me”.
“If you seek to be my friend, you will find me.”
Moral Value
Political chaos can be found in many nations.
Extremists are consumed by the bile of hatred.
However let us remember a fundamental truth...
No matter what we may think is justified.
If a theology, ideology, or philosophy
Fails to bring us together,
It has no moral value.
Let us therefore seek to validate our beliefs.
By adopting a theology that teaches,
Love, compassion and respect for all.
It is these acts that bring us together,
And elevate the moral value of our convictions.
About Heaven
We have created a simple concept of Heaven.
We call it the Spiritual Universe.
It is a reality that cannot be measured.
But one the worthy will experience.
We do not know what to expect,
For Heaven remains a mystery.
We only know when we enter;
Our spirit transforms to another place,
Ponder not about God’s Kingdom,
Do not worry about where it exists.
Seek not to create a description,
For the place of our redemption.
God will reveal Heaven,
To those who deserve a space.
We will journey as so many before us;
To a find love in a better place.
Paradise
Our existence on this earth,
Can be a lovely Paradise.
God has given us the means,
To create his Kingdom on Earth.
The more we follow God’s Commandments,
The closer we come to Heaven.
The more we act in hatred,
The nearer we come to Hell.
God has given to us this earth.
Its future is up to us.
Will we create the paradise of heaven?
Or the fires of Hell?
About Death
Death is an event in time and space,
In a moment we are transformed.
Matter becomes spiritual energy.
Life passes into the Spiritual Dimension.
Those who are worthy pass through a portal;
They are welcomed into his Kingdom.
The energy of the unworthy dissipates into the Cosmos.
Those without grace, cease to exist.
The Seven Deadly Sins
Let us avoid the seven deadly sins, for they decrease our personal dignity and human value.
· Gluttony – leads to obesity, declining health, and a decreasing sense of self-worth.
· Lust – is animal behavior that frequently demeans our being.
· Greed – isolates us from human compassion and friendship.
· Sloth – (laziness) decreases our independence and self-esteem.
· Wrath – leads to hatred and conflict.
· Envy – will make us unhappy.
·
Pride – is an illusion of self-worth.
Hell is a Place on Earth
When it comes to descriptions of Hell,
We humans have been very creative.
We imagine fire, pain, and humiliation.
Our literature is littered with ghosts and devils.
Fear is the curse of superstitious imagination.
Ignorance encourages the work of Satan.
Hell does exist: here on this earth.
We make our own, we humans.
With ugly words and thoughts,
We descend into the abyss of hostility.
We cause human suffering,
And the stress of despair.
Our acts are accompanied by random illness,
and the pain of accidental injury or death.
Why do events and persons make us victims?
Why do we suffer malicious wickedness?
We are witness to the misery of Hell on earth.
Failure, frustration, injury, death and famine.
Satan smiles when inflicting pain,
Satan laughs when we do it to ourselves.
War. Torture. Violent behavior. Vile words.
The sins of arrogance, conceit, fraud, envy, greed,
Drugs, alcohol, and perversion,
These lead to misery, death, injury, and disease.
Yes, this is Hell. It is here.
On this planet and in this physical universe,
We become sinners when we break God’s law.
We are the creators of our own personal Hell.
But our Holy Father gave us the ability to reason,
With an intellect far superior to her other creations.
The Holy Spirit gave us commandments to follow,
So we know how to create God’s Kingdom on Earth.
By prayer, we seek out the Holy Father’s counsel.
By virtuous acts we avoid the road to Hell.
We are evaluated by God and those around us.
It is our life that writes the text of judgement.
About Theology and Science
There are two ways to discover truth.
Neither is superior to the other.
Since they deal with different realities,
They complement one another.
Intellectual curiosity pursues physical reality.
Secular vanity believes in science and technology.
Inquisitive inspiration achieves spiritual truth.
Spiritual humility trusts revealed theology.
Intelligent reason is inquisitive and pragmatic,
It is best used to explore physical phenomena,
That can be observed, measured and quantified,
Using the technology man has crafted.
Theology relies on wisdom and experience,
And often discovers the truth by intuition.
Our efforts will reveal ageless truth;
When we establish a divine connection.
Science will never understand all that is physical,
Until it embraces the metaphysical.
Meditation will never discover ultimate truth,
Unless it includes what science has revealed.
Thoughts
My friendship with God,
Is a loving transcendent relationship.
It flows through the Universe,
And fills me with spiritual energy.
We are created equal in the eyes of God,
all humans, male and female.
That has always been God’s intention
and we are the fruit of God’s labor.
Why have a few of our best and
brightest minds
Denied the existence of a Spiritual Universe?
Is it because they have not looked?
Why have the few rejected,
The birth, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus?
It’s not because they are unable to find the evidence.
It’s because they are unwilling to believe what they find.
For thousands of years, ordinary people dealt
with birthing, and the passing of life.
Now, society discourages, and sometimes prohibits, our performance of these
rituals.
Yet let us not forget. These two events, more than any other, link our being
with the Cosmos.
Value the physical form that sustains your spiritual essence.
It is a temple created for you by God the Mother.
You only get one.
Defile it not with wicked drugs,
nor excess consumption of drink.
Do respect it with serene rest, brisk exercise and wholesome nourishment
Our flesh has no money value.
It goes the way of all matter when we die.
Our soul has great spiritual value.
Nourish its growth in wisdom and faith.
As the flesh begins to wither, the worthy soul is transformed.
It is this person who dwells forever in the Kingdom Of God.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
If our gift is prophesying, let us use it to enlighten.
If our gift is serving, let us serve with grace.
If our gift is teaching, let us teach the truth.
If our gift is healing, let us heal with love.
If our gift is helping others, let us give generously.
If our gift is leadership, let us govern with integrity.
If our gift is showing mercy, let us do it cheerfully.
Each experience is but a transient
moment in time and space.
Going back to relive a prior bad experience
is emotionally detrimental.
Returning to recreate a good experience
is fleetingly beneficial.
Neither journey, whether of mind or body,
brings back former reality.
Our surroundings are created by conditions
that only exist once.
It is best, therefore to look to the future
with a positive attitude.
God continues to connect with us through the physical beauty of our planet,
the compassion of love, and the joys of life. God speaks to us everywhere. We
only have to listen.
Prayer is not
just a temporary crutch
to support us when we hurt.
Prayer is a lifelong connection
with the sustaining love of God.
Each of us has one body with many members,
But these members do not all have the same function.
In Christ we are many, but come together in one body,
And each member is attached to all the others.
Faith, in the Christian use of this word,
Does not merely mean we believe.
It also encompasses the concept of being at one,
With a loving God, and the spirit of Jesus Christ.
Although Jesus was no ordinary mortal,
He was a real person.
His divinity was witnessed
By men and women who knew him personally.
His ministry brought forth
A constructive and compassionate message.
His resurrection proves
There is a path to heaven for the worthy.
Look ahead with a positive attitude.
Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles;
It serves only to take away today's peace.
If we only draw upon our own thoughts for judgment,
we shall fail.
If we follow the secular beliefs of the crowd,
we risk the commission of sin.
Be aware therefore,
we must look to the Holy Spirit for moral strength.
Virtue and morality are universal principles
which exist outside our being.
Our soul has a natural desire to possess universal values.
Corrupt not this enlightened belief with cynical thought.
Science often modifies or discards its conclusions.
The pronouncements of a politician are usually suspect.
Bias is the constant companion of media authors.
Because of their passion, zealots ignore simple truth.
Trust only the revelation of a loving God.
We are welcome to establish
a personal link with God through prayer.
Communication with the Holy Spirit can be very rewarding.
Honest reflection enables feelings of joy, peace, and love.
In these acts, we enter the serenity of the Spiritual Dimension.
If we are honest in the confession
our sins,
If we are earnest in our quest for redemption,
Then God will respond with a righteous judgment.
Find some quiet time by yourself.
Relax. Take a deep breath.
Let your inner self connect with the spiritual dimension.
Then start your prayer and meditation with this:
Dear God. Thank
you for coming into my life.
Our Favorite Prayers
The Lord is my
Shepherd, I shall not want.
He encourages me to lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for He is with me;
His rod and staff comfort me.
He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
He anoints my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Surely his goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Our Father, who is in heaven,
hallowed is your name;
may your kingdom come; may your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Help us to reject temptation; and deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
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Expression
The preservation, protection and support of the family unit, along with the physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being of family members, are fundamental components of Christian theology. Although these values can be found in other spiritual faiths and secular social structures, they find their best expression in the influence Christianity has had on western philosophy. Christian theology has been a key driver in the development of a strong middle class, and is the philosophical basis of modern democracy.
When we are asked: “What are Christian values”, or “What are family values”, we are often perplexed by the question because they are so natural to us, we seldom try to list them. But these values, along with the core values described earlier in this chapter, are the bedrock of our faith. We know God’s commandments exist, and we know Christian theology provides a moral framework for our behavior, but we are seldom challenged to actually state what we believe. Here is a partial list expressed in 21st century terms.
The Ten Commandments provide a moral framework for our
behavior.
We understand a great deal about the nature of God (and the Holy Spirit).
We love God and we know He is everywhere (the spiritual universe).
We know God loves us.
God places a great value on every individual.
God is always with us.
God will forgive the person who earnestly and honestly seeks to repent.
God cannot help us unless we give him our trust.
It is possible to make a conscious connection with God through prayer and
meditation.
We try to follow the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto
you).
We will lend assistance to those who are vulnerable.
Jesus is the son of God.
God selected Jesus to deliver his message to humanity.
Jesus died to prove the truth of his message.
Jesus encourages us to join him in God’s Kingdom (heaven).
We can join with Jesus to seek our salvation.
We have an alternative thesis about creation (the white hole theory).
We believe there are credible alternative theories of evolution (and God’s
activity).
Hell and heaven exist (and we know where they are).
God expects us to be loving and responsible parents.
The innocence of children must be preserved.
We are challenged to cherish and protect human life from conception to death.
Children are to be loved, nurtured and protected.
I will be my partner’s best friend, and most trusted companion.
Loving families provide a framework for personal growth.
Family life teaches us the values of compassion, sharing, and support.
Friendships are the sustenance of life.
Fellowship brings us together. Hostility drives us apart.
I will respect the beliefs of other Christians.
When we help another human, we are helping Jesus and God.
Love creates the possibility of all that is good. Hatred creates the
possibility of evil.
Tolerance is always preferable to acts of prejudice.
Integrity, loyalty, honesty, charity and responsibility are the hallmarks of a
virtuous life.
Free will implies we must have the freedom and independence to make choices.
The exercise of free will compels us to be responsible for our words and
actions.
Christianity provides us with a foundation for an uplifting faith, gives us the
blessings of hope, encourages the compassion of charity, and nurtures a
positive sense of personal identity.
Jesus emphasized our inherent equality with all others who are Christians.
Our beliefs make us sisters and brothers in Christ.
One is not condemned to forever be at the bottom of the sociological pyramid.
Even the slave can have dignity and status.
Within this community there is love and compassion for the sick, the elderly,
the very young, the hungry, the widow, and the poor.
No one need live in the loneliness of isolation.
We can create God’s Kingdom on earth.
Ignorance of God’s commandments is inexcusable. We should always be aware of
what we are supposed to do, - even if we forget to do the right thing.
Chapter 11. Observations
Without God There is No Moral Standard
“Without a respect for God’s commandments there is no authoritative moral standard beyond the invention of humanity, which means that every action or behavior is merely a matter of human opinion.”
For example:
· Should we murder Jews, gypsies and homosexuals? It does not matter what you think because it’s just your opinion against Hitler’s opinion.
· Should we crucify children? It’s just your opinion versus the opinion of ISIS leaders.
· Should we support Freedom of speech? It’s just a matter of your opinion versus the opinion of the dictator who runs your country.
Without a virtuous standard that is superior to the deficient moral relativity of human belief, all opinions can be justified. A positive and constructive Christian theology provides a moral standard to live by for all people in all nations.
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About Love and Lust
Lust is a natural physical reaction to a contact we have made with another human. The excitement, passion and exhilaration we feel comes from deep within our physical being. It’s all part of our physical self; everything from our genes to our nervous system. Lust is the powerful inner energy that brings humans together for procreation. The problem is that we often confuse our natural physical reaction to someone with our equally natural desire to love, and be loved, in a spiritual way. But while lust is a physical response that stimulates our body into immediate action, true love is a physical reaction with far reaching long term emotional implications.
Think of it this way. Lust is the way our body stimulates us into action. Sometimes the results are good, sometimes they are bad. But although the excitement of the activity may linger in our mind, lust is a temporary physical thing. Love on the other hand, is more closely aligned with a long term commitment. It is the feeling of friendship. Those we love we trust. We view them as companions with whom we can share our thoughts and dreams without fear of ridicule.
When we lust for someone, it is usually a selfish act. We want to satisfy our physical need. The other person is an object to satisfy our physical desire. Love, by contrast, is an expression of giving - as well as receiving. Our need for love is fulfilled by making someone more content with our relationship. We want them to trust us. Be our companion. Share our thoughts. Engage with us on a spiritual level. That means true love is a commitment that lasts for a very long time, and it does not require us to perform a physical act. Remember, Jesus loved those with whom he traveled and the people that came to visit with him. Those relationships were spiritual in nature. He welcomed them as companions and friends. Love is for sharing. It is an act of caring.
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Our Responsibility
When I was a child, it was assumed one must live by a strict moral code. The Church told us that if we failed to abide by the rules, we would go to Hell. The Bible, the Koran and the Buddhist Scripture all take the same approach to enforcement. Obey or be punished.
There is a certain truth to the “obey or be punished” concept. We cannot break the natural laws of the Cosmos without exposing ourselves to physical or emotional injury. If we defile our being with drugs or alcohol, if we debilitate ourselves with too much stress, or if we ignore the wisdom of experience, we are doomed to suffer the consequences. In like manner, if we break the laws of man, or ignore the values of God, we risk retribution.
It is therefore our responsibility, each and every one, to do these things which nourish our emotional health, support our physical well-being, and elevate our ethical character; else we risk the creation of our own self-inflicted Hell.
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Know Thyself.
Aside from our parents and siblings, the first person with whom we have a relationship is our personal self. The acts of growing up force us to confront the person we see in the mirror. True maturity comes when the person we observe is a trusted friend whose values and judgment we admire.
If we are comfortable with ourselves, then we have the confidence to love others.... even if they are hostile. When combined with genuine humility, self-confidence permits us to maintain a temperate disposition. All our relationships, be they a brief encounter with another person or the lasting bond of a friend, are framed by a positive and constructive expression of self.
Love of self must never be arrogance or the strutting of personal power. Selfless sharing is the basis for lasting and healthy relationships. If we are self-confident we are able to place limits on our ego in order to associate with another person on an equal basis. As we mature, we soon learn the best relationships are a unity. Two become one in thought and deed. We honor those with whom we chose to have a relationship by honoring them as we would our personal self.
The two phrases: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”; and “Love your neighbor as yourself,” assume we know and are comfortable with who we are....
###
What Makes Us Happy?
What makes us happy? Self, family, love, faith, community, and meaningful work are the key.
Self
We have a humble respect the individual we see in the mirror. Despite our economic circumstances or physical appearance, we are content with ourselves as a person.
Family
The reference of our being, a happy family infuses welcome structure and loving support into our lives. Successful family life enriches our sense of belonging and our need to be wanted. Interaction with children and relatives includes laughter, compassion and understanding.
Love
We want to be loved. Christian theology teaches us to love one another. Love is a positive ingredient of good marriages, happy families, close friendships, and supportive communities. When we engage in acts of compassion we enhance our sense of self-worth.
Faith
We need to establish a link with a power that is beyond our physical existence. It is our faith in the spiritual that helps us to connect with the uplifting assurance of a force outside our physical mortality. Faith is a source for positive and constructive values.
Community
Our emotional well-being is enhanced by a sense of belonging within the ecosystem of a vibrant and friendly community.
Meaningful Work
When we know we have done a good job, we have a feeling of accomplishment. Work is meaningful when it supports personal pride and economic security.
In all these things.... God can help.
###
A Speck of Dust
Cosmologists proclaim we are but a speck of dust in the universe. Science tells us individual human bodies have little monetary value. Skepticism has become a virtue. Cynicism passes for enlightened thought. Deception is expected. Secular philosophy, which believes nothing is sacred, does not (and cannot) provide a spiritual anchor in the sea of life. Science offers the power of knowledge, but no moral framework within which to judge our actions. Science therefore acts to create a spiritual void which destroys the meaning of life. That creates a conundrum. Technology promises a better life, yet leaves us with a feeling of being alone. Is the “modern” soul lonely and tormented because it is unable to associate with anything that separates us from our beloved technology?
Our physical universe is a very special place. It is managed by thousands of rules and mathematical equations that influence the workings of a small number of chemical elements and an even smaller number of key elements, all of which are required to work in specific ways in order to support life. Despite an infinite number of possible combinations, nature has selected just the right values to define our physical universe. Given any other combination, neither animal nor plant would exist. Our universe exhibits many uniform characteristics on a massive scale. There is nothing random about the workings of this organization, or – more important - there anything random about the manner in which they are sustained. This fundamental truth conflicts with the random walk theories of evolution. In other words, we would not exist unless the workings of the physical universe were very carefully chosen by the power of intelligent design.
The alternative is random chaos.
Many scientific hypotheses have not passed the test of time. Today’s scientific fact may become tomorrow’s fiction. The process of inquiry and experimentation, however, has eventually brought us closer to the truth. We never know where these insights will emerge. They may come from unexpected sources.
They may even be revealed by God.
The U. S. National Academy of Sciences has stated “"creationism, intelligent design, and other claims of supernatural intervention in the origin of life or of species are not science because they are not testable by the methods of science.”
What does this pronouncement mean? In simple terms it means that the methods of science are inadequate. They cannot be used to discover supernatural invention or intelligent design. Now I ask you.
Whose fault is that?
We can learn from an examination of human DNA. This helical string is in every cell. Every string contains a very long message. The text is not merely a random collection of data. It is organized. It has form, it has rules, and it has purpose. Existing knowledge of biology does not adequately explain how DNA became the code of life. Dare we chose to believe it‘s function and organization infer DNA was designed by a higher intelligence?
Could the designer be God?
We are not, each and every one of us, a mere speck of dust. We have value because we are valued by God. The closer we draw to the Holy Spirit, the more we sense our self-worth.
###
Institutions
Throughout the United States, Europe, and most of the other nations influenced by western culture, virtuous values are based on Christian beliefs. Secular religions, including socialism, communism, fascism and liberalism, fail to provide a transcendent system of moral behavior. By contrast, the cultural environment created by Christian theology encourages individual free will, freedom from oppression, personal responsibility, moral behavior, and equal justice. These values support and sustain democracy as a political system, the rule of law, and the integrity of those who govern. When the institutions of government stray away from these values, deception and corruption soon follow.
Democracy only works if it is based on the considered consensus of the majority of those being governed. A fundamental assumption of any working democracy is that the minority will agree to abide by the will of the majority. If the consent of the majority is defeated, whether by legislative process, court ruling, mob activity or the police power of the State, democracy ceases to exist. The consent of the majority can also be devastated through rebellion, war, and acts of hatred. One follows the other. Dictatorship, irrespective of the underling ideology, is a lousy form of government: - as the needless death of over 60 million people in the 20th century so powerfully demonstrates.
The potential of economic opportunity encourages the freedom of personal success. It is more desirable than the tedious dependence of welfare because personal success builds confidence and a feeling of self-worth. Continuous reliance on welfare works to demean personal dignity. Prosperity and personal achievement are therefore desirable goals, when accompanied by a clear understanding – and practice - of Christian moral behavior.
A stable and productive middle class, the workers who actually get things done, is a requisite component of any successful national culture, because the wealth of a nation is created by its people. We must realize, therefore, the success of western civilization rests on the preservation and growth of an active Christian middle class.
Democracy encourages personal freedom. Oppression limits personal choice. The rule of law is preferable to anarchy. Ideas such as civil rights, the value of the individual, the desire for political freedom, and human equality are Christian values. Thus if government rejects the existence of God, its connection with the moral value of the Spiritual is broken. As we have witnessed so often, without a spiritual framework for ethical behavior, a government’s moral conduct inevitably deteriorates. The moral obligation of the family and the individual are subsequently compromised because public morality decays.
###
Religions
We need to make a distinction
We need to make a distinction between what we identify as a “religion” and a theology.
· A theology is a system of beliefs generally derived from scripture, reason and tradition. Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism are examples.
· When people organize institutions that embrace a theology, then we have developed a religion. The Catholic, Methodist, and Baptist churches are good examples of religious institutions that have adopted Christian theology.
This is not a trivial distinction. Christianity has frequently been attacked as a religion, when in fact; the criticism is directed at – and is the responsibility – of one or more religious institutions. The recent wave of scathing comments about homosexual molestation within the Catholic clergy is a good example. The effort to remove all references to God or the Bible from public buildings is another example of the confusion that exists when critics (and Christians) are unable to distinguish between Christianity as a theology and the religious institutions of Christianity. The men who framed the American Constitution understood the difference. They were aware (sometimes painfully aware) of the excessive and irrational use of political power which can occur when there is no distinction between the institutions of religion and the institutions of government.
If we want the uninitiated, the non-believers, and the skeptics to believe in the teachings of Christianity, then we must present it with intelligence and conviction. We cannot expect the human soul to follow where the human mind will not go. Therefore, let us base our convictions on the best available evidence and most thoughtful analysis we can command. A lasting faith is based on the rock of credible witness.
Religions are not created from scratch.
New religions are primarily a collection of beliefs salvaged from prior religious experience. Constructive religions are able to add new beliefs to past theology. Positive religions are willing to adopt new beliefs as God reveals the secrets of our Cosmos. In all these things, God expects us to use our intellectual resources to continually improve our understanding of both the physical and the spiritual. We were created with the ability to grow in wisdom and faith. God is the path to enlightenment. Jesus is our guide.
Religions are the invention of man.
It is clear that "religions" are the invention of man, and therefore exhibit all the strengths and weaknesses of human nature. All too frequently the expression of theology is constricted by the rules and regulations of an institutionalized system of beliefs which eventually become irrelevant because they fail to embrace contemporary knowledge.
Yet, in this there is a paradox. Any extended attempt to observe the spiritual must establish a cohesive framework of intellectual and emotional theology. Else it has no lasting virtue.
Let us come together, therefore, to proclaim a theology that venerates lasting values, rather than the rigid rules of an obsolescent institutional bureaucracy.
###
We Must Find Our Own Way
Established religions do not always practice their published theology. The faithful do not always observe the teachings of their faith. Believers can be obstinately patronizing about the truths they read into ancient documents. All too often, the selective use of religious doctrine is used to justify malicious behavior.
What a shame.
These realities of human failing present us with many questions. Who are we to judge? How do we have a constructive conversation with those who espouse inflexible beliefs? How do we deal with the venom of a faith that has been corrupted by human intransience? By what measure do we know our own actions and thoughts are spiritually virtuous? And so on.
Be thoughtful. Human nature will not change. These failings and the questions they raise will be with us forever. Let us therefore embrace a positive and constructive view of who we are, and deal with these weaknesses of the human condition in a thoughtful way.
Let us be humble in our beliefs. In truth, most of us are pursuing the same quest. We want to be sure that life has meaning. We are, in a sense, always searching for a truth that is greater than ourselves, even if we are unable to fully comprehend the meaning of our discovery. There are, it would appear, many paths to spiritual truth. We must, each one of us, find our own way.
We will be measured by the sincerity of our effort.
###
Zealots
Human belief systems extend across a wide spectrum of philosophical vision. Theological views range all the way from people who immerse themselves in the spiritual, to individuals who refuse to believe anything they cannot experience with the five human physical senses; and from the observance of strict canon, to a rejection of any theological belief.
Every system of beliefs has its self-appointed zealots.
Zealots typically demonstrate stubborn intellectual inflexibility. Emotion drives reason and limits introspection. Fanatical belief rejects knowledge and logical choice. Sacrosanct opinions are preserved with tenacious passion. Ideology frequently assumes the self-righteous trappings of theology. Alternative views are avoided or treated with disdain. Zealots believe they are right. Everyone else is wrong. They can become very defensive when confronted with new concepts or facts that threaten established belief. Argument frequently degenerates into a blind regurgitation of parochial conviction. The greater the challenge alternative concepts present to the zealot, the more bellicose the proclamation of obstinate opinion. Those who don’t believe the preferred theology are adversaries. They must be shunned, belittled, or eliminated.
Let history and current events be our guide. It should not surprise us to discover every religion and every political system has its zealots. These are people who refuse to acknowledge any alternative viewpoint. Zealots are quick to anger, slow to forgive. For extreme zealots, self-righteousness conviction infused with passion justifies destructive behavior, lustful murder, and atrocious cruelty.
What is the alternative?
By contrast, those who practice the Christian concepts of love and compassion approach new ideas with a thoughtful, confident, positive and constructive attitude. They know doctrinaire obedience to established belief limits learning and personal growth. An environment of open and friendly discussion is more likely to bring us closer to a mutually beneficial understanding of reality – even when we choose to disagree.
So let us ask ourselves two questions.
1. Is the harmony of love more welcome than the conflict of divisive hatred?
2. Does the quest for peace demand we come together, trust one another, share our thoughts, and respect constructive discourse?
If so, then let us not be like the zealots. Rather, let us come together with a spirit of compassion. As Christians, we are obligated to respect those who embrace the words of Christ, even if they follow an unfamiliar path in their quest to become one with The Holy Spirit.
May we use the intelligence God has given us to seek the wisdom of truth together.
###
Let Us Follow Him
God is always with us. We can communicate with a loving and personal God. Those who earnestly seek him will find he is the source of spiritual peace. Our faith can make us whole, for we know God values every individual, no matter how far he or she may have strayed from spiritual awareness. We know immortality is possible if we strive to be trustworthy in all we do or say.
If we trust in God, he will help us. Furthermore, we believe it is possible to have a relationship with a personal loving God. Although there are commandments to be learned and followed, we can approach and be at peace with the Holy Spirit. Prayer can be spiritually private. Jesus set the example when he established a working relationship with God.
Let us embrace a constructive theology, have compassion for others, and follow the wisdom of God’s law. Let us have a nobility of purpose and the courage of a positive faith. Let us have the courage of our convictions and the spiritual strength to challenge amoral cultural norms. If we believe in ourselves, God will often help us to do the seemingly impossible.
Harassment, cynicism, ridicule, contempt, callousness, and hatred are ever present characteristics of human behavior which degrade the worth of an individual. By contrast, we seek to elevate the value of an individual through acts of understanding, compassion and love. God encourages us to love our enemies, to refrain from judging others, and to treat other people as we would want them to treat us.
Let us unite with a strong a sense of community. Let us welcome the stranger, the widow, and the young as extended family. We encourage others to join and experience the courage, hope, and spiritual strength of a Christian community. This sense of family gives us the strength to persevere, sometimes against overwhelming odds.
When we come together in a Christian community, we seek to elevate our collective moral character, reinforce our belief in God’s existence, and experience God’s love. In a Christian community, we are brothers and sisters. When we help another person, we are helping Jesus (and God).
Jesus is the savior of mankind described in ancient prophesies. He will show us the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. For Jesus, faith in a loving God is inclusive. There is no hierarchy of believers. We are all equal in our search for spiritual serenity and salvation. He encourages us to follow Him. He sets the example.
The resurrection of Jesus confirmed his message in a wonderfully positive and joyous way. He taught us to embrace a constructive theology, to follow the wisdom of God’s law, and to seek the reward of everlasting life. His words inspire a nobility of purpose, the courage of a positive faith, and the comfort of spiritual peace.
Our faith can make us whole.
And remember this: If God wants to speak to us ... we should listen.
Chapter 12.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Humanity can choose
survival
though teamwork and compassion,
or suicide
through
disconnection and competition.
The Church
It would appear that most atheists, agnostics and – unfortunately – all too many Christians – do not realize active churches are a wonderful community resource. There are thousands of churches in many nations that have a vital and constructive influence on the community. They provide a focal point for community welfare and the support of individual well-being. Most of the work is done by dedicated volunteers who recognize community needs and seek to answer the call for help. The list of community support is a long one: meals and shelter for the homeless; donations of clothing and food for struggling families; counseling and friendship programs for individuals; team sports for teenagers; sponsorship of civic, fraternal and youth organizations; helping parents with family problems; encouraging the formation of loving family units; and so on. Our Christian churches continue to increase their value by providing an essential spiritual foundation for the individual, a sense of belonging to the family, and an institutional resource for the community.
We go to Church to worship together and express our faith in prayer and song. In so doing, we may be able to sense the spiritual dimension and thus bring our being closer to God. Participation in a worship service encourages a sense of belonging and a feeling of unity. A congregation unified by prayer or a rousing hymn can be a glorious experience.
We join with others to worship even if we are troubled by our religion’s institutional views, are bothered by perceived hypocrisy, offended by internal political friction, or distressed by misbehaving religious leaders. A church is, after all, a human institution. It thus exhibits very human strengths and weaknesses. As we grow older, we learn to take the unfortunate with the positive. We seek a unified communion with the Divine because we know it is a joyous experience.
A virtuous church provides an emotional and intellectual framework for our quest to find spiritual grace. God works in many ways. We may be fortunate enough to discover the most satisfying spiritual experience is the one we find within ourselves. In this case, the Church can best serve our needs by providing us with a sense of belonging to a loving community as we pursue our quest. Here we can develop a satisfying connection with a spiritual joy that is larger than ourselves. It is a place of security that encourages a peace of mind.
God encourages the formation, and reformation, of family units within the congregation. Individual members need to belong to a family, and they must accept their responsibility to the family as a unit. The demographic makeup of a family unit is less important than its role in the life of each member. Functional families provide an environment in which individual members have a feeling of self-worth, experience love, and find companionship. If, however, an individual is unable to participate in the life of a beneficial family unit, then they are best served if they are a welcome member of the Church family.
Lifestyle change (unemployment, marriage, divorce, illness, injury, or the death of a loved one) means dislocation, the loss of one’s familiar frame of reference, and insecurity about what to do and who we are. It is very personal. This is where an active church congregation can assume a role within the community to provide emotional support; a sense of belonging and a stable frame of reference.
Active Churches have established their worth to the community by serving as a focal point for civic and personal service. They set achievable goals. Members of the congregation are encouraged to believe they can make a real contribution to achieving those goals. The ministry of each Church encompasses broad social purpose which can be expressed in thousands of individual acts. Everything the Church does is a confirmation of its mission. Planning decisions are made within the context of two simple questions: What is the best way to accomplish our mission? How do we allocate our financial and membership resources to the success of our purpose?
Church leaders typically serve with dedication and purpose. They are unafraid to state their beliefs and they encourage others to adopt a positive system of theology. Christian churches promote, practice, teach, and encourage high moral values and loving compassion. They encourage honesty and integrity, seek to elevate human interaction, confirm the nobility of human existence, and comfort those in distress with person to person contact. Happy church congregations seek the spiritual in an environment of compassion and fellowship.
Active churches serve the community by attending to those human needs that civil authority tends to ignore or is unlikely to do with consistent success. The decay and liberalization of civil government means that even first world nations will be unable to provide an adequate response to human social and physical needs by the end of this century. The Church must be ready to step into the breach with a clear sense of direction. Local groups will be encouraged to play a greater role in the provision of neighborhood services, and the creation of a dialogue among neighbors for their mutual support and the encouragement of individual self-sufficiency.
This is not an environment of doctrinaire obedience. Learning about the spiritual is best done in an atmosphere of open discussion and participation. Indoctrination is avoided if parishioners are to have a lasting sense of theological self-confidence. Every Church must review its use of ritual in order to be sure it is relevant, and consistent, with the intellectual experience of the community. Ritual needs to be expressed in ways that are credible to a 21st century congregation.
History has proven human political institutions are unable to sustain a lasting moral character. Secular theology creates a class structure dominated by elitists who favor the current convenience of wealth and power. There is little sense of personal responsibility. Endemic corruption is inevitable. Christian congregations therefore have an obligation to encourage the moral behavior of the political establishment. The terms “In God We Trust” and “One nation under God” are evidence of this obligation.
Christians have a duty to communicate, support and preserve God’s universal law. In order to protect the integrity of the church and the perfection of its mission, there must always be a strict separation of church from the political influence of government institutions. Although the Church has an obligation to influence the moral character of government, it must never endorse political ideology or become a partner in political activity.
###
If we work together
Science is exploring theoretical explanations for multiple universes and dimensions. Existing secular beliefs about creation and evolution are being challenged. Cosmological observations continue to raise new questions about our physical universe. Studies in quantum science present us with a bewildering number of questions and possibilities. In the final analysis however, science cannot expect to increase the sophistication of human knowledge until it has figured out how to deal with both the physical and not-physical aspects of our Cosmos. Both are natural forms of reality.
Christians continue to explore and experiment with alternative forms of worship. Informal congregations come together for prayer, worship, and community service. There is a persistent interest in the spiritual. Christians yearn for a credible and internally consistent theology. In the final analysis however, the institutions of Christianity cannot expect to increase the sophistication of Christian theology until they have figured out how to deal with contemporary human knowledge. Both the not-physical and physical aspects of our Cosmos are natural forms of reality.
We have an opportunity for cooperation. Scientists and theologians must be willing to recognize they have the same objective. We have the power, and the challenge, to decide the fate of our planet. If we are to make good decisions, we must draw upon unequivocal science, and the wisdom of thoughtful theology. That is to say, we must approach the physical with our best technology and the spiritual with our greatest concern for human life.
To the secular scientist and the atheist I pose a simple question: If we only see ourselves as living in a physical world, are we limiting our knowledge? And to those who cling to ancient Christian beliefs, I ask an equally simple question: what are you willing to do to preserve, protect, and further the work of Jesus Christ? If, as many believe, human knowledge of the Cosmos and our universe has been frequently inspired by God’s wisdom, then does it not seem logical that we can – and should – base our perception of creation and evolution on contemporary 21st century knowledge?
So there is the challenge. Christianity needs to experience the refreshing clarity of a theological renaissance. Can we unite the essence of the wonderful, loving, spiritual message we received almost 2000 years ago with 21st century knowledge?
Yes we can.
Remember the lesson God has taught us.
If we work together,
If we love one another,
We can accomplish
great things.
###
Our Challenge
For the first 60 years of the 20th century, there was considerable cultural pressure to attend church. That social influence has almost disappeared. According to the Pew Forum, more than 25 percent of Americans have either left the faith in which they were raised in favor of another religion -- or no religion at all. This percentage is higher throughout most of Europe. The decreased frequency of attendance has reduced funding for clergy and buildings. Hundreds of churches have been closed as a result.
But the decline of church attendance is deceptive. Many members find new churches to attend. There has been an increase in the number of faith based groups where individuals can participate in a more intense and intimate experience of the spiritual. Internet social media have made it possible for individuals to gather together in small groups to share their faith and experiences. Despite a decline of interest in traditional Christianity, there continues to be strong interest in the Bible, as well as the life and teaching of Jesus Christ.
We yearn for the spiritual experience. Therein lays opportunity.
We must recognize that entertainment and social media compete for the attention of potential parishioners. The Millennial generation will not accept ancient mythology, they are prone to ask tough questions, and their values are more likely to reflect the beliefs of the secular community. They reject the fossilized doctrines, dogmas and holy books of stylized religions that are no longer relevant to real world experiences, and they demand that if a church (its clergy and congregation) says it welcomes everyone, they expect the church to really mean all are welcome- regardless of sexual orientation, political views, or color. Millennials do not want to be around people who are negatively judgmental, and they expect both clergy and congregations to employ electronic technology for communication.
Thus, Christianity is at a crossroads. Ancient traditions and doctrine clash with increasingly sophisticated human knowledge. There has been a significant fragmentation of theology within Christianity. Absent charismatic leadership, the Christian experience mostly centers on the divergent interpretation of Bible texts. We desperately need an enlightened vision of the Spiritual Universe.
Unwelcome cultural and economic change is upon us. Cataclysmic political events all over our planet are disrupting our Cultural Ecosystem. We are finding economic growth more difficult to achieve and the disparity of wealth has become a source of conflict. The result is mass confusion, distrust, fear, economic deprivation, and psychological trauma. Millions are going to need the comfort of a stable and re-assuring religious experience. We will seek the solace of faith.
There will be a temptation to rely on obsolete theology in a crumbling Cultural Ecosystem. But the old ways will not work. This is change on the gut level. Successful Christian groups will evolve into inclusive community institutions. Our clerics will find ways to mix an enlightened theology with compassion. Our understanding of the Spiritual must keep pace with our knowledge of the Physical.
###
A Spiritual Renaissance
Yes, this text is radical. It presents a system of 21st
century theology that attempts to bridge the gap between Christian doctrine and
contemporary human knowledge. The theology is logical, credible, and internally
consistent. It seeks to preserve the basis of Christian doctrine – the message
of Jesus the Christ. Humanity yearns for a religious experience rich in
compassion, meaningful in theology, and relevant to the challenges of the 21st
century. The Christian response is to express the values of Jesus Christ in
terms that will be understood and embraced by all of God’s children. Christians
can passionately advocate God’s universal values. They can teach these beliefs
without reservation.
What a wonderful
world we would have
if all of humanity adopted and practiced
the moral values of Christian theology and
the compassion of Jesus Christ.
Let us ask for a Spiritual Renaissance without reservation. It is time. Let humanity experience the joy of being one with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit who exist as one essence. It is time to restate the message of Christ, our knowledge of God, and the place of Christianity in human destiny. This wonderful message can be expressed in terms that are consistent with the knowledge and wisdom God has given to us. We must revitalize Christianity’s traditional rituals and beliefs. Our positive and constructive message will provide spiritual nourishment for the individual, the family and the community.
We can bring Christianity into the 21st century. We can combine 21st century human knowledge with the spiritual values of Christian theology. We do have the responsibility to preserve, protect, and strengthen Christian doctrine. Theological renaissance and institutional reformation is a realistic objective.
And above all, let us recognize our obligation.
If God wants to speak to us, we should listen.
END
Appendix 1
Christian
Statements of Faith
We are, each one of us, challenged
to find our own
way to God.
The Relationship of Jesus and God
The scriptures never reveal the Trinity as a theological concept. Instead the roles of Jesus and God are clearly separate and distinct. Jesus prays to God and calls him father. For example, there is only one “true God” described in John 17:1-26 when Jesus the son is praying to God the Father. In John 20:17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” In John 14: 27-28 Jesus says “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, ‘I go away and come again unto you.’ If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice because I said, ‘I go unto the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.” In John 7:33 Jesus said, "I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me.” And In Matthew 27:46 Jesus cried with a loud voice, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" just as he was dying on the cross.
There are other examples of a clear distinction between Jesus as a man, and God as the Father. It is troubling (for some) this distinction would appear to contradict the concept that Jesus is God, or of the same substance as God. But it does not. They became of the same substance after the resurrection. As depicted in “Am I Your Son?” God created his son and gave him the task of bringing God’s message to all who are willing to listen.
###
Statements of Belief
Every organization, including political, religious, or corporate entities, needs to have a statement of purpose in order to focus member or employee activity on a set of common objectives. These statements frequently include ethical and procedural references, and emphasize what members or employees are expected to believe. The early church was no different. Christian doctrine was not clearly established. Theological controversies were common and often divisive. Christianity needed a universally accepted creed in order to establish the bedrock upon which the church could build its theology. Church elders would have been compelled to proclaim a core set of beliefs in order to unify local congregations, and there must have been many different statements of belief by the time the first council was held in Nicaea. One must concede, however, the circumstances of these councils were primarily motivated by political considerations. The Roman Emperors were struggling to maintain social and political cohesion among far flung and often contentious subject domains. Uniform religious beliefs and practices were (and still are) an integral component of social order.
###
Are The Creeds Still Relevant?
The Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds were created in response to the need for a uniform statement of Christian beliefs. As we may expect, they mirror contemporary fourth-century theology concerning the nature of God, Jesus, and the elements of faith. They have been the source of continuing debate and occasionally derisive comment into the 21st century. Some of the concepts are difficult to understand (and believe). For example, it is hard to accept the idea Jesus is God when he so obviously was born and lived his life as a man. In addition, the relationship of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit continue to be the source of controversy. One can reasonably ask: Was it necessary for Jesus to be (called) a God in order to give him the status of a legitimate King (Pontifex Maximus – Latin for "Greatest Pontiff") who could be superior to the pagan gods of Rome? And is a virgin birth a necessary requisite for Jesus to be born a King? Detractors sometimes refer to these beliefs as a mix of pagan and ancient Greek mythology.
For most Christians, both Creeds continue to express the core of Christian theology. We must never lose the moral compass Jesus brought to us. The Nicene Creed is very relevant for those Christians who choose to believe Jesus is an incarnation of God on earth in human form, and the Apostles’ Creed continues to provide a statement of faith for Christians who like to think of Jesus as being a divine human. Both Creeds affirm there is only one God who is maker of heaven and earth, Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilot, and on the third day after his death he arose to be with his father. These statements of faith have provided comfort and confidence for millions of Christians, and they will continue to do so.
As Christians we should be willing to recognize and respect other systems of spiritual faith. Those who seek a closer relationship with God (by whatever name that is familiar to them) may choose to follow the testaments of other theologies (Tao, Buddhist or Hindu, for example). In addition, we must recognize and respect the fact that belief systems are not static. The accumulation of human knowledge will always act to transform theology and philosophy.
Twenty-first century Christians may choose to have alternative beliefs about the nature of God, the importance of spiritual connection in prayer and meditation, and the divinity of Jesus Christ. We may choose to believe God is an unseen - but ever present - spiritual force with whom we are able to connect through meditation and prayer. Given the historical circumstances, it is logical to believe Jesus was born a human, was influenced by the presence of God throughout his entire life, thought of God as a father (who art in heaven), and became one with the conscious power (energy) of God through prayer and meditation – a path we seek to follow.
No matter what one may choose to believe, in the end we are drawn to meditate on the spirit behind these theological beliefs. We are created as individuals. The beliefs of one may not be right for another. We are, each one of us, challenged to find our own way to God. As my father has said, “Seek and Ye shall find.” If we want to find God, and his son, we must look for them through prayer and meditation.
It is worth the effort.
###
Sam Taught Me about God’s Love
I was in my late 40s. Busy with work and the challenges of daily life. I wore the suit, five days a week. Proper tie, matching socks, formal shirt, carefully pressed pants, vested coat, and wingtip shoes. The weekend dress code was more likely to be a pair of worn jeans, an old t-shirt, and dusty boots.
I confess I didn’t like dogs. Terrorized by a dog at age 4, I used to have nightmares about this huge corker spaniel. In my dream, there would be a parade on the street in front of our house. People and cars lined both sides of the street to watch the parade. There were marching bands with majorettes, big floats, and row upon row of marching soldiers. Then I would always see the dog; marching in the parade. He was huge, maybe 100 feet tall. He was so big he brushed the tops of the elm trees that lined our street. He was so big he could pick up a car and eat it. Chomp crunch... and it was gone. And he would always munch on a few spectators. Gobble them up like ribbons of spaghetti. Then in my dream he would see me. Paralyzed with fear, I could not move. The dog would walk slowly toward me, big evil eyes, and huge mouth wide open to swallow my small frame ... slowly he bent down.... and then ... I would wake up – screaming.
..................
My son wanted to be a cook. He decided to work for Harrah’s Casino in South Lake Tahoe. We thought it was a good idea, a job that paid real money, with real responsibility, and a chance to learn about cooking in a hotel kitchen. And so he left one morning for the Sierras.
Several weeks later he again showed up at our door. The job was boring so he came home. But he was not alone. He brought a dog home with him: a very large huge dog. He had a chest like a barrel, a very big head, and a humongous nose. His dog weighed over 100 ponds and stood 34 inches tall at the shoulder. My son informed us the dog’s name was Sam.
My son told us about Sam. He and his lady friend had been walking near the beach when they found Sam lying by the path. Sam was in really bad shape. He was thirsty, hungry and showed the marks of a beating. Sam had been mistreated – badly mistreated. My son is a compassionate man. They took Sam home and nursed him back to health. From then on, Sam was my son’s best friend.
Sam was part oversized yellow lab and part horse. He seemed friendly enough. So we reluctantly agreed to let Sam and my son stay with us until he found another job (and place to stay). We all settled in for a few weeks of wary togetherness. I generally ignored Sam.
Every parent with age 20 plus children will understand what happened next. One day while I was at work, my son departed. He just disappeared. He was suddenly gone.
However.... he left Sam... with us.
We debated what to do. High on my list was a trip to the animal shelter. My wife vetoed that idea. She has a natural affection for dogs. So we kept Sam, all 100 plus pounds of this great big dog - and his horde of voracious fleas.
Thus began an incredible experience.
For 20 years we had a routine. I would come home, make a drink, and settle down in my easy chair to relax and unwind. Sam immediately recognized the routine. A few days later, I noticed Sam was sitting a few feet away from me, watching my every move. He didn’t do anything. He just watched me. It was like he expected something to happen. Several days passed. He still had that look of expectation.
Then it happened. I came home from work on a Friday, agitated by the frustrating drive home and very tired from the day’s activity. Sam came over to my chair and nuzzled my hand, actually pushing it up onto his big head. I pulled my hand away. Sam repeated the maneuver. I brushed him off. He went away and again just sat on the floor with that look of expectation. He repeated this routine the next evening, gently and carefully nudging my hand so that it rested on his head. I remember scratching his head, and then his ears. Sam looked very pleased. He was actually happy. At that instant, we bonded. It was an incredible emotional experience.
Over the next few weeks we got to know Sam. He went on walks with us, loved to run (he actually galloped like a horse), was very well behaved, respectful of our house guests, ate copious quantities of dog food, tolerated our veterinarian, and became a happy part of our life.
We tried to convince Sam he should sleep in the garage. But Sam wanted to be with us all the time. After I put him out into the garage, he commenced this mournful moaning song to make sure we felt really guilty about leaving him outside. What to do? Of course we made a place for him. Sam took up his rightful residence next to our bed every night, as close to my pillow as he could, curled up on the floor, - voracious fleas and all.
I never taught Sam anything. He just – somehow – knew what we wanted. For example, he understood that if I came home dressed in a suite, it was OK to come up and lick my hand. But he would avoid any other contact because he somehow knew I did not want “doggy” on my best clothes. However, if I came home in dungarees and an old shirt, he knew he could run to greet me, lean against my legs, rube his huge head on my shirt, and then lick my hand. I never taught him the difference. I was amazed when I suddenly realized he knew the difference between the suite I wore to work and a pair of dungarees.
The inevitable happened. Months later we began to notice Sam was wasting away. We took Sam to the vet. Bad news. The vet just shook his head. In less than three agonizing weeks, Sam was close to death. We have a rule in our house. Our animals never suffer. I reluctantly took Sam to the SPCA to have him put to sleep. I’ll never forget the experience. Standing bewildered and alone in the lobby. After a few agonizing moments, a friendly man came to us. He understood. The man gently unbuckled Sam’s collar and replaced it with an SPCA collar and leash. As the man led Sam away he turned and gave me one last look. The incredible sorrow in his eyes was overwhelming. He understood what was happening.
I walked slowly back to my car. Tears welled up into my eyes. Yes I cried. I had learned to love Sam. He loved me. He was my friend.
..............
Fast forward 20 years. I was writing a novel about a 21st century prophet and our relationship with the spiritual (The Angels Footpath). My thoughts were filled with characters, dialogue, plot events, and the wonderful stimulation of creative inspiration.
My wife and I like to hike and these long treks give me ample time to think and be inspired. On one of these hikes, something marvelous happened. As usual, I was leading a group of friends as we labored upward to a favorite mountain lake. My mind was clear of any thoughts except the enjoyment of the fresh air and beautiful setting.
Walking along, well ahead of the group, a burst of incredible joy suddenly swept over me. Thoughts about Sam flooded through my mind. And then the words clearly spoken,
“Sam loved you. Could God love you any less?”
The answer rushed into my consciousness: Of course not. Sam’s love had been positive, infinite and unconditional. There were no reservations. We had a trusting relationship. With a little effort, we made it all work. If I looked for Sam, he was always there. His love was deeply spiritual and ever present.
Standing on a granite ledge, overlooking clear blue waters of the lake, I realized Sam had taught me everything I needed to know about God’s love. Sam never gave up on me. He just wanted me to love him.
I choose to believe God presented himself in the form of this great big dog to teach me a lesson. And what I learned is the essence of my faith:
God’s love is
infinite.
God’s optimism is forever.
Both are unconditional.
What happens next is up to us.
Ron
Appendix 2
Notes
Stephen Hawking on Black Holes
Many years ago I concluded the “Big Bang” theory of creation never happened because it was illogical. The idea our universe with all its matter, anti-matter, energy, dark matter, and dark energy came from a singularity (sometimes described as a highly dense ball of “stuff”) just does not appear to be plausible. While doing the cosmology research for Summa 21, it also became apparent there is a conflict between the theories of Quantum Science and the Standard Model of physics. The theories of Quantum Science suggest the existence of multiple universes, the nature of which we do not understand. In addition, although there is a divergence between western and eastern interpretations of spiritual reality, both eastern and western theologies assume the existence of alternative states of being, perhaps in “another place”, without giving much thought as to where they are located.
It would appear all of these phenomena are interrelated. Although we need to leave the Quantum Science versus Standard Model challenges to further scientific investigation, a sudden inspiration answered my question about creation. Our universe came from another universe. My conclusions are discussed in Summa 21.
For our purposes it is sufficient to recognize there are - apparently - many theologians, scientists, and philosophers who are headed in the same direction. Although a consensus is several years away (and may never happen because we humans are habitually contentious), the role of Black Holes in the formation of multiple universes is an intriguing area of study.
Enter physicist Stephen Hawking.
Physicist Stephen Hawking says black holes do not conserve physical information. Only their mass, angular momentum and electrical charge are retained. “Apart from these three properties, the black hole preserves no other details of the object that collapsed... For example, the final black hole state is independent of whether the body that collapsed was composed of matter or antimatter, or whether it was spherical or highly irregular.”
Black holes discharge particles, gradually lose mass, reduce in size and disappear. “What happens to all the particles that fell into the black hole?” Hawking asked. “They can’t just emerge when the black hole disappears. The particles that come out of a black hole seem to be completely random and bear no relation to what fell in. It appears that the information about what fell in is lost, apart from the total amount of mass and the amount of rotation.“ Hawking said it’s possible that black holes could be as massive as the distance from the sun to Jupiter (about a billion miles) or any size down to the mass of a mountain.
“It might seem that it wouldn’t matter very much if we couldn’t predict what comes out of black holes... but it’s a matter of principle. If determinism — the predictability of the universe — breaks down in black holes....”
Thus black holes remain an enigma. Black holes are thought to form when a massive star exhausts its nuclear fuel and collapses under its own gravity. Though light and matter can’t escape from them into our known physical universe, there may be a portal into another universe. “Black holes aren’t the eternal prisons they were once thought,” Hawking said. “Things can get out of a black hole, both from the outside and possibly though another universe.” He no longer believes that the contents of that matter are destroyed.
....
Stephen William Hawking CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA was a highly respected English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge.
###
About Abraham
Judaism, Christianity and Islam are called Abrahamic faiths because all three religions trace their roots back to Abraham (a father of many nations). The story of Abraham includes his two sons Ishmael and Isaac, who also play important roles in the founding of these faiths.
It is likely Abraham’s narrative is a literary construct that does not relate to any period in actual history. It does, however, reveal the progress of western theological thinking.
In Jewish tradition, Abraham (Abram) was born about 1800 B.C. and is regarded as the patriarch who established the Covenant (contract) between the Jewish people and God. He is regarded as both the biological progenitor of the Jews (the first Jew), and the father of Judaism.
Abraham is often mentioned in the Qur’an. He is called a monotheist (believes there is only one God), a Muslim (one who submits to God), a patriarch, and a prophet. Mohammed depicts Abraham as the perfect Muslim. Abraham’s oldest son Ishmael is regarded as the ancestor of the Arabs. Abraham and Ishmael journeyed to Mecca to build Islam’s Holy shrine the Kaaba, and Ishmael, along with his mother Hagar are thought to be buried next to the shrine. The Qur'an commands Muslims to believe in the revelations given to "Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Patriarchs".
For Christians, Jesus is the Messiah who brings God’s message to humanity. Abraham is recognized as the first person to believe in a single powerful God (monotheism), and his son Isaac links Abraham to Christian tradition. The divinity of Jesus is a key construct of Christian theology that separates Judaism and Islam from Christianity. In Judaism and Islam, Jesus is not regarded as being divine and is only seen as one of many prophets.
Judaism holds that one becomes a descendant of Abraham through birth. Many Christians believe one becomes a descendant of Abraham through faith. Islam holds that one becomes a descendant of Abraham through both birth and faith. Because Islam draws much of its tradition from the Old Testament, many of its beliefs are similar to those found in Jewish literature.
###
About the Decline of Traditional Belief
The decline of traditional Christian belief is especially noticeable among Americans 18 to 39 years old. They are likely to believe existing theology is irrelevant in the 21st century and – absent any credible alternative - will abandon conventional religious theology. On the other hand, given the right message, over 75% would embrace the spiritual. Our desire to understand our place in the Cosmos appears to be a fundamental trait of human character.
And so there is the challenge. How do we create a Christian theology that is relevant to the 21st century American? Should we simply assume that as they age, they will eventually come back to a Christian faith? Statistics suggest many will become “born again”. But is that enough?
What would Christ do?
Would he abandon non-believers? Would he ignore the accumulation of human knowledge? Or would he seek to deliver God’s message in terms that are harmonious with the spiritual yearning of a 21st century population?
###
What Do Americans Believe About The Bible?
Various polls over the years have tried to identify how Americans view the Bible. Although finding consistent poll data covering multiple years has been a challenge, it would appear one can decipher – in broad terms – a reasonable conclusion. Four respondent classifications have emerged:
· There are those who choose to believe the Bible is the word of God, word for word.
· Others believe the message it delivers was inspired by God. This category also includes those who believe the Bible should not be taken literally.
· Some people believe the Bible is a collection of folklore and fables that describe early western human history and philosophy.
· A small percentage of respondents don’t know, have no opinion, or refuse to answer.
The number of American Christians who believe the Bible is the word of God, word for word, appears to track with the number of people who attend Church on a regular basis. Both numbers are declining. Respondents with a college education are less likely to believe the Bible is the word of God (< 20%) than people who have a high school education (>39%), live in the South (>37%), or attend Church on a regular basis (>60%). Young adults 18 – 29 are more apt to be skeptical (27%) than seniors (5%). Evangelical (58%) and historically black (61%) congregations are most likely to believe the Bible is the word of God, word for word, followed by Catholics (33%), mainline Protestants (22%), and other Christian groups (27%).
The trends are reasonably clear. Approximately 50% of the American population will continue to believe the Bible’s message was inspired by God. The number of Americans who choose to believe the Bible is the word of God, word for word, will decline below 25%. Unless the Christian community re-characterizes its theology, the number of Americans who essentially reject the inspiration of the Bible will increase above 28%.
Over the years I have learned it is useless to counter statistical trends. All we can do is influence their direction. We know educated populations tend to be more skeptical of the Bible’s infallibility. We know our children are being taught the liberal point of view on all Christian subjects, including the credibility of the Bible. Therein is our challenge. Since these statistical trends suggest most Americans are willing to agree the Bible was inspired by God that should be the focus of the Christian community. Within this context the perceived inconsistencies, errors, and conflicts within the text become largely irrelevant because they are the product of human endeavor. We know human authors will make mistakes as they try to find the words to adequately describe their revelation.
The wisdom of God’s message to us remains inviolate and universal. God’s values have never changed. Even the atheist and agnostic can be moved by their moral significance. Focusing our thoughts on God’s message to humanity encourages a productive, constructive and positive approach to understanding our relationship with the spiritual that can be expressed in contemporary terms.
Note 1: Data from various studies by The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, and the Gallup Poll.
Appendix 3 Legal Information
Summa 21
The Natural Theology
of a
21st Century Christian
Copyright 2015 and 2022
By Ronald R. Cooke
Auburn, CA
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reserved.
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This text may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to research, analyze and document issues of cultural and theological significance. The term "culture" in this sense includes, but is not limited to, human religious and political institutions. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. Sections 107 – 121.