Posts by Brian Thomas612

casualtiger2 said:Brian Thomas612, fanatics of any stripe tend to be cut from the same cloth.
For some folks, the Bible—especially the New Testament—actually serves as real inspiration and a roadmap for their spiritual journey. Honestly, since we're already talking about Christianity here, I think this thread would be better off focusing on the positive side of things—you know, the actual spiritual depth of the path.

So, let’s pivot. Let's talk more about those who are fanatical about virtue and loving their neighbor, rather than obsessing over the fanatics running bureaucratic institutions and rigid dogmas..

Man, I just don't think that's how this is working out. 😢
If you have the time, maybe scroll back to the very beginning of this thread.
The title "On Spiritual Paths" doesn't actually describe what's happening here at all. In fact, this doesn't even feel like a fair discussion because the person who started it is just relentlessly trying to convert anyone who disagrees with them—essentially claiming that every single spiritual path other than Jesus' is the work of Satan, and if you don't accept Jesus and the Bible as the ultimate authority, you're headed straight to hell!
Honestly, I'm starting to wonder why I'm even putting in the effort. 🤷
Maybe one day this whole thing will serve as interesting material for a psychoanalysis of someone with a deeply depersonalized personality...

edit: The New Testament is an inspiration and a support for my own spiritual walk too, but mainly because I rely more on my own intuition and feelings regarding Christ's words and everything He represents, rather than just clinging to a literal interpretation of the text itself.

Honestly, I’ve started feeling like the Bible was actually written by Satan himself rather than the Holy Spirit. It’s just wild watching fanatics cling to the Bible like it’s some kind of lifeline, when in reality, they seem to trust the devil more than they ever put their faith in God!!

Michael Moore3 said:If all sacred texts were penned by human hands under divine inspiration...
then I suppose one has to wonder what actually sets the Bible apart from any other holy book written through that exact same process?

I’ve always felt it stands out because it seems much more steeped in FEAR OF GOD than in LOVE FOR GOD.
In my experience, leaning too hard on that fear tends to make people spiritually stagnant. It often ends up fueling all those other anxieties we deal with—like being afraid of death or just feeling unsettled by the unknown.

shadownomad4 said:I have certainly heard of it; I spent years immersed in that "universalist" mindset. The whole talk about "energy" simply doesn't hold water because any energy being channeled originates from one of the spirits. The real question is whom you are serving, and the truth is that we are all serving someone, whether we realize it or not. Therefore, when you live with Jesus, you can be certain of the source of your energy. Otherwise, you have no idea where it originates, and more importantly, you have no clue where it is taking you—but you don't care because you don't believe in some fictional destinations.

So, when Jesus said "except through me," he meant it literally. Anyone who lives with Jesus comes to the Father through Him. He is a Person, not merely an energy, a creative force, or a power. That creative power, which flows through the Holy Spirit given to us on earth, creates everything that enters our lives out of the Father's Love, because He is a Person—the source of all good.

It is not our responsibility to fret over the Bible. Once you are saved and possess the Holy Spirit, who bears witness to all things, you no longer worry; your focus is directed toward eternity. What matters is that you have salvation. From that comes the peace of God, which permeates your being, surpassing all understanding, followed by a joy that keeps a smile on your face that no one can take away. You know that everything here is fleeting, whereas the eternal cannot be taken or changed—and that is life with God the Father forever.🙂

You're generalizing again! 🙂
What you lived through was that transcendental meditation movement which, honestly, lost almost everything Maharishi originally intended for it once it hit the West. People drifted away once they started mass-opening their centers and chasing those flows of siddhi powers. It turned into this pursuit of mastering various energies just to get ahead or prove something here in the physical world, all while hiding behind the mask of TM spirituality.
It makes total sense that when someone enters what we might still call 'spirituality' through that door, you have to wonder where that energy is truly originating. That’s the dark side of the New Age movement right there. You even mentioned yourself how you wanted to move up to a higher level, but couldn't because you were short on cash (maybe a couple thousand bucks?).
But if a person stays honest and sincere, eventually they'll hit a point of burnout, and God's mercy will show them a better path forward—kind of like how things worked out for you.
🙂

shadownomad4 said:For a Christian, the Bible is the authority, and I am simply declaring the Truth as it is written within those pages.
A messiah of a new age? Really? I didn't die on the cross, so I'm not sure what you're getting at there.
Fine, let me clarify my perspective on the divine once more.
If God the Father is in heaven and Jesus, the Son of God, is who He says He is, then everything Jesus spoke is absolute Truth. One of His own statements was, "No one comes to the Father except through me." This means that anyone walking with Jesus is also walking with God and is on the right path. I truly don't know how to explain it any further than that.

Well, that makes sense for you because you’ve actually experienced it firsthand, which is the most important thing. It sounds like your faith in Jesus isn't built just on the Bible—simply because someone told you it was true.
But I have to point out again that people all over the world have different experiences. They follow various teachers (avatars) whose sacred texts about the path to God aren't viewed quite the same way you view yours—it's not just about Jesus. It seems to be something much more universal: a deep love for God, for every living creature, letting go of material things, giving unconditionally, practicing forgiveness... Have you ever heard it described that way? Isn't that exactly what Jesus stood for? Isn't that the very path that leads back to the Father?
Man, I honestly wonder if you realize that after hundreds of years and countless versions and translations, the phrase "No one comes to the Father except through me" carries a totally different nuance now. And yet, there's so much debate about it! Maybe the very first Bible was written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but what about the version we're holding in our hands today? Come on, let's be real...

shadownomad4 said:The Truth cannot be forced upon anyone. It is declared, and those who hear it and turn toward it will recognize it. There is only one Truth, and we are discussing the eternal Truth here.
The power of belief is immense; whatever you believe in will shape your reality, regardless of whether you follow a spiritual guide or believe you are acting alone (though the reality is that we all serve someone, whether consciously or unconsciously—be it God or Satan).

One can achieve a great deal through self-discipline, self-actualization, and strength of character. What we are discussing is the salvation that leads to eternal life (spiritually speaking, of course).
No matter how many virtues you possess, having Jesus by your side removes every obstacle, allowing you to achieve far more than you ever could on your own. Most importantly, you receive a peace that surpasses all understanding—a peace that emanates from your spirit and cannot be taken away by anyone.

If you are being truly honest with yourself and you ask, "What happens to my eternity?", you will either find yourself without an answer or feel a deep sense of unrest. You might even find yourself quickly moving away from the thought, which is a direct consequence of not being saved (being born again of the spirit). When your spirit is reborn by God, your entire being understands that your eternity is secure. That is the profound experience one has when they sincerely desire the Truth and welcome Jesus into their life as their Savior.

What exactly do you have to lose?🙂

I feel like we might be spinning our wheels a bit because I think we've all circled this topic before, but let me ask again: What makes you so certain that you've found the specific Truth (that Jesus is the sole Savior and the Bible is the ultimate authority)? Is it just because, as you mentioned, you had a personal encounter with Jesus that gave you that clarity? I'd really love to hear your thoughts on that! And if that's the case, how do we account for everyone else out there who has had profound experiences or visions involving different teachers, different deities, or different spiritual insights? Does their experience somehow make them a new messiah in your eyes?

shadownomad4 said:The scripture clearly states that "...the Truth will set you free." That is the core of the matter. You can certainly choose to live within a comfortable delusion if it suits you, but we are discussing the eternal implications of our choices. If you remain ignorant of the Truth regarding eternity, your future remains profoundly uncertain. Therefore, it is essential to seek and understand the Truth; once you truly grasp and accept it, you will experience a profound sense of peace and live a life filled with joy.🙂

I think anyone could take a sentence like that and interpret it however they wanted.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you believe.
I'm guessing you'd argue that it means if you realize the Truth—meaning you find Jesus, invite Him into your life, and repent for your sins—you'll be free, or rather, you'll have eternal life.
Personally, I tend to look at it a bit differently. To me, the Truth is about self-realization, or discovering our own divine nature. Doing that is what actually sets us free. Free from fear, free from ignorance, and even free from that nagging anxiety of *not* knowing.
It's funny, really. Belief is such a complicated thing.
The real question is whether you're going to try to force your version of "the Truth" onto someone else, or if you'll just let them keep living their lives, even if they're "in an illusion."

🙂

Does it actually matter what "Truth" is?
If someone is genuinely happy holding onto their own version of the Truth, and they aren't out there stepping on anyone else's toes to do it...
is there really any point in trying to force them to see yours (that whole "objective reality" argument)?
I mean, unless your version of the Truth requires you to start infringing on other people's rights or stripping away their freedom, right?

So, does any non-biblical documentation about Jesus actually exist?
I know there were some accounts out there, but it turns out the authors were identified much later on...
basically just frauds interested in other agendas, so I’m taking it with a grain of salt. 👎

Michael Moore3 said:You should check out the documentary "Zeitgeist"
In it, you might see how Jesus appeared throughout different eras of history within various cultures under different personas. What all these figures share—including Jesus—is that they don't represent a physical person, but rather the sun's journey across the sky. Jesus's death after three days and his resurrection represents the time of year when the sun is at its lowest point in the sky (which lasts three days), followed by the days getting longer (the resurrection). That’s why Jesus's life is celebrated at this same time every year.

Just as American religion evolved from ancient Egyptian roots (which I mentioned before regarding the word "Amen" and the transcription of much of the Bible from the Egyptian Book of the Dead), the Egyptians believed God was invisible. Like many ancient peoples, they felt you could only perceive the divine through creation, and the most brilliant of those creations is the sun. The point is: you can't see God directly, but you can see God's sun—His son.

So, what Jesus claims holds up if you interpret it through the lens of the ancient beliefs that gave rise to Christianity.

Here are a few more examples:
You know the story about the wedding at Cana?
Cana is actually Canaan; Americans celebrate weddings to mark the union of Yahweh (masculine energy) and nature (the earth) during the spring—when the heavy rains begin to fertilize the soil. The mother asks Jesus to turn water into wine (essentially asking the sun to pull the water up so the vines can produce grapes). And that is how Jesus turned water into wine...

The story where Jesus feeds the multitudes with fish on a mountain:
The fish is a symbol of Christianity. He didn't physically feed people fish; he fed their spirits with his teachings (Christian doctrine).

And here is some symbolism for you:
The name Israel:
IS-RA-EL refers to three distinct Old Testament deities: ISIS, AMON RA (the sun), and EL (Saturn).

shadownomad4, Jesus's teaching is one truth and one way, but certainly not the only one. Believing it is the only way simply because "that's what he said" makes you a follower who doesn't understand why they do what they do, justifying their actions through a higher purpose they can't grasp or even see—they just believe.
That kind of belief leads to many errors because it removes individual responsibility, especially since one attributes their own actions to divine intervention through themselves, as seen in your example.

Of course, that doesn't mean we have to dismiss the idea that Jesus existed as a real person.
I was thinking about this the other day while watching a documentary, and it occurred to me that maybe those astrological shifts mentioned in the film—you know, things like stars aligning into a cross, the sun dipping low for three days before heading back up, or the Earth's rotation moving through different zodiac signs—might just be happening in sync with the arrival of great teachers like Jesus and others throughout history who share similar traits... 🤷

shadownomad4 said:You are absolutely correct!
There is one crucial point you overlooked: if those of us who possess certain insights into the Truth fail to convey them—whether through media or by witnessing through our own lives—then others will never gain insight into the Truth, and the Holy Spirit will have no medium through which to work in their lives.
God looks upon and sees a people thirsty for the Truth, and the Holy Spirit comes with His presence into the life of such a person.
I have personally experienced this many times when witnessing the Truth face-to-face; people have undergone various forms of mercy and true liberation.
Therefore, let us write and speak the Word, for it is the only thing that penetrates where nothing else can or will. After all, it was that very same Word that created the world; surely it can do anything else.🙂

Here is my little contribution
AUMMMMMMMMMM
🙂

Actually, I think this one hits even harder:

briskharbor35 said:Look, you're born into this the second you actually call on Jesus to step into your life—assuming you truly want Him there and aren't just running some kind of experiment to see what happens. Nothing's gonna move if you're just testing the waters, because God is looking for a heart that's actually sincere.
Here's how it went down for me:
I was carrying so much weight from all the mistakes I'd made, and I finally hit a wall where I just couldn't take it anymore. I was reading "the power of positive thinking" by N. V. Peal and realized that Jesus isn't out to judge me, because He took all my sins and bad vibes right there on the cross, so all I really had to do was call on Him and accept His forgiveness. One night before bed, I was just leaning back against the wall, and I did it. I was just so thirsty for that love and freedom I'd read about everyone else experiencing, and suddenly, I felt this massive release from all that pressure. It was pure joy, man; I felt freer than I ever had in my life. Everything bad in my life just stopped—it wasn't even hard. I just quit. Things like smoking, drinking, drugs, and all that bitterness toward people who screwed me over just vanished, replaced by forgiveness and healing from the PTSD I carried from the war.
When people talk about meeting Christ, just like so many others do, that's what they mean—it's something you actually feel. It's not a guarantee for everyone, obviously (depends on how real you are and how much you crave Him), but it's like this surge of electricity that's actually His Holy Spirit liberating and healing you.
If you ever want to experience something like that, here's a link with everything you'll need🙂

It’s kind of like baking cookies—you just gather up all your ingredients and then, well, let's go, Jesus, where art Thou?

Do you even realize what you're saying here?...

shadownomad4 said:Your issue is that you believe you "know everything," and because of that, you aren't open to anything else. You're closed off due to some bitterness you picked up a long time ago. Everything I wrote previously should have been enough to give you insight into God's plan, but feel free to argue if you must; debating isn't my intention and it's ultimately pointless. By the way, all the answers are right there in the Bible. No offense intended.🙂

Insight into God's plan? Haha!! 🙏
I have to be honest, I can't help but laugh when someone makes a claim like that... It’s like, you read a couple of books (or maybe just that one specific book we all know) and suddenly you've got the whole thing figured out—you know exactly what God has in store and what His will is for us little people. 😵
Come on now, if we can barely wrap our heads around animals, let alone ourselves—not to mention half the stuff we do without even thinking—how could anyone claim to truly "know" God like that?
Anyway, keep them coming, man! I'm enjoying this. 👍

shadownomad4 said:The moment doubt and uncertainty take hold, it means you aren't truly rooted in the Truth (no offense intended); otherwise, it wouldn't happen. There is only one Truth, and it is what keeps you free, now and forever.

I never actually claimed that I was (rooted in the truth)...

Honestly, guys... you’ve wandered so far away from true spirituality when you start bickering about it like this. 👎

To the person who kicked off this thread and everyone else jumping in... I have to wonder, what’s actually the point of these kinds of conversations—or rather, these debates? What's the practical benefit? You all seem so busy defending your version of spirituality (some people are even bringing up their own "personal experiences"), yet it feels like there isn't an ounce of actual faith in the things you're defending...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not claiming to be more enlightened than any of you. If I were, I probably wouldn't be sitting here typing this out. It's nice, really, seeing people try to bridge the gap between spirituality and philosophy (and hey, debating and making arguments is a huge part of philosophy, after all). There’s nothing wrong with chasing truth and wisdom... but I just don't think it works this way. Look how far we've gone with it. We're searching for answers in all the wrong places, when the truth is always found in just one spot—deep in the heart, in the soul!

I have my own spiritual path, and I feel like it’s the right fit for me. When I can just quiet my mind, let go of the raw thoughts and the endless mental loops, I feel myself moving toward the truth, toward God. But the moment I start arguing about it with other people, doubt and insecurity start creeping back in. It’s like I end up further away from where I started than before I even spoke...

Anyway, that's just my two cents,
Take care!