Well, if I don't "get" Jesus it is time to lock me away.
But I've no shred of a doubt that I do "get" Jesus. It is just so obvious to me because my understanding of what he taught and how he lived is the perfect-fitting cornerstone integrating seamlessly with all I've studied and learned these many years now in the realms of psychology, literature, cinema, sociology, neuro-biology, religion, philosophy... and PERSONAL MINUTE BY MINUTE LIFE PRACTICE AND EXPERIENCE for decades now. I was a world-class skiier in my youth. Not so much because others said so, which they did. But because the Truth said so - the Truth of how my understanding and action interracted with the Mountain and Snow. Undeniably I had become an Authority.
Last night was not atypical at the White House ( prop1.org ). A crowd of high school age students from around the country with a group called Close Up came by. Somewhat uncharacteristically the conversation was turned by them from the topics of nuclear disarmament and climate change that I stressed, to the crosses on my head, and Jesus. As typically happens one of the students took the role of asking me questions and commenting. In this case she was from a fundamentalist Christian viewpoint. Obviously she was honestly concerned / disturbed as my beliefs unfolded before her in our dialog:
* The man, not some mysticism is what I am inspired by, as was the Hindu Gandhi;
* Jesus concern was Heaven IN THIS LIFE for us, not some later life.
* Of course the Bible is fallible - a hazy window at best back through 2000 years and thousands of authors with who knows what agendas.
* Jesus is the most perfect model we have of Universal Love.
* Yes we are born with an evil spirit (conditional love), AND the Spirit of Universal Love.
* Jesus died that he might save us from the evil spirit, and win us for Universal Love.
* And if there is a Heaven after this life, that's not my business. My business is to "do unto the least of these (NOT the Lesser of these)," "lay down my life for my brother," "do unto others ALL that I would have them do unto me"....
My interrogator was not upset, and even was moved somewhat by my views. But the crowd with her was deeply encouraged by and grateful for the views I shared, as they made an impassioned and aggressive effort to communicate their agreement to me as they were departing. "Oh, I sssooooo agree with everything you said!"
What did Jesus say about being the "salt;" the "levin?"
A friend I used to have said, "Start, why don't you become a priest?"
I'll settle for Appostle / Disciple,
at the gates of the Global Empire,
at the dicisionpoint for the future of all Humanity.
:-)
But I've no shred of a doubt that I do "get" Jesus. It is just so obvious to me because my understanding of what he taught and how he lived is the perfect-fitting cornerstone integrating seamlessly with all I've studied and learned these many years now in the realms of psychology, literature, cinema, sociology, neuro-biology, religion, philosophy... and PERSONAL MINUTE BY MINUTE LIFE PRACTICE AND EXPERIENCE for decades now. I was a world-class skiier in my youth. Not so much because others said so, which they did. But because the Truth said so - the Truth of how my understanding and action interracted with the Mountain and Snow. Undeniably I had become an Authority.
Last night was not atypical at the White House ( prop1.org ). A crowd of high school age students from around the country with a group called Close Up came by. Somewhat uncharacteristically the conversation was turned by them from the topics of nuclear disarmament and climate change that I stressed, to the crosses on my head, and Jesus. As typically happens one of the students took the role of asking me questions and commenting. In this case she was from a fundamentalist Christian viewpoint. Obviously she was honestly concerned / disturbed as my beliefs unfolded before her in our dialog:
* The man, not some mysticism is what I am inspired by, as was the Hindu Gandhi;
* Jesus concern was Heaven IN THIS LIFE for us, not some later life.
* Of course the Bible is fallible - a hazy window at best back through 2000 years and thousands of authors with who knows what agendas.
* Jesus is the most perfect model we have of Universal Love.
* Yes we are born with an evil spirit (conditional love), AND the Spirit of Universal Love.
* Jesus died that he might save us from the evil spirit, and win us for Universal Love.
* And if there is a Heaven after this life, that's not my business. My business is to "do unto the least of these (NOT the Lesser of these)," "lay down my life for my brother," "do unto others ALL that I would have them do unto me"....
My interrogator was not upset, and even was moved somewhat by my views. But the crowd with her was deeply encouraged by and grateful for the views I shared, as they made an impassioned and aggressive effort to communicate their agreement to me as they were departing. "Oh, I sssooooo agree with everything you said!"
What did Jesus say about being the "salt;" the "levin?"
A friend I used to have said, "Start, why don't you become a priest?"
I'll settle for Appostle / Disciple,
at the gates of the Global Empire,
at the dicisionpoint for the future of all Humanity.
:-)
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