one of many's picture

one of many

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I guess I could say that my faith is a bit of an evolution.  When I was a child I was taught that "God" was the man with a white beard who would punish me if I did anything "bad".  I kept a very strong belief despite these teachings that God as I knew it/him was not a punisher.  I didn't have "fear" I had a sense of love and chose to do what I felt was right not based on fear of consequence but on the desire to do that which would be pleasing...showing love and care for others because it was just right to do so.  That part hasn't changed, but my view of "God" has certainly evolved by my journey (not by any books I read or sermons I heard - because I didn't read faith-based books or attend church for a very long time....I just held true to that which was in me already).  My daughter recently asked me about God and I described to her that if she took a piece of paper and rip it into a bunch of pieces and assigned each piece to the people in the world and the trees and animals and that type of thing...then held them all together in her hands....she would see God there.

We are one...that's all there is too it.  I don't understand how God; who represents love, could bring about so many judging comments!  Why so many feelings of hate? Anger?  Why not just acceptance without judgement - we really don't have any reason to judge.  Do we? 

This is such a brief glimpse into what I think.  Really to you it probably doesn't matter...though it may make you judge me or question your own thoughts, but overall...it's really just me filling a little time and not really giving much insight into me at all.

But so be it.

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MadMonk's picture

MadMonk

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I think I'm glad you took the

I think I'm glad you took the time to write this.

Peter II's picture

Peter II

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I apologize for the length

I apologize for the length but I think this can help.

 

Vision of Saint Brigitta Patron saint of Europe.(1303-1373) Cannonized by Pope Beniface IX 1931.

 

Lady Birgitta had this revelation in the city of Ortona, in the kingdom of Naples. Christ speaks to her and assures her that there are relics of the body of Saint Thomas the Apostle on the altar there and that he takes a most sweet delight in these relics and in those of his other saints, counting such relics as his precious treasure on earth and promising great merit and reward to those who honor them with due devotio

 

I saw a grand palace like the serene sky. In it was the host of the heavenly army, innumerable as the atoms of the sun and having a gleam as of the sun's rays. But in the palace, on a wonderful throne there sat, as it were, the person of a human being, a Lord of incomprehensible beauty and immense power; his clothes were wonderful and of inexpressible brightness. And before him who sat on the throne there stood a Virgin who was more radiant than the sun.

All those of the heavenly host, who stood nearby, reverently honored her as the queen of heaven. But then he who sat on the throne opened his mouth and said: "Hearken, all you my enemies who live in the world; for to my friends who follow my will, I am not speaking. Hearken, all you clerics: archbishops and bishops and all of lower rank in the Church! Hearken, all you religious, of whatever order you are! Hearken, you kings and princes and judges of the earth and all you who serve!

Hearken, you women: princesses and all ladies and maidservants! All you inhabitants of the world, of whatever condition or rank you are, whether great or small, hearken to these words that I myself, who created you, now speak to you! I complain because you have withdrawn from me and have put faith in the devil, my enemy. You have abandoned my commandments and you follow the will of the devil and you obey his suggestions.

You do not attend to the fact that I, the unchanging and eternal God, your Creator, came down from heaven to a Virgin and took flesh from her and lived with you. Through my own self, I opened the way for you and showed the counsels by which you might go to heaven. I was stripped and scourged and crowned with thorns and so forcefully extended on the cross that, as it were, all the sinews and joints of my body were being undone. I heard all insults and endured a most contemptible death and most bitter heartache for the sake of your salvation.

To all these things, O my enemies, you are not attentive because you have been deceived. Therefore you bear the yoke and burden of the devil with false sweetness and neither know nor feel them before the approach of sorrow over the interminable burden. Nor is this enough for you; for your pride is so great that if you could ascend above me, you would gladly do it. And the pleasure of the flesh is so important to you that you would more gladly forfeit me than give up your inordinate delight.

Moreover, your greed is as insatiable as a sack with a hole in it; for there is nothing that can satisfy your greed. Therefore, I swear by my Godhead that if you are to die in the state in which you now are, you shall never see my face; but for your pride you shall sink so deeply into hell that all the devils will be above you, afflicting you beyond all consolation. Indeed, for your lust you shall be filled with horrible diabolic venom; and for your greed you shall be filled with sorrow and anguish; and you shall be partakers of all the evil that there is in hell.

O my enemies - abominable and ungrateful and degenerate - I seem to you, as it were, a worm dead in winter. Therefore, you do whatever things you will, and you prosper. Therefore, I will arise in summer and then you shall be silent, and you shall not escape my hand. But nevertheless, O my enemies, because I have redeemed you with my blood and because I am in quest of naught but your souls, therefore return to me even now with humility and I will gladly receive you as my children. Shake off from you the devil's heavy yoke and recall my charity and you shall see in your conscience that I am sweet and meek."

one of many's picture

one of many

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Peter II:  Honestly, that is

Peter II: 

Honestly, that is very lengthy and I don't really know how you intended it to apply to what I wrote.  I could perceive that you think that if someone dares to think outside of what structured religion teaches that that person is not faithful...I think that is unfortunate.   Please explain your intentions in providing this piece of poetry.  I am always interested in hearing the thoughts of others.  My mind is open....not tainted by negativity in any form, so I look forward to your clarification.

Kind regards,

one of many's picture

one of many

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Mad Monk: Really.  I'm

Mad Monk:

Really.  I'm curious....why?  I kind of just poured out a little bit - thought it might start conversation....Which I love!