Concepts of God and Religion

[SarahM32]

53. In response to the critics and skeptics:

Critics and skeptics certainly have the right to criticize, and to try to refute. But that’s not really what a few if them are doing on this thread.

They misrepresent what I have written, and what the message I promote says.

The biggest example of that is in the constant insistence that I belong to a cult, that the message I promote is recruiting members to a cult, and that said “cult” has a leader.

That is not true, and such uninformed accusations and claims merely reveal that those who make them do not understand the message, or the mission of its author.

The author of the message has never been, is not, and never will be, a leader.

The “Coalition” has no organization, no leadership. Members of the Coalition do not know who the author is, and they do not know who any other members are (although I know OF about a dozen or so who also promote the message on different Internet discussion forums). And the author of the message will probably die before the message is widely recognized and accepted. (If you read his bio you will see he has been gradually dying from congestive heart failure for quite some time.)

I promote the message, and try to endure the critics and skeptics, because I believe the message is the best attempt at Interfaith understanding and cooperation, which is so badly needed in this world so plagued by “holy wars.”

I also believe it offers a very good suggestion (in The 21st Century Declaration of Independence) as to why and how we should alter and reform our government so that it becomes actually of the people, by the people, and for the people, rather than of, by, and for the wealthiest few. (And that would fulfill the many of the world prophecies that speak of the meek inheriting the earth, establishing justice, making peace, transforming “swords into plowshares,” etc.)

As for wisdom, I like the quote from Plato: “Although I am not myself wise, I am a bit better off than that fellow -- because I do not think I am wise when I am not.”

That is rather like what the great Solomon, who was widely known for his wisdom, said: “Trust not in your own understanding, but trust in the Lord with all your heart.”

And here’s something else about wisdom, quoted from Wisdom:

In the Book of Wisdom, Solomon wrote: "Wisdom is beneficent and kind. She is the aura of the power of God, the radiance of the eternal Divine Light, a spotless mirror of God. She renews all things, and passing into holy souls from age to age, She produces friends of God and prophets. She is firm, but Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all Her paths are peace. She is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold upon Her. And Wisdom is far better than weapons of war."

Notice that real Wisdom produces prophets, and She is firm but Her paths are peace. Most human beings get flashes of Wisdom occasionally, but few "lay hold upon Her." A precious few do, though, and throughout history those who did are called sages, prophets, buddhas, avatars, siddhas, christs, etc.

The spiritually anointed son of man and prophet called Jesus of Nazareth understood the book of Wisdom. That’s why he advised us to not live by the sword. It’s why he was very firm in rebuking greedy rich people, money lenders, religious hypocrites and other wrong doers, and yet on the other hand he advised people to be peaceful, forgiving and compassionate, turn the other cheek, and love even their enemies. Many preceding prophets were similar in that respect, and the modern son of man follows those precedents.

You may like that and agree with it or not. It's up to you, and you have the right to believe whatever you want to believe. But so do I.