Posted by freedom2001 on May 8, 2003, at 3:34:35
In reply to Re: TO ALL OCD SUFFERERS » freedom2001, posted by Barbara Cat on May 7, 2003, at 23:46:38
> Dear Freedom,
HI, thanks for your valuable comments!
I will do a revision on the next posting.
Sincere regards,
Arthur.> I have some feedback to your thoughtful and very helpful post that I dearly hope you will consider - it's offered in love. I am very devoted to my spiritual practice, it's been the one constant ground of Being in my life. I honor and abolutely love Jesus as the most influencial teacher I could ever hope to know. I mean WOW, what a guy! I am grateful beyond words that I've discovered the necessity of nurturing my soul first and foremost. However, I cringed when I got to your section on Spirituality.
>
> I was raised a Christian, was deeply involved in many levels of Bible study and yet have since embraced a more inclusive belief system that honors all cultures and all the prophets and teachers whom I deeply know to be speaking from their truth. The main issue I have with Christianity is it's exclusivity and devaluing of other teachings. Most disturbing is the denigration of peoples who do not resonate with this particular interpretation of That which cannot be interpreted. Because of this, many have been harmed throughout time in the name of Christ - think the Crusades for example. Christianity is by no means the only perpetrator of such inhumanity, but all such warped actions are products of fear and not dictums of grace. Jesus most certainly did not want this division, He embraced all in the spirit of compassion and Love. I truly believe that "There is no Way to the Father but by me." has been badly misinterpreted. The Bible's true message unfortunately has suffered much due to opportunistic translation and interpretation in the cause of the political regimes. Read up on the Council of Nicea in the 4th Century if you dare. The Gnostic and Nag Hammadi scrolls refer to an unadulterated message far removed from the My Way or the Highway school of thought.
>
> I am not criticizing your Christian faith and in fact bless you for having a strong faith in these troubled times. However, if you want your valuable message to reach all those who could be greatly helped by it, you might reconsider presenting it in a manner that will be gently heard by all. Unfortunately, alot of hackles are raised when there's any hint of fundamentalism of any sort. Think of someone who presented such pearls of wisdom and then capped it off with some reference whereby your hackles were jumping out of their sockets. Spirit is Spirit and does not need a frame of reference that must be espoused in order to radiate The Loving Light.
>
> Blessings,
> BarbaraCat
poster:freedom2001
thread:110210
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030505/msgs/225052.html