The Test

[idea]

It has been said that we will be tried and tested...

Consider that no good teacher just gives their students the answers... a few trick questions thrown in, with surprising educational answers... perhaps a few controversial or even false statements thrown in to force students to argue, discuss, think, question.

to educate is to light a fire, not to fill a bucket. A good teacher does not give anyone answers, only questions - forces students to figure out the questions on their own.

so.... let's say the test is becoming an all-powerful God. What test would someone have to pass to be awarded such an honor? trusted with such? or perhaps it is not an award at all - it is something you create for yourself. No one gives it to you - it is yours because you make it happen yourself.

I propose the test would involve:

• Becoming your own authority figure - not relying on any other arms of flesh.
• Following your conscience above all else - choose love and light, no matter what or who tells you otherwise...
• Seeing through lies, sifting wheat from tares... uncovering the wolves within sheep's clothing.
• Love, and being loved.

Fail - attend church, never question, follow all directions no matter if they are good or evil.... sheep vs. god. (in which case a good teacher would then help the failing students by creating leaders who are so horrific, eventually the followers are forced to leave.)

Average grade - attend church, agree with and follow most things, but have a couple of issues you allow yourself freedom of thought on.

Slightly above average - Feel no need to attend church, no need for others to preach to you. You define your own path. You control your own mind. You resist control by the community, and own your own path.

Above average - you start your own religious organization, spread love and light, create rules to help others find love and peace. Not "follow" the leader, you become the spiritual leader.

God status - you seek not followers, but equals. You do not belong to, nor do you preside over, any spiritual organizations. You do not control others in any way, but you are able to clearly see them. Those who cross the threshold, cross it without instruction, without being led - they take ownership of themselves of their own volition. They trust others to one day find their own volition as well.

OK - go - what is the test, what proves you have what it takes to be a God?

 

[sayak83]

It has been said that we will be tried and tested...

Consider that no good teacher just gives their students the answers... a few trick questions thrown in, with surprising educational answers... perhaps a few controversial or even false statements thrown in to force students to argue, discuss, think, question.

to educate is to light a fire, not to fill a bucket. A good teacher does not give anyone answers, only questions - forces students to figure out the questions on their own.

so.... let's say the test is becoming an all-powerful God. What test would someone have to pass to be awarded such an honor? trusted with such? or perhaps it is not an award at all - it is something you create for yourself. No one gives it to you - it is yours because you make it happen yourself.

I propose the test would involve:

• Becoming your own authority figure - not relying on any other arms of flesh.
• Following your conscience above all else - choose love and light, no matter what or who tells you otherwise...
• Seeing through lies, sifting wheat from tares... uncovering the wolves within sheep's clothing.
• Love, and being loved.

Fail - attend church, never question, follow all directions no matter if they are good or evil.... sheep vs. god. (in which case a good teacher would then help the failing students by creating leaders who are so horrific, eventually the followers are forced to leave.)

Average grade - attend church, agree with and follow most things, but have a couple of issues you allow yourself freedom of thought on.

Slightly above average - Feel no need to attend church, no need for others to preach to you. You define your own path. You control your own mind. You resist control by the community, and own your own path.

Above average - you start your own religious organization, spread love and light, create rules to help others find love and peace. Not "follow" the leader, you become the spiritual leader.

God status - you seek not followers, but equals. You do not belong to, nor do you preside over, any spiritual organizations. Those who cross the threshold, cross it without instruction, without being led - they take ownership of themselves of their own volition. They trust others to one day find their own volition.

OK - go - what is the test, what proves you have what it takes to be a God?

3 and 5 looks too similar.
In 5, you should at least have the ability to create new universes or something.

 

[idea]

3 and 5 looks too similar.
In 5, you should at least have the ability to create new universes or something.

3 is awareness of self. 5 is awareness of others without the need to control them.

I'm not sure creation is needed - creation is a type of control - wouldn't it be better to just fully appreciate what is, than trying to change everything?

 

[Spirit of Light]

The problem is that as human beings we can not think like a god or a buddha, only by becomming one would we be able to answer, what is needed to become a god or buddha

 

[Brickjectivity]

OK - go - what is the test, what proves you have what it takes to be a God?

Each of us is somewhat like a god, but we cannot change reality. We live as part of it. I think there is no test available to us that could qualify us. Also what sort of God are you proposing? So what advantage would there be that you could say becoming God was a success? What would be the benefit of becoming God? What insights would one gain? Without knowing that how could we specify the proper tests?

 

[dybmh]

God status - you seek not followers, but equals. You do not belong to, nor do you preside over, any spiritual organizations. You do not control others in any way, but you are able to clearly see them. Those who cross the threshold, cross it without instruction, without being led - they take ownership of themselves of their own volition. They trust others to one day find their own volition as well.

What is the test, what proves you have what it takes to be a God?

It's an interesting concept. Just from a literal perspective: I think immortality should be included in your test criteria to achieve the A+ "All-Powerful God Status".

 

[Thief]

as soon as I learn to walk on water.....

I will let you know

and yes you will

 

[idea]

The problem is that as human beings we can not think like a god or a buddha, only by becomming one would we be able to answer, what is needed to become a god or buddha

So - how do you become? How do you become free, filled with joy, self-reliant, self-control, all-knowing - all-seeing - how to become?

Each of us is somewhat like a god, but we cannot change reality. We live as part of it. I think there is no test available to us that could qualify us. Also what sort of God are you proposing? So what advantage would there be that you could say becoming God was a success? What would be the benefit of becoming God? What insights would one gain? Without knowing that how could we specify the proper tests?

I agree that changing reality is not the point of becoming a god - seeing beauty and being infinity happy with reality is I think what it is.
Joy in both pleasure and pain - as pain gives appreciation and knowledge and leads to pleasure
Joy in the freedom of the rest of existence, with hope that all things lead to enlightenment and beauty
Understanding and connection with all - and knowing all, seeing all face-to-face as it were, being part of everything. Nothing to fear, no need to control or change, as there is nothing but beauty.

The test - recognizing that all religious organizations are perfectly imperfect. Perfect enough to introduce ideas of community and unity, as well as being imperfect enough to introduce ideas of freedom of thought and personal growth outside the confines of an outward leader.

 

[Spirit of Light]

So - how do you become? How do you become free, filled with joy, self-reliant, self-control, all-knowing - all-seeing - how to become?

In my case cultivating the teaching of the buddha Sakyamuni.
Cultivating is to take the teaching and meditate on it, incorporate it in to my life and live by it like a way of life, not as a religious belief. To make the teaching come alive thru me.

 

[idea]

as soon as I learn to walk on water.....

I will let you know

and yes you will

Perhaps there is no need to walk on water - perhaps it is better to let water be water, perhaps it is better to swim in it, let it wash over you.

 

[idea]

In my case cultivating the teaching of the buddha Sakyamuni.
Cultivating is to take the teaching and meditate on it, incorporate it in to my life and live by it like a way of life, not as a religious belief. To make the teaching come alive thru me.

Yes - religion is not a textbook. It is not a sermon. It is life.

 

[Woberts]

Yes - religion is not a textbook. It is not a sermon. It is life.

Rip us atheists, I guess. I wasn't aware religion had a monopoly on being alive.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Rip us atheists, I guess. I wasn't aware religion had a monopoly on being alive.

Are you claiming to be alive again?
We've discussed this before...

 

[Thief]

Perhaps there is no need to walk on water - perhaps it is better to let water be water, perhaps it is better to swim in it, let it wash over you.

and His Spirit moved over the water....
and darkness was upon the Face of the deep

I read that somewhere

 

[Thief]

Rip us atheists, I guess. I wasn't aware religion had a monopoly on being alive.

let the dead bury the dead.....

I read that somewhere

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

OK - go - what is the test, what proves you have what it takes to be a God?

Nothing.

I can't begin to fathom the sheer level of self-centeredness it must take to assume that the reason the universe exists is me... or even humanity in general.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Are you claiming to be alive again?
We've discussed this before...

Keep your people in line, Dave, or we will have to go have another talk in the back room.

I agree that changing reality is not the point of becoming a god - seeing beauty and being infinity happy with reality is I think what it is.
Joy in both pleasure and pain - as pain gives appreciation and knowledge and leads to pleasure
Joy in the freedom of the rest of existence, with hope that all things lead to enlightenment and beauty
Understanding and connection with all - and knowing all, seeing all face-to-face as it were, being part of everything. Nothing to fear, no need to control or change, as there is nothing but beauty.

The test - recognizing that all religious organizations are perfectly imperfect. Perfect enough to introduce ideas of community and unity, as well as being imperfect enough to introduce ideas of freedom of thought and personal growth outside the confines of an outward leader.

I got the impression you were talking about graduation to Godhood and having our own universes. I point out that its impossible for a mortal to know what tests should be applied. The tests we do face we typically fail, which indicates to me if our future is some sort of Godhood like that we can't possibly be evolved enough, yet. Therefore we must have a lot more dying and mutating left to do. Whatever creature emerges that is worthy to be God, well it couldn't be us. Maybe its some rabbit derived creature instead of an ape one? How would we even know?

 

[sun rise]

I think the tests are quite natural. We have certain abilities and certain tendencies. The test is how well we develop our abilities and deal with negative tendencies.

 

[Quintessence]

Correct me if this misreads your sentiments, @idea, but you seem to see little value or have a negative opinion of institutionalized aspects of religion based on the scale you created. For example, you seem to view things like attending religious services or listening to lectures/sermons as less valuable in some way. Why do you feel this is the case?

I mean, in my country, we have some pretty strong cultural narratives that enshrine individualism over collectivism. It means some put perhaps a bit too much value on "think for yourself" and not enough on "stick to tradition." Both have value, I think, and I'm not sure it's fair to say someone who is devoted to institutional aspects of a religion (where present) is failing at religion or something. After all, beyond childhood, isn't submitting to a community or a respected leader still that person's choice most of the time?

 

[idea]

Nothing.

I can't begin to fathom the sheer level of self-centeredness it must take to assume that the reason the universe exists is me... or even humanity in general.

Yes - I suppose everyone would have to first define what they view to be a God.

I do not think a God is something that controls/creates, but rather a being who has found happiness / connection with everything / wisdom & knowledge, is at peace without the need to control.

If you could aim for the most rewarding existence you can image, what would that be?