Primitive or Evolved?

I'm sorry because I really have no idea where to put this questioning essay.

My own background is Evangelical Christian and Muslim, and that describes my exposure but not my present belief. I get frustrated because it seems to me that so many pick up a book that represents a belief system and once they are familiar with that, and feel they know the rules, they stop seeking.

Lately, it's feeling like belief systems do not educate us about the Creator. It feels like the Abrahamic folk (Jews, Muslims, and Christians) might be like neanderthals, primitive and perhaps dim. I wonder what I'm missing? What is it that God wants us to finally understand?

I live alone, divorced, and estranged from my family, save for one daughter that reached out to me after 14 years. Loneliness and grief will certainly cause one to seek God. And, many of my experiences in the last decade have been because of that bleak existence, and many of them I now see as a blessing.

In all of human existence, I think perhaps that only about a dozen folk have pleased God and been taken onto him. There is lots of time to soul search and to seek the mind of God. And, sometimes in the early morning, before I waken, it seems as if a presence speaks to me, guiding and admonishing. I don't know what triggers it and if there is anything more that I can do to make myself more pleasing to God, but pray for his guidance constantly.

Ellen Brown said:

I'm sorry because I really have no idea where to put this questioning essay.

My own background is Evangelical Christian and Muslim, and that describes my exposure but not my present belief. I get frustrated because it seems to me that so many pick up a book that represents a belief system and once they are familiar with that, and feel they know the rules, they stop seeking.

Lately, it's feeling like belief systems do not educate us about the Creator. It feels like the Abrahamic folk (Jews, Muslims, and Christians) might be like neanderthals, primitive and perhaps dim. I wonder what I'm missing? What is it that God wants us to finally understand?

I live alone, divorced, and estranged from my family, save for one daughter that reached out to me after 14 years. Loneliness and grief will certainly cause one to seek God. And, many of my experiences in the last decade have been because of that bleak existence, and many of them I now see as a blessing.

In all of human existence, I think perhaps that only about a dozen folk have pleased God and been taken onto him. There is lots of time to soul search and to seek the mind of God. And, sometimes in the early morning, before I waken, it seems as if a presence speaks to me, guiding and admonishing. I don't know what triggers it and if there is anything more that I can do to make myself more pleasing to God, but pray for his guidance constantly.

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Interesting and thanks for sharing but why do you state, "Loneliness and grief will certainly cause one to seek God." ?
I can understand that you will need somebody to talk to and share your fears with but surely it would be better talking to a real person. Are there no clubs or societies that you could join?

Perhaps your premise needs refining. We try to seek answers such as the ones you ask and it is good to see you looking past the dogmatism of standard Abrahamic religions, there are many others out there you could try
As an atheist I see no point in seeking God/s as I don't believe they exist, however it is up to the individual as to what one believes. To me the earth is heaven just as it is
Good luck with your quest

Ellen Brown said:

if there is anything more that I can do to make myself more pleasing to God

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There's nothing you can do to make yourself more pleasing to God. That would imply that you had free will, and you don't. God made you to be exactly who you are, no more and no less.

"For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]." --Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified Bible)

"So then [God’s gift] is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God’s mercy. [It depends not on one’s own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God’s having mercy on him.]" --Romans 9:16 (Amplified Bible)

Altfish said:

I can understand that you will need somebody to talk to and share your fears with but surely it would be better talking to a real person.

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Seriously? It would be better talking to a real, fallible, selfish person than talking to God?

What DO they teach in these schools...?

Namaste Ellen

Ellen Brown said:

I wonder what I'm missing? What is it that God wants us to finally understand?

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Have you tried asking Him?

God wants us to understand that
1. We are not physical bodies, nor are we these personalities that are presented to the world. We are Spirit in essence, like Him. Our real nature is of the same fabric.
2. Therefore, seeing the same Self in all beings we must not harm others.
3. Many other things which cannot be all brought here at once (reduces readability)

In all of human existence, I think perhaps that only about a dozen folk have pleased God and been taken onto him. There is lots of time to soul search and to seek the mind of God. And, sometimes in the early morning, before I waken, it seems as if a presence speaks to me, guiding and admonishing. I don't know what triggers it and if there is anything more that I can do to make myself more pleasing to God, but pray for his guidance constantly.

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Continue praying to God for His guidance.
What triggers it? The presence is the paramAtmA in your heart -- it is Him. We can never be sentient beings without His presence in us. What will please Him is curiosity about Him, earnest attempt to follow His instructions, willingness to surrender your lower self and selfish desires to be replaced by willingness to learn His Will tailor-made for you.
However, most important is the Love that appears in your heart - for Him. Spontaneously one fine day...

----
Shri KRshNa has been so kind as to explain everything explicitly in the Bhagavad GeetA (The Song of the Supreme Lord). It is not just the cream, the essence of Upanishads. It explains how we can come closer to Him. Relationship and Love for the Supreme.

We do have sAmpradAya (schools of thought) in Hinduism --- but I cannot see any difference or contradiction in any of those 5 or 6 major positions on the Geeta. Just preference of how much the seeker wants to surrender, that is the only difference acc. to me.

Ellen Brown said:

I'm sorry because I really have no idea where to put this questioning essay.

My own background is Evangelical Christian and Muslim, and that describes my exposure but not my present belief. I get frustrated because it seems to me that so many pick up a book that represents a belief system and once they are familiar with that, and feel they know the rules, they stop seeking.

Lately, it's feeling like belief systems do not educate us about the Creator. It feels like the Abrahamic folk (Jews, Muslims, and Christians) might be like neanderthals, primitive and perhaps dim. I wonder what I'm missing? What is it that God wants us to finally understand?

I live alone, divorced, and estranged from my family, save for one daughter that reached out to me after 14 years. Loneliness and grief will certainly cause one to seek God. And, many of my experiences in the last decade have been because of that bleak existence, and many of them I now see as a blessing.

In all of human existence, I think perhaps that only about a dozen folk have pleased God and been taken onto him. There is lots of time to soul search and to seek the mind of God. And, sometimes in the early morning, before I waken, it seems as if a presence speaks to me, guiding and admonishing. I don't know what triggers it and if there is anything more than I can do to make myself more pleasing to God, but pray for his guidance constantly.

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I always say, everyone wants to be God or know what God knows... God just wants to go back to sleep.

God doesn't want y'all to "finally" understand anything. God wants y'all to KNOW... this time... that he loves all of you. We had it he thought last time. The thing about good and evil, it isn't tied to a physical being. It's a spirit, an energy. The more humans that become more sinless/less evil.... EVENTUALLY (in heaven) "Satan" gets condensed to one vessel.

The way it works, no one knows who he is. He goes around whispering into other beings ears trying to get them to believe a lie. HOPING that they don't KNOW, but they believe. If you believe, then there's room for doubt. And if you're told a good story by a manipulator they pull you out of Gods will for you and into their will. You're like a captured fighter on Galaga. An extension of another, a slave.

SO, God wants humans to KNOW! RESEARCH, INVESTIGATE AND KNOW! BELIEVE NOTHING AND NO ONE.

Ellen Brown said:

I'm sorry because I really have no idea where to put this questioning essay.

My own background is Evangelical Christian and Muslim, and that describes my exposure but not my present belief. I get frustrated because it seems to me that so many pick up a book that represents a belief system and once they are familiar with that, and feel they know the rules, they stop seeking.

Lately, it's feeling like belief systems do not educate us about the Creator. It feels like the Abrahamic folk (Jews, Muslims, and Christians) might be like neanderthals, primitive and perhaps dim. I wonder what I'm missing? What is it that God wants us to finally understand?

I live alone, divorced, and estranged from my family, save for one daughter that reached out to me after 14 years. Loneliness and grief will certainly cause one to seek God. And, many of my experiences in the last decade have been because of that bleak existence, and many of them I now see as a blessing.

In all of human existence, I think perhaps that only about a dozen folk have pleased God and been taken onto him. There is lots of time to soul search and to seek the mind of God. And, sometimes in the early morning, before I waken, it seems as if a presence speaks to me, guiding and admonishing. I don't know what triggers it and if there is anything more that I can do to make myself more pleasing to God, but pray for his guidance constantly.

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i'll speak here from my own perspective and personal experience,

quran and hadith speak to us about how to please god, and it's clearly that it's all about quality of worship not quantity, it's not how much you pray but how much this prayers changed your behavior and makes you understands god and imagine as much s you can how much he's great and loving merciful creator
many scholars these days don't talk about the quality but the quantity which totally against what god wants, god wants your heart not a recorder praying and reciting
and if you think about some verses in quran you'll find this meaning clearly

Allah says "
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding,
Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
quran (190-191)
so, i think every individual should read the quran as it's not just a book from god, but it's god's words spoke it to every individual of us, so read it as it's a private message from god to you particularly then you'll find lots of meanings you never think about it before

my best wishes in your journey

islam abduallah said:

i'll speak here from my own perspective and personal experience,

quran and hadith speak to us about how to please god, and it's clearly that it's all about quality of worship not quantity, it's not how much you pray but how much this prayers changed your behavior and makes you understands god and imagine as much s you can how much he's great and loving merciful creator
many scholars these days don't talk about the quality but the quantity which totally against what god wants, god wants your heart not a recorder praying and reciting
and if you think about some verses in quran you'll find this meaning clearly

Allah says "
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding,
Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
quran (190-191)
so, i think every individual should read the quran as it's not just a book from god, but it's god's words spoke it to every individual of us, so read it as it's a private message from god to you particularly then you'll find lots of meanings you never think about it before

my best wishes in your journey

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Thank You. Mashallah.