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The problem comes when people confuse their own perspective with God's.
In other words, I don't have a problem with the Jews believing they have a unique understanding of God. After all, everyone has a unique understanding of God. I have a problem with the belief that their (or anyone's) unique understanding means that God loves them more, or blesses them more than everybody else.
I cannot believe that any deity who favors one ethnic group over another (i.e., is racist) is God.
I have previously explained (in another thread) this common error in comprehending the name / title: ISRAEL as referring to an ethnic group / race of people!
It is very important to understand the original / Spiritual meaning of ‘Israel’. Originally the word / title meant “one who sees God” – from three Hebrew root words: ’ish (= a ‘man’ / ‘intelligent being’ ra’eh (= ‘seeing’ / 'vision'); and ’el (= ‘God’ / ‘Supreme Spirit’ – as recognized by Philo Judaeus and others.
This is further confirmed by its initial use as a name / title for Jacob after his “face to face” vision of God (GEN.32:28-30). The term ‘Israelites’ originally referred to ALL ‘Spiritual Seers’ / ‘Gnostics’ / 'Mystics' – not a racial / ethnic group of people.
Thus are they (genuine 'Israelites' / 'Gnostics') truly called ‘chosen’ and ‘beloved of God.’
Peace & Love
How would we know when someone obtains this genuine understanding of God?
The Jewish prophets told of the coming messiah and how God would be the God of the whole earth and that's what happened. He called Abraham alone, then Israel alone, then Jesus alone who died for the sins of the world, the Christianity went out into the entire world.The problem comes when people confuse their own perspective with God's.
In other words, I don't have a problem with the Jews believing they have a unique understanding of God. After all, everyone has a unique understanding of God. I have a problem with the belief that their (or anyone's) unique understanding means that God loves them more, or blesses them more than everybody else.
I cannot believe that any deity who favors one ethnic group over another (i.e., is racist) is God.
You'll have a difficult time showing that "Israel" as used in the OT, means anything other than the kin-group of Jacob, which became a nation with kings, like all the other nations.I have previously explained (in another thread) this common error in comprehending the name / title: ISRAEL as referring to an ethnic group / race of people!
It is very important to understand the original / Spiritual meaning of Israel. Originally the word / title meant one who sees God from three Hebrew root words: ish (= a man / intelligent being); raeh (= seeing / 'vision'); and el (= God / Supreme Spirit) as recognized by Philo Judaeus and others.
This is further confirmed by its initial use as a name / title for Jacob after his face to face vision of God (GEN.32:28-30). The term Israelites originally referred to ALL Spiritual Seers / Gnostics / 'Mystics' not a racial / ethnic group of people.
Thus are they (genuine 'Israelites' / 'Gnostics') truly called chosen and beloved of God.
Peace & Love
But the point was that the name "Israel" is misconceived. How could it be misconceived? It's the name the Jews gave to themselves, and they had an idea of what the meaning of that name was. Their name. Their concept. Their understanding. Their propagation of that in the OT. And we don't get to hijack that just because we feel that we're "more enlightened" than they are.Thats because the OT was written by jews. The spiritual definition was overlooked by them because they chose the the more earthly definition.
This could have been a simple misunderstanding, but most likely it is a product of willful intent. As we know by their own account in the OT, the jews were a willfull people and often went against "God's " law.
There is no reason to doubt that this didn't work it's way(at least in part) into the writings of the OT and later Christianity.
The only true kinship that matters are those who "see" God and give sight to the blind around them. One candle lighting another.
The jews have based their lineage on blood kin alone.
Rather than being God's chosen people, they're just ordinary people.
Thats a hard drop for people of Judeo/Christian belief to accept.
x
But the point was that the name "Israel" is misconceived. How could it be misconceived? It's the name the Jews gave to themselves, and they had an idea of what the meaning of that name was. Their name. Their concept. Their understanding. Their propagation of that in the OT. And we don't get to hijack that just because we feel that we're "more enlightened" than they are.
I would have to say we have so many different sects because Christianity is so huge. The only requirement to be a Christian is to beleive Christ is the savior of the world, which many people do. But God has made us free agents, which means we have a right to choose whether we want to believe in a loving God, a vengeful God, or even a God at all.
The only other religion I can think of comparing the numbers of christianity to is Islam. There are about 1.5 billion muslims out there, and people seem to think they are much more in line with one another than Christianity. I disagree wholeheartedly with this. I've had many muslim friends (many more than the average American, at least) and every single one of them disagreed on a fundamental level with one another. Sure, in the Middle East they all go to the same mosque and get preached at from the same book, but take away the theocracies and bring 'em over to a country where you can say whatever you want out loud, and they duke it out with each other just as much as the next christian.
Other than that, I think Buddhism is the next most populated, and buddhism has so many different sects (and can be interpreted so many different ways) all I can help but wonder is - why would you single out christians? Any free human with an opinion is going to bicker with the next human con opinion. It doesn't mean we're not onto something. Maybe it just means we need one another to figure the truth out.:drool:
Their strength is not spiritual strength, but one of who can recruit the most members. Power from sheer numbers is what they seek.
Rather than being God's chosen people, they're just ordinary people.
Religion has been turned into a sporting event, with the different teams competing against one another.
Their strength is not spiritual strength, but one of who can recruit the most members. Power from sheer numbers is what they seek.
I doubt if Jesus or Mohammad or Buddha will endorse anything they're offering.
Sects mean division. Division only comes from blindness.
Yes, I agree with your statements. ALL religions fall short of the ONE Spiritual Truth of God. The very Experience and Knowledge of God. This is why they cannot reveal God. This is why they are of no use. They are actually worse than that - for they actually fool people into believing that they will be Saved!
ALL religions do not even speak in terms of people being Saved!