Wednesday, October 24, 2012
What to do with Jesus
I find it interesting that Unity is a Christian denomination and yet there is the question posed What do we do with Jesus? I suppose some of this comes from the fact that most of us in Unity are coming from other denominations or religions. I think some of it comes from seeing the Bible as myth and then what does that do to our Jesus. Seeing the Bible as myth does not negate that Jesus existed. It does not negate that he shifted the way to look at things at his time. It does not negate that he touched and affected people. We seem to grasp the Christ and let go of the human Jesus. Why is it hard to believe and claim that he really did do the miracles? Who is to say when you are vibrating at a higher level that you can't walk on water or heal people. Why is it that we have the SEE course Teachings of Jesus and the only thing said was that he taught by principle, precept, miracles and action. We never really touched on the actual teachings. Unity says that Jesus is our wayshower. If Jesus is our wayshower we have to embrace the stories we have of Jesus and make sense of them in our time and in our context.
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Thank you again for your comments Melody. I totally agree. I think it is definately possible for someone vibrating at a higher level to actually do the things that Jesus did. I think that our doubt stems from centuries of living with too much emphasis on reason and sense consciousness. If we can just find the "off switch" on our minds, and give that a chance for awhile, we will begin to receive knowledge, data, and experiences from our Higher Self, the Christ within us. That personal experience alone will instill in us a greater understanding of all that Jesus did, and what is indeed totally possible for us...not just the miracles, but the tremendous presence of Love from which those manifestations spring. We spend 99% of our day with our minds virtually running the show. The mind is so extremely beautiful and valuable, but we simply don't give very much time to actually experience beyond the mind as Robert Brumet advises is necessary for the evolution and survival of our planet. Cultivating states of meditation and consciousness within us, and building that inner temple of peace, is, to me, one of the most needed things in our culture today. When this occurs at a deeper level, I believe we will understand the Jesus story, and indeed the entire Bible, in a totally new, stimulating, and practical light. Metaphysical interpretation is helpful in bridging the gap and instilling faith, but actual inner experience is the most potent, long-lasting, and impactful teacher of all. That's how I feel at this time anyway. Thanks Melody!
ReplyDeleteThanks Melody and Jeffery,
ReplyDeleteI think we all have the potential to vibrate at a higher level. For most of us, that higher level only comes along sporadically. Did the Jesus in the Bible actually exist as one person/Christ, or, and I’ve thought about this a lot, are the stories a collection of miracles that happened throughout history and were later combined into stories about one “Son of God?” I do believe there is much to learn from the miracles, and I know that miracles continue to happen. I also agree with Jeffery that we need to utilize the inner Higher Self and the way to do that is through quieting the mind.
Elise
I have had to own my ambivilance about Jesus as the Metaphysical Theology class has continued. I do believe he is an example of what is possible for all of us...and I can be inspired by that, but I certainly won't worship him. My concern with Unity these days is that it sometimes implies that everyone of us can be at that high consciousness level right now. Sorry, I just don't buy it. Today I am inspired by the transpersonal and integral research that shows that people do grow and evolve into higher states and stages of consciousness. Fowlers Stages of Faith even shows that most people don't get to a Stage level 5 until mid-life. Only the rare people get to Stage 6. That category includes people like Gandi, Martin Luther King, and Mother Theresa. So how can I REALLY support people in their own personal and spiritual growth? I do believe meditation is a key aspect of that. It helps us to transcend and include, a key element of growth in transpersonal psychology. As for Jesus, well, he just shows me it is possible...and I guess that is all I need to know.
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