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The Elders Have Always Been With Us: To David LincolnReader comment on item: Palestinians Who Prefer Israel Submitted by Seamus MacNemi (United States), Jan 6, 2008 at 10:01 As you say, there is that within each of us that touches the infinite. That much I hold to be true. But it is not dependent upon external circumstances be they of society of the exigencies of life. It "IS" and always will be 'THAT" which abides, the unchanging and ever present reality of our lives. To the degree that men seek that reality they seek their true selves and not some mere form or system of formalism which is all that priesthoods and dogmas have to offer. The SPIRIT of a man is not limited by form or convention nor should it be. To say that one form is better than another is merely an argument of form and not of substance. It is not the box we seek no matter how pretty its appearance, but THAT which the box contains. Poison can be wrapped in a pretty package but it is no less poison and no less deadly. Thus be the teachings of the church. In the Books Of Moses there is no "Original Sin" nor even the hint of any such concept yet Paul and Augustine had the temerity to insert such travesties into our lives. For what purpose other than to enslave us where such notions brought to fore? Only the most perverse of minds would ever even consider such a thing. As far as the "Trinity" is concerned, the original perception is of a "Unity", a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. and "THAT" is the eternal, the abiding, the everlasting "TRUTH". Hear Oh Israel, The Lord Our G-D Is ONE. No other statement can be made which contradicts this first and central truth. The notion that Jesus died to save us from sin is likewise preposterous. In truth he lived to teach us how to realize our true humanity. Salvation was not in his dying but in his living. His gift to us was not his divinity but his true humanity, a humanity that we should all seek within ourselves and not without in the outer world of men. As for the notion of "Baptism in the church" is concerned no such thing is necesssary for true being in the world. All that is required of a man is that he live by the 'GREAT LAW", the law of reciprocity:" Everything in life is an exchange of values for the enhancement and continuation of life" Anything which does not positively serve the enhancement and continuation of life is of use to no man. Am I to be a fool who lives his life by talismans, charms and magic spells constantly going about muttering nonsensical incantations and twisting myself in ritual contortions so that I might live? The G-D of Heaven never required that of Abraham and HE does not require it of me. All that is required of me is that I live my life with an attitude of reverence and gratitude toward all of life. Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments". << Previous Comment Next Comment >> Reader comments (92) on this item
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