Hinduism, Buddhism, among others, essentially believe communion with God can be had through the self. Why do some of the other religions seem to discourage the practice of meditation? Why do they seem to want human beings to rely on the religious institution rather than themselves? It seems that the truth instead of being given to the people through their religions, is being withheld by their religions. I have also heard that in one of the books omitted from the bible Jesus states that the light is within. This seems to be a clear reference to self-realization. But this information was not included. Then if I bring this up people dismiss it as heresy. Your thoughts on this issue?
2006-12-01 03:20:27 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is not just the denial of meditation, it has to do with denial at all. People should be allowed to choose their own path. To me restriction seems un God like.
2006-12-01 03:26:27 · update #1
Christians believe in prayer. It's a form of meditation, where we talk to God. Spending time in prayer and meditating on the Word of God is reccomended for Christians. We're not to rely on the church, it's our job to form a relationship with Christ. What book are you talking about where Jesus states that? If it's a gnostic gospel, those were written hundreds of years after Jesus died, and most historians don't put much value on them.
2006-12-01 03:30:07 · answer #1 · answered by teeney1116 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would say, don't worry about what anyone else thinks, and certainly do not take people seriously if they accuse you of heresy; they are only attempting to put barriers between you and God.
Most religions (not all) are about politics and control. If you study the history of Christianity, you discover that the Christianity that we know of today was determined by one man, the Emperor Constantine, and his council of Nicea. They even decided which books went into the Bible, and decided on the interpretation of Christ's divinity. Constantine knew that unity in his Empire was the key to his controlling it, and Christianity, for him, was the goose that laid the Golden Egg. He may have been known as the first Emperor to espouse Christianity as the one true faith, but mainly he was just a great politician and manipulator.
During all of this, much of Christ's true message was lost, including that the Kingdom of God lies within, but that doesn't mean that we cease looking within.
There is some wisdom in avoiding arguments about religion and politics. All that matters is what you believe, not in converting or convincing others to see it your way, so just do and believe what's right for you.
2006-12-01 11:41:18 · answer #2 · answered by Darlene G 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i agree with you. you hit the nail on the head. it's amazing to me- that the message that Jesus was trying to teach has been covered over.
it was exactly this- these things and more shall you also do- he wanted us to self-realize, he wanted us to look within, to meditate. not to feel guilty about his death and worship him-his own image has become a false idol. it is like looking at the finger and not at what it is pointing to.
i don't mean to offend anyone, and i certainly have nothing but respect for Jesus and his teachings. He is a great master who was the living example of a self-realized being. the crucifixion was a demonstartion of that- that no matter what your physical body is going through... you can have peace within. This is salvation.
i have often asked myself this question- how could the message have gotten so distorted? it must have something to to with karma and things working themselves out. we are living the effect of a past cause.
the only way out of karma is to plant good seeds, and begin to set into motion a more positve effect. be the change you want to see in the world- or to self-realize, and the only way to do that is through conscious communion with God- to meditate, or to disidentify with the ego which could happen spontaniously, but not likely.
all organized religions have flaws, it is the result of incomplete understanding- seperation and fear. we are all at different levels and we are all on our way to understanding. this is what it looks like from here- wherever you are
peace
2006-12-01 11:56:45 · answer #3 · answered by zentrinity 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let me see if I got it. Religions, some, discourage meditation, and in doing so, they are keeping their followers at bay from finding God.
I dont know if I agree, Im going to have to think on that for a while. I see how you could be right though.
2006-12-01 11:24:06 · answer #4 · answered by sweetie_baby 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those books were omitted because they were written by people distorting Jesus' teachings and who weren't even around to hear Him talk. As far as searching for truth yourself- Christians do something called Lectio Divina- check it out.
2006-12-01 11:27:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an age old thing. Power,money ,and control. Nothing new. In western religion, Gods a multimillion dollar business. Big money in God.
2006-12-01 11:29:36 · answer #6 · answered by flip4449 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋