It's time to reconsider the basics.
For the purpose of this question I only ask that you answer based on the notion that the Kingdom of God exist. I don’t specify this to disrespect any group. The Kingdom of God could also be considered by any other descriptions that match the experience.
Thank you for your thoughtful answers.
2007-09-02 05:01:13 · 35 answers · asked by gnosticv 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I thought EVERYONE knew the the Kingdom of God was in the hearts, minds, and spirits of ALL good people, regardless of WHAT belief system that they follow. Too bad SOME folks have to try to find it in a book or in a building and exclude everyone else that doesn't read that book or go to that particualr building.
BB,
Raji the Green Witch
2007-09-02 05:33:14 · answer #1 · answered by Raji the Green Witch 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
There is more than one answer to this question. Mystics say that the Kingdom of God is a state of mind or a state of being. Seen in this light then the Kingdom could be anywhere.
I would say that since God is immanent in all space and time, there is nowhere that is not the Kingdom of God.
Once Guru Nanak was walking a long distance and weary, he fell asleep in a small mosque at the roadside. Later that night the Imam of this small mosque came and saw that Nanak had his feet on the small sacred stone, which is what Muslims use in their halls of worship to show what direction the Kaaba stone in Mecca is in and therefore the direction to Allah. "Get your feet off the holy stone you wretch. Don't you know that is where God is?" he said.
Nanak apologozed and moved his feet. But the holy stone moved by itself with his feet wherever he moved them. The Imam was astonished. "Why is this happening O great Faqir?" (Under the circumstances he had quickly changed his assessment of this wanderer he had found sleeping in his mosque)
"O Imam," said Nanak. "Show me a place where God is not and I will move my feet there."
The Imam became a lifelong student of Nanak
2007-09-02 08:36:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Lots of good answers already. The only thing I'll add is this:
Jesus says the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven (same thing) is "among" you or "within" you. The "you" here is plural. We seek the kingdom of God as individuals, but we find it only in community. We have to look inside our hearts and minds for it, but we'll only discover it by actually loving. And love cannot exist solely in the individual. It requires us to reach out from ourselves and realize we're all connected as part of the human community; we are all children of God when we love (1Jn 4). That's where the Kingdom of God is found... in loving each other.
Peace to you.
2007-09-02 12:21:24 · answer #3 · answered by dreamed1 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Understand that it starts by believing, especially in a world full of tricks. Truth is hard to find out there, and I'm sure you can attest to that. I don't believe that it's a political kingdom. I just don't see it that way. Look at all the political kingdoms, past and present, and you can basically see that they simply do not last. Problems arise. They decline. God's kingdom doesn't.
2007-09-02 05:21:55 · answer #4 · answered by Da Mick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi!
The Kingdom of God is found by those who seek with a loving, open heart and mind. This is hard for those who need proof and feel that nothing can exist that has not already connected with their ability to perceive. When my youngest son died, I stood at the cusp of the worlds and though I was not allowed to enter the Kingdom, my son was allowed to return from it and take up this life again.
Some things have to be believed to be seen.
Good wishes.
2007-09-02 09:47:25 · answer #5 · answered by pilgrimspadre 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dear Sister...
Why ask this question...
This kingdom of God and Kingdom of heaven is the same?
And why presume, if you are a believer?
Kingdom of God is found by those who tread the Lords Path..any one from any faith can enter the Gates of this kingdom. Though it is not easy...
This kingdom is, as most of my friends have mentioned here, well within and without us, it is inside of us and we are inside of it...
Those fortunate ones to experience and embrace it, are indeed the true believers.
J C has given a good answer.
Thanks J C....
You smell of much wisdom.. I wish we could meet someday.
2007-09-02 07:04:24 · answer #6 · answered by bakhan 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Different traditions, folkways, and religions DO call it different things . . . but I respectfully decline to believe that what was written, in Greek of all things, decades to centuries later, as the instructions of Yeshua for achieving it should be regarded as factual or historic.
Most of the Sermon on the Mount can be found in rabbinical texts predating it by centuries. after all.
Nevertheless, when Yeshua is recorded as having told his disciples that the Kingdom of God was within them, I do believe that represents some fragment of what occurred . . . the completion of their training; their having learned to achieve gnosis and/or operate within the spiritual realm.
Further echoes are to be found in Hebrews, which is a bit of an instruction manual if one reads it right.
Personally, having been there I think it's a bit overrated. The rides are a bit shabby and half of them are always closed for repairs, and the concession stands only serve cold corn dogs and warm beer. *wink*
2007-09-02 05:35:08 · answer #7 · answered by Boar's Heart 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As near as I can translate it to my own understanding, (largely derived from Zen Buddhism and Ken Wilber), it goes a bit like this.
It's all about levels - or contractions - of awareness.
Body / mind / soul / spirit / ultimate cause.
You can sit quietly and progress through those levels of awareness without rushing around looking for any 'thing' or any 'where'.
The Kingdom of God is at the level of ultimate cause.
Individual awareness has to deepen through each more subtle level until the deepest awareness is reached.
In other words, the Kingdom of God is within you - but it takes a bit of finding.
I think that this level of awareness can be touched briefly at almost any point in the mystical journey but full awareness comes only after much mystical process.
Let me stand up and say that this is largely theory as far as I am concerned. I have not progressed far enough yet to be able to say this as personal fact.
2007-09-02 05:26:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 0⤋
The Kingdom of God is within you. If you continue to treat anybody without truth and honesty, disobey Gods commands and don't consider the underprivileged- you will continue to miss it. Look at 2 Peter ch 2.
"If the blind lead the blind both will fall into the ditch."
"Except your righteousness exceed the scribes and the pharisees you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of God."
2007-09-02 05:13:32 · answer #9 · answered by copperhead89 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sure it may desire to not be any further glaring! there isn't any ambiguity or reason to doubt the point of the WT writings. oftentimes the followers will say, that won't what it skill and flow off on another tangent yet you are able to desire to ask your self; if it is so as that they've been attempting to get another ingredient for the period of to boot how that is deemed to be study, then why the twisted grammatical phrasing? There could be no valid clarification for this could desire to take a diverse line of reasoning different than the glaring, related to the unique narrative that those extracts are taken from. oftentimes we are able to be sure the WT twist its very own words (and not basically the scriptures) to cover up previous blunders to throw a spin on issues. that is amazingly devious once you think of roughly it........
2016-10-17 11:55:59 · answer #10 · answered by courts 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋