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Circumventing God; Restricting God ("God-in-a-box") Re-molding GOD... according to human specifications This "tablet" addresses the efforts of some human-beings -- through various sectarian claims and churchy doctrines -- to restrict and limit and CIRCUMVENT God.... and to "re-make" God according to man-made "concoctions". A tablet from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" ( http://www.terrific-tabs.com ) by John N. Todd III, M. D. (link)
Slight revisions 7/01; 8/01; 12/01; 1/02; 2/02; 3/02; 7/02; 9;/01; 11/02; 1/03; 3/03; 4/03; 5/03; 11/03; 12/03; 3/04; 6/04; 7/04; 8/04; 10/04; 11/04; 1/05; 5/05; 8/05; 1/06; 6/2/06 See related "tablet" on Religious Syncretism (link) AND: Doctrinal Rigidity (link) CLICK HERE to go to the "FRONT PAGE" of "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" CLICK HERE for ALPHABETICAL INDEX of this entire WEBSITE CLICK HERE to EMAIL your thoughts to the author ( jtoddiii@bellsouth.net )
( The following is a reply to a friend's letter to me. ) Dear Theophilus, I always enjoy your email responses to my "commentaries" -- and I shall not ignore your thoughts. I have attempted, for all of my cognizant life -- always to consider (and assimilate) the opinions of great and learned religionists and theosophists -- like you, and others with whom I have discussed these infinitely important matters. I must remind you, here at the outset -- I shall continue always to strive to keep myself from becoming locked into a certain rigid denominational (link) position. As I say later, in this tablet: "I cannot entrust my 'salvation' to the opinion of, or the creed of, or the 'judgment' of -- a dogmatic individual.... or to the claims of a rigidly sectarian group of human-beings." My friend.... if, at some later time, I choose to "make a decision", and try to "accept" someone else's ossified doctrine.... how do I make-up-my-mind about which "batch-of-beliefs" I should claim to "believe"? Must I select your beliefs, or join your church.... in order to be "saved".... by GOD? Obviously, I must put my "hope" and my trust in GOD.... alone. Learning about God, and about His written words, and His intention.... as I have said before, and as you will learn.... is a lifelong "adventure" and search.... for each of God's people (link).... and is under the ongoing control of God Himself.... and not under the "control" and "decision" of human-beings.... or "churches". Concerning rigid religious tenets.... one can readily recall how Jesus (God-Incarnate [link]) taught and fought and died (was "executed") because of His determination to reduce or eliminate exclusionary doctrinal rules and regulations and "legalism" and rituals -- those conditions which virtually dominated the Jewish religious (and political) "beliefs" and practices of Jesus's time. (See link Why did they kill Jesus.) Note the following concerning man-made "religions":
Later in history, my good friend, as you know well.... the Crusades "appeared" (lasting for 300 years).... attempting to force Roman Catholic ("Christian") beliefs upon the Mid-Eastern world (especially those of the Islamic faith). After that, the (papal) "Inquisition" -- when Catholics put-on-trial, and then burned-at-the-stake those "heretical" individuals who did not agree with the Catholic's deciphering of what God expects of His people. (See link Religious Syncretism). (Gee, Buddy, aren't you and I delighted that the rigidly doctrinal "Catholics" are not in dictatorial command of spiritual thought.... now. You and I would be in "serious trouble", wouldn't we? Fortunately, today, only a few Christian doctrinal variations insist on having their interpretation of "truth" to be taught as "the only way" to become acceptable to God-the-Creator. Be sure to read my "SALVATION is of the Lord".... in case you have not yet had time to peruse it. Take your blood-pressure pill, and your Valium.... in advance.) Remember, too, the Reformation -- when wise individuals -- like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and many other brave "mavericks" -- resisted the overbearing Catholic "religion" -- which those in political (and church) "power" attempted to force on everyone.... everywhere. Then.... the Church of England, and its rigid tenets -- which in a circuitous way, led to the flight to what would later become "America". And, on and on. Even today, "Restrictive doctrinism" (link) returns.... in the thoughts and teachings and proselytizing of some dogmatic "religious" organizations. In spiritual thinking, my friend, there have always been (even nowadays) those "religious" groups who claim spiritual supremacy.... as the Jews did in early-Biblical days, when they said (paraphrasing): "We've got God in a 'box' (the 'Ark of the Covenant'). We Jews carry God around with us. God belongs to us. You can't be accepted by God unless we allow you 'become' one of us. All of you non-Jews are wrong, unclaimed, and left-out of God's favor. Sign-up with us.... or be rejected by God.... and die." Thus, through the years, various sectarian zealots have attempted to "by-pass" God.... to "circumvent" God.... as if to say, "Your acceptance by God depends, first, upon acceptance by us.... and then your "salvation" depends upon your oath of allegiance to our doctrine, and to the rules and rites and regulations of our denomination." (A fun-thought.... perhaps there should be a comparable "Ark of the Southern Baptists." See link Baptists hope to CONVERT the Jews.) Yes, even today, there are still those "doctrines" which claim that they have "God-in-a-box" -- and that they, alone, have "the key"-- the "only key" -- which "outsiders" can't have without "making-a-decision" to recite and "accept" what their members claim to be the one-and-only "correct" creed. As you know, my major thesis, spiritually -- for me, myself -- is this: I cannot entrust my "salvation" to the opinion of, or the creed of, or the "judgment" of a dogmatic individual.... or a rigidly doctrinal group of human-beings. If I satisfy God -- nothing else matters in my spiritual ("religious") quest.... and in my existence. I do not attempt to circumvent God's decision about who satifies Him, for "salvation". Note this Biblical reference: Psalm 62 (NRSV): 1 For God alone my soul waits in silence. From him comes my salvation. 2 He alone is my rock, and my salvation.... my fortress. I shall never be shaken. (In that regard, my friend, is it Biblically stated -- anywhere in the Bible -- that my "salvation" depends upon a "combination" of acceptance by God -- PLUS an oath-of-allegiance to a specific church, or "religion"? What would God say about me, if I recited what you consider to be the "wrong" oath -- or if, for example, I "joined" the Catholic Church, or the Mormon church.... or if I were baptized by the "Primitive Baptists"? Who, except God, decides about my "acceptability".... to God?) Here's a "goodie", to remember: James 4: 12 (NIV) "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge -- the ONE who is able to SAVE.... and destroy. But you -- who are YOU to judge your neighbor?" Read my "Sign on the Church Door" (link), already "posted" on another page of this website. See, also, "The Truth -- what is it, and who decides?" (link). Remember, pal -- practice what you preach. "Love thy neighbor". Remember the following about me -- I never attempt to convince anyone to believe as I do. I simply contemplate and discuss and express my spiritual decipherings and interpretations. And, I always learn from those who communicate with me.... and share their views with me. Talk to you soon -- watch that blood pressure. Tell your preacher to look in on "T.T.T." (this website) -- and give him a Valium, also. JNT Afterthoughts: Where is "the truth".... God's Truth? Is TRUTH locked in the "Ark of the Covenant"... or is it buried in "The Ark of the Southern Baptists".... or is it fixed in the heart and mind and intention of God Himself... unrelated to human notions.... and unaltered by churchy embellishments? Human religious beliefs cannot generate or change God's TRUTH.... or the "TRUTH" about God. 6/2/06 |