| The Bible has to be either a supernatural book, or a non-supernatural book |
That's somewhat black and white, and simplifies the issue. But I think the Bible is both, in that it describes supernatural events and principles, ("supernatural", here, referring to things 'beyond this world', or beyond the scope of science. For instance, the existence of the hereafter, and what might have existed before the world began). But at the same time, I believe the Bible is non-supernatural, because it was written 'in this world', by human hands, albeit inspired by a supernatural Mind.
| If it's supernatural -- if God is responsible for its writing, it's transmission and its survival -- then God, being God, does the job right |
The fact that the Bible is not perfect, (and there are definitely contradictions and errors in the Bible), does not mean that God made a mistake - even if God chose to be responsoble for the Bible's content. After all, from within the context of the bigger picture, it might actually be "perfect" for this world
not to be perfect. It might simply be part of the plan. I believe that it's part of our spiritual journey to explore the Territory first hand - including this world and the spiritual realms (which can be tapped from within, via a heighthened spiritual awareness) - rather than simply be told what to do. Our Holy Scriptures are like maps, which attempt to describe the Territory and show us the way.
| If holy scriptures are tainted with human emphasis, is it not possible that we've got some parts of it completetly wrong? That us humans have taken the ball and run in the wrong direction with it? |
I completely agree with this Dharma. I think it's happened many times in our Holy Books. For example, is there an eternal lake of fire to which God sends people who don’t believe? If one choose to believe so, then is it a Christian lake of fire, where all non-Christians go, or is it a Muslim lake of fire, where all non-Muslims go?
I think we can decipher for ourselves which religious revelations are aligned with ‘Truth’ by aligning them with our own inner wisdom and with the compassionate capacity of our heart. We’ll probably come to different conclusions, of course, because we’re all at different stages of spiritual growth. But I think the key is to find inner peace with our own faith and with our own interpretations.
I have a very "East meets West" view of religion. I believe that the earth was created by a higher power and that we are all part of the natural life and death cycle. I believe that we all have a path of life which the higher power picks for us to make our souls stronger. I believe in reincarnation.
... I think that the higher powers are infinite. |
I love that. I think that's brilliant, and describe a simple, but true, model of the world. It's what I believe too. I think the basic common ground that appears throughout all our Holy Scriptures is:
(1) God, or a Higher Force exists
(2) Life has a deeper purpose
(3) There’s a bigger picture, and all is not death and finality