IMO, the problem isn't the "mystery" in religion per se....it's just that the Constantinian mysteries are anathema to what Jesus and Judaism teaches. Again, if you want to believe all those mysteries, fine. But it is incorrect to claim that such mysteries are based in Judaism.
There's mystery in God appearing in a burning bush. There's mystery in the creation. Some of us see those "mysteries" as literal truth, some see them as myth, created by man, in his attempt/desire to understand God, some as a little bit of both. If the mystery of the trinity (which ISN'T in scripture, which goes against the Shema, which is anathema to Jesus' faith, Judaism)helps you to understand God, so be it.
For many, the mere existence of God is a "mystery", because we don't literally "see" the God of our belief. We work to understand something/someONE that is invisible to the naked eye. We cannot "prove" God's existence (yet?)...so, in a sense, God remains a mystery. We all have our individual ways of "seeing God"... going deep into prayer, reading our Bible, walking along a magnificent beach, watching the sun rise and set, witnessing the miracle of birth, or experiencing love in our relationships with others. And though we may experience..or connect with God, there really is no way we fully comprehend Him. So in that sense He remains "mystery". We believe we have all kinds of evidence of the reality of God in the many good things we know and experience in real life. This is true, for those who believe in God, across the board. (C.S. Lewis, in the beginning of "Mere Christianity", IMO, presents an excellent case for the exisitence of God. In a very clear, straightforward manner, He illustrates other kinds of "evidence" for the existence of God.)
RE:
"Explain to me how God made the universe out of nothing. "
HOW God created the universe remains a mystery to me...but the universe is very real. We have evidence of it's existence. And IMO, there is evidence of God's existence. (OTOH, i see no evidence for the mystery teachings of the Nicene church. And even if i did, I'd have to scratch my head in wonderment at the claim they fulfill OT prophesy)
RE: "Explain how evil can exist in the created world of a Perfect Creator.
HOW is not exacly clear to me, but evil certainly exists. The OT tells us that God is the author of evil. Do you buy that?
RE: "Explain how a series of animal sacrifices can atone for sin."
Frankly, i can't explain it...I don't defend it... and i do question it. Certainly, you probably understand it better than i, because you accept (and understand?) the HUMAN SACRIFICE of Jesus as atonement for the sin of all mankind. It doesn't make sense to me, at all. OTOH, what Jesus preached (as opposed to what the Nicence church teaches)makes sense to me. It's easy to understand...it makes sense...it's NOT a msytery. Judaism's basic message (same message of Jesus, BTW) makes sense too. The Constantinian church, OTOH, instead of focusing on the message of Jesus, stresses the mystery stories surrounding him. And on top of that, they claim those mysteries are OT prophesies. IMO, Jesus' message is believable AND compatible w/ his faith, Judasim. For me, the message of the Nicene church is neither.
I can understand that many choose to believe the Constantinian mysteries...just as many Hindu's choose to believe their mysteries. BUT, the claim by the Constantinian Church that their mystery beliefs (in a "man-God", trinity, virgin birth etc...) are prophetic fullfillment of the OT scripture just doesn't wash. Yes all religion has some sense of "mystery"...but the msytery of the Constantinian Church is anathema to what Judaism (the faith of Jesus) taught.
I understand that is your position, and I don't really have a problem with that.
For many, the mere existence of God is a "mystery", because we don't literally "see" the God of our belief. We work to understand something/someONE that is invisible to the naked eye. We cannot "prove" God's existence (yet?)...so, in a sense, God remains a mystery. We all have our individual ways of "seeing God"... going deep into prayer, reading our Bible, walking along a magnificent beach, watching the sun rise and set, witnessing the miracle of birth, or experiencing love in our relationships with others. And though we may experience..or connect with God, there really is no way we fully comprehend Him. So in that sense He remains "mystery".
Yep. I don't think we have any need to further discuss the reality of mystery in faith. Thanks for the discussion.
RE: "Explain how evil can exist in the created world of a Perfect Creator.
HOW is not exacly clear to me, but evil certainly exists. The OT tells us that God is the author of evil. Do you buy that?
This is a perfect example of what I am talking about. The OT tells us God is One and Only. This is a benefit of Revelation that we must deal with, the problem of evil.
Most civilizations in existence have been pantheistic precisely because man's natural reason, his "look around you," leads to the conclusion that there must be competing forces, good and evil, that can influence man. The concept of there being but One God from which all creation emenates is a product of God telling us that, not of we deducing that.
And yet, given that revelation, we can continue to use our minds to explore what it means for there to be but One God.
SD