“hosepipe: Theres no doubt about tho.. I am a heretic..”
Of all the spiritual foundations on which this nation was based, the mind/body dualism unique to Christian theism is of supreme importance, for on its basis, and its basis only arise our individual rights and freedoms, self-government, etc. As soon as we turn away from the living, transcendent Triune Creator, we unwittingly turn back to the only remaining “religion,”...nature. By any name, Buddhism, Hinduism, Gnosticism, materialism, Marxist Communism, evolutionism, Hermeticism, Theosophy, New Age, wicca, Liberal Christianity, etc.——all are constructs of nature religion, and therefore are variants of monism, discussed here in previous posts.
The America of the founding generation is fast disappearing for the reason that increasing numbers of Americans are, in the words of Hosepipe, heretics. Having rejected America’s founding faith they have either wittingly or unwittingly turned back to nature..to monism with its talk of collective consciousness, solidarity, army of one, ‘it takes a village,’ sustainability, green environmentalism, secularism, and egalitarianism (sameness).
America’s crisis is spiritual, for all of America’s increasing numbers of “heretics” cannot and will not support what they no longer believe in. Their souls have been taken captive by modernist ideologies and immobilized by the insidious apathy of unbelief, and though they can sense with mounting apprehension the coming implosion of America, they are helpless to do anything about it.
Like fiery darts, niggling fears have penetrated the darkness of the heretics minds. They ask:
If enlightened progress is liberty from God the Father, then why is it leading us into ruination and slavery? Why are we beset by nameless fears, especially the fear of falling into nothingness? And if authentic Christians are so backward and unscientific, why is it that they are the only ones not immobilized by apathy? Why are they, who we heretics hold in contempt, the only ones who are willing to fight? And why is it that we who believe ourselves to be scientific and forward-thinking come off as double-thinking irrational sophists while authentic Christians actually engage in rational discourse?
However; you have presented "strawmen" as questions....
The strawmen divert from the conversation.. as a diversion..
As I've presented, "We see what we see".. therefore you see what you see..
As I did somewhat the same for many years.. much the same dogma..
Once leaving the "sheep pen".. and entering "the pasture".. I see things differently now.... (John ch 10)
However; I do not condemn you(or others) from the Cargo Cultic experience.. it may be needed..
No matter the cargo the rituals and ceremony's are similar..
The committee of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit serves a metaphorical purpose.. to explain God.. Why Not?.. We need something to explain the unexplainable.. The ineffable.. meme needs(maybe demands) a way of expression.. The bible serves that purpose handily..
Your axiomatic view of it(bible) is orthodox.. but being unorthodox is allowed.. Like Paul, who became unorthodox.. Like the rest of the Jewish apostles who became unorthodox.. Putting God in a box is capturing "the Wind".. You end up with a box of nothing.. i.e. chasing "dust devils"..
This convo with you and metmom.. is entertaining..
My hope is you are entertained too..
My "visions" from God has, alas, made me unorthodox.. as well..
Mentally grasping something is important BUT "seeing" it is wonderful..