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Did you read it, Warden . . . or just make a knee-jerk response to the title? The part of us that is from God is our Spirit because God is Spirit. The part of us that is our adversary is our animal nature because it has no conception of Good or Evil and is simply focused on survival, pleasure and avoidance of pain . . . like most animals. Our Spirit arrives in us at birth as a seed and it grows or not based on our development of control over our animal nature. Unfortunately it starts out handicapped because it is just a seed and must germinate and develop over time . . . while our animal nature is fully developed and functioning.
This is why it is important to teach our children properly and not expect them to be mature adults when they are not. They will develop increasing control and be happier and healthier later in life when their Spirits are more mature. Teaching them that they are just born as worms or filthy rags or whatever simply because their animal nature is stronger and indiscriminate is just plain cruel and evil. It is our animal nature that does not know Good from Evil and will always make indiscriminate choices. Our Spirit which CAN know Good from Evil must discriminate for it and exercise self-control over the baser urges. That does not make us worms or filthy rags . . . it makes us immature.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wardendresden
Have you read and do you believe in any part of this passage?
Genesis 1:26-27
If so, one must first understand the attributes of God--ALL of them---before one can assess what assets are spirit and what are "animal."
You know I have read all the Bible, brother. But God is Spirit . . . NOT animal. It is our Spirit that is in God's image . . . not our animal body or nature. He breathed His Spirit into Adam. But Adam's Spirit was newly created and NOT remotely fully developed or mature. That is how we ALL come into this world, Warden . . . immature Spirits in fully developed animal bodies. That is why our FIRST lesson in Eden was to differentiate between right and wrong . . . Good and Evil. It is essential knowledge to develop the self control over our animal nature to avoid doing Evil.
Yes, God is spirit but not like a ghost because Jesus described spirit as the words he spoke that would be the truth, the word of God. So God is His word.
John 4:24 NRSA
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
"It is the spirit that gives life the flesh is useless, the words I have spoken to you are spirit and life."
You know I have read all the Bible, brother. But God is Spirit . . . NOT animal. It is our Spirit that is in God's image . . . not our animal body or nature. He breathed His Spirit into Adam. But Adam's Spirit was newly created and NOT remotely fully developed or mature. That is how we ALL come into this world, Warden . . . immature Spirits in fully developed animal bodies. That is why our FIRST lesson in Eden was to differentiate between right and wrong . . . Good and Evil. It is essential knowledge to develop the self control over our animal nature to avoid doing Evil.
So animals hate? Or is that a "special" attribute of the human animal?
Yes, God is spirit but not like a ghost because Jesus described spirit as the words he spoke that would be the truth, the word of God. So God is His word.
John 4:24 NRSA
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
"It is the spirit that gives life the flesh is useless, the words I have spoken to you are spirit and life."
God is Spirit and that Spirit is agape love. Those who worship Him must worship in the Spirit of agape love. We are Spirit maturing in this physical body that was born of Flesh. We will be "born again" upon our death as Spirit because we will be born of Spirit. That which is born of Spirit is Spirit and will possess a spiritual body . . . NOT a physical one.
1 Corinthians 15:35-58 (King James Version)
35But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
God is Spirit and that Spirit is agape love. Those who worship Him must worship in the Spirit of agape love. We are Spirit maturing in this physical body that was born of Flesh. We will be "born again" upon our death as Spirit because we will be born of Spirit. That which is born of Spirit is Spirit and will possess a spiritual body . . . NOT a physical one.
1 Corinthians 15:35-58 (King James Version)
35But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Jesus did not say God is agape love. You cannot think like a psychologist to know God or whatever it is you are. That does not get any recognition here.
It is written; "They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard from the Father and learned from Him comes to me."
Jesus did not say God is agape love. You cannot think like a psychologist to know God or whatever it is you are. That does not get any recognition here.
It is written; "They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard from the Father and learned from Him comes to me."
God is Spirit and that Spirit is agape love. Those who worship Him must worship in the Spirit of agape love. We are Spirit maturing in this physical body that was born of Flesh. We will be "born again" upon our death as Spirit because we will be born of Spirit. That which is born of Spirit is Spirit and will possess a spiritual body . . . NOT a physical one.
1 Corinthians 15:35-58 (King James Version)
35But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peacegiver
Jesus did not say God is agape love. You cannot think like a psychologist to know God or whatever it is you are. That does not get any recognition here.
Everything in my post is from the scriptures and the scriptures say God IS agape love. You can remain ignorant of modern psychological knowledge if that is the only way you can retain your current beliefs and delusions of grandeur.
Quote:
It is written; "They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard from the Father and learned from Him comes to me."
I use that very quote to explain what happened to my atheism during my epiphany in deep meditation. My subsequent 4 decades of learning brought me to Jesus with explanations that make sense using current scientific knowledge. I am content.
My heart is heavy and my Spirit is depressed by the belief that our God can hate or be jealous or any of the other complex negative human emotions born of our psychological weaknesses. This misunderstanding has produced a corruption of God's love for us all. I cannot believe how badly Christ's revelation has been misunderstood. God IS agape love. He loves us all and will not count our sins against us. This IS the central message of Christ's Gospel. Hate plays no role and is no part of God, period. Hate is entirely a human psychological weakness caused by our immature Spirit and our animal nature.
For clarity of communication . . . I will once again employ a simple narrative to convey the processes that are essentially driven by very complex neurological and physiological processes to produce the complex human emotions . . . like anger and eventually hate. This simplification encompasses (as do all of my broad analogies and narratives) the essential nature of the processes without any undue jargon and specialized knowledge required. The simplicity combined with my spiritual emphasis will also no doubt annoy our non-Christian brethren.
Hate is a human psychological weakness born of the combination of our immature Spirit (conscious awareness) and our animal nature. It is based in the emotion of anger. Our awareness of evil, injustice, cruelty,etc. (Good and Evil) is transferred to our animal nature and its response is automatic. Our animal nature senses hurt and seeks to assuage the hurt. Failure to do so can result in frustration, cumulative frustration and eventually anger. When we cannot rectify the hurt . . . the combination of our animal nature and immature embryo Spirit produces the emotion of hate for the cause of the hurt.
Without our conscious awareness (Spirit), there can be no anger . . . only frustration. Humans are the only animals we know about that have our unique awareness (Spirit). Therefore, humans are the only animals that can get angry. There will be many of you who have at one time or another seen an animal teased until it got angry. You might think that I am in error. However, the effect that you witnessed was that of physically-imposed cumulative frustration (technically: abreaction). (Tease a dog while holding its muzzle closed and you will be treated to the effects of this cumulative frustration in a very unpleasant fashion.) Cumulative frustration is the basis for human anger . . . but anger is the more complex response created by the involvement of our conscious awareness (Spirit).
Anger can result when someone hurts you, either physically or mentally, or both. The pituitary (Serpent's tongue) produces the hormones that result in the emotion of anger or even rage depending upon the circumstances. Signals to run, hit or kill are the ones most often produced by our animal nature in answer to hurt inflicted by an antagonist. This is usually referred to as the fight or flight response. The logical course of action for your body is to perform some behavior that will satisfy the drive signals and restore equilibrium to the body. This sequence of internal events would occur in any organism that was physically hurt by an antagonist, even the lower animals.
The controls in our cerebrum afford our Spirit many options. It can amplify and perfect the hit or kill response. It can simply allow it to occur without interference or it can decrease reroute or prevent it. The brain is a coordinated grouping and the circuits in the cerebrum are necessary to effect the response. However, the response need not be altered by conscious thought. The entire sequence can occur completely without thought, and frequently does. The irresistible impulse or temporary insanity so often pleaded in murder trials is the result of this combination. The cerebrum enters into the sequence only if you have the time or the inclination to think. Therein lies the important difference.
Anger is a possible, but not a necessary part of this sequence. Our special talent lies in being able to initiate this sequence and then to frustrate it by suppressing the natural physical response thereby producing cumulative frustration eventually leading to the emotion of anger. Anger begins with a feeling of hurt experienced by our Spirit, (e.g. an unkind word or injustice.) There is no need for a physical stimulus. If a physical stimulus is present the response will be intensified, (e.g. an unkind word and a slap in the face.) Our animal nature receives this hurt signal and responds with a signal to make some response in retaliation.
Our Spirit is in the middle. The signal to respond creates a need that must be satisfied, i.e. to do something. Our embryo Spirit unlike our animal nature does not really want to respond aggressively to the hurt. Atheists would attribute this attribute of our Spirit to the fact that we learn early in our development that a physical response is almost always a detrimental one . . . and in most cases merely adds fuel to an already volatile situation. Since I believe our Spirits emanate from God . . . I attribute the reluctance to God's nature. Regardless which view you prefer . . . there is a conflict.
Consequently, our animal nature is frustrated, we feel additional hurt from the added frustration, so we signal this hurt to our animal nature, and a reinforced signal to respond is sent. This self-amplifying process continues with our Spirit simultaneously preventing response and sending hurt signals to our animal nature until it exceeds some internal threshold. When it does our Spirit gives up, loses control, and our animal nature is allowed to react . . . usually very violently. It is this cumulative frustration of our animal nature that produces the angry response or outburst. When there is no opportunity for such outbursts . . . hate for the cause of the anger ensues.
In short . . . the primary reason anger occurs is that immature souls transmit hurt signals to our animal nature in the first place. The physiological conditions are unavoidable once that is done. By thinking or dwelling on an incident or unpleasant situation, we end up transmitting cumulatively frustrating hurt signals to our animal nature leading us closer and closer to a physiologically-induced answer in response. Diverting our thoughts from the situation and controlling our interpretation of its significance is the fastest way to short-circuit this destructive inner conflict and eliminate the angry responses. This is why we are told to try to "love God and each other" daily and repent when we don't. Dwelling on the negative only frustrates us and increases the negative emotions within us. That is physically damaging . . . not just psychologically damaging.
The phenomenon of the complex emotions is the reason our immature embryo Spirit has so much difficulty controlling certain behavior. If we do not have an external source of motivation for control of our animal nature . . . we will continue to seek comfort, solace, and pleasure from our body. This indiscriminate transmission of signals to our animal nature can only produce animal answers and temporary animal satisfaction of our needs. Besides, our embryo Spirit will never mature if we don't invest our life energy in Spirit-strengthening responses (Self-control).
I am not optimistic that this description of the genesis of hat will alter the fundamentalists' beliefs that our God hates and is vengeful, etc. . . . but writing it has allowed me to vent some of my cumulative frustration dealing with the lack of understanding of our complex human emotions and why they cannot be attributed to God. I also am frustrated by the inexplicable corruption of the Gospel and Christ's instructions to love . . . into believing all the right details ABOUT God and Jesus . . . as if our Almighty God would NOT know what we believe. Nothing we say or proclaim about our beliefs will fool anyone but other humans nor will it have any relevance to what we truly believe in our innermost hearts and minds. I hesitate to point this truth out to you, brothers and sisters . . . but God already knows our innermost hearts and minds!
thanks for that brother, good stuff
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