The New Religion.

The New Religion is not a captive of the past. 

It is free to reinterpret historical scriptures in the light of new revelations.

It is not a set of intellectual propositions but an immediate experience of the Divine.

And a realization of Reality.

And with this realization comes a contradiction of traditional theology.

We come to realize that the traditional image of God as a harsh punisher and judge of humankind is false.

God does not punish us or judge us.

And so the traditional teaching that the sin of Adam and Eve is overcome by Christ's death on the cross becomes a nonsense.

The inmost nature of God is Love.

God is the loving Father of everyone.

And He loves His gay sons and daughters.

The traditional image of God is based in fear.

But there is no fear in God.

And so we must overcome our fears.

And open our hearts to everyone.

Any suggestion of violence in scripture is false.

God is non-violent (Ahimsa).

These passages are projections of human expectations onto God.

We expect Natural Justice.

We expect punishment for sin.

But God does not act in this way.

God is merciful and forgiving.

God is compassionate.

God is Love.

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Atrocities.

Our world is riddled with atrocities:

The genocide of Palestinians by Benjamin Netanyahu.

The invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin.

The persecution of gay people in Africa.

The brutal military regime in Myanmar.

The imprisonment of opposition politicians in Pakistan and India.

The economic and ideological binges of Donald Trump.

The rise of far-right Neo-Nazi groups around the world.

Pray!

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The Church.

How can the Church preach mercy and forgiveness and practise condemnation and punishment?

How can they preach love for all humanity and damn gay and lesbian people?

How can they preach humility and poverty and court power, authority, and riches?

The answer is that they are hypocrites - they say one thing and practise another.

"Then Jesus said to the crowds and to the disciples, 'The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practise what they teach.  They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.  They do all their deeds to be seen by others.....They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the market place, and to have people call them rabbi.'"  Matthew 23:1-7 (NRSV)

"The shepherds also have no understanding, they have all turned to their own way, to their own gain, one and all."  Isaiah 56:11 (NRSV)

"Ah you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves!  Should not the shepherds feed the sheep?  You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep.  You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the stayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them."  Ezekiel 24:2-4 (NRSV)

And so it is in the Church of Jesus Christ today!

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are  used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Peace and Love.

Peace and Love is Jesus.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

And Jesus' commandment is to Love.

The redistribution of wealth is the Gospel and the Prophets.

It is good news for the poor.

It is John the Baptist.

And it is the Magnificat.

But sex and drugs and rock and roll is the devil.

This was deliberately sown to sabotage a whole generation - The Flesh Failures*.

And it continues today.

Satanism in rock music is negative, corrupt, and demonic.

Leave it behind. 

(*The alternate title for Let the Sun Shine In - the last song in the musical Hair.)

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AUM.

The secret behind the chant AUM is:

A - the mind turned outwards into the world (action).

U - the mind turned inwards (unconscious).

M - the soul centered in the heart (amor).

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Win, Lose, or Draw.

Rather than adopting the win at all costs approach of our sporting heroes we should consider the win lose or draw approach of Yoga.

Rather than our moods depending on what happens in the world around us we should stabilize our moods by linking them to the Eternal Present.

In this Eternal Present is our soul, the Divine Spark within us.

It never changes and it never fails.

It is God in us. 

And it's essence is Love.

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Church.

The reason that traditional Church authorities do not know God is that when Christianity became the state religion the leaders of the Church adopted the carrot and stick approach of the worldly powers.

This approach is designed to keep the masses under control.

And much of the Church's traditional teaching has been twisted to achieve this end.

But it is based on fear and a dim view of humanity.

Jesus said that the world did not know God.

And this is the reason why.

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The Reality.

As a response to Satanism and negative influences in our popular culture it is not sufficient to merely return to the Church and its traditional theology.

Because this traditional theology does not correspond to the Reality.

The myth of the Fall of Humanity and our Salvation through the Cross is just that - a myth.

Making an idol of Jesus and claiming absolute status is not the way to Salvation. 

Salvation comes from Jesus' teachings.

We must listen to what Jesus said.

Not merely subscribe to some absolute idolatry.

Jesus said to love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

And his commandment was to love one another.

And so the way to Salvation comes through the heart.

Too much of the Church's teachings are based in fear.

Fear of sin, fear of punishment, fear of error, fear of the devil, fear of hell.....

And fear is what imprisons the heart.

It is fear that hardens our hearts and makes us cold and judgemental.

But Jesus frees us from fear.

He shows us a God who is merciful and forgiving.

He shows us a God who is our loving Father.

It is this that will save us.

Overcome your fears.

Open your heart.

And Live!

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