We have become accustomed to progress throughout history—except for those times when we ‘progressed’ in reverse and blew ourselves to bits or thought we were too smart to learn from history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like . . . today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like . . . the last century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Progress . . .
in industry
in medicine
in conveniences
in exploration
in travel
in technology
in weapons ?
in ideologies ?
in killing ?
in ‘choice’ ?
in ‘sex’ ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have progressed in what we can do.
But we have not progressed in what we are.
We have not progressed in what we can do to each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Karma seems to have two meanings or applications.
We’re stuck with a status that we have no control over.
But we persistently think we can do better—progress now, or progress cumulatively for the next round.
And we definitely think we know more than previous generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, we follow thinkers and philosophers, and we indiscriminately buy into ideologies that can’t possibly work, just because we are consumed with ‘progress.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– – –<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What happens when this universal nature plays itself out in theology ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Discontent with what we’ve been given—sinful human nature, restrictive and narrow solution offered in the Bible—drives theologians to ‘improve’ on our cumulative spiritual understanding and options.
Result—hundreds, thousands of religions trying to satisfy the need of the human soul.
Result—teachings, rituals, practices that draw huge followings.
Result—motions that mask the missing meaning—counterfeit ecclesiastical currency to barter with a god they cannot know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christianity is different—the Bible is very clear—the wretched human condition, and God’s loving sacrifice to save anyone who believes.
But are Christian theologians different ?
Do Christian theologians demonstrate the same pattern of discontent with the Bible is enough, and the human drive to show progress (additions and revisions through centuries and millennia) ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again, human nature shows the uncanny urge to follow someone who knows more about God.
It all boils down to this—it’s easier to pay someone else to tell you about God (always people willing to do that), than to study your own Bible and find out for yourself.
For both the teachers and the listeners, theologians and students, preachers and pewsitters, popes and masses, masters and sheeple—forever onward, explaining and adding to maintain interest—those on top enjoy power and control, and those under pay their dues to be right with God.
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We have become accustomed to progress throughout history—except for those times when we ‘progressed’ in reverse and blew ourselves to bits or thought we were too smart to learn from history. Like . . . today. Like . . . the last century. Progress . . .in industryin medicinein conveniencesin explorationin travelin technologyin weapons ?in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,2,4,7,9,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-educational","category-faith_based","category-financial","category-inspire_lifter","category-political-cultural","category-time"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.awordforthought.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5630"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.awordforthought.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.awordforthought.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.awordforthought.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.awordforthought.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5630"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.awordforthought.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5630\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5631,"href":"http:\/\/www.awordforthought.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5630\/revisions\/5631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.awordforthought.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.awordforthought.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.awordforthought.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}