Listed in: Religion & Beliefs > Spirituality A Course in Miracles states that belief in God is not a meaningful concept, "for God can be but known" In this assertion, the word "known" is used in the sense that ancient Gnostics used the Greek word "gnosis" to mean "inner knowing" -- what might be called the "knowledge of the heart." The Course also states that it is but one of many thousands of paths which all lead to the same goal -- a goal which might be called the gnosis of love which is the essence of "All That Is," by whatever name one calls it. Beliefs are irrelevant, but genuine love and peace among human beings represents the longing of every human heart; a longing that religions have tried to fulfill. Over the centuries organized, formal religions have distorted and diluted the truths which lie at the heart of every spirituality as they have attempted to bring the formless into form, and then to organize it according to hierarchies of human status and power. Jesus was among the freest of thinkers, but not the only one who knew of the inner freedom of sprit which cannot be threatened or destroyed no matter what outer circumstances threaten the body. His original teachings were understood by the Gnostics who were almost wiped out by the developing church because the human ego is threatened by love.
This Ring welcomes sites that are dedicated to freedom of thought, freedom of belief, and to the discovery of that inner freedom and peace which is indicated in the introduction to the text for A Course in Miracles: "Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exits. Herein lies the peace of God." |
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