Are concepts of deity the making of an image/idol?

[Robert.Evans]

I don't think it's bad. Of course is not identical to what it directs to, but it's still not bad.

Think of art. A painting is not the 100% accurate description of the scene, but it conveys ideas and emotions relating to it. Especially impressionists do this. Or take the concept of cartoons, they don't reflect photo realism, yet they tell a story. Many times we need something to look at while we meditate or think about what's being said. In other words, images of the real thing isn't a bad thing, as long as we know it's just a tool to help us understand.

And that's how I consider myths as well. They convey ideas and thoughts, without having to be true historical events, they still describe ideas that we can ponder.

I mean it is bad in the sense as there is only One who is truly real... so all other things are copies. So there is only One pure. Anything else will not be pure, as it is not the original.. so bad

 

[Ouroboros]

I mean it is bad in the sense as there is only One who is truly real... so all other things are copies. So there is only One pure. Anything else will not be pure, as it is not the original.. so bad

I don't agree. Since I consider all things to be part of God, even the images in this world are all good. The actual sunset and a painting of a sunset both have value and are good.

 

[Robert.Evans]

I don't agree. Since I consider all things to be part of God, even the images in this world are all good. The actual sunset and a painting of a sunset both have value and are good.

what then of death, murder? Is that good? If so, remind me never to sit next to you.... haha

 

[Ouroboros]

what then of death, murder? Is that good? If so, remind me never to sit next to you.... haha

Death is part of the natural cycle. I don't see it as bad.

Murder is more complicated. We justify murder in war and execution, and no one feels bad about it. Some even think it's good. So remind me to never sit next to you if we're in the army.

Besides, autonomy, right of life, be living, is the highest form of representing life. Death's value is that it prepares for new birth, new life, and the process goes on. To forcibly take someone's life and infringe on their right of it, is sometimes justified, sometimes not. It depends on situation, doesn't it? But even so, if someone is taken before their time, would an alien civilization on a foreign planet 50 m LY from here care if it's good or bad? It's all part of the circle of life.

 

[Robert.Evans]

Death is part of the natural cycle. I don't see it as bad.

Murder is more complicated. We justify murder in war and execution, and no one feels bad about it. Some even think it's good. So remind me to never sit next to you if we're in the army.

wouldn't be in the army, not supposed to kill.

There is good and evil released from within the higher consciousness. That is us.... and this is what we do with it. Hence the reason we are here. The higher consciousness is our own higher consciousness. The highest part of that to me is what we term as God. God is reflective though, so I might ask, which One. Ultimately there is only One, One... but many reflections of it. It is fractal... and why we see fractals here.
Evil is the brother to Good, they are both released as they have to be in order to have freewill.

 

[Ouroboros]

wouldn't be in the army, not supposed to kill.

Ah. That's okay. No judgment here.

There is good and evil released from within the higher consciousness. That is us.... and this is what we do with it. Hence the reason we are here. The higher consciousness is our own higher consciousness. The highest part of that to me is what we term as God. God is reflective though, so I might ask, which One. Ultimately there is only One, One... but many reflections of it. It is fractal... and why we see fractals here.
Evil is the brother to Good, they are both released as they have to be in order to have freewill.

Or if you think of the yin-yang symbol. It's black and white. Good and bad. Positive and negative. The never-ending opposite forces in struggle to get to the center. Yet, both of them together, there's unity, that's one. There's neither good nor bad. The greater Good is that it all just is.

On another note, to go back to death. I'm not sure if you're Christian or not from our discussions, but if you were, would you consider Jesus' death to have been beneficial? Or put it this way, in general terms, can death be positive or bring positive things? And isn't Jesus' death and resurrection an image of what we're supposed to do? Die from ourselves and be born again into a spiritual life? Is that bad or is it a bad image?

 

[Ingledsva]

The proof is within not without... the evidence is without. If there were proof without, how could it be hidden??

What is your point here?

With no outward evidence, - why believe in Zeus?

An inward belief/experience of Zeus, does not in any way make Zeus real.


*

 

[Robert.Evans]

What is your point here?

With no outward evidence, - why believe in Zeus?

An inward belief/experience of Zeus, does not in any way make Zeus real.


*

All things come from God. He works internally. What is hidden is what is true, not what is physical and material that you see with your eyes.

 

[Gnostic Seeker]

An inward belief/experience of Zeus, does not in any way make Zeus real.
*

Neither does it make him not real.

 

[Robert.Evans]

Ah. That's okay. No judgment here.


Or if you think of the yin-yang symbol. It's black and white. Good and bad. Positive and negative. The never-ending opposite forces in struggle to get to the center. Yet, both of them together, there's unity, that's one. There's neither good nor bad. The greater Good is that it all just is.

Yes... like it.. especially "to the centre" as all things reside there. You have heard of the idea that the consciousness expands like concentric circles? The inner light is what everything is encircled about. The inner is what counts, even usually in nature.

On another note, to go back to death. I'm not sure if you're Christian or not from our discussions,

I don't class myself as one as I think I have met too many.. haha. But most people would say I am, which would give you an idea of my thinking... theistically

but if you were, would you consider Jesus' death to have been beneficial?

Yes

Or put it this way, in general terms, can death be positive or bring positive things?

Yes

And isn't Jesus' death and resurrection an image of what we're supposed to do?

Yes

Die from ourselves and be born again into a spiritual life?

Yes

Is that bad or is it a bad image?

You mean that whole argument? I am not sure what you mean as you use the word 'Image' which means more to me than just one thing.
Yahshuah is everything. Fullstop. There is nothing else. He is the One. He is the One that was the smallest part of Self that died to allow everything else to live. He is the creator that the created killed for their own self preservation.
He died well before the world began. It is fractal. Everything is. That is why it says There is nothing new UNDER the sun.

He is the One that did not enter the impure realms as we did. We evolved through them, he did not. He is pure from his own inner Self. It is us who replicate that Self, but with our own self also. There is conflict. To the two shall become One one day.
Something had to be pure to return to the Temple that is pure. Without someone pure, there is no entry. It is clothing ourselves with this new man that allows entry.

As everything is infinite in its fractal copies, this happens many times over in many ways. So also we are ourselves, more than just one, but myriad in thought patterns and realities (many worlds). Thus we try to attain the highest position within the 'concentric circles'. When we are One with the inner One, then we become like that, and the whole process starts off again (not that it every ended). And so more realities come about, more Gods reflected from the One God who is the Existence that is everything. That is the Son. The Son beget the Father.

So Yes, Yahshuah is important... haha

 

[Aupmanyav]

I would argue that this happens when people do not want to accept life and its vastness for what it is, mysteries and all, they fashion an image so to speak of existence- and call them gods.

Some can, others cannot. What do you think we should do with those who cannot?