So where will you go? (81:23)

[Trailblazer]

For which of us to determine.

You said: There is only one path that leads to God - any other path does not lead to Him.

What is the one path that leads to God?

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

Having said that....

I follow my own path. So far it has led me to happiness. Not to heartache.

that is truly wonderful to hear

perhaps if I shared a little more clarity about my thoughts regarding “my path”:
i attempted to make a connection with the Christian religion for a few years.
i kept trying to force myself to believe the stuff I heard, and it was a major struggle, and I kept thinking there must be something wrong with me
i referred to that as my path, since I chose to take it, but I realized that for me to continue in religion I would have to believe what they believe, do what they do, etc, and it just wasn’t going to happen
this was a period of internal struggle for me, but I got out, and understood that I didn’t need to change myself to fit a religious mold
I’m much happier now too!!

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

I wonder how many times one can fall off a cliff and not learn to avoid that path.

i counted, and to the best of my recollection, it was 17

even so, I still wanted to continue to try, but my wife has convinced me of the futility of that path

my new path is much, much better

btw, you were right, in your other post, about the two paths

 

[Trailblazer]

that is truly wonderful to hear

perhaps if I shared a little more clarity about my thoughts regarding “my path”:
i attempted to make a connection with the Christian religion for a few years.
i kept trying to force myself to believe the stuff I heard, and it was a major struggle, and I kept thinking there must be something wrong with me
i referred to that as my path, since I chose to take it, but I realized that for me to continue in religion I would have to believe what they believe, do what they do, etc, and it just wasn’t going to happen
this was a period of internal struggle for me, but I got out, and understood that I didn’t need to change myself to fit a religious mold
I’m much happier now too!!

I am glad you are happier now. Nobody should try to fit where they do not belong. I was not raised a Christian and I was never a Christian later. I have been a Baha'i since age 17. I have not always felt like I fit in with the other Baha'is because I do my own thing, but I always knew it was my path. I am not very religious, I just believe the religion is true. I cannot make myself fit into a religious mold.

 

[Fallen Prophet]

You said: There is only one path that leads to God - any other path does not lead to Him.

What is the one path that leads to God?

I believe I know - but I cannot prove it to you or anyone.

Knowing that there is only one path to God does not necessarily mean you know it.

 

[Trailblazer]

I believe I know - but I cannot prove it to you or anyone.

Knowing that there is only one path to God does not necessarily mean you know it.

I do not believe there is only one possible path to God, but I believe there is a certain path God wants everyone to take in this age.
Knowing that there is only one path God wants us to take in this age does not necessarily mean you know it and I cannot prove it to you or to anyone.

 

[Fallen Prophet]

I do not believe there is only one possible path to God, but I believe there is a certain path God wants everyone to take in this age.
Knowing that there is only one path God wants us to take in this age does not necessarily mean you know it and I cannot prove it to you or to anyone.

If the path that leads to God is the same path that leads to eventual perfection - which is what I have come to believe - then there can only be one possible path to God.

 

[Trailblazer]

If the path that leads to God is the same path that leads to eventual perfection - which is what I have come to believe - then there can only be one possible path to God.

Why do you think that there can only be one possible path to God and that the path that leads to God is the same path that leads to eventual perfection?

I believe you have two false premises.

1. That any human can ever be perfect.
2. That there is only one path to God.

 

[Fallen Prophet]

Why do you think that there can only be one possible path to God and that the path that leads to God is the same path that leads to eventual perfection?

I believe you have two false premises.

1. That any human can ever be perfect.
2. That there is only one path to God.

I believe that God's ultimate design for Man is perfection based on the culminative commandment given by the Lord Jesus Christ at the end of His Sermon on the Mount - that we be perfect.

If perfection is Man's eventual goal - then it stands to reason that there would only be the one path to it - as well as to God - because there are no variations to perfection.

Either one is perfect - or they are not.

 

[Trailblazer]

I believe that God's ultimate design for Man is perfection based on the culminative commandment given by the Lord Jesus Christ at the end of His Sermon on the Mount - that we be perfect.

Can you cite that verse(s)?

If perfection is Man's eventual goal - then it stands to reason that there would only be the one path to it - as well as to God - because there are no variations to perfection.

If we were commanded to be perfect, why would it stand to reason that there would be only one path to perfection and only one path to God?

Either one is perfect - or they are not.

That is true, but I do not believe any human can be perfect. Only God is perfect.

 

[Fallen Prophet]

Can you cite that verse(s)?

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)

Apologies - I should have said that this was the conclusion of His Beatitudes - not the Sermon on the Mount - my mistake.

If we were commanded to be perfect, why would it stand to reason that there would be only one path to perfection and only one path to God?
It is the very nature of perfection - no deviation or variation. There is only one way to be perfect - like God.

That is true, but I do not believe any human can be perfect. Only God is perfect.

Obviously no human being can become perfect whilst still being human - this progression can only happen after this life.

I still believe that it is our ultimate goal though.

 

[Trailblazer]

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)

Apologies - I should have said that this was the conclusion of His Beatitudes - not the Sermon on the Mount - my mistake.

I see that as Jesus enjoining us to be perfect, not saying we can become perfect.

Obviously no human being can become perfect whilst still being human - this progression can only happen after this life.

I still believe that it is our ultimate goal though.

Perhaps it is possible to attain perfection in the next life.

 

[Fallen Prophet]

I see that as Jesus enjoining us to be perfect, not saying we can become perfect.

I don't believe that He would encourage us to do something that we could not do.

Otherwise - that would make Him a liar - in my opinion.

Perhaps it is possible to attain perfection in the next life.

I believe that is the goal - and this life is our time to prepare - fulfill some prerequisites.

 

[Trailblazer]

I don't believe that He would encourage us to do something that we could not do.

Otherwise - that would make Him a liar - in my opinion.

That makes sense. No Jesus wouldn't do that.

I believe that is the goal - and this life is our time to prepare - fulfill some prerequisites.

I agree, this life is our time to acquire those spiritual virtues we will need in the next life, and in the next life we continue to progress and acquire perfections.

“And now concerning thy question regarding the soul of man and its survival after death. Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of God, His sovereignty, His dominion and power will endure. It will manifest the signs of God and His attributes, and will reveal His loving kindness and bounty.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 155-156

“If it be faithful to God, it will reflect His light, and will, eventually, return unto Him.” Gleanings, p. 159

“Blessed is the soul which, at the hour of its separation from the body, is sanctified from the vain imaginings of the peoples of the world….” Gleanings, p. 156

 

[Fallen Prophet]

That makes sense. No Jesus wouldn't do that.

I agree, this life is our time to acquire those spiritual virtues we will need in the next life, and in the next life we continue to progress and acquire perfections.

“And now concerning thy question regarding the soul of man and its survival after death. Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of God, His sovereignty, His dominion and power will endure. It will manifest the signs of God and His attributes, and will reveal His loving kindness and bounty.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 155-156

“If it be faithful to God, it will reflect His light, and will, eventually, return unto Him.” Gleanings, p. 159

“Blessed is the soul which, at the hour of its separation from the body, is sanctified from the vain imaginings of the peoples of the world….” Gleanings, p. 156

I agree with all of this.

 

[Muffled]

I believe the answer to that is to darkness, but I don't believe in the devil.

I believe you believe differently from what God says about the devil.

 

[Muffled]

I believe that many but not all roads lead to Rome.

If you are walking to Rome from NYC, you better be on a path to the airport, or cruise port, otherwise your feet are going to get wet.

 

[Muffled]

And what is that path?

I believe that is the spirit.

 

[Trailblazer]

I believe you believe differently from what God says about the devil.

God does not say anything about the devil. The Bible does, but what is in the Bible can be interpreted in more than one way, as can all the scriptures.

 

[thomas loebel]

only two trees. we return to this tree with two sides until love finds the tree of life as eternal. we are saved by the washing of regeneration of the holy ghost [our spirit as returned deaths] that becomes saved as the holy spirit. The wages of sin is death.[another death at the same moment we call life]