In a perfect world or rather in a perfect religion, the perfect faith should have the complete and correct understanding who God (whatever name) truly is. In my sole opinion, all religions have this concept partially right and fairly wrong.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam teach us that there's only ONE GOD. At the same time, Christianity also teaches us that God has three persons or rather interpretations (Trinity) -- not three gods in one.
Krishna (my favorite religion or set of beliefs to read about) teaches us that all creatures on earth have some specific purpose to comply with the will of the Godhead. It also gives us the belief of cleansing of the soul by correcting our previous mistakes (repentance, atonement of sins).
Pagan beliefs also tell us that God is in nature as an undeniable a part of nature. This is the same belief of Lectio Divina, in which all creation's an extension of God.
What'd the perfect faith be like? It'd teach us (1) that there's ONE GOD all around us, all knowing, all mighty, (2) that all of his creation or lack of in the cosmos is an extension of God and (3) that this creation works together for a greater good or purpose. We could even see creation as an object in the palm of God's hand. Hence we're one with God and in God.
Showing posts with label trinity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trinity. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
a quick reflection of faith: the Holy Trinity
We, Christians, are taught to believe in the Holy Trinity -- God Father (Jehovah), God Son (Jesus) and God Holy Spirit. I think that the belief of the Trinity is a bit too literal and slightly misinterpreted.
Maybe the three persons (entities) in the Trinity are not really three different persons, but rather three different yet related states of God. It might simply be similar to the relation between liquid, ice and vapor where water is still H2O in all three states. This simple explanation makes much more sense and might just be truer than having God in three separate entities yet being only one divine entity.
Using the belief of three persons in God, our limited human minds could understand the possibility of God be in Heaven (God Father), on earth (God Son) and inside us (God Holy Spirit) at the same time.
Regardless of our limited understanding and whatever the truer concept of the Trinity really is, we remain firm believers that there are three persons in God and that God is everywhere at the same time.
Maybe the three persons (entities) in the Trinity are not really three different persons, but rather three different yet related states of God. It might simply be similar to the relation between liquid, ice and vapor where water is still H2O in all three states. This simple explanation makes much more sense and might just be truer than having God in three separate entities yet being only one divine entity.
Using the belief of three persons in God, our limited human minds could understand the possibility of God be in Heaven (God Father), on earth (God Son) and inside us (God Holy Spirit) at the same time.
Regardless of our limited understanding and whatever the truer concept of the Trinity really is, we remain firm believers that there are three persons in God and that God is everywhere at the same time.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
trying to raise my boys as Christians
I'm trying to do something that my parents never really did for me. They had or seemed to have little to no religious tendency or desire when I was growing up. Surprisingly enough, I was taken to church to do my First Communion -- perhaps as a real desire for me to be Catholic or simply as a cultural activity and/or a norm reinforced by society.
My father used to meet with Jehovah's Witnesses (http://www.watchtower.org/). As a small child (under six years of age), I remember seeing magazines like Awake and The Watchtower around our home. Through out all this time (several years after hippies, flower power and what's now referred to as "new age"), he started reading Tarot and even had a crystal ball (acts and practices that can be considered witchcraft or simply unholy) to exploit what would be considered extrasensory perception (ESP; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrasensory_perception). Nonetheless he was still calling himself a Christian. During his third marriage (about four years after separating from my mother), he started going to some Protestant church. I can't believe that he really feels what he's doing. I still are it as a cheap charade.
My mother was more distanced or simply apathetic about religion. About 15 years ago, she started following Sai Baba (http://www.sathyasai.org/). From her point of view, she's still a Christian although going to Hindu temple/group at least once a week.
In all this mix, my maternal grandmother (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/05/remembering-my-grandmother.html) taught me the little I knew and understood of being Catholic.
I feel like I've told this story thousands of times.
As I wanted to point out, I want to raise my boys as Christians. At least there has been no problem in the case of my first-born. His mother was raised as a hardcore Catholic going to Church almost every Sunday (if not always). Now my younger two have been a true test, but I hope I'm getting there. Then again, I don't have the real religious background to teach them.
My over all knowledge of Christianity and faiths is basically based on what I've read and studied the Bible and other religious texts. My practice is still fairly limited (textbook knowledge vs wisdom from practice).
Since I mentioned ESP when criticizing my father, I also have some level of ESP. I can feel good and evil, trust and lack of. Once about two decades ago, a priest asked me if I believed in witchcraft, to which I said I did (and still do). He only asked never to practice it. Maybe he knew my father or could feel how strange I could be at times. In all some might call it a gut feeling. Then again I might simply have a very smart gut.
Now how can an unholy be a Christian after all and teach his young about the Trinity of God?
My father used to meet with Jehovah's Witnesses (http://www.watchtower.org/). As a small child (under six years of age), I remember seeing magazines like Awake and The Watchtower around our home. Through out all this time (several years after hippies, flower power and what's now referred to as "new age"), he started reading Tarot and even had a crystal ball (acts and practices that can be considered witchcraft or simply unholy) to exploit what would be considered extrasensory perception (ESP; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrasensory_perception). Nonetheless he was still calling himself a Christian. During his third marriage (about four years after separating from my mother), he started going to some Protestant church. I can't believe that he really feels what he's doing. I still are it as a cheap charade.
My mother was more distanced or simply apathetic about religion. About 15 years ago, she started following Sai Baba (http://www.sathyasai.org/). From her point of view, she's still a Christian although going to Hindu temple/group at least once a week.
In all this mix, my maternal grandmother (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/05/remembering-my-grandmother.html) taught me the little I knew and understood of being Catholic.
I feel like I've told this story thousands of times.
As I wanted to point out, I want to raise my boys as Christians. At least there has been no problem in the case of my first-born. His mother was raised as a hardcore Catholic going to Church almost every Sunday (if not always). Now my younger two have been a true test, but I hope I'm getting there. Then again, I don't have the real religious background to teach them.
My over all knowledge of Christianity and faiths is basically based on what I've read and studied the Bible and other religious texts. My practice is still fairly limited (textbook knowledge vs wisdom from practice).
Since I mentioned ESP when criticizing my father, I also have some level of ESP. I can feel good and evil, trust and lack of. Once about two decades ago, a priest asked me if I believed in witchcraft, to which I said I did (and still do). He only asked never to practice it. Maybe he knew my father or could feel how strange I could be at times. In all some might call it a gut feeling. Then again I might simply have a very smart gut.
Now how can an unholy be a Christian after all and teach his young about the Trinity of God?
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