C
CharlesReid
Guest
I wrote a small thesis on what the definition of 'Gospel' is in a blog the other day. I believe that there are attitudes, dogmas, and misguided orthodoxies that block the intention, direction, and methodology of the Gospel from the reader. I believe that the Gospel is a wonderful work of men, a treasure, a pinnacle of human consciousness. However, I believe it has been twisted into something hideous in our culture, and the negative, self-righteous attitudes are what transformed what is beautiful into something very ugly. I believe the Bible and the Gospel now is used more as a tool of self-righteousness then it is a seeking of liberation, and that Christian culture today doesn't assist seekers as much as it fosters mental illness in its followers. I am posting in this forum because, the idea of 'no creed but Christ' is one such very egocentric dogma that blocks us from seeing the intentions and salvation of the Gospel. I love the Christ and his words, and I have the utmost respect for him, but what I read in the Gospel on my own accord, without falling onto the semantics shift in our culture, was something very different then what the mainstream purports.
The blog can be found at myspace.com/charlie_op I will also post it up here -
I have come to understand the meaning of the word 'Gospel' as being akin to the eastern word Dharma. In fact, for all practical purposes, they are used to describe the two works almost identically. In this understanding, the gospel is not just the 4 canonized gospels nor the numerous non-canonized gospels. But, the way of life, truth, and the liberation from the clutches and barriers we impose on ourselves by the way we establish our human egos, our identities. As such, it is entirely possible for someone to have found the gospel without ever having read any of the biblical gospels, or even having any familiarity with those gospels. Similarly, it is also quite possible that one could have read every single gospel and had every verse memorized, and still have not seen what the gospel is.
The wisdom of the gospel exists outside of the gospels themselves, the gospel isn't the origin of the wisdom, the wisdom is the origin of the gospel. The gospel exists as an insight into wisdom; wisdom does not exist as an insight into the gospel. Many individuals are familiar with the gospel, and they have never even read the Biblical insights. Buddha and Lao Tzu were familiar with the gospel centuries before it was even written. And of course, many people have read the biblical gospel and yet are not in touch with it at all, often projecting their own egos into the books of the gospel. It is shocking and astounding, it truly demonstrates the power of the human psyche, and its ability to manifest their egos in the world around them. When you see 'I' in the gospel, re-read it with 'we', and the collective consciousness and dynamics of individuality. If you see an individual, or the addressing of any individual in exclusion to others within the gospel, then that is your ego tricking you, it is very good at this - nobody can deceive any of us more then our ego can, truly, nobody can trick you more then you can trick your self.
There are ideas in our culture that inhibit ones ability to obtain a personal insight into the gospel; ideas such as heresy, blasphemy, orthodoxy, unique salvation and these sorts of dogmas. These are egoistic projections that create barriers between us and the gospel. The way semantics and culture of Christianity have developed the insight into the gospel, it is quite possible to read the gospel, and have no idea what it says. In fact, if we predicate the language of the Gospel on our modern ideas of the definitions, then we are bound to misunderstanding it. However, Christ did something very unique that allowed for a sense of timelessness in his teachings, he taught in enigma's that could transcend the perversion of human social development, and the nature of culture and semantics. These enigma's were created to challenge us to see for our selves what it is that he meant. He didn't give us answers, he gave us parables, parables that we are supposed to contemplate. And as we contemplate them we are brought to understand the original intentions of Christ, and the sanctity of his words are preserved through his brilliance.
As such, though it is never my intention to exalt one gospel above another, I believe that the Gospel of Thomas can provide us with an understanding of the original intentions of the Christ in our culture, it could serve as the most effective introduction to the Gospel of Christ. There is no narrative, no simplistic assertions or negations, just a collection of 114 of Christ's enigmas. As we contemplate them, they reveal their meaning to us, if we refrain from projecting our egos into them, and seek to understand them.
The gospel is not blind obedience to superstition, superficial proclamation of beliefs, or anything that is driven by dogma. If you think you need your Bible for salvation, throw it away, because in that attitude you won't find it anywhere. Once you have thrown it away and stopped grasping for it, you can pick it back up out of the trash bin and finally gain some insight into it.
'Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own mind unguarded, once mastered and directed, nothing can help you more.' - Buddha
'If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you; if you dont bring forth what is within you, what you dont bring forth will destroy you.' - Jesus
'The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao' - Lao Tzu
-----------------------------------------
Now, you may find something apparent - I fall pretty far from any orthodox Christian viewpoint. Yes! I do! Some others who have found a similar understanding of the Gospel and the Kingdom are - Leo Tolstoy, Gandhi, Elaine Pagels, and many others, its not something bizarre or unordinary, only compared to the twisted culture of orthodoxy. Now, have your hay day with me...
The blog can be found at myspace.com/charlie_op I will also post it up here -
I have come to understand the meaning of the word 'Gospel' as being akin to the eastern word Dharma. In fact, for all practical purposes, they are used to describe the two works almost identically. In this understanding, the gospel is not just the 4 canonized gospels nor the numerous non-canonized gospels. But, the way of life, truth, and the liberation from the clutches and barriers we impose on ourselves by the way we establish our human egos, our identities. As such, it is entirely possible for someone to have found the gospel without ever having read any of the biblical gospels, or even having any familiarity with those gospels. Similarly, it is also quite possible that one could have read every single gospel and had every verse memorized, and still have not seen what the gospel is.
The wisdom of the gospel exists outside of the gospels themselves, the gospel isn't the origin of the wisdom, the wisdom is the origin of the gospel. The gospel exists as an insight into wisdom; wisdom does not exist as an insight into the gospel. Many individuals are familiar with the gospel, and they have never even read the Biblical insights. Buddha and Lao Tzu were familiar with the gospel centuries before it was even written. And of course, many people have read the biblical gospel and yet are not in touch with it at all, often projecting their own egos into the books of the gospel. It is shocking and astounding, it truly demonstrates the power of the human psyche, and its ability to manifest their egos in the world around them. When you see 'I' in the gospel, re-read it with 'we', and the collective consciousness and dynamics of individuality. If you see an individual, or the addressing of any individual in exclusion to others within the gospel, then that is your ego tricking you, it is very good at this - nobody can deceive any of us more then our ego can, truly, nobody can trick you more then you can trick your self.
There are ideas in our culture that inhibit ones ability to obtain a personal insight into the gospel; ideas such as heresy, blasphemy, orthodoxy, unique salvation and these sorts of dogmas. These are egoistic projections that create barriers between us and the gospel. The way semantics and culture of Christianity have developed the insight into the gospel, it is quite possible to read the gospel, and have no idea what it says. In fact, if we predicate the language of the Gospel on our modern ideas of the definitions, then we are bound to misunderstanding it. However, Christ did something very unique that allowed for a sense of timelessness in his teachings, he taught in enigma's that could transcend the perversion of human social development, and the nature of culture and semantics. These enigma's were created to challenge us to see for our selves what it is that he meant. He didn't give us answers, he gave us parables, parables that we are supposed to contemplate. And as we contemplate them we are brought to understand the original intentions of Christ, and the sanctity of his words are preserved through his brilliance.
As such, though it is never my intention to exalt one gospel above another, I believe that the Gospel of Thomas can provide us with an understanding of the original intentions of the Christ in our culture, it could serve as the most effective introduction to the Gospel of Christ. There is no narrative, no simplistic assertions or negations, just a collection of 114 of Christ's enigmas. As we contemplate them, they reveal their meaning to us, if we refrain from projecting our egos into them, and seek to understand them.
The gospel is not blind obedience to superstition, superficial proclamation of beliefs, or anything that is driven by dogma. If you think you need your Bible for salvation, throw it away, because in that attitude you won't find it anywhere. Once you have thrown it away and stopped grasping for it, you can pick it back up out of the trash bin and finally gain some insight into it.
'Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own mind unguarded, once mastered and directed, nothing can help you more.' - Buddha
'If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you; if you dont bring forth what is within you, what you dont bring forth will destroy you.' - Jesus
'The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao' - Lao Tzu
-----------------------------------------
Now, you may find something apparent - I fall pretty far from any orthodox Christian viewpoint. Yes! I do! Some others who have found a similar understanding of the Gospel and the Kingdom are - Leo Tolstoy, Gandhi, Elaine Pagels, and many others, its not something bizarre or unordinary, only compared to the twisted culture of orthodoxy. Now, have your hay day with me...
