Progressive Contemplative Christianity

[dsaly1969]

We are all children of the same God (Ultimate Reality), but as fallible human beings we have the natural tendency to forget our interconnectedness with each other. This forgetfulness and ignorance can lead to anger, fear, and hatred of others. We then tend to elevate our desires over the needs and well-being of others which causes unnecessary suffering in our lives as well as the lives of others. This tendency towards egocentric selfishness and ignorance is known as sin, the devil, or "Satan".

The New Covenant of Love through Grace established by Jesus Christ provides for the Ultimate Reconciliation of ALL through Jesus Christ. The New Commandment of Jesus is the only Commandment of the New Covenant of Love. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). God is perfect and complete so the best way we can demonstrate our love for God is through our love and compassion for others by heeding the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I use hesychasm, also known as the Jesus Prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."), as a form of Christian meditation help us to keep me mindful and to help me heed the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the still small voice within, to better follow the New Commandment. This is true baptism and communion with the Spirit. We bring heavenly conditions into our lives when we elevate love of God and love towards others over love of power and love of oneself. We bring hellish conditions into our lives when we do the opposite.

A life lived by following the New Commandment through the Grace of God would make us become more peaceful and compassionate, as well as less self-centered and greedy. We can live life simply and in service to others as a witness to God’s love for the world no matter about their ethnicity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, gender identity, religious persuasion, etc. By simply entrusting in Jesus and God's Grace, we can enjoy the fruits of living out the New Covenant IN THIS LIFE which produces gratitude and joy in us, not condemnation and fear. This is true salvation from sin.

 

[LionL]

I don't call myself a Christian, partly because I view most of t as mythology and partly because I disagree with much of the religion's teachings.
But there are some parts of Christianity I do agree with - and this is one of them.
Good post dsaly

 

[FireDragon76]

Sounds good to me. I never thought of the Jesus Prayer as meditation, per se, though... to me it's just prayer.

Read Way of a Pilgrim some time if you haven't done so. It's a great book.

 

[dsaly1969]

I was taught by an Orthodox monk to mentally recite the first half of the Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God..) while inhaling and the second half (have mercy on me, a sinner.) while exhaling while keeping count on a Prayer Rope. I also do Centering Prayer/Christian Meditation in the same vein as Fr. Thomas Keating and Fr. John Main.

I am also partial to the use of the Rosary. There is a nonsectarian Rosary group founded by Clark Strand called the Way of the Rose that promotes the Rosary as a practice as well.

I love Way of a Pilgrim.

 

[Mustaphile]

recite the first half of the Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God..) while inhaling and the second half (have mercy on me, a sinner.) while exhaling

Nice. I like that a lot.

 

[Cappadocious]

This religion would leave me a neurotic mess committing evil acts within a week.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

We bring heavenly conditions into our lives when we elevate love of God and love towards others over love of power and love of oneself. We bring hellish conditions into our lives when we do the opposite.

You are so right. Yet time and time again, we forget this vital truth and choose self-obsession. I did it, at least a few times today, on reflection.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

I was taught by an Orthodox monk to mentally recite the first half of the Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God..) while inhaling and the second half (have mercy on me, a sinner.) while exhaling while keeping count on a Prayer Rope. I also do Centering Prayer/Christian Meditation in the same vein as Fr. Thomas Keating and Fr. John Main.

I am also partial to the use of the Rosary. There is a nonsectarian Rosary group founded by Clark Strand called the Way of the Rose that promotes the Rosary as a practice as well.

I love Way of a Pilgrim.

I only read about this story this year. Haven't read the actual book but was told it was referred to in Salingers' Franny and Zooey:.