I
left the world, so to speak, on January 1st 1979, which is when I went to live in Bath
to pursue a life more or less centred on the spiritual path. Over the next 18 years I lived
in various places but mostly out of England. When I returned to England in 1996
it was an unfamiliar place to me but I still lived a fairly isolated life, not
watching much television and only occasionally reading newspapers, so I didn't
realise how much things had changed until my companion in this way of life died and
certain events took place which made me decide to go back into the world. That was in 2000.
Actually, I had a kind of advance warning of the changes in 1997. That was the year my
father died, and it was brought home to me how much I respected him even though
I often hadn't seen him more than a couple of times a year since I left
home. He was an embodiment of fundamental decency and, though he only went to
church on high days and holidays and was not ostensibly a Christian, I think he
was one in terms of his behaviour and morals. He had been raised by a devout
Methodist mother (his father had died young) who had made him sign the pledge
not to touch alcohol at the tender age of 15. Naturally he reacted against that
kind of upbringing but the essentials of Christian moral behaviour stuck with
him as they did with many of his generation who nevertheless had drifted away
from religion. Now, with every generation that passes, the connection to
Christianity is weakened and our attitude to life suffers accordingly.
But
it is not my father's death I am referring to. In 1997 Princess Diana also
died and the country appeared to go mad, lamenting as though its own mother had
gone. I happen to think that Diana was a wholly negative influence on the
national psyche, validating self-concern, sentimentality, emotional over-indulgence and fake caring, but that's not the point I'm making. At her death
the English, egged on by the hypocritical media, showed they were no longer the
English of yore, and had renounced their traditions for a shallow exhibitionism. It
really marked the end of an era.
But
it was only when I went back to live in London at the end of 2000 and reentered
what you might call normal existence that I realised how the world had changed.
I had no idea at how much old values had been overturned and new ones had
replaced them. Now these new values have become assumptions and to question
them is to show yourself to be a wicked person, at least it is in educated
mainstream society.
When
you live with a child you don't notice him getting taller, but if you only see
him every now and then you do see the difference. I had not been completely ignorant of the changes in
the world during my time out of it but I had not realised how thoroughly they
had permeated national, indeed human, consciousness. I sometimes wonder
if part of the reason for my removal from the world was to protect me from this
indoctrination until I was more able to withstand it. Because, believe me,
it is hard to see through the lies of this world unless you have a solid
grounding in something else that shows them up for what they are. Even
Christianity has been corrupted. Not in itself, of course, but in many of
the forms it takes in the modern world.
The
old story of the frog that is slowly boiled and so doesn’t realise what is
happening to it applies here. Humanity is being brainwashed, firstly by the
denial of transcendent reality and then by redefining what is good in terms of
that denial. The only protection against this is faith in the living God and
his human face which is Jesus Christ. I do think it needs a realisation of the
personal nature of deity to achieve this because an impersonal spirituality can
be made to fit too neatly into modern ideologies, and so be insufficient to enable
one to throw off all its lies and illusions
13 comments:
You say the only protection is faith in the living God and his human face which is Jesus Christ... but the people who are promoting the brainwashing aspects you mention and the auto-genocide of Europeans and their children... would claim they have faith in the living God and his human face!
It seems to me Christianity benefits far more from good intentioned people like yourself and Bruce and what you bring to it rather than it having the protective elements you mention at all.
The only textually-supported special group in the Bible is the Jews, particularly Jewish male virgins who go to Zion in Revelations.
Christianity is not a naturally protective religion. It's burning out European blood and culture at a rapid rate as a new mission, from Catholic to Anglican to Mormon. They all do it and there is no end in sight.
The only real answer is evolution of consciousness, as described by the like of Sri Aurobindo and Colin Wilson.
I've left myself open to misinterpretation by that phrase which does sound a bit evangelist, and that is not at all what I meant. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to clarify it. I don't mean outer Christianity. In many respects that's regressive and most self-identified Christians have little sense of spiritual realities beyond their outer teachings and doctrines.
I mean an inner awareness of God and Christ which would precisely be linked to the evolution of consciousness you mention. But at the same time, I am saying that the evolution of consciousness should be Christ-centred. See this post for my view of outer religion.
http://meetingthemasters.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/religion-or-not.html
It basically says that Christianity, as it stands, is no longer enough in the light of the evolution of consciousness. We are now required to make spirituality our own, know it from within not just take it from an outer source.
It's a delicate balancing act. Evolve and grow yes, but do so in the right way, and for that Christ remains the true guide. But Christ, not necessarily Christianity as it is in the world. That's why I said the living God, to distinguish it from the God of books.
Evolving consciousness takes us further into Christ and God, not away from them.
@William - Your post struck a chord of recognition
- And then I felt I needed to shake myself free of the resulting creep of fear and incipient despair. Yes, it's all true! And we must know it; then having recognised the situation we need avoid getting-sucked into trying to 'fix it' (when the vast majority don't want it fixed, and fight any attempt) - and to do what we each personally need to do.
Part of this, I find, is (working-on) a solid 'faith' in God's loving goodness (a trust in the rightness of what he is doing and how), and the perspective of a sustained personal and loving life beyond the portal of death.
If/ when/ insofar-as these are helped by a particular religion/ church, then we should surely avail ourselves - otherwise, we need to get on with it, without delaying.
Yes, we have to have trust in God and that constitutes a test of our faith because it certainly does not seem as though things can do anything other than continues downwards at the moment. Partly because reactions against the rot are often on the same level as the rot and therefore part of the same pattern of behaviour.
But then we can't see behind the scenes or know the bigger picture, in the context of which this dark time may have a part to play.
"The old story of the frog that is slowly boiled and so doesn’t realise what is happening to it applies here. Humanity is being brainwashed, firstly by the denial of transcendent reality and then by redefining what is good in terms of that denial. The only protection against this is faith in the living God and his human face which is Jesus Christ."
The layers of confusion in modern times, for the 'spiritual seeker,' are astonishingly labyrinthine! Just when you think you have figured it out or had a signficant breakthrough, you turn a corner only to find another wall (or at least someone claiming, with absolute certainty, they see you are blocked by another wall even if you personally cannot see it).
I would like to submit a few reflections if I may from (what I imagine you would consider to be) the incrementally more corrupt and spiritually damaged generation hailing from the start of 1980. Firstly, it seems that 'the boiling frog' is in a very unfair predicament given it has inherited the dirty bathing water of the 1960's baby boomer generation (but then the blaming of forefathers can only go so far). And indeed, what chance can the frog have if it is so totally unable to even imagine a pristine pond when it has never seen one? (Many or most wholesome spiritual resources available to previous generations having seemingly fallen away or now modern counterfeits stand as a 'deterent' to the modern seeker). I find my assumption must be that a loving God cannot have left his spiritual children bereft of a way to transcend the boiling pot, no matter how much the other frogs cry 'this is all there is, what are you talking about, there is nothing to seek, just enjoy being boiled!' But the seeker 'knows' that somehow there is a real pristine pond somewhere, he just doesn't really know how to find it... until he finds Christ and he 'needs' to believe it is true, otherwise he might as well swallow as much dirty water as possible and die of poisoning before boiling. What a woeful situation. And if it is bad now, how bad will it be for our children and childrens children when it will presumably become so unacceptable, self-isolating and intolerable to be a spiritual seeker and specifically a Christian one that even fewer people will attempt to set down that path. I am told that to despair is to sin (and so I chose not to where possible and instead try to invest my heart in faith), but I ask you, if you imagine a future in which you personally are saved but your children are lost forever, due to the hopelessness of modernity and its blinding and corrupting influence, would you be able to be saved? Or would you (as Colin Wilson describes in the outsider) 'respectfully return to God his admission ticket?' - or words to that effect. Because of course it seems that for true love, salvation is not merely a personal thing, it is neccessarily contingent upon the love of a daughter or son, a mother or father, an extended family. If one boils, they all boil in their hearts and soul through the bond of kinship. What kind of frog would escape to swim in the pristine pond whilst its dearly loved relatives boiled in vain? Again, my assumption is that, eventually God must empty the dirty bathwater and run another bath if the situation becomes so unfertile for even the possibility of salvation and spiritual growth. It almost feels like we have reached that point already? Doesn't it? After all there are so so few people out there that would even comprehend this kind of conversation as anything other than madness. But a few centuries ago, very different. Now, you can speak to another boiling frog and they dont even think they are a frog! 'I am, perhaps a giraffe, they insist!'
More to follow...
Please forgive the meandering flow of consciousness style of writing but thats the way it comes out when I write and I hope the digressions are not too confusing. I often find it hard to express myself in words and when I have written something, discover I have expressed another point at tangent to the theme I wished to originally explore. I seem to be an incurable knights move thinker.
Returning to some recent reflections on your posts and Bruces. I read more often than I comment nowadays and it feels like digesting a heavy meal when I am wrestling daily with various ideas from these blogs and other sources.
"Because, believe me, it is hard to see through the lies of this world unless you have a solid grounding in something else that shows them up for what they are. Even Christianity has been corrupted. Not in itself, of course, but in many of the forms it takes in the modern world."
Just picking up on this thread briefly. It seems, if I have understood it, that we now live in times where what Bruce describes as 'Direct Christianity' has become a necessity for exactly the same reasons you describe i.e. the perilous and uncertain modern epoch in which traditional channels towards spiritual knowledge and development are now compromised. The modern imperative seems to be a direct path of intuition and personal discernment 'from the heart' (a more adult relationship with God) apart from mere obedience to a dogmatic church institution (a more childlike relationship) like in previous eras. In one respect, this suites me down to the ground because a inner or heart-felt direct experience of the divine has been the only thing that has ever convinced me of the reality of the divine or of transcendent love, whereas playing the part of a humble and obedient church attender has felt like a false persona I have tried to impose upon my true inner self! Which is where the problem starts...
Would the real Christian please stand up?
I think I am a Christian. But am I? Apparently, I am not, and you are not and Bruce is not and possibly readers of this blog and others imperil themselves by participating in this kind of outside-the-church forum. I find it hard to beleive that but I have certainly encountered the attitude among the churh going Christian type, whenever I have gone there in the hope of fitting in. I must indeed be one of the outsiders and perhaps that is why I frequent places such as this. You see, your Church going Christian man will tell you, you are a sheep, and without a church you are in great danger wandering in the wilderness. They will tell you that if you dont read the bible regularly or in the proper way (perhaps a bible study group is ideal) then you are not 'doing it' (Christianity) properly. Well, I will be honest I have rarely felt much of a connection with scripture except on reading the newPlease forgive the meandering flow of consciousness style of writing but thats the way it comes out when I write and I hope the digressions are not too confusing. I often find it hard to express myself in words and when I have written something, discover I have expressed another point at tangent to the theme I wished to originally explore. I seem to be an incurable knights move thinker.
testament stories about Jesus - and it was during one such occasion that I was struck with a never before or since repeated level of insight that Jesus is who he said he was and that if I surrendered my heart to him all would be well and my destiny would continue to unfold as it should provided I remained true, through repentance, to the gift of loving grace that he was offering me.
(This is a reply to your first comment. I haven't read the follow up yet)
It’s a test, David. That’s all I can think. A test of our inner connection to truth and our real personal integrity. After all, it is undoubtedly a fact that our environment is poisoned but, at the same time, there is greater access to spiritual teachings now than there ever has been. It’s not exactly swings and roundabouts but God has not left us comfortless. So even though the atmosphere that surrounds us is corrupt, we do still have the chance to escape it. Maybe we are directed towards what will help us if we show signs of waking up. Which doesn’t mean it’s easy but it’s not meant to be because we are supposed to be building a real spiritual sensibility into our consciousness rather than taking that from outside ourselves.
Regarding the more difficult point of a person being saved but his loved ones not, I don’t think it’s as simple as that. For a start, I don’t believe that all those who fail to wake up are lost forever, as you put it. God wants to bring as many souls as possible to him so if we fail here I think we will be given another chance elsewhere, perhaps somewhere where the culture is more amenable to spiritual awakening. But what that means is that we won’t make so much progress. The whole process will take longer. Of course, some recalcitrant souls may well be lost but that will only after they have been given numerous chances. That’s what I think anyway.
(to your second comment)
A knight’s move thinker! I like that expression.
We are not sheep. We are human beings. So we do not just follow where we are led. We have to become actively, positively spiritual ourselves. That’s why God created us. He doesn’t just want servants who do what they are told. He wants real individuals who can contribute to the glory of creation. But, and this is the tricky bit, these individuals have to be so in the light of the supreme reality of God not in their own light.
Of course, the risks of being an individual are there. But if we are true to our inner compass they are minimized. Your churchgoers place obedience too high on the list of spiritual priorities. Or else they fail to realize that obedience to an outer authority must eventually be superseded by obedience to the voice of your own soul which is your personal connection to God. It’s rather like children who grow into adults. I would say your churchgoers are holding onto spiritual childhood in a way. Maybe that’s better than rebellious adolescence but it’s not as good as a mature adult.
Since then, truthfully, I would rather watch a film about the new testament or a re-enactment of Jesus life than read the bible. The language of the bible is old and difficult, and dare I say it, even dull in large part, so unfamiliar to the modern narrative style, that try as I may I do not feel any emotional (or otherwise) connection with it. But when I watch a film, being a very visual person, despite the obvious and sometimes fatal faults of a man made film, I can be moved to tears by biblical stories in the way the bible has never done for me when reading it directly. So there you have it, I suspect I am potentially a fake or 'just over the line' Christian by the estimation of many church going Christians. Or at least so close to falling into the palm of the devils hand I am a frightening and perhaps threateningly unorthodox prospect to them.
But it gets worse. After my conversion to Christianity (a belief in Christ in my heart, the only place that really seemed to matter) I fraternised with the mormon church and (whilst, again if I am totally honest, I found the book of Mormon even more dull and impenetrable than the bible; albeit with sparkling gems of prose I could understand here or there in between the endlessly repetitive...'And it came to pass that's...) I was under no allusions these people were genuine Christians and believed in Jesus just as much as I thought I did. In short, I could not convince myself they were the fake Christian sect that that are often purported to be. But then you go to another Church and they tell you the Mormons are devils in disguise or phoney Christians, that the bible is complete as it stands without any need for a mormon Church. Conversely the Mormon church asserts they are the one true church and all others are now only drawing close to God with words alone and not in their hearts (A sentiment O do not find it hard to relate to). And yet still other churchs claim to be Christians but the feel of a service is like visiting the marketing department of a Politically Correct institution with a sprinke of magical claims about life after death here and there but not as a serious up front business, only secondary to more important work, like helping the poor children of African famines or something similar. No wonder many people can make neither heads nor tails of Christianity and either do not investigate it seriously (as is undoubtedly more common) or are dishearteningly bewildered that no one seems to agree on what Christian is, who Jesus was and what he actually wanted to achieve or whether he is 'just' another myth like the sword in the stone. Now, As you know, I dont believe that, but I would have a hard to time justifying it; I just seem to experience it now as my reality. Since my conversion reading the new testiment I just 'know it' deep down to be real and true. But even now, I can and I do, doubt it from time to time; especially in the relentless face of world that finds it all magical non-sense.
So, to conclude, I suppose what I am trying to saying is that, if I am a Christian, then only a direct experience of the transcendent worked for me, and I percieve my relationship with God and Christ to continue at a deep and difficult to articulate internal way. Another Christian asked me recently (on a rare occasion I attended church over Christmas) how God speaks to me if I dont read the bible regularly? (and presumably If I do not always place the primacy of my faith within scripture) I struggled to answer him on the spot but on reflection I think God speaks to me more through the smile of daughter, the awe inspiring sight or a beautiful natural landscape of mountains and lakes or through quiet contemplation of the miracle of everyday creation. I have never been able to get as much from scripture except on the day I became a Christian. I suppose I would wish I could share what others see in scripture but the calm reassuring feeling I get when I 'talk with God' in my heart is that words and scripture are merely that - words in old books - what they point to is more important, abundant and joyous full life. And if you can go 'directly' to that in your heart and being, why go anywhere else? I realise this of course is a risky proposition, but it doesnt feel like it somehow to me...As tenuous as it may seem, I suppose what I am grasping at is that, starting from the original theme of your post, of a darkening world of deeper corruption; the old paths are harder to tread and I wonder if the self-consciously mystical path is increasingly necessary for the intellectual outsider to become a Christian. In in the final analysis, I hope that is good enough. That is as far as I have managed to get so far. It has been mostly blogs such as this, Bruces and my other favourite (On William Arkle) that have allowed me to work through my questions and difficulties in ways that I dont feel I could ever have done by just going to church on Sundays. This feels like a very positive thing and so when I feel stuck I know where to start looking again to keep working at understanding my own personal spiritual situation. I hope and suspect there are many others out there who also find these site an invaluable resource and forum.
Sorry for being so long-winded. When it rains it pours I suppose and I felt the need to share.
I think you have it right, David. I personally find the Gospels very inspiring (not so much the rest of the Bible except bits here and there like the beginning of Genesis for example) but I haven't read them for ages. The main thing is to cultivate the awareness of God within yourself. For many modern people the church, any form of it, is just too restrictive, and while we would do well to take some instruction from it, including its traditional architecture, liturgy and music, we should not necessarily allow ourself to be limited by it.
I say again that the main thing nowadays is for people to awaken the spiritual sense within themselves, to cultivate the intuition. You're not going to do that if you allow yourself to be defined by something external to you though you can certainly use externals as supports. But to take the next step we have to become more spiritually independent which, as I never tire of saying (actually I do but I have to say it anyway!) has its risks. But then so does a baby taking its first steps or a young person going out into the world with no parental support. But it's all part of (spiritually) growing up.
Thanks for your considered response William. I find I am pleasantly in agreement with all of your comments. I also find it helpful to consider life 'a test,' a lovingly implemented and constructive test designed to open up the possibility of spiritual growth and independence, but a test of character none-the-less. I also find that your notion that God will allow those struggling students amongst us to move to another classroom of sorts in the fullness of time (if necessary), to try again under more suitable circumstances for those specific individuals, to be in keeping with my notion of what a truely loving parent would do. This seems especially important for several reasons. Firstly, I have often observed in contact with various church groups over the years, the passive aggressive/threatening ultimatum approach: Say the Jesus prayer and be forgiven...or else?! When it seems much more loving to recognise that it is not an ultimatum to love Jesus or perish but a loving invitation to heal ones soul and progress to something more and better. I think perhaps many or most modern people with their almost total lack of interest in spiritual matters are unlikely to embrace this ultimatum (more likely scared away permanently) unless they are in desperate peril (such as if we imagine what might happen in the chaos of some sort of armageddon scenario) or personal turmoil. It seems more likely that God would understand that many humans are very immature and his lessons are like trying to teach Algebra to a Gold fish, the distracted modern mind having only a short attention span and distracted by baser desires and needs. A lot of these people will either take a very long time to mature to a point of spontaneous interest in spiritual matters or perhaps never will. It is hard to imagine what is necessary for the masses to move towards God but whatever it is and however long it will take I can only assume that God is working on it and the next classroom will be very full of souls that didnt make it first time around.
Thanks for your comments, David. I have to say I think you have put things well and described the situation pretty much as it is.
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