The Esoteric Kingdom of God

Ben Masada · Post by **Ben Masada** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:29 pm

The Esoteric Kingdom of God - Luke 17:21

It was a custom among learnt Jews of the First Century, especially ambulant Rabbis and Teachers, to gather around them disciples in the mystical number of twelve, and to teach them Torah, as they would prepare new Teachers and Rabbis to proceed with the custom

There were many of such groups, but there was something special about the one of Jesus, that the main theme of his message was to teach about the Kingdom of God, which he would sometimes explain the esoteric character of it, as of being within ourselves.

The Kingdom of God, according to Jesus, was taught only to select number, and not intended to the general body of disciples, designed for and understood by the initiated. However, the secret, as is always expected to, would leak out into the larger populace, and even get into the ears of the Romans.

Juxtaposed to this Jewish custom of the First Century, there was to the Romans, a policy throughout the Provinces of the Empire, to arrest the head of any subversive group, and crucify him, so that the disciples dispersed. That's exactly what happened in the case of Jesus, that when he was arrested, his disciples deserted him and fled, according to Mark 14:50.

Many were crucified in the same manner, scourged in the same manner, and suffered the same amount of torture. The only difference with Jesus is that Pilate was somehow aware of his special message about the Kingdom of God.

Of course, the Romans did not bother verifying what kind of Kingdom Jesus was talking about. For them, even the buzz about another kingdom which was not Roman, was enough to take one to the cross. That's why it didn't help Jesus to explain that the Kingdom he was talking about was not of this world. (John 18:36) The joke stuck to him, and he was crucified for being misunderstood as King of the Jews. Hence the plate on the top of his cross imposed by Pilate as a deterrant to any other candidate with the same aspirations.

Therefore, Jesus was crucified on mistaken charges. His Kingdom of God was esoteric. An inner state of mind. The Kingdom within.

Ben

kayky · Post by **kayky** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:27 am

Seijun wrote:
Do you believe that your god makes up the things around me such as the trees, the air, my car and driveway, and my duplex?

Yes--in every single atom. Nothing exists outside of God.

TXatheist · Post by **TXatheist** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:35 am

kayky wrote:
Seijun wrote:
Do you believe that your god makes up the things around me such as the trees, the air, my car and driveway, and my duplex?
Yes--in every single atom. Nothing exists outside of God.

Can you support this claim or is it based purely on belief/faith?

kayky · Post by **kayky** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:40 am

It is based mainly on my own personal experience of God where this connection with all things was made apparent to me. In this experience (which has been described by others as well), there is an actual easing of boundaries between self and other--and a profound sense of oneness with all that is.

Cathar1950 · Post by **Cathar1950** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:46 am

kayky wrote:
Seijun wrote:
Do you believe that your god makes up the things around me such as the trees, the air, my car and driveway, and my duplex?
Yes--in every single atom. Nothing exists outside of God.

In process thought God is in the works and is an exemplar.

God would be the subject and end of value and ultimately it is God that befits.
Hartshorne would say God is related to everything and Evey moment.

TXatheist · Post by **TXatheist** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:49 am

kayky wrote:It is based mainly on my own personal experience of God where this connection with all things was made apparent to me. In this experience (which has been described by others as well), there is an actual easing of boundaries between self and other--and a profound sense of oneness with all that is.

When we study subatomic particles, are we studying the makeup of god?

kayky · Post by **kayky** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:07 am

kayky wrote:It is based mainly on my own personal experience of God where this connection with all things was made apparent to me. In this experience (which has been described by others as well), there is an actual easing of boundaries between self and other--and a profound sense of oneness with all that is.

Seijun wrote:When we study subatomic particles, are we studying the makeup of god?

We are studying God made manifest. The universe is not only within God, it is God coming into form.

TXatheist · Post by **TXatheist** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:05 pm

kayky wrote:
kayky wrote:It is based mainly on my own personal experience of God where this connection with all things was made apparent to me. In this experience (which has been described by others as well), there is an actual easing of boundaries between self and other--and a profound sense of oneness with all that is.

Seijun wrote:When we study subatomic particles, are we studying the makeup of god?
We are studying God made manifest. The universe is not only within God, it is God coming into form.

Are human beings also god made manifest or just the things around us?

TXatheist · Post by **TXatheist** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:03 pm

kayky wrote:
kayky wrote:It is based mainly on my own personal experience of God where this connection with all things was made apparent to me. In this experience (which has been described by others as well), there is an actual easing of boundaries between self and other--and a profound sense of oneness with all that is.

Seijun wrote:When we study subatomic particles, are we studying the makeup of god?
We are studying God made manifest. The universe is not only within God, it is God coming into form.

This makes me wonder. Since man is made out of elements of the Earth, then man is God manifest as well. And is our "soul" God manifest? I would think so since, as you say, "Nothing exists outside of God." Then in the end, wouldn't God be sending a great deal of himself to hell? And is hell also God manifest?

kayky · Post by **kayky** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:50 pm

Seijun wrote:
Are human beings also god made manifest or just the things around us?

Everything, including us.

kayky · Post by **kayky** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:51 pm

Seijun wrote:
This makes me wonder. Since man is made out of elements of the Earth, then man is God manifest as well. And is our "soul" God manifest? I would think so since, as you say, "Nothing exists outside of God." Then in the end, wouldn't God be sending a great deal of himself to hell? And is hell also God manifest?

There is no hell.