The destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the temple, the end of religion. 70 AD
With the end of the law came the end of the temple, the priests, the sacrifices, and the misery of being reminded of sin. But within one generation following the destruction of their temple, both Jew and Christian resurrected a new religion not authorized, ordained, or anointed by anything God or his Christ intended. Robes, priests, incense, holy water, baptisms, and with this came fear, shame, misery and control once again. Religion triumphed over the right way to live as a human being.
What has this religion brought to the world? A kind of order that relegates self control to a self appointed order of people who track failures, order works and sacrifices, demands obedience and sells a false freedom to the followers. And no attempts at “reformation” have fixed the fundamental error and ignorance for those who thirst for control and others who demand to be controlled. Protestant churches are far too numerous to count as are the side shows of strange cults that have sprung from all this ignorance.
One paradigm seeks materialism and another seeks spiritism. I am convinced that neither are correct and that neither offer much more than darkness and ignorance to the real world of human needs. Both are vacuous of purpose as the first presents itself as evidence of the fruitlessness of human existence and the other fixates on human shame and guilt. Science has failed to reveal credible solutions to origins and purpose and religion buries guilt and shame in ritual and mystery, offering a myriad of interpretations to purpose and origins.
As for my studies of the biblical narrative, it is clear that all things were fulfilled in the first century… there, religion ended as the truth was presented… the Way to live, the Truth of man and God, and the Life here and everlasting. We in a proving ground; A learning reality to develop character, healthy minds and empathetic hearts. I do not know for certain if we existed before this physical place but I do know one thing I do, “…one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3.
Our lives must yield to the truth of our existence and the hope that has been set before us for in this we find peace, joy and comfort in knowing Him and His ways in this world. We are on a journey of discovery, of our selves and of our fellow man. We have freedom to chose, whether it be good or be evil and this determines the quality of our lives, our safety, sanity, and fulfillment. I don’t understand suffering well. I believe we grow through adversity as our poets have recognized through out the ages. Some revel in it, and others run from it, and some, a few endure. We have decisions to make and if we are willing to take the sage advice of God’s words, we can navigate the times well, and resolve some of the big issues we confront with success. I chose to know him, to know fully the power of the next life. He is the savior of all men, espeically of them that believe. 1 Timothy 4:10
Leave a Reply