Principles of New Religion offers a new slant on old religious truth together with a list of my consideration of the errors of religions as they have become, eg "religion should not belittle". Traps that any Philosopher or indeed Prophet should avoid.This book is about Gnosticism, ideas originated by Pythagoras and developed by various groups until they were suppresed by the early Christian Church. But rather than being an academic text, the central ideas are brought into everyday life offering a new perspective. The ...
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Principles of New Religion offers a new slant on old religious truth together with a list of my consideration of the errors of religions as they have become, eg "religion should not belittle". Traps that any Philosopher or indeed Prophet should avoid.This book is about Gnosticism, ideas originated by Pythagoras and developed by various groups until they were suppresed by the early Christian Church. But rather than being an academic text, the central ideas are brought into everyday life offering a new perspective. The central essay is "Ego versus God". Problems with relationships might perhaps find resolution in todays egocentric world, with conscious self denial. But to do so one needs to know the principles of Ego versus God and why it is so fundamental.I distinguish between Pythagoras's idea of the "Monad", the single motivating thing in life, the essence of being; and "Gods" which are slightly lower on the hierarchy of existence. Additionally I give directions for Gods in the manner of Mohammed who in the Koran, (Chapter "The Merciful") gives moral advice to men and Jinn (spirits, as in the sort sometimes trapped in old lamps). A variety of religions are quoted in an attempt to provide a broad range of sources.The Monad, which cannot be addressed in the manner of Gods, is discussed at several points in the treatise, and is the underlying concept to the work. The monad is essentially intangible. Life is based on duality, self and other, self and the world. The Monad is the single source of everything and cannot be known, but the Monad in the world has two characteristics. The two characteristics of the Monad form the basis of the "new religion".In the first of two essays of Biblical criticism, The Gospel According to Paul, I take up a list of references to Jesus in the letters of Paul. Paul's letters date to only a few years after the death of Jesus, in comparison to the Gospels the first of which is decades later and the last as much as 80 years later.Pauls letters are original documents as compared to the Gospels which were written from other sources. It is always best to study original sources to try to get to the truth of things.There are surprisingly few quotations from Jesus in Paul's letters. Given their proximity to the man this is notable in itself. You would expect copious quotes, anecdotes etc, but they are not there. Paul instead relies on his own visions of Jesus. Examining what references there are and thinking about them is a worthwhile exercise. In "Jesus and his mother Mary" I explore verses in the Bible that show a conflict between Jesus and his family. The conflict between Jesus and his family has consequences for the central beliefs of Christianity. It allows us to compare the beliefs as represented by the Church with what Jesus might have meant. And how religion can become something other than what it began as. My purpose in Biblical Criticism is not to destroy faith but to get closer to the truth.As an experienced writer with hundreds of articles published I offer some advice on "how do you write".
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