Metaphysics

This is going to be a long, but unique post. First of all, I recently made a friend who is a Minister, but a Minister at a Metaphysics Church. She's been explaining some things to me over the past few times that we've hung out.

She says that she believes in Jesus, and Christianity, but also claims that there is just so much that The Bible leaves out. She's very into astrology, nature, the moon in relation to the water, and the sun in relation to fire. She's into natural and hollistic healing, as well as belief in the spiritual world.

I am more of a spiritual Christian than religious, so I've been understanding a lot of what she is talking about. She says that God could be a He or a She and that we are created two different sexes so that we can reproduce. I believe that she's also stated that she believes that the devil is a female, and that's why in The Bible it states that the devil is God's most precious and beautiful angel.

She believes that Jesus is God's child and that Jesus did what He did to show that we have free-will, and showed us how we should live on earth. The people thought that Jesus was a witch and so they put Him on the cross and said that if it was true that He was really God's only son, then for God to save Him.. (which by the way I know is true in The Bible).. then He had to rise again to prove that our spirits do go somewhere, that we do go with God.

The conversation also went on to subjects of wicca and witchcraft, as she asked me if I knew what wicca was, and I responded with "isn't that witchcraft"? I was told that a lot of people have the ability to perform witchcraft, but they can't use it in a bad way, and if they do, they would know that karma would get them big time. In the world there is good and bad and there are always people using things in a bad way, but they get theirs.

Even though I am a member of a Baptist Church, and I believe in a more strict aspect of Christianity, I am always still open to hearing other's beliefs and how they apply to my life and this world. There is just so much out there, and I do believe that The Bible wasn't able to capture everything, and it's been changed around so much. It's truly hard to really know the truth. I have my own personal relationship with God and I know that's what really matters. Do any of you know anything about Metaphysics, or practice this? I find it to be very interesting.

 

It's interesting, but not the truth! Always follow the truth.

 

True, I have to remember The Biblical Truth.

 

I for one applaud your willingness to seek and explore, or at least listen to others with a new point of view. Spirituality is not a repeating regimen set on loop for life, but a lifelong process. Change and growth aren't limited to our physical bodies. There are those who fear change and criticize those who open themselves up to exploring new angles on spiritual pursuits. Don't listen to them; tell 'em to take a hike.

"Metaphysics" as you describe here doesn't really fit my understanding of the word. Metaphysics is the study of the laws of nature that cold, rational science isn't designed to measure. It's often applied to theology in general, but need not pertain to religion as such.

The idea of applying mystical and even magical methods of thinking to more othodox religions is nothing new; not even close to new. Some of the most well-known practitioners of Ceremonial Magic in the Middle Ages were devout clergymen and members of the Church. This was not condemned because it was not a religion, but a practice. Henry Cornelius Agrippa leaps to mind. King Solomon himself is regarded in Western mysticism to have been one of the most powerful magicians who ever lived.

The Rider-Waite Tarot, by far the most well-known today, is filled with symbols derived from the Judeo-Christian tradition. The idea that these things could co-exist and compliment one another has always existed, but has never found favor with religious leaders who stood to lose from this knowledge and understanding spreading around. We're fortunate to live in times when ideas are changing and the old-style scare tactics have lost their punch.

I could go on about this stuff for hours. I'll leave it at this for now.

 

Long but thoughtful reply

Me too, ECILAM This stuff fascinates me, & I love exploring others' ideas on everything.

I believe it's vital to have an open, exploring mind. NOT like a sieve, where everything just runs through, & you change with every little wind that blows by. But a mind that explores thoughtfully.

sd+, I agree with some of what your friend says, disagree with others. And I know that there's a LOT that I just don't know.

I believe that the Christian bible contains truth; but not ALL truth.

I believe that everything in the universe has some spiritual aspect/meaning.

I don't agree that God "could be HE or SHE." I think that whatever deity there is encompasses ALL that we think of as masculine or feminine. I don't think anything is 100% one or the other. I think we are limited beings with limited perspectives.

A division of genders is in no way "necessary" to reproduce (though that is nice for us). Single cells simply divide & multiply.

As for wicca, the root of the word is something that roughly translates as "to bend." My understanding of what it is to be wiccan--in the most GENERAL sense of the word--is to be someone who uses the energies of nature (including & directed by one's own mental will) to effect change. Those energies don't have to be fully understood to be harnessed--as is true of electrical or magnetic energy, for example. But anyone who uses energies they don't fully understand must keep in mind that there are often consequences that you don't foresee; & to therefore be circumspect & cautious in whatever you attempt.

I am absolutely certain that karma is a real force--what goes around comes around. It may not be immediate or visible or understood--but it's the natural course of things. Negative intent or manipulation of someone against their will WILL most definitely will bite you in the ass. I think the references in the bible to "the sins of the fathers" being visited to more than 1 generation are a reference to this--simply natural consequences that manifest over time. Our descendants are a part of us. Of course they suffer because of our mistakes, & we also suffer for causing them to suffer.

There's a lot of stuff that seems "magical" just because it is a mystery to us. We don't understand them in a scientific, quantifiable way. That's because we have such a huge amount left to learn. I think that someday these things will be scientifically understood & explained.