Ask Steve - What Religion Are You? (Blog)

[qed]

I have many spiritual guides and role models, but the primary one is Jesus (Y’shua)

How do you mentally focus on a being whom you've never met in person? Well perhaps you did meet him, but assume that I haven't, but I'd like to. What do you exactly focus on? And how does 'the universe' know which person you are talking about? I mean I am sure he is not the only Jesus that ever lived.

Could you provide some guidance with this?

[qed]

Another thing is that Jesus probably did not speak English. How do you communicate with him then unless you speak his language? Is there a universal translator that takes care of this issue?

[Savage]

For me Jesus is just a mental construct. I grew up Christian, so Jesus is an easy reference for me to use. You could just as easily call it communicating with a part of your subconscious if you'd like. You communicate in your imagination, so no special translation equipment is necessary. It's a way of getting access to insights you might otherwise miss.

As far as the actual human being Jesus, I have no idea if he ever really existed or if his whole life was just a fabrication. Much of the Jesus mythology was duplicated from pre-Christian traditions and isn't unique. I don't put much credibility in the miracle stories. I do happen to like the idea of a service-centered life, so that's what I use.

You can have a mental communication with any character you wish, real or fictional, alive or dead. Each character helps bring up different parts of yourself.

[estrella]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

You can have a mental communication with any character you wish, real or fictional, alive or dead. Each character helps bring up different parts of yourself.

Do you think that for instance, you, Steve, in *my* life (as I read your words on the forum and your blog), are a mental character, too?
Are these words that I'm writing down on that moment are mental communication?
Just a thought....... [btw: nothing to do with Jesus!]

[Brutha]

Do you think that for instance, you, Steve, in *my* life (as I read your words on the forum and your blog), are a mental character, too?

The picture that you have of Steve is probably different than the picture that Steve's parents have of him or the image that Steve's daughter has of him.
All those mental picture are more or less different mental characters of Steve.

[estrella]

Originally Posted by Brutha

The picture that you have of Steve is probably different than the picture that Steve's parents have of him or the image that Steve's daughter has of him.
All those mental picture are more or less different mental characters of Steve.

so, my picture of myself (of my ego! Not my "real Self" as you might call it) is certainly a mental character of my ego also. If my ego complaints, it's because it does not know what it really is.

[Hoover]

As far as the actual human being Jesus, I have no idea if he ever really existed or if his whole life was just a fabrication. Much of the Jesus mythology was duplicated from pre-Christian traditions and isn't unique. I don't put much credibility in the miracle stories. Steve Pavlina [/QUOTE]

Steve, one can not escape the fact that Jesus's life radically altered human history forever. He has been the dominant figure in the history of western culture for 20 centuries. There is enough secular evidence available to show
Jesus of Nazareth occupied this earth some 2006 years ago. Pagan, non jewish historians such as Roman historians Suetonius and Tacitus, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. His death by hanging was outlined in the Talmud
The devotion of his following was report by a jewish scholar Flavius Josephus 37AD. The New Testment details the martyrdom of his followers as well as His teachings.
Seek and you shall find, ask and God will reveal Himself to all. Prayer= mental communication

[Savage]

I wouldn't say Jesus' life radically altered history so much as the posthumous marketing of it did.

[Revanto]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I wouldn't say Jesus' life radically altered history so much as the posthumous marketing of it did.

Well, we don't really know what Jesus' life was really like anyway so rather it can be said that all we know is the illusion of Jesus' life.

We can't really rely on the Bible because, frankly, it is just a distorted history book. The longer the message was, the more distorted or misinterpreted it will become.

We can only really vaguely assume things about Jesus. And I don't care who someone is, they do NOT have a direct communication line with Jesus so cannot tell us about the 'real' Jesus.

But when you think about it, the illusion about somebody's life can sometimes be better than their real life. For example, Gandhi is well known for being a great pacifist but he was also a poor husband and father. Also, some people would say that what Gandhi did divided India rather than unite it. So, to me, I would rather think of Gandhi as the great man whose intentions where peaceful and his heart was in the right place. However, I will never force people to believe in my perspective of Gandhi or any other person because that is what the Church and many other religions do and this is a dangerous thing.

So, the illusion is OK just as long as decisions regarding others are not based purely on that illusion.

Revanto