A little bit about me...

For those who may not yet know me (or know me but not that much about me), I'm a Christian Deist who began following Jesus nearly 18 years ago when I was a 14yo after a spiritual awakening of sorts. At the time I was a mess... depressed, suicidal, hating everyone and everything, including whatever God I figured probably existed. After reading an evangelical card I found in a drawer (the presence of which in my room that night remains a 'miracle'), a light went on inside me that empowered me to keep going and to follow Jesus and his call to love God and love my neighbor. A lot has happened in the years since but I have never forgotten that night or how it changed me.

As a Deist I believe in one God who created the universe and who allows it to run uninterrupted according to natural laws. I believe that we are morally responsible creatures who will answer for our behavior in the hereafter to the God who created us. While I am not opposed to the notion of God having come down in the person of Jesus to show us the way, so to speak, I have my doubts that is what took place... and if it turns out that was what happened I hope that He will forgive me my doubts. I view Jesus as the greatest man who ever lived, who died for his radical love in a world so filled with hate.

I view the Bible as a book of purely human origins littered with mostly myths and petty laws, the ignorant rantings of barbaric and uninformed priests seeking power and control. Despite all its problems there are some gems to be found... mostly in the wisdom of Jesus that shines through even the ignorant biases of those who committed his teachings to writing. Though normally of little interest to me but perhaps of interest to those on this particular board, I view Paul as having been a Hellenized Jew who converted to a gnostic form of Christianity known as docetism, after which time he went on numerous missionary journeys pitching his new religion in competition with other dying and rising savior cults throughout the Roman Empire.

I hope that even though I am not a gnostic (nor have any intention of becoming one) that I will still be able to contribute positively to this board and I look forward to some fruitful discussions.

Kind regards,
Jonathan

Welcome Jonathan

I, for one, am honoured to have you as a member. I respect your great knowledge of the Bible and of the ancient Hebrew and Greek languages.

Your participation here will be a great asset to all of us. Thanks for joining.

Peace, Love, & Understanding ~ Bob

Blessings, Jonathan, and welcome to the group?

I don't know very much at all about Christian Diests, you shall have to tell more. Except for the part about GOd creating the physical universe, I agree with the ONE concept as well. And not all gnostics believe in Jesus, either as a historical figure or as a metophoric character. Sethians especially, and Hermetican gnostics (of the historical genre anyway) don't have much truck with Christ. As a Valentian, I do, but there is not proof other than a tugging at my heart, but whether that is for a hisotrical figure or a metaphorical one, I do not know, it is all my vehicle to becoming God, and one with God, whom I refer to as the ONE. But the ONE didn't create the physcial world per se, nor punishes anyone, (that happens when you know all at death, and can see the results of your actions and the REAL you, the uncorruptiple part connected to God - a part and peice of God that is in you- must suffer for that knowledge). The ONE is all love, unconditional, completely giving and fullfilling every need, LOVE. It can be nothing else.

I am a self-taught learner of Greek and Hebrew, tho I am slow I am learning, and I am working on my own views of the cannonized scripture from a 'christian gnostic' point of view. I too have had a 'light' expereince (couple of them-different ones, too).

I look forward to sharing wisdom with you. I hope you like it here!!

Bright blessings!

Thanks for the very warm welcome and kind words!

Kind regards,
Jonathan

Hi Jonathan or may I call you 'En Hakkore'? Constantine70 here. I have followed a lot of your posts at the other forums, you have a vast knowledge of Hebrew (granted they try and dis-credit you from the MJ's). I have agreed with a lot of your posts. I hope that you are still around to post here.
Peace and Harmony through Unconditional LOVE!

gnostic warrior wrote:Hi Jonathan or may I call you 'En Hakkore'? Constantine70 here. I have followed a lot of your posts at the other forums, you have a vast knowledge of Hebrew (granted they try and dis-credit you from the MJ's). I have agreed with a lot of your posts. I hope that you are still around to post here.
Peace and Harmony through Unconditional LOVE!

I am extremely sorry to report that my reply to Jonathan's final post in "The Original Hebrew Matthew" thread (i.e. http://gnosis.forumotion.com/apologetics-f10/the-original-hebrew-matthew-t139.htm ) upset him so much that he asked for his membership here to be terminated! (thus his previous posts now appear under the title: "Guest").

It was a great shame that he took things so personally, as I, too, admire his intellectual abilities. However, with things Spiritual, it is not intellectual abilities (on their own) that can determine the Truth.

PLU

people are very touchy. not your fault at all, admin.

BelzeBob wrote:people are very touchy. not your fault at all, admin.

because they fear change and truth despite what they say
or maybe they are jerks
or ...

a lot of people become hot heads, and even worst; they hold grudges ad nauseum.