Auto-SummaryThe author of this post presents a critique of a fellow Christian who is accused of being dogmatic and dismissive of intellectual inquiry. The author argues that this individual is more of a "Paulist" than a true follower of Christ, as they seem to prioritize Paul's teachings over the principles of Christianity itself. The author points out that Paul's writings contain contradictions, particularly in his views on women and gender roles, and suggests that his teachings on vicarious sacrifice are flawed. They also question the author's claim to always be right and never lie, and instead urge them to engage in a more nuanced and critical examination of scripture, including the study of biblical hermeneutics and the works of scholars like John Shelby Spong and Bart Ehrman. The author encourages the reader to investigate their own faith and to separate it from the myths and dogma that have been imposed upon it. They assert that faith can be firm despite the dismantling of myths and myths, and that it is through critical inquiry that one can truly understand the teachings of Christ.
"Vote for me because I never lie, and I'm always right. George Leroy Tirebiter." - 'Don't Crush That Dwarf Hand Me The Pliers,' Firesign Theatre
"...if you had even the slightest notions about my motives for using psychedelics or the things I have seen and learned, then you would see that you are slowly but surely digging yourself a very neat, very pretty, well-worded intellectual grave." This is called hubris, it is ego-inflation. Your motives for using psychedelics, if they are in the service of 'Binah,' Understanding of a transcendental sort, is the same motives many of us act by. Specialness is indicative of hubris. In extreme cases, it can become a delusion of grandeur (which BE HERE NOW warns us against, so be careful out there).
Paul was wrong about the End Times, moreover, several of the Pauline works are pseudo-Pauline works, written in his name by another author, (a common practice for those seeking authority), unless he had a Dissociative Disorder (formerly, Multiple Personality Disorder). Paul plainly complained of "a thorn in my side," which has been variously interpreted. One psycho-historian believe that Paul was fighting homosexual tendencies, which may or may not be behind some of his obvious misogyny. Or, his dismissal of women might be cultural. He preferred men not to marry either because he wrongly believed the Apocalypse was immanent, or he just had issues with women, or both. It is important to profile the authors of important historical writings before you change your life based on one man's interpretation of ideas prevalent in his day. Paul was a participant in murder (the stoning of Stephen), and then had a religious conversion. This is a classic case of certain psychological compensations that occur when a suppressed or repressed content erupts from the unconscious in a blindingly powerful way.
I don't know if you realize these 'scholarly' facts, because like most other 'Bible-believing Christians,' you keep leading your communications with an attack on intellectual abilities and academia. You want to simply follow, not "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" - Philippians 2:12. I understand the desirable theological notion of 'assurance,' which is part of 'sanctification' which surpasses 'justification.' But wanting to settle on superficial readings of scripture is milk, not the meat of the matter, to use yet another biblical metaphor. That's right, one needs to be somewhat versed in biblical hermeneutics in order to conduct an intelligent discussion of biblical material. Paulis the 'architect's mainstream Christianity. I see you more as a Paulist than as a 'Christ,' which, is the goal of "being in Christ," not 'being in Paul.
Paul is flawed. He is flawed in his 'vicarious sacrifice' theology, which simply transfers the Hebrew mythos from the Pascal Lamb, to a human sacrificial victim. In one place Paul upholds the egalitarian nature of "being in Christ," e.g., "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" - Galatians 3:28. In other places, women are subservient to men, “As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church” - 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. BTW, both of these are considered to be writings of the same author, not even a Pseudo-Pauline writing, but he is clearly contradictory in his attitude toward the gender-transcending being hood of one who is "in Christ." If you have not studied the blatant contradictions in these letters (after all, Paul's letters are just LETTERS to new churches), then you've got your work cut out for you in demythologizing and deconstruction. You accuse me of speaking falsely, which makes you an accuser. That is not your job, and I am not speaking falsely. The ancient mythic characters you name, (I particularly like the imagery of Elijah's ascent to heaven in a flaming chariot. Visionary state or historical event? If visionary, you are Gnostic, if you think this an historical event, I will not resort to personalisms here).
"The fruits of the Spirit of God are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. Go and live out those things before you talk of your wisdom." It is not ME who has proclaimed myself as being in possession of wisdom, it is you who have, howsoever grudgingly, perceived it in my communications and named it in your own sentence. As for living out virtues of the spirit, I do not think there are people who know me in person, or who are discerning enough to distill personality qualities from my writings who would deny that I embody these virtues. Lastly, those scribal insertions that affirm that anyone who teaches another gospel, or (against certain Gnostics in John) or who 'deny that jesus has come in the flesh' (1 John 4:3, 2 John 1:7), are just that - later scribal insertions, NOT part of the original Greek documents. Don't believe me, but read some biblical scholars: John Shelby Spong, Marcus Borg, Bart Ehrman, for example. Read Gnostic material, not just their ancient detractors like Irenaeus. Perhaps you are correct in not wanting to 'argue.' I'm trying to instruct, but you're not having it. As I suggested, beliefs are fragile, faith is firm. With faith, investigate what you believe. Deconstruct it and see who, how, where, why, and when it was written the way it was. If you are afraid it will destroy your faith, your faith wasn't true to begin with. I still have faith even after the dismantling of the myths. 
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γνῶθι σαὐτόν - Gnothi Seauton - Know Thyself
Edited by MarkostheGnostic (03/03/14 04:42 PM)
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