Author: Olga Moe

Mention the word “metaphysical” around a Christian fundamentalist and you will be met with a suspicious glare. That kind of talk is not found in the bible. It is modern, it is science, it is secular, it is witchcraft, it is New Age and it is a threat. I ask you however, what part of the bible is not metaphysical?

The term “metaphysical” simply refers to something that is outside the presumed limitations of physical reality. I never know how much of the bible to take literally but I do know that walking on water, rising from the dead, feeding thousands with one fish, virgin birthing, escaping bodily destruction from fire, making the blind man see, plopping down instant human beings and turning water into wine definitely pushes the boundaries of our perceived reality. I would call these activities metaphysical.

Notice that I said “perceived” reality. It is what we decide based on what appears to be. Research has recently shown us that particles and energy can be interchangeable because they are really forms of the same essence. In other words, thought energy is transmitted by actual little electric ions. The higher we are tuned to spirit vibrations, the quicker our intention gets across and in so doing it bypasses heavier, slower methods of moving these ions around. So there really is a scientific explanation for many of the miracles we find in the bible.

Do you see what this discovery means? It reconciles science and religion which have vehemently opposed each other since the beginning of time. It explains material things in spirit terms and spiritual things in material terms. I guess I call it metaphysical Christianity.

Within this understanding we are recognizing an energetic force and we are attributing good things to it such as kindness and love and healing and beauty. This force can be broken down into a comprehension of tiny electric ions which are moving in a life enhancing direction. We are at liberty to hop on at any point of the belief spectrum, but no matter where we choose to identify ourselves, there is still a reality-based explanation for our conviction.

Fundamentalists hook up to their viewpoint by way of intense, non-intellectual emotion. That’s fine, ideas can be feelings and don’t have to have words. Metaphysicists hook up to theirs by way of scientific explanation. That’s fine too, because actually ideas and feelings are two vehicles which lead to the same understanding. Both lead to the experience of faith.

Energy and particles. Interchangeable substances. In fact, we could even do away with the word metaphysical because the phenomenon we are referring to is actually all physical. Or is it that that everything begins and ends in the spirit, so the manifestation is really just a byproduct of that great mystical power? Mystical? That word is not in the bible either, but so what? We have merged the two populations of science and religion and so we have made the world into a more integrated and harmonious place.

Author: Susan Esterbill

Catholicism is a general term referring to various things depending on the context to which the word is used. Despite the myriad of meanings associated with it, Catholicism is known to be that which encompasses the Catholic faith, its believers and its followers.

Variety

A number of diverse groups are under this faith, although there are also variations in their ways and beliefs. Included in this list would be major groups, under apostolic succession who consider themselves Catholic. These are the Roman Catholic Church (Western and Eastern churches), Orthodox Churches (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican), the Evangelicals (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lutheran Church in Canada, etc.). There also exist those who claim they are from the lineage of the apostles but don’t consider themselves Catholic.

Unity

Among these sects, it is the Roman Catholic Church that is considered the largest. In fact, it is estimated to have 1.1 billion members, all of whom believe in Jesus Christ and consider the Roman Pope as their highest Church leader, the one who serves as the church’s successor after the apostle Peter. Moreover, in the Roman Catholic hierarchy, the bishops take the place of the other apostles.

The Roman Catholic Church is characterized by its four main distinct qualities that separate it from other spiritual groups: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Being considered One, the believers are united in their belief of one Church. It is Holy because it is made Holy by the center of their faith who is Jesus Christ. Catholic refers to the church being a universal entity, and it has a mission of spreading the faith through disciples who preach about Christ’s words and works. Finally, it is Apostolic because of the apostles that have been appointed by Jesus to watch over His church.

Dissonance

On the other hand, the Catholic groups who don’t pledge allegiance to the Pope include those who follow Anglican ways like the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Organization. Moreover, there are also much smaller sects like the Philippine Independent Church and the Polish National Catholic Church.

The history involving the evolution of Catholicism that brought about all these divisions and other differences in beliefs is a long and detailed account of centuries of religious conflict and spiritual growth. A number of other religions have also resulted from this faith and is said to be continuously growing in numbers. The influence of Catholicism is incomparable in size and magnitude, and its growth and development continue to affect billions of people all over the world. This faith has been a favorite topic of controversy in a number of media-related tools including TV, movies, novels, and the like.

Rituals

In general, Catholics believe in administering the seven sacraments: Baptism; Confirmation; Eucharist; Reconciliation of a Penitent; Anointing of the Sick; Holy Orders; and Holy Matrimony. These sacred rites of the Catholic faith are said to be essential in their redemption and practice of faith.

Influence

Catholicism and its role in shaping the history of mankind can be seen in the various cultures and nations that exist today. The learning of its key concepts and beliefs are essential to the comprehension of its complexity. Catholicism wasn’t built in a day, nor can it be fully learned and explored in a single day.

Author: Connie Limon

A person possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb was brought to Jesus. When Jesus healed the person he began to see and could hear. All the people who saw this were amazed and said, Is this the son of David? However, when the Pharisees heard of it, they said, this man called Jesus, does not cast out devils, except it be by Be-el’ze-bub, the prince of devils. In other words, Jesus is not casting out devils by anything good, he is doing it by an evil method.

Jesus knew the thoughts of the Pharisees. He said every kingdom divided against it is brought to desolation and every city or house divided against itself will not stand, and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself, so how will his kingdom stand? Jesus went onto say and I by Be-el’ze-bub cast out devils, how does your children cast them out. They will be your judges, but if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God will come to you.

Now….if one enters into a strong man’s house and spoil his goods, he must first bind up the strong man, and then he will be able to spoil his goods. Anyone who is not with Jesus is against him, and those who do not gather with him scatters abroad.

Men and women will be forgiven of all manner of sin and blasphemy, except the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost will not be forgiven. If a word is spoken against the Son of man, it will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Ghost will not be forgiven in this world or in the world to come.

Jesus said true blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is an accusation that a good work was done using an evil spirit rather than the Spirit of God or the Holy Ghost.

Good men and women out of the good treasure of their hearts bring forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure from the heart brings forth evil things. Every idle word that men and women speak will be remembered in the Day of Judgment because by a person’s words they are either justified or condemned.

Some of the scribes and the Pharisees wanted to see a sign from Jesus. He said only an evil and adulterous generation wants a sign and there will be no sign given; only the sign of the prophet Jonas, which was when Jonas was in the whale’s belly for three days and three nights just as the Son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

I believe this to mean for us today that we cannot expect to receive any real proof that Jesus actually existed. We just have to “believe” that what is written is actually what occurred.

It was as if some of the scribes and the Pharisees could not believe Jesus was really the Son of man without some kind of sign shown them. Today, we still have people who will not believe the stories of Jesus and keep his commandments without searching for proof and wanting to receive signs that he truly existed and still exist today.

I truly think we just need to say yes, Jesus was and is the Son of man and leave it at that. We need to spend our time seeking to know how to live righteously so that when the Day of Judgment arrives we do not have idle words and idle works to give account of.

It is possible that continually digging for proof of this and that about the real existence of Jesus, writing and talking about the same is part of this idleness Jesus was talking about to the scribes and Pharisees. It is a proof or sign that will never actually be found.

People have and will continue to find this and that which seems to relate to the fact that Jesus did exist and he walked the earth at one time, but in reality, I do believe Jesus is telling us here, there is no sign for sure. Don’t be idle about this, because you will be held accountable. It is better to just spend your time learning his laws and doing them. Forget about determining whether or not Jesus existed or did not exist, because nobody is going to find a final answer on that. Time is better spent teaching, preaching and writing the gospel for men and women’s repentance rather than digging and researching to find the signs that Jesus actually was – there will never be such an exact sign – only wasted time looking for it!

While Jesus continued to talk to the people, his mother and his brethren stood wanting to speak to him. Someone told Jesus that his mother and his brethren wanted to speak to him and Jesus said, but who is my mother and who is my brethren? His mother, sisters and brothers are whoever does the will of the Father which is in heaven.

When people do the will of the Father in heaven, regardless of whether or not they are related by fleshly blood, they are all brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers to one another. The family of God is similar to families related to each other in the flesh. However, according to this passage, if my mother does not do the will of the Father and I keep his laws, she is actually not my mother in the Family of God, only my mother in the flesh.