Quote “If the Zen word for ultimate reality embodies both metaphysics and ethics, what’s the difference between substituting that word and a personal God in 'Richard Swinburne’s morality argument?”
Why not end the year, as I sip this glass of fine red wine, by jumping into a discussion that never ends ![:slight_smile: :slight_smile:](https://forum.evangelicaluniversalist.com/images/emoji/twitter/slight_smile.png?v=5)
My answer to the above quote is, There is no difference.
Just speaking from an objective point of view, the values of the one over the other is a matter of personal perception. This personal perception will be based on a personal view of what ultimate reality is. Whether or not a moral imperative is connected to the existence of a higher being or a higher principle or a higher plane where all beings are connected into one cosmic essence or a higher plane where all beings evaporate into divine energy…etc.
, that is all philosophy and speculation unless and until that ultimate reality manifests in an undeniably recognizable way, expressing itself to people on a plane previously unconvinced of its existence.
The expression of the divine being to the Hebrews, according to their belief, was, and is, “I AM THAT I AM”. Self existent absolute being. Of course, the Hebrews had a real hard time identifying with the I AM…they couldnt figure out who He was or why He was involved and what He wanted out of them. So, according to their tradition, He sent prophets to them to overflow(nabi-“bubble over” hebr. fro prophet) words and actions that would remind them who He was and why He was involved.
Christians believe they never got it. Never saw it. And that when I AM fully manifested in this plane in bodily form He did so through planting a seed of Himself, the Logos(expressed thought, word) into the earth(a woman named Mary) and expressing Himself in the life of the man Jesus of Nazareth who said, "If you have seen me you have seen the Father(I AM sent me).
So the Hebrews killed him because he told them that they were not even close to understanding what and who the invisible almighty creator was, in the ether where they had not been, and that they refused to even look through the window- which he, Jesus of Nazareth was, as the last and greatest prophet of I AM THAT I AM and, by the way,His very own son.
Heb 3:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the eons. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and sustains all things by the word of His power.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Jesus said, and Christians (hypothetically) believe He demonstrated, that he was the image of God, undeniably expressing the I AM, in terms of His divine nature, on the cross- sacrificial love being the highest principle in His being .
Father forgive them, they don’t realize what they are doing.
Whether or not this is true, if it is a manifestation in time and mortal space of the ultimate reality that exists beyond time and mortal perception- only time will tell.
True “Christianity”, which as a word, for me has little meaning, even as being a Jew seemed to have little meaning to Jesus( I can from these stones raise up sons of Abraham), who, imo, would probably be rejected and killed for the same reason by many if not most “Christians” today.
Because they don’t get it either. So the light shines in the darkness and the darkness still does not comprehend it- the Light that lights “every person who comes into the world” according to John.
So to wrap up (this wine is delicious)- I became a Christian because the I AM contacted me and revealed Himself to me through an inwardly received image of Jesus Christ crucified for me, with a command to be crucified with Him, which I still don’t get much. I think it means i am called to sacrificial love, and I see it, but I am not sure how well I am it. I am sure it is about being, and doing follows naturally from being, because ultimate reality IS WHAT IT IS. I think it is the I AM, crucified, but in the final analysis, it will be what it always was, is and will be.
Only time will tell, but I am convinced. So happy New Year to all and to all a Good Night! ![:slight_smile: :slight_smile:](https://forum.evangelicaluniversalist.com/images/emoji/twitter/slight_smile.png?v=5)