Oh, very good points, everyone! And yes, He must be saddened by negative and spiteful thoughts and comments. Just goes to show how human we all really are, huh? Some of us are more Awake than others, and the more Awake you become (I believe), the more space you can put between your thoughts and brush the negative thoughts aside. Everyone probably has negative thoughts at some time or another, it's what you do with those thoughts, or if you even listen to them that makes the difference. I thought Eckhart's description of his suicidal thoughts was a good example of what you can choose to do or not do with those thoughts. I believe that "you" ... the generic you ... are not your thoughts, but I also believe that thoughts become things, so we need to be very aware of our thoughts or else we risk forming some very nasty "things". I was going to ask if anyone else felt that way, then I recognized that a question like that would be my ego asking. Frankly, I'm going to continue to think that way so I don't really need validation. I guess I just want to be part of the expanding consciousness. Diane

cathylake2: I always wondered why, if Jesus was a Jew, worshiped as a Jew, followed Jewish laws and practiced Jewish customs, the Church that bears his practices isn't more Jewish?

blucanu: How much do you know about the Mass? How much do you know about what goes on in a synagogue? I've seen both. There is a striking echo of Jewish traditions in the Mass.

As well there are ALWAYS three readings in every Mass, all of which are Jewish albeit they are read in the vernacular.

Something occured to me...

Jesus taught God conciousness, loving your fellow man....not Jesus conciousness, separation of man by faith/beliefs...

It is amazing me how a book on spirituality has turned into a war about religious beliefs on these postings. This book is about spirituality, being one with yourself and recognizing this in yourself and others. There is no reason for the religious assaults emanating from those that do not understand. It appears that most of these people are Catholic and I truly feel sad for them, because I am Catholic as well, but I am not shallow enough to not be able to set aside my ego and try to establish a deeper existence. Even though the last sentence sounded like it was inspired by me ego, it really was not. I have for years had an enormous problem with going to church for various reasons. There was a large lack of any meaning in the sermon and most of the regular attendees were more interested in gossip and the fact that they showed up than trying to ascertain anything spiritual from the moment. I am seeing this attitude in all of these postings. I hope we can somehow find a way to group some positive postings for the next sessions!

A New Earth isn't all about "me." It's a spiritual book all about the Christ Consciousness. A New Earth isn't Truth itself, but points to the Truth, the same Truth Jesus spoke of.

God is Love, which is love without fear. And Jesus is God. Then Jesus must be Love too. The Way, The Truth and the Life is about Love. It's not about following the man himself, but the Nature of God. It's about loving yourself the way God loves you. Once you heal yourself, you can serve others.

Love more. Fear less. Peace.

Nicely said, Tazaria75

student: There were many, many forms of Christianity being practiced up until the 300's when the Roman Emperor Constantine declared that the Pauline version of Christianity, which substituted Jesus for the emperor in the Roman imperial religion.

blucanu: errant misrepresentation.

Constantine LEGALIZED Christianity. This meant that Christians could come out of the catacombs because they were not longer to be persecuted. It meant that the Gospel could be "shouted from the rooftops" which Jesus instructed.

Before Constantine, Christians were burned like candles, fed to lions, crucified, and so on.

As for there being many different kinds of Christians: more errant misrepresentation.

There were different Christian communities but ONE Christian Church. This Church was NOT Pauline. This Church was Petrine.

"You are Peter, and on this rock (peter) I will build my church" I think, is a good example of one of many misinterpretations of Christ. I really believe Jesus was referring to the "church" BEING WITHIN Peter. God is WITHIN us. From WITHIN us, we shall build the "church" and spread the goodness of God (Source, collective consciousness, whatever your "title" is). God cannot be contained in a church... amen, Oprah Love & Light!

blucanu: What's your point?

no point really.....It is just an observation/conclusion that I have come to....

I do not think people should stop going to church, to worship God.
I also don't think they should ask th question "What religion are you".....
in order to from an opinion.....
We are more alike, that we are different

once again

Namaste /\

"You are Peter, and on this rock (peter) I will build my church" I think, is a good example of one of many misinterpretations of Christ. I really believe Jesus was referring to the "church" BEING WITHIN Peter. God is WITHIN us. From WITHIN us, we shall build the "church" and spread the goodness of God (Source, collective consciousness, whatever your "title" is). God cannot be contained in a church... amen, Oprah Love & Light!

I, too, am a Christian believer in Jesus Christ, as the Son of God. Mr. Tolle takes much scripture and uses it out of context to misconstrue the ideals that he wished to convey. Jesus Christ is the only way to God the Father and no human being is every going to be able to be so enlightened that he has access to God without Him. In the last days, the book of Revelation teaches about the anti-Christ and false teachers and how we should be aware of them. My fear as a Christian is that Mr. Tolle is a false teacher who is trying to make human beings believe they have the power to transform their lives apart from God. That is not true. Without God, you are a lost soul and bound for hell. It is my prayer that the half million people who are online watching this book study become aware of God's calling on their lives. We cannot save our own soul - only God can do that. K in TN

I am sorry....

here is a correction that spellcheck couldn't "see"

"We are more alike, that we are different"

shopulf have said

"We are more alike, than we are different"

Namaste /\

chirpity wrote:

Misquote: meant to type "Life" for the second "Way" I typed in "The Way, the Truth, and the Life".

Your unintentional misquote is one example of how the many misquotes in the Bible came to be.

Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why, by Bart D. Ehrman.

The author attended Moody Bible Institute, Wheaton College, and Princeton Theological Seminary before becoming at professor at Univ. of North Carolina. He knows ancient languages, and is an expert in Biblical *textual criticism.

*Textual criticism: the science of restoring the original words of a text from manuscripts that have altered these original words. Page 5

Dr. Ehrman tells us the following:

1. We don't have the original writings of the New Testament. What we have are copies made years later. Page 4

2. None of these copies is completely accurate, since the scribes who produced them inadvertently or intentionally changed them in places. All the scribes did this. Page 5

3. Rather than having the inspired words of the originals of the Bible, what we have are error-ridden copies. Page 5

This book does not challenge Christianity; it helps us understand how the Bible was put together and how it has changed over centuries.

Hi blucanu,

I am OK if my opinion turns out to be incorrect. It is just an opinion. Opinions are very temporary and fragile forms anyway. I am basing that opinion on quite a bit of reading I have done.

The Gnostics, the Coptics, etc. were suppressed and Constantine ordered their texts to be destroyed. Many of the titles of Jesus, such as "the son of god," were titles that were borrowed from the Roman Emperor Worship. Some emperors claimed to be born of God impregnating virgins, etc.

Peace to you friend, I don't wish you any harm. Student99