tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262326253864688012.post3733602469526165812..comments2023-07-01T08:54:37.709-07:00Comments on Paleo-Orthodoxy: Toward An Orthodox Biblical PerennialismUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262326253864688012.post-83144733148051539002019-09-10T09:54:12.277-07:002019-09-10T09:54:12.277-07:002) On the nature of the afterlife: What if these a...2) On the nature of the afterlife: What if these are not just opposing views but rather a reflection of humanity’s spiritual evolution over the ages?<br /><br />Response: You'll note I've written several articles here addressing Cultural Relativism, though not from the perspective you mention here. Suffice it to say, I don't accept the propositions arising from a Relativist viewpoint, such as the one you mention. When it comes to divine revelation, the source is absolute and objective, regardless of the culture it is given to. I also reject the idea of “spiritual evolution”, as it relies on a spiritual Relativism that is incompatible with divine revelation as objective, timeless truth. As a result I stand by my statement that the Hindu and Christian views of the afterlife are very much at odds. This isn't to say I reject the idea of progressive revelation, since the history of God's interaction with Man, as explained in the O.T. and N.T. clearly demonstrate a progressive revelation, this is not the same as "spiritual evolution", which places the source of spiritual Truth wholly in Man's experience and not divine revelation.<br /><br />3) On the fullness of truth: This is a provable metaphysical fact, but one that must be experienced on a personal, individual basis and not blithely accepted as external dogma. Lord Jesus Christ, the Son, is the epitome of God the Father’s creative expression. His execution opened the gateway to direct union with the Divine, the very essence of Salvation. The born-again/self-realization phenomena are testaments to a very real, permanent shift in spiritual consciousness.<br /><br />Response: The beginning point of an acceptance of the fact of Christ's bringing the fullness of truth is both of these. It can start as intellectual assent (the objective) and then move to experience (the subjective), or one can experience this reality first, and be moved to intellectual assent as a result. <br /><br />4) Case in point: Christianity is but apocalyptic Judaism wherein God’s covenant to His people was fulfilled. And yet, those who self-identify as Jewish are still awaiting the Messiah. Does this mean Judaism is invalid, oppositional to Christianity? Of course not! It is foundational to Christianity. One could say that contemporary Jews have simply missed the boat (for now).<br /><br />Response: I disagree. First, Christianity isn't simply apocalyptic Judaism. The Essenes were apocalyptic Judaism. Christianity is the fullness of God's revelation to Man as it proceeds from God incarnate, who is Himself the revelation of God's character, will, and desire for Man. Judaism doesn't possess such revelation, and was simply a “shadow” of what was eventually to come in Christianity. As such Judaism isn't capable of providing a relationship with God any longer, but merely a continual series of fulfilled prophecies pointing to the Messiah who has already come. So as a vehicle of salvation, Judaism is indeed invalid. Christ said, “no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) This doesn't leave room for any other way, not even the Old Covenant, which is superseded by the New. Opposition does indeed exist between the two faiths on a number of significant issues. Some examples are: the role of the Law, salvation, the afterlife, the Messiah, good and evil, access to God, the nature of God, ritual efficacy, and the superseding of the Old Covenant by the New, etc.<br /><br />Sacred Scripture clearly leaves us with an “either/or” proposition. Our response must be thoughtful and careful not to wander into the mine field of Relativism.J. Davila Ashcrafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05305611328280548355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262326253864688012.post-64072610307505630102019-09-10T09:53:55.610-07:002019-09-10T09:53:55.610-07:001) In your view is the “common origin” God Himself...1) In your view is the “common origin” God Himself or a specific man-made religion lost to antiquity?<br /><br />Response: The common origin of Truth would of necessity be God, since Man could know nothing of God's will if it weren't divinely revealed or made available to our reasoning faculties. Outside such divine revelation, at best Man would be capable of understanding shadows of God's nature and character gleaned from the created world.<br /><br />2.) By “spiritual errors” are you referring to the distortion of sin? And is this “common origin” human nature itself, the outside influence of the anthropomorphized negative being known as Satan, or something else like “collective karma”?<br /><br />Response: No. The concepts you've described are, in my opinion, purely Naturalistic. My position is this: if we possess spiritual Truth, it is only as a result of divine revelation. This means direct contact between Man and God, which in turn means interaction between the realm of the spiritual and the realm of the material. The same is true of spiritual error. In this sense, the common origin is interaction with a spiritual source, either for Truth (God), or for error (rebellious spirit beings). Sacred Scripture is filled with examples of this interaction, both with God and the holy angels, and with at least two classes of unholy beings- rebellious angels and Nephilim. While I can agree on a certain level that these beings have frequently been anthropomorphized, they are very real beings possessed of will and intellect. As I'm firm in my belief in Sacred Scripture, I reject any notion of "karma", be it personal or collective.<br /><br /> J. Davila Ashcrafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05305611328280548355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262326253864688012.post-71528750604061385372019-09-09T16:48:13.279-07:002019-09-09T16:48:13.279-07:00Thank you for sharing this excerpt. Thought-provok...Thank you for sharing this excerpt. Thought-provoking indeed! Some questions and comments:<br /><br />1) On Perennialism:<br />“… elements of what was originally a shared religion have been preserved in the various orthodox religions, each being an equally valid means of salvation.”<br /><br />In your view is the “common origin” God Himself or a specific man-made religion lost to antiquity?<br /><br />“… since the common elements of truth… share a common origin, this strongly indicates that the spiritual errors contained therein also share a common origin.”<br /><br />By “spiritual errors” are you referring to the distortion of sin? And is this “common origin” human nature itself, the outside influence of the anthropomorphized negative being known as Satan, or something else like “collective karma”?<br /><br />After decades of seeking an answer to this intractable question I’ve drawn some (rather unorthodox) conclusions. No tangible proof, just logical deductions based on multi-disciplinary research and personal experience. And faith!<br /> <br />2) On the nature of the afterlife:<br />“… two very opposing views of the afterlife. Either Hinduism is correct in its assertions, or Christianity in its assertions. There is no way to reconcile these without damaging the integrity of either.”<br /><br />Thousands of years separate the origins of Hinduism and Christianity.<br /><br />When cultural context is considered, varying interpretations of the afterlife naturally reflect the technological perspective of a people and their collective experience.<br /><br />What if these are not just opposing views but rather a reflection of humanity’s spiritual evolution over the ages?<br /><br />3) On the fullness of truth: <br />“… Jesus is both God and Man... ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’… In Christ is the restoration of all truth to man.”<br /><br />This is a provable metaphysical fact, but one that must be experienced on a personal, individual basis and not blithely accepted as external dogma.<br /><br />Lord Jesus Christ, the Son, is the epitome of God the Father’s creative expression. His execution opened the gateway to direct union with the Divine, the very essence of Salvation. The born-again/self-realization phenomena are testaments to a very real, permanent shift in spiritual consciousness.<br /><br />4) On Relativism:<br />“… no single religion can claim to possess all truth and that all religions are [not] equally valid.”<br /><br />At some point in each culture’s past their dominant religion was indeed valid, reinforced by continuity of enculturation. After all it is human nature to adhere to collective conditionings and reject that which does not fit the comfortable, commonly accepted narrative.<br /><br />Case in point: Christianity is but apocalyptic Judaism wherein God’s covenant to His people was fulfilled. And yet, those who self-identify as Jewish are still awaiting the Messiah. Does this mean Judaism is invalid, oppositional to Christianity?<br /><br />Of course not! It is foundational to Christianity. One could say that contemporary Jews have simply missed the boat (for now).<br /><br />In this sense it is more constructive to understand the universality of man’s desire to be in relationship with God than to judge particular religious expressions outside of cultural and historical context.<br /><br />It is not “either/or” (which separates and confines) but “this and then that” which expands and evolves until finally God’s Kingdom on Earth arrives for all.<br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09514261670285683826noreply@blogger.com