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Dear Bishop Spong. Thank you for sharing your (our) life journey (s) in "Eternal Life -- A New Vision!" I have read each and every one of your books identifying for us the evolving stages of Chapter 16 --Hiding -- Thinking -- Being. How beautiful and insightful is that concluding chapter!
Back in 2003, you kindly allowed me to quote you and wrote for the book cover of "Love Letter to Humanity: "I am delighted to be quoted in the body of your work. Our generation did try to keep critical biblical scholarship out of the life of our Churches. That was a pity."
May I ask? Have you become acquainted with the 'channeled' material published as A Course in Miracles? You and other members of the Jesus Seminar, such as Marcus Borg, could render a terrific service to those of us who choose to venture beyond theology into the realm of universal consciousness of which you are its gifted spokesperson.
At age 81, having also lived the full life as criminal lawyer, Lutheran pastor, Presbyterian pastor, and student/teacher of the historical Jesus, I continue to teach from the perspecitive of the Jesus Seminar scholars as well as the Course. I see them not as antithetical. Gratefully, Howard I Westin
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| | | | | 4024.2 in reply to 4024.1 | |
| Hello: I am a new subscriber to Bishop Spong's site. I, too, have been a student of A Course in Miracles, and the books of the Jesus Seminar, and wonder if the Bishop has become acquainted with ACIM. Did he ever respond to your message to him about the Course ? |
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| | | | | 4024.3 in reply to 4024.2 | |
HI John, my e-mail address is howiewestin@thevillages.net should you want to correspond. No, I haven't heard from the Bishop and I rather doubt that he has any interest in the Course. But maybe, if he keeps his interest in metaphysics as it seems likely, then others also of the Seminar would engage the subject. Several years ago I met Robert Funk; and his interest in anything smacking of spirituality seemed nil.
Would like to hear further from you and compare notes. Howard |
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| | | | | 4024.4 in reply to 4024.1 | |
Have you read Christ of the Celts by Philip Newell? It's amazing. While Course in Miracles has many interesting things, I'm not sure what to make of it. I suppose its a scripture of sorts to people who follow the teachings in it. I've gotten a lot out of reading the Upanishads, studying the Vedas and reading the Sikh scriptures as well as the Tao de Ching. I particularly like the author Diarmuid O'Murchu, who wrote Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics. O'Murchu is a priest and social psychologist. I am surprised he has not been 'silenced' as happened to Teilhard de Chardin. As Sally McFague's quote opening his first chapter says, 'The picture of reality coming to us from contemporary science is so attractive to theology that we would be fools not to use it.' As co-creators, we're gifted with the curiosity and intelligence to explore the vastness of God and the heart to grasp it's magnificence.
peace to you, not as the world gives
'annie'
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| | | | | 4024.5 in reply to 4024.1 | |
I believe that "A Course in Miracles" can be broken down into its essence as a simple choice: We can at any time abandon the society of fear, suspicion, and repression and embrace the essence of our souls: love. This brings us a radical world which looks and feels quite different from the "reality" many of us have become accustomed to perceiving. Lest this explanation not make sense, I'll try and elaborate: evil is in the eye of the beholder. Attitude colors what we see and feel and think to an extent heretofore unsuspected. If we abandon religious prejudice, if we throw off fear and preconceptions about others, if we look with the eyes of love, we will "see" that which Christ "saw", the brotherhood and interconnectedness and inherent goodness in all mankind. Of course, this simple yet powerful idea has already fallen into the hands of the religious professionals who, ironically, fight over the illusion of control of this work. |
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| | | | | 4024.6 in reply to 4024.5 | |
Thank you ,"goodguy," for your excellent synopsis of the Course. There is a website about which you surely know about: circleofa.org, founded by Robert Perry of Sedona containing much of what 'annie' may find of interest.
'Annie' I will want to read the Newell and O'Murchu books and I thank you for the references. A Course in Miracles and the world of science have much in common when it comes to 'reality' v Reality. I believe the quantum physicists and the metaphysicians are saying much the same using different symbolic language. The preface to the Course reads, "Nothing Real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God." Understanding this is like simply saying, GOD IS. Howard Westin
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