(09/12/2016) The Focus Upon Spirit

Today, some thoughts are shared to clarify differences between teachings of Christianity and Islam regarding the life of ones flesh and that of ones spirit.  For correct and full sacred knowledge as Christian believers, distinctions are made among existence (we say, continued being; duration over time; having presence as an object), life (we say, being alive; able to display and manifest self-will; having and completing mortality), and death (we say, decease; loss of ones life essence; the end of ones consciousness) as well as truths regarding resurrection (return of life to the dead) and the second death (annihilation that appears as an outcome in divine  judgment).  GOD, who is spirit in character, nature and substance is to be acknowledged as the cause, origin, and source of all that exists.  Included are things carnal, material, and social along with diverse sacred operations and processes such as atonement, forgiveness, Incarnation, joy, rebirth, redemption, repentance, salvation, and sanctification.  The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Sid” (Level 1 with 184 points, a member since June 29, 2016) posted the following:

Why do you think your alive if your going to die?

(Collosions 3:3)
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

(Collosions 3:3)
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

ISLAM.
The Koran itself seems quite clear: "And you were dead, and He brought you back to life. And He shall cause you to die, and shall bring you back to life, and in the end shall gather you unto Himself." (2:28).

Buddhism
Avidya (Sanskrit; Pali: avijja; Tibetan phonetic: ma rigpa) is commonly translated as "ignorance" or "delusion".

Hinduism
He who is forgetful of the Self, mistaking the physical body for it, and goes through innumerable births, is like one who wanders all over the world in a dream. Thus, realizing the Self would only be like waking up from the dream¬wanderings.
Sri Ramana Maharshi (December 30, 1879 – April 14, 1950)

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:   for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,  (Romans 1:  16-22, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (09/07/2016); Must GOD Hate Sinners? (09/01/2016); Eternal Mysteries and Revelation (08/31/2016); Learning From A Spirit? (08/25/2016); Abstractions, Atheism and I.Q. (08/18/2016); Salvation Only Through Christ? (01/07/2016); Respect to Our Religious Beliefs? (04/21/2015)

“Sid”, where a person maintains consciousness of divinity as “spirit”, the language for life, death and reality should take on meaning that is set apart (sanctified).  The greatest separation among the many statements for guidance to mankind that come by systems of belief such as Christianity and Islam results from how they address the existence, importance, and operation of “divinity” and “spirit” as distinct from flesh, physical matter, mind, and elements of social interaction (e.g., loyalty, respect, trust).  Mankind is conceived as existing within a sphere of life that itself is more than a stream of consciousness, and the content of his own or “someone else’s” mind (who?).

Many accept that existence goes beyond being alive, yet, those existing as “dead” are no longer in a condition or state that continues life essence (we say, the spark of life, the breath of life, the spirit) essential to communicating and interacting with the living.  Those who speculate regarding the state of the dead often place them within a very active and busy environment (an afterlife, an underworld, Hades, Paradise) where they must be alive and operate for their own survival.  Such accounts are sources of confusion, and make it more difficult to have correct sacred knowledge.  Where GOD is acknowledged as a spirit being, and the source of all that exists, a believer is also required to acknowledge there are divine operations and processes that must be in agreement consisting entirely of spirit substance, and generated from GOD who is spirit.

There is far more to be said, carefully examined, and spiritually understood.  (For example, The system (i.e., interconnected and related ideas) of Christian belief requires acknowledgement of GOD appearing in human form (Incarnation) without an altering of divinity.  Attention is directed away from angels, messengers, prophets, and spokespersons.  Apprehending Christ, men are granted experience of the Holy Spirit; and through the Spirit, the fullness of GOD the Father.  Such a truth has to extend to existence both in flesh as well as in spirit.  More than this, birth, death, immortality, incorruption, resurrection, and eternal life all would have to be defined in harmony.  Comprehension of a spirit realm that also contains all the features of carnal, material and social reality demands that the character, nature and substance of death no longer be understood relying upon frameworks such as time, space, and flesh (i.e., appetite such as hunger, thirst, cravings for sexual activity; sensation such as hearing, seeing, tasting, touching; and emotion/mental functions such as anger, fear, forgetting, fantasy, imagination, recall).  The Holy Spirit must become ones primary focus.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC