Ben's Blog

Why is Christianity declining?

2009-11-27T16:09:19Z

I follow the Christian Post on Twitter because I like to keep up with the ideas and thinking of many Christians. Today they tweeted the following:

CP Tweet

I retweeted the following:

Ben's CP Retweet

The lack of simplicity is due to Christianity essentially being a religion of Paul, or Paulinity. In my opinion, people cling to Paul's messages and the idea of a biblical rule book. Jesus' message and example, while being simple, is also very challenging because it forces people to be uncomfortable and radical. Paul's message, on the other hand, is complex, creates exclusion & division, and essentially tells people what to think and believe. It also set up and continues to feed the example of the human-made church and rule structure.

An example of this is what I found here. There is no mention of Christ here--only more complexity.

The answer is simple when you allow Christianity to be about Christ.

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Lots of work

2009-11-23T01:50:17Z

The amount of work in graduate school is shocking. I fancied myself as a seasoned academician and the shear volume of reading and writing has taken me by surprise. My blogging and extracurricular reading life ground to a halt. My classes end in early December and I do not have to return until February, so I’ll have plenty of time to catch up.

I also learned about the Upaya Institute, a place in New Mexico that teaches caregivers and healers how to deal with death and dying. I have a belief that many people suffer from a fear of death, which then causes great suffering in their lives. I feel that some of my life’s work will be helping people work through their fear of death.

I have an assignment for a foundations course that is asking me to come up with ten ways that I am going to integrate the course themes into my practice.

1. A continued adoption of integral thinking

2. I need to learn more about quantum physics as a way to bridge the scientific and spiritual realms

3. Constantly advocate for multiple ways of knowing as an example for people to consider multiple viewpoints

4. Being a creative healer by making new and unique healing relationships

5. Advocate for balance by being a balanced healer and person

6. Help others work through their fear of death

7. Help people heal physically and spiritually, not just cure them

8. Help show people that they can help heal themselves

9. Always look for the meaning in health (and in life)

10. Consider the context of the client’s health, wellness, and illness

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QotD: Best-Seller

2009-10-19T02:39:25Z

If you were going to write a book, what would you write about?

I would write about how viewing religions as divine languages can be helpful for people without developed spiritual frameworks. It would be an attempt to show people that it is okay to speak multiple religious languages while maintaining their unique perspective of not having a native religious language.

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Question

2009-10-11T17:27:27Z

Why do we use our beliefs to excuse bad behavior instead of as inspiration to do better?

Not all people make this choice. For those that do, I believe it has a lot to do with fear of what is within their own being. Rather than look inward and take responsibility for what they have done, many instead look for an external scapegoat to avoid responsibility for their actions. While there are certain environmental and external factors that contribute to scapegoating, it is ultimately one's own decision in succumbing to bad behavior and then deflecting responsibility externally. The belief system is inconsequential because it is just a guise to cover up responsibility.

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QotD: TAG, You're It!

2009-10-03T13:21:10Z

What do your Vox tags say about you? (Add tags to the end of your Vox blog address, and have a look.)
Submitted by Jack Yan.

Vox Tags

Judging by the Larger Words = More Tagged formula, a few things can be deduced from my tag cloud.

I like to answer the QOTD and the gone but not forgotten Vox Hunt.
Religion is important to me, especially Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.
I like book reviews.
I write a fair number of posts that I tag personal.

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QotD: My Best Purchase Ever

2009-09-27T13:49:42Z

What is the best purchase you've ever made?

I would say all of the education I have purchased (and still paying for) so far in my life would qualify as the best purchase I have ever made. Not only does this include my current enrollment, but this also includes four years of undergraduate study and three false starts at other institutions.

Other notable purchases include my home, my car, Ericka's car, and the MacBook. The impending Kindle purchase will be up on that notable purchase list as well.

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QotD: If I Woke Up All-Powerful...

2009-09-20T13:25:58Z

If you woke up one morning and realized you were all-powerful, what is the first thing you would do?
Submitted by loveless.

Every morning that I wake up, I realize that I am all-powerful. This power is not the ability to do anything I can imagine, like commanding my physical body fly to the moon and it actually happening. Rather, this power is knowledge—of the surrounding world and of my being. This knowledge power can be applied in many different ways.

• In any given situation, I have a number of choices and viewpoints to consider and I am free to make whatever choice I desire.

• I can choose to not have regret about the past and worry about the future. I am free to live here and now, where life can be fully enjoyed.

• I can be in balance in terms of the emotional and logical continuum. Emotions do not run my life, and I am not paralyzed by logic.

• Negative situations can be turned into positive learning experiences when I change how I think and see them.

The power gained from knowledge helps make me a free being. No longer am helpless in situations (often created in part by me). I know what to choose and if I do not know, I can find out.

For me, this power is cultivated in meditation, prayer, and study. These three help me see and become awake in the present reality.

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Gone But Not Forgotten

2009-09-15T21:30:09Z

I'm having a hard time with this whole Patrick Swayze thing. I forgot he was a singer.

Memory of Patrick Swayze - She's Like The Wind - ( 14.09.09 RIP )

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QotD: My Dream Job

2009-09-15T03:05:09Z

What is your dream job? Do you think you’ll ever have it?
Sponsored by Monster.

I know I am on the right path (holistic medicine) when I open my textbooks and see all of the writers and thinkers I read on a regular basis.

Parker Palmer

Karen Armstrong

Ken Wilbur

Jiddu Krishnamurti

D.T. Suzuki

Thich Nhat Hanh

These people are among a larger body of work that has helped shape the person I am today. Now, I am going to use what I have learned and experienced personally to help others become healthy. This path has taken a long time to find and I have traveled on many detours. The road is now beginning to straighten and traveling is much easier now.

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QotD: The Scary Thing about Being a Grown-Up...

2009-09-07T03:12:17Z

What was your biggest fear about becoming an adult?

ALLY SHEEDY

It hasn't so far.

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