Mystical Christianity answers lesson 20

Questions For the Heart and Mind

1. How have you experienced the intimacy of God in your life?

I've seen small miracles with people (as a mail carrier) I hear a lot of local stories. Sometimes, prayers are answered, other times not.  Sad to see some people in such misery. When alone, sometimes if i think enough, I feel a presence. I've had some dreams mixing rather Wiccan ceremonies where i became connected with a Goddess Force...take dreams as you will, but this has played in my mind a few times.  I once had a bad car accident where I walked away perfectly fine, yet from the sight was told how could i have? Somehow i was being watched over. It's something of a Gnostic feel also...I can go to a Church service and not  feel the joy that i may internally. 

2. How would you distinguish the difference between prayer and meditation? What role do each of these play in your life?

Prayer can be a 'request' to the creator about the health of a person, or a well wish, or some even ask for luck in a job hunt.  Prayer to me is like a Church service, where meditation is going inward and feeling the creator from within. Truly amazing to feel that energy and connect to it. Reciting the "lord's Prayer" in a congregation might lead abundant energy to flow, but collectively in a chant. A Rosary is almost a cross between a prayer and meditation..the repetition gets you in a meditative mindset.

3. How do the lives of Julian of Norwich and Teresa of Avila illuminate the mystical way? Are they relevant for the twenty-first century?

Both showed the method of using the word of God and developing it even further through a personal journey. Teresa's experience with the many levels in her "Interior Castle" could well be used as an example today of using more methods to seek the Divine. Churches that experience empty pews could seek out these new methods of drawing people back. Many no longer wish for the "old time" religious course.

Mystical Christianity lesson 21 (Bob Koenig)

Questions For the Heart and Mind

1. How does the vision of the prophet Joel relate to our world today?

His sayings of a Cosmic Christ are not unlike many Gnostic teachings.  Yet to think of Earth dying..we see it now with lots of the troubles in the world, global warming, the destruction of areas due to manufacturing. We have not cared for God's creation. Yet if we can still be forgiven, This is also a good vision.

2. How can you unite the sacred and the secular in your life and in the world around you?

Just about anything you do. Taking a walk, for example, can bring you communication with Nature...hearing the sounds around you of birds, wind, streams flowing, rustling of plants as a small animal goes by. And know that no building or man made object can compare with this.  Helping a fellow human in need can also be a calling of creation speaking to you to do your part. Everyone can be a little like Jesus in their own manner.

3. What do you find attractive about the mystical way? If you chose to pursue the mystical path, what would be your greatest challenge?

I always found this attractive. The normal Church is nice, but I've always felt there was to be more to it than that.  The greatest challenge would be to be able to 'let go' enough of the world around us, the 'popular Culture' that binds us to our earthly surroundings.  Very hard to do in this land of commerciality.

Bob Koenig

Mystic Christianity lesson 12 answers/ Bob Koenig

 

ULC Questions For the Heart and Mind

1. How would you define a prophet and who would you identify as a prophet in our day?

For good or bad, many of today's "prophets" come in people of popular culture.  The Beatles sure had their share of followers in the 1960's, and anything they said or did was often followed. Today we see that with artists like Madonna, or even some "reality" shows where their every action and deed are recorded.

Television evangelists like Joel Osteen could be taken this way. While many dislike the popularity and self esteem issues he places in his sermons and books, it is popular, and does bring the word of Jesus to many who would rather stay home. He does state at the end of each show "Go to a Bible based Church."

2. Do you believe that archaeology and science can prove or disprove the Gospel message? Why or why not?

if the scriptural paper that has been found over the years, if it can be discovered just exactly when it was written, then we could know without a doubt...was the Gospel of Mark the original Gospel? Or perhaps the Gnostic books discovered centuries later...were they written beforehand? The answers could quite change and decipher the way we worship.

3. What role did the Apostle Paul play in the founding of Christianity? How would you characterize his teachings?

Paul, while not one of the twelve disciples, and first, not even a believer, has many letters in the Bible that were very important in the formation.  His words tie together the beliefs of the stories revealed in the canonical Gospels.

However, also due to the nature of his coming into faith, many of his wordings reveal a personal side, and yet the Churches abide by his sayings. Paul preaches that Women would be subordinate to men.  Men , in turn, would be subordinate to the Church Hierarchy.

A lot of this would go against Gnostic teachings, and , to this day, of lot of Paul's vision still keeps many out of the church.

 

Mystical Christianity lesson 13 (Robert Koenig)

Universal Life Church

Questions For the Heart and Mind

1. What difference would it make in determining the origins of Christianity if the Gospel of Thomas truly pre-dates the Gospel of Mark and the letters of Paul?

Jesus would be seen as quite the mystic...teaching mystery and mastery in the ways of God, and about heaven in ways we have yet to understand as mortals.  Many of Jesus' saying in Thomas are almost "zen" in appeal.  I may also add Jesus comes off as more unworld like than in the Bible. He just sounds like he IS from another plane of existence!  

2. If the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke are not historical, how does this affect your feelings about celebrating Christmas?

Some of it may be true, or some might be a story within a story. Zeus was apparently kept in hiding in a cave as a child away from his father, Chronos.  He was cared for by others until a teen. Jesus had earthen parents, but obviously his true home was above.  Some writings interpretations say Jesus was either in a cave or a manger...so depends what you read. I don't know if there's a connection, but perhaps some of the tale spun from that. But, we do need a time of peace in the world, and if celebrating Jesus' birth gives us this time, who can argue celebrating it?

3. Who do you believe Yeshua ben Joseph was at the beginning of his public ministry?

He was a teen who had to learn other religions in the world, and see where his ministry had to go. As his being taught were over, he began his own lessons.

Answers from mystery lesson 17 (Bob Koenig) - Mystical Christianity

Questions For the Heart and Mind

1. Do you believe that the soul of Jesus of Nazareth had previous incarnations, and if so, how does this change your view of traditional Christianity?
   Krishna was to have been in many places at once, and he became many to dance with all the ladies.  Even in Gnostics, Ive had too much thought of Jesus being "Christened" but once. 

2. What other incarnations, masculine or feminine, would you suggest for the Christ energy?

Jesus allowed Mary Magdalene to gather from it as well.  He became Anointed by her, and then Jesus transformed her.  Mary the Mother was combined with Holy Spirit/Sophia energy.

3. What is the significance of proposing that Jesus of Nazareth was one of several incarnations of the Christ?

If there are many, then only one died for us? I'd have to read more..doesn't sink in for me.

4. What are your beliefs regarding heaven and hell?

Might be more a Karma thing... if we reincarnate, we come back to earth, but may have punishments to deal with from our past lives.  ever wonder when bad things happen to good people?  This may be why.

Finished souls might stay in heaven, or if they cannot change they enter Hell and stay.

Mystical Christianity lesson 19 (Bob Koenig)

Questions For the Heart and Mind

1. How is spirituality different from religion?
   
   
   Religion to me, is an organized/cleansed  clubhouse for those who would rather worship in groups...not have to think about it, just go along with others. Spirituality is how many feel inside...their unique thoughts and their personal connection to the divine.  One is personal, the other is not.

2. How would you define a mystic? Do you consider yourself to be a mystic?

Mystics take on their faith and push it to another extreme. try to connect to the divine in their own way. It might be a 'practice' of others, but you have to take the journey yourself. have to have the want to do so.  Yes, i've often gone on a path of my own. My dreams and thoughts have come through that I have some kind of connection. 

3. How do you experience the difference between your ego self and your True "I" Self

my ego is connected to the now..the popular culture this world has and what seems to pervade around me. My true self is the inner me, my thoughts in touch with the divine. We must know our inner self, in the long run, will be our true self. We won't take our belongings/baggage with us when we depart.

Bob Koenig