tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post6524408639158744490..comments2023-12-31T12:59:00.662-05:00Comments on A God-Sized Puzzle: Too Many Rivers, Only One BoatEruessohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-6548484536413464622009-03-23T15:30:00.000-04:002009-03-23T15:30:00.000-04:00Thanks Welovetea for the comment.I spoke a bit abo...Thanks Welovetea for the comment.<BR/><BR/>I spoke a bit about this in one of my previous posts. <BR/><BR/>http://agod-sizedpuzzle.blogspot.com/2009/02/which-way-again-or-all-aboard-part-3.html<BR/><BR/>"Religion is the vehicle, the language we use when we speak of the Divine. Religion does not need to be defended because it is just a series of symbols. What those symbols represent to those that use them is what should be sacred and NOT the symbol itself." This is what I meant by my universal approach to the Divine. Man is fallible and capable of corrupting the symbols that represents the Divine. It is not the symbols but what it represents that should be considered holy. Since we can not fully comprehend the aspects of the Divine we use these symbols to define God. The symbols are corruptible leaving "room for violent and violating forms of religion". (Sorry if I sound repetitive, I tend to talk in circles until I hit my point)<BR/><BR/>For me, my focus is looking past the symbols (religion/theology/doctrine) towards what it is trying to convey (God/Universal Consciousness/Love/Jesus/Allah/Brahman/etc). Having a focus on God beyond the symbols can help in determining which paths are truly leading back to God and which are twisted and manipulated by Man for their own selfish goals. (Sorry if that was a bit long-winded.)Eruessohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08685225014024766175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760108714983042577.post-81121211529300421482009-03-23T14:39:00.000-04:002009-03-23T14:39:00.000-04:00Hey Eruesso,Love your blog! I study comparative r...Hey Eruesso,<BR/><BR/>Love your blog! I study comparative religion, as well, and write regularly on topics as a Christian who often feels she is on the margins of the church...sounds familiar, I'm sure...<BR/><BR/>What I find challenging about the "all paths lead to God" approach--not that that's what you're saying here--is that while I don't want to make any universal truth claims, I also don't want to leave room for violent and violating forms of religion to be allowed a legitimate voice in spiritual expression. (The old "intolerance of intolerance" issue) Have you had any luck working around this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com