Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Atheistic Mysticism

I recently had an online debate with some fine folks who are atheists, but consider themselves as mystics.

First, let’s define some terms:

Mysteries: “Mysteries of God are spiritual truths known only by revelation. God reveals his mysteries to those who are obedient to the gospel. Some of God’s mysteries are yet to be revealed.” [LDS STUDY GUIDE] & [also see NIBLEY]

Atheist: “…is the position that either affirms the non-existence of gods or rejects theism.” [Wiki]

As Christians we need to have genuine love and respect for all people. Atheists are just people who haven’t crossed over the river yet. They can be good neighbors and friends. So no one is preaching hate here.

That being said, as stated in the definition above, mysteries have to do with “revelation” and “God reveal…[ing] [H]is mysteries” to man.

Mysticism is ascension. The Zohar has the Tree of Life as its backdrop (a symbol of the temple). The same for the Book of Nephi (if not the entire Book of Mormon), The same for the Bible (it begins and ends with the Tree of Life). And of course The Pearl of Great Price.

Nephi saw only one path to the Tree of Life, not one for believers and anther for non-believers.

Jacob saw one ladder. Elijah one chariot. Ezekiel saw one river. Moses went up one mountain. Solomon’s Temple had one center path.

There is one ascension pattern for all people. There is no ascension without Christ. There is no secular, evil, or atheistic ascension.

We ascend by keeping the principles and ordinances of the gospel. We learn truth upon truth until we know all things.[D&C 94:27-28]

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where in the Tar nations did you find a jaw jabber calling it's self a mystic that does not even Be-Living in God.How ever I think Many of the so called Mystics are full of them- selves and have no room nor desire to be Filled with God's Spirit.They will profess a knowlege, but deny any power there of.Also few are there who on their death bed will not at least have a Hope in "god",And what think we of the Jews in Jesus's time?The scholars of the Jews.and the Levites who where born and Raised in Family circles within the heritage of God, in fact we may say they are called of God "my people" the chosen ones, the Elect.yet all their learning became more of a stumbling block.So extreme are some of the customs as to tie a Box to ytheir head Containing the Law,Ever learning and never ever coming to the knowlege of the Way, the Truth ,and the Light.Pride goeth before the Fall.Some may preceive them selves as being the Light (Little-Lucifers)lost in the dark of no direction,And the fool hath said there is no God.Fooled by the pride of the heart.We all in this life see thru a glass darkley.and there may be many things we do not understand. But to say there is no God,would be to silly for any right
thinking being,Then again no two humans agree on anything exactly the same.And for now we do not speak in God's universal tonge,and besides is there anyone who really does not hope or want to belive in God? think not.
Perhaps an asking or quest to know the Truth, without a scripted or definition of the Truth.and that brings to pass the Gnotion of the Gnostic V/S the Mystic, what is the difference and what makes one right and one wrong?

David Littlefield said...

Anon Said:

“and that brings to pass the …notion of the Gnostic V/S the Mystic, what is the difference and what makes one right and one wrong?”

The problem is defining “Gnostic.” Gnostic means different things to different people, and at different times.

If you mean by Gnostic one of the many corrupted versions of Jesus’ confidential teachings that were handed down through time, the answer should be clear from its definition.

If you mean the pure hidden knowledge and ordinances Jesus gave to his closest disciples, that were handed down (and later corrupted), The answer should also be in this definition.

True mysticism is the sacred principles and ordinances of the gospel. The definitions are what makes it “right.”.

-David

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