Ways of Christ

"I still have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of the truth comes, he will guide you into all truth" (John 16:12-13). Ways of Christ draws inspiration from this spirit.

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In topics/meditation.htm:

Our texts were partly written with the help of meditative reflection on bible texts. Consequently, apart from the information they contain, they are also written as suitable starting points for meditating on chapters of the gospels.

Bible Study, i.e. reading and working through the texts and their meanings, is only one method. During the study of the Gospels the chapters of the main text of "ways-of-christ.net" and, last but not least, God can contribute to a deeper understanding. Anyone who is more closely interested in a holistic approach - including the neglected parts of our soul - can read and meditate on the chapter, e.g. of  the Gospel of John and then study the chapter of the main text of "ways-of-christ.net".

It would be possible too, to include the manifold pictures and symbols in old churches (buildings).

Even those, who - seeking inner experiences - took the useless and dangerous path of drugs, could instead of this find a fullfilling experience in meditation.

** ... Studying the printed text in a concentrated way helps to avoid those problems that independent researchers attribute to an overdose of internet and "multi-tasking" (i.e. the simultaneous performing of a multiple of tasks).

*** A (deeper) understanding of these pages requires a consideration of its (consistent) self-conception - see the Introduction -; and of additional methods used (see above, methodical tips). Others look at such an attitude - during study of texts - as a general guideline for serious work, in philosophy too ("principle of charity", Donald Davidson, "On the Very Idea of having a Conceptual Scheme", in "Proceedings and Adresses of the American Philosophical Association", Vol.47, 1973-1974, S. 19).

With the help of the Greek language and their learnedness they were able to make early Christian traditions much clearer for Europeans...

Until now, problems between fundamentalism and relativism have dominated the discussion.

Apart from that, the so called "Jesus disclosure stories" outside of theological circles over the last few years have been detrimental to the present discussion.

...In the "mystical theology" of today's Orthodox Churches some of it is well preserved.

- argument, counter-argument and conclusions -

There is no reason not to consider the type of literature, but then as fittingly as possible instead of schematically, such as our page on the so-called Gospel of Philip. It is also repeatedly necessary to compare the statements of the scriptures with the circumstances of those times – and it is important not to immediately belittle what was written at the time when seen from the modern-day zeitgeist. The connection with the emerging congregation can also shed light on the meaning, but this does not have to lead to limiting the view to external, purely human events, in which God no longer directly appears, although he was the most important for mankind. The fact that a message was definitely given to certain people does not at all mean there was no universal meaning. It is important for us today to look for the significance of the tradition; however the full content will only become clear to us if we take the plausibility of what was promised seriously, even for the people of today, or at least attempt to do so.

*** (...) See Hans Küng, Christianity. Essence, History, Future, Special edition 2007 for a study of the development of Christianity. His aim is an integrated research that accepts the contents of the scriptures as a contextual source, in spite of archaeology and critical theological research. We don’t accept all the consequences set out therein and resulting from historical-critical research. For instance, some events surrounding Jesus appear largely to be nothing more than subjective experiences. However, Küng is open to an open kind of reality of such experiences, which is yet to be explored. By the way, his interesting method of exploring steps in the development of Christianity in general (paradigms) is unable to sufficiently recognise the significance of schools of thought such as the Mystics, which, generally speaking, were never crucial until now. They have unearthed methods which are very important for grasping the full potential of Christianity. Additionally, often one cannot understand human beings with an inner spiritual "mission" or mystics through a mere historical-critical analysis, because they have an independent inner spiritual biography apart from their visible biography. It is more helpful to take their teachings seriously rather than picking them to pieces.

****** Jesus, the disciples and theology.

There are "theologies" within the New Testament. But the writers must have combined it consciously. They felt for the fact, that Jesus has had many "sides". One needs several theological viewpoints to understand him.

He taught the social awareness of liberal or liberation theology too – and he taught the strict (individual) ethical guidelines of rather conservative theologians (but not formal and not based on the power of the state.)

He also had the spiritual attitude of Christian mystics or esoteric Christians (compare the mystical theology of the eastern Orthodox Church) - and, nevertheless, he wanted the Disciples to manage their life in the physical world (which is the main topic of most current theologians and missions, especially the Protestant ones).

Jesus showed a "supernatural" relation to God, (from baptism up to the Cross & Resurrection, noticed for instance in the meditative review of John the Disciple and his Disciples.); that can not be explained by the intellectual consciousness of theologians like Bultmann – nevertheless Jesus had to go through human stages of life, which are understood by natural sciences.

Some incidents can be understood by deep psychology of our time, some are spiritual beyond psychology.

Many viewpoints are almost lost, since big parts of the original Early Christianity were persecuted as "heretic", (becoming mixed with real misuses of Religion.) They all were one-sided, but not more one-sided than any existing church.

This one-sidedness is not automatically negative. The constructive parts of all that attempts would be o.k.- if they would not think, that they are the only ones who are right, and that the other ones would be completely wrong.

The Gospels and theologies.

The Gospels – and for instance that part of the Gospel of Mark, named "Q"– represent different viewpoints. So they are written for groups of people with different background. Mark was important (for instance) for the analytical mind of the Romans and for translations into the roman languages. But Prof. Morton Smith named a "secret part" of that Gospel, stemming from Peter, used for a few experienced people only, containing the Lazarus story and so on. The austrian mystic Lorber says, Mark was - as a boy - an appreciated messenger between the Disciples. So he would have known exactly, what was going on. He shows approaches of a theologian, with the central question "who is Jesus?".

The original Matthew, which is lost or not yet discovered, must have been directed to the Jews; also the present Gospel of Matthew is finally directed to everybody who needs extended descriptions full of life about the deeds of Jesus. 

Luke similarly, but with deep feelings. 

The Gospel of St. John was written for spiritual Christians (for instance with Greek Mystery origin), working out the specific Christian concept in their language.

John most clearly looks at the life of Jesus from the Cross and Resurrection; Matthew starts from the life. Both viewpoints are correct, but the cross and resurrection have most consequences for the time after.

The "Gospel of Philippus" (apocryphic) is no Gospel, but an Early Christian "contribution to a discussion" with several movements, having its viewpoint between them. (It is no gnostic paper, as some may assume.). The "Gospel of Tom" (apocryphic) is no Gospel, but a collection of sayings of Jesus - at least most of it authentical -, including some wordings dedicated to spiritually interested people…

Different peoples could work out different aspects better.

Methods.

Similarly the different methods of research are all useful, if applied together (interdisciplinarily). However, if one tries to built up theology on one science only (like linguistic research or "Formgeschichte" or archeological research), the result becomes partially false. Additional meditative methods are necessary.

Furthermore, more or less independent from Christian theology there is a general religious science, and philosophy, which both sometimes stand in competition to theology in as much as they address religious questions, which are difficult to access if researchers do not have their own religious reference to them. If someone combines that with a real search for God, however, it can be a fruitful supplement.In the course of time, these subjects could turn out to be far more compatible if religiousness were to be recognised as a basic characteristic of the human condition.(see"Religion...")

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Addition in "In the beginning was the Word"…":

Here it is noted that the Koran accepts Jesus Christ as a prophet sent by God, and as the "Word" of God, "created like Adam" (mentioned in several places). This is more than some modern Christian theologians accept, who see only the social reformer Jesus! Only Jesus as God's Son - Christians at the time of Mohammed imagined this very physically - in the context of the later doctrine of the trinity was not accepted by the Koran. At that time, there were hardly any Christians left who werecapable of explaining this authentically to someone of another faith.

"In the beginning…":

Neither can people with a recognisably mystical or spiritual mission really be understood if they are historically and critically only seen from their external socialisation, instead of including their independent inner spiritual development.

(last sentence cancelled, now in the chapter ascension)

*) The existence of Jesus is relatively well documented in history. Historians from the 1st Century A.D. such as Josephus and Tacitus confirm his actual emergence. In the biblical gospels too, the times and places of numerous events are mentioned. For example, several rulers and officials (e.g. Luke 3:1, 2, 23), can be identified by the year in which Jesus began his ministry. These same people were again to be found in historical documentation. Hence the biblical reports do not have the character of mere mythological stories. The "Apocrypha", e.g. additional Christian gospels, including texts from the early centuries after Christ, which are not part of the bible, often place less emphasis on exact reporting, but more on certain interpretations of isolated events by the various authors.

Change in "Birth of Jesus…"

In the sequence within the gospels we come now to more human events. Traditionally, the birth of Jesus is connected with Christmas - although this may not be noticeable in many of the Christmas activities. (Luke 1, 26-56; Matthew 1-2). Faced with the central importance of the later 3 teaching years - one may ask why some present-day theologians have laid such emphasis on denying the virgin birth of Jesus.

Addition in "Birth...":

The Koran speaks about Jesus as a being "created" by God "like Adam" in the virgin Mary, similar to the bible, reporting about the angel coming to Mary.

Right from the beginning, the life and the ministry of Jesus were interwoven with the course of world history. That already becomes apparent in the census, which was decreed by the Roman emperor, which caused Jesus’ parents to travel to the prophetically significant town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born. That fact was taken into account in theological literature when it came to the debate on the worldwide significance of Jesus.

*) The Aramaic language did not have a distinct word for "virgin". It used the term "young woman". But at that time, young women were generally virgins before marriage. There are diverging accounts about Jesus’ siblings. They might have been younger than Jesus; others might have been brought by Joseph into the marriage.

Question: If I have not yet experienced it, can I wish for an inner renewal from God as the source of everything?

In the additional page "The new birth" of the main text:

Even for people, who don't seek this experience intensively, at an earlier, restful age Christmas was connected with this experience. The festive mood during the Advent time of the Church year prepared for the inward reminiscence of the "Birth of Christ"; as the conscious fasting time prepared for Easter Sunday. So in some years one could experience something - even though not fully understanding it -, that needs today intensive meditation or long periods of prayer.

Christmas is a feast of love too, reminding of Jesus as a gift to mankind. However this does not change the deeper meaning; one can follow all steps in the life of Jesus. Love accompanies all steps too. Cf. also the chapter "And the word became flesh" in the main text.

Born-again Christians in the context of free churches, etc.

- are urged to continue building their faith daily, thus continually perfecting themselves.

- It is now befitting for them to take command of all areas in their life, which will require most of them to make many changes.

- As Revelation 21:5 says of a coming period, "Behold, I make all things new", it is likewise time for Christians to renew their thoughts about everything even today.

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Question: If I haven't already, can I give my life into God's hands?

"Jesus' youth", last paragraph:

Nobody can say, he/she has never heard about.

Addition in "The silence in the desert", concerning the practice according to Lorber:

... It is possible to pray for purification and enlightment by his spirit.

Cf. our excerpts from a guide by the Christian mystic Jakob Böhme too (only in German).

Question: Can God help me improve my relationship toward people of the opposite sex?

(new) en1234/revision_en060506.htm : Mary of Magdala.

Change in chapter 10 "Sexuality, sympathy, empathy, love...", 5th. par.:

In this context charity is then something more than just instinctive care for relatives and so forth; however, although it does not exclude them of course - in a free way.

Additions in 10, 6th/ 7th par.:

And getting to know someone must not mean leaving the existing partner. But a loving mood goes with it.

... energy upwards ...

Sexual love -"Eros" - is a special case of universal love -"Agape". So this is not necessarily a contradiction. The new Encyclica "Deus caritas est" of Pope Benedict XVI accepts this too.

Addition in 10, 10th par.:

Those who want to avoid sexual activities before marriage, can do so successfully, if both people are clear about what they want and don’t want and support each other accordingly.

Addition in 10"

The highest love is unconditional love. Cf. even loving "enemies" Matthew 5, 43-48 - which does not exclude wisdom.

Footnote:

*) Mankind is a complex network, which may become clearer in the next chapters.

topics/relations.htm : see revisions of chapter 10.

Question: Can God help me deal with my emotions more consciously?

In theology the connection to Old Testament revelations has been appraised: e.g. Psalms 1 and Jer. 17:7f. According to 4th Moses 12:3 in connection with Mt. 11:20, Jesus was seen as the new Moses. The prophesy in Zechariah 9:9f. "...his kingdom stretched from sea to sea" speaks of the worldwide significance of the promulgated kingdom of God. There was no overlooking the fact that in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly transformed laws from the Old Testament into something new: "…but I say unto you…", i.e. he did not speak as a rabbi interpreting scripture, but from the awareness of a divine mission. Exactly this prophetic and messianic characteristic was disputed by those who only believed in the Old Testament.

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Question: Can God help me restructure my thoughts in accordance with reason?

Additions in "The miracles"

(John 5, 6-9; John 6; John 9, 3 ...)..

Concerning the "gifts of the Holy Spirit" see also 1. Corinthians 12, 7-11; Acts 2, 17-20; and the chapter "The Whitsun event" in this booklet.

Question: Can I perceive God as the one who helps to bridge the gulf between life and death, as well as between consciousness and sleep?

Addition in "The Sheep":

Jesus also contrasts "sheep" with "goats" (for instance Matthew 25:32-33).
(...)

Addition in "Washing the Feet", 2nd paragraph:

Jesus also values good deeds much more highly than Christian lip service (Matthew 25, 31-43...).

Addition in "Washing the feet" 3^rd paragraph:

…higher, non-egoistic "I" …

Now "personal destiny" is less important.

Addition in "Washing the Feet", 5th paragraph:

But in the meantime there are many efforts of people, which must be taken serious, to be in contact with angels in their daily life.

After "Washing the feet"

The anointing at Bethany is followed in John 12 by the triumphal Entry of Jesus at Jerusalem as the Messiah. After the Washing of the Feet, John 13-17, the prediction of the betrayal by Judas Iscariot is handed down; then come the Last Speeches and the prayer of Jesus for himself and the disciples.

In the Washing of the Feet, theologians have often seen a symbolic act that points to the upcoming crucifixion of Jesus; or an example of serving with the purifying love of God. However, it was also heralded as a deed with direct impact.

Question: Do I want to ask* God – if I haven’t already – for my good-will toward others to become second nature to me – even if it’s strenuous?

Change in "The Last Supper, ...the whipping..."

This Last Supper is the better symbol for what Jesus gives to suffering mankind. The bread represents the substance (and/or the soul) of Jesus Christ, the "Word of God". The wine represents the divine spirit of Christ, which gives life to this word for altruistic work. The Catholic Church stressed the change of the substance of the bread and wine to the pure flesh and blood of Jesus, while the Protestant Churches stressed the remembrance of Jesus. On one hand both are right. Scientists found out that even the simple "holy water" of the Catholic Church shows that the angle of the water molecules had changed. However, the most important viewpoint would be the change within the person taking part , by attuning to what really radiates from the transformed and transforming "flesh and blood" of Jesus Christ. So it would be good to do this practice in the churches with great concentration. Some even tried to do this directly in spirit only - without the visible help of bread and wine – and still felt the effect, which is a lot more difficult to achieve. For those who want to practice a blessed meal without claiming it to be a "Holy Sacrament" of the church, it can be called "Agape" - supper of love.

Theologians also discussed whether the Last Supper represented their own form of the Jewish Passover feast, or whether Jesus replaced the old feast by heralding himself as the actual "Lamb of God". The new covenant of God with the people (the New Testament) through Jesus (Luke 22:20) was seen as being connected to 2nd Moses 24:8; Jer. 31:31-33; Isaiah 53:12. The bread was seen more as the person of Jesus and the blood as the complete healing devotion. Others have doubted the originality of that which has been handed down (so-called words of institution), which is not very likely when one considers that they belong to some of the earliest of scriptures.

Question: If I haven’t already, do I want to ask* God for the ability to cooperate lovingly with others – even if it requires me to change my mind?

...he appeared voluntarily, with love, in his resurrection body.

Addition in "The Resurrection"

Especially the way to resurrection is no mere spiritual work "free of the body", but the "body" becomes spiritual and spirit becomes physical - the begin is beyond all one-sided intellectual arbitrary. Cf. for instance Luke 24:36-43.

Addition in "The Resurrection"

Today abilities develop(p)ed on the way of the "emulation of Christ" during the centuries - are relevant too.

Addition in "The Resurrection"

(See also e.g. 1.Cor.15:53; Philippians 3:21; ).

His spiritual partner, "Mother" Mira Alfassa could penetrate unknown layers of the physical body in this way, e.g. of the cells containing memory, which are related to the old programs of death. She experienced this as "working on the one body of mankind".

(And changes in the sequence of paragraphs).

Part 2: The Revelation

Additions in chapter "The Revelation of John":

In traditional (Christian) theology, Rev. 5:6 was presented in detail as a fundamental vision: the lamb that was slaughtered and nevertheless stands upright before the throne of God. In an ecclesiastical view of things, the church has been seen as the first place where the new is implemented. Otherwise, theologians treated the Book of Revelation in connection with the eschatological trust in a "kingdom" of God to come, particularly in connection with the corresponding speeches from the time of Jesus’ ministry. That which God began with Jesus, but which has yet to be completed, continues to unfold until completion; see Philippians 1:6. It occurred that a beginning of a "new heaven and a new earth"(Rev. 21) with the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus had been assumed – and then a continual development in this direction was assumed. However, the Book of Revelation speaks of an upheaval of unheard dimensions, no matter how symbolically it may be seen. The apparent contradiction between something actually already existent and a later realisation will only really be resolved when that awareness is meditatively comprehended to some degree, which Jesus shows when he repeatedly says words to the effect of "The time is coming and it is already now…"(Rev. 4 and 5): It states that something on a more spiritual level already really existing will come into its own on the visible plane at a later point in time.

Additions in The Revelation, Chapter "How to deal with prophecies":

Other contradictions in such "perceptions of the future" obviously reflect various and partly contradictory scenarios of the future. In the collective mind of mankind that means "real, not yet clearly decided possibilities" coming mainly from various human fantasies .... Everyone participates consciously or unconsciously in this ongoing process of deciding about the future. (* See also an extra window at the end of the chapter about the "7 bowls of wrath").

A note: it does not help much to mix the Revelation with the prophecy of the Old Testament. Although there are some passages with similar images. It is, however, necessary to compare it with the historical events of pre-christian times, given in the Appendix of many Bible editions. So it becomes clear that those prophets in most cases foresaw pre-christian incidents like the Babylonian Captivity and the return from there, and the later wars in the country and a victory of the Jews at that time; also the events concerning the Messiah or Christ (concerning the Messiah compare our page about the Old Testament). Only a few places additionally indicate matters of our time or of the contents of the Revelation (for instance Jesaja 24; 25; 27; 66:15; Daniel 7:9-28; Proverbs 2:21-22.)

In most cases clearvoyants and inspirated people also could not predict the time of incidents correctly (related to our time).

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(Then we are said to be nearing the radical change with the Second Coming of Christ, as written in the rest of John's book of Revelations. This is explained as one cosmic incident, looked at from several sides. Although that (old) scenario prevails, which includes major wars; but in contrast to the idea that "the prayer of the peoples" may change this - and especially that the faithful will connect themselves to God and his inspiration, and so become lifted up to him.)

"b/churches.htm":

The Bogumiles and the Catharians were partially similar, but were one-sidedly withdrawing from the world.

c.) 0. An important basis is the mutual view of baptism as a sacrament. During the Second Vatican Council of the Catholic Church in 1962 there was some opening for the ecumenical movement. It was accepted that elements like the Word of God, living mercy, hope, love and the gifts of the Holy Spirit - both invisible and visible elements - exist beyond the Catholic Church too and that sanctification and redemption are possible in other Churches too. But still the Catholic Church saw themselves as the only complete Church.

(in 2.) Jesus told St. Peter to take care of his "lambs" and "sheep".(John 21). However, Jesus did not assign the other Disciples and their circles to Peter, but the existing main stream of Christians. E.g. John had his own Churches in Asia (see above), Paul looked for many communities, etc. So the question iarises of what it might mean today that a successor of St. Peter "puts sheep out to pasture". ... If the Churches unite, they would surely choose a mutual leader.

4. The adoration of Mary as known in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches is not practised in protestant Churches, but this is not looked upon as a main obstruction to more unity. The Second Vatican Council accepted that in liturgical questions there may be beneficial differences, according to the mentality of the believers. We know, e.g. of the endeavours of a pastor in the fifties and sixties who tried to re-establish some kind of Mary worship in a protestant Church.

(After 7.) Indeed it would be possible for the churches to come closer to each other in a real ecumenical community, instead of tormenting* Christ with their delimitations. This should be done indeed "with sensitivity and consideration for each other, in patience and with courage, holding ther truth in reverence" (as John Paul II named it). Nevertheless, today one can already experience the "general" Church in the spirit of Jesus Christ, consisting of all those who follow Christ in their own way and endeavour "to do the will of the Father"; -no matter, what Churches they belong to, or whether or not they are members of any Church at all, or whether they necessarily use the term Christianity all the time. This is a basis for the "Ways of Christ" website. This kind of experience does not replace approaches to visible unity. However, this unity must be really attempted; a signature on paper would not be sufficient.

*) Churches like the Catholic one might get some inspiration from the related messages of Christ by the Orthodox Christian Vassula Ryden, "The true life in God", vol. 1. The Catholic Church looks at such writings as "private inspirations". However, the content is often more than just interesting for the person concerned. (This website only mentions literature as additional information and our insights are independent of it.)

"Jesus help us to reduce the prejudices between Christian communities, that the Holy Spirit can work better through them."

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(new) topics/inspiration.htm

- However, it is possible to pray for receiving the Holy Spirit.

However, this is difficult, lifelong learning process; and spreading such messages requires an actual call to do this, a special connection with God, and adequate preparation.

- Some Protestant Churches think, revelation has come to an end in the time of the New Testament. On the other hand there are many phenomena like this outside the big churches, cf. John 14:21-23.

- If someone studies such phenomena in Christianity without prejudices, he/she may first notice, that in most cases the attempted explanations like autosuggestion, mass suggestion, schizophrenia are not sufficient. Then the really interesting questions can start...

The human being has its own conscience, which is not a matter of conditioning.

- "...That You live like human beings and fulfil Your daily duties, but also properly leave room for God the almighty father  in Your daily life." (From messages of Mother Mary to the seers at Garabandal and elesewhere).

- Spirit works through one's self, connected with Christ.

For instance, if somebody were to spread aggressively some defamation against another Christian, using opinions acquired by reading, and claiming a personal inspiration from Christ - and so causing discord - most probably it is neither a legitimate activity nor a true message from Christ or the Holy Spirit.

... For example, through the "inner voice/ inner word in the heart" which is fully conscious and therefore not to be confused with hypnotic or schizophrenic phenomena. Some experience in practice shows that its nature is different from telepathic phenomena too. (Cf. "Vom Inneren Wort" - German: The inner word, extracts from Johannes Tennhardt, Jakob Lorber, etc.; Lorber-Verlag).

(Consciously seeking the Spirit of God is spirituality, and seeking contacts to ghosts in trance is named spirit(ual)ism.)

*) ... ; cf. 1 Thess.5,19.

**) In some cases, however, even people with a genuine capacity for inspiration may undergo experiences similar to recognised mentally disturbed states - where the inner dialogues may continue obsessively and where the person remains unable to handle earthly necessities. To avoid such excesses as far as possible, it may help to take into account - besides the above aspects - some practical prerequisites like: enough sleep; adequate nutrition, e.g. with enough B vitamins (that means caution with fasting, if one does not have sufficient experience with it); a clear attunement to the desired source (Christ); the avoidance of overlong sessions, with the associated tendency to go off at a tangent and to become overexcited; and after intensive inner experiences, sufficient effort to return to the present "earthly" reality; to digest self-consciously the things heard. Helpers, spiritual guides (e.g. priests), therapists etc. may only be of practical assistance if they have specific experience / knowledge, which means taking not only the disturbed state seriously, but the undisturbed basic phenomenon too. The Catholic Saint Teresa of Ávila wrote in "Interior Castle" that "half learned" priests, who don't understand true gifts of God's mercy, cannot help in distinguishing between true and false ones.

(new) topics/community.htm.

Addition in "The 7 Seals":

The Christian-inspired "Book of true life" from Mexico explains the seals as starting from the earliest times of "Cain and Abel" up to the coming time of completion.

Between the 6th and 7th seal the text names the "sealed ones" and the "great multitude in white robes in heaven".

Change in "The 7 Trumpets":

...the 6th trumpet too, which may also show earthquakes. The seventh trumpet leads into the "temple of God", accompanied by flashes and voices, thunder and hail, which can also have an inner, mystical meaning.

Additions in "The beast out of the sea"

Rev. 18:11-23 is related to world trade. See later the chapter "The 7 bowls of wrath, the end of Babylon...". The "image" of this beast - cf. the next chapter Rev. 14 - might be related to false "images" (imaginations) of Jesus. There may be a relation to a dependency of multimedia devices, which is sometimes like an addiction or a cult.

Addition in "The Beast with two horns" - corrected title -, at the end:

But finally the revelation teaches no "eternal damnation"; finally everything can find a way to God; and in a higher meaning everything is wrapped in God. Cf. Revelation, 22, and the related chapter in this page about the New Earth...

Change in "The 7 bowls of wrath":

...limited earth changes...

It is up to each person to decide where they hope for help. (14.12.01)

In this connection, a vision of Mary at Garabandal (Spain) contains the prophecy of a "Great Warning" which shows all people inwardly what they must overcome within themselves - see also John 16:8; Rev. 14:6-20 - if they want to manage the transition to God's light - see also John 16:13. This is connected with a sign in the sky. Within one year after this event a "Great (healing) miracle" is announced - leaving a "sign" at Garabandal. As far as mankind would not turn over a new leaf, later the Judgement day with fire from heaven (the "bowls of God`s wrath") is said to come - revelation 16; see additionally Matthew 24:28.

(see in "The 7 churches" with extra page) (23.12.01)

Additions in "The 7 bowls of God's wrath" concerning Garabandal and the Second coming of Christ:

After this people might have to reconsider everything.

A possible preparation might be - besides changing one's life - to pray for the Holy Spirit just now.

Cf. also Rev. 12, Matthew 24,30; Acts 1:6-8.

... This period fundamentally deals with the last possible decision in each person's soul as to whether one wants to continue participating in development towards the coming "Kingdom of peace", which God prepared for the earth. (...) He does not simply come as a human being born on earth, but as the core of something more comprehensive – the approach of heaven (and the beyond) and earth; of spirit, (mind and) body. Nevertheless Christ is described as coming back as a real being - not only as his power to spiritualize mankind, as some modern groups assume.This is of significance for everyone, not only Christians. The Quran describes the Second Coming of Jesus as witness for his people on "Doomsday". One can conclude from the prophecy of several other religions, that their prophets will also play a role in the same period in one or another way, helping their adherents understand what is going on.

Since this prophecy is complex (see the first chapter "The Revelation of John"), the real development in the world may be more advanced than it seems to people who look at particular details of the prophecy, which are not manifested fully. Other areas show plagues, which are even more "advanced" than those outlined in the Revelation.

Question: Do I want Jesus Christ to appear again clearly, as prophesied, transforming human life and the world?

*) When examining such a possible window of time, there is no major significance in theories that refer to the time of Jesus’ birth asbeing 300 or even 700 years later than indicated by today’s Gregorian calendar. It is primarily the quality of time – in relation to the biblical prophetic visions – that indicates whether the time would be ripe. Newer visions would, in any case, be based on today’s calendar – assuming they contain a general time frame at all. See also the chapter on"How to deal with prophecies".

Addition in scenarios.htm

... - a specifical way on earth towards unity.

The Earth has already helped to carry some of the problems of the universe, too.

Change in "The 1000 years of peace", concerning the "wrong prophet":

(with false/ one-sided ideas about Jesus, or about what is Christian...)

Here we find the spiritual Last Judgement too. The translation of Rev. 20:4 - "... they came to life" does not fully meet the original meaning, that is simply "... they lived", (as it was translated literally for instance in the footnotes of the "Elberfelder Bible"). In the case of the souls this could mean "a coming to life again", but people who did not follow the beast may also continue to live on earth. It would be a misunderstanding to think that all of them have to die.

Additions in "The new earth..."

After the "1000 years of peace" for the judgement of the dead "books were opened" - showing the events, "and ... the book of life" - which shows one's resulting state. Only after the subsequent consuming fire on the newly tempted army and the ejecting of the "devil" into the "fiery lake of burning sulphur" (Revelation, after 19,19-20,3 now in 20:11-15) the New Heaven and the New Earth approach. ...

In God himself the higher unity of everything is already there.

(...)

- but not through arbitrary actions of people: human beings are not to play God or the Apocalypse. Man can develop more and more along the lines of God's plan for the world - the Creation Program.

Additions in b/matthewapocalypse (not in the ebooks)

Later addition: in the meantime people like the Watchtower Society noticed this connection too; this is noted here without the usual negative comments about that group or sect, because they worked it out with many details, and the big churches were not very interested in these serious questions. But their theory, this whole message of Matthew 23 & 24 would refer to the old Romans, is false, (...)

Matthew 13:30 and 13:36-43 concerns the development towards a new time too.

Additions in the Final Chapter of the main text "The Christian":

; for instance one can serve God or accept money as one's god.

This might be a new impulse for the ecumenical movement

(Additionally some additional places in bold types)

The table, added to the final chapter of the main text, topics/attitude.htm "A Christian attitude..." , contains supplements and changes.

Additions within "A Christian attitude..." (grey)

Whoever seeks to progress from their own imperfection to promising qualities - with Jesus as a standard and help - (compare the pages"...healing" and "...ethics"), must first
- deal with themselves truthfully, and based on this think about other people ( instead of projecting everything onto others), compare Mt. 5,3 and "A Christian way: digestion of the daily life");
- listen to the impulses of one's conscience, and nevertheless come out of one's shell ( instead of suppressing these impulses), compare Mt. 5,5 and 5,9 ...;
- notice that one is here for others too, although one's physical well-being may be a prerequisite für being able to help others compare Mt. 5,7;
- seek the living Spirit of God, although forms may be useful ( instead of too rigid forms), compare Mt. 6,5-8... and John 4,21-24;
- seek "to be" religious, and behave adequately, ( instead of mere appearances), compare Mt. 5,8;
- have courage, to live according to one's new insights, and consider others as well ( even if these insights are not always appreciated in this world), compare Mt. 5,15;
- be modest and serve others - in spite of new insights ( instead of becoming conceited), compare Mt. 5,19 and Luke 9,48...

... (feeling)

...a way to full life and to real spiritual freedom in God.

... This is no indecision – which would keep the apparent contradictions in place as a problem – and so it equally does not mean confusing the two ("flogging something to death"). To keep out of something completely - or to decide for the one or the other, knowing that someone else may just as well choose the opposite -  would sometimes be better than indecision too. The third way of thought involves searching for an overriding viewpoint beyond the contradictions instead, facilitating a new, free statement (postulate, affirmation, thesis, decision, establishment) – and thus resolves the problem. (...) This ability of man to increasingly approach the "true light" of God (Joh. 1:9) behind the appearance of the world (...)

Table: "Archetypes (models, symbols) from thr earliest history -elucidated by the Bible- to Jesus, and to the future.

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Extra pages, several topics, questions of life (= Part 3)

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In topics/prayer.htm***

You may consult Mt 5:9 and 26:52, and Churches' declarations for peace.

***) Nature cries for help. It's time for praying, Lord save us from the 'excited' forces of nature. However, this does not replace a change in the behaviour of man in relation to the rest of the creation.

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In topics/ethics.htm:

Even a system of ethics that sees itself as "non-religious" or humanistic shows connections to values of religious cultures.

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In "topics/correction.htm..."A correction of modern commercial "Everything about Jesus disclosure - stories" :

Other authors also joined in the previously mentioned speculation regarding Jesus with many details connected with Jewish history, but without resolving the mentioned contradictions. By reducing Jesus' resurrection in some parts of this literature to a historically tangible, pure resurrection ritual similar to that of the late Egyptian kings and possibly the Essenes and later traditions stemming from it, they withhold from the readers that renewing contribution that Jesus gave in this regard. It would not have damaged the relationships between historical groups such as the Essenes and the Order of the Templars if they had simply done without the anti-resurrection dogma. The purely mystical way of looking at the deeds carried out by Jesus already became lost in early Christian times because it was to difficult for some early Judo-Christian and Gnostic groups to understand and for this reason it is pointless trying to attempt to prove that what they had understood was the complete truth when one takes their beliefs into account. Others understood other parts of the truth, as shown, for instance, by the many early Christians who believed in a more universal significance of the resurrection; and there were also those who used the "paper for discussions" known as the "Gospel of Philip" in this regard. Paul, who was excellently suited to play the "bogey man", was not the only source of those traditions that kept the teachings of the physically and spiritually transforming nature of the Resurrection alive. Those who have some respect for the broadly accepted version handed down through the history of the churches can more easily approach the truth than those who thoughtlessly discard everything that does not agree with their beliefs.

When such activities lead to a continual defamation of Jesus Christ, it can have spiritual consequences that exceed a purely human matter.

3. There was also speculation about several "tombs with bones of Jesus" in Israel and elsewhere too. In the context of Middle East, with grave robbers - e.g. a bone case of such a tomb was stolen -; and where thousands of such cases are stored in museums, and where bones, if there, were given away for second burial, etc. it is almost impossible to get trustworthy recognitions about the persons. So the frequently used names on the cases do not prove anything. Also Probability calculus cannot exclude similarities of names in different families.

Holistic historical research would not start from the assumption, that ressurection in the traditional meaning would not have been possible. Further - instead of taking up prophecy, that can be related to Jesus, only as a source for hopes of Jesus 2000 years ago - today one can take into account, that these inspirations may point to something real, not yet fathomed till it happens.

* 4. There is also more speculation about the life of Jesus, leading to various ideas. See also an update concerning Maria of Magdala. For example, one theory was that Jesus was a follower of the Cynicism school of philosophy, which had its origins in Greece…There was even more speculation: Jesus might have been Moses, or an egyptian Pharao, or Julius Cesar, or a bycantinic imperator(!). 

There are various stories about the unknown years of Jesus between the age of twelf and thirty - they may be partially possible. Among them there are journeys to Egypt, or to India. (Not to confuse with the theorie of surviving the crucifixion in India, mentioned critically in our chapter "crucifixion".
Nicolas Notovitch wrote 1894 about tibetan texts - not verifiable till now - with ancient reports of travellers abou Jesus ("Issa"). It is close to biblical tradition - however, it describes the role of Pilatus and the Pharisee concerning the crucifixion totally different .

** Strangely enough, these types of books don't mention the fact that a very old Gospel text of the first century was also found at Qumran, which shows, when compared with today's texts, that texts were also handed down quite correctly.

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In "topics/eternallife.htm" (not in the ebook):

This knowledge can be a contribution for life: one would deal more with "remaining values" within oneself.

In Christianity the "eternal life" of "the righteous" (e.g. Matthew 25:46); of those who follow Jesus (e.g. Luke 18:29-30), and/or of those who believe in Jesus (e.g. John 3) is not only interesting after death. As far as - with Christ - something within us becomes similar to "Heaven", life in "the future world" changes too, which is also mentioned in some Bible passages.

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In topics/destiny.htm "Christianity and its relation to other teachings about karma and reincarnation" (not in the ebook):

The "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29) does not only refer to sins in the narrow sense of negative deeds, or sinfulness as a tendency to such deeds. The ancient meaning of the word "sin" - "separation" - is a good translation: everything with a tendency to separate man from God; including negative deeds of others against oneself or sufferings too. 

See also Matthew 16:13-14 and 17:12-13, and John 9:2.

**) ...Since 538 decisions were made against teachings in this context, concerning the individual human spirit. But a so named "Council's decision" from 553 was a product of a meeting, handpicked by the Roman emperor Justinian; the Pope, at that time staying in the same town, boycotted that meeting instead of signing the decisions.

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In topics/naturalscience.htm "Science and the Belief in God"

In 1998, the Catholic Church issued the encyclical "Fides et Ratio" (Faith and Reason) and Pope Benedict XVI also stressed the topic in a speech in 2006 at Regensburg in the following way: "Belief without reason and reason without belief are worth nothing, because man in his wholeness is missed". Michael Springer writes in "Spektrum der Wissenschaft" ("American Science", German issue) in January 2007, that not every missing piece of knowledge refers automatically to things that cannot be explained scientifically, or to God. This is not, by the way, our intention, but for exact conclusions, see above. He admits that the opinion that science will some day be able to fill the 'gaps' is a belief too. In this case, a lot of effort was obviously necessary to leave the question open as to whether scientists are forced to believe in God. This may not be an atheistic ideology, but rather an agnostic one, implying a missing faith without the specified doctrine that there is no God. And another new concept which only recognised belief in God as providing ethical validation of a material culture, is, in itself, insufficient to meet the above-mentioned criteria.

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(new) topics/consciousness.htm

topics/nourishing.htm "Jesus and human nourishment": 

The former Judeo-Christian communities - later most of them were Islamized - were a true part of Early Christianity; in spite of the fact that there were some differences between them and other developing churches.

Religious Fasting shows even more clearly the purification which may lead to more openness to spiritual experiences. This was for instance a Catholic tradition - on Fridays, with reminiscences of Good Friday, and the Shrovetide in the weeks before Good Friday. This practice has not been taken very seriously for a long time, but now its significance has risen again, even beyond the Catholic context. People practise abstinence in many different ways, not only in the narrow sense of fasting. Additionally, they think of the many hungry people in the world. In this context some medieval and more recent Christian and other mystics from the Medieval Age up to our time had the deeper experience of living without food in general - Latin: "inedia". Some people in our own time named it "living on light". This is a hint that the spirit can handle matter better than has been explored in science. (This requires that one knows oneself guided by God, and is accompanied by a competent person to avoid danger. It is not meant as a recommendation to go that way.)

And animals – in the biblical view - are creations of the same God; so they are not "things", as they are often still treated as today (limited by modern laws for the protection of animals.)

In topics/healing.htm "Jesus Christ and Healing - even today"  

Independent from legal issues, the person seeking healing should continue making his own efforts too, such as good nutrition or diet, physiotherapy, and - as far as possible - enough sleep, and praying.

*****) (...) With reference to today’s knowledge, the proven regulatory systems inside a person (beyond one-sided molecular biological perspectives) are essential to the understanding of naturopathic and faith healing efforts. The greater inclusion of such efforts could facilitate the collaboration between different medical trends.

(new) b/blessings.htm

(...) It is then possible to take care of the other person’s "speck" or what has been done to someone. 
In cases where a judgment seems to be necessary – in regard to one’s own actions, or those of someone else – this shouldn’t be undertaken based on appearances but in a "right"/ "just"manner – that is, in a differentiated way and as constructively as possible (Cf. John 7:24). 

(new) topics/complaining.htm (lamenting) - again with additions

(new) topics/purification "A Christian way - digestion of the daily life"

(new) topics/economy.htm : "Christian viewpoints concerning economy and social questions":

(instead of Matthew 23:23) 22:21

However, helpfulness according to Jesus is based on free will. It is not possible to derive concepts of a forced redistribution of property from it. The 9^th and 10^th commandments are still valid: "You shall not covet ... anything that belongs to your neighbour". In spite of all our endeavours to achieve an improved social situation for many people, our different destinies remain in the hands of God.

In this case it depends on what the property or money is used for (Matthew 6,24: the impossibility to serve mammon and God as well).

The prohibition of interest rates is known from Islam; but Jews and Christians might also find similar advice in the bible (In the Old Testament itself they were prohibitions): 

Ezekiel 18:8-9: He, who does not lend at usury, or take interest (other translation: excessive interest); he, who withholds his hands from doing wrong, and judges fairly between man and man; he, who follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws; this man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign Lord.

See also Esra 7:24 (Prohibition of interest, duty and taxes for special occupations); 

Some people interpreted traditionally, Proverbs 28:8 would mean, it does not matter, how the money earned from interest rates is used, because the rich ones finally use it for the benefit of the poor or for public welfare. But wherever today much money is used against that values, the presupposition of the verse is not fulfilled. For fulfilling the values of the verse, it is just important, how money is actually used.

Concerning interest rates see also in the New Testament Matthew 23:23 and 17:24.

The first question was, what might be interesting also beyond the context, in which the Old Testament grew. Therefore the differences in Deuteronomy 23,21 are not discussed here.

The bible urges people to avoid getting into debt unnecessarily (Proverbs 22:7); to plan for the future (Proverbs 21:5) and to grow in wisdom and understanding (e.g. Proverbs 4:5-8). People were encouraged to save goods or money. The "tithe" should be saved each year to enable them to travel to religious festivals and to make donations (Deuteronomy 14:22-27). St. Paul called upon Christians to put something aside each week, to be able to give it, if needed, to fellow Christians who had fallen on hard times (1 Cor. 16:1, 2) and advised them to adopt a moderate attitude towards earthly goods (1 Tim. 6:8). Jesus assumes that calculations will be carried out to make sure that there is enough money available, before starting a building project, for example (Luke 14:28). Today sustainable economics is urgently called for, both for therapeutic and preventative reasons. Private, commercial and public debt is the cause of worldwide financial instability. The website Ways of Christ has no political agenda. We only give general viewpoints here.

Renewed chapter "Jesus and peace"

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Additions in topics/society.htm: General Christian viewpoints concerning society and politics.

In Matth. 7:5 Jesus does not want us to work on our own weak points only - as some Christian groups seem to believe. We simply should start with our part of the problems, and then - more free than before, without ascribing our problems to others - rebuke or critisize them, where it seems to be necessary. This may concern our friends, or politicians as well.

So independent Christian thinking beyond traditional "left-wing" or "right-wing" thought patterns may be necessary.

***) The principle of subsidiary, drawn from Catholic social teaching - which was for instance the basis of the EU too -, would offer an element of prevention at the social level. If it were taken seriously, each superordinate level would only regulate overriding issues that cannot reasonably be regulated on a smaller scale, for instance in the town – that is, from the bottom up. This would result in a more decentralized order, finally starting from  the individual, and from there to families, groups, and to the levels of the country. This means, according to the human dignity of the individual, to appreciate their freedom and their will to mutual responsibility more consequently, instead of trying bureaucratic regulations of all areas of life, which are not consensus. In addition, because of human imperfection, we can hope for help originating from God.

(new) topics/philosophy.htm: "Religion and philosophy ..."

***) Annotation: Habermas und other philosophical schools:

Jürgen Habermas - besides Theodor W. Adorno and Herbert Marcuse - belonged to the "Frankfurter Schule" ("Frankfurt School"), - their "critical theory" influenced considerably the students' movement of 1968, and included changed ideas of neomarxist, enlightening and atheistic origin. 

Mainly Günter Rohrmoser with his conservative philosophical and -theological view criticized since 1969 the theory and activities of the 1968 movement. He saw their  'utopia' as an "ersatz religion" (a substitute for religion, competing with the Christian doctrine of salvation or 'eschatology'), and tried to preserve the old teachings of 'two kingdoms - religion und state, both wanted by God' - from Augustinus. 

The university teachers of the Frankfurt School - and their conservative Christian and economic liberal opponents as well - listed one-sidedly the arguments against each other, describing the opponents sometimes like a united group. So the former ones were not able to ask themselves, if some of the conservative values should be preserved; and the latter ones missed the opportunity to notice a legitimate motivation of the new social movements (beyond the ideological distortions) - which was directed against formalistic authoritarianism -. However, many people in Germany and elsewhere think of this issues now more differentiatedly, because they did no longer accept the old "front lines" of 1968. Nevertheless research did not advance equally - there are still books assigning every evil in the world to the opponents, and ignoring mistakes of their friends.

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Addition in topics/creation.htm : 

Concerning "Creationism": our site does not promote any "-ism" or denomination. However, creation of world and man shows indeed rather divine wisdom than mere randomity.  See also our page "Science and the Belief in God". Doubts concerning not verified parts of the archeological and geological chronology are permitted too. But those who want additionally the "seven days of creation" to be 7 days with 24 hours as we know them today, should recognize this as a mere interpretation. So faith should not stand and fall with it. Our present "days" are based on the completed earth and its rotation period - which did not exist in the beginning. Already the Bible states: "For God 1000 years are like a day". The "7 days" will mean something real, but 7 eras or cycles without defined length. To look at especially the most complicated processes of creation as the shortest ones, may not match new ongoing discoveries, like many archeological concepts that will be "out" too. In der Bibel we find, that God could already draw attention of men like Henoch and Noah to himself, a long time before Moses. Our Genesis may be handed down from such - real - origins.  Parts of this tradition are preserved in scriptures of other cultures too. Theology knows about some similarities to the Sumeric "Epos of Gilgamesh". That does not mean, that the Genesis must stem from the Sumerians; but remember, that Abraham came from Mesopotamia.

* (...) Christians from different orientations address certain issuesrelated to the preservation of creation, including such examples as unborn life and the abuse of genetic engineering and nuclear energy.

**) This could be looked at as a special pan-en-theistic view ("God is in his creation too") - not to be confused with pantheism ("God is everything"). However, the most direct relation between God and his creation is made possible by a human being (cf. John 14:21, 14:23; 15), who is aware of this connection, and who becomes more and more similar to Jesus. Enjoying the creation may lead to God too. But that "mysticism of creation" may lead people astray instead - if God would be only a word for one's own earthly things.

****) The possibilities for developing consciousness are presented in detail in part 1 of our main text, based on the various stages in the life of Jesus. Today, for example, a person can consciously learn - in contrast to earlier, more instinctive means - to again more intensely recognise the relationships with his or her surroundings and the environment and earth. In doing so, he or she can arrive at "interconnected thinking" (a term used by Frederic Vester, though on a different basis) or "multifactorial thinking" (a term used by Dörner for the study of complex ecological relationships), instead of the older "linear" or "monocausal" thinking ("1 cause  → 1 effect"), which cannot be applied in this context. See also the following pages: "Consciousness, Brain and the Free Will of Man", "Basics of Ethical Values", "General Christian Viewpoints for Economical and Social Questions", "General Christian Viewpoints for Society and Politics", "Christianity and Philosophy…"

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(new) topics/unbornlife.htm

In page: "A Christian attitude", smaller additions in the preface
(grey additions not yet corrected

Whoever seeks to progress from their own imperfection to promising qualities - with Jesus as a standard and help - (compare the pages"...healing" and "...ethics"), must first
- deal with themselves truthfully, and based on this think about other people (instead of projecting everything onto others), compare Mt. 5,3 and "A Christian way: digestion of the daily life");
- listen to the impulses of one's conscience, and nevertheless come out of one's shell (instead of suppressing these impulses), compare Mt. 5,5 and 5,9 ...;
- notice that one is here for others too, although one's physical well-being may be a prerequisite für being able to help others compare Mt. 5,7;
- seek the living Spirit of God, although forms may be useful (instead of too rigid forms), compare Mt. 6,5-8... and John 4,21-24;
- seek "to be" religious, and behave adequately, (instead of mere appearances), compare Mt. 5,8;
- have courage, to live according to one's new insights, and consider others as well (even if these insights are not always appreciated in this world), compare Mt. 5,15;
- be modest and serve others - in spite of new insights (instead of becoming conceited), compare Mt. 5,19 and Luke 9,48...'

In page: "A Christian attitude",last paragraphs after Thomas 22, )

*... So the way of Christ shows itself to be a Third Way beyond the apparent contradictions* of the world - a way to full life and to real spiritual freedom in God. Some of the bold-typed parts of the main text and the context will explain more about this. (See also John 17, and the apocryphal St. Thomas’ Gospel 22.) This is no indecision – which would keep the apparent contradictions in place as a problem – and so it equally does not mean confusing the two ('flogging something to death'). To keep out of something completely - or to decide for the one or the other, knowing that someone else may just as well choose the opposite -  would sometimes be better than indecision too. The third way of thought involves searching for an overriding viewpoint beyond the contradictions instead, facilitating a new, free statement (postulate, affirmation, thesis, decision, establishment) – and thus resolves the problem.
He who holds his ground on this tightrope walk can now take the further steps of Jesus in the Gospels (Passion) and in Acts (Pentecost) with greater success. This ability of man to increasingly approach the "true light" of God (Joh. 1:9) behind the appearance of the world is both the starting point and the goal of this description of the tightrope walk. (See our main text, part 1). 

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Part 4 The Old Testament and contributions to the dialogue with other religions.

In topics/oldtestament.htm "The Old Testament, the Jewish Religion and Jesus Christ":

This additional page is a contribution towards a better understanding of the Old Testament, and the inter-religious dialogue - including deeper spiritual aspects. The books of the Old Testament are not described here as comprehensively as the Gospel and the Acts (Pentecost) in our main texts. Nevertheless, more contributions to this common heritance of Jews and Christians are possible in the future. (...)

At that time, Jesus' work in this form required the background of a belief in God, and the hope for a great change both in Israel and the rest of the world, as predicted by the prophets. However, it has become possible since that time, ...

Apart from the Hebrew bible, the Jewish religion also produced several more scriptures, such as the Talmud with the jurisprudence of the Mischna and the commentaries (Gemara) - these were created both in the versions of Babylon and of Jerusalem. There are severe problems when the corresponding parts of Judaism attempt to apply the 613 laws (Halacha) formalistically, instead of looking at a situation in the light of God’s love, free of prejudices. Handling church law and even secular law schematically, may produce similar problems. There are also basic scriptures of special schools, especially the mystic esoteric books of kabbalism Zohar (Sohar) / Sepher Jezirah. These books are said to have originated in the 13th century; however, they may date back to even older traditions. They are even reminiscent of ancient Egypt. Today, Jewish mysticism exists too .

... Many modern confusing theories would find their solution, if this viewpoint would be noted. It is a phenomenon in many religions, that e.g. people of weak faith , who were full of hate, were not ready to change their opinions through the words of prophets.

The doctrines of God

"The God of Abraham" was experienced as the personal God of the family, the tribe and the people of Israel; and as the God of the universe as well. This belief got its strict monotheistic shape (one God only) in the course of time, repeatedly invoked by the prophets.* (...)

The Messianic belief and Christ

"Christos" is the word for the prophesied "Meshiah", already mentioned in the "Septuaginta", the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, written by Jews for Jews around (about) the 3rd/2nd century BC. So this is no "fiction" of St. Paul, as some modern writers had believed. The scrolls found in the caves near the Dead Sea (Qumran) show that pious Jews in the decades and centuries before Christ had been awaiting a messianic Kingdom of peace, as it is outlined in Jesaja 11; see also Jer. 31, 31-34. But already at that time there were various opinions concerning the nature of the Messiah - just as the disciples of Jesus had difficulties understanding that the new "Kingdom" would not simply be a national rebellion against the Romans, but a spiritual development changing everything - a "Kingdom of Heaven". See the Letter to the Hebrews.

The community of Qumran is often said to have belonged to the Essenic Order, the third school among the Jews of that time besides the Pharisees and the Sadducees. More correctly, it was an independent community, close to the essenic teachings. They had good contacts to all kinds of different schools; not only to the peaceful Essenians, but to independent, militant "Zelotes" too,  and to the Pharisees at Jerusalem (who gave them the index of the temple's treasury; obviously the Qumran people were looked on as very trustworthy, in spite of having different opinions.) The "statute of the community" 1QS contained descriptions of the awaited Messiah. They were even awaiting two Messiahs or two family trees of the Messiah. (According to the law of that time, Jesus fitted the description: Joseph from the house of David and Mary from the priestly line of Aaron this point of view was also mentioned by Carsten Peter Thiede, who is working on the scrolls for the Israeli authority for antiquities.)

It seems that the prophecy of Micah 5,1, that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, was not noticed or not considered to be important by the messianic movement of that time.  Nevertheless, Matthew, for instance, mentions this origin of Jesus. Some rashly called this an "invention" of Matthew, because Jesus was said to have his home at Nazareth, which is far away.* From the mystic source Jakob Lorber - who in the 19th century did not have any reason to disprove such speculations - we read that Jesus came from Bethlehem;. not from today's Bethlehem, but from an ancient village named Bethlehem near Nazareth.

(See also the annotation in the main text, part 2, "How to deal with prophecies")

Common jointly concepts about Jesus, held by Jewish and Christian theologians.

Many modern Jewish and Christian researchers have come to the following mutual conclusions concerning Jesus: 
- That he was a real historical person, who was born at Nazareth in Galilee, the son of Joseph and Mary and grew up in a house with brothers and sisters.
- That he was baptized by the preacher John the Baptist and after that, felt called to act publicly and in this context built up the Jesus-movement.
- That, as an itinerant preacher, he taught how to pray to the one God and called on the people to repent in the face of the approaching Divine Kingdom.
- That he did many miracles of healing, for instance of people suffering from mental diseases and that he was accepted especially by those less fortunate in the society of the time, such as the poor, women and the sick.
- That he came into conflict with Jewish scholars in Galilee and Jerusalem until being put to death violently by the Romans.

Certain controversial differences of opinion remain between Jews and Christians:

*) See Hans Küng, Judaism: Between Yesterday and Tomorrow for a study of the development of Judaism from the origin to the tragedy 1933-1945 and the present time. He attempts an integrated research that accepts the contents of the Scriptures as a contextual source, in spite of archaeology and critical theological research, which gives some Christians and Jews pause for thought. (We don’t accept all the consequences resulting from the historico-critical research. For instance, some events surrounding Jesus appear largely to be only subjective experiences. However, Küng is open to an open, not yet explored kind of reality of such experiences.

...Concerning the time before the central Asian flood and the time of the New Testament, see for instance the books of the mystic Jakob Lorber: www.lorber-verlag.de (there are many books translated into English too); and Rudolf Steiner. If one accepts the testimony of Christian mysticism, one can completely forget the theories of some other writers, saying that Jesus would never have existed as a real person, or that he was nothing more than an itinerant preacher.

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In topics/islam.htm : "Jesus Christ and the Islam", changes:

This page is a contribution to better understanding and to the interreligious dialogue. (...)

Islam means "Surrender (to the will of God)", also "(religious) devotion".

Angel "Gibril" - sometimes identified with ...

Further traditions ("Sunna", literally: "habit") with sayings/ anecdotes of the Prophet (Hadithes) play a part for the interpretation of the Koran. Even a prophet is, in his personal behaviour, a human being, and no God.

The Koran addresses Christians and Jews sometimes directly as "You people of the scriptures..." (for instance sura 4:171 ) and as "You children of Israel". So they can be interested in what is written in this holy book - in spite of the fact that most of them usually will not deal with it. Religious science anyway studies the scriptures of all religions. However, the Holy books should be studied with respect. One section of the Muslim commentators of the Koran wrote, there is an original Koran - kept by God in a safe place -, accessible only to pure angels and pure prophets; an other section of them interpreted, that the reader of the Koran on earth should be in a pure state. (...)

(for a time in between; or after a certain time...)

In the first centuries of the Islam Christians and Jews have not been forced to convert to Islam - according to the teachings in the Koran, "In religion there is no enforcement", sura 2,256*.

Abraham is looked on as one of the "Hanifes", who found belief in the one God alone, for instance some hermits.

Apart from the Bible, Jesus is also mentioned in the Koran (7th century AD), with some similarities and some differences.

"Non-Believers" (literally: "Coverers") were, in the strict sense, , the polytheistic cults - idolatry, against which Mohammed fought in Arabia and against which the Bible already warned Jews and Christians. Today in a wider sense, Islam looks on those as Non-Believers, who don't believe in the one God and the Last Judgement. Sometimes the term is falsely generalized for all non-Muslims; sometimes even by Muslims for the other schools.

In Romans 1:4 is said, that Jesus became "installed" as Son in his spiritual power - and therefore not born.

Christians might agree with the islamic conviction, that God is unborn and has not "born" but "created" Jesus. Further the Greek term "logos" - in the Bible used for the divine origin or mission of Jesus Christ - became translated in the Gospels as "The Word", which is used for jesus in the Koran. Do the Inspirations of the Koran contain mysteries not yet discovered fully by Muslims or Christians - possibly resulting in useless quarreling about terms? Also where Christians present this teachings in words, which must be understood as some polytheistic religion, this is not according to the teachings of Jesus himself: "Pray to the father (God) in my name (meaning with reference to Jesus" (John. 15:16). I n the life of Jesus everything revolves about the one God, to whom just Jesus can lead people. (...)

... birth of Jesus (suras 2; 3,47 and 3,59; 5* ...).

Moslems and Christians disagree on the question, whether Jesus was crucified, died and overcame death before his ascension to heaven – as Christians say -, or if God has risen him alive into heaven - as Muslims believe. However, both believe, that he was not "dead" at that time when he was risen (the bible for instance states, he spoke to his disciples immediately before he went to heaven.)

Jesus will then come again, and be a witness or a judge for the believing people of the Scriptures (sura 4,159; compare sura 16,89*). (...) According to the Koran and to the Bible as well, the Last Judgement is an act of God, and not of human beings, no matter if they are Christians, Moslems or Jews.

(Such comparisons between the religions do not mean to place doubt on the independence of the Koran.)

In the suras 3:55 and 5:48 it is said, „...I will make him pure" and "...you all will come back to me, and I (God) will decide, what You were in disagreement about". So Christians and Moslems might wait for the solution of some remaining mysteries instead of quarreling. (...)

In today's Islam there is no central authority, which decides religious-ethical questions. However, positions that are shared by a clear majority of reputable scholars (ulama), would probably be widely accepted.

**) Concerning the historical development of the Islam and the different schools see Hans Küng, "Islam. Past, Present and Future", Oneworld, Oxford 2007. (Referencing books of others does not indicate, that this website supports all of their opinions.)

***) Also the medieval "Christian crusades" were not based on the Bible, but human deeds, and (the crusades) have a bad reputation for instance among most of today's european Christians.

Gihad...(literal: "struggle, fight") ...

*); one can compare such "vehement" passages with other passages, which limit them (like "In religion there is no enforcement", sura 2,256).

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(new) topics/buddhism.htm:

Buddha in the "Kalama Sutra": "Let yourself not be led..., not by hearsay, ...traditions, ... opinions of the day, ...the authority of holy scriptures, ...mere reason and logical conclusions, fictitious theories and preferred opinions, ...impressions of personal advantages,...the authority of a master. But if You realize yourself...". (Real faith is more similar to recognition & conviction than to an intellectual concept.)

He speaks about the origin of everything, even of the Hindu deities. So, what is he speaking of? (Obviously for Buddha the origin and the goal were unmanifested. However, the unmanifested Nirvana or highest reality is not "nothing". It is simply beyond human imagination. Note: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all know that it is of no use - or even forbidden - to make an image of God. (...)

(...) An explanation of these similarities doesn’t have to be passed down by some exterior source, as some researchers imagine – even if it’s possible that there was a point or two of contact. (...)

After all, it’s inspiration. And if it’s true, then it comes from the eternal source – without which there would be no "something" or "nothing" or "not nothing", etc.; and without which there would be nothing that brought deliverance, since this deliverance itself would be meaningless without it. From that which is behind everything, and is hidden in everything, and yet is also completely outside everything. That which is unmanifested, yet which already contains all things, and which will be even more at the end of creation than at the beginning – something which, in the material sense, is at least as contradictory as a koan (a meditative paradoxical saying, or parable, in Zen Buddhism). Something that cannot be grasped by theoretical means, even if the human mind can gradually be made flexible enough to at least make an indirect approach***** or to process that which has been seen internally. (...)

Among the Christian mystics, Meister Eckhart’s work is closest to the Eastern impersonalism. Among the Buddhist schools of thought, the teachings of Nichiren could appear as a bridge. Among the other Indian philosophers, the work of Sri Aurobindo – with his partner, "The Mother" – is closest to the European personalism or intrinsicism. He experienced Nirvana and recognized – apparently in a way similar to some Christian mystics – that there is something quite different than "nothing" behind the Nirvana experience. He speaks of the "highest" and wants to bring certain aspects of this "highest" down to earth. There are those for whom Sri Aurobindo could be seen as a bridge leading back to Christianity – but to the true essence of Christianity, encompassing real "Christian discipleship" and even the power that Jesus himself displayed in his resurrection.

The "ultimate reality" and the question of God

(...)

And here we suddenly find a parallel in Christianity, Judaism and Islam that is not so consciously recognized. All of these religions acknowledge that it is of no use, or even forbidden, to make an image of God – even if the reason behind this has been forgotten. In Judaism, it was not even permitted to directly utter the Hebrew name for God. See also our page "Religion as a ‘reconnection’ of man with God", specifically note ²⁾ on archetypes.

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(new) topics/hinduism.htm:

**) The Indian word Yoga means connection - with the origin, similar to the literal meaning of the word re-ligion: hinduist methods of training für body, mind and spirit. Outside of India, mainly Hatha Yoga is practised; it consists of body positions and breathing. Indian Yoga schools, for instance of Sivananda, teach a classical way, including the centres of nerves and glands. The complete eight steps of Patanjali are 1. Yama and 2. Niyama (see below paragraph "Ethical values"), 3. Asana - body positions, 4. Pranayama - breathing -, 5. Pratjahara - drawing the senses back into the interior, 6. Dharana - concentration, 7. Dhyana - meditation, 8. Samadhi - a resulting consciousness of mystical unity. This way, named often Raja-Yoga exists besides the Bhakti Yoga - the loving dedication to God, and Karma-Yoga - selfless activities, and Inana-Yoga - Yoga of recognition, and the combined Integral Yoga of Aurobindo. For instance the Krija-Yoga-Master Swami Sri Yukteswar did some research on bridges between Yoga teachings and the Bible from his Indian background in "The Holy Science" (for instance Off. 3.21). His disciple Yogananda brought an impression of this path to the western countries. This path consists of combined activations with body positions, breath, the centres and mantras. However, his practice usually needs to receive a personal initiation. Kirpal Singh, master of the Surat Shabd Yoga - yoga of the inner light and -sound -, described from the Indian background his view of the inner unity of the religions, and was among the founders of the World Parliament of Religions. His school starts from the front centre, and purifies indirectly the lower centres of the nerves and glands, it needs to receive a personal introduction. Especially in Europe und America Yoga is taught often without needing to take over a specific hinduist believe. The website Ways of Christ works from an own Christian viewpoint on how the different teachings relate to each other.

Among the schools of Hinduism, the "Vaishnavites" can be looked upon as a monotheist one. Brahman (not Brahma as one of the three main Hindu Gods besides Vishnu and Shiva) is in the hinduist teachings of the Vedanta the eternal, absolute reality behind everything that is manifested, "the One without a second one".

Holy Scriptures: The oldest religious basis is the Vedas, ascribed to the "Rishis" of the "Golden Age". Later, for instance, the epic of the Mahabharata was added, with its description of prehistoric occurrences - often looked on as myths - including wars, and therefore from a not so "golden" era. The wisdom literature of the Upanishads followed. The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most important sacred texts of the Hindus, the traditions of which combine the earlier Vedas with the philosophy of the Upanishads and yoga wisdom, and is part of the Mahabharata. Krishna, the hero of this didactic poem, is considered to be the Supreme Being manifesting himself in human form – an avatar (see above).

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topics/taoism.htm

In this way, dividing all things into two polarities, yin and yang, may keep the mind within these polarities; but a seeker may successfully aspire to go beyond them, into a mystical state of consciousness.

An early Christian Church in China - no longer existing today - "translated" essential contents of Christianity for a taoist context in the 8th century: Martin Palmer, "The Jesus Sutras", Ballantine Wellspring, New York, USA. (As far as books of others are mentioned, "Ways of Christ" does not automatically support all (of) their contents.)

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topics/shinto.htm "The japanese Shinto-Religion and general viewpoints concerning natural religions".

topics/parsism.htm

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(new) topics/religion.htm: "Religion as reconnection with God":

...It is possible to show that this break is one of the meanings of "eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge" in the myth of paradise - so overcoming one's negative ("devilish") qualities will include healing this break.

² (...) However, the "archetypes" also have a high level of mixed and misleading content. "God" is portrayed as an old man, and references to "heaven" and "hell" become "archetypical" symbols of a "collective unconscious". Jung did not know exactly what this was. At least a core of this level of consciousness appears to exist to a certain extent in all people – with its images and ideas that are impressed upon people. Thus, this emerges as a kind of primal memory from a very early time in the history of humankind – even before such periods as the "mythical consciousness", as presented in our chapter "Consciousness, brain research and free will". This level of consciousness also contains such contrasts (more or less "apparent" contrasts), as addressed on our page "A Christian attitude...a third way". A closer view reveals that this level’s notion of God is a rather problematic caricature. That is why, for example, theTibetan Book of the Dead (BardoThodol) – for which C.G. Jung wrote the preface – warns the living against responding to the deceptive deities and demonic figures of this level after death. A similar writing existed in ancient Egypt. Even Gnostics in the Christian sphere held a critical view of such figures , as they were surely also experienced in dreams and meditation. Fairy tales have attempted to creatively interact with this world of symbolism, which can indeed be useful for children. However, adults may attempt to go beyond these symbols – symbols that have taken on many human aspects. But the real challenge involves seeking God directly, rather than letting him fizzle out with these false concepts of God.

...This does not mean, that all these paths must lead to the same goal. Concerning the similarities and differences see our special pages.

The importance does not primarily lie on "beliefs" - that is, on human thoughts about religion - but rather on a person's connection to God, lived out in a real way.

(new) topics/egypt.htm "Notes on Ancient Egyptian Religion

(new) topics/ancienteurope.htm "Remarks on Early European Religions: Greek, Roman, Germanic, Celtic Religion, etc.

(new) topics/2012.htm "2012: The Mayan Calendar and Christianity"

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(new) b/philippus.htm with updates

(new) b/thomas.htm

(new) topics/help.htm.

(new) topics/trinity.htm.

(new) topics/times.htm Table: "Archetypes" - from the earliest history - elucidated by the Bible - to Jesus, and to the future.

(new) b/pope.htm "Pope John Paul II and the successor Benedict XVI."

(new) topics/news_caricatures.htm "Critical comments: the caricatures showing Prophet Mohammed from danish newspapers.

Additions in reference.htm (Imprint)

There are also pages named in the main text. See the methodical tips too..