I’ve been lurking on a non-denominational religious discussion board. It’s different than most religious forums in that people of all faiths are welcome to participate and discuss their beliefs in a friendly manner. So far, I really like what I’m reading. I enjoy hearing what other people believe because it makes me challenge my own doctrine. I also like the fact that while not everyone on the forum may agree with any particular post, most will read it with an open mind and discuss the merits with respect and tolerance.
In the last couple of months there have been an abundance of long, wordy posts by a man who calls himself a Swami and/or Guru. I’ve skimmed a few of them myself, but frankly they’re rather confusing and hard to read, so I’ve begun to just skip over his topics. There are quite a few of them though, so they can be a little difficult to ignore. The sheer magnitude of his posting abilities has begun to annoy several of the members of the site however, and they are understandably upset that their forum is being taken over by the devout discourse of one man. I was reading a discussion about whether or not the Swami’s prolific posting violated the forum rules today, when I came across a few statements that got me thinking…
In arguing in favor of his postings, the Swami said this:
One thing that i observed by now is that, most of you are not analysing the divine knwolwedge using your brain and most of you are too emotional. Hence my divine knowledge is not appealing to you much. [sic]
I have to admit that when he referred to “my divine knowledge” it annoyed me a little. Especially since he states that others are just “analyzing the divine knowledge.” In other words, he has divine knowledge while the rest of us only get to examine it. Like we’re looking at La Gioconda in a museum, never allowed to get more than a few feet from the painting.
I've always wondered how one person’s faith could be more divine and truthful than another persons. Let’s break it down by using the simple definition of the words.
faith –noun 1. belief that is not based on proof 2. belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion:
divine –adjective –of or pertaining to a god, .
truth –noun –a verified or indisputable fact.
knowledge –noun –acquaintance with facts or truths
See what I mean? Those words don’t work together. Faith is belief without proof, while truth is an indisputable fact based on proof. Since divine is pertaining to God–a belief is which is based on faith–and knowledge is an acquaintance with truth–based on fact, then is stands to reason that “Divine Knowledge” is an oxymoron.
So, what makes the Swami’s faith or beliefs (but not truths) more divine than than mine? Not a thing! In fact, what makes anyone more qualified to speak of God than anyone else? Does a preacher who went to seminary have a direct line to God because they studied for a few years? No! It may give him or her more knowledge of the bible (“may: being the key word because some people with no formal education have incredible knowledge of biblical texts), but it doesn’t make their faith any more valid than anyone else’s.
The Truth is not held by only one, or a few chosen, for God has seen fit to give knowledge of Himself to all who seek Him. The more you seek, the more you discover.
I regard no one above another for God is not a respecter of persons. We are all vessels and we decide what to fill ourselves with […]. Some have more knowledge of God than others, but all have a perception and it is through sharing of what we have experienced and learned that we gain a slightly better understanding of the magnitude of the indefinable […] God.
The above is a direct response to the Swami’s post, and it made me smile because it hits the nail right on the head. It’s not what you think you know, but what you fill yourself with that makes you a child of God.
John 15:16-17 You didn't choose me, but I chose you. I have ordained you to go, to produce fruit that will last, and to ask the Father in my name to give you whatever you ask for. Love each other. This is what I'm commanding you to do.
God ordains us all from birth. He gives us the right and responsibility to spread our message of faith throughout the world with love. Not intolerance, not self-righteousness, not fear…
Just faith and love.
