Judaism, Islam and Christianity aren't making life much better or giving anyone much hope or comfort these days. Millions of people are dying in the name of Jesus or being blown up," Allah Be Praised." Millions are being oppressed, marginalized and killed in the name of the Israel. It seems the God of the Old Testament and the Book of Revelation is back in town.
Our planet is divided into "isms" of beliefs, or maybe we can call them "beliefisms." There are many that seek to define the nature of God and millions belong to each school of thought, if not literally, then at least in mind when they read the definitions. Here are the main ones.
Theism holds that God is both transcendent and immanent; thus, God is simultaneously infinite and in some way present in the affairs of the world. Catholic theology holds that God is infinitely simple and is outside of time. Most theists hold that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent, although this belief raises questions about God's responsibility for evil and suffering in the world. Some theists ascribe to God a self-conscious or purposeful limiting of omnipotence, omniscience, or benevolence. Open Theism, by contrast, asserts that God has limits. "Theism" is sometimes used to refer in general to any belief in a god or gods, i.e., monotheism or polytheism
Deism holds that God is wholly transcendent: God exists, but does not intervene in the world beyond what was necessary for God to create it. In this view, God is not anthropomorphic, and does not literally answer prayers or cause miracles to occur.
Monotheism holds that there is only one God, and/or that the one true God is worshipped in different religions under different names. It is important to note, however, that monotheists of one religion can, and often do, consider the monotheistic god of a different religion to be a false god. For instance, many Christian fundamentalists consider the God of Islam (Allah) to be a false god or demon (although theologians and linguists argue that "Allah" is merely the Arabic word for "God," and not the literal name of a specifically Muslim god). Many Jews consider the messiah of Christianity (Jesus) to be a false god and some monotheists (notably fundamentalist Christians) hold that there is one triune God, and that all gods of other religions are actually demons in disguise (as in 2nd Corinthians, verse 14). Eastern religious believers and Liberal Christians are more likely to assume those of other faiths worship the same God as they.
Pantheism holds that God is the universe and the universe is God.
Panentheism holds that God contains, but is not identical to, the Universe. The distinctions between the two are subtle, and many consider them unhelpful. Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, paints a pantheistic/panentheistic view of God, which has wide acceptance in Hasidic Judaism, particularly from their founder The Baal Shem Tov. It is also the view of the Liberal Catholic Church, Theosophy, Hinduism, some divisions of Buddhism, and Taoism, along with many varying denomintions and individuals within denominations.
Pandeism combines the major elements of deism and pantheism, and holds that a transcendent God existed before the universe was created, but that this God became the universe in the course of creating it, and thereby ceased to be an active participant in its operations.
Dystheism is a form of theism which holds that God is malevolent as a consequence of the problem of evil. Dystheistic speculation is common in theology, but there is no known church of practicing dystheists.
Most believers allow for the existence of other, less powerful spiritual beings, and give them names such as angels, saints, Djinn, demons, and devas.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GodOf all these "ISMS", it is the Big Three of Judaism, Islam and Christianity that embrace MONO-Theism. It is this practice of Monotheism that is killing us these days. Read it again.
"Monotheism holds that there is only one God, and/or that the one true God is worshipped in different religions under different names. It is important to note, however, that monotheists of one religion can, and often do, consider the monotheistic god of a different religion to be a false god. For instance, many Christian fundamentalists consider the God of Islam (Allah) to be a false god or demon (although theologians and linguists argue that "Allah" is merely the Arabic word for "God," and not the literal name of a specifically Muslim god). Many Jews consider the messiah of Christianity (Jesus) to be a false god and some monotheists (notably fundamentalist Christians) hold that there is one triune God, and that all gods of other religions are actually demons in disguise (as in 2nd Corinthians, verse 14). Eastern religious believers and Liberal Christians are more likely to assume those of other faiths worship the same God as they."
Monotheism is divisive, warlike and ego inflating by nature. It pretends that someone is all right, and the rest are all wrong. It is us vs. them, me vs. you, we vs. they, the true people vs the false, God's people vs. the pagans, the chosen people vs. the unchosen, converted vs. unconverted, of God vs. of the Devil and on and on. It is the idea that one group of people can find the true God to the exclusion of others that is the basis for so much carnage and killing on the planet. It is why your news reads as it does, why your government acts as it does, why your Church thinks as it does and why others react as they do. For all the chosen, there are the unchosen. For all the called, there are the uncalled. For all those that just know they are right, there are those they know are just wrong. For all that understand the one true truths, there are those that understand nothing, are deceived, pagan, of the devil, rebellious, stiff necked, hard of heart and generally uncooperative when a monotheist pushes their truth in your face or endeavors to shove it so far down your throat, you choke.
Everyone believes with all their heart that they are in the right religion and certainly undertand the one true God and attend the right synagogue, mosque or church. No one would say, "I am in the false church and believe bullshit, but I like it." One can in fact be in a false group, in terms of the information given being accurate to life and reality, and one can certainly believe bullshit, but while everyone else might suspect this, they are oblivious to it. If you mention that they might do a bit more homework on the topic, or lighten up a bit...well, you are of the Devil and here we go again!
What's the solution? There are a few concepts which are true, but will never be admitted to being true by those that hold onto the exclusivity of monotheism. Monotheists are working for a world, a Kingdom, a government and a way of being that reflects what they see as how their one true God thinks. They have a vision of how the world is going, why it is the way it is and how it will all end. Many love to say things like, "I know the end of the story, and WE win." That's the problem right there. We win, you lose. We are in charge now, you do as we say. We know the mind of God, so just listen and we'll fill you in. Oh yes, and if you don't, well then our God has ways of dealing with you. The war in Iraq and Lebanon is currently how God is working out his plan for these lost souls according to one form of monotheism, or two depending, which two will no doubt be hearing from the third form for a long time to come.
So what is a more positive reality that we all are going to have to come to so we can get past this madness that has erupted from the one true Church, God, Government, Belief and Way to Be? Here are a few realities that most will never adopt, few will ever admit to being true and none of those who are God haunted by the exclusive nature of monotheism which demands that, "my God's bigger than your God" will ever accept.
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