The Divinity of Jesus

Raven Steele
I have been taking it on the chin lately by fundamentalist christians who insist that I am going to hell for my beliefs. While this is certainly not new, it is starting to get a little old. therefore, a little christian history is in order. The divinity of Jesus came about at the Council of Nicea, in 325 AD, under the direction and order of Emperor Constantine of Rome. Constantine, himself a devout pagan who worshipped the sun god Baal (Sol Invictus- the unconquered sun) was intent upon converging paganism and christianity, thus giving him complete control over the Roman Empire. He had no problem allowing his favorite pagan deity to be called Jesus, thus giving a christian veneer to his idol worship. The council was convened and attended by more than 300 bishops and clergymen from across the expansive Roman Empire. Their main purpose was to sift through the vast scriptural texts, and compile a finished product that would be acceptible in the eyes of the Emperor. The subject of the divinity of Jesus was at the fore of the debate. The Arian view, offered by a church leader by the name of Arias, did not believe that G-d and Jesus were as one. He offered as proof, the passages from John 14, that said in part, that He (Jesus) was indwelled by the Father, and that the Logos (Word) was of the Father, but not of him. This of course, infuriated the council, stating that while the scripture of John may be as it is written, the tradition was to consider Jesus as divine. Constantine put this matter to a vote after he expressed his desire to consider Jesus as divine as Baal, the sun god. And certainly, whatever the Emperor wants, the Emperor gets. In the end, Jesus was "voted" as being divine, and the pagan emperor was appeased. Arias, for his dissention, was summarily excommunicated. Additionally, any and all texts that dealt with reincarnation, mysticism, and the ability for man to realize his own indwelling divinity, were "conveniently" ommited from the Bible we have grown to accept as true and unerring. Jesus performed miracles and instructed us to do so, as well. He alluded to the divine spark within us all. That we are all sons of the Father. However, the church state of Rome, saw this revelation as a threat to their authority. Afterall, what need would their be for a formalized church, complete with dogmas and established creeds, if common man could petition G-d directly? Where would the power of Rome be without the heavy clout of the formalized church? The early church of Rome certainly heavy-handed itself to ensure that the world succumbed to to its authority, and put to death any independent thought to the contrary. Has anything changed? Are people of independent spirituality still not castigated for any belief that flies in the face of antiquated tradition? Are we still not blinded to the erroneous idea of only one way to believe? Personally, I am tired of the back and forth between pagans and christians. Sick of the "us versus them" mentality. Don't think for a second that this is meant to be pro-pagan. It is not. I have seen and heard enough bashing on BOTH sides to last me a lifetime. When this continues, no side is any better than the other. Both operate from ignorance, intolerance and sanctimonious self righteousness. And while we engage in such futility, how can we be simultaneously advancing our spirits? And for every fundamentalist christian who attempts to throw a biblical verse at me substantiating their cause, I can show you as many verses that contradict their best efforts. Remember, history is written by the victors, not the defeated. Take what you think you believe with a grain of salt and conduct your own search into the Truth. Seek and you will find. Knock, and it (truth) will be opened to you. Let he who has ears listen. Does this irritate you? Are you really angry with me now? Will my expressions cause you to delete me from your FaceBook? Will I be uninvited to the next family gathering? All of these are potentials, but, then again, I am of no mind to care. I accept you regardless of your beliefs and traditions, as long as it makes no attempt to become invasive to my sense of harmony and spiritual balance. Whether it be the wiccan rede, or the christian golden rule, we are bound to kindness toward one another.

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The Divinity of Jesus

Raven Steele
I have been taking it on the chin lately by fundamentalist christians who insist that I am going to hell for my beliefs. While this is certainly not new, it is starting to get a little old. therefore, a little christian history is in order. The divinity of Jesus came about at the Council of Nicea, in 325 AD, under the direction and order of Emperor Constantine of Rome. Constantine, himself a devout pagan who worshipped the sun god Baal (Sol Invictus- the unconquered sun) was intent upon converging paganism and christianity, thus giving him complete control over the Roman Empire. He had no problem allowing his favorite pagan deity to be called Jesus, thus giving a christian veneer to his idol worship. The council was convened and attended by more than 300 bishops and clergymen from across the expansive Roman Empire. Their main purpose was to sift through the vast scriptural texts, and compile a finished product that would be acceptible in the eyes of the Emperor. The subject of the divinity of Jesus was at the fore of the debate. The Arian view, offered by a church leader by the name of Arias, did not believe that G-d and Jesus were as one. He offered as proof, the passages from John 14, that said in part, that He (Jesus) was indwelled by the Father, and that the Logos (Word) was of the Father, but not of him. This of course, infuriated the council, stating that while the scripture of John may be as it is written, the tradition was to consider Jesus as divine. Constantine put this matter to a vote after he expressed his desire to consider Jesus as divine as Baal, the sun god. And certainly, whatever the Emperor wants, the Emperor gets. In the end, Jesus was "voted" as being divine, and the pagan emperor was appeased. Arias, for his dissention, was summarily excommunicated. Additionally, any and all texts that dealt with reincarnation, mysticism, and the ability for man to realize his own indwelling divinity, were "conveniently" ommited from the Bible we have grown to accept as true and unerring. Jesus performed miracles and instructed us to do so, as well. He alluded to the divine spark within us all. That we are all sons of the Father. However, the church state of Rome, saw this revelation as a threat to their authority. Afterall, what need would their be for a formalized church, complete with dogmas and established creeds, if common man could petition G-d directly? Where would the power of Rome be without the heavy clout of the formalized church? The early church of Rome certainly heavy-handed itself to ensure that the world succumbed to to its authority, and put to death any independent thought to the contrary. Has anything changed? Are people of independent spirituality still not castigated for any belief that flies in the face of antiquated tradition? Are we still not blinded to the erroneous idea of only one way to believe? Personally, I am tired of the back and forth between pagans and christians. Sick of the "us versus them" mentality. Don't think for a second that this is meant to be pro-pagan. It is not. I have seen and heard enough bashing on BOTH sides to last me a lifetime. When this continues, no side is any better than the other. Both operate from ignorance, intolerance and sanctimonious self righteousness. And while we engage in such futility, how can we be simultaneously advancing our spirits? And for every fundamentalist christian who attempts to throw a biblical verse at me substantiating their cause, I can show you as many verses that contradict their best efforts. Remember, history is written by the victors, not the defeated. Take what you think you believe with a grain of salt and conduct your own search into the Truth. Seek and you will find. Knock, and it (truth) will be opened to you. Let he who has ears listen. Does this irritate you? Are you really angry with me now? Will my expressions cause you to delete me from your FaceBook? Will I be uninvited to the next family gathering? All of these are potentials, but, then again, I am of no mind to care. I accept you regardless of your beliefs and traditions, as long as it makes no attempt to become invasive to my sense of harmony and spiritual balance. Whether it be the wiccan rede, or the christian golden rule, we are bound to kindness toward one another.

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