(August 13, 2014 at 7:45 pm)ShaMan Wrote:Emanuel Swedenborg taught this doctrine; however, you can find essentially the same doctrine in the works of the Schoolmen.(August 13, 2014 at 7:23 pm)ChadWooters Wrote: In His Glorified state, the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is not just another good man; but rather the Ideal of Human Perfection, i.e. the complete unity of Divine Love and Divine Wisdom.According to whom?
(August 13, 2014 at 7:54 pm)whateverist Wrote:The second reflects the fact that Christ is the Divine Logos. Thus the way to the Father is not by following the external and accidental aspects of the man; but rather, being led by the essential spiritual Truth made manifest through Him.(August 13, 2014 at 5:41 pm)Michael Wrote: …we have a tendency of messing things up…also, why would a good person reject the personification of goodness? …Perhaps this is what is meant by Jesus saying "he is the way", that it is his example that matters,… Does Jesus' transcendence constitute the way we are to follow or does it mark him as a being above others to be worshiped?
(August 13, 2014 at 10:14 pm)FallentoReason Wrote: ...Hang on, so are you [Michael] essentially saying that knowledge of Jesus/God isn't required to gain access to heaven?I want to answer this, not to put words into Michael’s mouth, but to contribute my own thoughts on your question.
Salvation is not an either/or proposition. In both Catholic (correct me if I’m wrong Michael) and New Church doctrine, both Heaven and hell have degrees to reflect either: 1) the maximum amount of happiness that can be attained by the blessed OR 2) the level of corruption present in the wicked. It is all based on how much light a person is capable of receiving; regardless of when the light is received. Thus if a person is incapable and resistant to receiving the Light of Truth during their earthly existence, they will not be able to receive it in the afterlife. Even though ‘the heathens’ failed to hear the Gospel truth, they may still move towards the Light of Truth in the afterlife, because the direction of their earthly life was already heading in that direction.
Missionary work remains important, because salvation is more than a one-time confession based and affirmation of a specific doctrine. Missionaries use the Gospel to deliver people from the false religious beliefs that foster strife and unnecessary bondage to false doctrines in this life. This allows the newly saved, as a community of believers, to bring healing, education, and love into this world.
(August 13, 2014 at 10:14 pm)FallentoReason Wrote: …If we remember that God is omniscient, then he would know precisely how to reveal himself such that we wouldn't be mistaken about his existence… it would still make a world of difference … if God undeniably showed himself. That way, those who lack the will to act on this knowledge are *absolutely* responsible for the life they've lead. … it's unjust to punish the unbeliever to an eternity of damnation just because God didn't make it clear…And why must it be undeniable clear and not simply clear enough?
