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ALL SOULS
METAPHYSICAL CHAPEL DEFINITION OF METAPHYSICAL THEOLOGY |
WEEK
DAY
EMAILDEFINITION OF METAPHYSICAL THEOLOGY GOD Our first principle states: “We believe
in God as Infinite Intelligence.” God is
not a personified being sitting upon a throne- neither male
nor female but containing both – thus you may hear many of
our ministers say “Father-Mother God.”
Our understanding of God is more Panentheistic.(We are not
referring to the gods and goddesses of the Mesopotamian
myths.) PANENTHEISM removes these
obstacles. The Greek roots of the word
mean “everything (pan) is in (en) God (theos).”
The middle syllable en has a double meaning:
everything in God, and God in everything. To cite the most concise biblical
expression of panentheism, God is “the one in whom we live
and move and have our being” (Acts. 17:28) Notice how the
language works: Where are we in relation
to God? We live in God; we move in God;
we have our being in God. GOD IS NOT
SOMEWHERE ELSE, but “right here,” all around us.
God is the encompassing Spirit in whom everything
that is, is. Thus panentheism does not think of God
as “a being”. To clarify, it does not
think of God as a being separate from other beings, not as
another being in addition to the universe of beings.
Rather, it thinks of God (or “the sacred” or
“Spirit,” terms which we use interchangeably and
synonymously) as a non-material level or layer or dimension
of reality that pervades the universe.
To use William James’s generic term for God, God is
“the more.” “THE MORE” is all around us and within
us; the universe is shot through with the presence of God.
Thus God and the universe are not completely
separate; rather, the universe is “in God,” and we, and all
that is, are “in God.” Importantly, panentheism does not
identify God and the universe. God is not
the universe, and the universe is not God.
Rather, though the universe is in God, God is more
than the universe. Thus “the more” is
“right here,” intimately present, as well as “more than
right here.” This expressed in our
2nd Principle. BIBLE We take the Bible seriously, but not
literally. We do not accept the Bible as
the inerrant Word of God! It has
been translated many times and was written as part of the
culture and social experience of that time.
The “inerrant word of God” has supported throughout
history a wide variety of completely discredited practices.
The Bible was quoted to claim that kings rule by
divine right, that the earth is the center of the universe
around which the sun rotates, that slavery, segregation and
apartheid are legitimate and moral social institutions, that
women must be kept in second class positions, that evolution
is wrong and that homosexuality is a condition condemned by
God. In each of these cultural
debates the Bible has lost. We read and use the Bible as a book of
the light of the soul, a metaphysical history of
transcending consciousness—that is, a history which tells
the story of human consciousness constantly rising above
culture, environments, difficult situations, and trying
events, including self-imposed limitations.
“Thus Holy Scripture is a book of guidance,
instruction, and teaching intended to enlighten humankind.
It is a record of Hebrew law, drama, sacred history,
poetry, philosophy, psychology, and religion.” CREATION We may also think of God as the
“Absolute.” According to the Genesis
narrative, all things are created by God, exist, and are
made manifest. Everything subsists in
essence, and nothing exists without essence.
The universe and humankind are manifestations of God
and reflections of that Essence. Many
believe that the earth was created in seven days.
The number seven in many schools of numerology mean
something was finished, completed, not literally seven days. We can spend countless hours debating
the big bang theory versus creation, etc.; however, remember
that we internalize the scriptures. In
light of this, how do we relate to “darkness?”
Many teach that only light and the color white are
symbolic of God. But darkness and the
color black are also representations of God.
Darkness, as a metaphor, presents God as the
Inscrutable Source, the Unknowable and the Unmanifest.
According to the early Egyptian writers, the first
principle is characterized as darkness because it is beyond
all classified and rational conceptions.
We see the creation process beginning at the commandment,
“Let there be light!” We see Divine Order
taking place as names were given to things, such as day,
night, and so forth. “The Hebrew
cosmological depiction of a God-created “good” world in the
biblical story is the ultimate purpose and destiny for the
human family.” (The Mysteries of
Creation) Rocco A. Errico ANGELS The term angel in Aramaic has many
meanings: ambassador, messenger, preacher, a good man, holy
man, a man of God, principal elder, minister of a
congregation. In the book of the
Revelation, John was asked to write to the angels of the
seven churches in Asia Minor (Turkey) meaning to the head
ministers of the seven churches. Angels,
malakheh, are also considered spirits.
(Aramaic Light on Genesis) Rocco A. Errico / George M. Lamsa In many metaphysical circles you will
hear people speak of their Master Teacher, their Ascended
Master Teacher, their Guardian Angels, etc.
A Master Teacher may be a “master” of a certain thing
or subject as we have master electricians, carpenters, etc.
An Ascended Master Teacher means that they have
evolved into the “Christhood.” Todays
usage of “Guardian Angel” simply means a guiding
spirit. In some Kabalistic circles Angels are
God manifesting, for example, as the four main elements of
earth life, earth, air, fire and water, and man personified
them giving them individual names. ADAM & EVE “Adam and Eve are representational of
humanity and are fictional characters who have become
historicized. The narrative of the
transgression of Adam and Eve, their punitive consequences,
and exile from paradise is the story of what humanity
continually endures by constantly seeking power over others.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents
power—that is, becoming gods. Human
beings have the tendency to self aggrandizement and deifying
their own powers. Knowledge bestows
power. One can use it to control and
manipulate or bless and advance humanity into a new state of
enlightenment and understanding.” Aramaic
Light on Genesis” Rocco A. Errico/George M. Lamsa FALL OF MAN-ORIGINAL SIN Metaphysicians do not accept the
concept of original sin! They believe
that this is the beginning of man’s individual journey.
The Christological interpretation is that only
through accepting Jesus as your personal savior are you
saved from “original sin.” DEATH To the Metaphysician, death can be as
beautiful as birth. We have an earth
birthday, the day we are born, as well as a spiritual
birthday, the day we are born into Spirit.
There is a saying that says “Weep for the coming in.
Rejoice for the going out.” Weep for the
coming in because we do not know what that child will go
through in their lifetime. Rejoice for
the “going out,” because all theologies teach of something
better than this life. We believe that
all of our relatives, friends, teachers etc., will be there
to greet us. Metaphysicians do grieve!
We grieve the physical loss that is apparent, we are
not in denial. However, we can rejoice in
their great gain. “Death is not the
opposite of life, it is the opposite of birth.” JUDGEMENT We believe that JUDGEMENT is automatic,
logical and unavoidable. We do not
believe in a personified God sitting upon a throne with a
large book in his hands judging where you shall go!
As we live our lives, we accumulate and create a
vibration which is uniquely “ours.” When
we pass from this world to the next, we shall go
automatically to that sphere or place which we vibrate with
accordingly. For example, if we measure
sound waves….Middle C will only be in unison with Middle C.
Our vibratory rate will take us to the place where we
belong. In other words, we will be in a
place where everyone is “just like us!”
Imagine! However, our 9th Principle
teaches us that we do not believe in eternal “damnation.”
In other words, when we have had awareness of our
wrong doing and thinking we can then begin to progress. HEAVEN AND HELL “In my Father’s House are many
mansions.” Metaphysicians believe that
there are spheres and gradations.
According to the school of numerology you will hear
different concepts. One will teach there
are 7 gradations and 24 spheres within each gradation and
then when you reach the 7 gradation, 24th sphere, you are
back to God, which is also the number 8…which goes on
forever. Another school will teach 12
gradations, etc. The important concept is
to have awareness of vibrational levels.
The orthodox version of Hell is a geographic place
consisting of fire and brimstone, etc. We
believe that some of the early church fathers traveled
astrally to the lower planes where there was much hatred,
jealousy and greed, creating clouds of darkness.
Thus when they returned they referred to the darkness
as “great clouds of belching smoke like those from Gehenna.”
Gehenna is outside of Jerusalem where they burned the
trash. Thus, where there is smoke, there
certainly must be fire. We
hear many Metaphysical folks saying, “I don’t believe in
Hell!” What they should be saying is “I
don’t believe in the Orthodox conception of Hell.”
We have all heard and read “Heaven and Hell” are
states of consciousness, and that is true, here or
hereafter! REINCARNATION This is a subject that has split many
Metaphysical groups. Many who believe in spirit
communication will argue that it would be impossible to
communicate with their spirit loved-ones if they
reincarnated. When we study
the subject of reincarnation, we must realize that there
exists a possessive personality factor.
That is, we all know that we cannot possess anything, even
our own bodies; we will have to die and go on.
However, many times we possess relationships to
various folks we have left behind, our husbands, wives,
sons, daughters, friends, etc. For this
reason, many would not want to reincarnate. There is also the argument that if
reincarnation does exist why are there more people on the
planet now then ever before. Where did
they come from? Well, one answer is “new
souls.” Another, “other planets.” Past life information can be of use to
us when it explains something that is taking place in our
lives, etc. Dr. Ian Stevenson of the
University of Virginia did over 500 research cases of past
lives with children. Over 200 of these
cases had physical deformities and would start telling under
hypnosis of an incident that related to their scars or
deformities. His book, Twenty Cases
Suggestive of Reincarnation, is considered a classic in its
field. Metaphysicians all agree that it is
what we are doing NOW, that really matters.
We cannot relive a past life and why should we want
to? The subject of reincarnation should
be discussed and investigated the same as any other
metaphysical theory; however, it is up to the individual as
to whether or not it is valid for them. SATAN An Aramaic idiom
which means “You deceiver you!” We
believe it is radical left brain “stuff,” not an individual. DEMONS/ DEVILS “The Aramaic word
for devil is dewa. Dewana is the
adjective of dewa and means “insane.”
A similar word that Aramaic speaking people use is
shedana. This Aramaic word means “a
demented person” and refers to one whose talk is jumbled and
whose mind is unbalanced. Although these
terms sound strange and also refer to so-called invisible
spirits called demons and devils, they
are really the names of diseases known to the ancients.”
(Aramaic Light on the Gospels of Mark & Luke) Rocco
A. Errico/George M. Lamsa JESUS Christed Consciousness is how many
Metaphysicians refer to Jesus. Jesus, was
his name, The Christ, was his title.
Metaphysicians do not deny the “Divinity” of Jesus; however,
we do not deny the “Divinity” of any other person as well.
We are all dormant “Christs” in various stages of
unfoldment. VICARIOUS ATONEMENT Webster’s definition is “done or
suffered by one person on behalf of another or others.”
Metaphysicians do not believe that another person can
suffer vicariously for their wrong doings.
Our fourth Principle states “We believe in personal
responsibility and that we create our own happiness or
unhappiness as we live in harmony or discord with natural
physical and spiritual laws.” REVELATION/RAPTURE Theologians cannot agree exactly who
wrote Revelations. Most agree that it was
John when he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos.
Fundamentalist preach that this scripture is
describing the end of time or “The Rapture.”
Most Theologians think this was about the conclusion
of the ministry of Jesus, not the end of time.
This is the version that we accept as Metaphysicians.
We can also internalize this scripture for an indepth
study of our own spiritual progression. Desiderata Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as
possible without surrender be on good terms with all
persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to
others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their
story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations
to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may
become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and
lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as
well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career,
however humble; it is a real possession in the changing
fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is of trickery. But let this not blind you to
what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about
love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it
is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the
years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture
strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. All Souls Metaphysical Chapel is
affiliated with: United Metaphysical Churches
(UMC) 1488 Peters Creek Rd. NW Roanoke, VA 24017 Phone: 540 562-4889 The United Metaphysical Churches is a
nationwide association of churches and study groups in
Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Maryland, Montana, New York,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and
Washington, DC. Our headquarters are located in the
foothills of the beautiful Shenandoah Mountains. The campus
includes Roanoke Metaphysical Chapel, dormitory rooms, a
cafeteria, bookstore and several rental properties. Classes
and special weekends are held year round, and we have a full
Seminary program. Visit the UMC website at
www.unitedmeta.com for details. |
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