Purpose of Christianity

[Dedicated Mind]

I've been reading some about gnostic christianity and the attainment of spiritual levels and self realization in Christ. It got me to thinking about what is the purpose of christianity. Is the purpose self realization or producing a Godly character with good works? Is that all there is to religion or is there something more? What is your opinion?

[Amanah]

I think the purpose of Christianity is to restore humanities' relationship with God so that we can be seated with him in heavenly places in this world and the world to come.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

I've been reading some about gnostic christianity and the attainment of spiritual levels and self realization in Christ. It got me to thinking about what is the purpose of christianity. Is the purpose self realization or producing a Godly character with good works? Is that all there is to religion or is there something more? What is your opinion?

Self realization typically means realizing that we are one with God, our soul is already "God"

Christianity teaches that man has a fallen nature and needs to be redeemed by receiving the Spirit of God

The first concept is deception, the second concept is redemption.

[Godsdrummer]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

I've been reading some about gnostic christianity and the attainment of spiritual levels and self realization in Christ. It got me to thinking about what is the purpose of christianity. Is the purpose self realization or producing a Godly character with good works? Is that all there is to religion or is there something more? What is your opinion?

Now that is a good question, and put it that way made me stop and think, out side the box!!! You see 2000 years after the on set of Christianity we have to get out of the box, that is the only way to see what has become traditions and what is true relationship with God.

First one must realize that christianity was and out growth of the kingdom of God. Futher we speak of christianity as if it is a living being self propelled enity. Christianity is nothing, it has no purpose, can not do anything of itself, christianity is nothing more than another religion in a world that needs relationhip with God in the kingdom of God.

You make two statements which show forth the base thinking of religious thought.
Is the purpose self relization.
or the production of Godly character with Good works.

First religion/christianity may cause us to realize our faults, but that is where it must stop we cannot produce a Godly character on our own by good works. We can only become like God as we become closer to him in relationship with him.

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Self realization typically means realizing that we are one with God, our soul is already "God"

Christianity teaches that man has a fallen nature and needs to be redeemed by receiving the Spirit of God

The first concept is deception, the second concept is redemption.

Amanah, I don't disagree with your definitions of self realization, but I think there are some parallels between gnostic's attaining spiritual levels and Paul's growing to the fulness of the stature of christ. There are other weird gnostic doctrines like the spiritualization of Mary Magdalene and the divine feminine, but I am only searching for NT parallels.

I was just wondering if receiving the Holy Ghost, we can attain spirituality. It would not be our own spirit, but our spirit through the HG. What have you studied about self realization? You seem to know a good definition.

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I think the purpose of Christianity is to restore humanities' relationship with God so that we can be seated with him in heavenly places in this world and the world to come.

I agree with your statement, but how does restoring relationship change us? Do we grow spiritually or do we change our character and produce good works? Maybe both, but how much can we grow?

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Godsdrummer

Now that is a good question, and put it that way made me stop and think, out side the box!!! You see 2000 years after the on set of Christianity we have to get out of the box, that is the only way to see what has become traditions and what is true relationship with God.

First one must realize that christianity was and out growth of the kingdom of God. Futher we speak of christianity as if it is a living being self propelled enity. Christianity is nothing, it has no purpose, can not do anything of itself, christianity is nothing more than another religion in a world that needs relationhip with God in the kingdom of God.

You make two statements which show forth the base thinking of religious thought.
Is the purpose self relization.
or the production of Godly character with Good works.

First religion/christianity may cause us to realize our faults, but that is where it must stop we cannot produce a Godly character on our own by good works. We can only become like God as we become closer to him in relationship with him.

GD, you make some profound points. What I would like to know is, assuming we have an acts 2:38 relationship with God, what next? Amanah is correct in her definition of self realization, that is similar to all new age religions, that it is becoming like God. So you think realizing our faults is the height of spiritual growth and anything after that is through relationship? If that is true, how far can relationship take us? Is the ultimate purpose to grow by loving God or good works by loving our neighbor or both? I know I'm repeating myself but I would like to know what does relationship produce in us?

[TGBTG]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

I agree with your statement, but how does restoring relationship change us? Do we grow spiritually or do we change our character and produce good works? Maybe both, but how much can we grow?

God works in us as we yield to his Spirit, and as a result, we produce good works.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

Amanah, I don't disagree with your definitions of self realization, but I think there are some parallels between gnostic's attaining spiritual levels and Paul's growing to the fulness of the stature of christ. There are other weird gnostic doctrines like the spiritualization of Mary Magdalene and the divine feminine, but I am only searching for NT parallels.

I was just wondering if receiving the Holy Ghost, we can attain spirituality. It would not be our own spirit, but our spirit through the HG. What have you studied about self realization? You seem to know a good definition.

I have an English/Humanities degree from Rollin College.

I have read and studied Buddhist and Hindu literature quite extensively, along with Plato and the Christian Mystics. I would say that Gnosticism is a child of Platonism and Eastern religion, combined with "Christian" ideas.

Plato, Hinduism and others teach that there is a "world soul" and self realization is to ultimately understand that all things are one, we are one with the world soul, one with each other

Buddhism teaches that all things are one, the very air that you breath was breathed by someone before you. Through meditation, we come to realize the oneness of ourself with God and each other.

there is no separate self. each molecule of your body is regenerated every three years, where is your self? who are you?
are you your body? no, its constantly changing
are you your mind, your thoughts move in a constant stream
who are you?

so you find the divine through meditation, see below

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism

Gnosis (γνῶσις) refers to knowledge of the second kind. Therefore, in a religious context, to be 'Gnostic' should be understood as being reliant not on knowledge in a general sense, but as being specially receptive to mystical or esoteric experiences of direct participation with the divine. Indeed, in most Gnostic systems the sufficient cause of salvation is this 'knowledge of' ('acquaintance with') the divine. This is commonly identified with a process of inward 'knowing' or self-exploration, comparable to that encouraged by Plotinus (c. 205–270 AD).

[Amanah]

so that is not the same as being filled with the Holy Ghost. We don't find the Holy Ghost through meditation to experience union with the divine from within.

We repent, realize we are sinners and separate from God, and God fills us with the Holy Ghost, which was not in us before we started our spiritual journey