Are there any exoteric Christians here?

[Andrey]

Hello All.

I am making this post because I have seen many users on here posting content linking to conventional Christian channels or articles that talk about exoteric Christianity as it is practiced worldwide. While I've had my own run ins with conventional Christianity in the past (I wasn't raised in a Christian household), I was still searching for the Truth so I didn't really spend a whole lot of time on exoteric Christianity and kept learning about many different spiritual paths, religious as well as esoteric. After discovering Laura's work, I realized I should dig deeper into Christianity, and while I haven't finished all of Paul to Mark yet (I'm only 1/3 in) and don't know what the final conclusion of the book is, I did want to make this post asking you all (especially the ones who post exoteric christian content) about what your views on Christianity are in relation to the information on this forum and how does it relate to your overall worldview and knowledge base. Do you share the same views as these people you link to or do you find some mutual correspondence with their work and take what is useful while discarding what may not fit your beliefs personally.

I ask because I'm going through a really rough period in my life right now and I feel attached to the idea of accepting Jesus Christ into my life in the usual way many out there do (going to church, repenting, requesting salvation and deliverance and so on), but I don't want to be like the stereotypical born again Christian who rejects knowledge and common sense either, so I am personally trying to reconciliate the two.

I like the ideas of Pauline Christianity and will keep my mind open to new ideas, but right now I just want to go to church and meditate on the idea of Jesus dying for our sins on the cross and all those usual things Christians think and talk about because I feel like this will help me out, but as mentioned earlier I am concerned about getting sucked into a religious rabbit hole. So the Christians on this forum, please share with me some of your thoughts about exoteric Christianity and do you feel it's something worth looking into and what to watch out for.

The reason I would like to explore exoteric Christianity is because out of all the religions out there, this one seems to be the one the PTB really don't like. There seems to be some kind of a movement to completely stamp out Christianity and many conventional Christians have a proclivity towards searching for the truth, even if they may not always hit the mark all the time. I feel like there is some truth there. Anyways, I'll stop here. Thanks for reading.

 

[BHelmet]

You have said quite a mouthful and are asking for feedback and guidance about a very internal, personal realm. You have to search your own soul and go with your own concepts and beliefs, and feelings/intuition, I think. It sounds like you are concerned about being led astray from the truth. But if you are sincere, you’ll be able to pass beyond all the BS that litters the manger. Everyone has a different journey and relationship with this stuff. And it could be so simple that it has nothing to do with theology or religious groups and everything to do with facing whatever is at the core your own “rough period” IOW, it is a way of saying to the cosmos, “I need help, please.”

Use the force, Luke. That’s kind of what it’s about. Nobody can engage with the world for you. There is nothing wrong with accepting Christ. It can mean many things. (What might it mean to you?) it can lead to many things. You’ll never know if you don’t go. The road to truth and freedom is a long and circuitous one as far as I can tell.

 

[Hesper]

I ask because I'm going through a really rough period in my life right now and I feel attached to the idea of accepting Jesus Christ into my life

Why do you feel attached to this idea?

 

[Miracle]

Hi Andrey,

If the reason you want to join a church is because you are going through a rough period right now, I'd suggest you focus on the advice given to you on a different thread that you started yesterday which isn't appropriate to replicate here. Implementing that advise will very likely bring a lot more positive benefit to your life than joining a church.

Otherwise, for the most part people go to church to be a part of their community which is usually a positive thing. On the flip side, if you have read Laura's Wave Series, you will know that there is plenty to look out for in any given church community. So if you do join a church, just remain vigilant.

 

[whitecoast]

After discovering Laura's work, I realized I should dig deeper into Christianity, and while I haven't finished all of Paul to Mark yet (I'm only 1/3 in) and don't know what the final conclusion of the book is, I did want to make this post asking you all (especially the ones who post exoteric christian content) about what your views on Christianity are in relation to the information on this forum and how does it relate to your overall worldview and knowledge base. Do you share the same views as these people you link to or do you find some mutual correspondence with their work and take what is useful while discarding what may not fit your beliefs personally.

At the conclusion of the book Laura states that there IS a Christ, for what it's worth. But as Timothy Ashworth has written in Paul's Necessary Sin (a work Laura draws heavily from in later sections of the book) Paul challenges us to have the faith OF Christ, instead of the incorrect translation of faith IN Christ (a source of so much confusion).

I am sympathetic for the very rough time you're having, and how much your own mind is getting in your way. In my own understanding of things these have roots in trauma, which distorts how our unconscious mind functions. Have you had a chance to see some of the reading on pre-develomental trauma, or Peter Levine's work? Trauma release techniques can be quite valuable in that respect, of which EE is one. Some online work done by the nervous system specialist Irene Lyon can help with this as well, in terms of giving more puzzle pieces to understand the state of your nervous system and make decisions of how best to help yourself. That is part of self-compassion I think.

It seems to me that this faith in something external (Christ in this case) seems to be an attempt to get a guarantee out of the cosmos that the work we do and the suffering we undergo is for a higher purpose. I've gone to churches before, and find that the ritual and limbic resonance the prayers bring can be a stabilizing force for people. There can be a number of ways we can help ourselves self-regulate, and church attendance with a good community is one of those ways. As others said before, there can be a temptation to read too much into the ways it may push our psychological "feel good" buttons and cause us to intellectualize the experience or read esoteric meaning or purpose into things which may not be there. That's where we get into trouble, since we start to get sacred cows or develop beliefs which may limit our assimilation of knowledge or awareness.

I fully believe that, and I think you can cultivate a similar conviction in yourself that there is a light at the end of the tunnel you can see. This does require "payment in advance" via our own conscious efforts to grow our knowledge and awareness. Your own courage and perseverance will count for a lot in these times.

Let us know if there are other ways we can support you in your journey.

 

[Andrey]

Hello.

Thanks for the replies.

Why do you feel attached to this idea?

Practicing conventional Christianity is something I'm looking into but I may have overstated my attachment in the original post. I do feel like I need some personal healing from guilt and shame for the wrong things I've done in the past and Christianity gives me the strongest impressions to make that happen in my life spiritually speaking. I will of course look into secular solutions as well to heal myself, but I feel incorporating some of the elements of Christianity can be fruitful for me.

There is nothing wrong with accepting Christ. It can mean many things. (What might it mean to you?)

Thanks. This short quote interestingly helped put some things in perspective. I guess I had some sort of minor concern that if I accepted Christ, that somehow it's "wrong" not in a moral sense, but in that it wouldn't mesh with the ideas of this forum. I suppose if I did a certain way, it wouldn't have, but I think I have a better handle on it now after reading your post, so thanks for that!

 

[Hesper]

Practicing conventional Christianity is something I'm looking into but I may have overstated my attachment in the original post. I do feel like I need some personal healing from guilt and shame for the wrong things I've done in the past and Christianity gives me the strongest impressions to make that happen in my life spiritually speaking.

I understand. I would recommend an Orthodox church, if there are any in your location. There you may find the community and structure that you need. They appear to have the greatest adherence to a holistic Christian ethic. Catholic is second best.

In the end, to serve Christ is to become a servant. Do not seek yourself but seek greater knowledge and being in service to others. I would recommend finishing reading Laura's works. Let that inform your decisions as well. At some point you may find yourself considering FOTCM.

You need knowledge and being.

Take your time and do your research. Best wishes.

 

[Mark7]

like the ideas of Pauline Christianity and will keep my mind open to new ideas, but right now I just want to go to church and meditate on the idea of Jesus dying for our sins on the cross and all those usual things Christians think and talk about because I feel like this will help me out, but as mentioned earlier I am concerned about getting sucked into a religious rabbit hole. So the Christians on this forum, please share with me some of your thoughts about exoteric Christianity and do you feel it's something worth looking into and what to watch out for.

There are some astute responses here so far I think. I would say always seek knowledge and learn how STS forces can influence one from any side. I cannot determine the needs of others but may I suggest you write some of the questions you are having down, finish reading From Paul to Mark, then see if any of those questions have changed. The harder you work the luckier you get.

 

[Tuatha de Danaan]

Hi Andrey, I won't add any more to what has already been said apart from repeating what Mark7 said. Do finish reading From Paul to Mark. The 2nd half of the book will set your perspective as you go forward. To have an insight to the early years of a religion that has lasted 2,000 yrs can't help but give guidance and maybe help to clarify some of the questions you currently have.