Why Have the teachings caused so many problems? Or is the philosophy of Christ the cause?

What is Truth - how does Truth affect us?

If Truth should affect us negatively, is it Truth?? - And why is this so?

There is a basic Christian principle that indicates negativity as being unTruth or at least a questionable Truth at best. It is questionable due to it's ultimate result - or lack thereof.

The teachings of the Christ will not be what I am questioning, I am asking why application of those teachings have such adverse affects on people, both followers of a Christian teaching and those who resist that teaching. I have no quarrel with Jesus and His philosophy, or His teachings, for they are universally the teachings of the great spiritual leaders throughout human history. Differences are differences in culture and in word usages.

Jesus taught Love and personal responsibility. This means we are to Love others. A lot of doctrines and rules have been created to explain and to "properly" direct Love into the appropriate channels. Those who make these many declarations may be well meaning, but these man made changes have wreaked havoc throughout the Christian world and the world at large.

For example - the Crusades. There was a logic (man made, of course) to power the Crusades, the battles that ensued, the bloodshed, the hatred that exists to this day. Would Jesus create a condition that would split the world and create the division between Muslim and Christian that we see today? This wall of hatred is man made and therefore man's responsibility.

Islam arose out of Christianity much as did Christianity arise out of Judaism. They have a lot in common.

And the “burning times” during the Inquisition and its counterpart in the American Witch trials. This IS NOT love. This IS NOT the teachings of the gentle Jesus. This is man’s logic regarding the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus had two basic teachings which I can easily reduce to four words:

Love GOD
Love Man

All else is automatically taken care of when these four words are spiritually understood and accepted. They fulfill the Ten Commandments and the hundreds of rules spawned by man’s attempt to explain them.

Of course, not everybody is able to nor willing to accept and to understand spiritual ideas, spiritual concepts, and spiritual reality. The study of the spiritual realm as seen through the Eyes and Mind of Jesus is not easy to grasp. As a result, the burgeoning of rules, regulations, and the multiplicity of doctrines until the very basics of what Jesus taught have been deeply buried. The results show up as hatred and intolerance with its inherent problems and brutal barbarism.

GOD is Love. GOD is many things. GOD is all things. Jesus taught about GOD and His relation to GOD. He taught us so we could also have a similar relationship with GOD. His immediate followers didn’t understand at first. They didn’t understand even after repeated attempts to teach them. Understanding didn’t come until after the crucifixion death of Jesus.

Understanding the teachings of Jesus is basic to Christianity. Understanding someone else’s teachings of who-knows-what will cause dilution of the Truth of those original teachings. Dilution began almost immediately after Jesus left. The Bible gives many examples which are available to anybody that takes the time to look (No, I won’t quote scripture -- I have no need to “prove” anything). Compare the few actual recorded words of Jesus to the rest of Any Sacred Text and the variations become apparent.

How does one determine Truth for himself?

The first requirement is a burning desire to know Truth.

The second requirement is prayer in order to know Truth. The most important part of this requirement is to become quiet and listen to the voice that comes from within. Often it will come as a sudden awareness that was not there previously. Occasionally it will dawn slowly like a beautiful sunrise. It will come!

The third requirement is acceptance of Truth as it unfolds for you. You must be willing to accept the fact that Truth will often be at odds to the doctrine you have grown up with. However, it will be understandable and will merge perfectly with whatever previous knowledge of Truth that you possess.

At first, you will feel alone -- very much alone. Then a strange phenomenon will unfold for you -- there will be a recognition of others who, like you, are also searching for Truth. And they will recognize you, also. The attraction of like minds will manifest and you will no longer be alone.

And through all of your journey into Truth, You will have GOD.