A reinterpretation of a revelation to Joseph Smith on the glory of God.
Tag: consciousness
The Mysticism of “Past Lives” or “Premortality”: Two Perspectives
Did we live before this life? Many religions say so, secular minds often say no, but could there be validity to both?
A Mystical Reinterpretation of the Mormon (Christian) view of the Nature of God
This is my response to a recent video produced by the LDS Church on the nature of God. My reinterpretation moves away from the supernatural dualistic interpretation, towards a more immanent nondualistic interpretation of the Divine.
Democratizing “Mindfulness” is a Positive Movement if we go Deeper
Russell Brand is an unconventional spiritual commentator, but I think he is right about the nature of consciousness and mysticism, and how these can change the world.
Why Does Meditation Take so Long to see Results, to Awaken?
It seems that many people may give up on meditation or other contemplative practices because they do not provide quick results, particularly in our instant gratification culture today. It can take significant dedication and discipline in practice before we see any fruits. But there are other possibilities on the horizon that may help us along [...]
Reflections on Rohr’s opening of “The Universal Christ” Conference
These are some of my notes and reflections on Fr. Rohr's opening address at the conference a couple weeks ago.
The Mystical State of Consciousness in Joseph Smith’s First Vision
I suggest that Joseph Smith's earliest direct encounters with God happened in mystical experience, or what is also known as altered states of consciousness.
Qualia, Consciousness, Christ, and Cosmos
What is qualia? What is the source of individual instances of subjective conscious experience, like seeing the redness of an apple? Where does the redness come from? I don't know, but here are some ideas. Energy in our environment impinges upon our sense organs causing a cascade of electrochemical reactions and nerve impulses that are [...]
Is God a Male Human, or Two Males, or maybe Three? Do I hear Four? Or is it More?
Thinking of God as a male human(s) out in the universe somewhere seems to be a primitive, magical, supernatural, and archaic conception of the Divine, literalizing the pronouns of "He" and "Him," and in the Christian tradition of "Father" and "Son." I've written about this specifically at least once before, but it's worth discussing more.
1 Corinthians 15 BHT, Paul’s Earliest Witness of the Resurrection into Christ Consciousness, the “Gospel”
An addition to the BHT, containing the earliest account of the post-resurrection appearances of Christ in the New Testament, where Paul describes his witness of the resurrection and what it means to be resurrected into Christ consciousness. This seems to be an excellent summary of the Christian Gospel, or "good news," but it is something which I think we've generally misunderstood in Christianity for centuries. I feel that this is one of the most important translations of the BHT that I have been given the Grace to work out yet—yet not I. I was in tears by the end.