I love Eckankar.  I have consistently found that it answers all of my questions in a much more satisfying way than any of the other ways I have tried.  There is nothing that God doesn't know, and so why not use the most direct possible path to God?

[QUOTE=apologiaguy;689812]Hi there,

The problem is that some religions teach there are many gods (Greco-Roman religions, Hinduism, etc)--not just one God. There are also religions, such as Secular Humanism and at least one form of Buddhism, which teach there is no god at all.   How can the members of all of the various religions be praying to the same God?

Kindest regards,

apologiaguy[/QUOTE]

I think the key concept here is that polytheistic religions are working with multiple images of the same God.  These different images are in turn reflections of different states of consciousness which humans can experience.  And the interactions between the different wee gods are dramatizations of the kinds of interactions that can exist between human beings.  In effect a polytheistic or pagan religion is like a number of different religions rolled into one; historically I believe they tended to evolve as accommodations between different tribal groups forming a larger social group.  And the dramas reflected in pagan mythology are also a reflection of the same kinds of drama that we experience when different groups of human beings interact and conflict is created between different sets of limited paradigms.

But there is no conflict within God.  In God all is harmonious.  It is human consciousness which perceives and perpetuates the conflict.  We break things down into smaller units so we can understand them.  It will always be necessary for humans to have limited images of God so long as human consciousness is below that of divine consciousness, and that is going to last for some time yet I think.  So we need to live with differences.  What we don't need to do is perpetuate conflict based on those differences.  We should be enjoying them instead.

[QUOTE=apologiaguy;692198]Greetings, charlesnotprince,

... I am not aware of an ancient primary source stating that the Greeks or Romans deemed all of those deities to be different manifestations of the same God.  In fact, Christians, and to some extent Jews, in antiquity were persecuted because they did not believe in many gods. Which primary source are you thinking of? [/QUOTE]

Sorry, I don't have an ancient world textual source.  I was taught that in a mythology course, admittedly by a Catholic priest.  I have also heard the same idea articulated with respect to Hinduism, but again in a modern text (I believe it was part of the commentary to Bhagavad Gita but I wouldn't swear an oath to that effect.)

[QUOTE=apologiaguy;692198]
Also, Mormonism provides a contemporary example of the belief in multiple gods. Many modern Mormons believe in many gods and they do not believe these gods are multiple images of the same God.[/QUOTE]

I have never heard this said with respect to Mormons.  I don't claim to be an expert on Mormons, and I always thought they were a variant on Christianity.  So I'll have to take your word for it.

[QUOTE=apologiaguy;692198]
... I also agree that one should not cause conflict to upset people.  However, I also think one should seek out the truth and expose any falsehoods that could lead humans astray.  False belief can be, and has been, very dangerous (the Heaven's Gate cult, the mass suicides associated with people's acceptance of Jim Jones's claims, etc.).  Lastly, false beliefs could potentially be eternally dangerous.  Ergo, I believe it is a very loving thing for humans to encourage each other to focus on differences to expose false teachings.[/QUOTE]

I think you're on dangerous ground here.  Part of the education of soul process on Earth is for us to make up our own minds about what is true and what isn't.  But making up minds for other people is a violation of spiritual law.  I attempt to influence my son in his beliefs by presenting ideas which I believe I have merit.  That is part of my role as a Dad.  But no one else on the planet has me for a Dad, therefore I don't get to start behaving paternally towards anyone else.  And even with my son, he has complete spiritual sovereignty; I let him believe what he chooses and act accordingly.  Even praying for someone that you believe is misguided is a violation of spiritual law.  God does not give us individual humans the right to judge other people spiritually; there are lords of karma for that.  It is enough work for us to take care of ourselves spiritually, without taking on other peoples' struggles.  If we do interfere with someone else's spiritual freedom, we run the risk of sharing in their karma.  Don't do it; it's not worth it.  We can by all means be vigilant about the dangers of religions we believe are false, and we can express our opinions, in the form perhaps of, "Such and such is not for me for the following reasons..."  But we don't have the right to judge other people.  I believe Jesus, for example, was very clear on this  point when he was instructing his disciples to go out into the world and spread the word.  "If they are not against you, they are for you.  If they are against you they are against me."  I interpret this to mean in effect "Let me worry about those who aren't ready for the teachings.  You just shake the dust of their town from off your feet and leave it at that."  I think it was a brilliant point and one of the many teachings of Jesus that is very frequently ignored.

But Eckankar is clear on this point: interfere in another person's spiritual freedom at your own peril.

[QUOTE=charlesnotprince;692373]

I have never heard this said with respect to Mormons.  I don't claim to be an expert on Mormons, and I always thought they were a variant on Christianity.  So I'll have to take your word for it. [/QUOTE]

Joseph Smith made it explicitly clear that many gods existed. The “King Follett Discourse”  is a great source that expresses the Mormon belief that many gods exist.  I also heard Mormons sing a Mormon song that is titled “Praise to the Man,” which mentions Joseph Smith “mingling with the gods…” while I visited one of their meetings a few months ago.


[QUOTE=charlesnotprince;692373]
I think you're on dangerous ground here.  Part of the education of soul process on Earth is for us to make up our own minds about what is true and what isn't.  But making up minds for other people is a violation of spiritual law.  I attempt to influence my son in his beliefs by presenting ideas which I believe I have merit.  That is part of my role as a Dad.  But no one else on the planet has me for a Dad, therefore I don't get to start behaving paternally towards anyone else.  And even with my son, he has complete spiritual sovereignty; I let him believe what he chooses and act accordingly.  Even praying for someone that you believe is misguided is a violation of spiritual law.  God does not give us individual humans the right to judge other people spiritually; there are lords of karma for that.  It is enough work for us to take care of ourselves spiritually, without taking on other peoples' struggles.  If we do interfere with someone else's spiritual freedom, we run the risk of sharing in their karma.  Don't do it; it's not worth it.  We can by all means be vigilant about the dangers of religions we believe are false, and we can express our opinions, in the form perhaps of, "Such and such is not for me for the following reasons..."  But we don't have the right to judge other people.  I believe Jesus, for example, was very clear on this  point when he was instructing his disciples to go out into the world and spread the word.  "If they are not against you, they are for you.  If they are against you they are against me."  I interpret this to mean in effect "Let me worry about those who aren't ready for the teachings.  You just shake the dust of their town from off your feet and leave it at that."  I think it was a brilliant point and one of the many teachings of Jesus that is very frequently ignored.[/QUOTE]

I do not believe in karma. However, I also do not believe one should make up another person’s mind for them because I think each person should be able to decide what they believe.  There is a difference between judging people and judging ideas, concepts, and belief systems.  Jesus did not hesitate to judge religious teachings. In fact, Jesus plainly told some people that they were in error (Matthew 22:29). Similarly, Paul commanded the Christians in Thessalonica to test everything (1 Thessalonians 5:21).


[QUOTE=charlesnotprince;692373]
But Eckankar is clear on this point: interfere in another person's spiritual freedom at your own peril.[/QUOTE]

I completely agree that it is dangerous to interfere in another person’s spiritual freedom. Jesus, Paul, and Stephen would also concur, considering they experienced harm and/or death for doing so.  Yet, they all apparently deemed accomplishing their missions to be worth the perils.

Kindest regards,

apologiaguy