For someone acting out exactly as Christianity would have them, without any insight, moral or spiritual, into the matter, would their actions be moral?
Could they stand before judgement day and reach Heaven, without really understanding why? Does a universal understanding of the transcendetal plane of existence that God exists on befall all who encroach it?
And if so, when finally gaining enlightenment, would their actions be considered as ‘lawful’? On the other hand, would they deserve eternal punishment for doing nothing wrong?
On the Origin of Sin #
Perhaps the fallible nature of man to succumb to sin makes all people sin; but those without Jesus Christ in their hearts cannot truly repent and be bestowed eternal life in Heaven. However, is virtuous (presumably infallible) life possible without the continuous guidance of the Lord?
I would assert otherwise: no man can surpass his earthly bindings that keep him attached to sin. This would be, in practical terms, original sin. Is then, original sin that through which subsequent sin flows, or is sin a possibility outside of Adam and Eve’s fall from grace?
In terms of dilution, as children of God through Adam and Eve, we inherit our divine spark from them; receiving a smaller piece of it in the process. One could argue that this is why Adam could talk to God directly: he was closer to Him, both physically (in Eden) and spiritually. So, by definition, we are at least as sinful as they are – though almost certainly more. Then, to consider such that does not come through Adam and Eve, we must consider that which is not human. It is not immediately obvious such non-divine beings exist.
Reaching Peace Through Action #
Arguably, it is useful for people to act morally, in a group-oriented, evolutionary way, seeing as our very nature is built to reward it. These are universally preferable behaviors upon which general goodwill amongst people relies, in some part, on.
Like all good systems, it is finely tuned in such a manner where blind self-interest requires the interest of others be fulfilled, in one way or another. That is to say: even if we want to act in the most selfish way possible, the most optimal way would be that in which we cooperate with others.
Though, is it a means or mechanism to introduce people to the light? Would to them, acting out their spirituality seem not much more than mysticism?
And can all people achieve eternal grace of this kind?
It is my belief that they can, as otherwise they would be a priori banished from God and barred from entering His Kingdom. So, it may be easy to write off someone’s simplicity in faith: your verbal and conscious understanding of the subject matter may stand much taller than theirs, but their intuition and basis for faith may lead them to the same conclusions, nonetheless.
However, with free will being the divine problem, it is possible for people to practically never stand a chance at uniting with God – though through no action of God. Although He is all-knowing, existing in a frame outside time, and although He is all-powerful, some people are seemingly predestined to live outside God.
The Probable, Sad Reality of It #
Contrasted with acting immorally, even faithless endeavours in behaving our best are a better alternative. However, as pointed out to me recently, binding a ‘naturally’ immoral person to a strict, or any codex, might not have the healing effects we would want them to.
Monks in monasteries live very – by modern terms – ascetic lives. However, to monks, it is not a life of denying themselves pleasure(s); although the definition fits. Instead, they choose to live such lives because they feel no need for the pleasures they’re “denied”.
In a similar fashion, to someone deeply grounded in the material, leading a humble life such as that is seen as an imposition of strict restrictions to their usual life. They would still crave and look forward to that which has now become off-limits to them.
Following through, over time they would come to resent the entire concept. They would feel no relief in the spiritual – which they lack, but would feel a strong current dragging them to their previous material baseline.
In this way, living materialisticly is similar to struggling with an addiction. In fact, since the demiurge tempts people within the material, and as they are rewarded for their subservience, it is exactly the same struggle as that of a heroin user.
And as those who have been in contact with addictions know, the road to healing starts by ascending to a higher plane, realising and admitting to your problem.
Despite someone’s unwilligness to heal, we shouldn’t shun them. To criticise, of course. Finding issue with someone does not exclude bracing them with open arms and love, as they aim to improve upon themselves. So long as someone has put themselves on the path to the greater, they are in a state of repentance.
This is the line of reasoning by which Jesus simultaneously was friends with
Mary Magdalene, while condemning entire cities. To illustrate the futility of
our misguided efforts in worship, we are told in John 6:25-27 (KJV)
(25)And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
(26)Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
(27)Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
To Insiders Looking Out #
Spirituality is a very complex issue. For one, its very existence lies beyond the possibilities of men. It is very hard to describe, and our insights into it are really nothing more than glimpses into something larger than us. If we imagine life as this iterative process, a function that gives back some refined form of the meaning of life, the fixed points of any such converge into the same point, the ultimate truth and answer to all questions.
Our experiences as spiritual, particularly Christian people are hard to convey to people who’ve never experienced them. The very same imprecise words and descriptions we use to talk about abstract notions and concepts seem riddled with contradictions and fallacies to those who cannot relate to them.
Some people aren’t ripe to be born into the Kingdom of Christ. Our best displays of rhetorical prowess might very well lead us nowhere in discussion. Instead, leading by and through example might help explain our feelings better. Seeing someone happy despite being stripped of some material necessity can be a powerful sight to behold for those wishing to truly see it.
Others are prodding their feelings of spirituality; aware that it exists, left wondering, but remaining on safe ground. Likely they’ve felt what you already know of, though they are unaware of it conceptually.
Sadly, some people, indeed, are stuck to loop around once more in the demiurge’s domain, or go to hell, or whichever interpretation sits best with you. Whether Final Judgement is a divine intervention of expanded consciousness they see upon death is outside our realm of testable knowledge, though it very well might be so.
Acting morally is a stipulation only we ourselves can decide to uphold. So then, those who decide knowingly to do so, and those which persist in it, are acting morally. In a certain sense, morality and repentance are interchangeable here. We act our best because we strive to be our best.
Those acting less-than-morally will feel no such compulsion, and it will reflect as their personal moral fabric deteriorates, or simply stagnates.
In my humble opinion, and it is one I am very certain of, good is something only if it brings us closer to God, and we can only do that knowingly. So then, to act ‘good’, we must primarily be enlightened, and moving away from sin.