Religious Assumptions Do we really know how much of our Christianity is the actual apprehension and manifestation of what Jesus

Christ taught, as compared to the religious institutional dogma that have evolved through the centuries by the piece meal construction and application of academic knowledge? How much of our faith is in fact, faith in religious assumptions accumulated as the result of accepting temporal interpretations as absolute, and the tendency to accept as Spiritual mystery, rather than face the realities of both the facts and establishment criticisms, and so maintain the peace in the bonds of Christ? Bull Shit! Whenever there has been expanding insight into the depths of Spiritual truth as expounded in the Scriptures - somebody got pissed off, because it threw a monkey wrench into their theology. And of course the faithful messenger, delivering the message in its new enlightened form was branded the heretic. The truth being - delivering the message is only exposing the heresy (old, canonized, accepted theology) as it had been institutionalized. Recently I was reading a transliteration of the Lords prayer, Peshitta (Syriac-Aramaic) version of Matthew 6:9-13 & Luke 11:2-4. This was Jesus native Aramaic Language. Aramaic is a language related to both ancient Hebrew and classical Arabic, the languages of the Jewish and Islamic traditions. There is argument as to the precise pronunciation of some words, but adherents to one dialect can understand what is spoken by adherents to the other. My initial tendency was to distrust the accuracy of a transliteration. Originally written in Greek (and multiple transcriptions), translated into English (Umpteen million times), then translated back to Aramaic, and then a literal translation back to English from the Aramaic. It would seem like a sure way to lose something in the communication from the original. But in considering this loss of original content of the message argument. I have to face the potential of having already lost the intent contained in the message of Jesus original content, as He originally spoke Aramaic - which was translated into Greek - and eventually made it to contemporary English (or Spanish, or German, or French, or whatever). And to some degree, the best I can do in my dissecting the language, and considering the multiple language and cultural interpretations applied to the original message, is to reduce what I have to the most basic common denominator, critically discount (as best I can) historical cultural bias that may have influenced interpretation, and trust the Holy Spirit as He is ultimately my teacher and guide. Every time there is a translation into a new language, the application of the new language adds a new level of cultural baggage to the interpretation, as the result of concepts and images conveyed and expressed in the new language, which may be foreign to the original languages intent. So new theological images are introduced into the translation and over time accepted as the absolute intent and meaning. Adding to the confusion is the

argument as to what was originally recorded as literal and historic, and what was allegoric and metaphoric. If there is confusion here, everything that follows can not help but be a misinterpretation. In looking at the modern Aramaic transliteration of the Lords prayer - I approached it as suspect. But there was a beauty and simplicity that I was (am) attracted to. This led me to a re-examination of some of the concepts I have held as contained in the English language Lords prayer. Like heaven. In much of Christianity, heaven is a return to the pre-fallen state of humanity, a second and new Garden of Eden, in which humanity is reunited with God in a perfect and natural state of eternal existence. Christians believe this reunion is accomplished through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ in having died for the sins of humanity on the cross. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven. Im sure there are other definitions and conceptions as may pertain to particular theological perspectives, but for the sake of discussion, this will suffice. The particulars are not the issue. In Classical Greek heaven can refer to both a literal and a figurative, mythological sense. The Septuagint translates shamayim as heaven in at least three senses. First - it corresponds closely to the classical Greek concept of heaven as a vault stretched out over the earth. Second, it may refer to the area in which the birds fly, the atmosphere between the firmament: and the earth. And third, may refer to a region without boundaries, a region in which God resides and from which God descends, possibly the region beyond the firmament. In the New Testament there are three concepts. One, the atmosphere that surrounds the earth. Two, the cosmos and is mentioned with the earth to express God's creation. And Third, the spiritual habitations. It is the place of God's throne (Matthew 5:34) and temple (Revelation 11:19). From heaven God the Father speaks (Matthew 3:17), sends forth good gifts (Luke 11:13), and reveals His wrath against all ungodliness (Romans 1: 18). This is the one we are primarily concerned with. Even in examining this - something began to stick out at me (and this is a rabbit trail)shamayim is the Hebrew term for heaven. We get our English shaman and shamanism from this. Just a note of interest - to examine latter. Back to heaven - and it aint in the future. There is more that I gathered and it can be looked at here. Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. John the Baptist came preaching Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matt 3:2 We take and place the emphasis here on Repent, and interpret that as forsake your bad behaviors. While that is not entirely invalid, there is an over emphasis on behaviors and de-emphasis on the root meaning of Repent, and that is simply Change your mind. Or

as better interpreted Think differently - and the object to think differently about is not behaviors - but - The Kingdom of Heaven. After Jesus was baptized by John, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him. The Greek word for heaven here is ooranos. 1. the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it a. the universe, the world b. the aerial heavens or sky, the region where the clouds and the tempests gather, and where thunder and lightning are produced c. the sidereal or starry heavens 2. the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings Which heaven opened? Heaven - shamayim - Hebrew - to be lofty; the sky - as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve - as the abode of God. We have inherited a concept of heaven as a literal, spatial location and setting, filled with similes more in keeping with culturally influenced norms and imagery (Greek mythology, Nordic and Wagnerian Valhalla, Dantes Paradise - much as our concept of Hell is most influenced by Dantes Inferno). Im going to jump ahead a bit (and come back to this line in the future). Right Now I want to try and draw some connections. Ive already mentioned the baggage that is part and parcel with language, culture and translation. We, the Christian community, have inherited and embraced as real a lot of cultural and religious baggage, without a willingness to critically examine (outside of our traditions) the possibility that we may have gotten something wrong. Jesus said the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]. The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are recognized as referencing the same Kingdom, expressed with different words by different authors. Another concept that I have wrestled with for a long time is the Word. We are taught in our religion that this refers to the Bible, or what is written in that Bible. But that makes no sense - In the Beginning was the WORD - no Bible implication

there. This is obviously referring to Christs eternal existence before time and all creation. But what is the actual nature of this WORD as revealed in the Person Jesus? In an exchange of emails with a singer/song writer, whose music I stream, I wrote to her: I haven't had a chance to listen to "Beautiful Rainbow World", but if it is anything like "I Have A Dream" - You have some excellent products. BCMP is not primarily a "Christian" station in the usual sense, or a children's station - but you message is universal - for children or adults. I am honored and glad to include this material in my stations rotation. This was just my heart responding to what I heard in her music. To which she replied Thank you so much for your words! Your comments are exactly what I had hoped for with my music - to bring a powerful message of hope and the healing, transforming power of God/Love. The "pure in heart" see this so naturally! This is a rather simple example - but it is representative of how I am learning to function in relation to what comes from the essence of who I am. It's a new language called 'The Word!' (perfect logic) In an academic sense - I have been aware of the technical description of the Word as defined as Gods perfect mind, thoughts, logic - But the actual manifestation - the exercising of that gift- nature - ability - has only come to the surface relatively recently (progressively over the last six or seven years). And at that has been most obvious in my writing. I have found I am able to write and reason what is inside of me better than I can relate in most normal social situations. My former pastor stated that my logic in my writing was undeniable. But in social situations, arguing religious formulas and democratic equality of the absurd does not render an intelligent - not withstanding Spiritual exchange of ideas. It just takes a little practice turning feelings into words, and a little courage! What I find encouraging - and I didnt see before - I have been practicing - ignorantly, not understanding what God was doing - just doing it. And He - in me - without the intellectual consciousness of it - lives through me. What I find almost foreboding - but exciting - As I respond and act, and write - express that which is within - I am challenging not only the religious status quo - but the logical extension as it is expressed in political areas, social concerns, economic justice and the erosion of freedom. Areas that the current political environment are increasingly threatened by and aggressive in their defensiveness. I have been looking for a definition of the Word - That which was from the beginning the nature and life of God - In Me. But it is not a definition - it is a life. And not life as an abstract defined term. Life - the essence and expression of God. And no amount of trying to define it, can express it. It -

He - simply has to be allowed to be. We are taught the experience is not to be trusted. But the experience of God is the only definition that will ever really make any sense. Definition, Reason and logic apart from the experience and expression of the Word, feeling within - only amounts to just so much babble. Oh Yea - The Lords Prayer in Aramaic Thank You Anne for posting this: (I checked out his web site - and there is a lot to feed on there. It may not be Fundamentalist/Evangelical - but if Christ is in us, and love is the benchmark - Id call it Christian)
THE LORD'S PRAYER (One Possible New Translation From The Aramaic***) by Neil Douglas Klotz 1a*) Abwoon d'bwashmaya... 1b**)O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, 1c***) Our Father which art in heaven. 2a) Nethqadash shmakh... 2b) Focus your light within us-make it useful, 2c) Hallowed be thy name. 3a) Teytey malkuthakh... 3b) Create your reign of unity now, 3c) Thy kingdom come. 4a) Nehwey tzevyanach aykanna d'bwashmaya aph b'arha... 4b) Your one desire then acts with ours, as in all light, so in all forms, 4c) Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 5a) Hawvlan lachma d'sunqanan yaomana ... 5b) Grant what we need each day in bread and insight, 5c) Give us this day our daily bread. 6a) Washboqlan khaubayn (wakhtahayn) aykanna daph khnan shbwoqan l'khayyabayn... 6b) Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others' guilt, 6c) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 7a) Wela tahlan l'nesyuna, ela patzan min bisha... 7b) But free us from what holds us back, 7c) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 8a)Metol dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbutkhta l'ahlam almin. AMEYN!... 8b) From you is born all ruling will, the power and the life to do, the song that beautifies all, from age to age it renews...

Truly-power to these statements-may they be the ground from which all my actions grow. Amen! 8c) For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Legend: *a)=Aramaic; **b)= English Translation of the Aramaic; ***c)= King James Version