The Following articles are intended to give the reader an alternative view of who Jesus really was and how his message had been distorted throughout millennia.
A SBNR Good God Renaissance
Article One
Introduction
The purpose of this manuscript is to rescue Jesus from negative religion as a significant contribution to the present possibility of an epic cultural transformation. One remarkable indication that a redemptive spiritual change is already in process in helping revolutionizing American’s organized religion can be seen is in the rapidly growing new movement of the Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR) “Nones” — who are disillusioned by a fire-brimstone religion and yet who still designate themselves as “Followers of Jesus.” According to present Pew Research Center poles, this is the fastest growing spiritual movement in the United States, in which 72% of the American Millennial Generation is presently “more spiritual than religious.” Consequently, orthodox religious affiliation is rapidly losing ground to these “Nones.”
The author’s objective isn’t to repudiate the sacred devotional and moralist role that religion can be capable of contributing to humanity, but to point out the present need for adopting a more spiritual-minded worship and love-based regard for a more compassionate God of “amazing grace” and benevolence. This reform movement will certainly help redeem all the alienating dogmatic and fundamentalist practices with their judgmental and evangelistic fear-based doctrines that turn the SBNR “Nones” off.
The author himself is an ordained minister in a liberal denomination with many years of Bible and historical research in support of the enlightened spirituality as taught and lived out by Jesus, the “Teacher of Righteousness.” (To him, liberal means to “progressively liberate” and conservative, as understood now-a-days, designates the “tyranny of the status quo”).
We live in times and traditions that have neglected the spiritual — and the consequences are all-embracing both personally and culturally. In these essays, we will view the current national and global crisis as a spiritual challenge. Then we will draw on the authentic historically-based knowledge and examples of the enlightened minds of the past that led humanity upwards and onwards and provided the major advances in the development of human potential. Generally regarded as the Ancient Wisdom Tradition, this “Golden Thread” of Spiritual Truth preserves the highest understanding of Spiritual Principles of Self Transcendence as taught by the mystics within the major religions and philosophies throughout history. It authenticates that we are on the world for a Divine Purpose.
One of the most important aspects of corrective redemption we will share in this historical journey back in time will be to restore the lost years and the priceless mysteries concerning the spiritual identity and mission of Jesus that has never been revealed in the accepted orthodox Gospels. This has been greatly enhanced by the mid-tenth century discoveries of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Codices. The discovery of this new revelation of the higher ranges of Spiritual Truth — in which we truly learn to think and act more like Jesus — can bring forth a new kind of faith for individual living and help create a more just and peaceful world.
In the light of these current break-through disclosures, the best possible outcome of the current SBNR movement could be in helping trigger a transformational Good God Renaissance within the Christian religions that would more closely replicate a truly reverential Good God spirituality. In quite a remarkable and seemingly paradoxical way, it is actually now underway by Pope Francis, a Good God devotee. This regeneration of humanity’s Spiritual Wellbeing is certainly worth accepting and praying for as a possible answer.
In the following articles, we will explore the crucial difference between the mystical and orthodox religious theologies, followed by the current discoveries of the lost years and missing message knowingly kept secret from the public as well as the true spiritual meaning of Jesus’s life and teachings.
Bill’ Quill
This manuscript consists of seven categories of “A Good God Renaissance” Articles:
Article One: Introduction
Article Two: The Crucial Difference between “Spiritual” and “Religious”
Article Three: The Ancient Mysteries and the Legends of Atlantis
Article Four: The Foundation Structure of the Ancient Wisdom
Article Five: The European and the American Lineage of the Ancient Mysteries
Article Six: How Christianity Got So Far Off
Article Seven: The Rediscovery of Jesus’ Missing Years and the Lost Gospel
A Good God Renaissance by William Earle Cameron 