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The Realm of You is a journey into the space of the one spirit that connects us all.
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The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore
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| by: Deepak Chopra |
"First, there is the historical Jesus, the man who lived more than two
thousand years ago and whose teachings are the foundation of Christian
theology and thought. Next there is Jesus the Son of God, who has come
to embody an institutional religion with specific dogma, a priesthood,
and devout believers. And finally, there is the third Jesus, the cosmic
Christ, the spiritual guide whose teaching embraces all humanity, not
just the church built in his name. He speaks to the individual who
wants to find God as a personal experience, to attain what some might
call grace, or God-consciousness, or enlightenment."
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Side Note |
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As many of you know, the Right Rev. Gene Robinson,the openly Gay Episcopal
Bishop of New Hampshire gave the opening prayer at Monday's Lincoln
Memorial event. It was the first event in the inaugural
festivities this year. HBO, which had paid
for exclusive rights to the event chose not to broadcast Bishop Robinson's
prayer. NPR didn't air it
either. There's no record of it in images placed on the
sites of Getty Images, New York Times and the Washington Post. It's a complete erasure of his ever
having delivered the prayer. Such is the continuing policy of silence and
erasure we have to live with from people who should know better. So we're going to celebrate it by providing here the full text of
Bishop Robinson's prayer.
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Greetings!
Within the progressive Christian field there is much discussion about the validity of Jesus, the misinterpretations of his word, the minor details of the Bible and his life, have all been torn apart and over-analyzed. For people comfortable with the idea of not taking the Bible literally, we sure have spent a great deal of time being sticklers over the Bible. However, there is a new exploration beginning to take precedence- who is the Jesus that lives beyond the Bible? What is the message that he was inspired to share? Who is the Jesus that lives still today- the third Jesus- as some have called him.
We welcome any commentary you have on the subject. As an affiliate you can submit articles, sermons or reviews. You can also find us on facebook and add your thoughts to the discussions there. Don't forget to visit our website
as there have been many changes and additions. Or you can check out our events, news, past ebulletins, and constantly growing library. For the latest resources, visit the TCPC store. Maybe together, we can learn to let go of our fears and embrace the mystery, accept the spirit that abides in us all, the interconnectedness of all beings, and move forward in hope and peace. Thanks and enjoy! Deshna Ubeda TCPC Web Producer |
 President's Note
Are We Progressing?
By: Fred Plumer, TCPC President
For far too long, we have made the Christian experience a head trip and
have somehow forgotten the heart along the way. We have confused our
intellect with our beingness. We have assumed that we were correct and
others were ignorant. After all we are the elite Christians, with the
best educated clergy -- so sophisticated that we use words like
hermeneutic and exegesis. We are so learned that we debate whether
Jesus was apocalyptic or eschatological. We are so knowledgeable that
we can debate the scholarly reasons for changing the red letters in the
Bible.
Read Letter Here
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 Feature Article
We Cannot Avoid God's Questions
By: Tom Harpur
Author of books:
The Pagan Christ and Water Into Wine (Thomas
Allen Publishers).
Since it's almost entirely poetry and
"true myth," and since we live in
one of the most literal-minded cultures of all time, it's not surprising that
the Bible largely remains a closed book. Those who make the loudest claims for its veracity often see
its meaning less clearly than many
they judge to be total outsiders. If you treat biblical myths as history, you
end up with either distortion or absurdity. Even worse. As Voltaire once said: "Those who believe absurdities end up committing atrocities"
When read for what it
genuinely is, the story-told in myths, parables, metaphors and allegory-of the
evolution of the human soul
and its relationship to the mystery called God, the wider human community and the cosmos
itself, its power for inspiration and transformation is immeasurable |
 Feature Book
The Wisdom Jesus, Transforming Heart and Mind, a New Perspective on Christ and His Message
By:Cynthia Bourgeault
"If you put aside what you think
you know about Jesus and approach the Gospels as though for the first
time, something remarkable happens: Jesus emerges as a teacher of the
transformation of consciousness. Cynthia Bourgeault is a masterful
guide to Jesus's vision and to the traditional contemplative practices
you can use to experience the heart of his teachings for yourself. Inspired by the Nag Hammadi discoveries and influenced by more than 30
years of study with Fr. Thomas Keating and other contemplatives in a
variety of wisdom traditions, Bourgeault, an Episcopal priest,
encourages seekers to reach beyond the Western tradition of
Jesus-as-Savior to embrace Jesus more wholly as a wisdom teacher. Bougeault emphasizes a notion of "self-emptying love" that allows for a shift in
consciousness from ego-based analysis to acceptance of divine
abundance, which in turn sheds new light on examinations of the
Passion, crucifixion and ensuing events. Guided chapter primers on
centered meditation and chanting further prepare readers to test the
open waters of welcoming the "flow of... deeper sustaining wisdom."
Though strict legalists may not warm to this new spiritual perspective,
other students of faith will find an especially intriguing and engaging
path waiting for them." ~Publishers Weekly
Click here for more information and to purchase this book
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 Feature Sermon
The Birth of the third Jesus
By: Ian Lawton
You can have your first and second Jesus. Whatever makes sense to you,
it's yours. But you don't need a first and second Jesus to lay claim to
the power of the third Jesus. This Christ consciousness is yours now
for the taking. Live it in the present.
Read this Sermon here
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Other Thoughts
Jesus and His Friends of Little Faith
by: James Rowe Adams
"On this occasion, just as the disciples catch up with Jesus, who had
crossed the Sea of Galilee ahead of them, they realize that they have
forgotten to bring any bread. Ignoring their predicament, Jesus tells
them to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Apparently
confused, the disciples wonder if Jesus is talking about the forgotten
bread. Then Jesus says to them: "You of little faith, why are you
talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive?" He appears
to be irritated because the disciples fail to understand that he is
speaking in metaphors and not referring to the fact that they forgot
bring any bread to eat on another boat trip. People of little faith
need constant reminding that they are not to take religious teaching
literally but to look for the symbolic meaning, but they can learn. In
fact, Matthew seems to suggest that the people of little faith are the
only ones worth teaching."
Read Article Here
What's the Word?
By: Jim Burklo
"In the beginning was the Word," opens the Gospel of John.
That "Word" is divine because it has the power to make the world a
better place. It's a word that is more than facts. It's a word that
bears the truth of transformation, reconciliation, justice, and peace.
What has more truth to it? The front page of the newspaper, which is
full of facts? Or the biblical gospels, which are mostly myth and
poetry? I would suggest that you'll find more truth in the gospels.
Because they contain something of the "word" that gives life meaning
and purpose. The "word" that changes the facts of despair into
the facts of hope. The front page of the newspaper is full of death and
pain and trouble. It reports facts, but mostly it gives the impression
that life is hopeless. Is that the truth? The Bible and other great
religious texts are generally weak on facts - but often are rich in the truth
that life really is worth living, and that compassion and joy really are alive
and available, even with the difficult facts that often surround us.
Read Blog Here
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Thank you for taking this journey with us as we continue to encourage the growth and understanding of a Christianity that is open, inclusive, just, loving and compassionate. As you delve deeper into the heart of this beautiful and authentic spiritual path, we hope you share it with those around you, educate those who desire to learn, and most importantly let it fill you with
light and loving kindness.
Sincerely,
Fred Plumer
and the Team at The Center For Progressive Christianity
center@tcpc.org, (253) 303-0022
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