There has been much heavy lifting to discard baggage collected over the years. The most significant change in my thinking has been to discard the notion that the bible is inspired by God. The bible is an human construct, the result of humanity's thoughts about that which is beyond our comprehension.
The next unloading was of much of the bible, specifically the Old Testament and Pauline cosmic musings. My focus is on Jesus, his teaching and actions. I believe Jesus was a real person but that we have to exercise caution in reading the synoptic gospels given they were written at least thirty years after his death.
Finally. I dispensed with the notion of literal reading of scripture. Words convey ideas and scripture should be read as a book is read, not as statute law is interpreted by poring over individual words and phrases. Save us from literalism and legalism. Seek out the principles.
None of the above will surprise readers of my posts
Having disposed of the baggage and clutter what remains? The quotation below provides an indication.
“God drew near to us as our brother and sister and our neighbor, as “one of these” (cf. Mt. 25:40–45). Our relationship with God is decided in our encounter with other human beings....The only image of God is the face of our neighbor . . . . Every authentic religious act is directed toward the concreteness of God in our human neighbors and their world. There it finds its living fulfillment and its transcendent point of contact.... Love of neighbor, then, is not something different from love of God; it is merely the earthly side of the same coin.”
JOHANN BAPTIST METZ.
Succinct. The message of Jesus may be expressed in four words: Love God, Love Others. So simple, yet profound.
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