Fractelle,

The verses that you quoted from Exodus are in fact considered to be a mantra, an incantation, called "the 13 qualities of mercy", where Moses is instructed on how to appease god - just say these explicit words and you will be magically forgiven. While the verse continues about "visiting the transgression of fathers", the mantra itself ends earlier, in the positive:

"The LORD, The LORD, god, merciful and forgiving, long-nosed, and abundant in grace and truth, safeguarding mercy for the thousands, absorbs transgression and crime and sin, and cleansing" [will not cleanse, visiting the transgression...].

("long-nosed" expresses patience)

As text, the traditional Jewish interpretation is: "those who repent will be cleansed, those who don't will not be cleansed".

As a mantra, the meaning is unimportant, it is a literal magic, so translations, of course, do not apply.

Dear Philo,

1. Would you then say in a spiritual dimension that the RIGHT HAND OF GOD is a figurative expression, as below cited?

Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the RIGHT HAND OF GOD.
Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the RIGHT HAND OF GOD exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the RIGHT HAND OF GOD, Acts 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the RIGHT HAND OF GOD. Romans 8:34 : Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the RIGHT HAND OF GOD, who also maketh intercession for us. Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the RIGHT HAND OF GOD. Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the RIGHT HAND OF GOD 1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the RIGHT HAND OF GOD; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

2. I suspect that many atheists would appreciate the Scientific concept of Singularity.

3. Did Jesus ascend or transfuse?

Regards,

O.

the right hand signifies eminent power

http://www.biblemeanings.info/Words/Body/Right_hand.htm
http://www.prime.org/hand.html

i think your other objections may be covered here
http://www.newadvent.org/summa/4058.htm

the Scientific concept of Singularity
lies in our atonement [at one meant]
after we all accend in the the one ness.

interesting points
lets see what the tide reveals
everything is subject to interpritation

jesus never said 'i am god'

had he thought HIMSELF god
he would clearly have said so
as he didnt
that speaks clearly as well

the right hand concept goes much deeper
it is controled by the left brain for egsample

sitting at gods right

allows the heart side [left] of the brain
to do to the good [of logic] of love not judgment

but my heart is not up to at-tempting explaining it further

hopefully others will attempt explanation
yuyutsu seems to have some great wisdoms

interesting how god shares his wisdom out
we all have a little bit of the truth

but the secret is more in asking the right question
our lives shall be full of answers

[the hardest thing is in deciding which ones RING true
for us personally

extract from
a_course_in_miracles

http://www.execulink.com/~dthomp75/2007/URCONC/ur21.txt.WebConcordance/framconc.htm
http://www.courseinmiracles.com/index.html

Love is NOT understandable to sinners.BECAUSE they think that justice is SPLIT OFF from love,and stands for something else.And thus is love perceived as weak and vengeance strong.

What can Love ask of you who think that all of this is true? Could He, in justice AND in love believe in your confusion you HAVE much to give?

You are NOT asked to trust Him far.No further than what you SEE He offers you,and what you recognize you COULD not give yourself.In God’s Own justice does He recognize all you deserve,but understands as well that you can NOT accept it for yourself.

It is His Special Function to hold out to you the gifts the innocent DESERVE. And every one that you accept brings joy to Him AS WELL as you.He knows that Heaven is richer made by each one you accept.And God rejoices as His Son receives what loving justice KNOWS to be his due.For love and justice are NOT different.

BECAUSE they are the same does mercy stand at God’s right Hand,and GIVE the Son of God the power to forgive HIMSELF of sin.

As specialness cares not who pays the cost of sin,so it BE paid,the Holy Spirit heeds not who looks on innocence at last,provided it IS seen and recognized.

if he sees truly. Simple justice asks no more.Of each one does the Holy Spirit ask if he will be that one,so justice may return to love, and there be satisfied.

love WITHOUT justice is impossible.For love is fair,and cannot chasten without cause.What cause can BE to warrant an attack upon the innocent?In justice,then,does love correct mistakes,but NOT in vengeance.For that would be unjust to innocence.

The understanding which you need comes NOT of you,but from a larger Self,so great and holy that He COULD not doubt His innocence.Your special function is a call to Him, that He may smile on you whose sinlessness He shares.

HIS understanding will be YOURS.And so the Holy Spirit’s Special Function has been fulfilled.God’s Son has found a witness unto his sinlessness,and NOT his sin

Dear Fractelle
I read that piece you offered.

One thing it said is:

<Before information can be processed by our mind it is coloured and energized by our emotions. This changes the character of the information we receive in the same way as our view of the world is changed when we look through coloured glass.>

Quite true. The piece seems to be speaking about the 'Communication Process'... how we percieve information etc.

While there is a lot in that to discuss ("communication") I'm not sure how you are applying that to the matter at hand?

If you suggest that people percieve "God" by those emotionally colored thoughts" I can agree to a point.

Logically and reasonably, we would expect human perceptions of God, to be in harmony with human aspirations and desires...no?
Only that would fit with the statement of the article about coloring and spin.

It is unreasonably that humans would record information about God which was unnattractive to them. If it relates to:
-A better harvest
-A hot wife.
-Greater material wealth

Then..we could expect people to gravitate toward that version of God.
Hence the popularity of "Prosperity" Churches (if they can be called that)
But when you see that much of what God says about Himself is NOT of that nature....then logically it should be more likely to be true.
Or, putting it another way, when people 'record' such information that should apply.

The issue of coloring of understanding of events is quite a big discussion, requiring numerous examples. But suffice to say that the more perspectives on one event, the better chance we have of knowing what really happened. The 4 Gospels fit this neatly.

I wasn't using different version of the bible to prove any point.. but the language of the KJV is very archaic. There are much better translations around.

So why do people worship god knowing full well that he/she/it allows all this cruelty to go on. Afetr all, the beleivers would have you think that god is controling evrything on earth.

Now if I as a father were to allow a stranger into my house to molest my daughter then I would surely be commiting some type of crime, yet, this goes on every day and god is not held accountable. In fact, he is worshiped and forgiven time and time again. Why? Can anyone explain why their so called god is exempt?