Beyond Belief

I've just finished listening to The Gospel of Thomas: A New Perspective on Jesus' Message an audiobook by Elaine Pagels who also wrote a book titled Beyond Belief. I admittedly know very little about "other gospels," much less the Apocrypha books. Pagels says that "gnostic" has become a sort of slander that has befallen many other historical documents that have been rejected and misunderstood by the religious powers that be. It reminds me of the way fundamentalists label everything they disagree with as "liberal."

I learned a lot not only about the Gospel of Thomas but about the other gospels as well and the way early Christians viewed Jesus. There was an interesting debate or dialogue taking place in the early church carried out in the oral tradition of masters teaching their disciples (followers). Interestingly enough there wasn't a group of followers of John's Gospel versus followers of Thomas' Gospel. Both gospels were being read and discussed side by side, holding each in tension yet finding a common way between them. Both gospels are dated between 80-100 AD and present a different perspective from the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, & Luke). I learned as much about the Gospel of John as I did about the Gospel of Thomas from this book.

There was a Q & A session at the end of her lecture, which is befitting to the overall message of Thomas that we must seek out knowledge and truth for ourselves versus John as the one who has written "that you may believe." Someone asked about her book and its title, Beyond Belief, asking if that is what Thomas is about, that we are to move "beyond belief" onto something else. That's an important question that I've been wrestling with. Is belief a beginning step on the journey. Do you grow out of it and mature into something else, or do you hold belief in tandem with maturity?

She gave an interesting illustration that Faith, i.e. belief, is like the Soil of the earth in which the seed is planted. Love is like the Sun that warms it. Hope is like the Water that nourishes it, and Insight is the Fruit, which is maturity. I found interesting that in that context belief isn't something you outgrow but rather something that supports and upholds the rest. It strikes me that belief isn't based upon scientific data and undeniable evidence but rather a decision of the will. I guess that's why I've had such a difficult time with belief lately because I refuse to deny the questions I've had any longer. Belief will have to be a decision of the will despite my questions and not because they're satisfied.

It also occured to me that so many "conservatives" who hang so tenaciously to belief, especially "right believing," often don't go to demonstrate love, they don't offer real hope beyond the illusion of comfort that comes from agreeing with them, and certainly don't offer any insight into the real probing hard questions of life and faith. Makes you wonder just what it is they really believe in. That's one to chew on.

Jim Carrey on Life

"Success is a really good thing to attain, so you can cross it off the list of things that will make you happy."

"I think we are here to be a witness to creation."

Jim Carrey on The Today Show on NBC, February 20, 2007

Who knew that Jim Carrey could deliver such pearls of wisdom. This is a fascinating interview that says alot of the power of intention and motivation. I encourage you to watch it.

Into Great Silence

I encourage you to watch the trailer for this amazing movie soon to be released, Into Great Silence, a film about the Carthusian monks. Here is a description from Zeitgeist Films:

Nestled deep in the postcard-perfect French Alps, the Grande Chartreuse is considered one of the world’s most ascetic monasteries. In 1984, German filmmaker Philip Gröning wrote to the Carthusian order for permission to make a documentary about them. They said they would get back to him. Sixteen years later, they were ready. Gröning, sans crew or artificial lighting, lived in the monks’ quarters for six months—filming their daily prayers, tasks, rituals and rare outdoor excursions. This transcendent, closely observed film seeks to embody a monastery, rather than simply depict one—it has no score, no voiceover and no archival footage. What remains is stunningly elemental: time, space and light. One of the most mesmerizing and poetic chronicles of spirituality ever created, INTO GREAT SILENCE dissolves the border between screen and audience with a total immersion into the hush of monastic life. More meditation than documentary, it’s a rare, transformative theatrical experience for all.

2007 Grammy Music Awards

This has to be one of the most amazing performances I've seen. I'm a huge John Mayer fan but Corrine Bailey Rae and John Legend are brilliant! I always love John Mayer best when he's live. Seeing him do tribute songs to other artists or join others on stage is always magical. Hope you enjoy!