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For example:
"Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal?
Are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth
iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked
man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right,
he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions
that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The
way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? Are not your ways unequal?
Therefore will I judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God.
Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin."
Ezekiel 18:25-30
Consider baptism and the gift of
The Holy Ghost. Jesus taught "except a man be born of water
and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God."1.42 If we
divide this into two spaces, i.e.
- to be born of water and of the spirit, and
- to enter the kingdom of God,
then we find we have created two new "universes." The first universe concerns baptism by water and by fire. This can likewise be broken into two new universes:
- baptism by water; and
- baptism by fire.
How are we born of water? Like the Catholics, by someone who claims to have authority handed down from Peter and from Jesus Christ? Or like the those protestant churches, which sprinkle a baby or a celebrant? Or like evangelical churches which “derive” their authority from the scriptures? Or like the Salvation Army, who dedicate themselves under a flag. Or like the Baptists or the Mormons who are baptized by full immersion? Concerning the second universe, what is the Kingdom of God? Is it spiritual, physical, on earth, someplace else, etc.? And thus we see that G. Spencer Brown's "Laws of Form" are applicable to faith.
With all of the arguments between different religions about different ways to do the same thing, is it any wonder scientists do not trust religious data, religious data collection, and can question the very existence of God? However, faith can thrive, even in the midst of this conflict.19
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paradoxes