I was thinking about our recent addition to the forums (Faith), and proselytizing fundamentalists in general. It really seems that if satan had minions on earth, these people would be the best candidates for the position.
They swallow the dogma they're fed when they're brought into this world and they fall into a circular referencing system that, in order to maintain its stability, illustrates that questioning the validity of its own claims is something evil.
Sounds like quite the tool of an evil idea eh? The practitioners have no means by which to detect if they're led astray. And ironically, I think that this idea makes them believe that their eyes, ears, and mind are all tools of something evil and that if they use these components of their god given form that they are somehow giving into evil.
It's such a marvelous control mechanism that has them firmly in its grasp. It has them cowering in a corner of their mind afraid to touch any of the dials or use any of the equipment.
Here's a parable attributed to Jesus (it's where our word "talent" comes from):
Quote:
Matthew 25:14-30 (New International Version)
The Parable of the Talents
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
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People who refuse to use the talents that God has given them (no matter how few they are given) stir compassion in me. I hope that one day these people will put down their adherence to dogma and open their eyes to the world around them.
An agnostic view of questioning, doubt, and self observation is the only way to avoid being a puppet of satan. Ask to put your fingers in the holes in his hands. Otherwise, how can you be sure that it's jesus and not a tool of Satan trying to lead you astray. One of Jesus' disciples, Thomas, did just this. And jesus held out his hands for him and did not chastise him for doubting! And neither will he chastise you.
--The Incredulity of Saint Thomas by Caravaggio.
Those who don't, have no way of telling who their true master is. God created you in his own image. Use the talents he's given you to lead a life worthy of his gifts.
Go dig up your talents and use them. Don't leave them in the ground.
Thomas was the one to which jesus shared the secret:
"The kingdom of heaven is laid upon the earth, it is just that people do not see it"
Open your eyes. Bring your talents into use in the world/life that God has given us. Ask questions. Discern. Apply the fire to the gold to burn away the impurities (Satan). Otherwise, you're just like everyone else across the world that believes different things than you do. You're a puppet of some master and you can not tell who it is.
Apply this doubt even to your idea of God, for that is your ultimate idol. Wherever you feel that your mind is forbidden from doubt, cast the most light. For that is where your ultimate delusion will lay. When you behave in this manner, then you will truly know what path it is that you follow.