#againstheresies

[sowingseedsandshootinghoops]

Spotting the Liars: St Irenaeus

Note on the text: I used Against Heresies by St Irenaeus at published in 2015 by Beloved Press

Thou wilt not expect from me. . .  [who is] a resident among the Keltae and am accustomed for the most part to use a barbarous dialect, any display of rhetoric, which I have not learned, nor any excellence of composition, which I have never practiced, nor any beauty of persuasiveness of style, to which I make no pretensions (2).

In his book, Against Heresies, Irenaeus warns us to be careful around people who give overly complicated answers to questions. Anyone who was not willing to answer a question plainly and simply is probably lying: “Error indeed is never set forth in its marked deformity, lest, being exposed, it should be at once detected. But it is craftily decked out in an attractive dress [so that it might appear to be] more true than the truth” (1). This is not only true when it comes to matters of religion, but when it comes to life in general: how many of us have people in our lives who are so unable to give us a straight answer that we often leave the conversation more confused than when we started them? You ask someone if they love you, for example, and instead of saying yes or no they give some complicated non-answer. Saint Irenaeus’ warning is that people who intentionally give overcomplicated answers that appear to fly in the face of reason are probably lying because what they’re trying to do is distract you from seeing the truth of what they believe. 

That is why Irenaeus starts his book by claiming to be an “everyman”, and the ways that he argues against the credibility of the Gnostics can still serve as a blueprint for us today on how to identify the liars in our own lives. Although Irenaeus does use Scripture to make many of his points against the Gnostics, I was interested in the way that he appeals to common sense. In short he says that his theology is connected “to the things which actually have been” (133). Which is to say that it matches it up with reality, as opposed to the made up reality that one would have to believe in order to make the Gnostics’ beliefs palatable. In this way, Irenaeus continues to speak to us in to this very day. So when, for example, he talks about the Gnostics’ dual God theology, where God created the perfect spiritual world and a lesser God (who was created by the former God) created the sinful material world, he starts off by saying that it just doesn’t make sense. Because if that supreme God created the lesser God (or angelic being) who then created this world, doesn’t make more sense to say that he is responsible for this world too? When a king plans a siege we don’t say his armies won or lost, we say that he did. Because he was the one who put everything in motion. We don’t say the axe cut down the tree, we say the axe cutter did. Because he was the one who put everything in motion. So wouldn’t it make sense to say the same about God? Irenaeus says that it would, and the fact that the Gnostics have to come up with a very complicated belief system in order to make you believe that that is not true is indicative of the fact that they know its not true. They know that if anyone actually looked at what they believed, stripped away of all the rhetorical bells and whistles, and they would know that the Gnostics were lying. Irenaeus gives a similar example later when talking about the parables. The parables have a logic to them that is obvious to anyone who reads them: if you read the story of the lost sheep for example its obvious what the message of the story is and that it has nothing to do with the numerological value of the number 100, and that anyone who tries to tell you different is probably just trying to pull the wool over your eyes. 

Similarly when someone in your own life says something that flies in the face of common sense, or has to give an extremely convoluted answer in order for it to make sense, they are probably lying. If someone hits you when they say they love you, they’re probably lying. Or when you ask someone if they want to marry you and they give you an answer that is more complicated than just “yes” or “no” they are probably lying. 

Truth is simple, lies are complicated. The truth is, more often then not, tied to the reality of the world in ways that lies are not. Lies have to be accounted for. Truth just is. I don’t have to explain why the car is red or why there is no woman in my bed. But I do have to explain why the car is blue even though it seems to be red, and why there actually is no woman in my bed even when you can see that there is. It’s not to say that the truth is necessarily easier to deal with than a lie, but generally if “something seems to good to be true, it probably isn’t” as the saying goes. Because if it is too good to be true that means that something about what is being said just doesn’t line up with reality, which means it is more likely to be a lie. Greys exist to be sure, but be careful around those who insist on living in it. You may find them to be not as trustworthy as you would like them to be.

[thesynaxarium]

Today we celebrate the Holy Hieromartyr Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon. Saint Irenaeus was a direct descendent of the Lord's grace, being a student of Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, who in turn was a student of Saint John the Evangelist, one of the 12 disciples of Christ. He wrote many works against heresies and won the glorious crown of martyrdom in his advanced age. Because of his many theological and anti-heretical works, he is considered to be one of the greatest Christian apologists and a Church Father. May he intercede for us all + #saint #irenaeus #lyon #france #bishop #hieromartyr #martyr #polycarp #smyrna #polycarpofsmyrna #johntheevangelist #johnthetheologian #johnthedivine #john #evangelist #theologian #againstheresies #heresy #churchfather #father #church #martyrdom #orthodox #saintoftheday (at Lyon, France) https://www.instagram.com/p/Chk3FSVP5E_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[santmat]

Below Are NOTES About Today's PODCAST (6-4-2020): The Gospel of THOMAS and Initiation Into the Mysteries of the Kingdom of the Heavens, also Kirpal Singh on Initiation -- What No Eye Has Seen, What No Ear Has Heard Today on Spiritual Awakening Radio With James Bean @ Youtube: https://youtu.be/QWtrE_5ZQ_E

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Every Sunday Morning: Worldwide Prayer for the World to Go Vegan: Sunday Mornings, 9:00 AM – 9: 30 AM US Eastern Time/6:00–6:30 AM PST.

Today I provide a brief introduction to the Gospel of Thomas... where it came from, what it is, describing it as a wisdom gospel or 'Christ Upanishad', a collection of the sayings of Jesus to be contemplated, leading to revelations and insight.

Between a third and half of the sayings attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas are also included in the regular or orthodox New Testament. The rest however are not. Yet some of those sayings of Jesus associated with the Gospel of Thomas also were quoted, far and wide, in other early Christian writings too. I list some of the other texts, scriptures and authors that have quoted these "Thomasonian" sayings of Jesus that got left out of the New Testament.

We focus on one such saying, in what other gospels and writings it's also appeared, AND how it even got included in the scriptures of other religions of the East & West! Yeshua says: "I will give you what eye has never seen, and what ear has never heard, and what hand has never touched, and what has never entered into the heart of man." (GoT # 17) This verse also was directly quoted by Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians.

This is an axiom of wisdom about being initiated by a living teacher into the Mysteries of the Kingdom of the Heavens, so other sources are shared exploring what initiation is: The Mystical Theology of Dionysius the Areopagite, The Testament of Our Lord (a Syriac gospel), The Syriac Fathers on Prayer and the Spiritual Life, and there are readings from the Sant Mat satsang or spiritual discourses of Sant Kirpal Singh, also Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, on initiation as well as about inner seeing and hearing during meditation practice.

"This 'Single' or 'Third Eye' provides an ingress into the spiritual worlds -- the Kingdom of God -- now a lost realm to most of us... Of this inlet or ingress little is known by the people at large." (Kirpal Singh)

The Mystery of Saying 17 of the Gospel of Thomas: “What the Eye Has Not Seen, and the Ear Has Not Heard”, by James Bean: https://medium.com/sant-mat-meditation-and-spirituality/the-mystery-of-saying-17-of-the-gospel-of-thomas-what-the-eye-has-not-seen-and-the-ear-has-not-b3f96e47a08e

Hear the Earlier Podcast: Seven Essential Ingredients of a Living Spiritual Path -- 7 Gnostic-Sant Mat Parallels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk-x2RVnxw8&ab_channel=SantMatRadhasoami

This version of the Gospel of Thomas online translated by Marvin Meyer has a slightly more Aramaic-Syriac flavor to it: http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gosthom-meyer.html

Correspond via Email: Questions? Seeking information on how to be initiated into the meditation practice (Inner Light and Sound of God), or trying to locate a satsang meetup in your area of the world? Email me here: James (at) SpiritualAwakeningRadio (dot) com

All for the Love of Wisdom and Radio, Jai Sat Naam, Jai Guru, Radhasoami, Satya Raam, Bandagi Saheb, In Divine Love, Light and Sound, Peace Be To You, James Spiritual Awakening Radio

God is the Ocean of Love, and Souls are Drops from this Ocean.

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#gospelofthomas #initiation #KirpalSingh #lectiodivina #gnosticgospels #naghammadilibrary #jesus #yeshua #wisdom #initiation #santkirpalsingh #swamisantsevijimaharaj #santmat #sant_mat #radhasoami #radhaswami #radha_soami #radhasoamiji #suratshabdyoga #innerlightandsound #meditation #satsang #spirituality #spiritualawakening #spiritualawakeningradio #santmatsatsangpodcasts #jamesbean #thirdeye #singleeye #innerlight #innerseeing #innerhearing #DionysiustheAreopagite #sufi #koran #quran #mandaean #manichaean #apocryphal #earlychurchfathers #syriacfathers #gospelofthehebrews #coptic #egypt #contemplation #mysticism #mystics

#Vegetarian #GoVeganRadio #OldSyriacGospels #Aramaic #NotDyingForMeat #animals #Veganism #bevegansavetheworld #NewTestament #AgainstHeresies #BeVegGoGreen2SaveThePlanet #BeVeganMakePeace #GodsDirectContact #SupremeMasterChingHai #apocrypha #BackToEden #Eden #KeithAkers #Syriac #Aramaic #Gospels #EarlyChristianity #Compassion #bevegan #ClementineHomilies #Ebionites #VegetarianGospels #syriacgospels #SawanSingh #Vegetarianism #Karma #PracticingThePresenceOfGod #SuratShabdYoga #RadhasoamiSatsang #Kabir #PathOfTheMasters #Vegetarianism #Satgurus #Ethics #Sant_Mat #Radhasoami #SantMatSatsangPodcasts #SpiritualAwakeningRadio #Libraries #Ebooks #GospelOfThomas #TheNagHammadiLibrary #GnosticGospels #Gnosticism #Gnosis #Gnostic #Christ #Podcasts #Meditation #asmr #InnerLightAndSoundMeditation #SpiritualPath #Satsang #SantMatSatsang #संतमत #राधास्वमी #संतमतराधास्वमी #SantMatRadhasoami #SuratShabdYoga #QuanYinMethod #Radha_Swami #Radha_Soami #Radhaswami #relaxation #SantMatSatsangPodcast #JamesBean #Podcasts #Spirituality #SpiritualTalks #SpiritualPodcasts #philosophy #SpiritualRadio #SpiritualPoetry #Vegetarian #VeganPodcasts #God #Religion #Mystics #Saints #Initiation #ThePathOfTheMasters #SpiritualQuotes

[discerningthoughts]

What matters is that we should not simply be filled with the desire to serve God. We must also conduct ourselves in a way that is pleasing to God and worthy of Him, because spiritual errors give rise to terrible dangers. When we do not behave appropriately, this has awful consequences in our lives. Spiritual mistakes are paid for very dearly. They have an effect on one’s life. -- https://goo.gl/mgRMzA #Ecumenism #Ecumenists #GreatCouncilof2016 #barlaamism #modernism #apostasy #agnosticism #AgainstHeresies #againstecumenism #againstsyncretism

[thesynaxarium]

Today we celebrate the Holy Hieromartyr Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon. Saint Irenaeus was a direct descendent of the Lord's grace, being a student of Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, who in turn was a student of Saint John the Evangelist, one of the 12 disciples of Christ. He wrote many works against heresies and won the glorious crown of martyrdom in his advanced age. Because of his many theological and anti-heretical works, he is considered to be one of the greatest Christian apologists and a Church Father. May he intercede for us all + #saint #irenaeus #lyon #france #bishop #hieromartyr #martyr #polycarp #smyrna #polycarpofsmyrna #johntheevangelist #johnthetheologian #johnthedivine #john #evangelist #theologian #againstheresies #heresy #churchfather #father #church #martyrdom #orthodox #saintoftheday (at Lyon, France) https://www.instagram.com/p/CS4r9yPjbsJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[thesynaxarium]

Today we celebrate Justin the Martyr and Philosopher. Saint Justin was an educated man who studied various types of philosophy in pursuit of the Truth. Finding no single philosophy to impress him completely, he stumbled upon Christianity and found its philosophy was the truest of all. His writings in defence of Christianity, known as dialogues, have been passed down to us and he was later martyred for his faith in Christ. May he intercede for us all + #saint #justin #martyr #philosopher #philosophy #justinmartyr #letter #againstheresy #martyrdom #christ #truth #orthodox (at مدينة نابلس Nablus City) https://www.instagram.com/p/CePGsKaP3Qa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[thesynaxarium]

Today we celebrate Justin the Martyr and Philosopher. Saint Justin was an educated man who studied various types of philosophy in pursuit of the Truth. Finding no single philosophy to impress him completely, he stumbled upon Christianity and found its philosophy was the truest of all. He wrote many letters about this and also against heretics and he was later martyred for his faith in Christ. May he intercede for us all + #saint #justin #martyr #philosopher #philosophy #justinmartyr #letter #againstheresy #martyrdom #christ #truth #orthodox (at Nablus, West Bank) https://www.instagram.com/p/CA4NeaXpehD/?igshid=1igsici18h7zo

[thesynaxarium]

Today we celebrate Saint Justin the Martyr and Philosopher. Saint Justin was an educated man who studied various types of philosophy in pursuit of the Truth. Finding no single philosophy to impress him completely, he stumbled upon Christianity and found its philosophy was the truest of all. He wrote many letters about this and also against heretics and he was later martyred for his faith in Christ. May he intercede for us all + #saint #justin #martyr #philosopher #philosophy #justinmartyr #letter #againstheresy #martyrdom #christ #truth #orthodox #sophia

[thesynaxarium]

Today we celebrate Saint Justin the Martyr and Philosopher. Saint Justin was an educated man who studied various types of philosophy in pursuit of the Truth. Finding no single philosophy to impress him completely, he stumbled upon Christianity and found its philosophy was the truest of all. He wrote many letters about this and also against heretics and he was later martyred for his faith in Christ. May he intercede for us all + #saint #justin #martyr #philosopher #philosophy #justinmartyr #letter #againstheresy #martyrdom #christ #truth #orthodox #sophia

[discerningthoughts]

#StIrenaeusofLyons #AgainstHeresies #againstecumenism #againstsyncretism #sundayoforthodoxy #Orthodoxy #Orthodox #WorldOrthodoxy

[discerningthoughts]

For though it is not an easy thing for a soul under the influence of error to repent, yet, on the other hand, it is not altogether impossible to escape from error when the truth is brought alongside it. — #StIrenaeusofLyons, Book III, #AgainstHeresies *** #againstecumenism #againstsyncretism #ConfessionOfFaith #Anathema #conversion #discernment #purification #illumination #theosis #Orthodox #Orthodoxy #sundayoforthodoxy #MetropolitanDemetriosofAmerica #MetropolitanPhilaret #StPhilaretofNewYork #GOC

[discerningthoughts]

“Do not accept any heretical dogma on the pretext of love.” — #StJohnChrysostom #sundayoforthodoxy #Delusion #discernment #againstheresies #againstecumenism #agnosticism #MetropolitanDemetriosofAmerica

[discerningthoughts]

“From the time of the Apostles and thereafter,…” #sttheodorethestudite #ConfessionOfFaith #againstecumenism #againstsyncretism #againstheresies #Ecumenism #WorldOrthodoxy #warning #MetropolitanDemetriosOfAmerica