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www.kamloopsthisweek.com
FAITH
FRIDAY, March 1, 2019
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Goal of theistic faiths is bond with supreme person hs is bond with supreme person
L
ove is the pinnacle of human lovdental reciprocation. emotions hest Secondly, the ontoand the lims the logical argument s the greatest its Godmotivating to our concepGod. force tions of him according in the world. ical to rule of logic. Holistically, theWhat e exis- subject one scientist consistsperceives of the selem lover, as the thegreatest belovedtoday, and oanother love itself. scientist s that diminishes by an even To acknowledge thing God greater discovery years as the beloved we onlater. must first arrive at a A progression personal perceptionofof prob-him. conception That is toresults say, to in gu- know an evolving God, alterhim as a distinct able by time. If that personality. were the case, then An impersonal le time would understandingbe ofthe God they is that superior concept, thus he is omniprestest, time itself entmaking and omnipotent. come God. Being everywhere Time is the creator and anywhere results emise, of all worlds and the in infinite perspective n in destroyer as well. It of what he is like and es is omnipresent and to best relate ce, the how omnipotent; nottoa him. the personality, but only While God does nd an unlovable energy. qualities, ul the have these The ontologimaking them thefails precal argument dominant aspect of all because logic has no natures voids himof hin hisbasis in the realm form. ions of tangible the inconceivable. God ison dift’s not When Focusing magferent for Christians, me nificence makes God Muslims G. Hindus, more prone to the Jews, he is then orp- anddevelopment of awe over impersonal. and reverence and Whenof hecomplete is differ- othinto sense for First Christian pos- enterness totally beyond scenthe scope of our emo-
tional bonding. While greatness inspires one form of awe, minuteness inspires another. The same goes with power and humility, wealth and renunHAROLD ciation, delight and MEIER fright. YouThe Gotta Have Vaisnava Saint Hare Das Thakur proFAITH poses God is that person that inspires the most wonder. Church of TexasWonder memmost certainly arises bers Tom, Joe and in conjunction with Henry, he remains love. impersonal. In this world, Because we are we occasionally find love many, we can relate occurring between to him in an infinite strangers. It also number of ways. occurs between a If, however we submaster and a servant, scribe to the tenet of between friends, a supreme personality between husband of and Godhead, then who wife and between weparents relate to cannot be and their chila different person. dren. Our ways of relatEach of these relaingtionships to him may differ represents and result in varieties different degrees of of intimacy. religiosity, but he remains Lovedistinct. increases that The primary goal intimacy. The wonder of of theistic faiths is to it lies in the recipfind that Supreme perrocation. son and our Thedevelop most favour relationship goes to thewith mosthim. The highestwhich form could of beloved, be a spouse, one
relationship is a loving one. The highest form of children, religion isa the of the one that develops the high school friend, greatest loveorofa God. a stranger paramour. In his ontological The Supreme argument for the exisPersonality tence of God,ofAnselem wants our ofGodhead Canterbury prolove in one of these poses that God is that forms.which nothing “being He wants as a greater can beus condevout servant, friend, ceived.” child and, as There aremostly, two proba devout loverargubut not lems with this as God. ment. In the same One is that it way, a president of a large leads some people a fortocorporation believe thathas if they mal relationship with become the greatest, his employees, but then they can become his young son, who God. knows nothing of his Under this premise, stature, enjoys a more the richest person in intimate, loving relathe world becomes tionship. the god of finance, the Within that relastrongest the tionship,person spontaneous god of strength and love arises. the most beautiful Whatever form the our god loveofofbeauty. God takes, it Whilemanifest we can all should itself become gods as unalloyed within devotion our conceptions — own unalloyed because ofitthe universe, it’s not should be completepossible to become ly selfless. GodThe withlover the big G. always Such of self-absorpthinks the beloved tion the lover andmerges is constantly and the beloved thinking of waysinto to one without any posattract and please him sibilities for transcenor her without any expectation of return.
dental reciprocation. Secondly, the ontological Theargument beloved limits God to the ourcentre concepbecomes tions of him according and soul’s purpose of life. to rule of logic. What lovers of God, oneAs scientist perceives allthe thatgreatest we do, today, all that as we eat, all that we another scientist offer and give away, as diminishes by an even well as discovery all austerities greater years that we may perform, later. should be done as A progression ofan offering unto him, in conception results (Bhagavad an evolving Gita God,9.27). alteronly reach ableWe bycan time. If that that level of devotion were the case, then and intimacy time would bewhen the God exists as a person. superior concept, thus making time itself Harold Meier lived in God. Taiwan for more than Time is the creator 20 years, during which of all worlds and the he studied Eastern destroyer as well. It religions, primarily is omnipresent and Vedantism, and became omnipotent; not a an active member personality, only of the Harebut Krishna ancommunity. unlovable energy. He holds The ontologia master’ s degree in caleducational argument practices. fails because logic has no basisKTW in the realm of welcomes thesubmissions inconceivable. to its Focusing magFaith page.on Columns nificence God should makes be between more to the 600prone and 800 words development of awe in length and can and reverence and be emailed to sense of complete otheditor@kamloops erness totally beyond thisweek.com. Please theinclude scope aofvery our short emobio and a photo.
tional bonding. While greatness inspires one form of awe, minuteness inspires another. The same goes with power and humility, wealth and renunciation, delight and fright. The Vaisnava Saint Hare Das Thakur proposes God is that person that inspires the most wonder. Wonder most certainly arises in conjunction with love. In this world, we occasionally find love occurring between strangers. It also occurs between a master and a servant, between friends, between husband and wife and between parents and their children. Each of these relationships represents different degrees of intimacy. Love increases that intimacy. The wonder of it lies in the reciprocation. The most favour goes to the most beloved, which could be a spouse, one
of the children, a high school friend, a stranger or a paramour. The Supreme Personality of Godhead wants our love in one of these forms. He wants us as a devout servant, friend, child and, mostly, as a devout lover but not as God. In the same way, a president of a large corporation has a formal relationship with his employees, but his young son, who knows nothing of his stature, enjoys a more intimate, loving relationship. Within that relationship, spontaneous love arises. Whatever form our love of God takes, it should manifest itself as unalloyed devotion — unalloyed because it should be completely selfless. The lover always thinks of the beloved and is constantly thinking of ways to attract and please him or her without any expectation of return.
The beloved becomes the centre and soul’s purpose of life. As lovers of God, all that we do, all that we eat, all that we offer and give away, as well as all austerities that we may perform, should be done as an offering unto him, (Bhagavad Gita 9.27). We can only reach that level of devotion and intimacy when God exists as a person. Harold Meier lived in Taiwan for more than 20 years, during which he studied Eastern religions, primarily Vedantism, and became an active member of the Hare Krishna community. He holds a master’s degree in educational practices. KTW welcomes submissions to its Faith page. Columns should be between 600 and 800 words in length and can be emailed to editor@kamloops thisweek.com. Please include a very short bio and a photo.
KAMLOOPS
Places of Worship Kamloops
ALLIANCE CHURCH
200 Leigh Road (250) 376-6268 SERVICE TIMES: SAT: 6:30pm • SUN: 9 & 11am Online Live 11am SUNDAY www.kamloopsalliance.com
Simplicity in Worship
Clarity in Bible Teaching
Friendliness in Fellowship
Please Join Us
10:00am
Sunday Mornings
422 Tranquille Rd
(Inside the Stagehouse Theatre)
All are Welcome www.northshorecalvary.com
UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS 1044- 8TH STREET ~ 250.376.9209
SUNDAY March 3, 2019 Divine Liturgy @ 10:00 am
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READY FOR DAY OF PRAYER
MONDAY March 11, 2019 Beginning of Great Lent. Canon of St. Andrew @ 5:00 pm
READY FOR DAY OF THURSDAY PRAYER
COMMUNITY CHURCH 344 POPLAR A Place To Belong A PlaceCHRISTA To Worship KEPPEL-JONES PHOTO A Place To Serve
Members of Hills to be held at St. John Members of Hills of Peace Lutheran Church prepare for World Day of Prayer 2019 services to be held at St. Johnof Peace Lutheran Church prepare for World Day of Prayer 2019 services Sunday Service - 11a.m. March 14, 2019 Vianney Bank Rd. in Westsyde) on Friday, March@ 1,5atpm 7 p.m. A second service will be held at Hills of Peace Vianney (2826 Bank Rd. in Westsyde) on Friday, March 1, at 7 p.m. A second service will be held at Hills(2826 of Peace Conan of St. Andrew Children’s Church 11:45 a.m. Lutheran (695 Robson Dr. in Upper Sahali) on Saturday, March 2, at 1 p.m. Women from Slovenia have written Lutheran Church (695 Robson Dr. in Upper Sahali) on Saturday, March 2, at 1 p.m. Women from SloveniaChurch have written this year’s service and the theme is Come — Everything is Ready. Everyone is welcomed. this year’s service and the theme isThe Come — Priest Everything Ready. Parish is Rev.isFr. ChadEveryone Pawlyshynis welcomed. 250-554-1611 SERVICES ARE IN ENGLISH
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