In Reply to: Re: One way or many ways posted by Farmer on January 10, 2010 at 14:00:22:
It doesn't assign a sex to God. It refers to a great spirit as giving life to the earth, great spirit as breath in the wind.
Personally, it's an individual call how people decide to make their journey, whether by the church of George Carlin, Great Spirit, Jesus Christ, Buddha or any number of other paths. After getting out of the cult, there are many who walk different paths than the path of Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation or the only way to avoid burning in hell.
Why couldn't "God" manifest in any number of ways? After all, since no audible voice from Heaven or the Spirit world speaks to anyone (unless they are psychotic or on mind altering drugs or altered mind via sleep deprivation, or something like that)then people are left with interpreting things that are negative or positive in whatever way they choose, or whatever way they are taught to believe.
I think it is great that you have identified your belief and I understand you believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.
I don't believe that.
I don't think it is confusing that there are different doctrines and different religions.
I do believe there are universally "destructive" religions or ideologies and you can "tell them by their fruits" if you will.
Maybe having so many possible interpretations of God is the Great Spirit's way of making itself accessible to people who can't handle this or that doctrine and have to seek some other path for their comfort and that makes sense to them. If something is offensive because of interpretations of others, then there is an alternative way to worship or believe- not hell or death for not agreeing.
So I personally believe there are "many ways" and it is not confusing to me.