A list of some Greek words

[Alexander]

One of the things I have discovered about the Gospels is that when we return to the original language of the texts, they take on a very different meaning. Is the Greek meaning much more mystical than our translations? I would argue yes.

Let's look at some of the words:

Metanoia - Repentance
Anastasis - Resurrection
Charis - Grace
Psuche - Soul
Pneuma - Spirit
Aion - Age
Aionios - Everlasting
Zoe - Life (a different meaning from life, Bios)

Personally when I look at this list it forces me to throw out many concepts I have about Christianity. I find here a Christianity that has far more gravity, far more mystery, than I originally would have anticipated.

[Jhanananda]

Good work.  Yes, I agree that when I examine the original Hebrew and Greek of the bible and gospels I find a completely different meaning to them, and yes, more mystical.  It seems like it is time for another major translation of the Bible, but, with the exception of a few fellow mystics,  I wonder who would read it?

[Alexander]

Couple errors:

"Camel go through an eye of a needle" -> camel is a mistranslation of the Greek word for rope

Jesus of Nazareth -> Jesus the Nazirite

[Jhanananda]

Thanks, Alexander.  I was not aware of the camel>rope error.  And, I conquer on the Nazareth>Nazirite error.  The Nazareth>Nazirite error becomes significant.  The rope through an eye of a needle makes more sense.

I recently had a discussion with a biologist who happens to be a Jehovah's Witness.  It turns out that they are the only branch of Christianity today that I am aware of that rejects Trinitarianism.  Nonetheless, they subscribe to another translation error from the Greek only begotten>chosen.

[Alexander]

Thank you, Jhanananda, for your thoughts. I have found there are a large number of errors in the Christian doctrine. My admiration of Christianity has grown dramatically as I have uncovered more and more of the wrong understandings that are taken as fact. Christianity is a beautiful religion, but it has to be unpacked from the nonsense that is connected to it these days.

Another discussion we had had to do with the symbolism of the cross:

http://fruitofthecontemplativelife.org/forum/index.php/topic,719.0.html

To me, what better symbol is there for the 1st Noble Truth? It also teaches us how the spiritual life should be lived - and why. But, where is the explicit mention of the 1st Noble Truth in Christian teaching? It is nowhere. But, it is there in the symbolism of the cross.

[Michel]

To me, what better symbol is there for the 1st Noble Truth? It also teaches us how the spiritual life should be lived - and why. But, where is the explicit mention of the 1st Noble Truth in Christian teaching? It is nowhere. But, it is there in the symbolism of the cross.

How true. What a perfect symbol. It's so obvious, now that you have pointed it out. It's beautiful. Thank-you.

[Jhanananda]

Thank you, Jhanananda, for your thoughts. I have found there are a large number of errors in the Christian doctrine. My admiration of Christianity has grown dramatically as I have uncovered more and more of the wrong understandings that are taken as fact. Christianity is a beautiful religion, but it has to be unpacked from the nonsense that is connected to it these days.

Yes, all religions have a great deal of nonsense in them, and when we properly translate the doctrine we find it is beautiful, cogent, and logically true, and leads to mysticism; however, no religion wants that.

Translators might be interested in the Vatican Library Digitization Project.  They are digitizing everything, and they have books from all over the world, and it is not all Christian.

Another discussion we had had to do with the symbolism of the cross:

http://fruitofthecontemplativelife.org/forum/index.php/topic,719.0.html

To me, what better symbol is there for the 1st Noble Truth? It also teaches us how the spiritual life should be lived - and why. But, where is the explicit mention of the 1st Noble Truth in Christian teaching? It is nowhere. But, it is there in the symbolism of the cross.

I agree, the first Noble Truth is embedded in the symbol of the cross.  Christian mystics have taken the cross as symbolic of their suffering all along.