Virtue - Imperfection - Restoration: A Framework For Faith Crises
[Joyful Warrior #3 / Faith # 2]
This is a framework to keep in mind as one navigates their crisis of faith. If one sips at the well of knowledge, a child’s faith will shatter before long. A child's faith is stalwart and stubborn. But brittle, like a Prince Rupert's drop.
Remember what it was like to believe in Santa?
What halcyon days those were.
But if you can be without fear, and drink deeply from the well of knowledge, you will discover the truth of Christ's gift to the world: Enlightenment.
An enlightenment faith is deeply rooted in the soil of material knowledge with a sturdy, resilient trunk that reach towards the heavens of divine knowledge, its branches of the knowledge of Good and Evil swaying in the wind, but never breaking and shattering as new winds of knowledge buffets this Tree of True Faith harmlessly.
You do not need to possess a literalistic belief in G-d for this framework to apply.
If you are experiencing a crisis of faith, I imagine you are already there.
First Precept - Virtue
That which deals with true divine faith, not mere obedience. This can be difficult to perceive at times and should be discerned.
Second Precept - Imperfection
That which deals with true sin. The path to deep unrest and discontentment.
Third Precept - Restoration
That which heals imperfection and exalts towards greater, more divinely inspired virtue.
That which takes the good and the bad in human nature, the ecology, and our inherent spiritual nature and orients it towards our most natural, actualized selves, whatever form that may take.
Not what some daddy figure dictates you need to be. But that which the highest divine force demands of you.
Your True Perfection.
Your Path of Ascension on the Holy Mountain.
Your H .'. G .'. A .'.
A Recommendation
Google "Prototype Theory", and abandon your attachment to Aristotelian notions of binary definitions.
This attachment is the source of Western madness and it's ultimate demise.
To demonstrate, think of a fruit. Any fruit.
What did you imagine?
I'll be willing to bet Vegas money you didn't think of an olive. Or a tomato.
Categories, in reality, exists of grades, not necessary minimal prerequisites to gain admittance into an exclusive group. A f***in' Platypus is a mammal. See what I'm saying?
Relevant Resources to Consider
Restoration Ethics Today, by Roger Yarrington. Pay close attention to the section on Christian Perfection. Discern it's true meaning.
The Magicians Companion, by Bill Whitcomb. A reference guide to magickal and religious symbol systems and texts to chart your own path up the divine orders.
This is probably controversial to include, but I deeply believe in giving those with free agency the power to decide their own destinies. One cannot discern their true G-d given purpose without the tools to exercise that agency.
Do take care to respect these orders, lest you drive yourself insane.
Secular knowledge is extremely important in this endeavor.
Without secular measures, mystical practice pulls you into delusion, with no moorings or structure to anchor the ego. The ego can grow to Godlike proportions. The wielder becomes archonic and the divine name zombifies into a Demiurge, cut off from Highest Source.
Do not put the cart before the horse and attempt rituals you shouldn't be touching.
That is a recipe for schizophrenia.
Last Word
Take upon thyself thy Christ. This is thy true nature, human being.