So many theologians have distorted the image of the Creator

"So many theologians have distorted the image of the Creator and

Master of the universe by making the devil into God's implacable

enemy! An entity that is so well able to stand up to God has to

be as powerful as he is, if not more powerful. You will say they

never thought such a thing... But they did, and the proof is

that, in Christendom, throughout the Middle Ages and well beyond,

men and women who displayed gifts that were a little exceptional

were accused of having received these gifts from the devil, of

having made a pact with him. And, unfortunately, the Church

itself contributed to the spreading of this belief.

Yes, if the devil has held such an important position among

Christians, it is the Church itself that is responsible. If

anyone prophesied, healed the sick or received messages from

heaven - oh no, it wasn't heaven inspiring them but the devil.

So, we should not be surprised if some people really did want to

make a pact with him. Why, they asked themselves, should we go

and serve a powerless God, since all the knowledge and gifts come

from his opponent, the devil? Their thinking was right, in a way.

So, that is the kind of nonsense religion can lead to when it

does not possess true initiatic knowledge concerning good and

evil."

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

Fur Coats & Furnaces

Have you ever heard of the "Saint in a Fur Coat"?

He sits in his house by a fireplace full of wood. But there is no fire. The house, and everyone in it are shivering from the cold. All except for him. He dons a fur coat and he is warm.

So we ask him, "Why do you warm only yourself? Why not kindle the wood in your fireplace and warm others as well?"

He answers, "It is not just this house. The entire world is struck with a bitter, cold wind. Do you expect me to warm up an entire world?"

So we tell him that he does not have to warm up the entire world. But perhaps he could warm up one other individual. Perhaps two. Perhaps he could warm up one little cornerof the world.

"For a person such as I," he replies, "it is not fitting to warm up only one corner."

And so there he sits, in his cold, dark house,

all comfy in his fur coat.

T. Freeman