Sympathy And Empathy

Sympathy And Empathy

sym·pa·thy

ˈsimpəTHē/

noun

noun: sympathy

1. feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.

2. understanding between people; common feeling.

em·pa·thy

ˈempəTHē/

noun

noun: empathy

1 - the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

from the Greek empatheia (from em- ‘in’ + pathos ‘feeling’).

* researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling.

Origin of the Words - The word "sympathy" comes from the ancient Greek sum-pathos, meaning "with/together" and "suffering." "Empathy" was coined in 1909 but borrows from an ancient Greek word, empátheia, which meant "passion/inward feeling," 

So then, Empathy is the ability to experience the feelings of another person. It goes beyond sympathy, which is caring and understanding for the suffering of others. Both words are used similarly and often incorrectly used interchangeably.

The feeling of sympathy emerges from the recognition that another person is suffering, in contrast to empathy, where the other person's pain or suffering is felt. A person expresses sympathy, but shares empathy. The empathic feeling may be brief, and the person feeling it is said to "put themselves in the other person's place."

Of the two, empathy is a deeper feeling, but sympathy can be just as honest and heartfelt. However, empathy can forge a deeper and more meaningful connection, thus serving as a bridge for greater communication between individuals. The basis for both sympathy and empathy is compassion, a blending of understanding and acceptance of others that can be seen as being derived or enhanced by knowledge and wisdom.

Compassion recognizes the "me" in "you," the shared commonality of interconnected feelings between individuals. Both sympathy and empathy imply caring for another person, but with empathy, the caring is enhanced or expanded by being able to feel the other person's emotions.

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor ORDM., OCP., DM.

The Scriptural Allegory of Coming Out of Egypt

The Scriptural Allegory of "Coming Out of Egypt"

The word "Egypt" comes to us from the Ancient Greek "Aegyptos," which is a Greek transliteration of the Kemetic phrase:  Het-Ka-Ptah. Het means place and Ka means: "the physical projection of the soul", which is the character or aura that attaches itself to the body ... and NOT the body. It also meant black/darkness referring to the rich, black alluvial soil deposited by the Nile River, which allowed the agricultural basis of that civilization to flourish. 

In Ancient Hebrew, whenever Egypt or "Mitzraim" is mentioned, it is synonymous with physical and mental Bondage (Slavery). The indigenous tradition of the Land of Egypt tells us the civilization was called Khemit, and the people and language were called Khemitian.

Knowing now that scripturally, the word Egypt ... represents the body. When the Ancient Mystery School initiate identified with only the body and the flesh they were considered to be "in captivity". Therefore, To "come forth out of Egypt" was understood as leaving behind the idea of being merely a body and discovering the soul. This was the beginning of the Spiritual experience and discovery of God. 

Hippolytus wrote about "those who are ignorant" ... "Egyptians in need of departing Egypt" ... that is from their body centered existence ... believing themselves to be merely physical matter. Allegorically, the ignorant Egyptians represent those "without Gnosis", without the knowledge of the Divine Spark within them ... without the light and in darkness. It was this group of people who remained identified with their physical selves (not Higher Self) and who did not possess the "knowledge/Gnosis" ... that they we are all Divine Sparks of God entrapped in these fleshy and carnal bodies.

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.

All Life Matters

All Life Matters

A lightbulb that is never lit, is not serving it's purpose. After all, when it is plugged-in to the Source of Power and not on ... it isn't doing it's job ... it's calling. Plugging it in to the source ... put it into service ... gives it life. It was recorded in the ancient scriptures: "you are the light of the world." If you have life, you have light. Your bulb is ON. With this light, you join the universal network of conscious life ... connected directly to Source Energy. You are plugged in and that very fact proves you have purpose. 

When a light bulb burns out ... we say it is dead. It is the light that is it's purpose. The LIFE ... comes from within. Just as our life comes from within. Each and every breath we take, is inspiration and expiration ... two polarities of one principle - breath - our life-force.We live and die in each one. We cannot breathe out, unless we first breathe in, and vice-versa. 

You are connected to the vast network of consciousness that moves the planets, births the stars, and shines the suns. All is energy ... even matter. You are a piece of the whole ... the holy. We are all One. Interconnected through Heaven (Spirit) and Earth (Matter) ... or Father and Mother. 

Each of us is a seed, birthed OUT of the Earth (our Mother/Matter - Mater is Latin for Mother) in the same way as a flower springs from the ground. I can go on and on but suffice it to say ... ALL LIVES MATTER. Every plant, mineral, animal, and the entirety of mankind. We are tied to the winds, and the ground. Sharing every molecule, atom, quark ... as a fish in the ocean ... we are as waves, eternal blended with all that is. 

There is no "other." What we do to/for someone else, we do to/for ourselves. Pay no attention to labels and creeds, beliefs and opinions. The Truth is that there is One universe, One "God" (call it what you will), and that every "thing" is actually no-thing at all ... but a single oneness as a single universal organism. 

You matter. I matter. All life matters. It can be no other way. 

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM. 

Revelation of Evil

Revelation of Evil

When we go within, as in meditation, many times we receive messages from beyond. In the stillness of Spirit ... in the silence ... that small voice of inspiration and intuition within our subconscious and superconscious mind finds it's way through all the clutter of our conscious mind and it's daily routine. 

In the NT Bible we find a very powerful message concerning these messages:

"But you, when you pray, enter into your closet and lock your door, and pray to your father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you in public."

~Book of Matthew 6:6

This verse deals not with a literal closet, a literal door, a literal father (lower case f), and a literal Father (upper case F). 

The deeper esoteric meaning of this verse which is cloaked and veiled in metaphor, is the following:

"But you, when you pray ..."

This is your Self, the Higher aspect of your consciousness. This prayer, is a connection to Higher Self, contemplation and meditation. 

"enter your closet and lock your door ..."

Your closet is your inner world. Within your Soul. Your deeper consciousness. The lock, is to close out the outer world. To isolate yourself from conscious distractions. 

"pray to your father who is in secret ..."

Meditate, contemplate, to your (f)ather ... your Soul, your Spirit essence of who you really are.  In secret is the isolation ... away from all distractions. Just you, and You. The me, myself, and I AM. 

"and your Father who sees in secret will reward you in public."

This (F)ather is what we would call God, the Highest Power, the Source Energy ... the Origin of ALL. This Divine Spark is latent within all of mankind. It is your default ... before your ego gets in the way of the original programming. Your reward in public is the outward manifestation of all that is good and beneficial.

Now, knowing this ... I would like to share a recent revelation that I received concerning evil. Remembers also that "revelation" means to reveal, to uncover, to unveil that which exists but is hidden. This also is the Greek word "apocalypse" which has been frequently mistranslated and misunderstood. An apocalypse is not the end of the world, or total mass destruction as many believe it to be. Scripturally, it is simply an unveiling of hidden Wisdom. 

While in my "closet" I was contemplating the meaning and purpose of evil. I am aware that good and evil are two sides of one coin and must coexist in order for us to freely choose what it is that we desire. We are co-creators in this universe and we have free will to choose what we wish to create. 

Now we go in reference to the OT Bible:

"I [am] Jehovah, and there is none else, Except Me there is no God, I gird thee, and thou hast not known Me. So that they know from the rising of the sun, And from the west, that there is none besides Me, I [am] Jehovah, and there is none else, Forming light, and preparing darkness, Making peace, and preparing evil, I [am] Jehovah, doing all these things.’

~Book of Isaiah 45:5-7

If you are lead to believe ancient scripture, then this verse is very clear that there is only God (Source) ... the Father of ALL. This cannot be denied in the above reference. Jehovah (YHWH/Yahweh) makes it perfectly clear there is "none other." God forms light, prepares darkness, makes peace, and prepares evil. "All these things." The very same teachings can be found among many world religions before and after the Hebrew scriptures of the OT Bible. So, what does this mean?

It means that the totality of the universe is One. One living organism in which there are countless individualized elements emanating from One Source in the same way there are countless rays emanating from the sun. All is one and One is ALL. From this great Mind comes all that springs forth in form ... manifest in material existence. Matter (Mother) is nothing more than the lowest vibrating frequencies of energy. The Source of all of this energy can be found within us and without us. There is no where that is not an essence of the Source. In the same way as water comes from the source of water, we come from the Source of ALL.

When we say "I got an idea" ... you are actually the receiver of what is already existing in Universal Unconsciousness. You received the idea in the same way as a radio receives a radio station. The frequency is matched, and a connection is made. This now brings me full circle with the reason for this article.

As I was in "receiving" mode during mediation, and asking what the meaning of evil was ... I received an answer. One that deeply moved me and connected with Truth. The vibration and the frequency "struck a chord" and reverberated with my heart and soul. Here is what I was told:

"Evil (bad) ... is unfinished good." 

Wow. So simple ... yet so moving. Let's say that a fire starts in my kitchen. This is BAD. Then, I use a water source and extinguish the fire ... this is GOOD. What started off bad (unfinished good) ... ended in good (finished/completed). Our thoughts begin the process of manifesting into form that which we desire to create. The default of nature is to move forward ... to move towards completion ... moment by moment. Life is a series of snapshots placed along a continuous string of events and experiences. Good and Bad (Evil) are two sides of a coin ... two polarities of ONE Principle. They show contrast and allow us the discernment to choose to right from wrong ... good from bad ... or vice-versa. 

When something Evil or Bad is in process ... it is unfinished good ... yet to be completed. The end result is left to our free-will and the choices we make. But if it ends in "Bad" ... it is because the process has not yet been completed. What goes up, must come down. A circle must complete in 360 degrees. Everything in existence is waves of frequencies going up and down ... like waves of the ocean. When we think something is a "bad ending" ... it is because we are under the illusion that it has ended. It is still in process. 

I close with one final thought. "Be thankful in ALL things" is another scriptural verse that reminds us of this concept. Be thankful IN ... not FOR all things. You see, some just diagnosed with cancer has plenty of thinks to be thankful IN. There are treatments, doctors, medicines, caring people, and family members to help. Even tragedies ... such as a child lost to a drunk driver. For one mother in particular, this led to the start of Mother Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) and as an end result ... many lives were saved in the process. Bad ... to good. Completeness. 

Someone asks "how do you feel?" You reply "awesome" ... end of story. You have no need to offer the "why." Yet ... if you reply with "horrible" ... they will ask you what is wrong? You are in the process of reaching awesome, yet there are obstructions placed in the path. This is why you are not feeling well/complete. We can't ride a bicycle backwards ... live moves forward ... click by click, frame by frame. Make "awesome" your goal and the evil and bad will dissipate upon completion of goodness. For ALL.

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.   

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9

Please take a moment to read this post. It is an important insight into a famous text from the New Testament Sermon on The Mount. Regardless of your religious or non-religious belief system, there is deep Truth in this statement accredited to Jesus ... as it also pre-dates Christianity and was among the ancient Egyptian Mysteries, and also contained in the Greek "Logia Iesou."

Why the use of the word "peacemaker" rather than "peacekeeper?" This is important. What we see in the world today are peacekeepers. Middle-men trying to keep two or more sides at odds with each other from warring or attacking. You see ... a peacekeeper is one who KEEPS peace between parties, yet; the parties are still enemies or in one way or another have a dislike for each other.

This liaison is working to keep peace between people who are not very agreeable to be peaceful with each other. They use sanctions, politics, trade agreements, and any other tools they have to keep the peace. Yet, the parties have no love for each other. We cannot force someone to be at peace with someone else. Just as we cannot force someone to love someone else. It must come from within.

So then ... we come to what is a Peacemaker. A Peacemaker is someone who has made peace with himself. The only person you can influence to be entirely at peace ... is yourself. Not others. Once peace is achieved within yourself, you are blessed. You are free from anger, fear, jealously, and all the negative and conflicting emotions that tear at us from within. Once everyone has MADE peace with themselves, then ALL will benefit from this state of being.

And this is why "blessed are the Peacemakers" is such a powerful statement. We must understand that the only person we have direct influence over and accomplish true peace ... is our self. Until we all become Peacemakers, there will be Peacekeepers standing by with reward and punishment ready to be dealt out. Consequences rather than benefits.

Just a thought ...

~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP.

Tomb of The Unknowns

Tomb of The Unknowns

The inscription reads:

"Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God."

It saddens me that sooner or later, someone will move forward with litigation to have the inscription modified and take out the word "God." 

The reason will not be because there is no God, the reason will be because many people will have decided against God, without having done adequate enough research into who and what this God really is. Without knowing what this inscription really means. 

They will discount this God as representing what modern Christianity believes God is ... in the fulfillment and embodiment of an earthly inhabitant of The Galilee some 2,000+ years ago as told by the New Testament Bible. Christianity sees God as Jesus Christ. The ancient Hebrews saw God as YHWH, or Yahweh/Jehovah. Muslims see God as Allah. Then there is Brahmin, Buddha, Vishnu, Krishna, etc. until you run through all the languages, and spiritual beliefs worldwide since the beginning of recorded history. Every civilization has presented their best explanation of God. 

What we must understand is that ALL of these beliefs point to the same thing. The same Source of ALL. The same point of origin. The same life Source for all things in this universe and beyond. This power, this consciousness, this universal Source of everything that creates and sustains life down to a cellular level ... is what in the English language we call GOD. 

People may imagine this Power as a human-like entity on patrol from the heavens. They may imagine this Power anthropomorphized in the person of Jesus Christ. They may see a Prophet named Muhammad. Or a great teacher of Spiritual and Astrological wonders. The majority of people will likely not agree on who or what God truly is ... and that is all the more reason not to knock the principle and the reasoning behind and within it. God is personal. Even Atheists cannot deny the existence of a life force. 

So in closing, I ask that you take the time to search within yourself, and re-search outside yourself for that which sustains and creates life. Then, decide what works best for you in your life experience. At the same time, do not deny the existence of a greater Power ... a universal plan ... something that put this whole project into motion and keeps all of us in awe of it's beauty and splendour. 

We look to the sky and know the sun burns 24/7 providing everything in it's rays with sustenance. All the ancients knew there was something behind this Giver of Life. The stars in the night sky were as a pierced veil that hid the Great White Light beyond. Collectively, ALL is vibrating electrical and magnetic energy ... all is mind ... all is God. This is the very definition of Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent. 

Now ... reconsider the inscription:

"Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God."

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM. 

Empathy And Others

Empathy And Others

I sometimes wonder as I look at people, have I become an empath because of all that I have been through, or was I always one and never took the time to tune in to the vibes of other people? I can see it in their faces, I can feel it in their aura ... the discontent, the pain, the emotional and physical burdens that they carry. I know it affects me by just being in their auric field. 

Today while I was at Walgreens, I saw a lady who could've easily stepped off the cover of any fashion magazine ... yet ... her eyes were troubled. I nodded hello as she searched the aisle for one of thousands of remedies offered to ease her burden. I wanted to tell her it's ok ... that she isn't alone ... but she quickly stepped off and headed for the Pharmacy. 

So many times on Social Media you'll find me posting in disbelief about disturbing events in our world. But it's only because I truly care. My eyes have been opened to so many Truths in recent years and I do my best to pass along anything I have discovered about how best to deal with negative events, when we all would rather have positive ones. 

The Truth is ... they are both One. They are two sides of a coin. We can't have one without the other. This offers us contrast, and the knowingness of differences between the two polarities. If you're experiencing "bad" times right now, just know that "good" times are coming. They must. All is wave form energy and must have ups and downs ... like tides and the waves of an ocean. 

Learn to surf the waves, and balance on the beam. Stay right in the middle whenever it's possible. Look to the left, look to the right, and look to the left again ... only then should we cross the road. As much as I have been through, I still know it will always get better, and it could always be worse. Remain in a state of thankfulness, forgiveness, and compassion for others. We are each a piece of the grand puzzle we call the universe. The more we work together towards the common good, the better off we are. 

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.

Is Your God Omnipotent or Impotent?

Is Your God Omnipotent or Impotent?

With such a title, I'm sure you got a bit dog-eared. And no, I haven't been struck down dead for writing it. This is a very important look at what you, me, and everyone else may consider as their "God."

Within mainstream religion, there are three main camps ... Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. These are the three most recognized worldwide groups and encompass the majority of religious belief systems globally. They also happen to be considered "Abrahamic" faith systems because all three share a Patriarchal origin in the personage of a man named Abraham. This is the very foundation of their religions and connects them together ... even though there is clear division and separation among them. Though Judaism is less than 2% (12th largest), Islam is nearly 20%, and Christianity is more than 30% (2 billion followers). Less recognized here in the US, but actually third in size is Hinduism with nearly 14%.

It is interesting to note that Judaism, being the actual foundation for Christianity and Islam, has such a tiny following ... especially given the military power and continued support for Israel. As far as population numbers, there are about 14 million "Jews" worldwide and over 420 million "Arabs." Consider also the fact that the ancient Hebrews and Arabs are both considered of brotherly Semitic origins. Also interesting to note that the term "anti-semitic" seems to only apply to Jews. Odd is it not? Being "anti-semitic" today, is taken to be anti-jewish but not anti-Arab. 

The line has also been blurred between what is a Hebrew, What is a Jew, what is an Orthodox Jew, what is a follower of Judaism, what is an Israeli ... and what is anybody who is considered "Jewish" but practices no religion at all? Is it lifestyle, bloodlines, or beliefs? Yes, and no. All in all ... very confusing. To be fair, the same can be said amongst the Arabs. Different faiths, different geography, and varying degrees of adherence to their belief systems. 

Christians are in the same boat. There's Orthodox, Catholic, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Fundamental, non-denominational, and some 30,000 other known divisions. One guy from the hills of The Galilee, and 30,000+ versions of the story. Also take into consideration that ALL of scripture used in Christianity has been loosely and poorly translated from Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic into English. Most having been translated from the Latin version into English as in the Latin Vulgate and the King James English. There are thousands of words in Greek that do not even exist in English. One example of these issues is the word "Lucifer." This is strictly a Latin word and would have never been found in the original text. In Greek it would've been Phosphorous and was a reference to Venus, meaning "Light Bringer" as in ... "Venus" who ushers in the Light of The Sun every morning. Lucifer is NOT satan or devil. 

Now back to the reason for this ramble. Among many of the believers in a God or a Higher Power, there are measurable differences in their beliefs, and therefore ... and in what they believe about Deity. The Truth of it all is that there is only ONE. One Source of all life, One Source of origin, One Higher Power that provides the source and resources of life in this great and immeasurable cosmos. People argue about their "Gods" when in Truth they share the same roots and the same origins as each other. And that point of origin, is what we have chosen to name "God." 

Look at it this way. You stop by the convenience store for a bottle of water. There are many brands. But the Truth is there is only ONE water. We cannot "make" water. It's the same water that has been here from the birth of the universe. If you trace the point at the convenience store backwards, it would be a path something like this: 

Cold display, carton, truck, distribution warehouse, bottling plant, source supply ... WATER. You see ... there is only ONE and it is the source, always. Different labels, brands, bottles, and container sizes ... but still the same source. This is how God is. Yet, this "God" is the very Source of all there is. All that exists in physical matter (low vibration energy) can be traced right back to one point of origin. And to go one step further ... there are no individual "things" ... there is only One universal organism of which we and everything everywhere is an intricate and individualized essence of. There is one complete puzzle and everything in the universe is a piece of the whole (holy) puzzle. 

 This now brings me to the title of this writing. "Is Your God Omnipotent Or Impotent?" Yes, and yes. What you say? Let's explore:

- Omnipotent means: "having unlimited power, able to do anything." 

- Omnipresent means: "present everywhere at the same time."

- Omniscient means: "all knowing, all seeing, knowing everything." 

These are the powers and description of God. Unanimously agreed upon by mankind for thousands and thousands of years. So in short ... "unlimited power, everywhere at the same time, and the knowingness of everything." 

One more word:

Impotent means: "unable to take effective action, helpless or powerless." 

So then how would or could "God" be impotent? Nature and all of it's elements have been put into motion ... doing what they do without straying from the original program. YOU, on the other hand, have free will and can choose to stray from what is true, part of the plan, and beneficial to all. When you discover the infinite power of God within you ... the Divine Spark ... Christ Consciousness ... then and only then can you put forth this power that lay hidden within you. Everything in this universe is energy and energy is Spirit ... and Spirit ... is God. 

If you're waiting for something outside of yourself to answer prayers, to heal, or to improve your life experience ... then it will be impotent. If you use the power within you for all of these things, and to manifest your true reality, then you will tap into that Omnipotent power that we call God. The foundational Truth within ALL world religions is this power. You are the microcosm of the macrocosm ... as above so below ... as within so without. 

You are an eternal being experiencing life in a physical world of matter. You've done it before, and you'll do it again. Once you re-member this Truth ... then you will begin to truly live life as it was meant to be lived. Free from bondage and illusion. Jesus was quoted as saying: "you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free." Discover the Truth hidden in the myth and parables of ancient scripture and you will be the light of the world. 

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM, OCP, DM.

Logos The Ancient Greek God

Logos the Ancient Greek God

The Divine Wisdom of the Cosmos

The God of Ancient Greece is an omniscient, all-wise principle, that designed the entire universe. The Ancient Greeks call it by the name "Logos." In the Book of John we find also mentioned ... the Ancient Greek Logos in his gospel, where Logos has been translated in English as the “Word” or the “Word of God,” having been equated by interpreters on behalf of the writer of the Book of John ... to Jesus Christ. So first we must ask what exactly is the Greek God Logos ... and how is the Ancient Greek God similar to, or different from the God of Christianity?

The Logos in the New Testament Bible

In the beginning was the Logos (Word), and the Logos (Word) was with God (Theos), and the Logos (Word) was God (Theos).

— John 1:1

Many Christians assume that John calls Jesus Christ the Logos, proclaiming him to be the Ancient Greek God born in the flesh, the “Word” becoming incarnate. The relevant meaning of the Greek word logos was “reason,” as opposed to mythos, or mythology. However, Jesus was not the Greek God Logos in the genuine worldview of Ancient Greece; it was merely Christianity's view that the apostle John was promoting the worship of Jesus Christ. This evangelical technique was not new in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew God Yahweh (YHWH) reigned as God of Canaan by assimilating to himself the figure of El, who was the supreme god of the Canaanite pantheon.

Neither did this manner of evangelization end in the New Testament. Later evangelists would equate Jesus with the Ancient Greek Logos with the godhead of still other religions. This practice was done mainly to convert people more smoothly into Christianity, by building on the pagan supreme god, and simply transforming this god slowly into the Christian concept of divinity. 

In John’s time, Israel had been annexed into the Greek Empire by Alexander, the apostles therefore evangelized in Greek, and the Gospel According to John ... went as far as using the Greek concept of the divine to convince the Ancient Greeks to worship Jesus. The Logos, however, unlike Jesus, doesn’t make parables, and was more straightforward. What is the Logos? What does this Ancient Greek God do?

Logos the Divine Wisdom (Sophia)

In the Ancient Greek worldview, the Logos is the divine wisdom that governs the cosmos, designing the world into a harmonious order, the same order we find in Nature. The Ancient Greek God is the reason why the birds and the bees, the flowers and the trees, set out to reach proper ends.

Don’t you notice that the creatures on earth somehow know what to do from the moment they are born? Haven’t you wondered how these creatures get on with their lives when they are lacking the faculty of reason that man/humans have? How do the mammals, the birds, the trees and so on, wind up doing what they should to do? How do these creatures always take the right path when they don't know what choices to make? For sure, whatever lacks intelligence cannot move forward to the fullness of its existence ... unless it is directed by something that is the source of that intelligence. This is exactly what the Greek God Logos is about.

Logos the Ancient Greek God

All things come to be in accordance with the Logos.

— Heraclitus

Ancient Greece is famed for its eloquent philosophers, who place the utmost respect to reason ... or, "Logos" in the Greek language. To the Ancient Greeks, there was reason for everything, and this reason is what the Greek philosophers unveiled through philosophy and dialogue. It was around the time of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus (535 – 475 BC) that this universal reason began to take the shape of a supreme principle in the Greek worldview. Heraclitus spoke of the Logos as the principle that designs the cosmos and keeps the world in order.

Yet it was in the time of the Stoics that the Logos was widely believed to be God. This Ancient Greek God was the divine reason pervading the universe, therefore being responsible for its design and order. The Divine Logos was thought to actually exist by some, and was identified with Nature. The Greek God Logos was an immanent and omniscient principle that sows reason in everything - guiding the workings of the physical world of matter - making its various elements function in harmony.

Logos the Divine Reason in Humans

The Logos is similarly believed to exist in human beings. As above, so below ... as within, so without. While the Greek God Logos is the overall rational structure of the cosmos, there are  “seeds of the Logos,” and are exactly what human beings have in them that enable them to think and create. 

Unlike other creatures, human beings come up with their own judgment, and make choices of their own, without having to wait for anything else to direct them to their end ... precisely because they rely on their own intelligence, their own Logos. Human reason is no different from Divine Reason, except that Divine Intelligence is not susceptible to error like humans’, but is universal, and as such, is always perfect and infallible ... the Absolute.

Indeed, human beings partake of the Logos. Human beings have a portion of the Divine Logos inside them. This is the Divine Spark or Seed. Every time that they try and fathom where their curiosity takes them, every time they exercise their reason, their Wisdom (Sophia), they share in the work of the Ancient Greek Logos. Human beings share in the Divine Wisdom of the universe.

How did the Greeks think human beings should use this faculty of reason? Human beings were not endowed with reason for nothing, but to follow where Logos, or where reason leads them. One’s Logos gives a human person the capacity to think, enabling him to perceive the workings of the universe; therefore, it benefits the person to use that reason in dealing with the world, and with life as a whole. Human beings should think, contemplate, and in the process partake of the God of Ancient Greece.

Logos the Divine Intelligence

To the Greeks, the source of intelligence and Wisdom is none other than the Logos, the divine reason by whose governance all natural things journey toward their proper end. The entire cosmos flows in harmony through this divine plan, and that divine plan is designed by the Ancient Greek God - the Archetype - The Source and Architect of ALL that IS. The Greek God Logos is not an incarnate human being that conjures parables like Jesus, but a supreme principle that made order in our universe possible.

Just a thought ... 

~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.