You are saying that material is not real, but an illusion. In order to address that idea, we have to define what it means for something to be real. Traditionally people define material reality in material terms, but this method of definition fails when we consider the spiritual source of material. We need a way to understand a definition for material reality in terms of the spiritual root. The empress uses belief to bridge that gap, saying that the experience of material reality is only a question of belief.
But I am wondering, what is the empress basis for rejecting the reality and truth of material existence just because the experience is predicated on belief? It seems that the empress conclusion is based on the assumption that belief is not real.
How can we consider the accuracy of this idea, that belief is not real? What criteria can we use to determine the reality of belief? In order to assess the truth of the empress position we require an objective definition of reality that is deeper than belief, since her position pivots on whether or not belief is real.
The only thing deeper than belief is faith, because belief is based in faith. So what the empress is saying boils down to she does not believe in the reality of material because her faith does not allow that belief. But she is admitting that other people do believe in the reality of material, therefore she admits that those people do have faith that allows that belief.
So to understand the roots of belief we must understand how faith works and where it comes from. Well it is the gift of God and the root of life. As the bible says the righteous man lives by faith.
In the end, no-one can demonstrate the truth of these things, because this truth lies at the heart or the soul of our very lives.
The reality of material things is a belief, I agree. And that does not make it false. It is a false assumption of modern (western) philosophy that something is false if it is based in belief. I say that belief is actually the source of every truth that we experience. And this is the gift of God that he gives to whom he pleases. All I can do is urge the sister to reconsider, review. And I give thanks. The sister has the power to overcome this thinking and see and give thanks for the reality of material without trying to understand it.
Somehow each of us needs to accept in our minds that this material reality is not material in nature but spiritual in nature, and that it is only material in manifestation. This is the great mystery of our faith that I think the human mind is unable to grasp, but the belief is given by God. Paul speaks of this mystery in 1Timothy 3:14-16:
Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith:
Christ appeared in the flesh and was shown to be righteous in his spirit. he was seen by angels and was announced to the nations. He was believed on in the world and was taken up into heaven.
The trinity is a nystery, meaning that it cannot be understood by our intellects. The material reality is actually the body of Jah, and it is real. Its reality is not something that our intellects can understand or prove, but God gives us the gift of faith that I know each of us has. I know that every person believes in the reality of material, even though many will experiment in their minds like the sister has done, wondering how it can be possible.
I just give thanks, because Jah always helps us to stay humble. And he blesses us without end.
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