[M.D. Holloway]

IMVHO: I think the vast majority of people have the whole thing pretty mixed up in there heads. First and far most – our belief in our God is pretty westernized. This “thing” that the majority of the west believes that God is a grand technician that has some incredible assembly chops. That to me seems to be humanizing the very concept.

3000+ years ago was it was all externalized. No personal responsibility for actions. No self intraspection. This adds up to no personal or social growth.

All of a sudden, the Middle East gets a flav of the east via the Christ with a bold new concept “Kingdom found within!”, and not to place too much in idols or kings but rather faith. Bang – the concept gets cross wise with the Jews who have a one God religion but tied to tradition (read the book of Matthew), the Romans which renders to Caesar which is Caesars (check out the book of Mark), the Greeks – pagan rituals (see the gospels of Luke), and the Gnostics who were bound by knowing (Gospel according to John). You had four strong groups looking to nail a challenging way of thinking to the cross. And so it was.

As far as the book of Revelations is concerned – take some time and really try to read it. It is a great message of hope, written for Christians under persecution by John. The message is ‘not to worry, God is on control’. It is a book of encouragement, not some dooms day mumbo jumbo.

Biggest mistake people seem to do is to read and interpret the bible, Koran, book of Mormon or for that matter anything that deals with this stuff the same way you would read a tech manual. The stuff is poetry – a singular expression that does it’s best to explain the turmoil that exists between ones ears and ones heart.

Read the religious stuff the same way you listen to great music or read poetry and it will reach you much easier. Taking the stuff literal will only mess it all up. It doesn’t speak in that language.