There is a vast difference between the ‘design function’, and purpose of the human mind, and the individual spirit within each human being.
Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul both reflect in their teaching an understanding of these obvious difference and distinct dimensions of human existence, and clearly distinguished between these two subjective realities.
My attempt here is to clarify, simplify and demystify the operation of the human mind, in particular our ‘religious mind.’ Furthermore, to show how our ‘religious mind’ can ironically enough, be our greatest enemy in ‘knowing and experiencing’ God. To show how our ‘religious mind’ can be the single greatest opponent to the Holy Spirit in His endeavour to transform us from Glory to Glory and manifest forth from within our human spirit, the very Image of Christ-likeness.
Our ‘religious mind’ is our major stumbling block to spiritual transformation and growth. The purpose of the ‘mind’, is in fact the ‘survival’ of the human being, spirit, soul and body’. Alternatively stated, to ‘maintain the existence’ of the entire being within this material universe’, a sphere consisting of matter, energy space and time….this physical creation!
The purpose of the mind is therefore also the survival of the ‘mind’ itself,
including all its concepts of who and what the mind thinks and knows the individual being to be. Therefore, the survival and maintenance of all the opinions and beliefs, real or imagined, true or false, that the mind has strongly identified with and considers as important to, and about the individual.
This instinct and function of the ‘mind’ is so dedicated to the survival and maintenance of the individual and its ‘self-concepts’ that it is capable in extreme cases, to even destroy the individual’s very life, in order for the ‘beliefs and convictions’ of the individual to survive!
An extreme and perfect example would be the 13 year old Palestinian suicide bomber, whose ‘religious mind’ is so diabolically deceived through religious brainwashing and falsely ‘persuaded’ of a glorified reward in the hereafter, in Muslim heaven, that the mind is willing to sacrifice the very life of the body and soul!
Consider human behaviour in general, and see how real this survival instinct of the mind is as a major ‘driver’ of human conduct, not only in a negative but also in a positive sense.
The brave N.Y. firemen, who rushed into the blazing furnace of the Twin Towers, not regard their own safety, indeed sacrificing their very individual existence for the ‘survival’ of a personal sense of ‘ noble calling’. The maintenance of the lofty and honourable personal ideal that all human life is supremely valuable and precious, and should be preserved at all cost.
Consider our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ, willingly laying down His own natural life on the Cross, lovingly and sacrificially embracing humanity, having identified Himself absolutely with the Fathers promise to redeem and reconcile humanity in His Resurrection from the dead.
Now consider how threatening any ‘apparently contradictory’ information or opinion is to the ‘survival or maintenance’ of the ‘religious mind’ of any ‘believer’ or even ‘unbeliever’! That subjective composite mixture of emotionally charged beliefs, superstitions, fears and opinions that they hold dear and are precious to them. Concepts and interpretations of personal experiences with which they are consciously and also sub-consciously absolutely identified!
Most believers in actuality don’t really consciously know what they truly believe about the work of the Cross, the Grace of God, the Trinity and its relationship with Mankind.
Hence, they don’t really know much about the implications of salvation, adoption, faith or belief either, never mind the eternal purposes of God.
Then there are those amongst us whose ‘religious minds’ have been formally ‘formatted’ according to ‘acceptable’ and long ‘established’ doctrines and who have a vested interest in maintaining the ‘viewpoint’ of the school of thought we represent!
Likewise, our religious minds will automatically go into a ‘knee jerk reaction’ and start ‘kicking and screaming’ when we are challenged or an alternative viewpoint is presented….even by the Holy Spirit Himself!
Yes indeed, we don’t know what we actually believe ……but we are often willing to die for it!
My attempt here is to clarify, simplify and demystify the operation of the human mind, in particular our ‘religious mind.’ Furthermore, to show how our ‘religious mind’ can ironically enough, be our greatest enemy in ‘knowing and experiencing’ God. To show how our ‘religious mind’ can be the single greatest opponent to the Holy Spirit in His endeavour to transform us from Glory to Glory and manifest forth from within our human spirit, the very Image of Christ-likeness.Our ‘religious mind’ is our major stumbling block to spiritual transformation and growth. The purpose of the ‘mind’, is in fact the ‘survival’ of the human being, spirit, soul and body’. Alternatively stated, to ‘maintain the existence’ of the entire being within this material universe’, a sphere consisting of matter, energy space and time….this physical creation!
The purpose of the mind is therefore also the survival of the ‘mind’ itself,
including all its concepts of who and what the mind thinks and knows the individual being to be. Therefore, the survival and maintenance of all the opinions and beliefs, real or imagined, true or false, that the mind has strongly identified with and considers as important to, and about the individual.
the purpose of the mind is the survival of all that we consider ourselves to be....real or imagined...true or false!
An extreme and perfect example would be the 13 year old Palestinian suicide bomber, whose ‘religious mind’ is so diabolically deceived through religious brainwashing and falsely ‘persuaded’ of a glorified reward in the hereafter, in Muslim heaven, that the mind is willing to sacrifice the very life of the body and soul!
Consider human behaviour in general, and see how real this survival instinct of the mind is as a major ‘driver’ of human conduct, not only in a negative but also in a positive sense.
The brave N.Y. firemen, who rushed into the blazing furnace of the Twin Towers, not regard their own safety, indeed sacrificing their very individual existence for the ‘survival’ of a personal sense of ‘ noble calling’. The maintenance of the lofty and honourable personal ideal that all human life is supremely valuable and precious, and should be preserved at all cost.Consider our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ, willingly laying down His own natural life on the Cross, lovingly and sacrificially embracing humanity, having identified Himself absolutely with the Fathers promise to redeem and reconcile humanity in His Resurrection from the dead.
Now consider how threatening any ‘apparently contradictory’ information or opinion is to the ‘survival or maintenance’ of the ‘religious mind’ of any ‘believer’ or even ‘unbeliever’! That subjective composite mixture of emotionally charged beliefs, superstitions, fears and opinions that they hold dear and are precious to them. Concepts and interpretations of personal experiences with which they are consciously and also sub-consciously absolutely identified!
Most believers in actuality don’t really consciously know what they truly believe about the work of the Cross, the Grace of God, the Trinity and its relationship with Mankind.
Hence, they don’t really know much about the implications of salvation, adoption, faith or belief either, never mind the eternal purposes of God.
Then there are those amongst us whose ‘religious minds’ have been formally ‘formatted’ according to ‘acceptable’ and long ‘established’ doctrines and who have a vested interest in maintaining the ‘viewpoint’ of the school of thought we represent!
The Mechanism of the Religious Mind
Yes indeed, we don’t know what we actually believe ……but we are often willing to die for it!
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