Yeah once you said all that I realized that's generally what you encounter here and wasn't keeping that in mind.
I was not raised in a Christian household at all so I had the fortune of not having the satanic manipulations of the modern churches tainting my view when I finally came around to truly studying Christ's teachings.
My interactions with modern "Christians" had for a long time left a similar bad taste in my mouth about the faith even though I too saw the great wisdom in Jesus's words.
Ultimately we are all operating under various levels of deception and knowing what I do about the infiltration and subversion of the churches I try not to fault them too much over it anymore unless it's clear they are twisting the Word deliberately. That's not to say I won't speak out at all, but really many of them are unfortunately terribly deceived and clearly have not actually read much of the New Testament which really does undo a lot of those deceptions.
If you look into Christian mysticism you will see that despite the manipulations of the infiltrators many have found their way over the centuries, but it takes ignoring those that sit in the pulpits and actually just reading the Word and seeking God on your own. No middlemen or special buildings. Just you seeking within your heart.
I would highly recommend the Gospel of John, the Letters of John, and the Gospel of Thomas at the very least if you haven't read them, and of course keep in mind your understanding of the various Eastern faiths when reading these things.
(3) Jesus said: If those who lead you say unto you: Behold, the Kingdom is in heaven, then the birds of the heaven will be before you. If they say unto you: It is in the sea, then the fish will be before you. But the Kingdom is within you, and it is outside of you. When you know yourselves, then shall you be known, and you shall know that you are the sons of the living Father. But if ye do not know yourselves, then you are in poverty, and you are poverty.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Yeah once you said all that I realized that's generally what you encounter here and wasn't keeping that in mind.
I was not raised in a Christian household at all so I had the fortune of not having the satanic manipulations of the modern churches tainting my view when I finally came around to truly studying Christ's teachings.
My interactions with modern "Christians" had for a long time left a similar bad taste in my mouth about the faith even though I too saw the great wisdom in Jesus's words.
Ultimately we are all operating under various levels of deception and knowing what I do about the infiltration and subversion of the churches I try not to fault them too much over it anymore unless it's clear they are twisting the Word deliberately. That's not to say I won't speak out at all, but really many of them are unfortunately terribly deceived and clearly have not actually read much of the New Testament which really does undo a lot of those deceptions.
If you look into Christian mysticism you will see that despite the manipulations of the infiltrators many have found their way over the centuries, but it takes ignoring those that sit in the pulpits and actually just reading the Word and seeking God on your own. No middlemen or special buildings. Just you seeking within your heart.
I would highly recommend the Gospel of John, the Letters of John, and the Gospel of Thomas at the very least if you haven't read them, and of course keep in mind your understanding of the various Eastern faiths when reading these things.
Much respect and love to you as well. 🙏
https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/thomas-anon.html
(3) Jesus said: If those who lead you say unto you: Behold, the Kingdom is in heaven, then the birds of the heaven will be before you. If they say unto you: It is in the sea, then the fish will be before you. But the Kingdom is within you, and it is outside of you. When you know yourselves, then shall you be known, and you shall know that you are the sons of the living Father. But if ye do not know yourselves, then you are in poverty, and you are poverty.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201&version=KJV
John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.