Very interesting reply there fren. Yes, there are conversations on the metaphysical realm that most Christians do not give any thought to, nor are they willing to engage in; whereas, mystical Judaism is willing to have those conversations and it is not threatening to their underlying belief in the Almighty One. I find that when people try to put the Almighty in a box that aligns with their understanding, He has a way of blowing up that box we have attempted to place Him in. If we are standing too close to that box, we could get messy or blown up with the box. Some of our greatest minds have been people of faith that were willing to let the Almighty define himself and to see a much bigger picture than what has been traditionally put forward.

Many Christians do not realize how much of their own theology has been influenced by Neoplatonism and its various precursors and offshoots. This is not to knock anyone for their beliefs. Far be it from me to say I have all the answers, and I do lean that way. But my faith is not easily shaken by alternative viewpoints; while at the same time, I am cautious of syncretism. Outright pantheism or polytheism aside, I find it interesting that so many ancient metaphysical belief systems and their views of cosmology that developed separately from each other, could all have so many ideas that they hold in common - such as the existence of a soul that transcends physical reality and a singular causational entity that is beyond adequate description. I do see a common denominator threaded in many belief systems once the layers are pealed back. Nice to know there are others on this forum that also have explored these same ideas.

Very interesting reply there fren. Yes, there are conversations on the metaphysical realm that most Christians do not give any thought to, nor are they willing to engage in; whereas, mystical Judaism is willing to have those conversations and it is not threatening to their underlying belief in the Almighty One. I find that when people try to put the Almighty in a box that aligns with their understanding, He has a way of blowing up that box we have attempted to place Him in. If we are standing too close to that box, we could get messy or blown up with the box. Some of our greatest minds have been people of faith that were willing to let the Almighty define himself and to see a much bigger picture than what has been traditionally put forward.

Many Christians do not realize how much of their own theology has been influenced by Neoplatonism and its various precursors and offshoots. This is not to knock anyone for their beliefs. Far be it from me to say I have all the answers, and I do lean that way. But my faith is not easily shaken by alternative viewpoints; while at the same time, I am cautious of syncretism. Outright pantheism or polytheism aside, I find it interesting that so many ancient metaphysical belief systems and their views of cosmology that developed separately from each other, could all have so many ideas that they hold in common - such as the existence of a soul that transcends physical reality and a singular causational entity that is beyond adequate description. I do see a common denominator threaded in many belief systems once the layers are pealed back. Nice to know there are others on this forum that also have explored these same ideas.