Sunsets Into Sunrises
Bishop Martin - The Progress of a Soul in the Beyond
- Chapter 31 -
BISHOP MARTIN'S CRITICAL QUESTIONS AND THE WISE MAN'S ANSWERS.
1
(Says the wise man of the party): "Ask and I will answer, but it will be immaterial to me whether you find my answers convincing and satisfactory or not."
2
(Bishop Martin): "Why has the earth only one highest mountain? And does the Godhead in its fullness reside in or above it because it is the one highest mountain on earth?"
3
(The wise man): "The earth has, it is true, one mountain that is higher than any other known mountain. However, that does not make it God of all the mountains. God knew why He set a highest mountain upon this planet. Probably to provide a general dividing point for the winds. For that same reason, the highest mountains are to be found in the tropical regions near the equator, as in those regions the winds, due to the earth's rotation, must be the strongest. There, the effect of the centrifugal force is the most violent and, consequently, the rotation circles farthest removed from the center or axis of the earth.
4
If the Lord had not erected such high wind-regulators in these regions, they would probably be forever uninhabitable. In those areas - mostly in the largest continents, especially in Asia -where the air flows together in a main current, we find the highest mountains. Therefore, the highest mountain of all has to be in Asia, it being the largest of all continents. Are you satisfied with that answer?"
5
(Bishop Martin): "Perfectly - as far as that goes! But now a further question: Why is the Amazon in America the largest river on earth? Does it, perhaps for the same reason, hold the Godhead in its fullness?"
6
(The wise man): "Friend, I understand what you are aiming at, but I will still answer this extremely silly question as thoroughly as possible.
7
Look, America is a much younger continent, with very considerable mountain ranges in the Cordilleras, as well as the Andes.
8
These ranges are situated very close to the greatest ocean of the world and, consequently, their subterraneous bases contain a vast amount of water, incessantly welling up through the innumerable pores and the many larger veins and channels. On the other hand, especially South America, as a very young continent, having been above sea level for just a few thousand years, has many vast plains of loose sand, just slightly above sea level.
9
And in a region where extensive mountain ranges draw vast amounts of water, which then accumulates in the great plains, spreads unimpeded, and then flows towards the ocean only very slowly, there needs must be the largest and widest river. Naturally, this need not contain more of the Godhead than a raindrop! Tell me, does this answer satisfy you?"
10
(Bishop Martin). "Perfectly, as far as that goes! Your answer is quite satisfactory, but let us continue.
11
Tell me, why is the diamond the most precious gem and gold the most precious metal?"
12
(The wise man): "Because man made it what it is. And the reason he did it is that these minerals are less frequently found than others. If there were as many diamonds as pebbles and as much gold as iron, diamonds would be used in road-making and gold as mountings on cart-wheels.
13
However, the Lord knows best why these two minerals are rarer than others. Probably because they poison man's mind with hellish elements. In view of that, you wouldn't expect them to hold any considerable portion of the Godhead? Are you satisfied with this answer?"
14
(Bishop Martin): "I cannot raise any objections to your explanations, and so have to be satisfied! But I did not find in your answers what I really expected to find, namely: genuine proof for the deity of Jesus.
15
For there are on earth, as most likely on every planet, in all things, beings and men culminations which are unique and forever unequalled. Thus, there has to be some largest sun, a largest planet, and on it a number of unequalled things. However, can a sage claim these to be deities because they are unequalled? Only the heathens did that ages ago, and the result was polytheism.
16
No doubt there has been, at some time or other, a most intelligent ape, dog, or donkey, like the one of Bileam, or the most beautiful and courageous horse, like Bucephalus, or a most beautiful woman, like the Venus of Medici, or an Apollo, a wisest heroine, Minerva, and a most jealous Juno.
17
The heathens deified all these high-ranking personalities; that cannot be denied. And if the inhabitants of a planet did this with superior things and beings from all the realms of nature, it is no wonder that man raised the wisest teacher and the greatest magus to their supreme Godhead - erected altars to him and are still worshipping him to this day - some with genuine piety, but the majority, for reasons of policy, in order to keep the others in the dark.
18
But because men did that to their wisest fellowman, would that be sufficient reason to completely deify him? Or did we ever see or hear higher beings that had come to earth to prove and confirm the deity of Jesus?
19
There do exist tales of miraculous happenings at his birth - that angels descended visibly to earth and told mankind of his divinity. But have we seen any of this? Not I! You, perhaps?
20
Such stories have been fabled in the tedious and selfish dreams of monks and nuns, but if you investigate the truth, you will find only human desire to know more and better than your fellow-man, although deep in his heart, everyone knows that he is blind and his knowledge is based solely on habitual, indifferent belief.
21
Where a man accepts another man's authority as proof, we cannot speak of genuine conviction. But since one has never heard anything from the real God except through men, where else could one expect to find any living evidence?
22
Thus, a revelation is no more than the work of man. This is obvious, as we have never had a revelation that did not show human influence and imagination.
23
Therefore, dearest friend, I have to verify everything and cannot be convinced. Your proofs are insufficient for me! A man's desire for cognition of God can only be satisfied by God Himself, never by men; and I believe that we shall have to go through many and varied experiences in His spaces of creation before we are ready for a true divine revelation!
24
Everything that we have experienced so far is just an elementary school to prepare us for future great divine lessons. However, if you are in a position to reply to my arguments with something better, purer, truer, and more divine, I shall listen to you patiently and attentively."