The Universe is far more than just a huge collection of particles inundated in the constant flow of energies and vibrations (that which keeps things in motion).

– AND –

The reason I stated, “coming to know God is a personal responsibility…”, is to state that it IS up to the individual to engage in his/her OWN search for answers on Life. – So, please do not confuse me with a “religious fundamentalist”. – I have divorced ALL of the “other mens’ churches” – in favor of my own personal journey. – THAT is freedom.

So what was there to argue about in the first place?

Plus,

Even though we are from this Universe, materially (read: physically), we are still unique to one another, and we still each have our unique set of experiences. – So this premise of there not being possible “original thought” is unfounded and readily dis-proven on its face. I think you will find that the further we investigate things like Quantum Theory, Entanglement Theory, and related, we will find that our idea of a “singularity” of everything is far more complex than we give credit. – It leaves plenty of room for the uncountable variations and “unique expressions” that exist or are even possible.

I do not subscribe to the “all is one” thinking, because it denies the existence of individuality, and denies the individual his/her own unique contribution(s) to society.

Tearing that delusion to pieces is one of the first roads to freedom of the mind.
Coming to know God, is not a responsibility, anymore than believing in Santa Claus is… but I would say if freedom is your search, your need and desire, if you wish to truly become the individual, then breaking through the propoganda of the cult of religions is the first battle to gain an original thought. Even the ‘religion of one’.
Finding divine presence and thought implies your are separate from the Universe. And lost if you don’t find it? Well your are not, this is not God’s Universe, this is not a divine place. The concept of God is the answer used to all those conundrums of which you have no answer. You are part of it (universe) not separate, wither you believe in God or not. You are a natural part of a great thing.

Michael

And it refers to the idea of God as well.

“We have to create culture, don’t watch TV, don’t read magazines, don’t even listen to NPR. Create your own roadshow. The nexus of space and time where you are now is the most immediate sector of your universe, and if you’re worrying about Michael Jackson or Bill Clinton or somebody else, then you are disempowered, you’re giving it all away to icons, icons which are maintained by an electronic media so that you want to dress like X or have lips like Y. This is shit-brained, this kind of thinking. That is all cultural diversion, and what is real is you and your friends and your associations, your highs, your orgasms, your hopes, your plans, your fears. And we are told ‘no’, we’re unimportant, we’re peripheral. ‘Get a degree, get a job, get a this, get a that.’ And then you’re a player, you don’t want to even play in that game. You want to reclaim your mind and get it out of the hands of the cultural engineers who want to turn you into a half-baked moron consuming all this trash that’s being manufactured out of the bones of a dying world.” – Terence McKenna

“coming to know God” is a personal responsibility, not anyone else’s. When we find “our groove”, if you will, we are most likely to find the liberating experience of the Divine presence on our own. It is pretty difficult to “find God” when your mind is being constantly bombarded with religious dictum, from another man’s religion. Some of us fair better in our pursuits on our own.

Two,

“Salvation”? – Salvation from who or what? Ourselves? Are we not expected to be able to take care of ourselves first, before we undertake being able to take care of others? And WHO, on this Earth speaks truly with the authority of God? Anyone can say he/she “speaks by authority of God”, but does that make he/her truthful?

Three,

Unbelief is a personal choice. It should not be considered worthy of punishment, because a “belief” that is pressured or forced, is not really a belief in anything more than a fear-based compliance.

Four,

The “Church” was more of a system of political control than anything spiritual; It was more concerned about controlling its followers through “doctrine” than allowing its followers to explore spirituality for themselves.

Finally,

How do we come to Love anything that we are also expected to abjectly fear??? – Last time I remembered, “fear” does not usually beget Love; Usually more hatred, loathing, and animosity. The “church” has been effective in cultivating fear in its followers, so that they even feared “thinking outside of the box”. Yet, the expect you to unceasingly Love them and the image of the God they present! – I do not follow this tenuous logic.

= = =

The “Serpent” is ancient symbol. It symbolized not only the flowing spirit, but also the tides of Nature, the cycles of everything – including the ebb and flow of energies, and the endlessness of those cycles.

I did not see where you separated the subject matters in your post. Therefore, I missed it.

I hope to have some more interesting info up-coming.