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Generous Thoughts

by Aiden J. McCluskey

108 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-0697; ISBN 1-4120-0328-8; US$15.50, C$17.95, EUR12.50, £9.00

What if the bible was locked up, never to be read again? What if we all followed our souls' desire and passion? What if we all lived like we were in love?

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts or Table of Contents      catalogue info

About the Book Let's say we take away the Bible, the Torah, the Qur'an, the Bhagavad-Gita, the Book of Mormon...all the teachings of the many religions in the world. We lock them all up and no one is allowed to read or discuss their contents. What would people do without 'evidence' that their teachings are the only correct ones, delivered by their God to their prophets and holy men? How would they determine what was right or wrong in God's judgement? Let's say people then had to rely on listening to the 'still, small voice of God' speaking directly into their hearts. Let's say they would need to learn to trust their own God-given instincts in the question of right and wrong, good and bad, true or untrue. Imagine people with nothing written down to tell them who God is and what he expects of them - no books they can use for reassurance that they are truly God's chosen ones - no words they can refer to that say everyone who believes differently is an infidel or a heathen of a Godless savage. What if people did not feel the need to be superior to other people, or to convince them of the error of their beliefs? ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The hopeful message the author offers lies in his own healing and growth...his journey. It reveals an undeniable truth about society's lack of compassion, understanding and love toward each other. We need spirituality, along with each other's respect for individuality.

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Aiden, the second of three sons, was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and came to Canada in 1975. In 2001, Aiden experienced what many would describe as a profound spiritual experience. Others might describe it as agony. On many occasions, Aiden prayed to God for guidance and understanding regarding his personal 'meaning' here on earth. However, while driving home one night, he experienced what would ultimately change the course of his life forever and provide him with what, at the time, he thought was more than he'd asked for. Aiden's views are strong and completely honest; he hides nothing.

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Sample Excerpts

TAKE THE BOOKS AWAY

Let's say we take away the Bible, the Torah, the Qur'an, the Bhagavad-Gita, the Book of Mormon ... all the teachings of the many religions in the world. We lock them all up and no one is allowed to read or iscuss their contents. What would people do without 'evidence' that their teachings are the only correct ones, delivered by their God to their prophets and holy men? How would they determine what was right or wrong in God's judgment?

Let's say people then had to rely on listening to the 'still, small voice of God' speaking directly into their hearts. Let's say they would need to learn to trust their own God-given instincts in the question of right and wrong, good and bad, true or untrue.

Imagine people with nothing written down to tell them who God is and what he expects of them - no books they can use for reassurance that they are truly God's chosen ones - no words they can refer to that say everyone who believes differently is an infidel or a heathen or a Godless savage. What if people did not feel the need to be superior to other people, or to convince them of the error of their beliefs?

I have heard it said that God made man in His image. I believe, rather, that man made God in man's image. The religious literature of every culture was written by men who unfailingly claim that theirs is the one and only direct word from God, and that all other religious books are abominations and/or distortions of His word. Why must man's ego insist that there is only one way to connect with our Creator - that there is only one way to interpret the so-called direct word of God? If God actually did place His words directly into the minds of one particular religious group, they would be impossible to dispute or refute. They would be blindingly, obviously words of such purity, love, compassion and joy that no man could deny them. They would certainly not be open for updates and various interpretations and 'application according to the times'as they are now.

Instead of squabbling about when Jesus was born, or when he rose from the dead, or whether priests can actually transform bread into His body and wine into His blood - we should be speaking of the miracles he performed, and passing the truth of His love down from generation to generation. We should also be able to open our hearts and minds to the people of other religions as they speak of their beliefs and their holy men. We must realize that all men speak and act according to their beliefs as they have been taught, and that they feel exactly as we do about the sanctity of their holy words.

Man has always interpreted the Word of God in light of man's best interests, and in order to justify the most horrific, savage acts of cruelty imaginable. He has used God as his scapegoat, claiming that holy war is justified, even commanded, by God. This concept is so obviously against everything that God is - how can we not feel His sorrow as we continue to destroy each other in His name? The domination of ego over love, power over purity, control over compassion - all these are the true abominations.

We are born with intuitive knowledge of God and His creations but as soon as we are able to listen and understand, we are taught to ignore what our hearts tell us, and to believe what our leaders and teachers tell us. In order to justify their belief that what they have been taught is 'right,' they cannot allow themselves to consider that their beliefs are dictated by their egos.

Man must let go of ego. Each person must listen to the whispering of God in his own heart and allow the strength of innocence and purity to heal the world.

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Catalogue Information

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