A Primer on God: A Precursory Education for Devout Atheists and Agnostics (The Equilibrium Texts, Vol. 3)

By Jerome Jacob Rappoport

OVERVIEW

All volumes of The Equilibrium Texts are primers. Their only objective is to prime the pump; not fill the bucket. That’s the reader’s challenge and responsibility.

This volume on GOD is the culmination of fifty years of reflection, introspection and experience that brought about this treatise concerning God. It is the author’s concentration on the subject of religion that was brought about by three non-eventful interactions that led him to develop The Equilibrium Texts in general and this volume on GOD in particular. The first was his mother’s unclear and unfulfilling answer to the question, “What’s the purpose of religion?” Her response was, “It’s a way of life.” The second was his English teacher’s snide remark in response to his assigned written philosophy about God, “My, aren’t you being superior to judge!” And the third was from a Catholic Navy chaplain in response to two questions, “Do you believe that God is a being?” He answered, No! “Then why did you deliver a sermon as if He was?” His response was, “Because, it’s the only form of language that some people understand.”

It was due to these three semi-related encounters that stimulated the endeavor to discern what significance the concept of God held. This work leads from God, to G-d, to GOD; the culmination of the search for GOD’s cosmological meaning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728336169

Jerome Jacob Rappoport

Having been born in 1939, at the tail end of the depression and at the outset of WWII, seems to have placed the author at a particular place in time that just might have affected his outlook and reasoning. His sixth-grade teacher referred to him as “Jerry, Jerry quite contrary” and a Junior High teacher, when reacting to his written assignment, remarked, “My, aren’t you being superior to judge!” These unprofessional comments only stiffened his resolve to continue on pursuing his way of looking at things despite their opinions. Things finally came to a head for him in 1970, after successfully completing licenses and certifications as a Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor. This alter-ego experience did not resolve his internal uneasiness. So, he started recording his thoughts in journals that eventually led to his four volumes of The Equilibrium Texts some 53 years later. This fourth volume best encapsulates the intent of his endeavor.

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© 2019 Jerome Jacob Rappoport. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/11/2019

ISBN: 978-1-7283-3617-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-3616-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019919709

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

CONTENTS

THE ETERNAL ENIGMATA

READ THE PREFACE

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE: Religion: What is it Really?

CHAPTER TWO: Actuality

CHAPTER THREE: The Current Reality

CHAPTER FOUR: Preparing for the Surreal

CHAPTER FIVE: Surreality

CHAPTER SIX: The New Reality

CHAPTER SEVEN: Getting Prepared

MONOLOGUE

CHAPTER EIGHT: God of the Surreal-Outer Realm

CHAPTER NINE: G-D of the Real-Inner Realm

CHAPTER TEN: Developing The Inner Realm

CHAPTER ELEVEN: God of Actuality?

DIALOGUE

CHAPTER TWELVE: The Spoken Word

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Building G-D’s House

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Having Dialogue With G-D

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: When It All Began

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: In The Beginning Was The Word

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Creating The Mindscape

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Three Gods

CHAPTER NINETEEN: Putting Gфd Together Again

CHAPTER TWENTY: Seeing Things Differently

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: Gфd’s View of our Creation

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: Synopsis

GLOSSARY

Words highlighted in bold throughout the document.

APPENDIX

Supplemental points and illustrative examples #’s 1- 20.

DEDICATED

To my wife Linda

1.jpg

July 23, 1969

who, by declining to comment on my work,

inspired me to delve deeper within so that

I might find what she would not express.

THE ETERNAL ENIGMATA

The concept of self as an entity never before

or ever again to be realized,

is the imponderable element that stands man

in awe of his existence.

Jerome Jacob Rappoport

March 8, 1970

Ф

There is no meaning to life, save that which is discovered

and determined by and for the self alone.

Jerome Jacob Rappoport

April 4, 1998

Ф

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; and it was by the word that man became human.

John 1:1/Jerome Jacob Rappoport

November 10, 2019

READ THE PREFACE

Ф

All three volumes of The Equilibrium Texts are primers. Their only objective is to prime the pump, not fill the bucket. That’s the reader’s challenge and responsibility. Further, the volumes were published in order from complex to simple, but can be read from simple to complex. Therefore, starting with GФD is acceptable.

Society has controlled the human mind ever since man acquired words. Religion, an agency of society, has convicted the individual of being the cause of all the world’s woes. God is seen as the perfect standard against which human thought and performance is measured; and they have been found to be extremely wanting in this regard. This model of the creator leaves something to be desired and places the individual at a profound disadvantage when engaged in the process of living.

Society has always had their outer God! But the individual is in want of a god that needs to be equally considered and thought about as thoroughly as is God. This inner G-d is tangibly real and is actually and undeniably the creator of man. It was the word that created humans who, in turn, created God, and it will be the word again that will enable humans to finally know G-d, and to where that illumination might eventually lead.

Because you are an individual, you need to be aware of G-d and allow it to increase, fully develop and flourish in your mind until it becomes on par with God. Then, and only then, can these two deities become reconciled and seen as the one and only GФD through Personal Hypostatic Inquisition – PHI.

Ф

To an infant, the world is a very chaotic, mysterious and enigmatic place. But with direction and adult time given, the world takes on order and familiarity and the child is then able to move on. Not so for the author. For some unknown and perplexing reason, the explanations given by others as to what the world is all about never seemed to fully make sense and take hold. The result has been a minor developing inner defiance of authority and an evolving skepticism, not vicious, just a reluctance to accept the pat answers given which seemed to placate and quiet his peers. This tendency further evolved and developed into a contrarian attitude that made social intercourse difficult and diminished his desire to explore. Enigmatically, what did develop was the desire to explore inwardly for the answers he sought.

In 1956, at the request of his high school English teacher, the first embryonic written expression of his inner truth came to the fore, only to be ridiculed and belittled by this educator. Rather than relent he dug in deeper, blocking out the teacher’s opinion and rigidly continued pursuing what he sensed was right and correct.

Contrary to society’s teaching, time for him was not of the essence. As it turned out, time was on his side and his unyielding pursuit of inner truth brought forth this published effort some sixty-four years later. What was discovered from this life-long search was a world seemingly unrelated to what is currently accepted as reality. Ideally, what the reader should be left with is a clean slate and a format for a new way of thinking that renders an entirely different outlook, and with none of the previously held conclusions or obstructions.

Therefore, when dealing with physical reality, this new outlook is like landing on a planet in a different galaxy that operates under different rules and different laws of nature. In that case, when initially stepping out to explore, one had better operate in accordance with truth or the body might very well perish! Likewise, in a spiritual environment, if one isn’t operating in accordance with truth, the spirit will surely be diminished and possibly perish as well!

Inner Truth is the touchstone found by every individual who has discovered their self. Those who do not know their self are pushed and pulled from pillar to post by the selfish whims of others. There can never be a healthy relationship with others until a healthy relationship is first established with one’s own self. The findings of this work can very well assist the seeker in this endeavor. But, this work is not for everyone. It’s just for those who care deeply about knowing what is. It won’t tell you what you want to know, just what you need to know if your own inner truth holds any significance and meaning for you. The spirit of truth resides within and it’s the wanting of it that gives one impetus to carry on and carry through!

Can life have a more meaningful purpose? Can there be a more sacred quest? Can there be? The answer lies within.

PROLOGUE

Ф

NOTE: Within the body of this work there are words that have been highlighted in bold. These words are to be explained further in the GLOSSARY because they are either new to the lexicon, or may already exist, but hold alternative or multiple meanings that must be selectively used and applied to this work.

Further, there is an APPENDIX that holds concepts that have already been introduced in detail in Volumes One and Two. These illustrations are to refresh those having already read prior volumes. Or, to instill an interest in those who have yet to acquire copies so as to become knowledgeable in order to more fully comprehend this work. Both volumes one and two should be considered as a prerequisite for this study: at least having e-books are better than having none.

Ф

Many works, when pen is placed on paper, subtly serve as a Rorschach Test. In this document, the author’s use of the word you refers both to himself as well as to others. Through numerous re-edits, it became clear that he was referring to himself, all the while referring to others, thus affirming the phrase The Observer Is The Observed as expressed by Jiddu Krishnamurti – 1895-1986.

Ф

CHAPTER ONE

RELIGION: WHAT IS IT REALLY?

Ф

We believe in GФD (or the equivalent) because the mind requires it due to language’s propensity toward bifurcation. This dividing tendency initiates the subconscious mind’s attempt to put something (anything) back together again for the sake of emotional equilibrium: even though there consciously appears to be nothing requiring reunification. The reason this division leads to imbalance is due to our placing more value and meaning onto just one of these two elements that were created by such a schism. This simple factoid of truth seems to be the source of humanity’s need for religion and GФD.

Ф

Religion cannot be initiated and/or imposed from the outside. If it is, it is a false religion intended upon capturing and controlling one’s mind, conduct and induce significance and meaning for others.

True religion is initiated and implemented from within. But, the inner voice of the self has been squelched by those on the outside and for their own specific reasons and purposes.

Religion is a quest for self discovery; not a directive as to whom the knee should bend, what mannerisms to repetitiously employ or what thoughts to keep as boundaries and limitations; or else! In order for discoveries made in the outer world to be properly integrated within one’s own storyline, knowing one’s self becomes a fundamental requirement. Once achieved, experiences can then be enhanced for one’s own purpose, significance and meaning. Further, one’s responsibility is to then cautiously reintegrate others, along with their beliefs and practices, back into one’s own storyline in order to complete the process of self realization and balance.

ФPHI – Personal Hypostatic Inquisition – can then be devoted to a QUEST for full and balanced reintegration of society back into your self. This should impart sufficient experience and wisdom to achieve equilibrium and self actualization. With this individual and personal endeavor, you will face the ultimate PHI QUEST ENIGMA: To acquire experience, true knowledge and wisdom sufficient to comprehend the purpose and significance of having GФD in your life.

What you are about to be exposed to are radically unique observations concerning God. It is being claimed that the God, with whom, or with which, you have become familiar, will still remain familiar, but no longer thought of as the one and only absolute singularity or diety.

Even though the subject of God has been covered extensively over the millennia, there still exists the feeling that something is not quite right; something left undone and unexplained. That will be the subject of this work, to seek to fill the void that has been left unaddressed and unattended for whatever reason.

Further, effort will be made not to exceedingly stretch the criteria employed by those who spent time throughout the millennia crafting tales in an effort to explain what God was all about. These were those who wrote and edited the bible; plus all the others devoted to supplementary writings intended for clarification and re-enforcement.

God, as it has become known and which possesses many names, is but the God of the outer world (of thought) that represents everything that is outside of your self – including others. What has gone unnoticed, undeveloped and unappreciated is the G-d of the inner world (of feelings) that represents and includes every part of your living essence – void of others.

As it currently stands, God is dominant and its followers have been instructed to prevail over feelings and to give no recognition or regard to the truth that there is another entity claiming an equal right to reign as does God.

The struggle between these two gods has been quite evident – but unrecognized as such – during your lifetime. This disturbance in the ether has caused you an underlying sense of disorientation, angst and frustration that shall not be quelled unless, and until, parity exists between these two deities that are claiming dominance over your being. Then, and only then, shall this chronic rift within have a chance of being healed and finally put to rest.

However, before this can take place, recognition must be given to the fundamental truth that there are indeed three distinct overlapping and superimposed worlds with which you must contend and face head on; as well as there being a G-d reigning over your inner realm. This is no different then the God reigning over your outer realm with which you are well acquainted and familiar. Not until these few truths are acknowledged can there be any hope of attaining inner tranquility where your self is concerned.

Recognizing, understanding and accepting this new triad world characteristic, and the establishment of the G-d within, will not resolve this dilemma until parity as been achieved, and these two deities attain equilibrium by effectively becoming one and allowed to evolve – in your Mind – as the true and only GФD.

To envision gods struggling with each other from different worlds is subtly taking place unnoticed within your Mind, yet it is experienced by you emotionally: it all depends upon what it is that you are willing to tell your self and believe. The Mind reacts to images whether they are real or imaginary. It is for you to carefully discern the veracity of what it is that you are observing, experiencing and/or being told.

In this work, tales of the existence of various gods are being presented. Depending on your upbringing, you are already familiar with one of them in which the world you were raised claims to be true. It is for you to ask just what it is that makes these other gods questionable. Remember, humans are free to believe anything – and they usually do. Isn’t it time you did some reevaluating of this subject on your own; and away from the dictates and directives of others?

Shakespeare had a stage upon which an actor stood (imagine it’s you). Then he had a painted curtain as a backdrop which set up and supported a storyline he portrayed. The lines which the actor spoke, and the costume he wore, had to be in accordance with the storyline’s backdrop or else the entire endeavor was for naught and the audience was left befuddled, confounded and confused.

Your society also has a storyline and, believe it or not, you too have a storyline – although somewhat muted and ill developed. The only question of merit, must your storyline coincide with society’s storyline? Be not too quick to respond!

Nazi Germany had a storyline, many Germans did not or, if they did, it wasn’t thoroughly thought out by each individual to a certainty sufficient to stand against what was coming. The storylines of individuals are just as important – if not more so – than that of society’s storyline. If you do not think that that is the case, then you have to ask your self, why? Discerning a proper answer may alter your direction for the rest of your life.

Sapience is somewhat like a secular religion that is inspired and designed by, and for, the self in order to recognize and develop your own storyline that is clearly distinguishable from that of society’s storyline.

Sapience is open and available to many, but its practice is for the individual in seclusion. Only when the individual has attained peace within – as well as with the outer world – can a new understanding of the real GФD be brought to fruition and made manifest and meaningful in your life.

WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT

In order to delve into this subject there are but a few basic elements that need to be addressed. If you were a helicopter pilot and were about to fly a hot air balloon, there would be a few things you should know that is markedly different about these two aircraft. They both move about in the air, have a propensity to fall out of the sky when certain conditions arise and, finally, it takes totally different knowledge and skills to operate them safely. Because these two air vehicles are not the same, having specific knowledge of their differences is important if you have any hope of appreciating and surviving the flight.

The same is true when dealing with GФD. First, you’ll need to address things from a general point of view and slowly work all the way down to the specific; from the universe of others to a level pertinent to you and you alone; and finally, from you all the way down to the cells that make up your being and your constitution as well. What goes on below the cellular phase can be left to science and for all practical purposes you don’t need to know about it; at least from a sapient point of view.

Therefore, for our purposes here, you need to come to this subject as a newborn babe, with mind wide open and biases not yet formed or acquired. Therefore, you’ll probably find this prerequisite to be extremely difficult to accomplish. Nor would I imagine you’d want to.

POINT OF ENTRY

For far too long a time, humanity has suffered from having to exist in a fog of convolution and confusion. It wasn’t necessarily done on purpose – it just sort of happened that way over time. But as time continued on, nothing has been done to make it significantly easier, not for want of trying, but for not having the slightest notion as to what to do about it; so humanity just gave up. Hence, it functionally became background noise, consciously undetectable, yet causing low level angst and agitation to permeate your being.

Meanwhile, whilst wallowing in the miasma, pragmatic things had to be done like acquiring food and shelter and fending off others having similar challenges. Early on, during this fiasco when man had not yet become human, things were much simpler than they are today; scarier, but simpler. Nowadays, if you want to turn left, you have to effectively turn right to get where you’re going. It doesn’t make any kind of sense, but it seems to work nowadays if one wants to eat and have a roof over one’s head.

However, just having food and shelter doesn’t seem to satisfy the average male and female human anymore. Everyone under the sun seems to feel the same way and they suffer from a condition of personal-silent angst where life in general is concerned. Personal and silent!? Not so! This insidious low level angst spreads outward from within the core of the sufferer to others who, in turn, spread it from the center of their being outward and onward. No one seems to be aware, nor does anyone care; so this viral-like emotional contagion continues to spread.

Why has this condition gone on for so long a time without ever being recognized or contained; let alone inhibited or prevented? The answer lies in the fact that the irritant has been around so long that it had become a chronic condition for generations. Because nothing has been done, it has become accepted as normal and no one addresses it directly for want of knowing what to do because the discomfiture has become innocuous and familiar. So, it is assumed to be a normal human condition and referred to as human nature. Then the subject is moved on to various different aspects of the situation in order to cope.

What’s so terrible about having to seemingly live in a fog of confusion if it seems to be a normal human condition? After all, everyone is experiencing it and asserts that they are not only seeing things clearly, but perfectly clear. And God help anyone who happens to think, say, do or imply otherwise.

Fortunately, I wasn’t raised in a quiet-peaceful home environment. Oh, I was loved all right, and I even felt as if I was. It was just a hectic-chaotic family life where everyone meant well and invectives, barbs and insults flew easily off the tongue. But, that was o.k. because it came from love and concern and seemed normal. Additionally, both sides of the family participated equally in their own way which made it doubly difficult to see it for what it was.

That much love and concern may work if there are many other siblings to share in the attention. In my case, I was it! An only child on both sides of the family and I was the oldest and alone for some years; until cousins were born to help take the heat. Perhaps it was circumstances like this that acquainted me with the German term – schadenfreude. (For those of you unfamiliar – it means to derive pleasure from the misfortune of others).

This overall circumstance became the seed of my discontent. It affected me all throughout my developmental years and altered my ability to concentrate in school. Teachers would tell my parents that I was a bright kid and could do much better if I’d only buckle-down and concentrate. It was easier said than done. But, some of this was covered in my other books.

Moving along, this discontent did cause me to buckle-down and concentrate on the discontentment when I was about thirty – a slow learner. My dissatisfaction centered on the fact that I could not figure out what was bugging me; things were not clear or making sense when my inward parts were telling me that they should and could. But long before my thirties, when I was fifteen, I wrote my philosophy of life for an English paper in high school. The teacher returned my paper with her comment written in red – My, aren’t you being superior to judge! This was an interesting judgment for an English paper that was to only be graded on the criteria of spelling and grammar.

Long story short – after fifty more years of introspection plus fifteen more years putting it down in books, can I honestly say that I finally figured it out and I’m willing to share it with others who might be curious.

Where the problem resided was with the erroneous way in which we, as humans, originally viewed the world and reality. We don’t even know why we are human, what that means and from where did we come. Personally, it wasn’t our fault. Humanity was smart and had ample time to work on the issue, but