has anyone else heard of this before ?
i thought only jw's were this stupid.
with this church, they cannot accept "a strangers blood..." .
Does anyone else find the idea of the government determining if an individual's "interpretation" of his beliefs is "consistent" with that of a "known denomination" vaguely disturbing? If it's my religion, I should be able to interpret it however I want!
an individual's "interpretation" of his beliefs
I agree with your statement: My beliefs are for ME and ME alone. This really bothers me. I do not believe that any government should have this kind of personal control/influence.
i need debate practice on the subject for the next time i'm cornered.
This was an interesting thread to read. I think it is sad that a discusion of ideas and concepts has to include personal barbs. IMO, the opponents to the "energy" discusion, I don't think you guys are argueing for the polar opposite of each other. I think it is miscomunication along conceptual lines perhaps that is leading to the percieved polarity in the discusion.
I think what oldsoul is saying--and I could be wrong--is that all that we are discusing has names and labels. The names and labels were not asigned by the universe, the earth, the sun, or ???; the names and labels were assigned by us humans. They are human concepts for us to use in relating to whatever it is that we are describing, be it temperature, electricity, ect. I think it would help us and science in general if we would just remember that what ever we give a label to, is more than the label that we give it.
Same goes for God. We can compile alist of all the things that God "Is", and the list would be inadequite. Do a list for the universe...the same. One for energy...the same.
.
.. what would you say before he plunges a sword through your chest?
gbl
You are NOT God. You are the brain sick figment of your believers' imaginations. I reject you, and the evil men through the ages who have used you for their own gain. I am as indestructible as you, if need be, I will return again and again as your opponent. Dissapear, be-gone, I no longer believe in you.
i just got a call from my childhood friend lets call him jerry.
well for quite some time i have suspected that he was gay, and its come up in our conversation a few times as well.
he wont own up to it though.
Sorry about not keeping on topic, I'm very ADD today.
Good for you in supporting your friend, if I were in his situ, I'd want a friend like you.
ok guys, it's awake caption time!!.
here's a blank one for you to use:.
here is the original one:.
Iritable Bowel Syndrone--When you Just can't run fast enough.
Fiber--are you getting enough?
i just got a call from my childhood friend lets call him jerry.
well for quite some time i have suspected that he was gay, and its come up in our conversation a few times as well.
he wont own up to it though.
Organizations purporting to be "god's mouthpiece" (e.g., the Watchtower) that instill hatred for one's own flesh and blood based solely on sexual orientation (or religious beliefs) are mouthpieces for a god I want no part of. I have higher standards for my god, he/she/it must be intelligent enough to recognize the foolishness of bigotry.
This is religion that has cancer.
I have higher standards for my god, he/she/it must be intelligent enough to recognize the foolishness of bigotry.
Now this more approximates a deity I'd talk with.
i need debate practice on the subject for the next time i'm cornered.
Prove to me that God exists
My response to this, either prove god exists or doesn't exist:
"I can't. Prove it to yourself."
this board is quite helpful in a number of ways.
do you feel that you contribute to the growth of this board or are you just a taker?
I don't think I take from the board, but I could be wrong. I've never been one to contribute to group scenarios; classes in school, and the like. I think that most of the time if it is important and needs to be said, then someone who is more eloquent than I will step forward, and that is often the case. But if I see an individual--here or in life--who I feel I can benefit them by interacting with them, then I will do so.
being consciously present in this moment of life's expression, being open and meeting with this present moment of reality, being truly with what is actually here without judgments and mental commentary, does not seem to leave much room for beliefs in deities and their shenanigans.
in fact such imaginings only seem to steal away the vibrant aliveness of here.
so, perhaps, it is when we are not that much present with the truth of life, right here, right now, and rather lost in mental interpretations that we feel a need to become involved in the drama of gods and religion.
I've read some Bhuddist stuff, mainly based on Tibetan. I get the two main branches confused--greater and lesser vehicle...mayanna or some similiar word. I have read more Taoist materials, and my interest is there. I've read four or so different translations of the Lao Tzu/Tao Te Ching, and am interested in finding that work in a German tranlsation. I'd really like to get ahold of some of the older chinese classics.
I don't like to say that I am this or that, I'll say I am Taoist to give people a reference point. When i am around people discusing concepts and ideas and it get accademic or intilectual, I usually don't get too involved, as I don't see the point. I've said before that my beliefs are not for sale, and they are for me. I try not to "have" beliefs, but stay open to possibilities or potentials.
I could go on and on, and still not get it said clearly. I would hope that my actions speak for me.
being consciously present in this moment of life's expression, being open and meeting with this present moment of reality, being truly with what is actually here without judgments and mental commentary, does not seem to leave much room for beliefs in deities and their shenanigans.
in fact such imaginings only seem to steal away the vibrant aliveness of here.
so, perhaps, it is when we are not that much present with the truth of life, right here, right now, and rather lost in mental interpretations that we feel a need to become involved in the drama of gods and religion.
It is just that as consciousness investigates itself, it sees there is no specific and real Identity of self, other than a vast boundless purity of Consciouses awareness. Life goes on. Identity has simply shifted from a separate entity to no thing which can be objectified at all. Yet, there is no separation from things. It's all inclusive.
I really love your posts James.
It is just that as consciousness investigates itself, it sees there is no specific and real Identity of self, other than a vast boundless purity of Consciouses awareness.
Could one say that identity is being aware of the differing tendancies and potentials within consciousness? What I am groping for is the question of a single mind being aware of itself, and being aware that the self that is identified is just one way of organizing the internal mechanisms, checks and balances, equilibriums that an area of seemingly isolated consciousness would use? (names and lables used here are not taken absolutely just used for clarity and distinction within this context)
I still don't know if I got that out right, but in the big picture, is doesn't matter.
