Posts by JamesThomas

74

Science vs. Religion - Must We Choose Between Them?

by bavman in

i dare to say science and religion are two different animals.

they may try to explain similar things but in different ways.

i don't believe man will ever live without either religion or science nor would i want us too.

JamesThomas

James, "so in a way, whichever we choose," it's not the same. Our choices determing our future.
Choosing ignorance or superstition over knowledge and science is definitely NOT the same in any way, shape or form. Otherwise, we would all still live in the Dark Ages.

Yes, I understand what you are saying. I am not at all religious and choose science over religion in practical day to day existence. I find it far more interesting. However, what I was attempting to point to is bigger: the REALITY which exists no matter which filters we see through, be they religious or scientific. There is a REALITY that does nor require or need our meager religious or scientific mental constructs and paradigms. It is as it IS; and it can be met with and realized when the mind is silent of its renderings and facsimiles.

Certainly MQ, you must have some sense of a genuine reality other than the abstract concepts fluttering about in your little mind.

j

74

Science vs. Religion - Must We Choose Between Them?

by bavman in

i dare to say science and religion are two different animals.

they may try to explain similar things but in different ways.

i don't believe man will ever live without either religion or science nor would i want us too.

JamesThomas

Both religion and science are just different ways in which the mind attempts to explain or define the essential qualities of reality. However, as beliefs in a god are not God, and theories regarding a tree are not a tree, the mind's activity actually hides the reality we seek. So, in a way, which ever we choose -- it's the same.

There is another way.

j

15

Born Againers and that Small Voice

by timetochange in

my born again neighbor keeps talking about a small voice that he and those in his church hear.

a poster here also mentioned it:.

i let my "little voice" inside tell me yes, do it or no dont....so far since i accepted the real truth (1989) has not led me astray i believe that is the holy spirit> that little voice -because the bible says the holy spirit will teach you all things....i am still learning but it is wonderful to know i am saved by grace no works,,,,,,,,just faith.. can any born again christians here clarify this?

JamesThomas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (from the Greek word s????f???e?a, or shjzofre'neja, meaning "split mind") is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by impairments in the perception or expression of reality and by significant social or occupational dysfunction. A person experiencing schizophrenia is typically characterized as demonstrating disorganized thinking, and as experiencing delusions or hallucinations, in particular auditory hallucinations. [

7

EVOLUTION Tour at AMNH & Carl Sagan on God, NEW Book!

by Seeker4 in

below are links to a ny times video on the new human origins exhibit at the american museum of natural history, (the one i posted the link about that has been quite an active evolution thread!

) and below that a link to an article in the times on sagan's new book.

warning!

JamesThomas

Here is a beautiful quote of Richard Dawkin's regarding Dr. Sagan in comparison to the Bible folks: “He left them behind, because he had so much more to be religious about....they have their Bronze Age myths, medieval superstitions and childish wishful thinking. He had the universe.”

So true and so sad. You can not point to infinity without casting a shadow over peoples cherished little deities. They will only hate you for it. The endless living universe is a testimony against tiny little gods, and a witness for That without beginning and end; little wonder so many keep their heads fearfully buried in their Bibles.

j

39

~Hope for Satan & everyone?~

by FlyingHighNow in

edited to change thread title: .

is god's love so wonderful that he will save everyone?

even satan and his dark angels?

JamesThomas

A truly all-embracing God has a beautiful ring of truth to it; for certainly the Source and Sustenance of an infinite universe must be greater still.

The next step is to stop limiting the Divine completely, by not reducing it down to something so small as to be absent.

If there truly is That which has no beginning and no end, what does that make you? Just beneath and closer than everything you believe yourself to be, what are you really?

What truly looks out your eyes?

alt

j

156

Is Atheism/Evolutionism Dangerous? Questions for Unbelievers

by Perry in

does the belief that there is no all-loving diety in which to be accountable to make it easier or harder to treat and judge others they way that you want to be treated and judged?.

since evolution supposes that life and ultimately man who is at the top of the chain got here through a process of the fittest dominating and killing off the weaker, and since most modern evolutionists in democracies no longer think that this is good to practice, how do you deal with the fact that you are a living contradiction of your own belief since you pronounce the same thing both good and bad?

.

JamesThomas

Perry:

Hillary-Step,
Who are you to judge God so that I should follow your misdirection and judge Him as you tempt me to do? He is infinite in all respects.

Dear Perry,

Perhaps with a little clearer comprehension of your own words, you wouldn't have to start divisive threads such as this one.

Infinity is all-inclusive; and so One. So then your arguments for separation and duality are erroneous. There is really nothing to defend and protect. Put up your sword.

The problem is you use words like infinite to define your god, when in fact the mental image you prostrate before is so small as to include only you and those of like mind. The rest of us lay abandoned in the huge vastness outside your little deity. The fact is, no one and no thing is abandoned, nor can be. Your disunity which separates you out and makes you so special in your own eyes exists only in your mind and its limited understanding of the Divine.

This is the main reason why religion can be so harmful. It separates us and causes animosity. When in fact, there is no real enemy.

j

28

What is Gnosticism and why do Christians dislike it ?

by 5go in

aside from the fact that gnosis is greek for knowledge.

two things christians seem to dislike greeks(think animal house) and knowledge (other than knowledge of the christ of course).

seeing as they practice a form of it anyway.. gnostics believe that they have secret knowledge about god, humanity and the rest of the universe of which the general population was unaware.

JamesThomas

It doesn't make sence to me.

Narkissos, explained it pretty well, so I suggest looking closely at what he had to say.

I will be a little more blunt. Generally (not always) Christians embrace a very definable and diminutive, anthropomorphic image of the Divine. To which they intensely identify, which places them (in their eyes) into a separate group of the "saved" or God's "chosen". For a Christian it's about separating themselves from everyone else: all of us sinners and evil ones. Again, I am speaking in generalities here.

Gnosticism, is a view of spirituality outside such a conditioanl and restrictive box. It's about what unites us one and all. In other words it's a much wider understanding of the Divine which many Christians find threatening to thier grossily confined and constrained views which makes them special.

Fundamental Christianity's diminutive god leaves much room for inflation of the ego, whereas Gnostic Christianities limitless view of the Divine leave little if any room for the ego, and so can lead to the egoes death. It seems it takes a certain readiness to be open to something so radical in nature. IMO.

j

10

Sometimes i miss talking to God

by dobbie in

jw
friends

although i now no longer truly believe in god ( i now neither believe or disbelieve anything about anything, its easier that way), there have been some very low times lately where i have started to actually pray and quickly stopped myself.

although i didn't ever pray v often i did used to find that if i had something troubling me or was upset then praying used to leave me feeling so much calmer afterwards about things.

i realise i actually miss being able to do that as now i have no way of feeling better over sad things or whatever may be troubling me.

JamesThomas

I realise i actually miss being able to do that as now i have no way of feeling better over sad things or whatever may be troubling me.

Hello Dobbie.

Perhaps your problem is that you have reduced the Divine down to a deity which you (wisely) no longer believe in, and so you now feel cut-off and alone.

I worship no gods or deities as they are too small to be responsible for such a vast and wondrous expression of life and universe, but why does this mean we must be complacent to or separated from the living awe of existence? If we do not shrink and reduce the Divine to some little thing or deity, then there is no end to it; and so we are free to pray if and when we feel a need. I pray; just not to a circumscribable deity or image outside of the intimate and alive sense of reality and existence right here and now.

My sense is that our sincere and earnest desires to embrace our true Source do not go unanswered; and even in the darkest depths of despair there can be found a pristine jewel of oneness and peace within.

j

24

I FEEL YOUR PAIN!

by spidey9322 in

much to my surprise when i found this site...i noticed that many have experienced the same typr of humiliation, asn despaid as i have throughout my 36 years on this earth.

in reading some of these stories (even after being out of the truth) for over 20 years...it still brings chills to my spine about how i was treated.

where do i begin?

JamesThomas

Welcome

j

27

untitled

by nonamegiven in

my thoughts exactly.......

JamesThomas

Very Zen.

Ross, and I were discussing this very thing the other day.

j