I think the sorry state of the world and a widespread sense that "the end might be near" is producing more interest in religion. It's interesting to note people's ongoing response to their adopted faiths.... pick up subtle hints. I once heard a radio preacher discuss the resentment that some long-time Christians have for previously sinful new converts, who swoop in with tremendous fervor, while the long-timers had been there for years, "putting in the time", etc. "Putting in the time"? Hardly a ringing endorsement of religious faith.... The elders in my old church were big on this, harping on church attendance and monetary contributions constantly.
Some people do appear to be "going through the motions", after a time. Yet others seem filled with a genuine lasting peace, or transformation, and swear that they've been visited by God. My Mormon friend tells me that "he knows truth".... "He just knows". But how can a true person of faith "know" anything? It is faith we're talking about, after all.
I remember sitting next to Wildcat Peak, in Nevada. It was at the time of a string of Palestinian suicide bombings. I started writing in my journal, intending to renounce religion once and for all, but I found that I couldn't do that.... in the end, I renounced only religion's self-serving, heavy-handed structures, and embraced its transcendent truth.... spiritual sustenance, love, charity, etc.
Anyway, Cec.... Good stream. Thanks.
Sunday Stream (53) ~ 1?
Moderator: mtmynd
Thanx, mnaz, for the reply... a solid piece of thinking, as usual.
"The end might be near"... Indeed, in a metaphysical sense (to begin with), this is true, but I won't go into that here. I will add that 'the end of the world," as we know it is quite evident all around us... mainly through Earth's weather patterns, 'her' upheavals like floods, earthquakes and volcanoes, etc.. Many of these happenings some feel are in response to the solar flares which are apparently happening at greater frequencies than has been noticed since our observances of the flares. I don't know enough about that to either deny or accept the theories, but I certainly am aware of the large changes earth is going through. These changes are bound to have affects, physically, mentally and spiritually, for mankind, adding to our uneasiness and stressfullness and so many different levels.
Religion is mankind's refuge from events that seem beyond our control. It has always been there to give aid to human problems. As you wrote, renounciation of religion is not the answer. The answer is for religion to evolve... grow beyond its own self-imposed barriers.
Gracias for your input!
"The end might be near"... Indeed, in a metaphysical sense (to begin with), this is true, but I won't go into that here. I will add that 'the end of the world," as we know it is quite evident all around us... mainly through Earth's weather patterns, 'her' upheavals like floods, earthquakes and volcanoes, etc.. Many of these happenings some feel are in response to the solar flares which are apparently happening at greater frequencies than has been noticed since our observances of the flares. I don't know enough about that to either deny or accept the theories, but I certainly am aware of the large changes earth is going through. These changes are bound to have affects, physically, mentally and spiritually, for mankind, adding to our uneasiness and stressfullness and so many different levels.
Religion is mankind's refuge from events that seem beyond our control. It has always been there to give aid to human problems. As you wrote, renounciation of religion is not the answer. The answer is for religion to evolve... grow beyond its own self-imposed barriers.
Gracias for your input!
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gypsyjoker
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Wouldn't be pretty to think so. Meanwhile the end times are here. The rapture is here. Inside the white house do they still hold their prayer meetings? Of all the well reasoned arguements about Bush's crimes, I do not hear the word insanity mentioned. Great awakenings are endemic in the United States. Our short history of two hundred years has many examples of it. Bush's mind, I used to think it was just double think. But it is the real deal. How does he know, his bible told him so. Time to get it on impose the Pax Americana because the Messiah is here. He did not come as he said he would, "like a thief in the night" No that is not the american way. He comes with shock and awe. Almost wake up time for the great american public.The answer is for religion to evolve... grow beyond its own self-imposed barriers.
Sorry for the break, I know you were talking to mnaz. Dancing in the flux, let us sit down with our bibles and search for signs. Just a cosmic goof Cecil, trying to get into our dear leader's mind set. The only model I can come up with is bat shit crazy. You know what they say about when everybody looks crazy it means you are probably going nuts. I think we got a couple billion years left on our dieing star. But what we will be a thousand years from now I have no idea. If we have not extincted ourselves I got a feeling we will be blue complexioned have an extra eye in our left armpit. Maybe an extra hand growing out of the small of our back, or maybe a tail. We have taken the dice from the creators hands and play craps with the universe. ramble don't mean nothing just thinking about my apache preacher and his indifference to enviormental factors and child development. What does it matter to him, the end is nigh. Might as well drive a SUV. A cadilac,what does it matter. Anyday now the rapture begins. The bible tells us so and it is infallible.
jesus h christ, I ain't got the nerve to read this over, cut me some slack, I may edit or delete it.
Free Rice
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'Blessed is he who was not born, Or he, who having been born, has died. But as for us who live, woe unto us, Because we see the afflictions of Zion, And what has befallen Jerusalem." Pseudepigrapha
Avatar Courtesy of the Baron de Hirsch Fund
'Blessed is he who was not born, Or he, who having been born, has died. But as for us who live, woe unto us, Because we see the afflictions of Zion, And what has befallen Jerusalem." Pseudepigrapha
truck - I, for one, can appreciate a good rant/ramble... this was no exception.
That pretty much sums up 3, maybe even 4 billion human beings outlook, regardless of religious preference. Hard to go up against those numbers... What's good for Fred is not always good for Abdul, or what's right with Maria's way of seeing things is not always what Polly sees. I just try and do the best I can or am able to do (most times).
I think it's human nature to try and change our conditions, but it seems to me that those changes are never good enough for every-fucking-body. Humans just can't ever agree in toto on anything... and that's a fact. We are on this earthly stage to do one thing - learn... not to have, but simply learn that which we are capable of learning.
Might as well drive a SUV. A cadilac,what does it matter. Anyday now the rapture begins. The bible tells us so and it is infallible.
That pretty much sums up 3, maybe even 4 billion human beings outlook, regardless of religious preference. Hard to go up against those numbers... What's good for Fred is not always good for Abdul, or what's right with Maria's way of seeing things is not always what Polly sees. I just try and do the best I can or am able to do (most times).
I think it's human nature to try and change our conditions, but it seems to me that those changes are never good enough for every-fucking-body. Humans just can't ever agree in toto on anything... and that's a fact. We are on this earthly stage to do one thing - learn... not to have, but simply learn that which we are capable of learning.
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gypsyjoker
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I just thought of that collage you made "these things can live in harmony"
If patriotism is the last refuge for a scoundrel, what is religion?
I wonder.
Starting to feel like Dr Swift and his Yahoos.
Compassion not loathing towards mankind I must remind myself.
If patriotism is the last refuge for a scoundrel, what is religion?
I wonder.
Starting to feel like Dr Swift and his Yahoos.
Compassion not loathing towards mankind I must remind myself.
Free Rice
Avatar Courtesy of the Baron de Hirsch Fund
'Blessed is he who was not born, Or he, who having been born, has died. But as for us who live, woe unto us, Because we see the afflictions of Zion, And what has befallen Jerusalem." Pseudepigrapha
Avatar Courtesy of the Baron de Hirsch Fund
'Blessed is he who was not born, Or he, who having been born, has died. But as for us who live, woe unto us, Because we see the afflictions of Zion, And what has befallen Jerusalem." Pseudepigrapha
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gypsyjoker
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I feel that way too , but maybe it is the state we would be better off without.
Stalin cured religion in the USSR and it did not seem to help. Just the state as a religion don't help.
Can I cancel my "social contract" at this late date and become an anarcist?
Stalin cured religion in the USSR and it did not seem to help. Just the state as a religion don't help.
Can I cancel my "social contract" at this late date and become an anarcist?
Free Rice
Avatar Courtesy of the Baron de Hirsch Fund
'Blessed is he who was not born, Or he, who having been born, has died. But as for us who live, woe unto us, Because we see the afflictions of Zion, And what has befallen Jerusalem." Pseudepigrapha
Avatar Courtesy of the Baron de Hirsch Fund
'Blessed is he who was not born, Or he, who having been born, has died. But as for us who live, woe unto us, Because we see the afflictions of Zion, And what has befallen Jerusalem." Pseudepigrapha
It does seem that way, K&D..."we'd be a lot better off without religion," but it ain't gonna happen. Like truck said, "Stalin cured religion in the USSR and it did not seem to help," and it went underground.
It's not really religion that's at fault, but the interpreters of religion that give it a chilly effect. Too damn many people that think they know what the books say, when in reality, they haven't a clue...
It's not really religion that's at fault, but the interpreters of religion that give it a chilly effect. Too damn many people that think they know what the books say, when in reality, they haven't a clue...
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gypsyjoker
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ten four cecil, I don't know if I harp on the "see what is on the end of our political fork" here in the USSR Boys, That Book, has so much poetry in it, it is a book soaked in tears and blood.embraced its transcendent truth.... spiritual sustenance, love, charity, etc.
Good question big mama
Do I know the nature of one?
Free Rice
Avatar Courtesy of the Baron de Hirsch Fund
'Blessed is he who was not born, Or he, who having been born, has died. But as for us who live, woe unto us, Because we see the afflictions of Zion, And what has befallen Jerusalem." Pseudepigrapha
Avatar Courtesy of the Baron de Hirsch Fund
'Blessed is he who was not born, Or he, who having been born, has died. But as for us who live, woe unto us, Because we see the afflictions of Zion, And what has befallen Jerusalem." Pseudepigrapha
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gypsyjoker
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Just a flip answer, I have not really thought it out, but I would say power corrupts,
the birth of agriculture, settled communities, a surprlus to feed a priestly class, monumental buildings. and we all know who is to blame for that. How little of the feminine is left in the great world religions.
I still think that Rosa Parks was who she was and did what she did out of the strength of her faith. Maybe I don't have a saviour, but she did. I know there are religious people who call themselves Christians, who really do have love in their hearts, but the ones I meet area bunch of greedy hateful hypocritical hateful bastards. They smile and show their teeth because they know everything is going their way. And we could all wake up tomorrow in a pile of smoke and ash. But why should I worry, the rapture is here, the end is nigh, jesus is coming in a ufo to haul us away.
god dam I am sorry about this, help help I am typing and I can't stop
the birth of agriculture, settled communities, a surprlus to feed a priestly class, monumental buildings. and we all know who is to blame for that. How little of the feminine is left in the great world religions.
I still think that Rosa Parks was who she was and did what she did out of the strength of her faith. Maybe I don't have a saviour, but she did. I know there are religious people who call themselves Christians, who really do have love in their hearts, but the ones I meet area bunch of greedy hateful hypocritical hateful bastards. They smile and show their teeth because they know everything is going their way. And we could all wake up tomorrow in a pile of smoke and ash. But why should I worry, the rapture is here, the end is nigh, jesus is coming in a ufo to haul us away.
god dam I am sorry about this, help help I am typing and I can't stop
Free Rice
Avatar Courtesy of the Baron de Hirsch Fund
'Blessed is he who was not born, Or he, who having been born, has died. But as for us who live, woe unto us, Because we see the afflictions of Zion, And what has befallen Jerusalem." Pseudepigrapha
Avatar Courtesy of the Baron de Hirsch Fund
'Blessed is he who was not born, Or he, who having been born, has died. But as for us who live, woe unto us, Because we see the afflictions of Zion, And what has befallen Jerusalem." Pseudepigrapha
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