Stephen

Guybrush

That sounds nice and all, but how do you feel when people are using their faith as a way to justify acts which you find find strongly disagreeable, morally or otherwise? Killing people in religious wars, circumcision of boys or girls, stoning women on religious grounds or alienating people from their families because they disagree with the church?

Peoples beliefs often turn into actions which affect others, perhaps yourself.

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Something Completely Different

Howard the Duck

^^some other kind of ideologies would often promote negative things, not just religion

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Malaise is THE dominant human predilection.

Guybrush

Well .. thanks for the ad hoc?

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Something Completely Different

Howard the Duck

^^well, why would you put religion on a different magisterial pedestal than those ideologies?

just because religion believes in a higher power?

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Malaise is THE dominant human predilection.

Guybrush

What are you going on about?

My response was to ELIJAHMC's post. What does it matter if other ideologies are also used to justify crappy actions? Of course they are, but it doesn't really have any bearing on the point I made so unless you specifically state why that should be interesting, your post looks like a side note pointing out something obvious, which makes it completely redundant.

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Something Completely Different

Howard the Duck

i'm just saying ElijahMC's argument can be used for any kind of ideology

your answer seems to suggest that only religion be blamed for the social ills perpetrated

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Malaise is THE dominant human predilection.

Guybrush

Then you're adding meaning to my post which I didn't write or intend.

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Something Completely Different

Howard the Duck

oh nvm

was quite late last night when i wrote that

pretty much rambling

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Malaise is THE dominant human predilection.

blankety blank

Howard the Duck wrote:

Copulation makes us procreate. Eroticism is more akin to what might be considered lust than love, in the context you appear to be suggesting. Correct me if that is not the case. Intimate love is not the problem, I don't think anyway. It is the excessive passionate, or 'crazy love' as we can address it. It's that intense passionate 'first love' type of emotion that makes you anxious, jealous, and fearful the of thought of losing the other. And, that's what usually happens. Most everyone has dealt with that experience at least once. That love tends not to be so reciprocal. We all wanted to give our hearts away, and, in my case, well more than once. It led to a hardening of sorts, and, it became a too much, and too little experience.

All extremes of emotion are very harmful. You are a Gnostic Christian, so, you are familiar with the Gospel of Mary, as well as Thomas, and Phillip. Personally, if it says 'Gospel', I look carefully, and measure the One who is measured. And, will vehemently stand on the Words that stack up to love and goodness.

Judas said, "Tell me, Lord, what the beginning of the path is."
He said, "Love and goodness. For, if one of these existed among the governors, wickedness would never have come into existence."

The governors? You can find a few if you seek. We would hope to think they are simply characters in a story, but, we don't know that for certain. I am fairly sure that they are stories, and, not necessarily historical accounts.

I will say that I definitely am not the one you associated a few numbers with. I would consider to be the furthest one from an Antichrist than anyone I have met. I simply try to do what I believe He says, and, pay close attention to every Word, and carry my own cross, and have officially denied myself completely. I just don't condemn people to eternal torment, because, they practice a different Faith, or don't share my beliefs. None of us have that right, or know what happens when we take that dirt nap. No one.

Matter gave birth to a passion that has no equal, which proceeded from something contrary to nature. Then there arises a disturbance in its whole body.
That is why I said to you, Be of good courage, and if you are discouraged be encouraged in the presence of the different forms of nature.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

What do you think He was talking about here Howie? Read Mary. He spoke of restoring all creatures to the root of our own nature alone. Which suggests a new ride on the evolution express. Read it, and, see what you gather.

I would not divide the Phileo love into two groups. Equal love for everyone.
And, I would study the habits of the different forms of nature, and, see what we could learn from other animals.

[/QUOTE]or do you mean strangers should have agape love for each other, as the hippies believed?[/QUOTE]

Absolutely. I was a hippie, and, still would be considered one. Without the abuses of multiple drugs, and, promiscuous behavior. I'm single, old and ugly now, so free love would not be an option. I'd have to pay

It's a tough thing to even attempt. We love our children differently. We love our mates differently. Agape and Phileo are the two Greek words translated in the NT as love. Not Eros, or sorge, however. I don't know Howie. There has to be a balance, because, people hate way too much. And, fear is the opposite of love.

'If you have gained this within you, what you have will save you. If you do not have this in [you], what you do not have in you [will] kill you'. (Gospel of Thomas)

I suppose that could be reference to several things. It could be agape love, or Truth, or wisdom, understanding.

I think it could be water

Nathaniel, never permit yourself for one moment to believe the Scripture records which tell you that the God of love directed your forefathers to go forth in battle to slay all their enemies . . . The scriptures always have, and always will reflect the intellectual, moral, and spiritual status of those who create them. . . Many earnest seekers after the truth have been, and will continue to be, confused and disheartened by these doctrines of the perfection of Scripture.

A God of love. What an interesting concept. And, there are many, many references to the fact that these books were written by men.

I would love to share the better part of the messages I received in my experience. I can't. No one wants to hear. And, no one understands. So, I get labeled, and, I won't do it any longer. But, I will not stop writing out of Divine love. I felt that love twice. It wasn't overwhelming, it was beautiful. And, I will die attempting to feel that love for all of you, and everyone. Maybe one person will attempt to do the same, and, that makes it worth the effort.

But, this tune was written by someone who many local pulpit pukers claim was killed as a judgment for a statement he made.

Love is all we need. A little Faith as well.