Salami

This comment concerns me slightly.
It seems that the logical conclusion of this premise is the justification of any act upon another human being. If you are able to convince yourself that ultimately, whatever you do is in some way positive and beneficial to another person then there is no moral restriction on your actions. How could someone tell you that rape is wrong if you are convinced that what you are doing is, regardless of your intentions, being used for the benefit of the victim?

And more importantly, I think it is also a hazardous statement to claim that it "will be accounted to you for righteousness". Righteousness is not, certainly not for a religious person, to be considered a virtue easily attributable to anyone, or even a common and basic one. It is something to be striven towards, a virtue only attributable to those who labour for what is good.

And my concern is that by lowering the threshold for being "righteous", from a religious perspective you lower the threshold for what is morally right, and ultimately cheapen virtue.

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[QUOTE=Salami;1155933]This comment concerns me slightly.
It seems that the logical conclusion of this premise is the justification of any act upon another human being. If you are able to convince yourself that ultimately, whatever you do is in some way positive and beneficial to another person then there is no moral restriction on your actions.

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I won't argue this. I should have considered before posting. But, dictated moral restrictions present a problem. If we would all live by the law of agape love, then, that would eliminate the need for dictated moral restrictions.

Who knows Salami. It was a good deed, but, you may be right. I may have no idea, and, that is a long list. I just hope that Faith does. And, I am in no way justified to make moral judgments on anyone.

What is good bro? What is righteousness? What is Truth? Or, Virtue? There is no moral excellence or perfection in any human being. That is what I believe, and, it is written.

How would you feel about being raped? Enough said.

__________________
The passing traveler stops for food and music.

Howard the Duck

huh? erotic love is what makes us procreate

imagine if man had only brotherly feelings for women and women had only sisterly feelings for men

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

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Malaise is THE dominant human predilection.

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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.