Messages

[could]

if i knew the answer could i just not be good at mysteries, or solving riddles?

I point you here:

If you know the answer, you could very well be a serial killer.

Below is a test used by a famous pyschologist.

The main character in the story is this girl.  When she was at the funeral of her own mother, she met this guy who was also there, but she did not know who he was.

This guy happened to fit her bill of her dream guy, so she fell in love with him at once; love at first sight etc...

A few days later, the girl killed her own sister.  When the cops asked her why she did that, she gave a very shocking answer...

What was her answer?


If you know the answer, you could very well be a serial killer. Congrats and good luck in your pursuits.

Hold your mouse button down and drag below to find the answer:





She knew the man would show up at the funeral, thus she killed her sister.

I see your Jim Walker and raise you C.S. Lewis:

http://www.mit.edu/~mcguyton/ABSK/MereChristianity/merepref.htm

Please don't take it personally, but I suggest you change you're avatar, that funny grinning face, or no one will take you seriously.

Let me weigh this:

The Cheshire Cat or respect.....

Hmmm, the cat wins.

Read about Miyamoto Musashi, his life was amazing.

http://www.samurai.com/5rings/transintro/life.html

Did he look like Henry Kane?

"If you email me again, I will kill you"

That one for spam.

I do not believe that the 'final level' is a place, persay. Perhaps it is a state of being, total oneness with God, as lasher mentioned. Of course, it is a wonderful thing to strive for.

I recommend these books for the new moderators:

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
A Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi

Let the games begin.

Theres a ride at Carowinds in usa called Drop Zone. It drops you 160 feet in a chair and starts slowing down very close to the ground. If the feeling of falling is horrible, why do people pay to ride?

They pay for it to happen, that's why. Imagine you're on your be bed, and then *bang*, you seem to jump a foot in the air. The surprise of it is of horror, especially if one doesn't know where it's coming from, and even then it is still annoying.

What I believe it is: The onset of sleep and the realization of it causes you to shock yourself back to wakefulness. This means that it would be very very difficult to use them to your advantage because you can never see them coming(think of a bee stinging you and you never saw it coming at you).

It is worth a try. The only problem I see is that it would be like an affirmation, which I guess really isn't a problem at all[:O]

Robert Bruce. I do not agree with him on everything, but he has made everything much more real to me. It used to be so esoteric, but when he speaks of astral projection or energy work, I'm thankful he doesn't go off about the finer details or chakra names or whatever.

well, this is simply untrue.
If you keep up to date with translations, new ones are released periodically, Jesus is indeed mentioned as part of the extreme essene jewish sect.

Once again, I know very little about the scrolls. But I will trust you on it.

The point I'm really trying to make here is that these texts are essentially all out of date, mistranslated, edited, omitted, etc etc and the way that hard core christians, esp the bible belt in America seem to assume that every word is carved in stone, straight from god himself, never fails to amaze me.
Some of these mistranslations have huge implications. For example, in the King James version, it says that 'sinners' go to hell for 'eternity'. However, in the older Greek versions, the word used is 'aeon'. Now the length of time for an aeon varied depending on when it was used, usually it refered to 1000 years, but it was certainly a finite amount of time.


Fair enough, I don't use the KJV version for similar reasons. I do agree that there are alot of words change/lost in translations and it has caused alot of pain and persecution.

In the end, It doesnt really matter, your beliefs are catered for in the astral, along with everyone elses, but I do encourage you to actively explore the astral regions as you will find them extremely enlightning, especially with regards to the nature of human belief systems, including mainstream religions and science.

Im actually in the process over doing so, albeit very slowly(lack of time). I've had one OBE, trying for another. Im sure that my views will change/modify, and i'll be thankful for it. I do not believe the bible contains the full reality of existance(it is foolish to think so).

[two]

I'm afraid I have to disagree with that one. From both my experience of the astral *AND* my viewpoint as an Ancient Historian, the religion of christianity (in all its forms), like all other religions, is a purely human construct

Of course all religion is of human construct, but it is divinely inspired, and that's the origin of Christianity, Jesus making Peter the leader of the Church and giving him authority to run it. All popes have this authority(there are non catholics who will disagree with me but the point is essentially, Christianity is based on Jesus giving the message, his apostles taking over when he left).

Much of what you would recognise as christianity is down to Emperor Constantine who held a conference of christian leaders in the 320's AD where various basic tenants of christian dogma were hammered out.
For example, did you know that it was at this conference that it was decided (by vote!) that Jesus was a god rather than just a prophet?, Before this time, no one had decided definitavly. Likewise, it was decided at this time that re-incarnation was incompatible with christian dogma. This is all 300 years after the events.


You mean the first council of Niceia(I think that's the spelling)? If so, yes, there was a vote to decide whether or not Jesus was less than God, or equal. It was because of one priest(Arius) about five years earlier who taught that Jesus was God because of grace, and not by nature. Of course, this was not what everyone else was teaching(nor was it ever taught by anyone before Arius, maybe origen though, I think Arius was one of his students), so Constantine wanted to hold the council in one city, but I think(can't remember, it's been awhile) there was a priest or bishop(or his own advisor) there that tried to prejudge the whole matter before the council, so he decided to hold it at Niceia instead. The whole council was started to prevent a theological war between the school in Alexandria and the other top school(can't remember the name).  

At Niceia(or however it's spelled), it was decided with only two(or five, different accounts give different numbers) votes going the other way, that Jesus was equal to God, for they were the same according to earlier teachings. It's here that we get the Nicine Creed(or the first version of it). The council(and creed) was needed to prevent something like the Arius controversy from happening again. Similar other councils were held for many years. It was not only a matter of stamping out heretics, but defining the faith.

And reincarnation? The council of Niceia was two hundred years too early.

Any 'wiping' of reincarnation from church dogma came at the council of contstantinople(once again, spelling) in approx 550. It was there that origenism was condemned because it was incompitable with christian dogma. It did NOT however teach reincarnation as so many wrongly attribute. Origen taught the notion of pre-existance of souls, not reincarnation(as Shirley McClaine would have people believe). Origen did speak on reincarnation, and he was against it(but reincarnation had nothing to do with him anyway so....) Origen was one of the most original(no pun) thinkers of early christianity, but he was not in favor of a reincarnation doctrine. The end.

If you go back to the very early dead sea scrolls, you will find a jesus with some crazy extreme beliefs, characteristic of extreme jewish sects at this time, like oulawing fire and only eating uncooked vegetables. It is not suprising that some of Jesus' more extreme notions were 'watered down' as it became romanised, with christianity basically being usurped by the roman elite

The dead sea scrolls are interesting, but no where will you find the name Jesus(or translations), but yes, it does allude to a great teacher who will be persecuted and what not. I always thought that they were are nice prophecy of what was going to happen approx 100 years after they were written(and yes, there is controversy going on today about it all). I really need to study them more, but im more interested in the early church fathers(I blame a professor for this). But really, in the end I havn't studied them enough.

What I meant by the sentence, "I follow Christ, not any man made system", is this: I've had minor miracles involving Jesus in the past. I do not expect anyone to believe me so I will not talk about them here(it's between me and Christ anyway). Words fail me on this subject, so moving on...

If I was not a Christian, reincarnation would still be unlikely to me, as I've already mentioned, so any attack on early Christianity will only urge the side of me that enjoy's reading about early/medieval Roman Catholicism, not my spiritual side. However, I have no urge to debate the validity of Christianity as a belief any longer, I've already spent years debating the subject, it's gotten very old, very quick, now it's time for something different. Im not interested in condemning anyone else to Christianity's version of hell, nor do I expect the new age version to be cursed(for lack of a better word) upon me.

James,

Having been a christian for over 16 years I know well the descriptions of heaven, and it is certainly made very apealing. If however, being in heaven does not allow the ability to choose either move freely about the entire universe and spirit realms, or move on and have your spirit placed in another host body, then to me it effectively becomes just a glorified (no pun intended) storage area.

This is where we have different loves. I want to join God, but you want to return to the world. I see the body as a form of temporary storage, with the soul being freed, thankfully and finally, at death.  

In the end, only experience can tell us what is real and what is not. Even then, authenticity can still be in question. Oh well, we'll all find out someday.

Also, shouldn't this be in the spirituality section. It's a good topic that would attract a different set of eyes(more accoustemed to thinking about such things).

Nerezza, I realise that you follow christian belief systems so you are used to the concept of divine punishment and reward, and are expecting this in the afterlife. You might want to watch this though as the reality is that in the afterlife, your only judge is yourself, no omnipotent white bearded god, sending out thunderous judgements upon people, this is a purely human (judeo-christian) concept.
The afterlife regions are full of people who have effectivly handicaped themselves by believing themselves 'damned' for one reason or another.


I follow Christ, not any man made system. We essentially agree on the judgement part(with minor distinctions), and no white bearded god(used as abstraction for children). We even agree that if I am to be damned, I will damn myself(we are in control of our actions, we will be the ones to answer for them, if not before God, then to ourselves). It is interesting that my lack of belief in reincarnation did not come from the bible, but rather from random ponderings. There is only one real mention in the bible of one life(and several hints).

I do not try to be a good person due to fears of repercussions and expectations of great rewards, to do so is fake and anyone, God or man, can see through it. I try to be a good person because it is a reflection of the Holy Spirit within me(I do not expect you to believe, that is fair).

Of course there are days when I ridicule people and there are days when I will treat them as they deserve, any Christian claiming to be perfect, well, isn't.

Thanks for the warning, but if you're right and reincarnation exists, I will try better next time[].

no omnipotent white bearded god, sending out thunderous judgements upon people, this is a purely human (judeo-christian) concept.


I actually pictured Zeus, even Gandalf(maia are god's in a way, they're god's right?)[]

James,

To be put into permanent storage is more of an atheistic belief. Christians believe in spending an eternity with God in paradise, as a rewarded for leading spiritual, non material centered lives. We seek God, and we find him in the afterlife. It is not mundane, but beautiful and peaceful. Think of the perfect world, and you have heaven.

Perhaps we have the choice, I do not know, nor does anyone really. What I do know is that whatever awaits us will make today and this debate seem futile and unimportant, as with all debates really. But we have to do something in the meantime, right?

It seems to be too convinient and very much like the Christian bad excuse that Jesus always forgives

This is the first time i've heard someone complain that the Christian belief is too lax[]. You can't just say, "Im sorry" and be done with it and very few denominations would say otherwise. As a Christian, I am fully aware that my actions will have repercutions in the afterlife, as I will be the one to answer for them and accept any punishment forthcoming. I do not expect to be forgiven, that in itself is a sin to me. However, I expect to be treated according to how I treat others(which isn't to well these days i'm afraid).

It's the same with Karma isn't it? We lead a bad life and karma acts to ensure we pay for it in the next(I can't really say though, I don't believe in it, at least not the current notion).

lucifer the light bringer

Mistranslation.

Why did Jesus say that he came to bring not peace but a sword?

Hyperbole(also responsible for 90% of misunderstood bible verses. Jesus had a way with words, no?)

I used to have a job as a Tim Hortons Muffin Baker, and to this very day I still know enough not to become one again.

no_leaf_clover,

I thought you were in a coma?

I couldn't find a mirror, but here are some other sites:

http://www.hypnos.info/pages/freeselfhypnosis.html

http://www.bcx.net/hypnosis/hypnosis-toc.htm

http://sleepdisorders.about.com/cs/relaxation/ht/Self_Hypnosis.htm

So many people see a "man in black"...

There are many stories that tell of monks and other shrouded people that appear to certain families as omens of impending death and/or calamity.

Here are some stories from a newfoundland ghost website:

I was about 12 years old and my Mother and I had just moved in with my step-fathers Mother.  I woke up very early in the morning, it was still gray outside, even though you could tell it was going to be a clear day. I went into the living room and happened to look out through the venetian blinds and noticed a small manlike shape sitting in the tree about 5 to 7 feet in front of the house.  The creature appeared to be about 4 foot high and was dressed very dark monk robes, I couldn't see its face.  I moved away from the window I was afraid but I wasn't terrified.  I opened the door to the house and looked out of the door and the creature was still there,  only this time it had moved and was facing my direction.

I closed the door and was trying to figure out what my next step was, my mother came out of her bedroom and was somewhat angry, she asked me what in the hell was I doing up at that hour? I told her the story which just seem to irratate her further.  She then also looked out the window, she turned slowly toward me, she was not only white, but green at the same time, and simply said in a low and hushed voice "Go to bed" which I did.  I am now 47 years old and telephone my mother
once a month, I live and work in Europe, last month, April 98 I asked her about the incident and if she saw something, she said yes and added she did not ever want to talk about it again.


I awoke to see a man kneeling beside my bed and he appeared to be illuminated and I felt that he was not of this earth. he appeared to be in prayer, I was not afraid, but I felt that he was praying for me. My daughters bedroom would begin to have a horrible smell and it would not go away. She would stand on the centre of her bed and would circle with her hands out. if we tried to wake her she would cry that her legs were hurting her. My husband slept in her bed and his legs were pinned to the bed by an unknown force while the smell was in the room. We found an old statue of Mary and put it in the room. The activity stopped.  

On further research we have discovered that a former occupant had starved herself to death in my daughters bedroom and also that the house was used for catholic mass years ago when people would gather locally.  


I saw a monk in the hallway of our townhouse twice, in 1989. We moved to another townhouse after that and i saw it once more, this time in the furnace room. This was in 1990 or 1991. It was VERY scary to witness but it never did anything to me... it just walked by like I wasn't even there. I never did see it's face, but it was about 4 ft. tall hunched over. It was wearing a black hooded robe with a brown rosary around the waist. It was walking, but at the same time it looked like it was floating or gliding. The total sighting time for each experience was only about 10 seconds, but that was enough to last me an entire lifetime.

What about this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/stores/static/-/welcome/international-gateway/ref=cs_sn_1_1/202-5681290-4395039

Just find the country nearest to you.

Opps, just fixed it.

Also, I thought you boiled haggis.