Did You Guys Watch the Olympics Opening Ceremony?

[Emil El Zapato]

It's an odd one maybe, you have athletes in snowboarding pointing at their sponsors logo's and pointing at links to political agendas. It appears to be okay to push politics and commercialism of products, and sure, all that with them being the athletes and having sponsors n all, the hashtag link to free some imprisoned rap star was a bit of a curve ball..
I guess the big distinguishing factor is the banner of Heaven and Hell is that they are inferring all others are going to hell, the push their agenda by insulting others. And that's extremely irresponsible and crass, and very unchristian I would expect. More people embracing the fear addiction, failing to 'work on themselves', promoting division.

Authoritarianism Nothing, it is always authoritarianism at the root of evil. I am decidedly not a believer in eschatological theories, but if they are in the ballpark, modern Christians are going to be shocked when all the faithless disappear around them and they finally realize, as goes the Chris Rea song, they are on the Road To Hell.

[Fred Steeves]

Just keep in mind it's the extremist side of Christianity that would flaunt a ridiculous banner like that at the olympics, most quietly go about their daily business just like everyone else. Of course it's unfortunate that the overall faith teaches that people who don't believe the blood shed during the most magnificent human sacrifice ever washes away their sins are doomed to eternal damnation, but that's a different discussion. I've got close family who know beyond the shadow of a doubt I'm going to hell, but that's just the way it is.

On the flip side of the coin, who runs most of the homeless shelters, battered women shelters, and food banks? They do a lot of thankless good work out there as well.

[Dreamtimer]

My husband works with them, they have a calling, and the acronym of his company's name has Christian in it. That's what it's supposed to be about. Not politics. Not getting rich. Not judging others.

[Dumpster Diver]

Just keep in mind it's the extremist side of Christianity that would flaunt a ridiculous banner like that at the olympics, most quietly go about their daily business just like everyone else. Of course it's unfortunate that the overall faith teaches that people who don't believe the blood shed during the most magnificent human sacrifice ever washes away their sins are doomed to eternal damnation, but that's a different discussion. I've got close family who know beyond the shadow of a doubt I'm going to hell, but that's just the way it is.

On the flip side of the coin, who runs most of the homeless shelters, battered women shelters, and food banks? They do a lot of thankless good work out there as well.

If you want to freak out your Christian bubbas, tell them that hell is an Egyptian invention used for crowd control. It was later seen as a useful idea by the conquering Romans and bolted into the Roman created Christian religion (used to get the rebelling Hebrews under control) and then still later as a weaponized state religion to control the masses in peace, and unify those same masses in the event of war to defend the State (and it's religion) against barbarians by Emperor Constantine.

[Emil El Zapato]

you pagan, Mr. Dumpster...

I had a nun call me that one time...I thought it was kind of funny, actually. I think I was in 5th grade and I've never forgotten it. In 8th grade we received the sacrament of 'confirmation' and we got to choose a 'Saints' name as our patron. I chose Thomas and just between you and I the hidden significance for me was I took that name in part because it represented 'Doubting Thomas'. Only because I felt compelled to 'ask questions'

[Dumpster Diver]

you pagan, Mr. Dumpster...

I had a nun call me that one time...I thought it was kind of funny, actually. I think I was in 5th grade and I've never forgotten it. In 8th grade we received the sacrament of 'confirmation' and we got to choose a 'Saints' name as our patron. I chose Thomas and just between you and I the hidden significance for me was I took that name in part because it represented 'Doubting Thomas'. Only because I felt compelled to 'ask questions'

Yeah, well at least I don't eat my God in a satanic cannibal ritual, and wash it down with his blood. Do people even think about this sh!t? They are so progeammed into thinking it "normal" and it is anything but.

[enjoy being]

I am of the the belief or opinion that almost every faith has correct components and incorrect components.
All exhibit elements of the divine word. And all exhibit evidence of souring and darkness. Some of the faiths don't put their hands up to try and be noticed as much as others, I can't actually say I know everything about all of the faiths, and their accompanying organised religions around them, but I do notice that they seem to all have some fanatics and some moderates, and they seem to each have their fatal flaws.
I believe in some form of higher intelligence that was a creator at some point, I tend to believe we are indeed pawns in some wager between good and evil, dark and light. I am not sure how many circles fit inside the largest circle of an all powerful entity and exactly how small our circle is inside that, meaning what game it is that we are in, in relation to the big picture.

I don't know where I stand in the description of polarities, as in good is obviously the best to me, but I understand the notion of balance and the analogy of a battery requiring polarities. I also am prepared to believe that maybe there will be a time when polarity in the universe is not so important and that may be where the notion of oneness becomes valid.

It becomes apparent that the things which poison the pond in humanity, are all the same things, and those are pretty much the 7 deadly sins which work their ways within individuals and can link up between individuals. The collective actions of these are how things happen in this world that we see as evil. It is how 911 could happen etc. So it is possible to maybe call it a collective consciousness. Evidence perhaps of these things working their way to taint the faiths of the world. Perhaps mostly getting away with it because of a lack of awareness of self, and of the dynamic I describe. Becoming compromised by fear and misplaced righteousness, doing actions for self rather than others. I mean, people should "work on their self", for the good of all, the good of others. In turn, others will have goodness for them. Extremists, fanatics, a form of tourettes even.

Fred made the point to remember that christians do good work and that banner wavers are the extreme end of the scale. Which is the same point that many muslim make for their faith. It is no wonder there are clashes when as a bunch, all the loudest of the litter are a bit selfish and unaware and the ones of the bunch who are most bitten by the bug, or the least perfect specimens. Same as with in business I guess, usually the ones who have climbed to the top in corporations, are the ones who are fine with walking over top of others, backstabbing, forcing their will on others, lying etc etc. The meek, certainly are at the mercy of all these types in all their stations. They, we, are all guilty in some way. The accuser within is real. The deceiver within is real.
Yet we have grace, and we have such beautiful aspects which we all believe to be our original forms. Well I expect we do.
I guess believing the opposite would indeed be what it called Satanism or Luciferianism or lol Capitalism. Out of all the religions and faiths, I find the gnostic wing of things to be perhaps the most disturbing though, maybe ahead of catholicism and islam. Now, is that the demons within recoiling or the angels?

[Emil El Zapato]

Yeah, well at least I don't eat my God in a satanic cannibal ritual, and wash it down with his blood. Do people even think about this sh!t? They are so progeammed into thinking it "normal" and it is anything but.

of course it isn't normal, it is supernormal-supernatural-superspiritual...it's not about whether one thinks about it or not...it is what one thinks about it.

I am of the the belief or opinion that almost every faith has correct components and incorrect components.
All exhibit elements of the divine word. And all exhibit evidence of souring and darkness. Some of the faiths don't put their hands up to try and be noticed as much as others, I can't actually say I know everything about all of the faiths, and their accompanying organised religions around them, but I do notice that they seem to all have some fanatics and some moderates, and they seem to each have their fatal flaws.
I believe in some form of higher intelligence that was a creator at some point, I tend to believe we are indeed pawns in some wager between good and evil, dark and light. I am not sure how many circles fit inside the largest circle of an all powerful entity and exactly how small our circle is inside that, meaning what game it is that we are in, in relation to the big picture.

I don't know where I stand in the description of polarities, as in good is obviously the best to me, but I understand the notion of balance and the analogy of a battery requiring polarities. I also am prepared to believe that maybe there will be a time when polarity in the universe is not so important and that may be where the notion of oneness becomes valid.

It becomes apparent that the things which poison the pond in humanity, are all the same things, and those are pretty much the 7 deadly sins which work their ways within individuals and can link up between individuals. The collective actions of these are how things happen in this world that we see as evil. It is how 911 could happen etc. So it is possible to maybe call it a collective consciousness. Evidence perhaps of these things working their way to taint the faiths of the world. Perhaps mostly getting away with it because of a lack of awareness of self, and of the dynamic I describe. Becoming compromised by fear and misplaced righteousness, doing actions for self rather than others. I mean, people should "work on their self", for the good of all, the good of others. In turn, others will have goodness for them. Extremists, fanatics, a form of tourettes even.

Fred made the point that to remember that christians do good work and that banner wavers are the extreme end of the scale. Which is the same point that many muslim make for their faith. It is no wonder their are clashes when as a bunch, all the loudest of the litter are a bit selfish and unaware and the ones of the bunch who are most bitten by the bug, or the least perfect specimens. Same as with in business I guess, usually the ones who have climbed to the top in corporations, are the ones who are fine with walking over top of others, backstabbing, forcing their will on others, lying etc etc. The meek, certainly are at the mercy of all these types in all their stations. They, we, are all guilty in some way. The accuser within is real. The deceiver within is real.
Yet we have grace, and we have such beautiful aspects which we all believe to be our original forms. Well I expect we do.
I guess believing the opposite would indeed be what it called Satanism or Luciferianism or lol Capitalism. Out of all the religions and faiths, I find the gnostic wing of things to be perhaps the most disturbing though. Now, is that the demons within recoiling or the angels?

Glad to see you're one of us, Nothing...seriously, not everyone has the capability...that isnt by default a bad thing...just very different. The problem occurs when people that don't have the capability, either pretend they do, or believe that they do. Whoa, that's bad!

[enjoy being]

of course it isn't normal, it is supernormal-supernatural-superspiritual...it's not about whether one thinks about it or not...it is what one thinks about it.



Glad to see you're one of us, Nothing...seriously, not everyone has the capability...that isnt by default a bad thing...just very different. The problem occurs when people that don't have the capability, either pretend they do, or believe that they do. Whoa, that's bad!

You're a Rastafarian as well? lol just kidding, I can quite happily use the name Jah ahead of God. Though I don't believe in a first or second coming like in the way each story goes. I can also appreciate the notion and tales of Shiva and Ganesha and company etc.