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Symbol on a tomb stone

I post this under religion because a grave marker is often a last show of faith as one's family saw it. I was walking through a cemetery and memorial site adjacent to the Yorktown Battlefields in Yorktown, VA honoring those who gave their lives for a cause which they believed to be great enough to be worth dying for when I came across a peculiar image etched into the stone. This particular grave was that of a Private killed in the Civil War. I managed to get a good picture of the image, but neglected to capture the entire marker. If anyone knows what this symbol is supposed to represent, please let me know. It has been on my mind for a while, now.




The letters spell out "Fatal" possibly denoting the act which killed him, or could even mean Satan if you take into account that the era's short-hand used "f" where today we'd use the letter s, though this is unlikely.

Once again, if you know anything about it, let me know.

Pastor and housemate let elderly woman ROT

NECEDAH, WI.
An elderly woman whom died on a toilet was found over 60 days after her passing decomposing on the toilet. The Pastor and woman whom lived with this elderly woman did not want to reveal her death because without the woman's monthly money from the government, their church would've folded. So, needless to say, they are both contained in the county jail facing many, many years behind bars. In my opinion, they belong in a friggin str8 jacket too.

What Really Happens If You Follow The Bible

Sam Harris figures that the true christians are the biggest assholes.
Thoughts?

Decoding The Past: Doomsday 2012 - The End Of Days

I was watching "Decoding The Past: Doomsday 2012 - The End Of Days" on the discovery channel last night.

(Short clip from it)

Show description:

There are prophecies and oracles from around the world that all seem to point to December 21, 2012 as doomsday. The ancient Mayan Calendar, the medieval predictions of Merlin, the Book of Revelation and the Chinese oracle of the I Ching all point to this specific date as the end of civilization. A new technology called "The Web-Bot Project" makes massive scans of the internet as a means of forecasting the future... and has turned up the same dreaded date: 2012. Skeptics point to a long history of "Failed Doomsdays", but many oracles of doom throughout history have a disturbingly accurate track record. As the year 2012 ticks ever closer we'll speculate if there are any reasons to believe these doomsayers.

Related link discussed in the show--
The Web-Bot Project found here: http://urbansurvival.com/simplebots.htm

See the 4 minute online Preview here:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ci1n_do...ay-2012-preview

I found it pretty interesting. There are a ton of torrents for the whole show if you google it. Definitely recommend watching.

China confiscates Bibles from American Christians

Chinese customs officials confiscated more than 300 Bibles on Sunday from four American Christians who arrived in a southwestern city with plans to distribute them, the group's leader said.

The Bibles were taken from the group's checked luggage after they landed at the airport in the city of Kunming, said Pat Klein, head of Vision Beyond Borders. The group, based in Sheridan, Wyoming, distributes Bibles and Christian teaching materials around the world to "strengthen the persecuted church," according to its Web site.

Source: Yahoo

Shroud of Turin stirs new controversy

Favorite God/Goddess/Hero(ine)/Creature from Mythology

What is your favorite figure from mythology? Human, god, or non-human, and from any mythological/religious system in the world.

Reincarnation of Shanti Devi

Woman impaled on statue of Hindu goddess

The 30-year-old victim fell onto the spikes at her home in Salford, Greater Manchester.

It took firemen 30 minutes to free her by cutting through the spikes with a hacksaw.

She was then taken to Hope Hospital, Salford, for treatment.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: "The woman had fallen onto the statue within the house. We had to cut through the part that she had impaled her arm on.

"It took 30 minutes to free her using a hacksaw."

The victim has not been named. It is understood she "fell onto the statue while staggering around".

Kali, the goddess of time and change, is generally associated with death and destruction.

She is a dominant figure in Tantric iconography, texts and rituals.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics...du-goddess.html

The best Pantheon of Pagan gods.

Which Pantheon of Pagan gods (just to shut up the monotheist crowd). and why?

and this doesn't have to be for some religious reason, just a heads up on that.

Cleansing Ritual for a Sick Friend

Performing a cleansing spell will help to cleanse your sick friends of their illness and of any problems that might interfere with their recovery, such as feelings of vulnerability and depression.

Before beginning, be mindful of your intentions; a person may need to go through a period of illness before s/he can be well again. Say "for the highest good" or "by divine will" before performing healing spells to show that you are honoring the process of the illness, as well as wishing for your friends' recovery.

PERFORMING YOUR RITUAL

You will need:

~1 Pale blue pillar candle
~2 Flowers
~3 A memento of your sick friend--such as a picture or a piece of their jewelry
~4 Natural sea salt
You may perform this ritual up to 3 times a day.

~1. NO DISTURBANCES--Find a quiet place to perform your ritual.
~2 HEALING FLOWERS--Place the flowers in a vase and set them down beside the candle.
~3 REMEMBERING THE SICK--Place the memento of your friend that you have chosen beside the candle.
~4 BIND YOUR SPELL--Sprinkle a loose circle of natural sea salt around the group of items you have set up in order to define your magical area.
~5 CANDLE MAGIC--Light your candle and watch it slowly burn.
~6 THINKING OF YOU--Sit quietly for 15 minutes and imagine your friends' pain or sickness dissolving into the salt.
~7 GROUND THE SPELL--Blow out your candle, sweep up the salt, and dispose of it into some earth (away from plants as salt can damage them).

CANDLES FOR CHANGE
Candles represent fire which gives out the heat and light necessary for life. Candles also symbolize transformation--our problems dissolving along with the wax.
~Use a pale blue candle, as in the above spell, to bring serenity, happiness and protection.
~Use a wide or pillar candle so that it can be lit and relit throughout your friends' illness. A slow burning candle is best, as recovery takes time.
~If your friend is undergoing surgery, use a violet candle, as this represents success and victory over the challenge.
~Use a black candle if your friend has been emotionally hurt, or is depressed.

A PERSONAL ITEM
The personal item you use will focus your thoughts on your friend, and clear any other concerns from your mind. By placing it at the center of the spell, you are showing that your friends' well-being is your primary concern.

~If you don't have a recent photo of your friend, use an item of his/her jewelry instead. Something you gave as a present will help strengthen the bond between you.
~If you don't have a recent photo or jewelry to use, write his or her name by hand on unbleached paper.
~Wish for the outcome that is best for your friend--not just for you. People need time to recover slowly more than you need your social life back!

FLOWERS FOR LIFE
Flowers are filled with the Suns' golden energy, making them an ideal ingredient in healing spells and a perfect gift for a sick friend even when you aren't casting a spell. Good flowers to include are:

~Marigolds, which represent and remind us of the life-giving Sun, promote rest, recovery and renewal.
~Red geraniums, the flower associated with strong and courageous Mars, the god of war, aid a speedy recovery.
~Cyclamen offers protection from setbacks during sleep and convalescence.
~Give a sick friend a potted plant instead of cut flowers. Those who watch the living, breathing plant will gain strength as they recover and their health blossoms.
~White roses promote peace of mind and tranquility. White is the color of purity, washing away our worries and ills.

CRYSTALS FOR FOCUS
Crystals send out subtle vibrations that affect the atmosphere. If you use an items of your friends' jewelry in your spell, the crystal set into it can help the spell to work.

~Amethyst clears headaches, stress and anxiety.
~Citrine eases emotional states such as depression.
~Turquoise is a master healing stone that strengthens and protects during an illness.
~Quartz harmonizes the environment.

As well as using crystals in spells, you can give your sick friend a small crystal touchstone to keep under his or her pillow.

Writing a conventional proof

Definitions…

Beginning - The point of time or space at which anything starts.
End - termination; conclusion.
If - A condition, requirement, or stipulation.
Then - In that case; as a consequence; in those circumstances.

1. In order for something to have a beginning, it must also at some point in time have an end.

2. If something never had a beginning, it therefore cannot logically have an end because endings are inherently dependent on the aforementioned beginnings taking place.

3. Since neither a beginning can exist without an ending, nor an ending exist without a beginning, then we must logically conclude that they are dependent upon one another taking place before either can exist.

Rule of linear existence - If something never began it can therefore never end, meaning that it never existed in the first place.

According to the fundamental Christian faith, “God always was and will be”… Meaning that God never had a beginning and therefore will never have an end. This cannot logically be true if the rule of liner existence is applied.
So… What do I think…?
I think the very nature of Gods existence disproves any possibility of Gods "literal" existence…


Since I know the following will be brought up I am going to go ahead and address them now.

A circle has a beginning and an end, it’s beginning is where the pencil touches the paper and it’s end is where the pencil leaves the paper.

A ring has a beginning and an end, it’s beginning is the point in time when the ring maker forged it into being, it’s end is when it’s molecular decay reaches critical mass and no longer exists in the form that it was originally cast.

Time has a beginning and an end because time is a concept perceived by the human race. It’s beginning is when the perception of time was taken into account and universally understood because human beings put limits and constraints on the concept of time thus defined it’s existence. Time will therefore end when there are no longer human beings to keep track of it’s “conceptual” existence.

If God had been described differently.

In the old testament repeaditly God appears in the form of fire, a darkness that descends on sleeping Abraham, or as a massive mountain sized cloud of darkness, fire, and thunder, that would descend as a pillar of darkness upon its alter from atop the mountain to speak to people.

However when I mention this, very often I will get one of two responses, people either were un-aware of this cloud bit from four or five books of the old Testament (many didn't even know about the cloud above the heads of Jews as they left Egypt) guess they tend to leave that part out of the kid book versions (Not even in Disney's Prince of Egypt) heh,

or they say, "No, God must have been inside the cloud, not was the cloud" yeah like that's all that much different. But that is usually from people who think an omnipotent all being would have the form of an old human man, or some other human shape.

guess the description leaves room for doubt or somehow to be ignored.

Now given the rest of those books with the blood sacrifices, loving the smell of burnt animal flesh as it wafted up to the heavens, and the laws which past the well known ten go on to become a very hate filled list telling them to kill just about anyone (even someone they found in the wild picking up sticks on the Sabbath), what if God had been described in a different form.

Say like that of a giant squid creature, or tentacles covered being that floated in the air?
with this different description would it still have the unknown or "was inside it" status of the current freaky description?

Happy Lammas Day!

Merry meet and a merry Lammas Day to all! We toast the Sun God as He beings the end of His life. The Goddess is pregnant with the new Sun God but She is sad because Her lover is dying. We celebrate the first harvest of grain, the Goddess will produce no more for the rest of the year, the second harvest will be celebrated in September at the feast of Mabon.

So drink a toast to the dying Sun God and thank Him for warming the Earth and helping life to flourish.

World's Oldest Jokes

Well...here is what some researchers are finding out about what ancient people found funny. And we think that we have come a long way since Ancient Egypt?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/247...y-research.html

Woman bishop claims church leaders from developing countries beat thei

The Rt Rev Catherine Roskam, Suffragan Bishop of New York, said domestic violence is deemed acceptable in some parts of the world and that "even the most devout Christians" are guilty of it.

She said some of the 670 Anglican bishops gathered in Canterbury for the once-a-decade Lambeth Conference probably beat their wives, and added that it is difficult to discuss it with them because they do not believe it is wrong.

Her comments have been condemned as outrageous and untrue, and a further example of the condescending attitude of western Anglicans to those in developing countries.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics...heir-wives.html

Missionaries spread gospel through plants

A Southern Baptist ministry is bringing spiritual and physical relief to a rural area of the Horn of Africa that is plagued by malaria.

The international relief and development organization known as Baptist Global Response (BGR) is distributing plants throughout the Horn of Africa that are known to combat malaria. In the past year, more than 2,500 Artemisia plants have been distributed to 800 farmers, effectively giving about 10,000 people access to their own treatment of the deadly disease.

For more than 17 centuries, the plant has been an effective way to fight malaria when its dried leaves are brewed as tea. Abraham Shepherd with BGR says missionaries are not only able to help prevent the physical disease of malaria, but also are able to share the cure for sin.

"[It's] what I call proclamation by demonstration, really...[i]t gives [the missionary] ample opportunity to share with these people and to love them...," he explains. In addition, says Shepherd, it is a "very effective cost-versus-benefit" treatment. "Minimum capital is making the difference in thousands of people's lives," he says. So far, he notes, missionaries have used a little more than $10,000 from Southern Baptist World Hunger funds.

The area where BGR has been working has a population of four million and also has one of the highest rates of malaria in the country.

Source: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Missions/Default.aspx?id=192588

The Bible: A history book or what?

I realize it may seem naive or ignorant to just begin a subject on something theological without a lot of sources, but I'm doing it anyway.

For those of you who have studied the bible; do you think that it is historical or prophetic? Or Both?

Could it be possible that it is just a history book with philosophical parables & pertinent spiritual principles that can/will eventually be outdated due to science? Is it possible 'that the day we're all brought to Babylon & how we'll be deceived by Lucifer because he'll look just like Jesus'; how we are to wait for the 7th bell to be rang...when the feared bell toll is the 6th. This sounds like the prediction of a falling empire; it all seems political. Is it possible then, that religion equals politics?

Or, is the Bible actually prophetic literature telling us something urgent about our souls in the future?


...Help!

Research: Christian sex better than Kama Sutra

Contrary to popular notions of Christians as sexual prudes, 15 years of study have convinced a psychologist and professor that "knowing" your spouse "in the biblical sense" can be scientifically verified as a fulfilling and spiritual experience.

Dr. Chuck MacKnee, who teaches psychology at Trinity Western University, a school associated with the Evangelical Free Church near Vancouver, Canada, began studying sexuality in Christian couples in the 1990s at the University of British Columbia.

MacKnee told The Vancouver Sun that while many people assume biblical writers used the phrase "knowing" a person as a bashful way of saying "having sex," he believes the writers and translators were tapping into the uniquely intimate sense of knowing God that can be found within married, Christian sexuality.

"In sexuality, we're looking for connection and fulfillment in another person," MacKnee was quoted as saying in Faith Today. "But this is really the same reason we search for God. … The Hebrew word for sexual intimacy means literally 'to know', as in 'Adam knew Eve'. Yet David used the same word for God when he said in Psalm 139: 'O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.'"




More: http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE...mp;pageId=70669

lol old testiment policies in the new milenium

"Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a east coast resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them:

When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15:19- 24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted fan,
Jim"

teh linkige


lol i've actually made the argument about the garment of 2 threads before.


devoted fan jim, your satire skill has gone up 50 points. and you have mastered the pownage skill.

Exploring Ancient Egyptian Cures

I have a large reference book to which I constantly add information as it is sent to me. I recently received some information with the above title. It is interesting so I thought I'd post it here.

Ancient Egyptian Medicinal Terms

Aaa was an unidentified disease or toxic substance.
Aat was a swelling or tumor.
Antyu was a resin used for internal or external use.
Bit was a honey base for herbal ointments.
Djedfet was a snake or intestinal worm.
Hayt was a cloth bandage
Kap was fumigation, the cleansing of a living space.
Kefet was a gash or gaping wound.
Neser was the inflammation of a part of the body.

The ancient Egyptians took a pragmatic approach to healing and used cures that were successful for centuries. Some of these healing methods are still used today.

Treating Minor Wounds

Cuts and Scrapes:
The ancient Egyptian method of treating simple wounds is basically the same as modern day methods. The wound was stitched together and, when the stitching became loose, the two edges would be brought together with clean strips of clean linen. Grease and honey were applied to prevent the wound from becoming infected with dirt.

Treatment For Burns

For burns, a course of different substances was applied over five days. On the first day, black mud was applied, on day two, the excrement of sheep or other small cattle. (EEEWWWW!) On day three, an ointment made from oil, acacia, carob and barley dough was applied, and on day four, a mixture of oil, wax, papyrus and almond. Day five ended treatment with a mixture of red ocher, carob, copper flakes and an unidentified tree leaf.

Cures for Migraine and Head Colds

The Ebers Papyrus records is probably the earliest treatment for migraine, though its effectiveness is very doubtful.
The ancient cure for migraine is described as a remedy for "suffering in half of the head," which is a classic symptom for migraine sufferers. The skull of a catfish was fried in oil, then this was used to anoint the head.

Treating Head Colds

A remedy for head colds instructs the doctor to apply an ointment of equal parts of galena (lead sulphide), honey, dry incense and an unknown plant to the patient's nose. The ointment was applied (the actual phrase used us "paint the nose") daily for 4 days.

Healing Broken Bones

The ancient Egyptian treatment for a broken nose remains largely the same as today. The nose was put back in place and the nostrils cleaned until there was no blood left. Two swabs of oiled linen were inserted in the nostrils and linen bandaged on the nose. Oil, honey and lint were applied every day until the fracture healed.

To ease joint pain, an ointment was prepared from fat, bone, marrow and honey; flour, natron (salt), onion, cumin, flax and frankincense or pine was then added. Animal fat is still applied to ease rheumatism in Egypt today.

Setting Broken Bones

Wooden splints were padded with linen bandages and used to good effect by Egyptian physicians to set fractured and broken limbs. A patient with a protruding bone would have this pushed back into place by surgeons and the hole plugged with acacia bark and tightly bandaged with linen.

How mega-churches are killing Christianity

I don't consider myself a mega-church hater.

I see a valuable role for the Lakewoods and Seconds and Fellowships of the world (those churches with 3,000+ in woship each week). I like to think of them as "front door churches" -- churches that provide an opportunity for people with or no experience of the Christian faith to enter for the first time and find something positive. There may not be much intimacy or depth of teaching, but it may at least be a good introduction to something deeper. My assumption is that if people walk through these very large "front door churches," they would be intrigued by the faith, take responsibility for it and either get more involved or join a smaller church down the road.

But I'm wondering if that really happens.

It may be more likely that mega-churches are having a detrimental effect on the Christian faith. I want to make a few observations about the phenomenon of the mega-church industry.

1) I think I have wrongly assumed that mega-churches attract people who are not Christian. I am relying on anecdotal evidence, but it seems that most of the people who join mega-churches are people who are leaving smaller churches. Mega-churches have become the big-box retailers of American Christianity. Like the Wal Marts and Best Buys who drive consumers away from mom-and-pop storefronts, mega churches are consuming the participants of other, smaller congregations across the U.S. (This is probably not their intention, and yet it is the result.) Mega-churches seem to grow because they attract other Christians who leave smaller churches, not because they are significantly tapping into a new "market" of the community.

2) Mega-churches spend a lot of money on quality; especially the quality of "worship production." Mega-churches all seem to share similar characteristics: high-caliber musicians, fancy light and visual effects, well-designed staging, entertaining preachers, over-the-top kids activities. I appreciate the quality, but I wonder if these experiences are unrealistically "raising the bar" of people's expectations for church. What are we teaching people about the Christian faith when these "wow" experiences become the weekly expectation? Isn't this (in at least some way) perverting the ideals of Jesus?

3) Most mega-churches are exporting these over-the-top images to non-Christians through the media. By buying TV time and showing 30 or 60 minute epidsodes of their weekly productions, and by streaming their services on the web, they are shaping the assumptions of those outside the faith. People who indeed have no experience with Christianity see glimpses of these expensive, over-produced worship services and assume that is Christianity-at-its-best. Before they might even meet a Christian or visit a church, they have already formed their impression about the faith based a handful of very large and wealthy congregations.

I realize that I am likely to offend some people for whom a mega-church has been a source of healing and hope. That is certainly not why I chose to write this. I still believe that there are aspects of the mega-church phenomenon that can be valuable, and yet I think there is also a growing negative effect as well. In my visits to churches, I hear a lot of strong opinions about mega-churches, and yet there doesn't seem to be much constructive dialogue about their effect on Christianity.

What say you?





http://www.chron.com/commons/persona.html?...fb-9637e4d56854

Woman runs sword into foot during Wiccan ceremony

A woman accidentally stabbed herself in the foot with a 3-foot-long sword while performing a Wiccan good luck ritual at a central Indiana cemetery. Katherine Gunther, 36, of Lebanon, pierced her left foot with the sword while performing the rite at Oak Hill Cemetery, police said.

Gunther said she was performing the ceremony to give thanks for a recent run of good luck. The ceremony involves the use of candles, incense and driving swords into the ground during the full moon.

Gunther said was aiming to put the sword in the ground, but hit her foot instead.

"It wasn't the first time I performed the ritual, but it was the first time I put a sword through my foot," she said.

Gunther immediately pulled the sword out of her foot, and her companions took her to Witham Memorial Hospital, where she was kept a couple days for treatment.

No charges were filed, police said. The Wiccans were warned that being in the cemetery in the city about 20 miles northwest of Indianapolis after posted visiting hours constitutes trespassing.

Wicca is a nature-based religion based on respect for the earth, nature and the cycle of the seasons.




http://www.denverpost.com/watercooler/ci_9961162

Ginie in the bottle...

How much do you know about king Solomon and his great deed of sealing demons in the vessel?



...we'll see where this thread will lead us...

Creation of the World in 7 Literal Days or Span of Time?

According to Genesis, was the world created in 7 24-hour days?

I suppose a Rabbi, who is fluent in Aramaic, would be the one to ask. Except they don't speak to women :D ? So,I'm not going to call up one and ask, especially as a Gentile.

I have heard that the Aramaic word in Genesis refers to a "span of time," not literal 24-hour days.

Most of us have heard that one day equals a thousand years (referring to Genesis and the Aramaic term).

There is no way any Christian could know, is there?


Also, in Psalms (I think it's Psalms - I have forgotten so much), God speaks of compressing the curtain of time, which one could infer as creation happened rapidly because God willed it. I suppose we could take any passage in the bible and infer something or another, whatever suits our fancy :/ Sometimes, expository preaching becomes very interesting.


Does anyone know what the Aramaic says? Maybe you went to synagogue and had this explained to you? What do Jews believe about creation (I realize there are liberal Jews and fundamental Jews - believe the same about creation or no?)?


As a Christian, what were you taught? Have you heard other interpretations?

Schools in Texas get OK for elective Bible courseLocal school district

Local school districts got a green light Friday to offer high school students an elective Bible course without the specific state standards that some contend are necessary to guide well-intentioned teachers from straying into religious proselytizing. State Board of Education members argued about whether they were obligated to establish specific state standards for the new course approved by state lawmakers last year or allow the 1,039 independent school districts to set up their own course, using existing general guidelines from English and social studies classes.

The argument focused on legislative intent. In the end, the board's coalition of social conservatives prevailed, 10-5. Some religious experts immediately expressed dismay.




More: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5896252.html

Uncertainties About the Role of Doubt in Religion

“Belief in God isn’t quite the same thing in 1500 and today,” writes Charles Taylor in “A Secular Age” (Harvard University Press, 2007), his formidable exploration of how the conditions of religious belief — and of unbelief, too — have changed for modern Westerners.

Religious faith was once the air everyone, even the doubter, breathed. Today, religious faith, in its many forms, stands as but one possibility alongside a range of nonreligious outlooks that the honest believer cannot simply dismiss as deluded or depraved.

Far more than in the past, Mr. Taylor writes, believers must live their faith “in a condition of doubt and uncertainty.”

Religious thinkers, of course, have long argued that uncertainty and faith are not the polar opposites often supposed; that indifference, and not doubt, for example, is the greater adversary of faith; that absolute certitude about God often reflects a dangerous arrogance.

But the idea that contemporary faith, at least in the economically developed West, is shadowed by uncertainty on a new and different scale begs for some empirical investigation. Is such a doubt-haunted belief merely the intermediate stage in that slow retreat of the “Sea of Faith” that Matthew Arnold lamented in “Dover Beach,” and that has left much of Western Europe with little more than a veneer of cultural or nostalgic religiosity? Call this the familiar transition hypothesis.

Or is there a newly emergent faith that is deep and constant, marked by familiar forms of prayer and practice, but nonetheless alert to, perhaps even enlivened by, the whisper saying, “I am convinced I’m right but I could be wrong”? That would be a faith lived, to use a favorite phrase of Professor Taylor, “in a different register.” Call this the new steady-state hypothesis.




More: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/us/19bel...amp;oref=slogin

The Problem of Evil

One of the main reasons that God is disbelieved is because such terrible things happen in this world, and we thus can't think of why such a supposedly awesome being would take part in such horrible things,
However, I really don't see why this is a problem. To me, it makes more sense to think that a God would not act no matter how terrible things were getting as it completely negates any idea of freedom. Your moral actions would cease to matter. If you knew that if you fucked things up fairly badly some great big hand would come in and sweep up all the mess for you, how would humanity's actions count for anything. It would be like being placed in a creche. Also, where would the limit be? At what point should God step in? Everytime someone is going to get killed? At the holocaust? Why?
Human interaction would alter radically if divine intervention cropped up every now and again. Hitler plans to exterminate the Jews? It doesn't matter because Michael and his angels are coming to kick Hitler's ass.
If there is a God I'm glad there is no interaction (or at least, any obvious or apparent interactions). It makes our actions and the way we live our lives count.

Throne777

a quote to think on

well, i haven't seen the entire movie, but I saw a clip from THE RULING CLASS, and it had one of the greatest quotes i've ever heard.


"how do you know you're god?"
"it's simple, when I pray to him, I find I'm talking to myself."

How does one preserve a state of mind?

It's my usuall Sunday night/Monday morning. Of course, I had a 7am flight (now 8am), so I stayed up through the night, as I absolutely cannot for the life of me will myself out of bed at 4:30am so I can shower, dress, and get to the airport in ample time.

In any case, I stayed up... it's easier for me to work through a day with little sleep the night before than try to wake up at that god-awful hour.

I took my shower at 4:30, got dressed, threw my folded laundry into my bag, and was out the door by 5. I get to the airport at 5:30, and was way ahead of schedule. (Usually, it takes me an hour to get out the door... maybe I don't fold my clothes the night before? Can't remember.)

I get to the self-service kiosk and swipe my ID so it will spit out a ticket. I saw some red flashing error, and thought that I somehow blew up the kiosk (I've had bad luck with computers recently). A double take revealed that my flight was delayed. Despite this, I was still feeling pretty good.

I was talkative... which is unusual for me. I smiled, yes, smiled when I greeted or was greeted, even to the TSA dudes... yes, I said that I smiled at the TSA employees when they said hello. I even had some friendly banter with a couple of them while I waited in line for the metal detector. Despite me being 'randomly selected' for 'additional screening' (read: additional waste of time), I was still all smiles, and generally in a great fucking mood.

I'm still like that, and I'm starting to freak myself out.

Even so, it's kind of nice. I wish I knew a way to preserve it. At this point in the week, more specifically, the hour preceding my flight, I'm always miserable.

I didn't really do anything different last night or this morning (except fold my laundry when it came out of the drier), and had a fairly bad 1-day weekend. I have no reason whatsoever to be even remotely happy, but here I am, smiling like an idiot.

Seriously, WTF!?

Pearly Gates

How much do you think i could get for the pearly gates in a pawn shop?
preferably a good pawn shop.

or a jewelry store company, or the US treasury?

Vatican condemns Anglicans on women bishops

Time: The Grandfather Paradox

Is it conceivably possible to travel back in time to kill your grandfather and thus stop your birth ever happening?
How do you get around this paradox?

I'll post my own ideas on it soon enough. I'm interested to see if others come to the same conclusion as me without having seen my own view first.

Throne777

Clarvoyance

I found it very interesting and figured that perhaps some others might as well.

http://www.bswa.org/audio/mp3/Brahmavamso_2005_10_28.mp3

It is from The Buddhist Society of Western Australia, but is pretty good. It covers some intereting topics related to clarvoyance. I think it starts off rather slow but it gets better in the middle and end. Listen if you'd like.

Believe in the Teachings of God

Seeing as version A has degenerated into another useless debate about existance that can't be proven or disproven and away from its original point.

and seeing as the planned flip version didn't take hold for the discussion here is its thread just for its self.

Is it possible for someone to believe in the teachings of the Bible (morality and what not) with out believing that God exists.

Now remember this is not a thread for discussing wether or not it actually exists.

But wether or not its possible to follow those teachings with out believing that the characters in the book are/were real.

Deja Vu and Dreams that come true

For years now I have been having off-the-wall dreams about random events taking place, only to find the next day or a few days later, whatever it was happens in real life. There is no real pattern as to when I have the dreams or in the type of event that takes place or the people that are involved. Along with this, I also have MANY Déjà vu moments. They can range in occurrence from once a week to several within a day.



Is there anyone else out there who has experienced this and can give me some advice? Is it possible my psyche is trying to get my attention and tell me things, clue me into something(s) my life has to offer?



Replies are appreciated!



~*~Violet Eyes~*~

Wisdom Teeth

If knowledge is strength . . . what is wisdom then?

. . . it's been bothering me a while . . .

Suppression Suspension & Separation

I have heard of Suppression Suspension & Separation which basically you can use when you are ill or in pain to heal the body
Suppression Means suppression of the pain ,Suspension Being a state that your body can drop in to which is like a deep sleep
where you heart just beats enough to keep you alive and the final state is Separation where you can stand outside your body
where your soul separates from the body.

My question is how would you achieve the above? Once upon a time people used to be able to do this and healed what was wrong with them.

Philosophy and Maths

Can the entirety of mathematical pursuits be logically reduced to a = a? All those subject areas, all those books, all of it, just one simple tautology.
If it can't, why? Would you say maths is informative? Does it tell us something about the world? Does it assert anything, and if so, what?

Throne777

Baha'i faith

Has anyone heard of the Baha'i faith? I think I read over 6 million followers worldwide and some interesting aspects of this faith that attracted me initially. I think Mormons especially or those who are familiar with the doctrine will find the similarities interesting.

Pagans mark longest day at ancient Stonehenge

Thousands of partygoers, pagans and self-styled druids cheered and banged drums Saturday to greet the dawn at Stonehenge on the longest day of the year, the summer solstice.

Blowhorns signaled the rise of the sun over the ancient stone circle at 4:58 a.m. (0348 GMT) -- although in typical English fashion, the sunrise was barely visible through the clouds.

Still, the mist and drizzle did not dampen the spirits of revelers who gathered under umbrellas, ponchos and plastic bags to greet the dawn.

"I've done this for the last three years," said Peter Rawcliffe, 26, who cycled the 50 miles (80 kilometers) from his home in the city of Oxford. "I suppose I'm a bit of a closet druid.

"It's a really magical experience," he said.

Police estimated 28,000 revelers had made the trip, one of the largest numbers in years. They said there were 15 arrests for theft and other minor offenses.

Trevor Wyatt, 55, described the historic site as his "cathedral."

"It's been a sacred place for 6,000 years for the people of this country," he said.

Wyatt, who lives in London, said he is neither pagan nor druid, "just English."

More: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/06/21...n.ap/index.html

the knack

well, this is some down home south terminology, but i think the idea exists in most places.

Being young in a valley town in Ky, It was common to hear about peoples knacks. and until I asked my great grandpa, noone would tell me what a knack really was.


but from my understanding a knack is basicaly natural magic that your born with. It can be something slightly mystic like dowsing, or seemingly just tallents like midwifeing or carving.

It's commonly believed that everyone is born with at least one knack, even if they never find it in life.

since we moved in closer to the city I usualy only hear the term when people are talking about interpersonal traits. for example "Your grandpa has a real knack for gaining peoples respect" or "you have a knack for saying what needs to be said when it needs to be said most" (both of which i've been told)


But last weekend someone at my church said to me "your grandmother really does have a knack for cooking". and it didnt really occure to me until then that that could actualy be true. She grows her own vegetables, but she gives them out to everyone, and no matter who cooks them they never taste anywhere near as good as my grandmother can make with just butter salt and pepper.




what are your thoughts? and what knacks do you think you might have?

Making Aromatherapy Moisturizers

Choosing Your Carrier Product

When making your own aromatherapy beauty products, take the time to decide which base product will best suit your skin type.

Heavy Cream
This dairy product makes a great natural alternative to cosmetic creams.

Yellow Beeswax
Beeswax provides a thicker, more viscous base for your essential oils. It also has many healing properties of its own. It may not be suitable for some sufferers of eczema, though.

Carrier Oil
You can buy carrier oils from many natural cosmetic retailers, health stores and herbalists. They are generally colorless and unscented, ready for you to add your own chosen oil(s).

Commercial Cosmetics
You can even add a few drops of essential oil(s) to any existing body lotion or moisturizer that you have to customize them to you skin type. Dilute at a rate of 5 drops of oil to half cup of cream or lotion.

MAKING YOUR CREAMS

A Body Lotion Recipe

Melt 1/2 oz of yellow beeswax in 1/2 cup of carrier oil using a small bowl in a pan of simmering water (do not heat directly as the oil is highly flammable)
In another pan, gently heat 1/4 cup of distilled water
Begin to add the water when the beeswax has melted.
When you have added 1 Tbs of the water, remove the oil and beeswax from the heat source. Continue adding until all the water is mixed.
Add 6 drops of blended essential oils as soon as the mixture starts to set, then transfer the lotion to glass pots. Label and store in cool conditions.

Face Cream Recipe
To make a thicker, richer cream for use as a daily facial moisturizer:
Heat 1/4 cup of carrier oil with 1/2 oz of beeswax in a bowl placed in simmering water.
Remove the oily mixture from the heat and leave to cool down for several minutes. Wait until it starts to set.
Now add 10 drops of essential oils as the mixture starts cooling.
Pour into a clean glass jar and seal. Allow product to set fully before using.

Use a home-modified moisturizer or lotion within 2 months, even if the original shelf life of the product was longer.

Oils to Use

OILY SKIN
~Bergamot
~Cypress
~Juniper
~Lemon
~Jojoba carrier oil

DRY SKIN
~Chamomile
~Lavender
~Melissa
~Neroli
~Avocado carrier oil

ACNE
~Cypress
~Eucalyptus
~Geranium
~Tea Tree
~Rosehip carrier oil

ECZEMA
~Chamomile
~Geranium
~Lavender
~Jojoba carrier oil

MATURE SKIN
~Frankincense
~Neroli
~Rosehip carrier oil

ANTIAGING
~Cedarwood
~Frankincense
~Jasmine
~Palmarosa
~Sandalwood
~Avocado carrier oil

Face Massage
~To use any of the above oils in a face massage, simply mix a carrier oil instead of a lotion or cream at a rate of 5 drops of essential oil per 15ml of carrier oil.

Aromatherapy Base Notes

Aromas that are classified as base notes are generally soothing, deep and lingering scents. They evaporate slowly and their scent can linger for a week.

Base note oils can heal the body inside and out. They can treat a range of conditions from dry or oily skin to circulatory and digestive problems, to boosting a low immune system. They also have aphrodisiac properties.

Typical Base Notes

Woody Oils:
~Cedarwood
~Patchouli
~Sandalwood
~Rosewood

Strong Floral Oils:
~Ylang Ylang
~Rose
~Jasmine

Resin Oils:
~Frankincense
~Myrrh
~Benzoin

I is nervous

On Litha (June 21), I am conducting a full ceremony including the Casting of the Circle, all the purifying rituals, calling of the Quarters, and Ritual of the Cakes and Wine, releasing the Quarters and the Deities, closing the Circle and Libation to the Lord and Lady. As far as I know, only my mom and sister in law will be attending, I dont know if my dad, brother or JD are going to attend. They'd wait until the last minute to tell me, knowing them.

Using Aromatherapy in Bathing

Your Quick Bathroom Blends

Use these combinations of oils in the treatment to achieve healthy and glowing skin.

To Treat Acne
~Add 5 drops of juniper and tea tree to a sink of steaming water to open your pores and fight your spots.
For Oily Skin
~Mix together 2 drops each of juniper, lemon and mint essential oils.
~You can also use 2 drops of tea tree, 6 drops of grapefruit and 2 drops of rosemary essential oils.
For Dry Skin
~Add 10 drops of combined lavender, geranium, sandalwood, tangerine, and orange oils to your bathwater.
~Add frankincense to the mixture above to soothe cracked skin.

Easy bathroom remedies
Simple aromatherapy remedies to improve your skin
Add a few drops of essential oil to your usual skin-care products, or dab problem massage oils. Remember that even oily complexions still need moisture. If deprived, they simply overcompensate and produce more oil.

In Your Bathwater
Add 7 to 10 drops of essential oils to your bath. Ensure that the oils are dispersed properly by giving them a good swish around in the water.
~You can dissolve them first vegetable oil, full-fat milk, or even a small cup of your usual bubble bath.
~Create a soothing footbath with a bowl of warm water and add 4 to 6 drops of your chosen oil.
In Your Shower
~ Squeeze a small amount of shower gel into your palm or a small cup, and add 4-6 drops of your chosen oils, and mix thoroughly, Use a washcloth or sponge to rub it over your skin.
~ The steam of a shower will help you to inhale the aroma of your chosen oil(s), increasing its benefit.
~ Steamy showers open the pores and detox the skin.
Healing Waters
Eucalyptus and lavender oils both have a cooling effect. Add a few drops to lukewarm bathwater to soothe a case of sunburn.

Hair remedies
Many essential oils can help to improve the condition of your hair.
In Your Shampoo
~ Add 25 drops of your choice of essential oil(s) per half cup of unperfumed base shampoo and shake well.
~ Add 2 or 3 drops to a handful of your usual shampoo for a quick fix.
Rinsing Your Hair
~ Add 5-10 drops of essential oil to the water you use for your final rinse to get the benefit of conditioning and tonic oils.

Unwind With Scented Candles
Candles are much more relaxing than electric light when you're bathing. Scented with essential oils they can also be therapeutic,especially when combined with the effects of a relaxing aromatherapy bath oil.

Make Your Own
Aromatherapy candles are widely available to buy. If you wish to make your own, however, simply light a chunky candle and once a small pool of wax has melted at the top of the candle, blow it out and add a few drops of your chosen oil(s). The next time you light the candle, the aroma will be released as the wax melts. Choose the following aromatherapy candle to suit your moods:

To Cheer Yourself Up:
Clary Sage, Jasmine, Frankincense, Geranium, Neroli

To Relieve Stress:
Lavender, Clary Sage, Rose

To Soothe A Headache:
Rosemary, Marjoram, Mint

To Help You Sleep:
Lavender, Chamomile

To Help Wake You Up:
Bergamot, Grapefruit

Chakral healing (specifically: Heart)

... but still I am curious, since I suspect there would be a number of folk here with at least some experience in this... Or the reverse of it.

What are good ways to both heal/repair and re-open the heart chakra?

crossover dream thing

ok, i've had 2 dreams that stranely enough have taken place in the same building.

the first one, i was being led around to a bunch of classes where a whole lot of nothing was happening. but i remebered the building, because when i was first entering it at the begining of the dream, I coiulfn't help but notice the large glass doors with a blackened mirror trim to them. and there was also a loby area with some random 3d art.


well, in the second dream, im in the middlf of some class when everyone gets up and goes to this big indoor stadium area, and we watch people lifting ungodly amounts of weight and break records and shit.. well, after a few rounds of watching, the guy next to me (I didnt recognise him, but i felt like i knew him) he got up and told me to folow him.

He led me to an elivator that led to a set of conjoined bedrooms where he went through and started looking for things.

and after a few min of looking, we were joined by a few men in suits who didnt ask questions before they tried to knife us where we stood. so we did the logical thing and fought back(me more successfuk than him) and eventualy, I wound up being the only one left either alive or conscience.

and since i had no idea what i was doing here, or who anyone was, i just went back to that class (and happened to pass through the loby of 3d art on the way)

but when i got to class, there was nothing there. the room was entirely empty. and for some reason, i look down, and my shoes are all mismached. my right shoe is a brown leather loafer kind of thing with no sock on, and my left shoe is a flipflop and a sock.

and thats when i wake up.

I almost want to dream back there now, befause the buileding had entirely slipped my mind for almost a week before the second dream (and remebered thnks to the wonder of pen and notepad)

Purpose of Life

From Religion Facts