Jonathan H. B. Lobl

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Everything posted by Jonathan H. B. Lobl

  1. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    Here we are, some two thousand years after Jesus walked the Earth. The truth is, we don't know what happened or what was said. The people who wrote these scriptures were not what we now think of as historians. Even the scholars can't agree on what is original content, what was added after, what was changed and what is outright pious fraud. This is in addition to the changes in meaning across time and culture. In the end, I think that the Christ of belief is more important than the historic Jesus. If the historic Jesus was real at all -- he has been lost to us.
  2. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    Of course. Nobody should be force fed the oficial line.
  3. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    Most of your response is reasonable. It does however, open up a related question. What do we mean by a 'calling?' I think that if we have the urge to become ordained -- this is the calling. Even if we don't use those words to describe the process. That brings us back to the ordination coming from 'us.' Where does that inner voice come from? I don't see a contradiction.
  4. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    Hello Al: That raises a related point. Where does ordination come from? I used to say that ordination was from God. On reflection, I think that we ordain ourselves.
  5. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    That is the problem, isn't it? The people who worship at the altar of Science are not thinking like scientists.
  6. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    Welcome home. In the end, all we can do is listen to the inner music. If your song is Christian, then so be it.
  7. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    When I was ordained, it was because I wanted it. At least, I wanted the title. Since that time, I discovered that it was something to grow into.
  8. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    That's it exactly. The people who knew the least had the worst venom. Rather like the people who know nothing about your spiritual path -- except for what it MUST be.
  9. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    From your description, I'm not sure if your problem is Christianity -- or the Christianity you have been exposed to. It comes in many flavors. Of course, there are other things you could try. From your description, I think you might enjoy the Agnostic way.
  10. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    You didn't say if this person was already unconscious. If he is already unconscious, you must call the ambulance -- to report that there is an unconscious person who needs an ambulance. If he is still conscious -- we are talking about suicide prevention. It's more ambiguous. In particular if he is able to insist to the dispatcher that he does not need help. If he does, you're off the hook. One more thing. This person is somebody that you don't like. Perhaps there is a history of emotional blackmail or abuse?
  11. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    This brings back memories. Years back I joined a Yahoo 'skeptics' group. The subject of Therapeutic Touch came up. I said I was a practitioner. The rudeness and abuse that followed was shocking, both for quantity and quality. Nobody in the group, except for me had trained in Therapeutic Touch, or had a session, or knew somebody who had -- but they KNEW. When "facts" didn't disuade me, the abuse followed. So much for reason.
  12. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    That is the problem with websites. Physical spaces can be traced back. Brick and motrar has history. Cyber space is what we make of it. If Modesto HQ moves, then things will be a lot worse to figure out.
  13. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    Science is not responsible for things done or said in The Name of Science. Just as God is not responsible for things done in The Name of God.
  14. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    I'm not clear on your relatiopnship to the RCC. If you are under the authority of your priest. bishop, etc -- then their opinion should matter to you. If you are not under their authority -- what is the problem?
  15. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    As a matter of history -- ULC dot org was the first ULC site. They aren't us now. They were us.
  16. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    Say's him. Dr. Sheldrake does not speak for "Science." Neither does he get to define "Science."
  17. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    I think the ULC designation would be the same as the Unitarian Universalists. Are they are denomination?
  18. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    Everything is good? Everything is a manifestation of God's "Love?" No. It isn't. IMO Thank you.
  19. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    I don't agree. The Holocaust was evil. The Inquisition was evil. Witch burning was evil. Just because evil is hard to define does not mean it does not exist.
  20. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    When I think back on the history of religious persecutions -- much of it still going on -- I don't worry about being called an internet minister, mail order, or any other snide variety of insult. The quest for "respectabiliy" and "prestige" is a fool's errand. Even now, the various mainstream denominations don't really "respect" each other. They work together and pretend, but they don't mean it. Have you heard the Baptists talking about the Jehova's witnesses? Or what they think of the Catholic Church? Have you seen what Chick Publicfations has to say about the RCC? Have you seen what the Evangelicals think of the Unitarian Universalists? If Romney had been Evangelical instead of Mormon, he might be President now. Onlly a few years back, the last Pope said that only the Catholic Church has appostolic succesion and that all the other churches are only "Ecclastic Communities." What these churches think of us is meaningless.
  21. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    We are on the same page. People who abuse human victims often start with harming animals. Then "move up."
  22. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    Truly, I understand wondering. At the end of the day, what do we really know? More than nothing. Less than something.
  23. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    IMO, evil in the abstract doensn't have much meaning. In terms of a specific act, evil can be seen to exist. This is where free will comes into it.
  24. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    Understood. I know what you meant. Still, I get so tired of evil people getting put on trial for their crimes -- and their lawyers try to plead that they were "ill." That they didn't know the difference between right and wrong. It makes me sick.
  25. Jonathan H. B. Lobl
    When you say, to teach fear -- do you mean to make others fearful? That would be the essence of the Dark Path. I hope that is not Earth's function.