Atwater Vitki
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Posts posted by Atwater Vitki
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Welcome back and to your Home Coolhand. I'm certain the wife and family especially are happy so...
Welcome home!
Blessings of Peace,
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I believe Keystrikr is referring to the animosity from the break off groups that separated from the original ULC and then had the gall to call themselves the "original" or "real" ULC.
What kind of attacks, were you referencing Keystrikr?
Quite often the public perceives the ULC as a bunch of "Wanna Be" ministers of the Bible. The reality is a good portion of Members simply get their officiant documentation in order so they can legally marry a family member of friend or in a few cases have the legal right to offer pastoral counseling. The two version are confused by the public because they 1.) never took the time to learn the difference between the reasons and 2.) are so stuck in their own thinking they refuse and refute anything not IN that boxed in line of thinking.
Witch Hazel, I'm certain Key will chime in as well to clarify, but I know what it's like waiting for answers and saw you were still online as of a few minutes ago.
Blessings of Peace,
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I'm certain most are familiar with Albert's statement:
"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a rather persistent one"
In light of androids having/not having a "soul", perhaps Mr. Einstein's words apply to the "AI" reality/soul as well?
Blessings in Light,
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So how will you be honoring Thor
(Thor's day) 
? By drinking out of a sawed-off cow horn or watching a dvd of The Avengers? In any case have a great Thursday with or without it being a holiday.That is precisely what we did...went to see "Age of Ultron" in a pre-release party episode in Merced. Thor was up to his usual grand self. Other than that I'm not going to say a word about the plot ...other than the 3d version was okay, but my guess is the standard IMax (at $6 less) would have been just as good if not better due to the 3d glasses never fitting correctly. But overall, well played by all and up to usual Marvel Productions standards.
So whether it was Beltane or just a Thursday...all worked out well here and the celebratory mode was exciting!
Blessings of Peace,
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What do we really know with objectivity, about our own souls? If we even have souls?
This is something that, as of yet, science/medicine have not been able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt...at least no hard fact data that can be reliably duplicated or objectively compiled. However, having said that to qualify...
...I believe we have souls.
I believe we have souls based on the fact science/medicine can explain 99.99% (speculatively speaking) of our biological body, yet that illusive, inter/non/multi?-dimensional, impossible to fully describe thing some folks call "the spark of Life" exists. That ethereal aspect of Self lies within and even the most enlightened people can not fully explain it. Forget explaining it to the satisfaction of doctors, psychologists, scholars and people far more learned than I am, it can't be explained even on the most rudimentary and layman's level. So just like "God", "gods", "Creator" and religion per sé, it boils down to belief.
The "21 gram Experiment"- though admittedly possibly flawed- is about as close to any proof we may ever have of the souls' existence.
I write and speak as if the soul exists because I believe it does....and I suppose that's the best I can offer at this point.
Blessings of Peace,
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....only to find out that two chain marketeers in our area deliberately have only 1 or 2 check out clerks on duty during the busy hours to basically force the use of the "Self-check out" stations.
I still say artificial intelligence will at best have an artificial, implanted soul. From the idea of androids having implanted souls its is only a matter of logical progression to implanted souls being artificial in nature and therefore far less viable, in substance and principle, than the "real deal". I'm certain if society gets to a point of having to separate and sort out the AI soul from the real human soul there is going to be a ship-load of other issues to deal with as well.
Blessings Be,
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While I have attended services at the ULC brick and mortar in Modesto, I also think what keeps our forum family so strong is most definitely the tolerance mentioned above, but distance. We come and go as suits us here no one has any obligation. Some folks come and go daily, others aren't here for months. I think this is partly what keeps us strong as we each interact as suits our individual need. Like I know if I sat next to my buddy Fawzo every Sunday, we probably wouldn't be the same dudes we are now...speaking of him...where ya been pal?
Anyway, just a part of what I think makes us strong beyond practicing as we will and sharing it, not as a means of converting others, but a look at what makes "my" / "our" spiritual workings work for us. There is no threat of conversion, just sharing the ideas and insights...big difference from being downtown on Tuesday afternoon in the Mission district.
Blessings of Peace,
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Man, if there is one thing that can sure show the brotherhood and unity here...it's an attack on the ULC by some incredibly ignorant nincompoop! Anyone that truly knows anything about us could shoot holes all through this person's rambling nonsense....and that simply shows what this attack is all about...judgment, ignorance and failure.
Since all I got was ("Thou shall not steal" Exodos 20:15) when clicking on anything at that site, I wasn't able to contact this person to congratulate them on a job so incredibly well done of showcasing one's own bias and opinionated rhetoric. All we can do is love and pray for this person for s/he obviously knows not what s/he does!
Blessings of Peace,
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Welcome Toby and yes, what Rev Trouten said Pastor Charles.
Blessings Be,
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Indeed, it seems to me like analytical thinking incorporates debate, and with the multitude of debates about the authenticity of the bible, the veracity of its claims, etc...well, it seems to me that those of faith get a mental work out whenever those of no faith debate with them, and vice versa. I think in that light, spirituality increases analytical thinking in some ways.
Johnathan, as I said, I apologize. Had a bad day, and was taking things way too personally, sorry to say. I agree that the study is too vague. How exactly does a person measure another persons spirituality? Is it a Christian or Muslim or Druid doing the measuring, and if so are they biased by their own views? Of course its a biased study. I can't quite wrap around how one would go about making an unbiased study on this particular subject. And is there even a real connection? Kind of like saying I know a lot of people who eat spaghetti and then get in car accidents. The two aren't necessarily functions of each other, it could just be coincidence.
Whoa, you too? I keep telling folks spaghetti is not a "good eat while driving" food!
But on a serious ♪....
So we get a secular person to administer the litmus test about religion...oh wait, no, they would be a bit swayed by the intangibilities.
Of course an atheist wouldn't do either because of their own bias toward such silly beliefs.
Or we...no, ut uh, that wouldn't do it so...ah...
or maybe... 
doh....I 
!I honestly do not believe there is any feasible manner in which to calculate Belief, Faith or Religious Conviction, because it is such a personal thing. And...ah HA! Personal thing! Perhaps that is the crux of the entire issue and gee wiz wolligers Wally, all folks need to let that happen is tolerance.
A prime example or two of intolerance are the killing of Avijit Roy or the faceless extremes of "Jihad John" or ISIS which seems to have taken the place of Al Quaida on the most hated list for America. Hate and kill the things we don't agree with seems to be the "Commandments" from the various "true Gods", really? Is that truly what their "God" is telling them or is that the age old misinterpretation of His word that has gone on for millennia?
War is war, killing is killing and if we are not to murder then outlaw war, outlaw hate crimes, outlaw everything that we as a society don't agree with....oh yeah, we already have done that haven't we!?!
Bad day or not cuchulain, I'll bet ya didn't roll out of bed and grab a machete and lop your neighbor's head off! I'm also pretty sure you didn't send a RPG down the running lights of a UN troop carrier, burn the Muslim family down the street to death or execute a Buddhist this morning....all current headlines that example intolerance each and every day of our existence here on planet Earth.
Blessings of Peace,
...and in closing...the comment below from Carl Sagan was posted as a reply to one article on Avijit Roy. I repost it as it expresses some pretty in-depth thinking and demonstrate a large volume of tolerance.
From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of any particular interest. But for us, it's different. Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner. How frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity – in all this vastness – there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.
The Earth is the only world known, so far, to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment, the Earth is where we make our stand. It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known. - Carl Sagan
quote from "miguel b." in comments: (Yahoo! News)
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...and then, in the end, how can any test or scientific scoring method actually measure the amount of anybody's belief or faith in a religious deity or institution?
How does anyone line up ten, fifty, a hundred absolutely true believers who all claim to be the poster child for that Belief and measure their actual belief? Well, evidently these two scientist did and had a great time using comparative analysis of data collected. So be it.
I have to agree with "bias confirmation" on the whole matter, however....
(of course, you KNEW there was going to be a 'however' when Al's pontificating
)I think I get where you're coming from, Pete, on posting this article when you stated:
I realise that both intuition and analysis are both useful traits in problem solving and useful skills to have in life. I also note the differences in the test results are marked but not overwhelming, but I find them interesting.
It is interesting that science would even attempt to study or measure such a thing as belief and how analytical thinking tends to sway people away from staunch religious Belief. I mean whenever we look at anything from a purely analytical view point we have to consider all available information including what does and does not make sense, logically, and what agrees with known historical data etc etc etc..
Therein lies the rub with any religion. Few if any of the characters involved can be proven to have existed, and in many cases if they did exist it was under a different name or persona. We know that ancient man "borrowed" stories from one another and over time made them their own and another complete set of etc etc etc's that we're all aware of.
The thing I did not see in this study was the formula for belief based on individual belief alone...just because it's what a person honestly feels is right for them regardless of socio-politico influences. In today's world there are 7 billion and growing opinions of what makes up the "true religious belief"...what about feral children? That handful of people that have no idea about any "difference" between religions or that religion even exists...what would they believe in? Would that not be the only true test by having no outside or peer influence on what we believe?
Thanks for the morning stimulation here Pete, got me thinking about a few things!
Blessings of Peace,
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Sara and Michael just left a bit ago and are "adjusting" to their first week of marriage. Honeymooned in Las Vegas and evidently several "secrets" were indeed left in Vegas!
It is a strange things knowing my little girl is now the responsibility of another man and, well, ya know, things do change. They seem to be very happy and after 8 years of dating, a year engaged...they do seem very happy! Is good to see!
Blessings Be and thx for the prayers,
Al
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Thanks for the support Folks and yes, everything went far batter than expected without a rehearsal or a whole lot of involvement from the Mom and Dad. I did have one person question my credentials as a ULC Officiant, but oh well..."Who are you again?"...
My Sara Nicole (Kjono) Schroeder and husband Michael Schroeder and they are in Las Vegas as I type this celebrating their nuptials!
Blessings of Peace,
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The time has come for the biggest wedding of my life, tomorrow, Sunday Feb. 1, 2015 at 4:00. Y'all are invited!
I am officiating the ceremony of my daughter's wedding in the Bay Area city of San Lorenzo.
In all the other official duties I've overseen, this one is the most difficult so far...I'm not sure who is more nervous...me or my little Pump-ka-nut, who turns 30 in April.
Anyway, I just thought I'd let y'all know as that is part of my scattered brained shenanigans as of late, getting everything ready and polished. My goodness, I'm even going to be all gussied up in a monkey suit, spit shined sandals and all. (It's not even spring yet and I gotta take a bath and declaw m'sef)...tellin' ya it be a terrible thang these youngin's pull on us! 
Any and all prayers and/or good energy works are greatly appreciated!
Blessings Be,
Al -
Eh? Why not type out the whole name? (still getting the lay of the land around here)
Since I've known Storm for a long time, and was just commenting on the article he posted, sure I only used the truncated link reference. Other than that, I probably would have spelled out the whole thing.
Blessings Be,
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The link above in post #1 is corrupt and gives a 404 message, I've taken the liberty of reposting the correct link HERE.
Blessings of Peace,
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Very interesting article and accompanying works on the livesci__ web site. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Blessings Be,
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The little ▼ next to your user name, click on it
"Manage Ignore Prefs", click
Add name of Member you wish to "ignore" and you will not see their posts
In the Personal Message (PM) function, if someone PM's you and you do not wish to have more contact with them, simply click the "BLOCK" icon under their name in upper left column.
Other than that...just close your eyes and we'll all go away!
Blessings of Peace,
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You speak as if these were all different people.
Yes, this individual has appeared here under several different screen names over the last couple of years.
Be Well,
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"This would be such an excellent planet if weren't for all the dang people on it!" - "Rev. Al"
Anyone who has worked with the public knows the dilemma you faced Geordon, and yes, stepping aside/away was definitely the best route to take.
"Do that which is Right" is a judgment call which can mean different things to different folks, but in general, just do the best, most purposeful, most honorable thing you can in any given circumstance.
As for Kirby Hensley's works, he did write some pretty amazing things for a guy who was barely literate...which to this day I find amazing. I don't agree with everything he put out for us, but the vast majority of his works are spot on, IMHO.
Be Well, Blessings of Peace,
Al
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Jonathan,
The person that wrote this captivating opener is no longer a Member here, so don't expect a response to your inquiry. Unfortunately, we once again had a person with real issues decide to play badly in the sandbox. We're certain it won't be long before a different persona picks up where "MG Eat" left off.
Blessings Be,
Al
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Please check your PM's for an important message from our sponsors!
Blessings out,
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The art of misdirection...
You nailed it this time Aloha Rick,
it seems to come in every post,
that comes off your toast.
What's worse never in time of nick.
Invading with videos,
Never much do they mean,
Many most of us have seen,
Syncronicity of idio's.
So where are you now,
or should I say when,
it seems all from then,
Good golly don't have a cow.
You say you sing,
and are ever so clever,
so pull that lever,
and give us a tune thing.
Blessings of Peace,
Having lived true Aloha for many years, where and when will you spread it and show some? Just curious as we all are.
Jehovah's Witnesses Make Significant Donation To Schools
in * Welcome - ULC Minister's Introduction Junction *
Posted
I know first hand the JW are usually a very kind and generous group and I have enjoyed getting to know several on a deep, personal level. My only angst is the "we're right, you're wrong" attitude concerning their religion...even the one's I know personally have a bit of heartburn over the 144,000 but they all admit it keeps them working hard to be one of that number.
And hey, when a teacher is faced with being a forgotten number in a third world country as expected they would take help from any source willing to give. The Guatemalans are a hearty and robust crowd and I don't suspect they will allow any missionary to just waltz in and lay down the religion, but if it serves a means to an end I would think teacher, parent and child alike would grab hold and hang on to any sort of help...they can argue out the conversions later but one has to be alive to argue out the details later
don't ya think?
Desperation put people in a precarious position that few of us truly understand. Taking help from one source when no one else offers is also a big part of the picture.
and just my 2¢ as well...
Blessings of Peace,