Ex Nihilo

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Posts posted by Ex Nihilo

  2. Ravens In The Predawn?

    in Earth/Nature-Based & Indigenous Religions

    Posted

    Hi all,

    I had a curious thing happen to me this morning. I took my dog out for a walk here in CO. It was the middling part of the predawn morning right before sunrise that's like twilight only more coldly blue, if you know what I mean. It was the chilliest morning since the end of summer, with a hint of frost on the ground and cold enough to see your breath. I stood looking at the shadowy mountains in the foggy west and trying to shake off the sleep. As I stood there, the biggest raven I have ever seen suddenly swooped down in the silence and landed just feet in front of me. My dog tried to bark, but the bird squawked at him in a way that made her lay down and stop barking. Then he stared at me so intently like he was looking into me. I was captivated and stood glued there for what seemed like forever. He then squawked at me and then flew right over my shoulder almost taking my head off. He left a feather that landed on my shoulder (which of course I'm keeping) Very strange....

    So was I visited by Odin? The long lost love Lenore? Whatever it was, it was very very curious...

  4. Pagan Parenting

    in Stories & Texts Archive

    Posted

    If I have a heartfelt belief that something is true, then I would consider it my duty to try to pass that along to my child. If I am just playing at having a belief system then my children would be welcome to play whatever games they wish.

    I agree with you Bro K. And while I don't know helpful this is in the pagan context, I remember having this same conversation with an older relative (back in my pre-parent, free wheeling hippy days) and she just laughed at me. She asked if I planned on making my kids eat right or brush their teeth the right way or just let them choose to do it whenever or however they felt like it. I said of course I'd make them eat right and brush their teeth. She said, as I recall, that I'm an idiot then, because a persons immortal soul is way more important than their teeth or bellies. Being a parent means always being a parent in the big ways and the small ones. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." A parent who thinks they've found the truth has a duty to share it and not let their children have to stumble around with no direction. But then, like I said, I don't know how applicable this is to a pagan parent. Free advice...free for a reason. ;)

  5. Dream Works

    in Creative Expression & Cultural Arts

    Posted

    Hi Bro K,

    I cleaned out my profile a while back when I was taking stock in how I was presenting myself and what I was presenting of myself online. I don't actually recall taking down the pics but I probably did in a fit of over-zealous deletion. I did thesame with my twitter andfacebook. I figured as old as the posts were, there wasn't much traffic on them. Sorry...I'll add an avatar, I feel so empty and insubstantial without one. LOL

  6. Parenting With Conflicting Beliefs (Or Lack Thereof)

    in Stories & Texts Archive

    Posted

    My wife is Romany and holds to a number of beliefs and taboos that are more cultural than religious, but like most Romany gypsies, she has kind of adhered to a vague kind of Christianity that lives aide by side with her other beliefs, like reincarnation and spiritualism....I was raised a Methodist but went with my mom to the Episcopal church on Sundays too, since she worked as the organist for both churches. My grandmother would take me to the baptist church on Wednesdays in the hopes that I'd get some sense. When we started having kids, we all joined the Episcopal church since it was the one church we both had experience with. I think together we feed off each other ans borrow from each other. It's hard not to be superstitious when so many of her omens come true, after a while you buy in. We've more than one fight over how far to go with teaching our beliefs but finding a middle way is possible. About the only thing we fully agree on is the existence of ghosts and spirits and the universal salvation, other than that, we're usually on different teams. I hope its good for my kids. I want them to think critically about their beliefs ans never just take someone's word for things. Why would anyone surrender their god given right to free thought like that?

  7. Do You Consider Yourself To Be A Pacifist?

    in Interpath Dialogue, Universal Virtues and Values

    Posted

    Sometimes, or in most things, I am a Pacifist. I am a Veteran, a gun owner and a patriot. I believe in the Non-aggression Principle. This principle equates to this...leave me alone to do as I please. Try to "force me" to do something and I'll strike back like a Pit Bull on steroids! I like to be left alone. If my life doesn't pose a threat to anyone else, leave me be.

    I too support the nonagression principle. People should be free from violence, and should violence be impressed upon them, they should be free to defend themselves effectively. It's the first principle of individual liberty.

  9. Mormonism

    in Monotheist Theologies & Scriptures

    Posted

    I checked my history, God began revealing himself as

    Both plurality and unity from the very beginning, or at least by day 6: " And God (singular) said, Let us (plural) make man in our image, after our (plural) likeness "

    Gen 1:26

    While the old testament, reveals god as creator, it hints at his other persons. With the incarnation of Christ, the full revelation was given.

    John 1 (relevant part):

    "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made...In him was life; and the life was the light of men....And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth...No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."

    And again in the last chapter of Matthew, when he directs his followers to baptize "in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Ghost"

    And in John 14:26, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

    You are right that trinity as a word is not in the bible, but we don't worship words, we worship the reality those words describe, which is all over the scriptures. Tou are also right that not everyone has held those views. That is why the church has had councils and developed creeds to seperate truth from error.

    The creeds themselves are both Trinitarian and biblical, as seen below:

    I believe (Acts 8:37) in one God (Deut. 6:4), the Father (John 20:17) Almighty (Revelation 1:8), Maker of heaven and earth (Isaiah 51:13) and of all things visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16).

    And in one Lord (Ephesians 4:5) Jesus Christ (John 17:3), the only-begotten Son of God (John 3:18), begotten of His Father (John 1:14) before all worlds (Colossians 1:17), God of God (Colossians 1:15), Light of Light (Revelation 21:23), Very God of Very God (John 1:1-2), Begotten (Psalm 2:7), not made (John 1:3), Being of one substance with the Father (John 10:30), By Whom all things were made (Ephesians 3:9); Who for us men (1 Corinthians 15:3) and for our salvation (Colossians 1:21-22) came down from heaven (John 3:13) And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:20) of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:27) And was made man (Hebrews 2:14); And was crucified (Acts 2:36) also for us (Romans 4:25) under Pontius Pilate (Mark 15:15). He suffered (1 Peter 4:1) and was buried (Matthew 27:60); And the third day He rose again (1 Thessalonians 4:14) according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:4); And ascended into heaven (Ephesians 4:10), And sitteth on the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33); And He shall come again with glory (Matthew 16:27) to judge both the quick and the dead (Acts 10:42); Whose kingdom shall have no end (Isaiah 9:7).

    And I believe in the Holy Ghost (Psalm 51:11), The Lord (Galatians 6:8) and Giver of Life (Romans 8:2), Who proceedeth from the Father (John 15:26) and the Son (John 16:7), Who with the Father and the Son (2 Corinthians 13:14) together is worshiped and glorified (Revelation 4:8), Who spake by the Prophets (2 Peter 1:21). And I believe one (Ephesians 4:5) holy (1 Peter 2:5) Christian (Acts 4:10, 12) and Apostolic (Acts 2:42) Church (Colossians 1:18). I acknowledge one Baptism (Ephesians 4:5) for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), And I look for the resurrection of the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:16), And the life of the world to come (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Amen.

  10. Current Mood

    in Cultural Arts Archive

    Posted

    Here it is. I am now immortalized. Two weeks ago I got to strike two things off my bucket list: 1) go see the greatest band around in concert; and 2) be in a music video. I got my wish! For your viewing pleasure, Milford and sons' I will wait video filmed at red rocks:

    Ps: if you have good eyes you can see me at 21seconds in. I'm on the fourth row just to the right of the key boardist. Lol!

  13. Final Victory

    in Stories & Texts Archive

    Posted

    This is a great post Rev Rattlesnake. I too find these type of synchronicities happening in my own life. This, I think, can only be called the Grace of Almighty God. It is a direct connection with The Source that supplies -- feeds -- nourishes -- ones inner need -- and it seems to happen spontaneously -- especially when one is experiencing a great and profound happening and has an intense inner seeking for satisfying answers..

    namaste

    That's a beautiful way of putting it nestingwave.

  17. Mormonism

    in Monotheist Theologies & Scriptures

    Posted

    I disagree with your characterization of the catholic church Dan. Everything taught as part of the infallible tradition of the church is found either explicitly or implicitly in the holy scriptures and nothing taught in the church is condemned by the scriptures. The trinity, the primacy of the papacy as heir to the office of Peter, the Real Presence in the Eucharist, the veneration of the saints, infant baptism, the 7sacraments, the priesthood, special veneration of Mary ever-virgin as the mother of god, all have a connection to the bible....the bible itself is catholic, compiled and canonized by the church. The catholic church cannot trace itself back to any one prophet or preacher. It traces its beginning to Jesus Christ and his apostles. But what about your tradition? If you read the protestant bible, then your reading a bible edited by Martin Luther, not the canonized by the church. If you believe that man is saved by faith alone you are contrasicting the bible because the book of James says exactly the opposite, if you deny the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist you contradict the bible because it says exactly the opposite in multiple places. If you believe that infants are forbidden from being baptized, then you are teaching something that appears nowhere in the bible. And if you belive that the bible is the only authority, you're not using the bible to do so because, again, it says exactly the opposite. I wonder who exactly is using man-made traditions and their own prophets?

  19. Mormonism

    in Monotheist Theologies & Scriptures

    Posted

    ====In short--

    IN BRIEF

    261 The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life. God alone can make it known to us by revealing himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

    262 The Incarnation of God's Son reveals that God is the eternal Father and that the Son is consubstantial with the Father, which means that, in the Father and with the Father the Son is one and the same God.

    263 The mission of the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father in the name of the Son (Jn 14:26) and by the Son "from the Father" (Jn 15:26), reveals that, with them, the Spirit is one and the same God. "With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified" (Nicene Creed).

    264 "The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father as the first principle and, by the eternal gift of this to the Son, from the communion of both the Father and the Son" (St. Augustine, De Trin. 15, 26, 47: PL 42, 1095).

    265 By the grace of Baptism "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit", we are called to share in the life of the Blessed Trinity, here on earth in the obscurity of faith, and after death in eternal light (cf. Paul VI, CPG § 9).

    <a name="266">266 "Now this is the Catholic faith: We worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity, without either confusing the persons or dividing the substance; for the person of the Father is one, the Son's is another, the Holy Spirit's another; but the Godhead of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty coeternal" (Athanasian Creed: DS 75; ND 16).

    267 Inseparable in what they are, the divine persons are also inseparable in what they do. But within the single divine operation each shows forth what is proper to him in the Trinity, especially in the divine missions of the Son's Incarnation and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    blessings and peace,

    S

    Amen to that! I do love my tattered old copy of the CCC. I have a real hard time disagreeing with anything I read in it. Beats the hell out of the episcopal church's catechism imho

  20. Mormonism

    in Monotheist Theologies & Scriptures

    Posted

    I believe that grace is all that is required for salvation. As a Christian Universalist, I believe that that grace has already been given to all by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. However, giving is not the same as receiving. To receive that grace requires a recognition of the one who gives it as one who has authority to give it. The Pharisees rebuked Jesus when he forgave people's sins, saying only god can forgive sins. They were right in that, but they were wrong when they assumed Jesus wasnt god. Jesus said that anyone who sees the son also sees the father (god the creator). When they recognize him as one who has authority to grant forgiveness, ie God, they can accept his gift. Those Pharisees may not have been Trinitarians then, but they are now. It's as assured as is our eventual and total salvation. It's not cruel to keep things veiled until the proper time of their unveiling when one knows that the Good Shepherd wills that not one sheep will ever be lost but that all will come to salvation...nothing not even lack of knowledge will keep us from our home.

  22. Mormonism

    in Monotheist Theologies & Scriptures

    Posted · Edited by Rev'd Rattlesnake

    I disagree. It is available throughout the bible, both old ans New testaments, albeit in veiled and later in primitive form. Since I believe that Christ taught it, his disciples, imho, believed it. Just because a complete and thorough explanation and exegesis of the trinity, as we have it today, does not fall from the pages of scripture does not preclude its existence as an idea among the Christians of the new testament. I am not a bible-only Christian. The bible itself testifies that it does not hold all the lord said or did, nor could it. To pass on the fullness of his revelation, he chose apostles, not a book. The apostles passed on the fullness of faith to the church, which has kept it as its tradition. While the bible is a part if that tradition, it is not the only part. For me, the holy trinity is the Rosetta stone of Christian theology, without it, nothing that we know about christ makes sense. But if you have a poll taken during the New testament times proving that Christians disavowed the idea of the trinity, please share.

  24. Do You Consider Yourself To Be A Pacifist?

    in Interpath Dialogue, Universal Virtues and Values

    Posted

    An unheard MLK Jr interview has recently been found. In it, king defines what nonviolence means to him:

    "I would ... say that it is a method which seeks to secure a moral end through moral means," he said. "And it grows out of the whole concept of love, because if one is truly nonviolent that person has a loving spirit, he refuses to inflict injury upon the opponent because he loves the opponent." http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_KING_REEL_DISCOVERY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-08-21-18-38-47

    Beautiful words. I'm glad they've been rediscovered.

  25. Mormonism

    in Monotheist Theologies & Scriptures

    Posted

    Hi Rev`d Rattlesnake--

    Don`t get me wrong I have no problem with any religion at all. I simply wanted to know the beliefs of Mormonism. I also hold some differences myself when it comes to my religion. I believe all religions, belief systems when practiced from the heart are correct.To me it makes no difference what it is called--no one knows the truth really. But I believe it is good to know what people believe--the truth , not stories and myths which are incorrect.

    In the site below there is an interesting comparison between doctrines--I did not post this to as to demonstrate which is the correct one, simply for the sake of knowing the differences.

    ``All religions are equal before God``, said the Blessed Mother in one of Her apparitions . I believe that. Maybe this is the reason why Medjugorje has a hard time in being accepted by the Vatican :derisive:

    http://carm.org/comparison-between-christian-doctrine-and-mormon-doctrine

    blessings and peace,

    S

    Hi Sarkany, please don't get me wrong. I never thought you were trying to bash the LDS. I think much too highly of you for that. I was only pointing out theres a lot of misinformation online, especially from evangelicals and fundamentalists, concerning Mormons from sites that appear academic and neutral. I fell victim to them too. I moved to Colorado and found myself swimming in a sea of Mormons and catholics. When I started talking to Mormons, I realized how off the mark those online sources are. I have learned to stay away from anything with "liberty" and "southern baptist convention" in the same sentence because it almost certainly leads to liberty university, which means it leads to jerry Falwell, who is anything but neutral. CARM too is a very misleading site. It appears to be researched based but is in reality a series of sermons created by the site's founder to assist in providing apologetic arguments for why any and all faiths that aren't bible based Protestantism, including Mormonism, Jehovah's witness and roman Catholicism, are false and should be rejected. I'm not saying they are dishonest but they have an agenda, and the facts are presented in a way and a context that furthers that agenda.