Cornelius

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Everything posted by Cornelius

  1. A copy of the Bhagavad Gita can be found online here. http://www.bhagavad-gita.us/categories/The-Gita%3A-Chapter-1/ Enjoy the read
  2. Thank you for posting this Hermano Luis. I own a copy and I find it a fascinating read.
  3. http://www.facebook.com/notes/ganesh-baba/gbs-prayer-an-extended-translation-of-the-gayatri-mantra/165389846831145
  4. I am going to put in a reminder here(and this will be the only one) that this is the reading room. Please everyone keep your cool and calm down a little. I don't want to have to lock the topic down.
  5. Well Brother. It seems that if something in the bible (which is itself an alleged account even if certain parts match up with history or locations) agrees with what someone wants to think. Well that's what it says and means exactly then they use it to argue their point. A lot of the times in some form of condemnation. It also seems if something disagrees with someone or has an account that is less then flattering. Well then it says this but actually means that, the root word was translated wrong, its out of context, etc... Or as in your case it becomes an "alleged account". My only point is that using the bible as justification seems to be very selective when it comes to fundamentalism. Not trying to ruffle your feathers so much as make a point brother. Looking forward to you sermon at 9eastern this sunday night. (shameless plug)
  6. I would assume the same way all the other alleged accounts in the bible are argued.
  7. Apparently Jehova sides with old bald men over children.
  8. Happy Birthday Salem I hope it's a good one.

  9. Homosexuality has been around just as long bro I understand why you want to avoid the issue. I just thought that had to be stated.
  10. Hell ya for the just because group!

  11. I've been lurking on this topic for a while. A theory I've found quite interesting related to this subject is that prehistoric people were known to find fossils then misidentify them as giants, dragons, and the sort. Ancient greeks would find fossils and think they were mythical heros or demigods. Then they would even sometimes bury the bones rearranged and give the hero or demigod a proper funeral. http://www.archaeology.org/0003/abstracts/monsters.html http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Gods/Ajax.htmlThis even happened in more modern times as this case with robert plot in 1677 shows. http://www.bbm.me.uk/portsdown/PH_205_Fossils_History.htm
  12. From all the looking into this matter I have done over the years. Nephilim (although it could possibly mean Giant) in Hebrew translates as fallen ones and giant is most likely a mistranslation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NephilimDoes the literal view take into context the fact that the bible is not an english writing? Have you ever read the Book of Enoch. Which goes into detail about the Grigori and their offspring and which was considered canon by the church for many years? Personally I'm fascinated by the story and the imagery within it.
  13. Nice post. Glad we agree. I see that we do share some similar views. I have learned from it. I shared it in hopes that others would too. Everyone is free to draw their own conclusions of course. In writing this I believe that I have narrowed my own vision of God. Which is why I have not attached myself to it. I consider it and my beliefs a constant work in progress. I just thought I would share it in hopes to inspire others. Beyond those things I listed above I hold too no firm beliefs. I am willing to keep an open mind and change it if need be. I have done so and will again. I just try not to limit myself or others in the process. That is a beautiful belief Free. Do that which is right Unfortunately I won't be able to finish this lively discussion with you. I am losing my home internet for a while due to my plant closing and being laid off for a third time this year. I'll be on periodically and keep in touch
  14. Hi Free I believe in One God. The first cause. This is my belief. Everyone else is free to believe as they wish on the matter imho. I think that you may have taken this discourse in a more dogmatic fashion then it was intended. These are just my thoughts, theorys, and ideas on the subject of God. While I have my personal beliefs, I also believe that God cannot be easily defined and that the truth of the matter cannot be proven. It to me is in the realm of belief and a matter of faith. Forget what I wrote as being definitive and consider it as merely speculative. I try not to define and I really don't like to set anything in stone. I use my God given reason and own experiences for my conclusions. I am not arrogant enough to believe that I have the one truth. I am humble enough to recognize that the only truth I hold is my own. What do I believe? I believe in one God, The Creator. That God gave me reason and rational thought That all of creation is his divine word. I believe in "Do that which is right" As for my soul I believe that Thomas Paine said it as well as I ever could. I trouble not myself about the manner of future existence. I content myself with believing, even to positive conviction, that the power that gave me existence is able to continue it, in any form and manner he pleases, either with or without this body; and it appears more probable to me that I shall continue to exist hereafter than that I should have had existence, as I now have, before that existence began. —Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason Other then that to me its all speculation, study, and theory. All of it is under the umbrella of belief and I do not confuse belief and personal conviction with having "the truth" or facts. The truth is in the eye of the beholder imo. Until I can prove for a fact that I hold "the truth" I lay no claim to it.Please tell me more about this though and your view on it. When I say I believe something I am making a claim about my personal beliefs and not your universe. Your path is not mine. Or both of us. Sorry but imo its not always a case of either you're right or you're wrong. I am all for respectfully agreeing to disagree. I don't honestly see a need to disagree in the first place however. Live and let live. Distinct yes. Separate? not really. I am familiar with panentheism. I share a similar belief called Pan-Deism. Although I simply refer to myself as a Deist. Many labels can and do describe my beliefs. I feel no need to go beyond that. Interesting concept. I'll have to look into it more sometime. unless you would like to expand upon it. Sorry I don't like Dawkins. IMO he is arrogant and out to crush others beliefs because he is blinded by his own faith which he views as absolute and undeniable truth. He is not an atheist but a crusading antitheist. I believe in guided evolution. That may make me ignorant or stupid in others eyes but I don't really care if others think so. Who set up these principles? Why do these principles exist? Why are they not random or accidental? How did they naturally occur outside of a controlled condition such as a lab? Many more questions where these came from. Until I get sufficient answers and solid proof I'll believe as I wish. Thank you for the list I don't make that argument at all. I believe it was/is God guiding creation and evolution. This is a personal belief. Not to be confused with fact or an argument merely my own conclusion. There is a difference. Although some have trouble seeing it. I don't take consolation in any such thing. Like I said all this is speculation nothing more. I don't disbelieve science or evolution. I do however question it like I do with everything else. Also I am not a creationist. That label is taken and it usually refers to a person who believes the earth is 6,000 years old and we are descended from adam and eve. It is not a red herring it was used as a metaphor.
  15. That was a good article imo. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks everyone for the compliments and sharing your own beliefs on the matter.
  16. Do you believe in God? Enlightened Souls Discourse #1 by Br. Blackthorn People often ask "Why do you believe in God?" and I thought that I should make this question the focus of my first discourse. This discourse will be available in the Enlightened Souls Library once it's construction is complete. What follows is nothing more then belief. It is part of my description and beliefs about God, the universe, and man. It is not intended to be held as "truth". It is just my truth as it stands upon writing this. As always I reserve the right to change my thoughts, ideas, and beliefs. I believe in one Creator. That the beginning was a void or chaos (in its oldest sense). I believe we are all emanations of God the Creator. The "big bang" generally refers to the idea that the universe has expanded from a primordial hot and dense initial condition at some time in the past, and continues to expand to this day. At this time all matter was condensed into one dense and perfect ball of mass. Something caused the mass (which was perfect) to "explode" and expand. I believe that the "big bang" was The Almighty creating the universe. Whether it was out of boredom, curiosity, Love, and/or a combination of all three. I cannot and do not know. The universe is constantly expanding and growing. This slow expansion is considered proof of the "big bang". The expansion can theoretically be traced back to a single source. Similar in essence to the theory of evolution and how all evolution can be traced back to a single living cell. The universe and everything in it is composed of exactly the same matter. Matter cannot be destroyed. It's state may alter or it's composition change but regardless we still have as much matter as in the beginning. All the matter in the known universe can be traced back to a single source or beginning. We don't even know if the universe has an end or if it really is infinite. Imagine what a being composed of the entire universe could be. When God created all that is and all that will be, The Creator only had one thing from which he could create. Himself. All of life on this earth began in one cell. How this cell became a living single cell organism is unknown. The chances of it randomly happening are nothing short of miraculous. For all the proper elements needed and for them to be present at exactly the proper time for it to happen. I think it's all just too much for it to be an accident. I believe it was God. Darwin knew of this single cell yet he did not know what a cell really was. He had an idea and a concept of what a cell was. However if you took what darwin knew of what a cell was and compare it to a duracell battery. Then you compare what we know of cells and what goes on inside a single cell. Our cell knowledge would be a nuclear reactor or possibly cold fusion. I look at the encoding of DNA. Something has to code it. Computer code doesn't write itself, there is a programmer. Somewhere there is a designer and programmer for all the functions of a cell and the genetic code. A source of information for all Life. I believe this source of information is The Almighty. I believe creation is guided. I believe that the creator made us essentially in "His Image". That he gave us the ability to reason, choose our fate, and make our own decisions. That he gave us the free will to shape our own lives and through them the world. To be a part of Him but also distinct and free. I also believe he gave us the ability to create and imagine. I think that is what truly sets us apart from other animals. Our imagination and the ability to create far beyond any other living species on this planet. We can make whole different worlds, myths, and legends. All with a stroke of a pen or brush. We can design then build skyscrapers and create works of art and beauty. We have the ability to build a nuke or an incubation chamber for a premature infant. Lao tzu expressed it quite eloquently in the Tao te ching. The Tao that can be experienced is not true; The world that can be constructed is not real. The Tao manifests all that happens and may happen; The world represents all that exists and may exist. To experience without abstraction is to sense the world; To experience with abstraction is to know the world. These two experiences are indistinguishable; Their construction differs but their effect is the same. Beyond the gate of experience flows the Tao, Which is ever greater and more subtle than the world. I don't think God is confined to any one book. I don't believe the Creator could be limited in such a way. I think God already wrote his book with creation. All we have to do is study nature, ourselves, and the universe to read it. God is in all of creation. God is in every tree, every stone, and most importantly in every one of us. Yeshua said, "I am the light that is over all things. I am all: from me all came forth, and to me all attained. Split a piece of wood; I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there." This is why I believe in the Creator and that we are all equal in the eyes of God. Your mileage may vary. We are one, Br. Blackthorn
  17. Thanks for adding that. I forgot that part. I gathered from lykos post that they are in the process of becoming a ulc congregation. This is definitely a good point though.
  18. Howdy Lykos, According to my ULC Information packet; It does not say they have to be ordained only you. You should of course email HQ to verify this. As I am not an official representative. Http://www.ulchq.com All the forms you will need are located here. http://ulchqcom.ipower.com/osCommerce/cata...ex.php?cPath=16 As Dorian said HQ will provide a letter of good standing. Send them an email with all your questions and they will get back to you.
  19. Glad to hear your doing ok. I'll keep you in my prayers. Please know that you are missed when you are not here.
  20. Its hard to put memories from that age in chronological order but I do remember the vacation we took to arizona when I was 3. From the plane ride (and calling my aunt from the phone on the plane) to the cabin we stayed in and watching superman 2 on cable there (big deal at the time). I remember going and seeing all the dinosaur footprints and the flintstone village of bedrock (very cool). I even remember the brother and sister my sister and I hung out with where we stayed. The bus tour too. I have other memories that could have been at 2 but they are fuzzy and I can't be sure. Fortunately I have been blessed with a very good memory. Although sometimes it just serves to make me realize how much I must have forgotten.
  21. Miss you bro and grats on being in your mid twenties now