emalpaiz
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Posts posted by emalpaiz
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I know that you are a devout Christian, but in the United States there are so many religions. Have you had any experience in the hospital that you visit with people of different faiths? I am not a Christian, but if I were in a hospital bed and a minister came around and asked me if he or she could say a prayer, I would not mind. Of course I would tell them before he or she started saying the prayer that I am not a Christian. Would you say the prayer? I ask this because not all Christian ministers would say the prayer. Or would they?
Hermano Luis
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Thank you! Very interesting; I hope to read more about your believes.
Hermano Luis
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I have a hard time believing in prophetic writings. It matters not if they are found in Christian books or books of any other religion. I believe that the Bible, like all the other Sacred Books of mankind, to be an allegorical book written to help humans to develop their spiritual potentials. So it makes me think that this anti-Christ could be nothing else but mankind itself. Mankind has the potential of doing great good or great evil. So this so called Anti-Christ could be nothing else but Mankind being led by its own dark side. It is prophetic in the sense that it is reminding us that we have a side of goodness and a side of darkness and evil. That is how I understand the Anti-Christ.
Hermano Luis
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On 8/28/2016 at 11:04 AM, Rev Linda Hourihan said:
I do believe that by my free will I can raise my heart, mind, voice and actions to invite Mother/Father God, Holy Spirit and Jesus into me, and work through me, together with me. When I connect to and work with my God-given awareness and power, I can move mountains, just like Jesus did. I can see this in the life I've lived.
RL
I am not a Christian nor am I anti-Christian, but I understand what you are saying. Even though you write as a Christian, I understand as a Vedantic. In the Srimad Bhagavad Gita (one of the sacred books of my spiritual tradition), the Beloved One says: "I am the Spirit seated in the heart of all beings; I am the Beginning, Middle, and End of all" (Gita 10:20). We might have different spiritual traditions, but we are speaking of the same thing. Thank you for your words.
Hermano Luis
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It is nice that you are back. Your words are filled with the spirit of joy. Peace!
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It is very interesting: not just did Master Jesus teach without a church, Lord Buddha also taught without a church. Many of the great spiritual masters of the past taught without a church. I have a very small shrine... I meditate there. I feel that the true church is under the sky, and the Beloved One teaches us in His/Her silence. Isn't it beautiful?
Hermano Luis
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I have to agree... the goal of the church should always be people. I used to go to a Catholic Church in San Juan, Puerto Rico that was open at all hours of the day. When I was younger I used to go there and sit in the silence of the church. There were always some elderly ladies saying the Catholic Rosary in a very gentle way. You could sit in said church for hours in meditational silence. I would do that often. I felt then that I was going on a pilgrimage to said church just to sit in the silence away from the noise of the city. As I grew older and took on the responsibilities of the world my visits to said temple diminished. I have not gone there in years. After reading your post I was reminded of the many visits I had there in my younger years. I should visit there again. The serenity felt in that church was a gift for everyone.
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19 hours ago, Child of God said:
It is the human and angelic condition that we are evil and in ruins without God in the afterlife. Upon the death of the body, Jesus restores the soul of the believer with His powers before going to heaven to be with God, the angels, friends and family. This is why Jesus died on the cross...the salvation of souls...to be His...our Creator...forever.
My "Wow!" of the other day was not an approval of what you said. I was surprised by your arrogance. You call yourself "Child of God" and I would expect humility from you, but I saw none. One of the reasons that forced me to walk away from traditional Christianity was the arrogance of many Christians. True spirituality is not forcing ones religion upon others, but expressing our thoughts with Understanding , Love, and Compassion. Let go of your arrogance, and express your thoughts with loving kindness. I know that Jesus Christ expressed His thoughts with loving kindness in the same way that the all the spiritual giants of the world.
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On 6/28/2016 at 4:45 PM, Child of God said:
God would see the atheist evangelist as a liar and a spiritually murderous heathen.
Wow!
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To me virtue is serenity in everything that I do. Cultivating a mind of understanding and a heart of loving compassion.
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On 6/7/2016 at 5:58 PM, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
The good part is you don't have to "study" them. Just read them for the good fun that they are. They were told and retold for entertainment.
The Norse gods are interesting. In one chapter, Loki helps the Frost Giants steal Thor's Hammer. In the next chapter, Loki helps Thor steal his hammer back from the giants.
In this way, we also learn about Norse social theory, as an incidental.
Thor is a war god. He is also the thunder god. Thor is the personification of the chaos of war, and the storm. He is Chaos.
Loki personifies a different kind of Chaos. Loki is "mischief maker." He is not evil. He is conflict.
Sometimes, the different types of Chaos work together. Sometimes not. Father Odin personifies Wisdom.............
These subtleties are available on reflection, on many levels. Mostly, they are great adventure stories.
I will definitely read those stories. I am sure that I will find some similarities with many of the stories found in Hindu mythologies. I have found the story of Abraham who had to sacrifice his son in Hindu myths. An elderly couple had to sacrifice their teenage son to the god of death (Lord Yama), but Lord Shiva rescues the young man, I have found similarities in different legends of different cultures. Now that I am getting ready to retire, I am going to read more. Thanks!
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5 hours ago, Jonathan H. B. Lobl said:
For my taste, the best mythology stories to tell around a camp fire, are the Norse tales. Great stuff, with interesting, nuanced characters and good plot twists.
I am going to make an effort to study and learn Norse mythology. I have little or no knowledge of those myths. (Shame on me!)
Hermano Luis
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There is one thing about Hinduism. I love the mythological stories of Hinduism; they are fun, and yes many rituals depend on those myths. I enjoy taking those myths apart and retelling them in different ways. For example, the story of the elephant God (Ganesh) I tell it in a different way, because I do not like having Lord Shiva kill the young elephant. Even when changed the myths continue to have the same value they have had traditionally. Why can't we enjoy good story telling? Why must we convert good stories into religious doctrines?
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Science has a lot to tell us. From the beginning Genesis was only a story.
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In my religion there are stories of beings from other planes of existence, but I have always taken those stories as myths.
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Interesting!
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In my home I have a shrine, that is where I usually meditate. Sometimes I go to a Vedantic center in San Juan.
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Welcome Magister Aeternus! In the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna (an Avatar of the Supreme) says, "I am the true Self in the heart of all creatures" (Gita 10:20).
Once more, "Welcome!" I am sure that you will enjoy your membership in the ULC. Freedom of thought is our basic doctrine. Soon you will encounter some very interesting thoughts, some very brilliant minds. I was also a Rosicrucian once.
Hermano Luis
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These are not services in themselves, but those who come to me always get a smile and loving kindness. And in some special cases, a good hug.
Hermano Luis
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I am a ULC minister. My spiritual convictions are clear. I believe that two persons who love each other should have the right to get married. I do not care what their sex might be. So those laws would protect me when I celebrate the wedding. Those laws sound like a big deal, but at the end they are nothing. I believe in love. God is the God of all.
Hermano Luis
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On 3/28/2016 at 7:29 AM, Pete said:
“We have different cultures and religions, but we are brothers and we want to live in peace,” he said.
“All of us, together: Muslims, Hindi, Catholics, Copts, Evangelicals, but brothers, children of the same God,” the Pope added.
Pope Francis
The founding teacher of my spiritual tradition, Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri (1828-1895) would have agreed with the Pope for he used to say, "God is the God of all." I also believe that.
Hermano Luis
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On 3/27/2016 at 11:55 AM, Rev Richard said:
I am hoping to conduct services for pets. Many people mourn the loss of a pet, some almost as much as a member of their own family or a great friend. For many, a pet is a great friend and part of the family. But pet services do not only have to be about death - they can be about the beginning of a relationship, holding a special ceremony to name a new pet for instance.
Some may potentially feel this sounds a little crazy or even pointless. But for many this is a useful service and one the Universal Life Church in South Devon hopes to perform.
I totally agree with this. In the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, God (Sri Bhagavan Krishna) says: "I am the true Self (Atman, Soul) in the heart of every creature..." (Gita 10:20). The Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Day of St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) on October 4 every year. Many Roman Catholic Churches hold blessings for the animals on said date. I think that I will start celebrating services for the blessings of animals.
Hermano Luis
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Every minister-priest should have the right to perform or not perform a wedding. It should not e imposed on the minister-priest by the government. I strongly believe that minister-priests are here to help everyone with their spiritual life. Then again minister-priests also have rights and freedom.
Hermano Luis
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I come here in search of understanding. I always find words that inspire and guide me to new sources of light.
Risk
in * Welcome - ULC Minister's Introduction Junction *
Posted
I have always felt an inner spiritual calling, but not to follow the traditional religions. I rarely tell people that I am a minister, nor do I wear any ministerial paraphernalia. I feel that God is the God of all, not just of any particular religion.
hermano Luis