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Post by gemma on Sept 1, 2005 13:34:06 GMT -5
We are not more than the other people. We are not a chosen super-race. This reminds me of Hitler and his "Übermensch"-theory. (Over-man, super-man)
I am so happy that you all answered me. For some moments I was lost and thought "What if they say that this is the truth?" But thanks God, you all think the same as me.
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Post by djgirlcherise on Sept 1, 2005 14:11:51 GMT -5
For every action taken, there is an equal and opposite reaction, at all moments, in all directions. All madness has equal sanity somewhere in the universe. That's why we write to eachother.
Gemma, will you share some of your joy stories in the thread started by CrystalMaiden? I will love to read everyone's.
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Post by gemma on Sept 2, 2005 5:27:10 GMT -5
Gemma, will you share some of your joy stories in the thread started by CrystalMaiden? I will love to read everyone's. I read your post and after it I began to think moments of joy in my life. I found nothing. I'll continue to search after these moments.
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Post by djgirlcherise on Sept 2, 2005 22:36:53 GMT -5
Hi Gemma,
Don't your dogs give you joy, or maybe when a picture you've taken comes out extra special?
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Post by jeremy on Sept 5, 2005 7:27:48 GMT -5
I have a story of joy to share: About a year ago, towards the end of my stay in Australia, I was really upset because I was still getting over the sudden end of a relationship. Anyway, most of my friends had no idea what was going on and for some reason I didn't want to tell any of them. Anyway, I went outside to look at the stars and my landlady's daughter's horses who normally both ignored me suddenly came up to the fence and called me. I don't know why but for some reason that bought me so much joy it made me cry. I guess I felt God then. I feel him all the time now I've shifted but back then it was something really special to feel him at all.
Regarding evil: I can understand why it is the natural cost of everyone having free will. Would you rather live in a world where everyone was nice to each other just because they were programmed to do so? I am glad I'm not a robot, and I'm glad that when someone loves me it's their own decision not just because they are made to. I believe free will is worth the price of having evil in the world.
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Post by djgirlcherise on Sept 5, 2005 13:33:09 GMT -5
What a cool story, Jeremy. I've only been close to horses a couple times. It's somewhat of a frightening experience for me because they're so powerful and legendary. You could hear them talk to you! It would make me cry, too.
"I believe free will is worth the price of having evil in the world", is one of the best quotes I've ever heard! Thank-you for believing this. I'm going to write it down, and keep it with me. It's a great mantra.
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Post by thecrystalmaiden on Sept 5, 2005 14:03:54 GMT -5
Jeremy, what a beautiful story! I often find comfort in animals when I'm having a messed up day. Once I got into a fight with a dear friend and I was home lying down crying, and my cat - we have a very close bond - leapt up next to me and curled up right next to my head. She purred her little heart out and licked me, sending me so much love after a few minutes I started to feel better. I have the same thing with dogs - but I never had the chance to get very close to horses, I think what happened to you is very special. =)
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Post by gemma on Sept 5, 2005 14:47:37 GMT -5
Horses are special animals, they are easy to love! I even have my own horse (not mine by law, she is my friend's horse but I am the one taking care of her, I am the one who loves her and steals apples for her) and we have a very special relationship. She can be so jealous when I am caressing other horses Then she comes to me and chases the other horse away. And then she is happy and rubs her soft nose to me. Right now I am very happy. Seems so I have a new ability! 1. I was chatting with Patricia on MSN. She was writing something and I wanted to answer but I needed to go away for a moment. When I came back my message was already on the screen, sent to her. I swear I didn't touch the keyboard, I didn't write anything at all but the message which I wanted to write, was there. 2. Another girl sent me a song which I wanted long ago. I have been yearning after this song, and when it arrived the Media Player opened it from itself! Again, I didn't touch the keyboard. Normally when a song arrives to me, I need to open it, from myself. Years ago I recorded my most favourite song onto a tape which COULDN'T BE recorded. Still I could record the song onto it. Some year later, I was listening to a tape. There was a song on that tape which I hated. After it began to play I wanted to turn it off. Before my hand reached it, it turned itself off. I know now that I had abilities which I had long forgotten, and now that I opened up my mind, they are all coming back to me. Yes, this is happiness.
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Post by djgirlcherise on Sept 10, 2005 3:46:12 GMT -5
Tell us more abot the horses, Gemma.
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Post by djgirlcherise on Sept 10, 2005 3:48:02 GMT -5
Please. xo
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Post by gemma on Sept 10, 2005 5:38:36 GMT -5
I'll do my best. Horses have their eyes on the sides of their head, so if you stand right before a horse, she doesn't see you. It is the best when you stand beside her, and show your hand her. Lift your palm carefully, and caress her head right below one eye. Then introduce yourself. Tell her your name, and call out her name so she knows that you know her. Let her sniff at you. If you stroke a horse, stroke her strong enough, because if you stroke her skin only too gently, she may think that there is a fly and immediately she walks away, or lashes her tail. Horses do have a place on their neck, right below the mane, which can be itchy, but they cannot reach this area. They are scratching each other there, with their teeth. This is an intimate gesture among horses. If they allow you to scratch this area then they trust in you. Speak to them! Horses are very intelligent, in their own way. They are different from dogs. They often do things on their own, and sometimes they know better what to do. Horses do have a playful, free spirit. They need their own freedom. You cannot bound a a horse into an equerry and leave her there for the whole day. They are often posing, they are very good actors. Animals don't like when you hug their necks. It means boundary to them, it has the feeling of drowning. If an animals allows you to hug their neck, then you have their unconditional trust. Feed her. If a horse takes an apple that doesn't mean that she is hungry, every time. The meal means connection. Horses are curious and they are eager to have new relationships. And the most important: you aren't her boss. Animals are our companion. Not our subjects.
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Post by cherise on Sept 10, 2005 13:00:37 GMT -5
Gemma,
Thanks so much for the special information about horses. My favorite picture is the last one, it's so playful and funny. You're very lucky to have horses in your life. I'm envious.
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Post by jeremy on Sept 12, 2005 6:30:39 GMT -5
What a cool story, Jeremy. I've only been close to horses a couple times. It's somewhat of a frightening experience for me because they're so powerful and legendary. You could hear them talk to you! It would make me cry, too. "I believe free will is worth the price of having evil in the world", is one of the best quotes I've ever heard! Thank-you for believing this. I'm going to write it down, and keep it with me. It's a great mantra. Well thanks, I'm really flattered I used to have my own horse but I had to sell him quite a long time before that experience: I miss him so much!
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Post by cherise on Sept 12, 2005 13:12:52 GMT -5
Hey Jeremy,
Just so you know, I've used that quote twice since you first wrote it. I'm still trying to find a lyrical way for it to flow from my mouth, but that just means I have to understand it more deeply.
What was your horse's name? Were you ever afraid of your horse? Describe him, please.
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Post by jeremy on Sept 13, 2005 1:02:03 GMT -5
My horse's name was Petros, he's 62 inches tall at his shoulder and copperey brown. He's very gentle unless he gets a fright, I've occasionally been frightened by something he's done, but I've never been scared of him. The most fear he's ever caused me was when he got a fright when I was just leading him and knocked me over, but when his knee hit me I left my body and it fell to the ground and when I looked down I thought I was dead. He's also very clever: one time my sister's horse had knocked the rear-view mirror off my parents' truck and he led my father to it to show what she'd done. He is a very caring animal. When my other sister's donkey had a foal he used to cry if it was ever out of his sight. He is indeed a good actor as Gemma described. He was with me in the lord of the rings.
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Post by gemma on Sept 13, 2005 12:41:03 GMT -5
You were acting in LoTR? Were you a rohirrim?
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Post by gemma on Sept 13, 2005 13:28:12 GMT -5
One time my horse kicked my head as she lifted her knee. But immediately she recognized waht has happened and she put back her leg so careful. I am not afraid of her. I know I can trust her. And she trusts me. That is most beautiful.
Horses are the best companion. If you have a horse to love and a dog to love, you are happy.
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Post by jeremy on Sept 13, 2005 18:38:04 GMT -5
Yes, I was a rohirim most of the time I was in that movie, but I am easiest to spot in the one scene when I was a gondorian.
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Post by djgirlcherise on Sept 13, 2005 20:42:25 GMT -5
THAT IS SO COOL!
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Post by Shaelyn on Sept 14, 2005 21:51:43 GMT -5
^ ditto!
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Post by Kivawolfspeaker on Sept 16, 2005 15:46:17 GMT -5
I would also like to know more about your experience of being in LoTR
Kiva
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Post by luz18 on Sept 18, 2005 14:13:10 GMT -5
Doing by this, they will have self-esteem again, they will have back their lost faith, and our folk will be the "chosen one" again! They will get the first informations of the cancelled Armageddon (written in the Bible) and they will see that it is the sign of God's unconditional wisdom and love! Even the Bible itself will be changed!" www.indigogyerek.org/ Unbelievable
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Post by gemma on Sept 19, 2005 3:14:51 GMT -5
Unbelievable, but... true.
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Post by indigirl on Sept 19, 2005 23:50:20 GMT -5
I know, it's kinda of a late response, but I really identify with the things you are talking about on this board, CM and Gemma especially. I was raised Catholic, and while I'm not condemning the religion, I believe it was very responsible for turning me off to God for a while. Through my religion class and other things, I learned of a God whose lack of mercy seemed to overshadow his (I use "his" because that's what I identified God as when I was Catholic) greatness and love. It taught me to live in fear of, for lack of a better term, pissing God off. All of it was just God punishing this, and you are going to Hell if you do that. After a while I just tired of it. People always spoke of God being love, but this was not love to me. Being merciless and inflicting pain out of anger were not comforting to me, and thus I became ridiculously angry to wards God, and turned myself away from him. It came to a peak when I began bringing home a few of my close friends who are gay, and my parents informed that while they are nice people, God says they are going to Hell. This was infuriating to me, but it didn't make sense, and just didn't ring true. This was when I began to discover the true God that I believe in now. I realized that I do believe in God, and that I wouldn't ever deny it, and that the God I know would never sentence someone to eternal pain and suffering just for loving another person. This epiphany helped steer me to other discoveries about the true nature of God, and the complete love that God is. I realized that in being so fearful of God judging my actions and being upset by them, that I was really judging myself, that I was the one who was unhappy with the way I was conducting myself. Now I am so thankful that God gave me the ability to see that, to know what I was doing, and whether or not it was a good choice. Whew. That was long-winded.
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Post by gemma on Sept 20, 2005 2:38:45 GMT -5
God was raised by the Catholic religion, so to say... instead of pure being of love, he was turned into something computer-like: if you do this, then this will happen to you...
Yeah, this is condemnation. If you are gay no matter how good your heart is, you will go into hell, that's all. If you committed a crime, no matter how hard you are sorry about it, you will go into Hell, and no more questions! Shut up!
Brr... that made me sick. I hate the Catholic religion. I was taught the following:
God sees our lives before we are born. He knows what for crimes we will commit. If he sees that you will commit only little crimes, he will give you enough mercy to make your life through and going into Heaven. But when he sees that you will commit crimes hard enough, he will give a "not-enough"-mercy, which is not enough to help you, but it is mercy somehow, though in the end you will end up in Hell.
(Yeah I know this sounds senseless but I was taught so and the worst: they all believed it)
This seems so computer-like: if you will do good thing, you will get mercy, and Heaven. If you will do evil, you will get a "not-enough"-mercy, and Hell.
So, where is the love?
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Post by jeremy on Sept 20, 2005 20:35:41 GMT -5
Most people just don't understand anything that isn't computer-like. The Catholic attitude exists because they can't understand how something could be "wrong" but not make God angry. They're completely stumped when they read those bible verses that say that everyone has missed the mark so competely that only way to God for anyone is to let him "rescue" us.
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Post by Shaelyn on Sept 20, 2005 22:21:39 GMT -5
...I had to post my 2¢... If there's one organized religion I can't stand, it'd be Catholism.
Like you guys are saying...their belief is that God knows what's going to happen to you before you were born. ...and yet, he doesn't show mercy when we screw up, even though he already knew and expected us to screw up since the beginning. So in a sense, he's condemned us before we were born. We don't even technically have a choice to do good, if everything is predestined. No chance, we live our life and go to hell (or heaven). So...what's the point of even living the life? Doesn't make sense...at all.
...Another side of that dice too...Catholics can justify all the wrong that they do with good works. It's an extreme case, but some of them don't care that they're hurting people...and then send the church extra money, or sign themselves up for some extra good tasks to balance out what they've done. They just worry about the balance so that they have their ticket to heaven, they don't care who they hurt in the process.
*Note: As I said, that's an extreme case...I happen to know a couple...I know that's probably not most Catholics though. But regardless, I don't like how their religion can enable people to behave this way.
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Post by thecrystalmaiden on Sept 20, 2005 22:39:19 GMT -5
Honestly, I know this is way out there and I don't expect anyone to agree with me, but I feel that God does not judge what we do with our lives and will hold nothing back as long as on the inside, we have not turned from him. If we have turned our faces completely from God, completely from any form of love or compassion, then it's not that God won't save us - it's that we won't allow ourselves to be saved. I believe that even the most bloodthirsty murderers that still have a piece of love and good in them at their death are saved, for God is all loving and abundance and will not hold back from any of its children. It is only those who do not have even a piece that go to a different place when they die, and yet I don't believe it is a place any of us could follow - I believe Hell is a state of mind or a state of the soul, not a physical reality. When those lost souls find love again, they will allow themselves to be saved. I believe this is the beauty of choice, and one of our greatest gifts.
Perhaps God does not plan what we do in our lives. Perhaps we do before coming here. And perhaps God is simply a spectator who helps when he is asked - I believe in a set course, I have seen too many coincidences to believe otherwise, but I do not believe that anyone set this course for me except myself. To test and advance myself. To experience for God. To add to God's knowledge, for God is in all of us and God experiences life with us as we live.
These are my truths, but perhaps they ring true with you too, I don't know and it's not important; once again, that's the beauty of choice.
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Post by Shaelyn on Sept 20, 2005 23:05:02 GMT -5
Honestly, I know this is way out there and I don't expect anyone to agree with me, but I feel that God does not judge what we do with our lives and will hold nothing back as long as on the inside, we have not turned from him. If we have turned our faces completely from God, completely from any form of love or compassion, then it's not that God won't save us - it's that we won't allow ourselves to be saved. I believe that even the most bloodthirsty murderers that still have a piece of love and good in them at their death are saved, for God is all loving and abundance and will not hold back from any of its children. It is only those who do not have even a piece that go to a different place when they die, and yet I don't believe it is a place any of us could follow - I believe Hell is a state of mind or a state of the soul, not a physical reality. When those lost souls find love again, they will allow themselves to be saved. I believe this is the beauty of choice, and one of our greatest gifts. I agree with you. That whole paragraph. These are my truths, but perhaps they ring true with you too, I don't know and it's not important; once again, that's the beauty of choice. Well said.
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Post by djgirlcherise on Sept 21, 2005 3:13:35 GMT -5
The truth for me is, I know nothing about religion. I don't have cable, I sure as heck don't read the newspapers, and I don't even know the new Pope's name.
Does that make me a bad person?
I do know my neighbor's names, I know the names of the people who run shops in my neighborhood, and I don't rely on any "organization" to forecast my eternal destiny.
So, who cares what everyone else is doing. Religion is so boring! It's on it's way out like the dinosaurs. I know this may sound abrasive, so forgive me, but there's so many other exciting things to talk about.
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