Nice story.

Thanks!

It's completely up to you of course but I'm not certain that the pic of you pulling a girls shirt off with you teeth quite says "i'm ready to meet someone special" -which is what your heading says you are looking for...

Having pics is great, you just might want to see if they match what you are saying....

Best of luck to you.

I don't know anyone who feels that they are better off...

It's a subjective question obviously but unfortunately I think in this case it's accurate.

I find that hard to believe!!!

However, I wonder- if you ever in fact had everything you ever wanted, what would you do?

What would there be to look forward to?

My Dearest Voil-



I can see I will have my work cut out for me in teaching you sublety.

Try to think of yourself as already subtle... we will test the laws of attraction on this point.

I will practice my tamborine shaking. It's been a while. I'll have to dust it off first.

There are a mix of people and the christians themselves run the gamet...

Some are open to other views but others regard any non-christian as a potential convert or a "bad person".

I wouldn't be too concerned. Some people seem to forget that if things get too heated you can just log off!

Welcome. Peace and joy.

Don't worry. Voil and I will be subtle. We'll just sneak behind you and sing "do wop" every now and then... Although I'd be happy to shake my tamborine....

We all know how much you love music so I'm sure it will be a joy for you. And the social aspects might be good for you too...

Happy Saturday everyone!

Me so happy for you too!!!!!!!!!!!!




Play your heart out my friend. Spread your joy.

I assume it is a rhetorical question as there are obviously MANY other religions besides Christianity and Satanism.

Good luck on your search for the path that works best for you.

I personally find the most truth and joy for my life from the teachings of Taoism and buddhism.

I can tell already that you are an excellent spiritual leader- knowing instantly what kind of support your flock needs...

What about me? Do I look fat? Do I???

Just kidding. I think all religions should have a sense of humor. You seem off to a great start...

(((((Redy))))

Glad classes are still so fun for you. I loved classes but hated all the paperwork, standing in line, etc. needed to get my degrees. Uggg...

About the question....

I can't imagine a creator that would care whether we "worship" it or not much less whether we create huge symbols to represent that worship.

So the symbols must be for the people. I believe the reasons people want or need these symbols must be as varied as people themselves are... some may find them comforting reminders of their faith, others may see them as welcoming identifications for others with the same beliefs (e.g. "heres our church- come on in"). But I'm sure that their are other reasons too- e.g. of the my god is the best, better, the one and only type of reasons...

But I think that the biggest reason most people like these symbols is because they are lonely or timid- frightened of differences. If they see "their" symbols, whether secular or religious, they instantly feel that they "belong". I have seen this also when two people meeting casually realize that they are both part of some larger group- the same club, religion, alumni, etc. They feel more relaxed with the new person simply because they are both part of the larger common group.

I think it's not just religious symbols, but as someone else suggested, other groups as well. For me having lived in the American South for a large part of my life (North Carolina) I thought immediately of the Confederate Flag. I used to get in arguments with other southerners about this all the time. they wanted this flag displayed from public buildings, on their cars, houses, churches, etc. I argued that this flag symbolized inequality and was offensive to many while representing something that no longer even existed. But it was important to them because it made them feel part of something. I think it is sometimes the same with religious symbols- they are mostly just a reminder to those people that they are part of something- that they are not alone.

Most people seem so lonely- or afraid of being alone. These symbols make them less afraid.

Peace.

"If you want what fate wants then nothing can happen against your will."

Chuang Tzu


"Sit quietly doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself."

Zen Saying

I don't know. I suppose it depends on how extensive your "everything" is...

Everything in this world? Universe? Everywhere whether we can perceive it or not?

I remember that the christian bible limits creation to "the heavens and the earth". I always wondered how big these "heavens" were. We are all aware that there are questions regarding the use of certain words and phrases in the bible due to the many possible translations as well as the authors understanding and perceptions introducing certain limitations- maybe these "heavens and earth" are only the solar system?

It could be possible, in my opinion, that this universe is one of many and each has a different creator. For me, belief in a creator does not exclude the possibility that there might be other things...

For all I know we could be part of an art contest or science experiment.

I choose to believe that there is a creator. And I think of the creator as being outside that creation. But it doesn't upset me to think that I might be a teeny tiny piece of a part of a scrap of a canvas of an amature artist...

Thank you my friends and sisters.

This is a place I know I can come and someone will always be there for me.

I feel so helpless- I hate seeing someone in pain and I can do nothing.

I can only pray her suffering ends soon.

I never understood the attraction of streets paved with gold anyway.

I mean you don't need money in heaven, right? So gold would just be slippery and eye-hurtingly bright.

Pearly gates also not that big a deal for me.

If I were going to a "heaven" I think I would rather have someplace like "candy land".

Streets paved with chocolate. Yummmmy. And if it's "heaven" then either you won't get fat or it won't matter if you do...

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the words and thoughts.

My best friends mother is dying (liver cancer).

Although I believe in accepting death as just another part of life, it is easy to hold abstract beliefs and another thing to try to be at peace in a hospital watching someone suffer. So I look for help in focusing my mind. This verse is helpful to me at the moment. Other thoughts, prayers, verses from your own traditions would be very welcome.

Thanks.


Empty the self completely;
Embrace perfect peace.
The world will rise and move;
Watch it return to rest.
All the flourishing things
Will return to their source.

This return is peaceful;
It is the flow of nature,
An eternal decay and renewal.
Accepting this brings enlightenment,
Ignoring this brings misery.

Who accepts nature's flow becomes all-cherishing;
Being all-cherishing he becomes impartial;
Being impartial he becomes magnanimous;
Being magnanimous he becomes natural;
Being natural he becomes one with the Way;
Being one with the Way he becomes immortal:
Though his body will decay, the Way will not.

Lao Tzu

I wish we could all remember this point whenever we are discussing our beliefs. They are just that, our beliefs. Not facts.

They are what is true to the best of our current knowledge.

The fact that we all have different beliefs? To me it's not a forgone conclusion that just because things contradict one another means that one must be "right" and one must be "wrong". It may be that there are many possibilities,,,,

And the limitations are the only untruths. It's a big universe. Many things could be true at the same time.