I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

bluedahlia

Loved that one Cherryl!  Too bad the parody is way over some peoples' heads.

Bren-2007

I guess I must have missed something.  My last post was in response to something Blue wrote.  I don't read the Mirror thread.

Chaplain ... nice to see you.  It's been a while.

hugs,

Bren

PS ... Thanks Jackie.

bluedahlia

No worries Bren.

brigadoonbenson

I am an atheist. That is my journey and my peace.  I am a firm believer in John Lennon's lyrics "Whatever Gets You Through The Night".  I don't try to convert others but I draw the line at someone infringing on my rights.  SCOTUS  and Hobby Lobby have stepped into the ring.  We had better be on guard.  Our rights are being diluted in favor of "JOHN GALT,INC".

I wrote this several years ago and posted it on another board.  It is my journey.  Everyone else's is different -

 

God Is My Universe 

No heaven.   No hell.    No angels sitting on clouds playing harps saving my place.

No pitchfork tailed demon who will own my soul forever.    No reward in the afterlife.  

No scripted justification for blessings or curses; for decisions of life or death; for being born a scion of a rich man in America or an orphan forced to pick the garbage dumps in a suburb of Rio.  I don't believe in transubstantiation, predestination, being born again, the ability to speak in tongues, the mysoginistic rules of god/men. 

I have read the bible several times and gone to many classes.  I have chanted.  I have concentrated on my third eye. 

I have searched for peace and found it when I stopped searching. 

I believe in birth and death and the joy between the two

QuinnCat

My mother was a liberal Christian.  I can guarantee you, she'd be more upset about a busload of children being yelled at by a mob of angry Tea**itters, yelling "Deport" "Deport" "Go back to where you came from" then some humorous parody trying to educate those that don't seem to get the stupidity of the Hobby Lobby ruling.

bluedahlia

Brigad.......beautiful!

Quinn, it IS sad!

I just lost a good friend to Parkinson's and this is one of his religious posts.  I will miss him dearly.

Aug 2, 2012 04:15PM

We are very limited creatures. Our minds are constrained by
our language. Think of how difficult it is to talk of something like
quantum physics. We really can't. We can use tricks like comparing it to
something else or, perhaps, describing what it is not, but if we try
to talk about the subject itself we quickly fail. It has nothing to do
with how smart we are. Some of the best and brightest have tried only to
slip back to the level of "It's like a ...., only bigger."

These questions of God and gods are like that. God is
sitting there in front of us, smiling with that big grin of Hers, and
speaking softly to each of us. She can't make us understand, at least
not yet, but She is pulling for us and even praying to Her own gods on
our behalf. She wants us to make it. More then anything else in this
universe, God wants each one of the reverett's, the Petes and Lucys, to
make it. To make what? It is simple really, just as those who have
crossed that threshold and returned have said. It is to take a single
step of our own volition toward Her outstretched arms. Until we decide
of our own free will that we want to take that step, God is powerless
where we are concerned because She is, by definition, all powerful. That
paradox is what makes it possible for us to exist and to have an
identity. Otherwise, were we to glimpse God, even the toe of Her sandal,
it would be more than out finite selves could stand. We would be
snuffed out by the infinite, not for what we had done but because of
what we are. Finite.

So we are created with free will. It's why we are worth
more to God than the rocks. We can choose to turn to Her or not. Without
that it would be a big charade and god would be a madwoman and we her
flying monkeys. And it is much more important than that. Any despot can
have his flying monkeys. Those beings who do his will without thought,
heart, or conscience. God needs something far more valuable than that.
She needs our help. There is a Universe out there that even a god could
not manage alone. Welcome to kindergarten.

IllinoisLady

Blue, I am so sorry that you lost such a good friend.  Have to say though that IMHO he most certainly is in a better place --- and that as well, in a place where all knowledge on any subject is readily available.   Very impressed when he talks about viewing God and how we would not be able to view even so much as a toe of HER sandal. 

While there are many people I know we all miss, at the same time it is a comfort to know where they are and that the transition was into pure soul form.  Even though you will so miss your friend, I hope it won't be too over-long a time until you can think of him with joy for having shared his life with you and others, and with a degree of gladness that he was able to reach a state of perfect wellness again. 

Jackie

IllinoisLady

Brigadoon, I missed your and Quinn's post.  I usually open on the first un-read most of the time.  Though we see things a bit differently, I applaud you and your statements.  You know who you are and that I think can be one of the biggest battles and hurdles to overcome.

Un-like my son, who is an Atheist, you do not expect that every person you come into contact with will want to "see" things your way and are pretty much willing to co-exist on that level.  Hats off to you.  My son would like to twist my arm while twisting everything I say and finding lots of ways that he feels he is proving me wrong. 

We do all right together as long as we don't get into spiritual matters.  Funny how we had so many wonderful hours -- while he was growing one way, I apparently was going the opposite.  This is where my instant appreciation comes from.....no one thing is right for everyone.  We are all on slightly different levels with whatever choices are best for us....and even though we pretty much believe exactly as a friend, neighbor or family member, even then there some differences. It does not matter much.  We each found our way which pretty much matches up with our needs and tends to help us get along in this world. 

When we can be tolerant of others and their spiritual/religious beliefs, nationalities, differences  -- we have come a long, long way.  Sounds so easy but is a very difficult thing.  Sometimes the differences are harsh.   JMO but I think we are each a part of what we are  a part of, because we actually have a need to experience just that item. 

I could go on but the real point is.....bravo.  You have found your place and are secure.....and if the SCOTUS members were just as secure, their decision likely would have been different. 

Jackie

Edited for miss-spelled words....hope I got them all.

brigadoonbenson

Blue, thank you. 

I am so sorry you lost your friend.  It sounds like he was a very thoughtful person and his writing expressed his peace with his spiritual quest.  I love the part about Quantum Physics and his description of what he believes. 

I am always glad when people journey to their own point of discovery. 

You state that you are a liberal Christian.  I am so happy that you have that comfort of believing that you two will share your future.

"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a  gift the world cannot give. ..... Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you!"

I believe Peace is what we all will have in the end.

 

brigadoonbenson

IllinoisLady- I was in many places on this issue as you can see.  The young think they see everything so clearly and it is especially hard to not seek validation for your beliefs from the person who has given so much to you.  I guess your task as you seem to see it is to find what you have in common and give him space.  I admire you for that as a mother and a person (and a liberal ;-). )

I have a sister who is a conservative Christian and though we disagree on this issue AND politics, we talk on the phone every day and have more to talk about and agree on than we have differences.  Her beliefs give her comfort and support.  They are part of who she is and I love all of her.  She prays for me and truly believes it is the best gift she can give me.  She feels so helpless with this cancer thing and it gives her comfort to feel as if she is making a contribution that will make a difference.  How can I argue with that!

Keep all of those political posts coming.  Our agreements are in that area for sure.

bluedahlia

Did you know that one must believe Christ is God in order to be a Christian?  Such a narrow definition.  What if Christ was an alien from another planet with knowledge to cure?  What if it is taking so long for the second coming is because space travel in itself is time consuming?  What if his purpose for coming in the first place was to correct the misinterpretations of the old testament portraying God as a harsh being?  What would that make him, and me that tries to follow his teachings?

I know, that would make me a nut!

GatorGal

Count me in as another liberal Christian.  I have the hardest time understanding how these "Christian" republicans can go so against Jesus' teachings when it comes to children and underprivileged.  It makes me want to scream .... Especially when I personally know some of these people who do NOT need their social security benefits and happily cash their checks and happily go on disability!   I know someone who didn't get married until she was through having children so she could receive benefits but participates in "impeach Obama" rallies.  Needless to say, I do not get into political conversations with these folks.  Just shake my head in disbelief!  Hypocrites!  I have had to unfriend so many folks on FB because I just can't stand reading their garbage and then watch how they live!  LOL!

GatorGal

alert ... Name change.  Finally took the advice of other members and took my real name off.  Since I'm a gator fan (having graduated from UF) I am now GatorGal.  Glenna

bluedahlia

Love your new name Gatorgal!

Two handsome guys hanging out after picking cherries.  My dad and his great grandson (my grandson) Philip!

bluedahlia

bluedahlia

bluedahlia

IllinoisLady

Blue.....love the pics totally.  Ssshhh, these two are being REAL Christians.  There's a lesson for sure.  Gator Gal.....I have always been upset by the amt. of people it would seem who rush to their Church and their protection.  Then, they quote, quote, quote Bible verses all the while  and never bother to walk a mile in anyone's moccasins but their own.  They don't seem to "find" the Bible verses about God and or Jesus, or the Supreme being or whatever you may call the Creator, as a being who created us all  -- the breath of life is not just for one, but for all......as we need to try very hard to be.  God does not pick and choose -- all are equal, period.

Jackie 

Edited:  Blue forgot to say--speaking of pictures....what a handsome loving couple in that very first picture.  Nothing finer anywhere.

 

Bren-2007

Hi Guys,

It's hot hot hot today and very humid.  We're forecast for a big storm this afternoon.  Don't know if it's part of the hurricane off the Carolina's right now or if it's coming from the Midwest.  I read that were going to start evacuating some areas of the outer banks.

I'm enjoying the discussion of the past couple of days.  You're a bunch of well-spoken wonderful women!

Gatorgal ... Ha!  Like the name.  I thought it might be you!
Blue ... OMG ... Philip is adorable, and he's growing so fast.  Your dad looks very handsome!

Well, I'm procrastinating.  I have a big report to do and I'm posting here instead of working!  Still haven't heard back from the companies I applied with.  The ideal situation would be for me to find a couple more clients of my own.

hugs,

Bren

IllinoisLady

 

IllinoisLady

Cool here....our last storm must have done it a couple of days ago.  Will stay that way through the 4th.  In fact, we made need sweaters or lap blankets for tomorrow's fireworks.  Won't bother me any. 

Hope it clears up your way Bren. 

Jackie

Bren-2007

Hi Jackie,

The storm rolled in about a half hour ago and it's still raining.  We really needed the rain so I'm not complaining.  But, my dogs are a wreck with all the thunder.  They are both trying to get under my desk.  Not an easy task, especially since Tank is about 100 pounds!

What's everyone doing for the Fourth?  I'm hoping Tim will be home and maybe we'll bbq some burgers.  It's looking rather doubtful though, as he's stuck somewhere up north and his truck is giving him all kinds of problems.

hugs,

Bren

IllinoisLady

Jackie

IllinoisLady

IllinoisLady

Sorry....was trying to include a picture in here and they aren't going for some reason. 

Jackie

bluedahlia

IDJUT!

RetiredLibby

My first American ancestor was Deacon Samuel Wright of the Plymouth Bay Company, who arrived in the colonies between 1630 and 1635.  I watched soccer.  Bite me, baggers and xenophobes.

IllinoisLady

IllinoisLady

IllinoisLady

Blue, RL.....