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Thank G~d for the New Testament, eh?


~ Lizzy

Thank G-d for No Testament; for it is then I surely sense him.
I pray "You are me".
This G-d of no religion, of no race, no creed, no status, no system; he walks beside me, walks inside me. I am not indoctrinated. I follow no one else's path.
This G-d lives; away from Moses, or Jesus, or Mohammed, or Krishna.
This G-d is
This G-d is
This G-d is...

Good turn of phrase, Adam. I know very well what you mean. Wonderful prayer that you pray... along with "I am you" and "Thy will be done" [my own additions to yours]. The main idea, I feel, is that you pray... period... absent selfish interest.


~ Lizzy

Mat, et al,

There are plenty of counter-examples that can be found in the
"New" Testament to challenge anyone that thinks the "Old"
one is particularly harsh, mean, etc. Jesus cursed a fig tree
(metaphorical for people), commanded that non-believers be "slain
before me," said that he "brought forth a sword," pre-ordained
that the elect should be saved and those apparently not so chosen
would be doomed before their birth to suffer eternal damnation
in hell. Let's not even get into "family values," because there
are some choice quotes on that one that aren't so loving, or
countenance of slavery within the "New" Testament. Cultural
and historical tendencies tend to lead to "selective" readings
that foster a viewpoint that the "New" is kinder and gentler, but
a text-based impartial reading of the "New" (not to mention what
some believers have done with it through centuries of atrocities),
suggest a reality that is otherwise.

Hi Steven ~

Never having read the Bible through, I could well be 'guilty' of exposure to selective readings.

I know if this turns into a religious debate, it will either be a long, unresolved one or a short one that ends up a draw. Too many intense feelings on each end of that continuum, along with the milk toast ones and the combined ones, in between.

I've always and will always believe in G~d, whatever that may mean to me, and sometimes-to-oftimes don't know what that means, even for me. Yet, I have no choice but to believe in The Other when I see all I see all around. Could expound on that, too, but for me, it just doesn't work these days to argue it. I just would love to see some changes in the world that reflect it [and, yes, in me, as well].


~ Lizzy

lizzytysh wrote:Hi Steven ~

Never having read the Bible through, I could well be 'guilty' of exposure to selective readings.


~ Lizzy

Dearest Lizzy,

I appreciate the honesty; it is refreshing.

Thanks, Steven. I appreciate your comment.


~ Lizzy

reading the Old Testament makes me think god may be bi-polar; So you are in good company! Twisted Evil

Mat

Mat, et al,

(etc)
Great point Steven. I stand corrected

And so,

reading the Bible makes me think god may be bi-polar; So you are in good company!

G-d has been around for at least 13.7 billion years, the Bible a few thousand.

Who would you trust?

The one who can change my oil.


~ Lizzy

G-d has been around for at least 13.7 billion years, the Bible a few thousand.

Who would you trust?

They're "poles" apart

so neither and both.

lizzytysh wrote:Thank G~d for the New Testament, eh?


~ Lizzy

"It's coming through a crack in the wall;
on a visionary flood of alcohol;
from the staggering acount
of the Sermon on the Mount
which I don't pretend to understand at all"

Your man, Leonard Cohen, 1992


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mat james wrote:They're "poles" apart


so neither and both.

When God threw me, a pebble, into this
wondrous lake I disturbed its surface with
countless circles.
But when I reached the depths I became
very still.

A Lebanese mystic, Kahlil Gibran, 1927


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and he's as simple
as a soundless song
and that is enough
for tomorrow

Me, 2007

and he's as simple
as a soundless song

ABenM

So now you are writing koans, and zen-ing out on the mystic trail, quiet and "still" before you.
Now would be a good time to listen to Leonard's song from his Dear Heather album, "Undertow"

I set out one night
when the tide was low
there were signs in the sky
but I did not know
I'd be caught in the grip of an undertow
ditched on the beach....

Enjoy. Matj

Been listening to Cohen waaaaaaay too much; even today... Bit sick of him to be honest
Feel like some Albinoni - Adagio... nah, some Pachelbel - Canon...no, some John Denver - Country Roads...no, Metallica - The Unforgiven. That's it, The Unforgiven. That's what I'll listen to Mat

Everything exists, always will. Or it soon will

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Po!