Topic : An Open Consideration of Reality and Religious Beliefs

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Created on : Friday, March 03, 2006, 09:33:47 am
Author : trtlelove

For the record, this topic has been posted to accomodate many threads that tend to end up discussing religion and our beliefs about God, etc.   We would like to maintain an open and peaceful tone for all to participate and simply share their points of view and experience, exchanging ideas, asking and answering each other's questions, etc.

 

From my own personal experience, I have been writing mostly on the original "Twisted Love" thread so if anyone wants to get more background they can look me (or anyone else) up there by using  "Search Boards" above (next to "Boards Archive" and "Profile", etc.) and type in any of our user names in the "blank box".  This will bring up everything we have posted and the responses we have given to each other's posts.

 

Peace and Love All-Ways,

 

Turtle Love (user name "trtlelove")



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March 8, 2006, 1:24 pm PST

Quantum, quantum....quantum?

Quote From: trtlelove

Dear Fredi, 

  

You know, it comes up in odd places . . . . like this message board for instance.  And, every once in a while, there will be a particularly clear message even via media like TV. 

  

For instance, one show I saw maybe a year ago was called, The Journey of Man (it was on PBS).  In it, this genetic anthropologist tracked genetic markers all the way back to our really original ancestors, who turned out to still be living as a tribe of Tsong bushmen in Africa.  Through his research, he was able to plot every step of the migration of human beings from that group (of course starting many thousands of years ago) to the present populations all over the world and including every "race".   

  

What was maybe the most amazing were the photographs: You can clearly see the Tsong bushmen and all of the essential elements there in their faces; i.e. their skin is medium brown, therefore having the potential to evolve into being darker or lighter.  You see the various shapes of eyes and noses, etc. that later became "European", "Asian", "Native American", "East Indian", etc, etc.  You know, the story was so compelling, that just thinking about it now is bringing tears to my eyes. 

  

At the end, you see this young anthropologist who happens to be tall, very fair skinned, blue eyed and strawberry blonde haired, smiling with an array of other "racially representative people" affirming that we really have all descended from the same genetic lines, that we really are all part of "one family", in spite of all of the perceivable "differences" that have evolved over time. 

  

I just watched Wayne Dyer this weekend (PBS was doing their regular fund raising drive) and he had a woman on there from Rawanda.  She spent 90 days along with seven other women hiding in a bathroom that was three feet by four feet wide.  Every day she was threatened with the machete's of people who used to be her friends and neighbors and if they had found her and the other women, they would have killed them.  And yet, some how, in the midst of that horror, she Realized God, she Realized what was the absolute truth of her nature and it was ultimately loving and compassionate even towards those who would have killed her and did kill everyone else in her family.  She wrote her story later and Wayne Dyer helped to get it published.  I just checked and here's the info from Amazon.com:  Left To Tell : Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza  

Even when she was speaking on stage and afterwards, you could just see how truly "radiant" she was. 

  

And of course, Wayne Dyer has been talking to thousands and thousands of people for years now on how we are all intimately involved in what is manifesting here and that we need to be taking that role much more seriously and being "mindful" of our thoughts and how they "expand" into the Universe. 

  

You know,  in quantum physics it takes a considerable amount of energy to shift an "electron" from one "level" of energy to another within the structure of an atom.  It's often referred to as a "quantum leap".  It doesn't happen gradually, instead it's a real "jump" from one level to another. 

  

I truly believe that there is energy building in this system of the world and in Consciousness as we know it to make a "leap".  I think such "leaps in awareness" will still happen first on the individual level, but the cumulative effect will be significant shifts in culture and society.  I have a feeling, possibly within our lifetimes, many of us are going to see and maybe even be a direct part of some major changes, and not long after that, we will be wondering how we could go on as long as we did without realizing and understanding what was always right there in front of us. 

  

Right now, we are still dealing with "inertia", the fundamental "resistance to change" (and, by the way, from an electronics point of view, such resistance is present even in the simplest wire conductor.  Again, it is just part of the system. : )).  So it really is about each and every person who is already aware, continuing to consciously manifest or "conduct" love "energy" in each and every moment of their lives and in whatever circumstance or relationship in which they find themselves. 

  

And, you know, even if it doesn't change the world (although I really do think it will in the long run), each person who chooses to do that, will simply be a happier person.  They will have the opportunity to experience more true joy in their lives, for whatever time they are here. 

  

From my point of view, that's a "Win/Win" situation . . . . : )) 

  

Sincerely Yours in Peace and Love, 

  

Turtle Love 

Dear Turtle Love, 

This post may seem pretty 'random' but my heart is telling me to share.  When you mentioned quantum physics, I got 'happy' chills up my spine.  Why?  Because when I was trying to find the right words in my previous post to you, the word quantum kept popping into my mind.  Over and over again, it presented itself in my minds eye.  After looking it up in my thesaurus ( in trying to find some excuse to use this word that was dancing in my head), I gave up the notion.   

The little 'bugger' : ) stayed with me for a good deal of the afternoon.  Now I appreciate why. 

  

In your post you referred to the television documentary about the Tsong bushmen.  I find that fascinating, as I had recently seen a genetic make over computer program that Oprah was showing during a segment of her show.  The software designer stated that regardless of race we human beings are all 99.9% alike.  The segment went on to display photo's of Oprah as caucasian, hispanic, asian etc.   

  

Granted the segment was probably more to do with the technology, Oprah marvelled at how truly much we are all alike.  I am eager to locate the documentary that you mentioned, that sort of media I can't get enough of. 

  

Finally, I felt all warm and fuzzy after reading the first line of your response.  This forum is a place of Peace and Love. 

  

Peace, 

  

Fredi  

  

  

 
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March 8, 2006, 6:29 pm PST

Please clarify

I am confused.  On the old thread I was asking questions and understood that to get to heaven  asking for fogiveness and "accepting Jesus as Savior" was the answer.    The poster Sheltie explained that all to me, and answered all my questions.   I thought I had it straight,  but on  this thread there are other ideas like "Jesus and living like Jesus" and "Jesus and love".    What is the answer?   I really need to understand this. 

  

What does the bible say?   That's what I am going to go by. 

 

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March 8, 2006, 8:00 pm PST

An Open Consideration of Reality and Religious Beliefs

Quote From: blcksheepy

Do I have to love everyone?   There's been a lot of talk about love on this thread.   I don't know what kind of background you are all from, and if you came from loving families then you are lucky.   Love wasn't really a part of our lives.

The first job is to love yourself and believe that you are worthy of God's love.  A difficult childhood can leave you feeling unlovable because the main sources of love in your life were broken and couldn't love you right.  Once you grow up, you can start to give yourself the love that the child you were once needed and didn't get.  I even find it is easier to love myself when I think of the child I was-especially now that I have my own children.  

  

Maybe think on that a bit, pray in the way that JoeyJohn suggests and just be quiet and wait to feel God's love. It may take some repeating of that meditation before you can feel that love.  I'll be praying  for you, too :) 

 
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March 9, 2006, 4:00 am PST

An Open Consideration of Reality and Religious Beliefs

Quote From: blcksheepy

Do I have to love everyone?   There's been a lot of talk about love on this thread.   I don't know what kind of background you are all from, and if you came from loving families then you are lucky.   Love wasn't really a part of our lives.

Hi B Sheepy. 

You don't have to do anything at all, that includes Loving. 

  

In my opinion it's pretty simple, before doing something that perhaps your inner self is questioning ask yourself the question : "What would Jesus do?" 

  

If you listen to your heart, everything: Love, Acceptance, Forgiveness and Fullfillment just follows you around like a good hangover ; ) without effort.. 

  

It's not a hard road,  on the contrary it's rather easy!  : )  

  

Peace, 

  

Fredi 

 
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March 9, 2006, 7:28 am PST

Thank you for explaining.

Thank you all for answering my question.    I will stop worrying now because  I have "accepted Jesus as my Saviour" and said sorry for the things I know were wrong. 

  

We had bible study in grade school, and the part of the bible that turned me off way back then was Jonah being swallowed by a whale, then spat up again.    Now I am not going to worry about whether or not it's all true or just legends.   I am going to keep my mind on the parts about Jesus, because that seems to be the most important part. 

 
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March 9, 2006, 7:47 am PST

You mean to say?

Quote From: judyblue22

I've been a lawyer for over 20 years and I have found that the people who are most knowlegable about the law are usually the ones skating close to the edges :) That would be me.  When I was young and deciding how to live my life, the best answer we could come up with to meet all of the competing needs at the time was for my husband and I to marry and for us each to have another partner that met other needs.   

  

I spent a lot of time praying on that choice and reading the bible and talking to my priest before we made that choice.  Given that background you can probably see why I wouldn't be one to tell anyone their damned :) because you KNOW no catholic priest ever gave my lifestyle the green light. 

  

Now,  22+ years later, I can say that our lives have truly been blessed in so many ways and I am proud of the amount of good we do, by the love in our home and by the fact that our choices have harmed no one. When I pray, I feel loved and accepted by God and that comforts me. 

Can I just get this straight?    When you got married you knew you were both going to be having sex with other people, and agreed to that?    I am trying to understand why you married each other (I'm not saying you shouldn't have done so) when you knew you were not matched in the sexual department, because that is such an important part of marriage. 

  

I hope these questions are not too personal, and please just ignore if they are. 

  

 

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March 9, 2006, 8:23 am PST

An Open Consideration of Reality and Religious Beliefs

Quote From: blcksheepy

Can I just get this straight?    When you got married you knew you were both going to be having sex with other people, and agreed to that?    I am trying to understand why you married each other (I'm not saying you shouldn't have done so) when you knew you were not matched in the sexual department, because that is such an important part of marriage. 

  

I hope these questions are not too personal, and please just ignore if they are. 

  

Smile-someone on the twisted love board already asked that, and it is presonal but I can tell you.  We are both deeply submissive sexually.  We were together for 6 years before we married and tried to work out how best to be.  We tried  finding someone that we matched sexually but we love each other and we always needed to be together.  Neither one of us could completely give anyone else that part of our souls. We wanted to be together for life.  We wanted to be parents together. So we decided to marry.  I really have no doubts that we will be married for life. 

  

When we had our children, we just needed all of our free time for parenting so we decided to be exclusive.  Our other partners are still part of our lives but in a different, less private way. And, the nice thing is that now that we are exclusive, we have learned to be everything to each other.  It is a wonderful relationship but I believe we could only get where we are because we understood our own sexuality by exploring it with others. 

 
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March 9, 2006, 10:34 am PST

Yes

Quote From: judyblue22

Do you pray?  Do you seek direction from your god and godess?

Yes, I do pray, but it is not how the majority on this board do it.  My family has an altar.  On that altar we have a white candle to represent the Goddess and a green candle to represent the God.  We have an athame to conduct our energy from the Earth.  We have an incense, and yes, a cauldron.  The cauldron represents the Goddess as well, with the cauldron being her womb.  Everything we have on there is symbolic.  Pagans like to use symbolism, we beleive it is important.  We don't do things just to do it.  I meditate in front of my altar, which is also on top of our fireplace.  The fire, as you can probaly guess, represent the Sun and His heat.  The masculine energy. 

Just like anyone who prays, I do try to seek direction, but most of the time it is just a nice time to sit and relaxe and feel the energy.  I can't quite explain it.  Maybe this will help.     Ever light a candle and just sat there and watched it?  Watching the flame move sideways, up, down, and then stand perfectly still?  It kind of becomes hypnotic and you can feel there is an energy in the room.  I can try to explain it, but nothing compares to actually living it. 

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post.  Blessed be. 

  

Blessed be is a way to say "Have a blessed day and may the God and Goddess bless you." 

 
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March 9, 2006, 11:26 am PST

Loving humans

Quote From: fredastare

Dear JoeyJohn, 

Your insight is very wise in how you are able to connect the biblical 'dots' : ) 

  

I do pray that you are wrong on one thing though, that it is humanly impossibe to Love everyone.  Little by little, awakening by awakening I take hope that the human condition will evolve into Loving everyone, and everything. 

  

Yet I do understand what you're saying.  I can't imagine to feel Love toward a person that has murdered my own child.  To feel Love for someone who has abused me as an innocent child.  To feel Love toward the terrorists that have for now changed our society into one of anger and paranoia. 

  

To me the goal is Love.  To me at the end of the day, through human Love the horrendous actions of the unloved will no longer occur.  Maybe the solution is in understanding and forgiveness.  For these very things are happening to Gods children, and He Loves us. 

  

In the end, I pray that we can emulate Him. 

  

Peace, 

  

Fredi 

   

I am sorry Fredi, keep praying but if you knew the people I know you would not have so much hope for the human race.
 
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March 9, 2006, 11:28 am PST

What do you call yourself?

Quote From: elffie

Yes, I do pray, but it is not how the majority on this board do it.  My family has an altar.  On that altar we have a white candle to represent the Goddess and a green candle to represent the God.  We have an athame to conduct our energy from the Earth.  We have an incense, and yes, a cauldron.  The cauldron represents the Goddess as well, with the cauldron being her womb.  Everything we have on there is symbolic.  Pagans like to use symbolism, we beleive it is important.  We don't do things just to do it.  I meditate in front of my altar, which is also on top of our fireplace.  The fire, as you can probaly guess, represent the Sun and His heat.  The masculine energy. 

Just like anyone who prays, I do try to seek direction, but most of the time it is just a nice time to sit and relaxe and feel the energy.  I can't quite explain it.  Maybe this will help.     Ever light a candle and just sat there and watched it?  Watching the flame move sideways, up, down, and then stand perfectly still?  It kind of becomes hypnotic and you can feel there is an energy in the room.  I can try to explain it, but nothing compares to actually living it. 

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post.  Blessed be. 

  

Blessed be is a way to say "Have a blessed day and may the God and Goddess bless you." 

Is there a special name for your religion?
 

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