You said some stuff here that truly resonates with me. Damn sure worth repeating.
I'm going to 'hope' the website formats this the way I intended it to.
In my studies, I drew a conclusion that the written texts were more about telling the story. A good story can pretty much be remembered. Might be that some of the context is lost in the next telling, but the original effort made might be sussed out if the reader were to take on such an effort.
That's one of the few quotes that I believe can be taken literally.
I think the Book of Enoch was removed from canon because it's stark proof that we 'can' have an encounter with God Himself. (And, I am sure I have left no doubt in the minds of others that I have ... on multiple occasions ... found myself in the presence of God.
When whatever Council it was decided Enoch wasn't part of Religion anymore ... it was due to the realization that the Religious PTB could hold no sway over people like me ... once they _knew_ ... no faith required anymore at all.
I've found one pastor. He's big-time too. He doesn't say the same thing (I say out loud) to his congregation. I never figured out why.
He does discuss his "knowledge of God's omnipresence" amongst people away from his pulpit. I just never got the opportunity to address the omission directly. He's just a man after all. Could be God told him not to. I might never know.
Also, I forget the name of the religion ... it's the one where a pastor 'touches' a parishioner and the parishioner faints and whatnot. I think they might truly be having spiritual encounters in that moment with their God.
I'm not going to invite myself to one of their events, but I wouldn't decline an invitation if offered. Fascinating stuff (possibly).
The thing _is_ the knowing. When God is about ... His presence is unmistakable. You've just got to be introduced to Him the first time (I think). I 'think' Muhammad may have found him on his own in the cave ... maybe. But, even if he did (as we discussed in your home), he might not have understood ... might have warped ... might have might have ... I think you get me.
And the other thing for anyone 'reading': When you meet God, you may be in for quite a let-down afterwards. What you walk away with is no longer faith/belief ... you Know. But, it doesn't line your pockets with gold and silver either. LMAO
(12-09-2023, 09:34 PM)Ninurta Wrote: Matter of fact, I think folks seeking abortions are doing the rest of us a favor. Clearly they have some genetic defects that they are gracefully trying to prevent from tainting the gene pool. One would HAVE to have a basic defect to kill off one's own offspring - that files against everything else in nature. So let 'em do as they will. It's good for the human race to keep their tainted genes out of the pool the rest of us have to swim in.
I'm going to 'hope' the website formats this the way I intended it to.
(12-09-2023, 10:22 PM)Ninurta Wrote: I personally believe that ALL religions in the modern world, and probably all of them in the past, are/were just a made-up set of rituals, made up by Some Guy , as a means of covering the fact that folks are just too lazy, and in some cases downright incapable, of making any actual meaningful connection with their god(s).
In my studies, I drew a conclusion that the written texts were more about telling the story. A good story can pretty much be remembered. Might be that some of the context is lost in the next telling, but the original effort made might be sussed out if the reader were to take on such an effort.
(12-09-2023, 10:22 PM)Ninurta Wrote: "Enoch walked with God, and then was not, for God took him" doesn't carry the same ritual force as
That's one of the few quotes that I believe can be taken literally.
I think the Book of Enoch was removed from canon because it's stark proof that we 'can' have an encounter with God Himself. (And, I am sure I have left no doubt in the minds of others that I have ... on multiple occasions ... found myself in the presence of God.
When whatever Council it was decided Enoch wasn't part of Religion anymore ... it was due to the realization that the Religious PTB could hold no sway over people like me ... once they _knew_ ... no faith required anymore at all.
(12-09-2023, 10:22 PM)Ninurta Wrote: As the Bible says, these modern religions "have the form of godliness but deny the power thereof". The only real power any of them have is what human-power they are able to generate. That amounts to how far they can stretch their arms and swing their sacrifice knives. They neither know their god(s) nor do their god(s) know them... and that applies to most Christians as well.
I've found one pastor. He's big-time too. He doesn't say the same thing (I say out loud) to his congregation. I never figured out why.
He does discuss his "knowledge of God's omnipresence" amongst people away from his pulpit. I just never got the opportunity to address the omission directly. He's just a man after all. Could be God told him not to. I might never know.
Also, I forget the name of the religion ... it's the one where a pastor 'touches' a parishioner and the parishioner faints and whatnot. I think they might truly be having spiritual encounters in that moment with their God.
I'm not going to invite myself to one of their events, but I wouldn't decline an invitation if offered. Fascinating stuff (possibly).
The thing _is_ the knowing. When God is about ... His presence is unmistakable. You've just got to be introduced to Him the first time (I think). I 'think' Muhammad may have found him on his own in the cave ... maybe. But, even if he did (as we discussed in your home), he might not have understood ... might have warped ... might have might have ... I think you get me.
And the other thing for anyone 'reading': When you meet God, you may be in for quite a let-down afterwards. What you walk away with is no longer faith/belief ... you Know. But, it doesn't line your pockets with gold and silver either. LMAO