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Post by livelonger on Sept 23, 2016 13:27:24 GMT -5
A person is on a spinning globe that is spinning around a star called the Sun, that is spinning around the outside of the universe, in a firmament of other universes spinning around in long threads at tremendous speed away from one point.
That means every time someone looks up to Heaven they're looking in a completely different direction every second. As every direction is Heaven, people are surrounded by Heaven and part of it. If Hell is below, then you're standing above it.
It might be time to think about both in a new way from primitive cultures before telescopes.
If God is omnipresent, then God is everywhere, including within you at all times. You can't get closer to God than to be inside God. That also means that no person can claim to get you closer to God. All they can do is make you aware of God.
If God is omnipotent, then God is the most powerful in everything. You might ask for help, but nobody can ban or make God any more or less. It's impossible to keep God out of anywhere, as God is within you and everything.
Relax and love your existence.
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Post by TheSource on Oct 7, 2016 16:39:55 GMT -5
If you wanted to expand on this a little, you could go on to actually say that "we", in essence, are God too.
For those of us that believe, God created the heavens and the Earth. We were created in God's image. We were created from the Earth that God created. God has put forth a little of himself in everything that He created.
Therefore, "we" are God in a sense.
Just a a little food for thought.
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Post by livelonger on Oct 7, 2016 18:58:09 GMT -5
God has put forth a little of himself in everything that He created. God is within you and everything.
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Post by louie on Oct 9, 2016 17:41:10 GMT -5
I feel something...god like around me in nature, but don't subscribe to the bible or church beliefs.
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Post by smitty45 on Oct 17, 2016 4:38:29 GMT -5
If God is within, then so is Satan... seems to me Satan has more power though. Every second someone is raped or murdered, or abused, or terrorized or some kind of evil thing done. God just bares witness, powerless to do anything. On this earth and in this life anyways. Faith is good in all, but no amount of faith will make God stop bad stuff from happening to the innocent.
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Post by notca on Oct 17, 2016 10:02:40 GMT -5
If God is within, then so is Satan... seems to me Satan has more power though. Every second someone is raped or murdered, or abused, or terrorized or some kind of evil thing done. God just bares witness, powerless to do anything. On this earth and in this life anyways. Faith is good in all, but no amount of faith will make God stop bad stuff from happening to the innocent. I understand your point of view but I respectfully disagree with the details. Satan only has power if we give it to him. We give him power when we succumb to temptation, indulge ourselves in behaviors that we know are wrong. We all do it, some indulgences we see as harmless, others like spite, malice and whatever hurts others undoubtedly are worse. But I think all wrongdoings contribute to Satan's power.
I don't believe God is ever powerless. He gave us all free will which extends beyond choosing between right and wrong but also how we protect ourselves and deal with those who would harm us. If we deny his existence or live our lives without employing the tools he gave us for successfully living, how can he step in and revoke our free will.
Like many fathers/parents, maybe God sees us doing wrong but hey, we are adults and must be in charge of our own lives. JMHO. :)
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Post by livelonger on Oct 17, 2016 13:05:13 GMT -5
For me, that falls back into the pre-scientific history where decision or accident is based on fiction. Imaginary friends and enemies can freeze thought. As in all creation, matter and energy is in flux where stars and worlds are created, then die in collapse and fire. Good and evil are human fantasies and judgements that humans will make lifetime decisions upon. Creation and cooperation are positive human preferences, where Christ as a principle can teach people to behave well toward each other. People may choose or accidently harm; that is their decision and burden. I'm not going to take the Republican position to blame bad acts, nor discuss the shape and acts of an imaginary being.
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Post by rebecca2013 on Oct 17, 2016 13:31:32 GMT -5
Well I am Catholic.... so enough said... you don't wish me to spout out Catechism here.... I am not even a "good Catholic" being an individual who is divorced
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Post by notca on Oct 17, 2016 15:09:21 GMT -5
For me, that falls back into the pre-scientific history where decision or accident is based on fiction. Imaginary friends and enemies can freeze thought. As in all creation, matter and energy is in flux where stars and worlds are created, then die in collapse and fire. Good and evil are human fantasies and judgements that humans will make lifetime decisions upon. Creation and cooperation are positive human preferences, where Christ as a principle can teach people to behave well toward each other. People may choose or accidently harm; that is their decision and burden. I'm not going to take the Republican position to blame bad acts, nor discuss the shape and acts of an imaginary being. When I speak of 'God' or 'Satan' it is not my intention to portray them as actual physical beings. In my mind, they are the forces of good and evil, quite real spiritually but without physical form. We, as humans are spiritual beings with physical form and can consciously choose to align ourselves with either force.
It's interesting to hear other people's conceptions. :)
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Post by livelonger on Oct 17, 2016 15:22:46 GMT -5
In my mind, they are the forces of good and evil, quite real spiritually but without physical form. It's sufficient to say it that way instead of fostering a myth in readers minds. Good and evil are the results of good or bad decisions, so no need to find an excuse in mythic beings. Seeing the results of decisions tends to take power away from leaders. Politicians usually present fear without proposing solutions, so use the old mythic ways of control.
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Post by notca on Oct 17, 2016 18:31:18 GMT -5
In my mind, they are the forces of good and evil, quite real spiritually but without physical form. It's sufficient to say it that way instead of fostering a myth in readers minds. Good and evil are the results of good or bad decisions, so no need to find an excuse in mythic beings. Seeing the results of decisions tends to take power away from leaders. Politicians usually present fear without proposing solutions, so use the old mythic ways of control. There are many different beliefs and all of them valid to those who believe them. Whatever works for you and whatever you are comfortable with, that's my take on it.
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Post by livelonger on Oct 18, 2016 19:08:36 GMT -5
There are many different beliefs and all of them valid to those who believe them. That's the key word 'belief'. All can believe what they're told, what they learn about, or fantasy. Can't win an argument about belief as it doesn't always require proof. Thus, no matter where the spins are pointing they all can point to a single Heaven. If there's no need to think about what is believed, all is true, no matter who says it.
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Post by notca on Oct 18, 2016 19:29:34 GMT -5
There are many different beliefs and all of them valid to those who believe them. That's the key word 'belief'. All can believe what they're told, what they learn about, or fantasy. Can't win an argument about belief as it doesn't always require proof. Thus, no matter where the spins are pointing they all can point to a single Heaven. If there's no need to think about what is believed, all is true, no matter who says it. As long as our beliefs do no harm to others, those 'others' should probably just mind their own business. Common beliefs are not necessary to a unified society but tolerance and respect for law abiding people who have benign beliefs are a must . Beliefs that condone killing, enslaving, converting and generally browbeating others cannot be tolerated, but other than that I am happy to leave others to their personal beliefs and only concern myself with my own.
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Post by livelonger on Oct 19, 2016 11:05:33 GMT -5
As long as our beliefs do no harm to others, ... I am happy to leave others to their personal beliefs and only concern myself with my own. That is part of the point of thinking about what is believed. People have many others that quote God, because they have personal conversations with God and point out 'God's word'. Thinking about that might reveal that people that talk with fantasy aren't the people to believe. Much harm comes from people blaming mythic beings for their bad decisions. Such won't be accepted as proof of innocence in courts; but, such believers will try to make it law. The danger comes from not being concerned with attempts to make church belief into secular law.
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Post by TheSource on Oct 19, 2016 19:00:03 GMT -5
If God is within, then so is Satan... seems to me Satan has more power though. Every second someone is raped or murdered, or abused, or terrorized or some kind of evil thing done. God just bares witness, powerless to do anything. On this earth and in this life anyways. Faith is good in all, but no amount of faith will make God stop bad stuff from happening to the innocent. I understand your point of view but I respectfully disagree with the details. Satan only has power if we give it to him. We give him power when we succumb to temptation, indulge ourselves in behaviors that we know are wrong. We all do it, some indulgences we see as harmless, others like spite, malice and whatever hurts others undoubtedly are worse. But I think all wrongdoings contribute to Satan's power.
I don't believe God is ever powerless. He gave us all free will which extends beyond choosing between right and wrong but also how we protect ourselves and deal with those who would harm us. If we deny his existence or live our lives without employing the tools he gave us for successfully living, how can he step in and revoke our free will.
Like many fathers/parents, maybe God sees us doing wrong but hey, we are adults and must be in charge of our own lives. JMHO. :) I couldn't have said it any more eloquently.
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