Random thoughts...

[Thinker]

When you think about it, isn’t it a bit strange how Judaism doctrines are mixed with Christianity’s… especially when Jews killed Christianity’s founder? An outsider may think maybe the enemy - ie Saul/Pharisee - won after all in taking over that religion.

From another point of view, maybe one who truly worships the God of truth, will seek truth wherever found, meaning their “scripture set” would be quite big - though of course wise cherry picking is needed as in all corrupt religions. In my “scriptures” are not just the standard combo but maybe also:

Buddhist right ways etc
Tao te Ching
Hindu Vedas
Zoroastrianism
Cicero (writings)
Aurelius “
Jung
Emerson
NATURE
The Spirit
(… many more…)

[Thinker]

Religion, is one branch of several, of philosophy. Philosophy, as the study of reality, may be the closest we get to the totality of God, though most “philosophers” would probably call it something else.

[Original_Intent]

I've individuated to the point that I feel almost alone.

I don't think this is what I came here for. solve et coagula.

[FrankOne]

I've individuated to the point that I feel almost alone.

I don't think this is what I came here for. solve et coagula.

Visita interiora Terrae rectificando invenies occultum Lapidem

Et in Arc Adiaego

magnum opus solum ambulamus

[FrankOne]

cur lacrimae meae fluunt?

[Cruiserdude]

cur lacrimae meae fluunt?

That was AWESOME

[Original_Intent]

cur lacrimae meae fluunt?

If nothing else, you make me want to give Assassin's Creed a try.

[Cruiserdude]

cur lacrimae meae fluunt?

If nothing else, you make me want to give Assassin's Creed a try.

I've never been much a gamer but I was able to watch my cousin play that game for Hours on end. It was like watching an incredible movie....
Another game like that, that was awesome fun to watch someone else play, was Uncharted. Absolutely incredible.

[Thinker]

[Thinker]

I’ve noticed some people seem worse (meaner, less considerate) as they get older. It may be due to living alone - they become more self centered & more easily annoyed with others. It also may be those who didn’t succeed in going through Erickson’s stages of development so they are full of regret. It may also be increasing aches and pains make them more irritable. Another possibility is they take personally some notions that older people are deemed less attractive, less valuable etc. I think it’s important to not tie our looks too much to how we feel about ourselves. Of course, take care of our temple body, but remember it’s not the real, eternal us.

When I get older, I want to be better than I am now, I hope so anyway. Though I may be tempted to talk someone’s ear off, I want to use my long lifetime of experience, intelligently - to choose between everything I’ve learned & carefully choose what would be most loving/best to say to those I come across… or to be silent & listen, when that’s best.

[Thinker]

Reading about Dante’s Inferno, regarding hell… especially Canto 34, the deepest hell, involving betrayal.

“…he well is made the source of every woe for his ingratitude, that is.

3 faces: Satan is an anti-Trinity. The power, wisdom, & love of God are inverted here into impotence, ignorance & hate.”

I might disagree with hate since I see the opposite of love as apathy. But I can see how ignorance and impotence go hand in hand. When someone ignores truth so often so they become very ignor-ant, when they try to act, their attempts fail because they’re so out of touch with reality. On the other hand, love of truth (wisdom) and power correlate. When someone continually seeks truth, when they act, it’s as if the whole heavens back them up and it just flows.

Re: the 1st part about hell involving ingratitude. “Gratitude is the parent of all virtues” and the quickest way to be uplifted and feel the spirit.

My guess is Dante was especially pissed at the Catholic theocracy for threatening to kill him & for banishing him from his home area. And in turn, the Catholic Church censored Dante’s work during the Inquisition. I don’t think hell is exactly like this, and now the Catholic church promotes this book, probably to try to scare people. Still, I think there are nuggets of truth.

Eg.,
"The path to paradise begins in hell."

[Thinker]

To be spiritually born again & again throughout one’s life is what the nativity parable is about.

Eyes to see,
Ears to hear…

[Thinker]

When life, wrestling with wrong ideas of God & marriage get tough, think of it as a school to find meaning & motivation. Expect it to challenge & test you & at times be uncomfortable.

[Thinker]

'No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.' - Mary Wollstonecraft

People doing evil see it as good in some way or else they wouldn’t do it. Their moral sight is screwed up.

[FrankOne]

'No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.' - Mary Wollstonecraft

People doing evil see it as good in some way or else they wouldn’t do it. Their moral sight is screwed up.

absolutely.
every person feels "right" in what they are choosing or doing.

[Thinker]

I believe the spirit of motherhood is not limited to one’s own offspring - though they are the priority.

When I think of some horrors that children are faced with, I get angry & think how I’d like to be as a mother bear & rip any child-abusers to shreds & get the children to safety. But I know that wouldn’t be legal.

[Thinker]

Relationships are based on trust. When trust is seriously broken it’s like being told all you thought about this person is a lie. It’s heartbreaking & may feel like hopeless hell. But the silver lining is you have potential to become stronger with a clearer idea of people and how best to relate with them.

Most people (2/3 in a study) show to cave to peer pressure & will do what they know is wrong, just because others are doing it, or if they feel pressure to. The 1/3 are works in progress. Nobody is 100% trustworthy except God.

Some good Adam & Eve symbolic interpretations: remember there will always be a snake in your garden. You can deny it, ignore it, or contend with it.
https://youtu.be/UyOUxXovWGA?si=pHy0uW7AUXUJ-mIz

“Contend with the chaos that disrupts order…

What do you do in the garden, given that there’s a snake in it?
You become the master of snakes.”- JP