Search found 286 matches
- Mon Dec 18, 2017 11:26 am
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: 21st century social conventions
- Replies: 45
- Views: 39538
Re: 21st century social conventions
Whenever I consider this type of argument I wonder why the divine individuals at the very top get a pass. Observing people trying to twist the purported sayings of Jesus into modern life or attempting to defend God's own immorality as it appears in the scriptures is an interesting exercise. But it's...
- Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:52 am
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: A Simple World View
- Replies: 16
- Views: 9434
Re: A Simple World View
Great suggestions so far.
My first real exposure to this sort of thing was - A demon haunted world by Carl Sagan.
I was pretty ticked I did not find him sooner, he's fantastic.
My first real exposure to this sort of thing was - A demon haunted world by Carl Sagan.
I was pretty ticked I did not find him sooner, he's fantastic.
- Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:49 am
- Forum: Support
- Topic: Some thoughts on life...
- Replies: 14
- Views: 7273
Re: Some thoughts on life...
I have the same thoughts all the time. I went through some tough losses while still struggling to hold onto my faith and, while it's never, ever easy to deal with loss, I believe I find it easier to deal with now as an atheist/humanist than it was as I believer. I can't even really explain it but I ...
- Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:35 am
- Forum: The Coffee Shop
- Topic: Soundtrack of the NOM
- Replies: 138
- Views: 79993
Re: Soundtrack of the NOM
Some of the tough topics on NOM lately have brought this song to mind. We are born in a diamond mine. It's all around you but you can't see it...
Creature Comfort - Arcade Fire
It's not painless...
Creature Comfort - Arcade Fire
It's not painless...
- Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:26 am
- Forum: Support
- Topic: My sister has taken her own life
- Replies: 36
- Views: 16368
Re: My sister has taken her own life
I'm sorry for your loss, Sparky. Hearing this and the other stories shared in this thread breaks my heart. I live with someone who suffers from mental illness and fears of the worst never quite leave the back of my brain. My condolences...
- Fri Dec 08, 2017 10:19 am
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: Higher Historical Criticism and Mormon Doctrine
- Replies: 22
- Views: 13363
Re: Higher Historical Criticism and Mormon Doctrine
I find religious history and the way it all weaves together and rips apart fascinating but I'm curious how you find it can be faith promoting exactly? It depends on how you view faith. If faith means orthodoxy and requiring a literal understanding of scripture, then this would be faith destroying. ...
- Fri Dec 08, 2017 9:53 am
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: Higher Historical Criticism and Mormon Doctrine
- Replies: 22
- Views: 13363
Re: Higher Historical Criticism and Mormon Doctrine
I find religious history and the way it all weaves together and rips apart fascinating but I'm curious how you find it can be faith promoting exactly? Is it because all interpretations can have a certain validity? Or maybe the doubt cast on the divinity of one religion's formation opens the door for...
- Thu Dec 07, 2017 7:20 pm
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
- Replies: 35
- Views: 30704
- Thu Dec 07, 2017 3:37 pm
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
- Replies: 35
- Views: 30704
Re: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
The "Ugh" is a response to the condescension which appears to be doubled down on, so...double Ugh? ;) Despite our occasional interactions on this form we don't know each other at all so the presumption that I, or others who've come to certain conclusions you don't subcribe to, are unstudied, shallow...
- Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:32 am
- Forum: Support
- Topic: Timothy Leary, the Holy Ghost and a new kind of religion
- Replies: 16
- Views: 11700
Re: Timothy Leary, the Holy Ghost and a new kind of religion
Sounds fascinating. I've read a lot of Sam Harris, including Waking Up, and for being such an ardent anti-theist, he is a huge proponent of scientific "spirituality". Mostly he advocates meditation but he does somewhat hesitantly suggest that psychedelics can be very mind expanding. I've never tried...
- Thu Dec 07, 2017 9:08 am
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
- Replies: 35
- Views: 30704
Re: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
The scriptures may appear contradictory to the unstudied but they also warn the reader that there will be shallow people who will attempt to twist them for their own purposes. As Peter says regarding Paul's writings: "(Paul) writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters....
- Wed Dec 06, 2017 9:25 pm
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
- Replies: 35
- Views: 30704
Re: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
I heard about the theory in seminary but it was dismissed as a "mystery". From what I can tell it was common knowledge once upon a time but went the way of many mormon ideas that made people uncomfortable: Melvin J. Ballard: as to whether or not his was a virgin birth, a birth wherein divine power i...
- Wed Dec 06, 2017 8:33 am
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
- Replies: 35
- Views: 30704
Re: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman... I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. I agree that good ole Joe ex...
- Wed Dec 06, 2017 8:13 am
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: Hey we believe in grace too!
- Replies: 13
- Views: 7472
Re: Hey we believe in grace too!
Do the gospels and/or Jesus really say anything different than "we are saved after all we can do"? If they do, I haven't seen it. It's one of those frustratingly circular arguments - I'm saved by Jesus - which means good works - which means I'm saved by Jesus- which means good works...on and on ad i...
- Mon Dec 04, 2017 4:50 pm
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
- Replies: 35
- Views: 30704
Re: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
I think that fleshes out exactly my point. Sex isn't degrading and most Christians/Mormons would agree (within limits) yet Christianity has fetishized virginity thanks to ideas like the perpetually virginal Mary and Jesus, plus Paul's stance on what makes one truly worthy to serve God. Why is it deg...
- Mon Dec 04, 2017 2:46 pm
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
- Replies: 35
- Views: 30704
Re: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
I had to laugh over the idea of going back to paganism to solve this problem. After all, Zeus was known to have all kinds of affairs with mortals. He was constantly having sex with human woman, much to his wife's anger. :D That's exactly what I'm rooting for! Of course it can be argued how healthy ...
- Mon Dec 04, 2017 10:56 am
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
- Replies: 35
- Views: 30704
Re: God and Mary the mother of Jesus
In honor of Christmas time here are some questions I have been wondering about: * Was Jesus the literal son of God and Mary? I think in order for Mormon doctrine to work out, he had to be. (1/2 God, 1/2 man and therefore uniquely able to perform the atonement and resurrection). According to Mormon ...
- Wed Nov 29, 2017 11:43 am
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: Why is D&C 19 not a bigger deal?
- Replies: 20
- Views: 11028
Re: Why is D&C 19 not a bigger deal?
Two things come to mind: 1) The D&C is easily the least read book in mormon canon. Besides some odd verses here and there (like the Eternal punishment section) mormons don't read it. Honestly I never put two and two together on that section til your post. I don't know if I've ever read that particul...
- Wed Nov 29, 2017 10:29 am
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: Brushes with "the other side"?
- Replies: 209
- Views: 158037
Re: Brushes with "the other side"?
My conclusion after having and studying the experience is that human life is about experiencing being human, that is all, experiencing the good and bad. That is what our 'eternal' being is curious about. As for what is reality, we are always in a projected, or manifested reality. I like the conclus...
- Mon Nov 27, 2017 10:23 am
- Forum: Doctrinal Discussion
- Topic: Brushes with "the other side"?
- Replies: 209
- Views: 158037
Re: Brushes with "the other side"?
I am fascinated by the discussion. Perhaps my biggest problem with putting much stock in anecdotes of a clearly distressed or injured brain is how clearly we know our perceptions are fallible. I know I've mentioned this book somewhere before but have you had the chance to read "My stroke of insight"...