(Untitled)

[rowan_tree]

So I found out I tend to escape into the netherrelm of my dreams more and more these days. Another interesting thing is I have found myself looking back as I am looking forward. I mean to say that that which once was I look ahead an see again. Not like your typical loop but as in my friends that have gone on. The ones I have all but lost contact

Comments

[midnightenamour]

i left religion long ago. i went to a mormon church once with a past friend. i will never go in one again. i have read the bible, and it amazes me how twisted the teachings of the bible have become. i remember several years ago a few mormans on thier mission came to my door and asked me if they could read me the bible. i asked them why they wanted to read me the bible and they responded "to save you," so i answered back that i have several bibles here in my house and i can read them whenever i want. the two continued about how their bible is the correct version, etc, etc. this angered me. very much. do not tell me what is and is not correct, especially pertaining to a set of beliefs. they are beliefs. not law. not fact. opinions. opinions that are unfortunatly being eaten whole by blind gullible people. there are so many religions in this world. all screaming that they are correct. they are the one that will save you from eternal damnation. but if you look closely, every religion is based off the same principals. i see each religion as another mans view on the same thing. another mans ideas of the perfect life, the perfect civilization.

but then, i did spend a few years in catholic school. i suppose that would put a damper on religious views.

"and catholic school
is viscious as roman rule
i got my knuckles bruised
by a lady in black
i held my tongue
as she told me son
fear is the heart of love
so i never went back"

this is not meant as an attack. only my thoughts.

[rowan_tree]

You opinions are your own. But to those who have religion it IS truth and IS law. You know me. Or then again maybe not. But I am a theologian. I was raised Southern Baptist and found myself squirming in my knickers (yes I has knickers) at the hypocracy i saw around me even at age 6. By age 8 and my Nana's death I never went back. Aftere that I saught out the correct path. The way we should truely act. I read the bible and realised they perverted the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. From here I studiesd with Kabbalahist, Biblical Scholars, Priests, Priestesses, Buddhists, Taoists, Wiccans, and any religion I could find.

I am blessed with a marvelous memory for facts. But more so than that I cried in earnest to whomever was in control of the universe be it Gods, or Furies, or Karma, or what-have-you to show me the truth. The truth is all religions are based on the same truths. God is eternal in his truth and told everyone the same. But Man have many diverse toungues, cultures, customs and soo the square peg became round, or triangled, or star-shaped as eash culture much less each person interpreted the teachings their own way. I mean Hitler and Mother Tereasa both read the same bible and look at their difference in legacy. I came to find out if you strip away the effects of time, custom, culture, predjustice, etc. that you would find the bare truth. Now if you did thatr with all religions you will keep finding the same truth over and over and over.

Now is the fun part. Any scientist can analyse facts and figure things out for themselves but why is it not every scholar is a priest then? THat is because religion exists not for the mind but for the soul. As you put it many people have their religions so beaten into them they are traumatized by guilt or pain or hate and they associate that bad feeling with religion. This is typically called "Losing one's faith."

There is a simple remidy for that though and that is Marine Corps Bootcamp. There is an old saying "there are no athiest in the foxholes." When put in a desperate situation every man and woman finds their faith renewed. It is up to them to accept it. For me I found the LDS church. I'm not going to preach to you why or give you a laundry list of reasons. But I will tell you the Spirit moved me. And if you've never felt the Spirit before I pity you for brlieve it or not many I have found have not. Or if they did they knew not what it was. I found all my pre-existing beliefs from my praying and searching already in tact in the Mormon church: Life before this one, NOt Heaven and hell but Spirit World and Spirit Prison, The Tri-Layered Heaven told in the Bible, and many more that I garnered from my learning and teaching.

Please remember this as well. THe Mormon Missionaries that come to your doors are typically RIGHT out of high school. Think about how well someone straight form High School can teach something. As for the church I dunno what about their service turned you off. But perosnally being one who loves theology and had read the Koran and tao and Gospel of St. Thomas and anyything I could get my hands on, it is not a streach for me to reat the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants and Perl of Great Price.

Now you don't have to take me up on this but my deepest desire is to mend the wounds between faiths. But If you want to better understand the Mormon doctrine then I'd be happy to explain any questions you may have. I just don't like to see people condemning other religions. (Partially due to the fact all have the same truth.) There is a church in town that blows up statues of buddah in their religious plays because they say they are "idols." I'm trying to teach my one friend that it is wrong. It is remarkable how ignorant they are of Buddhism but yet they condemn it. And not an attack but most who condemn things ARE blissfully ignorant of their true nature. This is just both from my studies and from history. From the KKK to the Nazis to the Crusades to the Puritans you'll find a bunch of false insinuations and assumptions.