Board index › Coping in life › The Haven

I wish there was an alternative earth-world

Page 2 of 3 [ 40 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3  Next

Previous topic | Next topic

TwilightPrincess
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 28 Sep 2016
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Posts: 35,668

20 May 2019, 10:29 pm

SecretOpossumCabal wrote:
VegetableMan wrote:


I thought the purpose of the Haven was to offer comfort or practical advice for those in crisis. How is proselytizing helpful? Personally, I think this is nothing more than religious spam.


OP's point is an existential one, which Christianity deals with, nobody is going to be able to deal with that through materialism because it is materialism that failed him and will fail everyone else.

This world sucks, Christianity deals with this, because we live in a fallen world and our misery is what's supposed to bring us to God. When humanity fails us all that's left is God.

In this world we are governed by men, which makes us miserable, hence David appealing to the mercy of God rather than the mercy of men:

Quote:
David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” 2 Samuel 24:14


Hollywood_Guy wrote:
I think that is good and all, but why can't there be a "middle" neutral or third option between Heaven/good and Hell/evil?


Why is heaven not good enough for you? Heaven is about being in the company of God and having him act as our head. He is the architect of the universe therefor it's only through him as king that we're allowed to flower and flourish, as he is the truth personified. Heaven is the true country/world you're after, anything that's governed by humans will ultimately fail humans because we're not designed to act independently, everything that you can observe in nature functions and flowers through a hierarchy, even your body itself.

Twilightprincess wrote:
Nobody in the world hates me. I’m a reasonably likable person, though.


The world loves you because you remain useful to the world.

But one day you will become useless to the world and the world will hate you. As Christ said, the world loves its own for as long as its own remains useful to it, but one day that usefulness will run out, and so the truth is revealed.

In the end, the world will fail all of us. Which is why the bible often says

Quote:
The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:18


And

Quote:
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.Matthew 5:4


I’m not very useful at all. I’m quite dysfunctional, actually, but most people are good, kind, and decent which I’m thankful for.

I believe the OP said in his initial post that religion and heaven don’t appeal to him, so let’s try to keep this thread on topic.


_________________
“The darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.”
— from Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot


SecretOpossumCabal
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

User avatar

Joined: 9 Jan 2017
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Posts: 155
Location: Boston

20 May 2019, 10:50 pm

Twilightprincess wrote:

I’m not very useful at all. I’m quite dysfunctional, actually, but most people are good, kind, and decent which I’m thankful for.

I believe the OP said in his initial post that religion and heaven don’t appeal to him, so let’s try to keep this thread on topic.


As a lady you know full well of the "usefulness" this world seeks out of you, but you're at an age where your appearances will soon be diminishing. This is the sorrow that every lady has to deal with at some point or another, even now you can't compete against women who are in their prime, and you will only get more wrinkles and faults with every day

But that's what allows you to see the truth of this world and why truth is united with sorrow.

This is why God tells us not to be about outward things, because outward things don't portray the truth:

Quote:
7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7


and

Quote:
8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Matthew 15:8


The world might flatter you, but because your usefulness, appearance or function is not really who you are, the world is flattering your utility to it rather than your person. Therefor, people might flatter you, but that's only because you have something to give them.

And as Christ points out

Quote:
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. Luke:32


Anyways, It is on topic because it pertains to the existential, which regards what you can't see, and this Christianity is all about this.



kraftiekortie
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 4 Feb 2014
Gender: Male
Posts: 87,510
Location: Queens, NYC

20 May 2019, 10:56 pm

That’s bullcrap.

Ladies don’t inevitably lose their looks when they get past a certain age.

I’ve known some pretty nifty 70-year-olds.



Last edited by kraftiekortie on 20 May 2019, 10:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

auntblabby
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 115,263
Location: the island of defective toy santas

20 May 2019, 10:58 pm

kraftiekortie wrote:
That’s bullcrap. Ladies don’t inevitably lose their lucks when they get past a certain age. I’ve known some pretty nifty 70-year-olds.

unfortunately, you're in the top percentile relative to the majority masses who don't grok this fact.



kraftiekortie
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 4 Feb 2014
Gender: Male
Posts: 87,510
Location: Queens, NYC

20 May 2019, 11:03 pm

If you (Hollywood Guy) would just go to a ballgame or something, maybe you’ll gain some perspective.

I used to sort of think like you.....but then I went out in the world, and that proved the folly of all that abstract stuff.



auntblabby
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 115,263
Location: the island of defective toy santas

20 May 2019, 11:12 pm

IOW we should try to not dwell on unpleasant things we lack the power to change.



Hollywood_Guy
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 11 Nov 2017
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,283
Location: US

21 May 2019, 12:01 am

auntblabby wrote:
IOW we should try to not dwell on unpleasant things we lack the power to change.

That doesn't do anything to change the actual reality though.



auntblabby
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 115,263
Location: the island of defective toy santas

21 May 2019, 12:34 am

trudat, but it does slightly dull the edge of an unpleasant unchangeable reality. every little bit helps.



SecretOpossumCabal
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

User avatar

Joined: 9 Jan 2017
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Posts: 155
Location: Boston

21 May 2019, 1:26 am

It's a big part of growing up.

In fact, it's the main point of the Serenity Prayer

Quote:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.


Auntblabby's point on not dwelling on bad stuff is also wisdom from out the bible:

Quote:
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think on these things. Philippians 4:8


You become what you think, so always have good thoughts.

Quote:
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. Proverbs 23:7


This is why forgiving people is a major component to Christianity because you can't move on from the injuries that the world inflicts on you if you don't forgive people, and if you stew on hatred you become the thing that you hate, and so the terrible nature that people have ends up infecting you and transforming you into their likeness. By forgiving people we free ourselves from the bondage of resentment, otherwise we end up becoming reactive to every injury that comes our way like a ship with no sail or captain at the helm -- completely at the mercy of the waves.



auntblabby
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 115,263
Location: the island of defective toy santas

21 May 2019, 1:59 am


Lyrics
Gather 'round me, everybody
Gather 'round me while I'm preachin'
Feel a sermon comin' on me
The topic will be sin and that's what I'm ag'in'
If you want to hear my story
The settle back and just sit tight
While I start reviewin'
The attitude of doin' right
You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium's
Liable to walk upon the scene
To illustrate my last remark
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they do just when everything looked so dark?
(Man, they said "We'd better accentuate the positive")
("Eliminate the negative")
("And latch on to the affirmative")
Don't mess with Mister In-Between (No!)
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
(Ya got to spread joy up to the maximum)
(Bring gloom down to the minimum)
(Have faith or pandemonium's)
(Liable to walk upon the scene)
You got to ac (yes, yes) -cent-tchu-ate the positive
Eliminate (yes, yes) the negative
And latch (yes, yes) on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
No, don't mess with Mister In-Between
Songwriters: Johnny Mercer / Harold Arlen
Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.



TwilightPrincess
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 28 Sep 2016
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Posts: 35,668

21 May 2019, 6:47 am

SecretOpossumCabal wrote:
Twilightprincess wrote:

I’m not very useful at all. I’m quite dysfunctional, actually, but most people are good, kind, and decent which I’m thankful for.

I believe the OP said in his initial post that religion and heaven don’t appeal to him, so let’s try to keep this thread on topic.


As a lady you know full well of the "usefulness" this world seeks out of you, but you're at an age where your appearances will soon be diminishing. This is the sorrow that every lady has to deal with at some point or another, even now you can't compete against women who are in their prime, and you will only get more wrinkles and faults with every day

But that's what allows you to see the truth of this world and why truth is united with sorrow.

This is why God tells us not to be about outward things, because outward things don't portray the truth:

Quote:
7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7


and

Quote:
8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Matthew 15:8


The world might flatter you, but because your usefulness, appearance or function is not really who you are, the world is flattering your utility to it rather than your person. Therefor, people might flatter you, but that's only because you have something to give them.

And as Christ points out

Quote:
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. Luke:32


Anyways, It is on topic because it pertains to the existential, which regards what you can't see, and this Christianity is all about this.


As a “lady” who was never particularly attractive in the first place (although nothing has “diminished” yet), I know nothing of the kind. I know plenty of old ladies who are treated nicely, anyway. Most people really aren’t that shallow.

With age comes wrinkles but also a certain wisdom, grace, and dignity. We generally have an awful attitude towards the elderly in western culture, as is evident in your post, which I’m sick of. Why can’t wrinkles and grey hair be beautiful?

Ageism is a pet peeve of mine.

In what way can’t I compete with women in their “prime” and why would I want to compete in the first place? I’m extremely puzzled.


_________________
“The darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.”
— from Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot


Last edited by TwilightPrincess on 21 May 2019, 8:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

Hollywood_Guy
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 11 Nov 2017
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,283
Location: US

21 May 2019, 7:38 am

SecretOpossumCabal wrote:
It's a big part of growing up.

In fact, it's the main point of the Serenity Prayer

Quote:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.


Auntblabby's point on not dwelling on bad stuff is also wisdom from out the bible:

Quote:
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think on these things. Philippians 4:8


You become what you think, so always have good thoughts.

Quote:
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. Proverbs 23:7


This is why forgiving people is a major component to Christianity because you can't move on from the injuries that the world inflicts on you if you don't forgive people, and if you stew on hatred you become the thing that you hate, and so the terrible nature that people have ends up infecting you and transforming you into their likeness. By forgiving people we free ourselves from the bondage of resentment, otherwise we end up becoming reactive to every injury that comes our way like a ship with no sail or captain at the helm -- completely at the mercy of the waves.


I guess I can forgive people right now, but at the end I still want to have my fun.

This topic itself is still hard to write about.



TwilightPrincess
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 28 Sep 2016
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Posts: 35,668

21 May 2019, 7:46 am

Hollywood_Guy wrote:
SecretOpossumCabal wrote:
It's a big part of growing up.

In fact, it's the main point of the Serenity Prayer

Quote:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.


Auntblabby's point on not dwelling on bad stuff is also wisdom from out the bible:

Quote:
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think on these things. Philippians 4:8


You become what you think, so always have good thoughts.

Quote:
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. Proverbs 23:7


This is why forgiving people is a major component to Christianity because you can't move on from the injuries that the world inflicts on you if you don't forgive people, and if you stew on hatred you become the thing that you hate, and so the terrible nature that people have ends up infecting you and transforming you into their likeness. By forgiving people we free ourselves from the bondage of resentment, otherwise we end up becoming reactive to every injury that comes our way like a ship with no sail or captain at the helm -- completely at the mercy of the waves.


I guess I can forgive people right now, but at the end I still want to have my fun.

This topic itself is still hard to write about.


I don’t think every injury necessarily has to be forgiven. It can be quite freeing to choose not to forgive, but one must still find a way not to be shackled down by negativity.


_________________
“The darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.”
— from Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot


Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 6 May 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 60,953
Location:      

21 May 2019, 8:13 am

Hollywood_Guy wrote:
... This topic itself is still hard to write about.
I'm sorry. What can I do to help?

Personally, I would like a doorway into a "Beastworld", where humanity never evolved, where the air, water and land are still pure, and where the baluchitherium and the paraceratherium still play.


_________________
The mere fact that science may not yet adequately explain an object, event, or experience does not mean the immediate explanation should automatically default to a conspiratorial, extraterrestrial, paranormal, or supernatural cause.


kraftiekortie
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 4 Feb 2014
Gender: Male
Posts: 87,510
Location: Queens, NYC

21 May 2019, 8:22 am

You’re a Hollywood Guy. Who’s your favorite movie star?



magz
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 1 Jun 2017
Age: 41
Gender: Female
Posts: 16,283
Location: Poland

21 May 2019, 2:59 pm

Paraceratherium is not a good example. It got extinct millions of years before emergence of humans (about 23 millions years ago - last common ancestor of humans and chimps is estimated to have lived some 6 million years ago).
So, humans couldn't contribute to this particular extinction.
Unlike the extinction of megatherium. Or woolly mammoth. Or several other megafauna species.


_________________
Let's not confuse being normal with being mentally healthy.

<not moderating PPR stuff concerning East Europe>