Any Other Agnostics Out There?

[wv-girl]

Now I'll probably sound like WV-girl. Ethics (perhaps) is something that has to be EXPERIENCED - and is not something that's learned in our usual manner of expression.

The Truest and Purest Ethics stem from a Spiritual Relationship. My belief is - it has to start with my and you - it has to be a personal endeavor that takes root and carries us through life. Then I believe we need to compliment that endeavor by letting this Spiritual Experience intensify though the bonding with others. I believe our homes need to be the PRIMARY FOCUS and then we could carry that over to school, work, and everywhere else.

Well this will probably shock you - but I do not believe going to Sunday School, church, or practicing rituals such as the Holy Water, Communion, Baptism...and so forth make us any more SPIRITUAL or ETHICAL unless it FIRST COMES FROM WITHIN - It has to be an authenic INTERNAL PROCESS that changes our existence before the external events can have true meaning.

Do you consider sounding like me is a bad thing?:laugh:
Thank you for being much more articulate than I am. (You really are very perceptive) This mb is the first and only mb I have ever participated in, so I am learning(slowly) .




Not shocked. I have found that some church's can be more of the devil's (for lack of a better descriptive) playground for causing all kinds of problems within its congregation. So again we are in agreement.

 

[Steadygain]

Do you consider sounding like me is a bad thing?:laugh:
Thank you for being much more articulate than I am. (You really are very perceptive) This mb is the first and only mb I have ever participated in, so I am learning(slowly) .

Wow! Thanks for writting in 'my color'

You just keep on being EXACTLY as you are - and I'd be delighted to sound like you. This is my first time as well. I bombed out as with the TSP - so decided to seek better and more wonderful adventures


Not shocked. I have found that some church's can be more of the devil's (for lack of a better descriptive) playground for causing all kinds of problems within its congregation. So again we are in agreement.

Church is important to me for a number of reasons: I give 10% and trust that God will honor that to the Benefit of Others, I thrive on the fellowship and family bonds, it's a way of rededicating and renewing committments, I can sing with all my heart...

 

[McDuck]

 

[Birchtree]

From "The Deerhunter" one of my all time favorites.

 

[Steadygain]

From "The Deerhunter" one of my all time favorites.

Birch,
I'm honestly amazed you'd be able to watch a movie like that. I watched the lastest Rambo movie at home a month ago and that really set me back for a couple of weeks.

His comments: 'You made me this way' or 'It's not a switch you CAN turn off' really rang true for me.

I'd been doing well for quite awhile and had to go through a few tough weeks after that. The 'Deerhunter' would be too much for me.

 

[Buster]

At that instant the Atheist cried out, "Oh my God!"

Time Stopped.

The bear froze.

The forest was silent.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. "You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist, and even credit creation to cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"

The atheist looked directly into the light and said, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the BEAR a Christian?"

"Very Well," said the voice.

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke:

"Dear Lord bless this food, for which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."

 

[Gumby]

At that instant the Atheist cried out, "Oh my God!"

Time Stopped.

The bear froze.

The forest was silent.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. "You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist, and even credit creation to cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"

The atheist looked directly into the light and said, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the BEAR a Christian?"

"Very Well," said the voice.

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke:

"Dear Lord bless this food, for which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."

LOL

 

[Silverbird]

Birch,
I'm honestly amazed you'd be able to watch a movie like that. I watched the lastest Rambo movie at home a month ago and that really set me back for a couple of weeks.

His comments: 'You made me this way' or 'It's not a switch you CAN turn off' really rang true for me.

I'd been doing well for quite awhile and had to go through a few tough weeks after that. The 'Deerhunter' would be too much for me.

"Deerhunter" is harder to watch, according to my vetran neighbors, but much more to the heart of the matter. Rambo, is the nightmare, the boogie man, the worst possible outcome of getting affected by the switch, so most Special Forces, Seals and related Servicepersons my sig others knows from work he did with the Navy and Army (sorry if my terminology is off here, I am not part of the Family) hate that movie because it romantisizes and justifies that response, and sort of implies it is even....normal...for well trained and disciplined warriors. They refuse to watch it and wish it never went to reel. From what I've studied of Profiling, even the worst criminal, unless they are completely off their rocker, have a justification for what they do. So it is understandable that the Rambo brand of justification would be exactly what Special Forces types would try their hardest to reject.

So you might want to re-consider Deerhunter, except with the caveat that it IS close to the heart of the matter, and so haunts some vetrans more.

 

[Buster]

It is with all my undying respect and admiration for the men and women that served in Vietnam and all wars, that maintained this country's greatness, so I have the freedom to type this...


But, to add.."Saving Private Ryan" was also very hard to watch for the WWII vets...I seen a lot of men my fathers age leaving the theater with tears in their eyes...


Thank you

 

[fabijo]

I believe there are agnostics out there, but you can never really know what they are like.

 

[Steadygain]

"Deerhunter" is harder to watch, according to my vetran neighbors, but much more to the heart of the matter. Rambo, is the nightmare, the boogie man, the worst possible outcome of getting affected by the switch, so most Special Forces, Seals and related Servicepersons my sig others knows from work he did with the Navy and Army (sorry if my terminology is off here, I am not part of the Family) hate that movie because it romantisizes and justifies that response, and sort of implies it is even....normal...for well trained and disciplined warriors. They refuse to watch it and wish it never went to reel. From what I've studied of Profiling, even the worst criminal, unless they are completely off their rocker, have a justification for what they do. So it is understandable that the Rambo brand of justification would be exactly what Special Forces types would try their hardest to reject.

So you might want to re-consider Deerhunter, except with the caveat that it IS close to the heart of the matter, and so haunts some vetrans more.

Darling, thank you for your response but this is honestly a matter that only those who were thoroughly combat soldiers in real life and did everything possible for 'The Mission' can understand. You ARE a soldier 100% and nothing else; you are wholly government property and in place to accomplish the Mission. The better you are the more they reward you. I made the highest rank possible (which for the moment was rewarding) and was called over and over for bigger Missions. In that setting you are totally justified to do whatever it takes - and when you accomplish the goal you acknowledge the respect you've earned. In that setting it all makes sense; but this does nothing to prepare you for civilian life.

I'll never watch anything like Rambo, the Deerhunter, or anything else along those lines. Sadly enough - I am no longer qualified to be the soldier they need as I'm too old and out of shape. But my mind behaves like I'm still in my prime and ready for action - and it's the last thing I need. So thanks - but no thanks.

 

[McDuck]

 

[The HalfBreed]

One should not get Agnostics and Atheists confused. They ARE different.


Word History: An agnostic does not deny the existence of God and heaven but holds that one cannot know for certain whether or not they exist.

Word History: An Atheist is One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.



So, an Agnostic CAN believe in the existance of God, whereas an Atheist denies that one exists.

For those that get it confused, they should learn the difference between the two.