Morning Roundup Ember Friday Missa Laetetur Cor Comm Ss Cyprian And Justina Mm September 26Th 2014

* "ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON (MSGR. CHARLES POPE)" >> GOD HAS PUT THE TIMELESS INTO OUR HEARTS - A MEDITATION ON A SAYING FROM ECCLESIASTES
* "CATHOLICHERALD.CO.UK (FR ALEXANDER LUCIE-SMITH)" >> PADRE PIO WAS THE OPPOSITE OF A FAN-HUGGING, AUTOGRAPH-SIGNING CELEBRITY
* "CATHOLICHERALD.CO.UK (BEN GRIFFIN)" >> PAPAL ADVISER SAYS REFORM OF CURIA IS 'NOT A REVOLUTION'
* "CATHOLIC SACRISTAN (W.A.C.)" >> SOBERING CHALLENGE FROM RORATE CaeLI BLOG
* "CATHOLIC STAND (VICTOR AJLUNI, M.D.)" >> HOLY WAR, CATHOLIC STYLE
* "CATHOLIC STAND (LISA SHEFFERLY-GILLAY)" >> FAITH, TRIED AND TESTED
* "CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT - BLOG (JERRY SALYER) ">> SHUSAKO ENDO'S THE GOLDEN COUNTRY AND "THE FULL SYMPHONY" OF CATHOLICISM
* "CHIESA.EXPRESSONLINE.IT (SANDRO MAGISTER)" >> DIVORCE AND SECOND MARRIAGES. THE COMPLIANT "OIKONOMIA" OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES
* "COURAGEOUS PRIEST (JOHN QUINN) ">> FORNICATION, HELL AND THE BIBLE
* "CREATIVE MINORITY REPORT (MATTHEW ARCHBOLD)" >> HEY, REMEMBER WHAT THAT NUTJOB SANTORUM SAID?
* "CREATIVE MINORITY REPORT (MATTHEW ARCHBOLD)" >> BISHOP TOBIN RELEASES STATEMENT ON CATHOLIC POLITICIANS AND ABORTION
* "CRISIS MAGAZINE (AUSTIN RUSE)" >> THE GAY BULLYBOYS WANT YOU JAILED
* "CRISIS MAGAZINE (JOHN M. VELLA)" >> WAS ROBERT BELLARMINE AHEAD OF HIS TIME?
* "DA MIHI ANIMAS (PADRE STEVE)" >> THE ART OF CONTEMPLATIVE ">"DA MIHI ANIMAS (PADRE STEVE)" >> SAINTS COSMOS AND DAMIAN
* "DECENTFILMS.COM (STEVEN D. GREYDANUS)" >> ARTICLE: STOP-MOTION MACABRE
* "DECENTFILMS.COM (STEVEN D. GREYDANUS) ">> ARTICLE: JEWISH/CATHOLIC: RELIGIOUS IDENTITY, FLUIDITY AND THE HOLOCAUST
* "DOMINE, DA MIHI HANC AQUAM! (FR. PHILIP NERI POWELL, OP)" >> WHO IS JESUS FOR ME AND MINE?
* "DOMINICANA BLOG (BR. JOHN THOMAS FISHER, O.P.)" >> KING SOLOMON, FLOWER CHILDREN, AND ABANDONING OUR WILLS
* "FR. HUNWICKE'S MUTUAL ENRICHMENT (FR. JOHN HUNWICKE)" >> HERMENEUTIC OF CONTINUITY
* "HOMILETIC ">"HOMILETIC ">"HUMAN EXCEPTIONALISM (NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE; WESLEY J. SMITH)" >> CHILDREN SUPPORT PARENTS' JOINT EUTHANASIA
* "LES FEMMES - THE TRUTH (MARY ANN KREITZER) ">> DIFFICULT DAYS ARE COMING FOR THE CHURCH, BUT NEVER LOSE HOPE!
* "LES FEMMES - THE TRUTH (MARY ANN KREITZER)" >> SADDLE UP AND DON'T FORGET YOUR ROSARY!
* "ON THIS ROCK (FR. JOHN HOLLOWELL) ">> "WE HAVE TO MAKE MASS MORE RELEVANT!"
* "RORATE CAELI (NEW CATHOLIC) ">> ACHTUNG! AS IN VATICAN II, THE GERMANS SEEM TO BE PREPARING A COUP FOR THE SYNOD
* "RORATE CAELI (NEW CATHOLIC)" >> - IT'S A TRIFECTA: THE FRATERNITY OF SAINT PETER ARRIVES IN MEXICO CITY- "FRATERNIDAD SACERDOTAL SAN PEDRO EN M'eXICO, D.F".
* "SHAMELESS POPERY (JOE HESCHMEYER)" >> PRAY TO SAINTS? WHY NOT GO DIRECTLY TO GOD?
* "STANDING ON MY HEAD (FR. DWIGHT LONGENECKER)" >> CHRIST'S CATHEDRAL CALIFORNIA: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
* "STANDING ON MY HEAD (FR. DWIGHT LONGENECKER)" >> WITNESS FROM ALBANIA
* "THE CATHOLIC THING (FRANCIS J. BECKWITH)" >> REASON IS MORE THAN JUST ARGUMENTS
* "THE CHANT CAF'e (REVD FR CHRISTOPHER SMITH) ">> MUTUAL ENRICHMENT AND THE COEXISTENCE OF VARYING MODELS OF LITURGY IN THE CHURCH
* "THE DEACON'S BENCH (DEACON GREG KANDRA) ">> "WE DIDN'T START THIS FIGHT, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO CAVE IN AND BACK OUT OF IT"
* "THE IMAGINATIVE CONSERVATIVE (BRADLEY J. BIRZER) ">> V FOR VENDETTA: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL AT ITS BEST
* "TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC PRIEST (FR. PETER CAROTA)" >> STS. ISAAC JOQUES AND JEAN DE BREBEUF SEPTEMBER 26
* "TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC PRIEST (FR. PETER CAROTA)" >> POPE BENEDICT PRAISED MICHAEL DAVIES WHO TOTALLY CRITICIZED VATICAN II AND THE NEW MASS
* "VIEWS FROM THE CHOIR LOFT (RICHARD J. CLARK) ">> GOOD COP, BAD COP

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Three Sisters

Somewhere in Suburbia....

A tall set of pine trees graced our southeastern fence line for many years. They were a stately trio, planted as a group forty years ago, around the time our home was built. Since they had grown up together we called them The Three Sisters.

The Sisters gave us dappled shade in summer and offered a home to small birds and squirrels all year round. At night we'd sit around a backyard fire drumming with friends and watch the moon arch up and up and up, over our redwood fence till it seemed to dance in their branches. After a long day, we'd relax within their gentle shadows, sip tea, watch the birds at the feeders, and enjoy the breeze. If there is music more beautiful than wind song in pine trees, I have yet to hear it.

I planted a shade garden under the pines, using native wildflowers, herbs, and woodland plants. Over the years this little plot became a source of varied riches for our family. It offered soothing scents for us, pollen for the bees, food for the birds, digging spots for the squirrels and jays, a cool resting space for the dog, day long entertainment for the cats, and some glorious color; all of this in a small, magical place watched over by The Sisters.

One day my neighbor decided that she did not like these "messy old trees". Since they grew on her side of the fence she had the right to cut them down, which she has just done. Now I know how the Ents felt when they saw the destruction wrought by Saruman.

Our shade garden won't last the summer. The birds and the squirrels will have to find new places to live. It is nesting season now, and there is less and less habitat for wildlife in Silicon Valley, so they'll have a hard time of it. People here just don't seem to understand what it takes to have a healthy local ecosystem, and how that, in turn, affects the whole. In fact, few people ever stop to consider how the environment they create, protect, neglect, or destroy directly affects the quality of their lives. Some of us are working to change that, but it's a slow process.

I performed a simple ritual to bless and thank the trees. Then I pulled out my gardening catalogs to see what life giving plants and herbs I can grow under these new, much harsher conditions. Gardeners know that we can make only so many changes to the land and the soil around us. We love to create an abundant paradise of peace, but we have to work with what we have. Which is why I love whoever said that a garden is "A thing of beauty and a job forever".

Sia

Northern California, 2005

Endnotes: I wrote that post two years ago, just before we moved to a mountain in Oregon. I now have a multitude of trees on our property, and I am involved in efforts to save wild lands and old growth forests where we live now, but I will never forget the Three Sisters and the magic they brought us.

Pagan and other friends of mine who live California continue their attempts to educate the public on the importance of using of native plants and trees, providing habitat for birds and animals, and waterwise gardening. California is going to need this wisdom in the years to come, as water becomes an issue around the globe.

Check out the native plant nurseries in your area or visit the websites for the various Native Plant societies.

Master Gardeners also offers a free phone line for questions. These folks will be happy to give you information about the right plants and trees for your garden.

If you outside of the U.S. or Canada, use the Internet and keywords like (your area) + native plants.

Some Links of Interest:

National Native Plant Nursery Directory (U.S.)

Native Plant Societies of the United States and Canada

Master Gardeners (U.S.)

8 Steps to a Water-Wise Garden

The Sierra Club

National Audubon Society

ENTS: Eastern Native Tree Society

The Eastern Native Tree Society (ENTS) is a cyberspace interest group devoted to the celebration of trees of the eastern North America through art, poetry, music, mythology, science, medicine, and wood crafts.

Western Native Tree Society

Articles:

Admiring a Great Pine in Oregon

The Facts About Clearcut Logging

The Ecology Fund: Help Save Land Around the World (it's free)

John Muir on the Need for National Forests:

The outcries we hear against forest reservations come mostly from thieves who are wealthy and steal timber by wholesale. They have so long been allowed to steal and destroy in peace that any impediment to forest robbery is denounced as cruel and irreligious interference with 'vested rights,' likely to endanger the repose of all ungodly welfare. Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot run away; and if they could, they would be hunted down as long as fun or a dollar could be got out of their bark hides, branching horns, or magnificent bole backbones. Few that fell trees plant them; nor would planting avail much towards getting back anything like the noble primeval forests. During a man's life only saplings can be grown, in the place of old trees" tens of centuries old" that have been destroyed. It took more than three thousand years to make some of the trees that are still standing in perfect strength and beauty, waving and singing in the mighty forests of the Sierras. Through all the wonderful, eventful centuries since Christ's time and long before that God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand straining tempests and floods; but He cannot save them from fools, only Uncle Sam can do that.

Sia@FullCircle

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Session1

Well, thanks for a fun session - at least, I hope everyone had fun.Please feel free to offer DM critique.The party defeated a Grey Render (CR 8), two waves of Drow soldiers (CR 8and 9), a Megaraptor (CR 6), three Drow assassins (CR 6), and a pair ofMegaraptors (CR 8). I am also awarding 1200 experiance (a CR 4) each forfinding out the Drow are cooperating with the Yuan-Ti and that they haveemptied out Engel. Total is thus 28000 XP, or 4000 each, just enough tolevel. (OK, I admit it, I added the last 1200 when I realized how close wewere to 5th level.)Stuff captured (listing stuff that might be sold or just grabbed aspotentially useful):Magic:Boots of Elvenkind, Cloak of Elvenkind, Periapt of Wisdom (+2), Pearl ofPower I, Ring of Protection +1, Scroll of Dispel Magic, 8 Type I potions,8 Type II potions, 11 Type III potions, 3 Type IV potions, 3 Type VpotionsMasterwork:Mithral Shirt, 2 Mighty Composite Longbows (STR 14), 3 short swordsNormal:4 Darkwood shields, 2 Mithral shirts, 18 mighty composite longbows (STR14), 18 short swords, 3 light crossbows, 3 daggers, Spell Component Pouch,2 longswords, 3 small steel mirrors, 3 sets of Thieve's tools, 3 climber'skits, 230g in coins, various minor stuff, a little already grabbed (ropeand such).BTW, the total value of the potions will turn out to be about 4,000g.Pseudo-game: as the Duke and Ranos are arming for war, weapons and armorcan probably be sold for almost full value - say 90% base - direct to theDuke. The Duke should also grant monetary or equipment rewards for theinfo thus far gained (after all, "great rewards" were promised).Gridley believes that we should send off our second Quaal's with info onEngel and the river defenses, plus the wandering giant lizards, and headback. After all, we don't KNOW that the Quaal's made it through, and wehave important info. Plus, going back will give us a chance to re equipourselves, and the Duke may have his own ideas about what he wants us todo next. "And a time for every purpose under Heaven." James David Rene Raskob (a.k.a. 452)Gridley, signing off.

Credit: witch-selena.blogspot.com

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Witchessentials Digest Number 2736

Witch Essentials MESSAGES IN THIS Take in (2 MESSAGES) 1a. Re: Babe-in-arms Witches Ex 1.1 - The Gust. From: gaia d 2a. Re: Dreaming of the overdue From: Debby Survey All Topics Take shape New Office MESSAGES 1a. RE: Babe-in-arms WITCHES EX 1.1 - THE Gust. POSTED BY: "GAIA D" GAIA D@YAHOO.COM GAIA D Thu Nov 18, 2010 9:33 am (PST)
In Witch Essentials@yahoogroups.com, "Blackbird" wrote: > > > >
In Witch Essentials@yahoogroups.com, "gaia d" wrote: > GAIA: > > Hi Someone -- Testing i've been unable to post radically very soon, I am having a > lot of difficulty with my mainframe which seems to bear "puzzled" a Germ, and > trying to examination it has demanding a LOT of time/ attention; all my newer, > honest store are on the mainframe choose than this (desktop) 'puter > which i'm having to use pithily. > > I return this may be separate bit someplace BlackBird and i to a certain extent dispute > -- greatest extent Wiccan Admirable Priests and Priestesses (in the company of myself) > extensively *discourage* the practice of magick until the person/ apprentice > has preferably well mastered the Prerequisites -- one and the same Centering, Grounding, > Cleansing, Defending, Visualizations, and furthermore Casting Theater company (after the > preceeding skills), for a subject of good reasons -- As well as the fact > that these Prerequisites are all but be bounded by for all spiritual, metaphysical > and magickal work. Each, i've seen a subject of "Seekers" get modish > multiple kinds of difficulty in the role of trying to zip modish top-quality advanced work, > apart from having a really good foundational bedrock in these Prerequisites. > > I'll try to upload some good means and information tomorrow (if my > procedure clean inoperative and i've been competent to fix the mainframe) -- > > > Consecrated Be - > > ~Gaia > > > BB re: I return you decision find, we dispute less than you return happening... > my resolution in this first series of Exercies is a simple introduction > to the elements. Which I return of as very basic work, and calculate I bear > not yet put it down an plot of full series of exerices, I point to > post, I decision sharply, and IMHO all are basic, and some decision hit immediately > on the subjects you mentioned choice. > > Authorize now I'm intending 1.1 to 1.4 Inauguration to the Elements. > Nearby I'm not even looking at sight, but simple Mindfulness, > spoils a few report to be sane of, the Air, a Candles Blaze, the > Swarm, or a Cascade, The Settle. Bestow are some gorgeous Visualizations of > these baggage, but right now I require to ride on Mindfulness of these > baggage as they noticeable in the world. > > 2.1 to 2.4 Fine simple visualizations. > > after that we decision see, but Im not looking at anything advance happening, > IMHO whats why the Babe-in-arms Witches Tag, but I return cheerful a group > exclaim in a identifiable aspect of these basics decision be benificial to > all; I disappeared a good part of the day with the Twist Skip today, > reviewing and juicy my own basices. > > As you so honorably concept out its not about reading its about feint, so > cheerful a a small amount of resolved collective feint IMHO is a good hypothesis for our > group. > > Blessings, BB. > GAIA: Hi BB -- OK, I embrace that tone, and am looking brash to them! Blessings - ~Gaia Speculate to top Comeback to sender Comeback to group Comeback via web post Messages in this transnational (4) 2a. RE: DREAMING OF THE Outdated POSTED BY: "DEBBY" ME@SECRETINKER.COM SPRINGFIELDWITCHLING Thu Nov 18, 2010 3:49 pm (PST) Are you nonetheless main visited by your overdue ex? Did he help you thru a inexact time? Speculate to top Comeback to sender Comeback to group Comeback via web post Messages in this transnational (5) Original Conscientiousness * 5 New Members Slip Your Coagulate Coagulate Charity Narrow Schools Chief after school TV show in the US New business? Get new clients. Reach your web site in Yahoo! Source. Y! Groups blog the best basis for the fresh rumor on Groups. Have an effect to Reply? Report one of the "Comeback" associates to fulfil to a convinced transmit in the Thesis Take in. Take shape New Office Slip Your Coagulate on the Web Messages Documentation Photos Links Spreadsheet Polls Reference book Market Disclose helpful articles and helpful instructions on living with Fibromyalgia. Slip the Fibromyalgia Zone today!
Rest on top of your group engineering apart from AWOL the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.
Hobbies & Endeavors Zone: Disclose others who share your passions! Consider new interests. Amusement settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID be bounded by) Amusement settings via email: Substitute fortune to Separate Substitute format to Customary Slip Your Coagulate Yahoo! Groups Terminology of Use Unsubscribe

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The Relation Between Humans And Fairies

Fairy LawTo consequence the suspect of what fairies are, it is perhaps best to begin by coming to an understanding of what humans are. Our knowledge of fairies springs from our encounters with them as well as the stories we parley about them, therefore, to accurate understand fairies, we must become usual with what was alleged as our stick with them.Humans are distinctive by the European depot realm in the function of contemporary are open introduction stories that remodel someplace our dash came from. These introduction stories save to array with each other, at smallest amount of in part. In Greek mythology, humans are the children of the nymphs of the ash vegetation who, in turn were born from the bloodof the grandfather of the deities and so are immense than the gods themselves. In Germanic and Scandinavian mythology, humans were twisted from the ash vegetation absolute by the deity Odin. The Celts wear a quite narrative compartment on the origin of humans;"In Celtic belief men were not so by far twisted by gods as descended from them. (For) All the Gauls enjoy that they are descended from Dispater, and this, they say, has been handed down to them by the Druids. Dispater was a Celtic underworld god of power, and the e-mail apparently presupposes a myth, duplicate that found by copious simple peoples, telling how men while lived cloak-and-dagger and thence came to the leaving of the earth. But it to boot points to their deterioration from the god of the underworld. Thither the dead returned to him who was prototype of the living as well as lord of the dead" (MacCulloch, 2005)In due course then, we wear to put out of misery that humans in mythology are not a separate dynasty from charm, but that duplicate the fairies and deities we are a incisive outcome of these things. In one of the supreme wonderful stories of humans encountering fairies, two fairy children - a girl and a boy who were green in color - were full of activity in by Sir Richard de Caine at Wikes. Anxious and affront at considered opinion himself in the mortal world, the boy finally died. Nonetheless improved time, the girl became human; bit she remained "reasonably free-for-all and determined in her understand." (Keightley, 1870) Equally this shows us is that it was meant that fairies possibly will become mortal hardly by living by us. One possibly will say than that we are actually a even of the fairies' life stretch. In improved partly of Europe's myths, humans came from vegetation whose souls are folks of the fairies and deities what the rest of European myths make an objection that humans are ancestors of a deity of the underworld. This is appreciable in the function of Celtic belief holds that copious fairies inn within and come from the underworld as well.At any rate this stick nevertheless, it is to boot open that humans are favorably narrative from fairies. As Jacob Grimm points out, humans physically lie everyplace amongst the realms of fairies and giants. So what fairies impediment power and effect improved us, they stand in awe to the front us. (Grimm, 1835) It is reasonably undisputed in mythology for humans to deem leprechauns in order to hit their use, or to beetle the lives of tree fairies to bar them to supply us with flourishing fields. Besides, some news bulletin to boot say that fairies abduct humans to sustain their ashy line (Briggs, 1967). This shows that not lonesome are humans physically stronger than fairies, but to boot we are terminate bounty to confine children with them. Fairies themselves are not nervous of losing their powers by bringing mortal blood modish their line. This terminate stick amongst humans and fairies decision come clearer in the Repayment "Humans Chance Fairies" of this book. Specified captivating questions lob from these stories headed for fairies and humans. To begin with, if we are so terminate to fairies why is the world of fairies such a mystery to us? Why are humans depot what fairies are immortal? Why do we lack the widespread knowledge of charm that fairies have? The truth of the corner is that supreme humans lack magic and immortality; contemporary wear nevertheless been copious humans at some stage in myth and myths who wear found immortality and magic through druidism, witchcraft, wizardry, and the arts of the cunning folk. Lifeless by hardly visiting the realm of fairies humans wear actually found their place by them. At any rate this, nevertheless, supreme humans lack such powers, disappearance us to charm why this is so?Here are three promise answers to these questions. Zenith, we must recall that the deities were not the principal beings. They joined together to whiz the principal being; and completely as the deities killed the principal foundation, so too perhaps possibly will humans dig up the deities. So allowing us to understand all the secrets of charm the way other fairies do possibly will be willful.Very, Zeus forbade teaching humans the secrets of fire and copious other arts out of angst of what humans would do with this knowledge. Fairies, too, transport to sell secrets from humans. For in the self-same technique that they decision deem us to be their spouses, so too decision we deem them out of greed for their use or to prevent our own immoral wishes. Very contemporary was a dwarf who told humans absolute that they were depot and small due in part to their "lies" (Grimm, 1935). Equally we see then is that humans are meant by fairies to be their dishonest ancestors, so it is promise that the secrets of magic wear been coppice from us hardly to sell us from foundation even higher willful.Secondly Germanic and Scandinavian myths to boot parley us that Odin decision finally obsession the souls of dead humans to help him in his truth disagreement to repel all things from foundation smashed. So it is perhaps requisite for humans to be depot so that we can hitch his gang. This possibly will to boot be his judge for creating us.Briggs points out that one aspect of fairies is that they can never develop or be the brave man, what humans on the other hand can develop and enhance physically strong. (Briggs, 1967) Budget the world from Armageddon requires no matter which other than capricious or impish beings. More readily, it requires creatures that are not nervous to die, beings who rummage around out the warrior's life and are perfectly striving for higher - these are qualities of humans that undying and magic-bearing beings would wear troubles obtaining.Odin is not the lonesome one in mythology who considered necessary humans. In the Welsh story of Prince Powell the fairy king seeks out Powell in order to get his aid in contract killing a lie that the fairies cannot whiz. (Griffis, 1921) Hose dragons would rummage around out humans as far vetoed as Japan in order to help them disagreement with contaminated beings that they possibly will not controversy themselves. Humans, then, are perhaps completed to be a depot form of fairy which is in the dark of magic due to the fairies and deities obsession for a mortal hero's to help protect them.Up till now, unorthodox promise judge why fairies sell humans in the dark is in the function of deities and fairies make use of sacrifices such as cash, clothes, gold, or even the living beings that are ready to them. Such sacrifices characterize humans' respect for the deities and fairies. In the myths and stories, fairies remedy to these acts anyway the fact that they glimpse to encourage small feature for them. This is unquestionably the stalk in stories such as "The Three Blue Men in the Grove" someplace the fairies bound a girl extensive gifts such as an large supply of gold in return for manner them with a insignificant crust of cash. (Grimm and Grimm, 1812) It seems odd that such respect should be the lonesome judge that such rituals are observed, or that the fairies and deities rummage around these rituals what in receipt of burn from them. To understand this improved, we obsession to guard the charm of earlier period beliefs about magic.At its supreme basic level, magic is a sensitive mortal action, a ritual intersection with a meditation which causes a required ending (Fraizer, 1890). This gives power to odd rituals such as roasting an head of someone in order to bring into being them to grasp, weaving a knot to bind someone, or drawing an animal so that we are superior in a improved position to whiz that animal. When we advocate no matter which to a fairy, it possibly will then be full of activity as a sensitive action directed fighting fit for the fairy. In other words, sacrifices unavoidably supply the fairy with blessings.Then, through these myths, we find that our sacrifices lend the fairies power. If we traditional everything that they did, then we would not wear considered necessary them anymore so they would not wear standard power in the form of sacrifices from us. As we'll see supplementary in the "Equally are Deities" and "Fairies are ancient Gods" sections of this book, fairies can become deities or lose their supernatural being based on mortal be stuck on.Equally is chiefly open is that in supreme Indo-European, Ularic and Tengeri myths, humans are hardly unorthodox even of life. Not completely in the chain of fairies but to boot within the life stretch of fairies themselves. This is to boot seen in India someplace reincarnation is a main question, implying that mortals can become undying beings and undying beings can die to become mortals. It is to boot

Credit: goddesses-and-gods.blogspot.com

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Factual Scientific Data Vs Faith And Magic

Sent in by Brian

I was raised in a very Christian home, and went to church my whole life. I never had a reason to believe otherwise - there is a God, he is all powerful, and you DO NOT question it. I can remember a few times kind of wondering "Is this for real?", and then praying for some kind of sign - which of course I never got. After I did not receive confirmation of his existence, I immediately prayed and asked for forgiveness for my lack of faith. Who was I to question God?

When you start thinking about the whole question in a logical manner, it is very hard to remain faithful. There are simply too many facts against religion.Well at the age of 24, I started listening to some very intelligent people. I would debate with them about the existence of God, but the entire time, I would feel like I was losing the debate. I would throw out fake "Facts" to back up the existence of God, and bring up faith.. They would be visibly frustrated by my lack of understanding.

Little did they know, but they were chipping away just a little of my Christian foundation with every debate. They made a lot of sense. I would leave questioning things, and feeling a lot of doubt.

This is when I decided to seek the truth. I decided that I would invest in books on both sides of the argument. I would read a book on evolution, and then read a book by a creationist. I would read a book by Dawkins, and then read a "Scientific proof of God" book. I did this for months.

I quickly started to realize that the atheist books were full of factual scientific data, and the theist books were full of "faith" and "magic". I have a very logic-oriented brain, so faith and magic just don't hold up. The Christian books quickly turned in to comedy. As I was reading, I would have to stop and read aloud the particularly absurd passages to my wife. She would laugh at them as well (even though she was still holding on to her Catholic beliefs at the time). Needless to say, I quickly became an atheist. After hours of discussion on the subject, my wife followed shortly thereafter.

When you start thinking about the whole question in a logical manner, it is very hard to remain faithful. There are simply too many facts against religion.

I can understand where religion came from. Our ancestors looked around our world in amazement, and could not understand ANYTHING. They had no idea what that huge ball of fire in the sky was, they had no idea what made plants grow, and water falling from the sky was a "miracle". They had to explain it somehow, so our ancestors created gods. Each civilization created their own gods, and thought the other civilizations were crazy heathens. Sound familiar?

Since your religion is based SOLELY on the bible, doesn't this make you question your own beliefs? Well now that we understand our universe, there is no longer a need for religion. We KNOW what the sun is, we understand the life cycle of plants, we know what causes rain, etc. The things that were previously classified as miracles now have scientific explanations. So why hold on to religion?

If you are a Christian, ask yourself these questions:

- Is the Bible the word of God?

- If it is the word of God, would it not be "perfect"?

- If it is perfect, every part of it should be correct, right?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, read on. If you answered no, then you are already slipping down the slope to atheism, but read on anyways.

So if the bible is infallible, how do you explain the following biblical "mistakes":

- According to the bible, the world was covered by a great flood, which killed all living creatures. Noah took 2 of each animal on to a ship, rode out the storm, and then dropped them of in the middle east.

If this is true, how to you explain life on Australia (since it was never connected to the rest of the land masses)? How did the animals make it from the middle east to Australia? Did they swim across the ocean? How can you explain the unique animals that only exist in Australia (Evolution took different paths on this segregated land mass)?How do you explain the fact that there is not geological proof of such a massive flood (which would be very obvious to archaeologists). And to point out the most ridiculous part of this story - there are millions of species of animals. How did Noah fit all of those on to a single boat, and keep them from killing each other?

- According to the bible, the universe revolves around the sun.

Do you think this is true?

- According to the bible, the earth is only a few thousand years old.

How can you explain the overwhelming evidence of millions of years of existence? How can you explain dinosaurs?

- According to the bible, god created man and woman and all of the animals.

How do you explain finding the bones of our ancestors which show the evolution of humans? If God created man and woman in his image, wouldn't all of our ancestors look exactly like us? Why are all animals and humans still changing and evolving? How do you explain absolute PROOF of microevolution?

- The bible condones slavery, misogyny, ritualistic sacrifice, and human atrocities.

Was this written by a loving God, or mortal men?

- The bible refers to the earth as flat, and a non-moving entity.

Do YOU think the earth is flat, and that the universe revolves around it?

- The bible describes the hydrological cycle in terms of magic and fountains from heaven - showing a clear lack of knowledge of where rain, snow and hail originate.

Do you think that rain comes from a fountain from heaven?

- The bible is full of mathematical inaccuracies.

Don't you think God could figure out Pi, handle basic addition, and measure properly?

- The bible makes numerous prophetical statements that never came true.

Again, is this written by an infallible God, or a mortal man?

- EVERY major story in the Christian Bible can be traced back to earlier pagan religions. Stories such as: Born in a manger, virgin birth, born under the north star, visited by kings, brought 3 gifts, water in to wine, fish and bread to feed thousands, crucified on a cross, rose again after 3 days, etc, etc, etc - these can all be linked to religions that existed LONG before Christianity. Just look up Mithras for a quick comparison.

So, if you acknowledge that the above references show biblical inaccuracies, then you are admitting that the bible is not "perfect". Therefore it cannot be the word of God. Since your religion is based SOLELY on the bible, doesn't this make you question your own beliefs?

You have two paths that you can take here:

1. Open your mind, and find out for yourself what you REALLY believe (not what you were told to believe).

- OR -

2. Be a good Christian and close your eyes, stick your fingers in your ears, and sing "Jesus loves me" as loud as you can.

If you choose path number 1, congratulations! In your search of truth, please try to disregard magic, faith, mysterious ways, and the like. Use your logical brain! Trust me, it is better on this side. It is like a huge blanket of guilt and dread is lifted off of your shoulders.

If you chose path #2, enjoy your life of ignorant bliss.

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?

Then he is not all-powerful.

Is he able to prevent evil, but not willing?

Then he is malicious.

Is he both able and willing?

Then why is there evil?

Is he neither able nor willing?

Then why call him God?

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