My Life

[begbert2]

@DocCathode

@Cisco

Good post, but then, do you think God cares if you type the word God?

Yes, yes I do. It’s a Jewish thing. In Judaism, any writing of the word G-d, in any language, is sacred text. Sacred text cannot be allowed to touch the ground. It cannot be thrown away, but only disposed of in a special ceremony. Other restrictions apply.

The general consensus among sages is that text in the form of letters on a computer screen, or magnetic domains on a disc* lack a kind of permanency and are not bound by the regulations of sacred text. However, if somebody prints out this thread that paper IS sacred text. In order to prevent the mistreatment of sacred text, most Jews type G-d.

*I assume the same is true of optical memory. I have never gotten a learned opinion on CDs or DVDs. But, I believe they can be sacred text. If I translate the word G-d into 1s and 0s it’s still sacred text. If I represent that binary code with ridges and valleys, it’s still sacred text. If I write those ridges and valleys really tiny, it’s still sacred text.

I think the point may have been that this sacred text stuff doesn’t seem to have much to do with “Party on, dudes!”.

[Cisco]

@Inner_Stickler

He was really into not using miracles to prove his points. Basically he wanted people to accept his message on its own merits, and not because god said it was so.

This seems to lead to the conclusion that his message does not require his divinity.

[LouisB]

@BrightNShiny

@Curtis LeMay

I began learning more about theology and the Gospel and began reading the Bible

You began reading the Bible. Have you actually read the whole thing yet?

Always remember: The things you are liable to read in the bible ain’t necessarily so.

[RedFury]

@Oakminster

…Masturbation is not a sin. Also won’t get you STDs or named as a defendant in a paternity suit. Frankly, if Jesus had more sense, there’d be a commandment something like “Thou shalt choketh thy chicken with joy and not shame, so long as thou doeth it in private.”.

I Think I’m Turning Japanese
PS-In private but with company is kosher, correct?

[Qin_Shi_Huangdi]

I think my theological fright is only slightly less than that of John Bunyan. Also I’m terrified if this website is true (I’m not misled by outright blasphemers and heretics like Fred Phelps but this site couches enough Biblical quotes for most of their arguments) Basically they’re arguing that one does not have to be willing to turn from sin to be saved. http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/

[Indistinguishable]

Not sure what that website is, but it doesn’t seem like the sort of thing worth any serious consideration. Yes, I’m a design bigot… (Though the contents of the site back up my initial impression)

[Qin_Shi_Huangdi]

@Indistinguishable

Not sure what that website is, but it doesn’t seem like the sort of thing worth any serious consideration. Yes, I’m a design bigot… (Though the contents of the site back up my initial impression)

Well the guy’s a rabid conspiracy theorist but that doesn’t necessrily mean he’s wrong on everything.

[Indistinguishable]

The man believes Harry Potter is of the devil, an insidious temptation to witchcraft. The man views Barack Obama (“The Obamanation”) as America’s first communist president. The man has one hell of a grudge against the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. None of this proves that he’s wrong on everything, of course, but it does suggest he may not be of the most sound mind, you know?

[Inner_Stickler]

It doesn’t mean he’s right about other things either. In fact being a conspiracy theorist casts doubt on everything else he professes. To paraphrase from a court decision I read somewhere, if that website were to tell me the Earth is round I would immediately seek membership in the flat earth society.

[Indistinguishable]

I’m going easy on that website, incidentally, because this thread has generally been about being sympathetic to your worries and hopefully helping you shed them and I don’t need to raise issues which might instead become arguments with you, but there is a whole lot of hateful batshit over there.

Religion can fuck you up. The Bible can fuck you up. Or at least, serve as a crutch for or enabler of a fucked up nature. Some people get healthy things out of it. But for that guy, it hasn’t done good; it’s fucked him up. Consider him as a cautionary voice, yes; but in the sense “Don’t become like this guy!”.

[FriarTed]

@Indistinguishable

The man views Barack Obama (“The Obamanation”) as America’s first communist president.

Everyone knows it was Woodrow Wilson- or actually the REAL President- Edward Mandell House.

[Guinastasia]

Curtis – you said your mother is a Buddhist. Perhaps she can help you with some meditation? It may ease your mind.