11-17-2007, 05:24 PM | #31 | |
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I always come back to what is said in Isaiah. God's ways are not our ways. The scriptures are by definition, limited. How do you construct a projection from the infinite to the finite? I can sort of picture a projection from 4D to 3D, and 3D to 2D or 1D. But something that is infinite? DC19 provides an important key. Jesus, Paul and Moroni provide another key. Just accept and be nice to each other. Everything other than that will fail anyway. Paul emphasizes that even prophecy will fail. Charity is all that really matters. The more I learn about people, meet people, learn about their lives, their experiences, the less and less I believe that life is a test. I don't think God is that evil. Life is an experience. God made up an individual itinerary for everyone. Everyone needed something different, so everyone got something different. How else do we reconcile what we see here on earth? The idea that I was better in heaven and was sent to a middle class mormon family in the US and some starving kid in Africa was evil is just sickening. God isn't an asshole. Everyone's itinerary is exactly what is needed to perfect them. God is a nice guy. He likes us. We're all supposed to screw up, majorly, very majorly. It's all about experience.
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11-17-2007, 05:35 PM | #32 | |
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As an aside, for reasons irrelevant here, I can't ever imagine what another's destination will be, usually just hoping for the best for another. In fact, it pains me to think another will end up in circumstances less than ideal.
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11-17-2007, 05:50 PM | #33 |
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Celestial TEX
Terrestrial Most everybody else Telestial Hitler |
11-17-2007, 05:58 PM | #34 | |
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I tend to believe like you do about our sojourn here on earth. Thanks for the help on the Terrestial and Telestial Kingdoms. A little seminary teacher trick of the trade.
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Give 'em Hell, Cougars!!! Religion rises inevitably from our apprehension of our own death. To give meaning to meaninglessness is the endless quest of all religion. When death becomes the center of our consciousness, then religion authentically begins. Of all religions that I know, the one that most vehemently and persuasively defies and denies the reality of death is the original Mormonism of the Prophet, Seer and Revelator, Joseph Smith. |
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11-17-2007, 06:13 PM | #35 | |
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I knew, not very well, but a little, a guy who is in jail for murder right now. He was trying to get active in the church and get his life turned around. He had an awful childhood. His dad was a complete prick, beat him, left the family. The poor kid didn't have a chance. But, he tried to straighten out, but the forces were too strong. A home robbery went bad and he killed several people in a family. Tragedy on both sides. Currently, my parents' church callings are at the women's jail. Tragic stories, every one of them. These women have been so mistreated, it's no wonder they made the choices they did. I certainly can't blame them for turning to drugs, or prostitution to get drugs, or stealing to get drugs, just to make the pain stop, for just a few minutes. Some are strong enough to overcome enormous odds, but many aren't. Why God gave these experiences is in his wisdom. Why many fail to overcome is in his wisdom. Why some are fortunate enough to overcome is in his wisdom. White collar crime and sin: there are similar reasons for these as well. People just don't decide to become evil. A void in their lives is perceived and a convenient opiate of choice (be it lying, cheating, over-billing, immorality, fanatical religion) is used to ease the pain. These voids have causes, often from childhood. And only God has control over what kind of childhood a person has. One day it will all make sense. We will all get whatever we need to perfect our unique selves. His ways are not our ways. Yes, I suppose they will be glad to one day rest from their burdens. And I will be glad with them. We will all be glad, because we are all "them".
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e^(i * pi) + 1 = 0 5 great numbers in one little equation. Last edited by Brian; 11-17-2007 at 06:23 PM. |
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11-17-2007, 09:41 PM | #36 | ||
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I simply don't subscribe to the "I don't like the doctrine, so I'll make up my own" approach.
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"Have we been commanded not to call a prophet an insular racist? Link?" "And yes, [2010] is a very good year to be a Democrat. Perhaps the best year in decades ..." - Cali Coug "Oh dear, granny, what a long tail our puss has got." - Brigham Young |
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11-17-2007, 09:45 PM | #37 | |
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I'm suddenly wondering where all the murderer-defenders were during the MMM discussion. Maybe they had a rough home life, too.
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"Have we been commanded not to call a prophet an insular racist? Link?" "And yes, [2010] is a very good year to be a Democrat. Perhaps the best year in decades ..." - Cali Coug "Oh dear, granny, what a long tail our puss has got." - Brigham Young |
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11-18-2007, 01:02 AM | #38 |
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Well, only you are perfect, so everyone but you.
Well, they seemed like religious nuts. Don't know much about them.
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11-18-2007, 01:13 AM | #39 |
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One analogy I like is the story of the last supper.
When Christ announced someone of his followers would betray him, all asked, is it I? So, even those whom others hold in high esteem, the apostles of the Lord, recognized their own guilt and potential for evil. Why is it so hard to focus upon one's own guilt instead of comparing to think, "Well at least I'm not thaaat bad, as this guy over here"?
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11-18-2007, 01:30 AM | #40 | |
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We're not *really* sure exactly what we are or are not capable of doing. It's so easy because of the addiction to the Tree of the Fruit of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Constantly judging what is good and what is evil. As if the puny human mind could possibly know.
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e^(i * pi) + 1 = 0 5 great numbers in one little equation. Last edited by Brian; 11-18-2007 at 01:38 AM. |
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