I'm just curious. I know a few of you but not many. I'm not looking for debate or comment, just wondering...

Me: Ecumenical Evangelical Roman Catholic Christian

Hedging my bets.

Unconvinced

Curious again. Need and Curly, would that be "agnostic"?

Agnostic:
1a. One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.
1b. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
2. One who is doubtful or noncommittal about something.

Ok, I'll go with that. (1b)

Hi,
Christian; Church of Christ.

Rocky path to garden.

Lol, I think 99.9% of us would agree with that one.

I guess "affiliation with a known group" is a better explanation of what I was wondering... :p

Least you kept it to 5 words or less :p

I'm A Man of God

I'm a secular Jew (agnostic), but may be going back to synagogue once my baby is born. In which case, I would then be following Reform Judaism, since it's the only choice where I live.

I am a Believer

Raised catholic. Protestant now. Though I miss some cath traditions and sneak into some services.

1, 2, 3... 15? Well close enough lol

A follower of Jesus Christ. I go to a baptist church.

1, 2, 3... 15? Well close enough lol

I guess.. agnostic

Catholic, Christian, Born Again, and good looking

Quick to follow... Jesus. That was EZ.

A child of God

A Servant of Jehovah God.

I am an ex Catholic.

If you are an "ex Catholic" It means that you did not undertand your denominational faith well. If you had you would not be an "ex".
I know. I speak from experiece.
Go back home and there diligently seek the answers to your doubts and questions. Once you have them you will know what I meant.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura

If you are an "ex Catholic" It means that you did not undertand your denominational faith well. If you had you would not be an "ex".
I know. I speak from experiece.
Go back home and there diligently seek the answers to your doubts and questions. Once you have them you will know what I meant.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcuraSir,

This thread is not meant for people trying to convert others. Please take that elsewhere.

Thank you and have a great day.

NeedKarma,
Excuse me, please.
I was merely commenting on her post and responding to what she said.
Have you told her to post such statements about her faith elsewhere?
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

If you are an "ex Catholic" It means that you did not undertand your denominational faith well. If you had you would not be an "ex".
I know. I speak from experiece.
Go back home and there diligently seek the answers to your doubts and questions. Once you have them you will know what I meant.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura

Once again, spread your words elsewhere, I am NOT interested. My spiritual choices are, in reality, none of your business. Proseltizing does not work with me.

NeedKarma,
Excuse me, please.
I was mearly commenting on her post and responding to what she said.
Have you told her to post such statements about her faith elsewhere?
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

LOL!! If you re-read this thread you will notice one thing - I mentioned what my faith is NOT, not what it is.

Reading skills are a terrible thing to lose.

LOL!

Thanks for you answers.
I have no objection to where you stand.
I was merely trying to be helpful on your spiriyual journey.
If that is a sin I'm guilty.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

Thanks for you answers.
I have no objection to where you stand.
I was merely trying to be helpful on your spiriyual journey.
If that is a sin I'm guilty.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

Arcura,

I appreciate your efforts of help, but I really am not in need of spiritual guidance nor religious direction. My spiritual journey has been and continues to be quite satisfacoty although the search for me is part of life and in the search I find what resonates within my spirit.

No, it is not a sin to try and help others who are in need of spiritual guidance, but I assure you that my needs are being met by my choices.

I dislike unfriendliness of any sort, but my spine does get somewhat erect and 'on guard' when someone attempts to usurp, guide or otherwise 'direct' my spiritual choices. When I was a child I had no choice but to accept without question the religion my family tradition accepted, however, I am no longer a child nor have I been for many many, thus, forgive me if I d not accept your religious guidance, but I do accept your offer of peace nad kidness and I wish the very same to you.

Irulan

Roman Catholic Jesus is love.

Irulan,
Thank you much.
I not only wish you peace and kindness, I offer you my friendship and hope you find much joy and value in all of your journeys.
Fred (arcura)

Maybe I should have known better than to start a thread like this. I was just curious. Really. :o

Believe a greater power exists

(but what I don't know)

Jewish, by birth and inclination. Deist by belief

Irulan,
Thank you much.
I not only wish you peace and kindness, I offer you my friendship and hope you find much joy and value in all of your journeys.
Fred (arcura)

Arcura,

I thank you too and accept your offer of friendship, and hope that we may both find joy and peace in our journeys. Frindship is a valuable and rare gift that we do not always find in our travels through this life.

Irulan

Chistian/Evangelical/Creationist

Me. As opposed to anyone else

Rickj,
Thanks for starting this thread.
It has been interesting so far,
I hope other post their 5 words of who they are here.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

Rick, I too am glad you asked. It gives others an idea as to where their spiritual beliefs are without(hopefully) worrying about some debating them. I was curious about this but was too afraid to ask since I thought the thread would get out of hand. So far I think it has been under control.

Right on. Evidence of the good folk we have here on the site.

Peace and good will to all regardless of your faith or lack of it!

Yes. So far so good.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

I also think it's a really good exercise in tolerance for everyone... to be able to state our beliefs, however different they are, and not jump down each other's throats over it is a great thing. I think you guys are all wonderful! :)

Thank you!
You are also!
Fred

Devout Atheist.;)

Have endeavoured to live life much on the lines of Irulan

Trying To Be A Good Human!:cool:

Jonegy,
Good to see you here.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

Amateur

Expert

Synergism

Witness

Wonk

Thanks for the welcome Fred.

Very loosely my motto is "Live and let live" but I do have one wicked sense of humour and can be one hell of a "Devil's Advocate"

Just don't take my posts tooooooooo seriously :D

Jonegy,
Thanks for the warning.
But I'll look forward to that humor of yours, like it or not.
LOL
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

Hi, arcura,
Nice to see someone else here with the great name of Fred.
Peace and kindness to you, too.
Best wishes,
Fred

fredg,
Thanks.
Please keep in mind that the name "Fred" means peace.
It's often easy to live up to, but sometimes a bit difficult.
But we can do it...
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

Hi,
Another meaning is "peaceful chieftain".
Have a great day.

I am spiritual but confused.

Thank you, and Welcome to the site, openbook ;)

5 more words now? :O)

1. Shucks,
2. Broke
3. My
4. Own
5. Rule :p :p :p

LOL
Fred (arcura)

Self made man or...
From rags to riches.

rkim291968,
You think, therefore you are!
The rest is merely secondary.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

I am a Jehovah's Witness!

Five (5) Words

Perpetually
Curious
Student
Of
Life

(so fun, Rick!)

Thankful to be alive! (oh sorry, that was depressing! Lol)

:p

I'm a Christian

BTW
Tagging onself is easy. Living the tag is the real challenge.

valinors_sorrow,
Two old sayings might fit your post...
"Curiosity killed the cat."
And
"Satisfaction brought it back."
LOL
Peace and kindness.
Fred (arcura)

Man created religon, not GOD

Roman Catholic parcticing Methodist

P.S. No Catholic Churches within 45 miles of me..

EX Mormon with own beliefs

Christian (non-denominational)


http://www.geocities.com/aethalffxi/teu45.gifhttp://www.geocities.com/aethalffxi/musik21.gif

Im a roman catholic, but nowadays more agnostic... I believe there is a greater power looking over us in which I call God, but I can't justify what! That's why id say I'm agnostic abit confused !

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Krs.
I have a question.
What to you mean by the word justify qhen you said "i believe there is a greater power looking over us in which i call God, but i can't justify what!"
By "justify" do you mean "give good reason" or "explain" or "rationalize" that belief?
Most people can do that for whay they believe, so maybe you mean something else?
I'm a pracricing Catholic and am just wondering.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

Krs.
I have a question.
What to you mean by the word justify qhen you said "i believe there is a greater power looking over us in which i call God, but i can't justify what!"
By "justify" do you mean "give good reason" or "explain" or "rationalize" that belief?
Most people can do that for whay they believe, so maybe you mean something else?
I'm a pracricing Catholic and am just wondering.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

I basically say that I can't justify what, because I don't have a lot of faith, sad but true! I was baptised, holy communion, confirmation and even went to a catholic school, and had religion lessons everyday!
So I do believe we have a God Almighty who I call the greater power looking over us but my faith is not that strong! Can't really explain it well.
In fact I do not go to mass because mainly id feel like a hypocriat if I did.

Hi Krs

The reason you are even trying to justify your beliefs is probably because of the years of brain-washing by the 'men in black'. Man's greatest talent is his ability to use 'logic'. Try this route and see where it takes you.

I was brought up 'High' Church of England ( very near Roman Catholic apart from non acceptance of the Popes authority). As I grew older and travelled the world - met Muslims - Hindus - Budhists - et al, I began to question the whole idea of religion in general. I have ended up as a convinced Atheist - your route might be different - BUT - do not take advise from the 'men in black' or their desciples = go to what they call the main man, him upstairs and work it out with him. If you get a reply - looks like you'll be in the same **** as Geo Bush and Tony Blair.

However it goes - enjoy the journey - and I can asure you there'll be no great thunderclaps or flashes of lightening destroying you.

Im an agnostic - I guess you can say.
Certain things happened to me and my family with a lot of heart ache and I guess I took it out on God (which is probably wrong) but that's just me!

Probably yes re: brainwashing.. as I suppose most religions are. People are brainwashed!

I like to believe that by being a good person doesn't mean because you are catholic, christians, muslims or whatever because so many religious people do bad things in life i.e kill others for the name of whatever - being a good person is by not harming anybody and leading a good life in general.
If you see my point!

And also these days science has proved so many things.
Like for example I just can't believe God created Earth and God created humans.. besides tha fact that it just seems so unreal to me and plus scientists have proved otherwise

RickJ - this is another
Sorry I'm going to drive u mad :(

Ecumenical Evangelical Roman Catholic Christian :D

Krs...
Your faith is weak because you are not working it.
Like a muscle, the more you work it the stronger it gets and the reward in awesome.
I get several science magazines and read a lot about it. Every new discovery proves to me that God exists.
I have seen to many miracles and had so many prayers answered that I'd be a fool to not KNOW that God exists and Jesus Christ is His son.
It all comes from working my faith.
Keep in mind that the spirituality can deal positively with science, but science cannot deal with spirituality as yet because science cannot put God in a test tube or a laboratory experiment. Therefore God is by far the greater of those two realities.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

Acura:

My saying I'm a non-denominational Christian I mean that that is the Church I was most influenced by. The Church describes themselves as such in the local directory.

I also praise God that I was brought up in a household where any strict religion wasn't required for membership. We were Catholics & both my brother & I had baptism, communion, & confirmation. Sacraments I think for the Catholic faith.

However, there wasn't anything force fed to us. At 30 I was saved & my aunt who witnessed to me showed me that it was all about Jesus, and that it was simple but true. We attended Bible study & Mass (she more than I - my excuse was that I was weighed down a bit with a newborn & couldn't always go )

But we carried on with the Christian title, I can't say for them, but for me as all of my original family were killed prematurely & suddenly.

But praise God. I'm still here. My current family told me they need me. So I guess that's the main point.

The Lord's in touch with me now. Gave me many answers, and many blessings. When you've seen the Glory of the Lord, you don't doubt Him ever again!

According to Dr. David Yount (author of Living Wisely in Light of the Afterlife -1999) " The fear of every person who struggles with faith, hope and doubt is well founded, and I share that with you. But to know God is to love him, and love conquers timidity. Grace abounds and, if we let it, will transform us into new creatures suited for eternity.'
' Should fate decree that you and I never meet in the course of this life, I fondly look forward to catching up with you in the next. Unless I miss my guess, we will both be laughing"

Dr. Yount holds 3 graduate degrees in Theology as well as a degree in psychology. A longtime chairman of the College of Preachers in Wash. D.C. a prize-winning editor of a column "Amazing Grace", & it goes on!

So yes, I REALLY believe. I think the Lord shows us proof of himself if we sincerely & humbly ask for the signs.

So, did u say 5 paragraphs or less? Couldn't do it, now that I am no longer catatonic (thankyou Jesus)

Cheers to you. :cool:

I strongly believe that at some point in our future, our understanding of science and technology will converge with our religious beliefs and faith.

Once we understand that link, we'll open an entire new era of understanding our place in the universe.

Krs...
Your faith is weak because you are not working it.
Like a muscle, the more you work it the stronger it gets and the reward in awesome.
I get several science magazines and read a lot about it. Every new discovery proves to me that God exists.
I have seen to many miracles and had so many prayers answered that I'd be a fool to not KNOW that God exists and Jesus Christ is His son.
It all comes from working my faith.
Keep in mind that the spirituality can deal positively with science, but science cannot deal with spirituality as yet because science cannot put God in a test tube or a laboratory experiment. Therefore God is by far the greater of those two realities.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

Well maybe than you answered my questions.
I prayed so much on one insitance, and I prayed from my heart with the faith I had left, and my prayers were not answered to and no miracle happened and my father was taken away from me. So that proves that I hold grudges against that. Very horrible but I just can't help it. :(

Krs:

Simon was not the only believer ever bound by bitterness. In the Book of Hebrew, a letter written to and for believers, warning is given concerning the destructive effects of bitterness.
Hebrews 12:15 - Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up causing trouble, and by this many become defiled.


Not that anyone couldn't use it but for things like these... A Spiritual Cleansing works well. That's one of the issues it focuses on. My bondage was pride. But it's not so bad because the one to be humble to is Spiritual and omnipresent. So the Kingdom of Heaven is very much within you, living this life on earth.


A Shakespeare poster had something written too: " Life is a Tragedy to those that Think...And a Comedy to those that Feel" How extreme.

So I think Spiritual cleansings change you and you find more spiritual things manifest (by that I mean to actually realize what's making things happen more)

Hi Krs, Your pain is obvious we all have been through it. I don't know where your journey will lead you, but keep your mind and heart open to learn what life is really about. Its about the journey!

Hey.. .
Whatever happened to the five words or less what are you part?? :p

I thought we had cool thing going there. . Shrugs

Sorry to be a PHATTTTT!

Hi Krs, Your pain is obvious we all have been thru it. I don't know where your journey will lead you, but keep your mind and heart open to learn what life is really about. Its about the journey!

Thanks Talaniman, I appreacite it. But its hard to accept the fact that my dad didn't die an old man..
I know this life is a passage, and we all have to go 1 day, but when you go under the circumstances he did at the age he was, its very traumatic.
But thanks again :)

RickJ - sorry to bother you, but this is another another threas that's not appearing on my profile and I'm subscribed to it!

Krs:

Simon was not the only believer ever bound by bitterness. In the Book of Hebrew, a letter written to and for believers, warning is given conserning the destructive effects of bitterness.
Hebrews 12:15 - Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up causing trouble, and by this many become defiled.


Not that anyone couldn't use it but for things like these ...A Spiritual Cleansing works well. That's one of the issues it focuses on. My bondage was pride. But it's not so bad b/c the one to be humble to is Spiritual and omnipresent. So the Kingdom of Heaven is very much within you, living this life on earth.


A Shakespeare poster had something written too: " Life is a Tragedy to those that Think...And a Comedy to those that Feel" How extreme.

So I think Spiritual cleansings change you and you find more spiritual things manifest (by that I mean to actually realize what's making things happen more)

Im not bitter thou :(
Maybe just abit angry and sad, and I think I will carry this forever.
Thanks, that's very true what you say!

Her you go Rick and in only 4 words this time...

Question ! Reason ! NEVER accept ! :D

Agnostic Spectic Confused About Believing.
5 words :)

Catholic, angry about some priests.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

Happy
Its
Back
To
Five
:)

valinors_sorrow
So
Am
I

Me And God = Good

Insecure. Tenderhearted. Want to be bad.

Unitarian Universalist Pagan... and growing. ;)

Blue oyster cult

Wise To Organized Religion

Southern Baptist

Dr. O.S. Hawkins used to say, "An inward impression, without an outward expression, is depression." That's part of the reason why I wanted to share with you the "near death" experience I had in February 1997, when I died from the flu for several minutes. My fever went over 107 degrees Fahrenheit and, instantaneously, I was suddenly in another realm. I cared nothing about what I had left behind and I only wanted to go towards the most indescribably beautiful place I had ever seen--a place that radiated the softest, most pure, white light imaginable. I was clearly seeing heaven, or a portal to heaven, from afar. It was a place of substantial size, some distance ahead of me, but below and to my left. As I moved along through space, my mind functioned no differently than before I died. I did not need glasses to see distances, either, like I normally do. Even though I did not have the sense that I had changed mentally, I was not aware of having a body. I do not remember noticing my arms or legs. I also did not notice seeing any stars, so heaven must be way above the stars.

While most of my focus was on going towards the beautiful white light, I noticed towards the end of my experience that Jesus was off to my right in more subdued light watching me. He was in the shadows, so to speak. Some people I have shared this story with have asked me how I knew it was Jesus. I said, "You you could just tell." There was no doubt in my mind it was Jesus. Jesus looked like James Caviezel in "The Passion of the Christ." The most incredible thing I remember about Jesus’ appearance was His eyes. His haunting eyes gave me the feeling that He could see right through me. He tracked me like a laser, as I moved along, and He had a no nonsense countenance on his face.

Then, just as suddenly, I came back to life. Apparently, my fever was starting to brake. My wife, who was Director of Surgery of a Texas hospital, was there when it happened.

The other reason I wanted to share this experience with you is because I believe I had it for a purpose. That purpose is to testify to the world that I have seen Jesus and heaven. They both really exist. Through Dr. O.S. Hawkins’ outward call to get involved with Evangelism Explosion 25 years ago, I heard God’s inward call to me to become an evangelist. This is now part of my testimony to you and to the world.

I'm just curious. I know a few of you but not many. I'm not looking for debate or comment, just wondering...

Me: Roman Catholic Christian


Person trying to obey God.

I'm a work in progress.

Here's my five words:

One with reverence for God, life, and humanity


M:)RGANITE - NOT a mathematician!

Raised and baptized in the Congregational Church. Around 1967 I asked myself,
"Did God make man or did man make God?" I then researched ancient pagan religions and found out where the Jewish and eventually the Christian Religion were lifted from. This took the "mystery" out of religion. With mystery gone all that was left was reason and logic.
Reason and logic shaped me into what I am today. A stone atheist. As I have stated in a prier post I have no problem with religion until it intrudes into three areas.
1- It should not be life threatening. No handling of snakes or drinking poison and especially not withholding medical attention from a child because of religious beliefs until that child dies.
2- I should not tear families apart. Such as religious cults do when they isolate a new convert from his/her family or JW's do when they "disfellow" a church member.
3- It shall not seek to force their particular religious on me by aggressive proselytism. I am happy for anyone that takes comfort and solace from their religion. I just have a real problem in believing in gods, goddesses, Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy.

Tom, just for my edification and not to trying to criticize or set you up for anything but do you ever have a problem if someone comes up to you and shares their faith with you? I understand if the person insists about wanting to talk about it but I am just talking about the person asking you what you believe or would you like to learn about -- something to that effect. If you tell them you are not interested and they leave you alone, would you feel that was intruding?

I'm looking for 5 words that describe your religious beliefs. If one chooses not to answer, that is fine. If one chooses to say "I think religion is crap" that is fine too; it directly answers the OP.

Not looking for preaching or teaching or debates. I'm just curious and just asking a question... Members may choose whether to respond to my original post or not. If they choose "not" but choose to post other than a direct response, I may excercize my administration given abilities... and edit or delete.

Now that little venting aside: please, everyone - sit back, enjoy a cold or hot beverage of your choice, and enjoy life, your family and this site.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

PS. So far I have edited/removed nothing.

Follows
Directions
Easily
Happy
Life!

Tom, just for my edification and not to trying to criticize or set you up for anything but do you ever have a problem if someone comes up to you and shares their faith with you? I understand if the person insists about wanting to talk about it but I am just talking about the person asking you what you believe or would you like to learn about -- something to that effect. If you tell them you are not interested and they leave you alone, would you feel that was intruding?

Hey Duke,

"Do you ever have a problem if someone comes up to you and shares their faith with you?"

In my job as head of security and chief escort at a women's clinic I have had 13 years of Fundamentalists attempting to convert me. I have no problem with anybodys belief system. They can believe whatever they wish. It's when they get aggressive and get in my face about it and tell me that I'm going to hell for not following Jesus that I get a little testy.

"If you tell them you are not interested and they leave you alone, would you feel that was intruding?"

Not at all! But most feel that their message or testimony is so important to my soul that telling them that I'm a atheist and have no interest in "being saved" that I now become a challenge. I'll bet that I'm the object of more prayer circles then anybody on this site. My attitude is this, " If you don't try to convert me I won't try to convert you"
However I'm always ready to defend my belief, or lack of it, if anyone wants to attack it.
Rick, You should have realized that you were asking a "touchy question" when you asked it. I'm not attempting to press Free Thought or Secular Humanism on anybody. When I make a statement I try to explain the reason that I made it. I'll leave the proselyting to others. Regards, Tom

Tom, for the sake of this thread and not going on, I appreciate your honest response. I was once a zealous Christian and although didn't try to shove it down peoples throats I probably came across that way. Now, I am less bold, especially with seeing poster's views ont his matter. As I stated in a comment, I do appreciate and respect your beliefs. I too get turned off and even sometimes embarrassed if a Christian pushes one to believe their way.

Sorry Rick for having this thread be more than what you intended it to be. Actually, all in all, I think it has gone well so far without it being a huge debate. Thanks for not editing or removing things and also letting us know. Sometimes five words is hard to explain it but it is fun!

Hmmmm, let's see if I can do it

Try being good father/husband

Catholic, Christian, Born Again, and good looking

Amen to the "good looking," Chuck. I am similarly blessed.

M:)RGANITE


Raised and baptized in the Congregational Church. Around 1967 I asked myself,
"Did God make man or did man make God?" I then researched ancient pagan religions and found out where the Jewish and eventually the Christian Religion were lifted from. This took the "mystery" out of religion. With mystery gone all that was left was reason and logic.
Reason and logic shaped me into what I am today. A stone atheist. As I have stated in a prier post I have no problem with religion until it intrudes into three areas.
1- It should not be life threatening. No handling of snakes or drinking poison and especially not withholding medical attention from a child because of religious beliefs until that child dies.
2- I should not tear families apart. Such as religious cults do when they isolate a new convert from his/her family or JW's do when they "disfellow" a church member.
3- It shall not seek to force their particular religious on me by aggressive proselytism. I am happy for anyone that takes comfort and solace from their religion. I just have a real problem in believing in gods, goddesses, Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy.


WHAT! You don't believe in the Tooth Fairy? Are you mad? Who do you think leaves the nickel?

M:confused:RGANITE

Has any one noticed that many answers here are more than five words or less, like this one?
Do you read the first 5 words and the go on to the next?
Why do people ingore instructions or requests?
Please answer each of these questions with 12 words each or less.
LOL
Peace and kindness
Fred (arcura)

Has any one noticed that many answers here are more than five words or less, like this one?

Yes, I have noticed that as well, but what can we do?



Do you read the first 5 words and the go on to the next?


No, I read the entire thing even though it breaks the rules.


Why do people ingore instructions or requests?

If someone can answer this, they are a wiser person than me.

1-Americans don't follow rules
2- They do whatever they want
3-They laugh when you ask why
4-They ask you why not?
5-They aren't listening if you answer
6-They don't care what you think
7-They will drink with anyone even Canadians!
8-As long as they bring their own beer!
9-Any more questions?
10-Pass the pint.

Bwa ha ha aha... what? Oh... so sorry, I missed that, I spilt my beer and my croch is all wet. Can I borrow your hankie? Here, never mind, I'll just use this Canadian guys hockey jacket. Now what were we talking about? Were you saying somthin?

Logical, and not a follower.

With a Catholic father, Baptist mother, I chose spiritualism.

A Human Being

ZK85
Thanks for letting us know that!
I think all here are in of them.
But one never knows for sure.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

ZK85
Thanks for letting us know that!
I think all here are in of them.
But one never knows for sure.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

That was precisely my intention :) , we all share this one thing… Humanity
Being human is what defines and binds us not our religions! Don't get me wrong religions are great but if we keep thinking of them as what defines and describe who we are then we are alienating billions of people and forgetting what is truly important! That those billions are like us in every way except for their personal beliefs… and it's a very very sad thing to see people alienated, raped, and killed all over the world through out history and the present time just because of a difference in a belief system? :(... sad…very sad… that we as humans can't understand until this day and age that all we got in this world is each other.

I love God I truly do… but you know something….he is not going to fix the world up for us! He is not going to feed the hungry in South Africa, he is not going to stop wars, and he is not going to stop murderers, terrorists, rapists, and corrupt politicians! He might help us along the way with a few pushes but he is not going to do the work for us… that's why I think we only have each other in this world and that's why I described myself as a human being, I am not a faith I am a human with faith.
Sorry I realize I went out of the subject here but I just felt I should clarify my answer.

I really hope I didn't offend anyone it was no intention of mine.

1. Five
2. words
3. or
4. less
5. please

Grateful
Grateful
Grateful
Grateful
Ermmm... Happy! :p

LOL!!
That was great!
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

Hello Fred,
A faithful follwer of Christ!

Take care,
Hope12

Wiccan High Priest and Magician

Wicca is an Old English word for wicked.
Why choose to be called that?
It does not make sense to me.
Fred (arcura)

Hi Arcura, It doesn't make sense because it's not true. You should check your source and make sure they're not putting some 'spin' on the name of my religion. Is your source scholarly or political; even handed, or something less? Wikipedia has a very good informative entry about the religion. Here is what they say about the origins of the name:

"The most likely derivation is through the Old English word wigle (sorcery, divination) from the Indo-European root *weg (liveliness, wakefulness).[27][28] Gardner and other writers on Wicca have proposed a relationship with the Old English words wita 'wise man' and witan 'to know', asserting that witches had once been regarded as the "wise" people;[29][30] Wicca is often called the "Craft of the Wise" in allusion to this derivation. Still others claim a derivation from the Indo-European root *wei which connotes bending or pliance (from which we get the words 'wicker' 'willow' and 'witch-elm'), suggesting the concept of magic as a "bending" of forces of nature."

Thanks for that infornation.
Wicce and wicca, male and female witches. Thought to be wicked persons.
I got the information from the "Dictionary of Word Origions"
The entimology also mentions wizard or wise person.

Christian, United Methodist, but don't go as much as I should :(

Christian, lover of the Truth. ;)

Agnostic, also lover of the truth.

Lol Doesn't matter, lover of peace

Endeavoring, Buddhist, Healer, Photographer, Composer. :)

I am spiritual with love!

Thomas1970,
Interesting saying!
I set traps for the mice in the house and keep the screens closed to keep the moths out.
Mice and moths can carry deadly diseases and mold and they will eat hole in your garments.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

Yes. But lack of compassion is also an affliction, and intolerance will eat a hole in your soul. ;) Caigentan was a Taoist. The Tao does not discriminate, and I try not to either. Keep spreading that peace and kindess. :)

Oh, and by the way. I have gone so far as to pull wild mice out of a friend's glue traps, getting bitten multiple times in the process. So far, no ill effects. The incidence of rabies alone in wild mice is less than .01 percent. And I'm not real concerned about Hanta Virus. That is a risk I have occasionally been willing to take.
I photograph moths all the time and wasn't aware they carried deadly diseases. Thanks for the info, but they'd likely have to have the ability to bite me first.
Do you want to know something truly interesting though? Out of the dozen or so reported cases of Beubonic Plague in the past half century, the only established link has been flying squirrels, which incidentally are primarily nocturnal. Gee Fred, if I was you, I wouldn't venture out of the house after dark unless I was packing some real good pesticide! :D

Peace and Kindness
Thomas

Aclectic
Pagan
Self practicing
... Me...

Me, myself and I

Thomas1970.
Thanks for the advice. I'll take it into consideration.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)

Compassion's my middle name. But because of the Fall of Man we have pestilents and deadly animals.
Who is wasting their compassion on pestilent insects?

Who is at the same time sarcastic & disrepectful to other humans? Not as compassionate as you think you are!

Lover of the Truth, Karma, with a capital T, which is in the Bible. So let me distinguish between your liitle t!

31Pumpkin,
Unfortunately sometimes truth is what one thinks it is, but another one does not.
Peace and kindness,
Frdd

Compassion's my middle name. But b/c of the Fall of Man we have pestilents and deadly animals.
Who is wasting their compassion on pestilent insects?

Who is at the same time sarcastic & disrepectful to other humans? Not as compassionate as you think you are!

Lover of the Truth, Karma, with a capital T, which is in the Bible. So let me distinguish between your liitle t!

I agree, I am known to have a scything wit at times. Perhaps it is one of my flaws. Heck, I never claimed not to have any. We all do.
Though I prefer to look at it more as "tough love", or perhaps "wrathful compassion" to use a more common Buddhist term. And though I do realize this term is open to a great deal of misinterpretation, properly explaining such would require me to delve deeply into works such as The Tibetan Book of the Dead, of which I'm sure you'd rather not care to hear. I have not said anything to Fred that I would not have said to my best friend under similar circumstances. My true friends understand where such words come from. It is only offensive to you, because you chose to take personal affront. I was simply trying to elucidate the point, that all animals seek happiness in much the same capacity as him.
I am a very compassionate person. I like Fred! I've never been one to dismiss people who perhaps challenge me, I rather enjoy it, it helps break me out of the occasional mediocrity of my own routines and thinking. I truly hope he finds the peace he is looking for, as I do you.
But I feel your compassion is far more limited than mine. Who is wasting their time on pestilence and deadly animals? Buddhists, Taoists, Shinto, Bon, Hindus, Jains, Native Americans, Wiccans... Well, you get the idea.
And who is to say who is the real pestilence. How about global warming, for one fine example that has been discussed here lately? There is a theory known as the "Gaian Theory" which states that the Earth itself is a living organism, and that human beings are nothing more than a pestilence, like fleas on a dogs back. An itch the Earth has yet been able to scratch. But the dinosaurs had their time, and should we continue to abuse the Earth and disrespect nearly all other life, there may well come a time that arguments such as these will no longer be opportune, if even possible.

And by the way, Buddhist teachings are collectively know as the Dharma. Dharma with a capital "D." Dharma is a Sanskrit word with many complex meanings, though it is most commonly translated as "Truth." The Dharma teaches that everyone has their own Relative Truth, but there is only one Ultimate Truth. And this latter truth is something that can never be put into words. This is a teaching shared by Taoists, where incidentally Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching" said it quite aptly in many chapters. To quote on of them:

Chapter 56

Those who know don't talk.
Those who talk don't know.

Close your mouth.
Block the door.
Quiet your senses.
Blunt the sharpness.
Untie the angles.
Soften the brightness.
Be one with the dust,
And enter the primal oneness.

One who has merged with Tao in this way
Can't be courted,
Can't be bought,
Can't be harmed,
Can't be honored,
Can't be humiliated.
He is the treasure of the world.

;)

Thomas1970.
More interesting post by you. I like them. They make me think.
They also remind me that wisdom is not confined to just one religion.
Peace and kindness to all,
Fred (arcura)

Thank you very much Fred. Your posts make me think as well. And I do appreciate what I sense as your somewhat mischievous humor, honestly inquiring intellect, and gracious receptivity coupled with a degree of humility.
I know we will probably never see eye to eye on many things, but we are stimulating some thought, mutual respect, and a degree of acceptance. I feel that is all anyone really wants here. As I always say, to agree to peacably disagree. Just respect for the fact that we're all human. :)
Thanks again. Take care. :)

Thomas,
Your discription of me humbles me. I'm please to hear it, but I must not think that way of myself.
Thank you,
Fred

Lutheran (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
www.lcms.com
Church home www.mt-olive.com

Hi Lutheranmom... I have a few relatives in the faith... do not know much about the faith...

lutheranmom welcome...
I was a Lutheran for 35 years and still like denomination much.
Peace and kindness,
Fred (arcura)