Sodaiho

Reply to I am NOT Religious, I just Love G-D in Religion JoeUser Forums

[quote]God forbade the worship of statues, not the religious use of them.[/quote] Dear Lula, While I agree with you in the main, just as Zen Buddhists do not worship Buddha or statuary of the Buddha, we do not see this as idol worship as Buddha was a man. In this case, its like paying respect to a teacher. But Catholics believe Jesus was God, so I see a crucifix as an image of God and the commandments, as you actually pointed out, forbid the making of images of

An Open Hand; An Open Mind in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Morning Everyone, I am sitting at my desk listening to the coffee maker and the heater blower pushing air through our house. These sounds are so comfortable.and comforting. Student David Novotny has spent a day with us here in Las Cruces. We met at Breakfast with the Boys yesterday, then he came to the house and we visited throughout the day. I offered him some texts to study and we talked

Leaving What We Know in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Morning Everyone, The light is beginning to break on the horizon. Soft. No direct sunlight as yet. The black sky ever so gradually lightens and the stars begin to fade. It is morning of another day. Robbie the Robot is busy sweeping the floor. I have laundry in the washer waiting to be dried. But first, a sip of last night's coffee re-heated. My student, Dave Novotny, arrives to

Reply to The Rabbi And The Terrorist in Current Events Stardock Forums

Hatred for Jews and Israel runs deep among many. That does not surprise me, its been so for thousands of years. What does surprise me is the unwillingness of people to give up that hate after so long. People who hate suffer so much. Hate is so toxic. Why hold onto it? I know that Jews baffle many. We are a hard-headed people. We are often refusniks. Some of us dress funny, refuse to work on Saturdays, refuse to close on Sundays. We are argumentative and trouble-m

Reply to The Gap in Religion Stardock Forums

LW, I think it was last week when my granddaughter used me as a horse and I was on all fours trotting around the house. I think the rabbis were pointing to the serious need for study and prayer. But you want lewd? We are just finishing a tractate of the Talmud that has devoted its entirety (a couple of hundred pages) to whether someone is a virgin if they lose their hyman with a stick, among other topics. One must wonder what those old farts were actually saying and thinkin

Good Morning! in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Morning Everyone, Do we see clearly the star in the morning sky, Or is it clouded by a picture painted in our mind's eye? This coming weekend we will drive to the Refuge near Cloudcroft and sit quietly staring at our mind's eye. My hope is that our mind will slip away along with our other senses, and we will be free, clear, and present. Some 2600 years ag

Reply to The Gap in Religion Stardock Forums

LW, I just read a piece out of Pirke Avot (Sayings of the Fathers) that suggested laughter and frivolity leads to lewdness. Interesting in the context of my comment above. I knew there was a eason I shouldn't laugh so much.

Reply to The Gap in Religion Stardock Forums

Actually Sabrina, I find myself to be outrageously funny. I wobble when I walk, am constantly sleepy and horny at the same time. You are right, I suppose I could write something a bit on the lighter side. My friends and family laugh at me all the time. Maybe that's why I prefer the company of one or two people over groups? Did you watch that wonderful night sky alignment last night? Awesome.

Reply to Israel's Muslim Friends in War on Terror Stardock Forums

As simple as it sounds, I ask Arabs to simply accept that Israel exists and find ways to work with her toward making the Middle East a better place to live. But, apparently it is not that simple. Too bad. All parties need to come to terms with the fact that no party is going to just go away. And clearly interminable warfare is no answer. I would like to see a Palistinian State and Israel work with her toward a positive, healthy future. &nbsp

Reply to I am NOT Religious, I just Love G-D in Religion JoeUser Forums

I consider God is One and that there are many paths to Him. It is clear to me that some of those paths are less direct, but we should not make judgements about this. God set it up this way. Maybe a circuitous path is necessary for some. Maybe some need idols, crosses, and statues. Many some need the pragmatic "what works" path, while others see in a way that does not separate object from subject, aim from target. We human beings are in no position to discern the inequality o

The Natural State of Things in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Morning Everyone, Love and community are the natural state of things among human beings. We are social beings drawn toward each other by instinct. We do better when we work in groups. Community and the bonds that develop within community are the things that actually express our humanity. As I wake this morning I express my gratitude for being alive and devote myself to being in service to others. I rec

Reply to Write Something in Writing Stardock Forums

I write and write...rarely a comment. I suspect a few people read my blog notes, but I admit they aren't exactly for everyone. I liked the style of this entry of yours though, Roy! Be well.

Reply to Church Hunting in Blogging Stardock Forums

the power of the blood...you Baptists are too funny :) Wishing you the best.

Reply to I am NOT Religious, I just Love G-D in Religion Stardock Forums

[quote]Ah ah, let's not attribute something to God that He did not do, namely make or create Satan. God did not create the devil, but a pure angelic spirit, Lucifer. God created all of the angels good by nature, but they became evil and bad through their own fault. [/quote] This is a serious contradiction in my opinion. If God created a pure angelic spirit, where did the choice to enact evil come from? Moreover, if they did choose to do evil, it points the

The Gap in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together Good Morning Everyone, There are times when I am much less comfortable with myself than I imagine myself to be. Over the years, with practice, these times are far more rare a

Reply to Mom Has Stage 4 Lung Cancer in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Dear Mason, My ex-wife died from this disease, as well as several friends. My heart goes out to you, your mother, and family. May you all be free from suffering. I will keep you and her in my prayers. Drive carefully.

Reply to Zen Living in Religion Stardock Forums

Grandchildren are the most wonderous teachers. Be well

Reply to Gitmo and Liberal Shame in Politics Stardock Forums

The "article link takes us to Amazon.com' marketplace for an Ann Coulter book. Further Googling revealed the story posted on Coulter's blog.

Zen Living in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Morning Everyone, My granddaughter, Livvie, is at my side trying to figure out a way to distract me. She decided to attempt to staple pages of my journal together, so we made a "book" with typing paper. She decided to write her name on her book and insisted I see it. I thought it was great. At three her letters leave a little to be desired and some are upside down. I said her "V" was upsi

Reply to Thanksgiving Thoughts Good and Bad in Blogging Stardock Forums

Good advice Dr. Be well.

Thought Interruptus in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Morning Everyone, We have a our friend's dog Zeesa with us. She is a really beautiful golden retriever mutt. She and Tripper have had many playdates and Zeesa has spent days with us before. The three dogs are gathered around me as I try to write this morning. Words seem difficult to come by. Zeesa's owner's are struggling. He has oral cancer that is worsening

Reply to The Saddest story Ever Told in Current Events Stardock Forums

Good Afternoon MM, It is reprehensible that people do what they do. How to explain? Can such things be explained? And would it really matter if we knew? I think sometimes we beat our heads against the wall trying to figure out people's behavior, especially hurtful behavior. In the end, we never really know and all we've done is subject ourselves to torment. At this point, be happy you have family, that you are sober, and that you can b

Mumbai in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Morning everyone, May we all share our prayers with those in India suffering so greatly at the hands of extremist terrorists. Such barbarism is difficult to understand and we may be so angry, hurt, and saddened, as to not wish to even try. Often, any attempt to understand terrorism leads to a sense of excuse, but there is no excuse, none. Who kills men, women, and children, unarmed,

Reply to Thanksgiving At The Truckstop in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Happy Thanksgiving, Mason. Be well.

Reply to Hillary Clinton to accept Obama's offer of secretary of state job in Politics Stardock Forums

I was reading Snopes.com. Here's a report on the Canadian stystem debunking much of the nay sayers' comments: Link BTW, I took a friend of mine who has excellent private insurance to a private hospital recently. Our wait? Four hours. Be well.