What/how do you compare?

[Caimanson]

The best one was when they twisted Mark 14:13. That following the man with a jar of water, was an encoded message meaning that the age of aquarius was coming......

Not an impossible interpretation, but it takes a big leap of faith, unless they provide more evidence for their interpretation.
Though christians sometimes come up with some inventive interpretations as well.

[Dondi]

I was struck off by the early discussion that because no one has come back from the dead, no one really knows what to expect from the other side, that there is no evidence that there is anything beyond death, and therefore we are simply "wasting our time" trying to prepare for the next life.

Whether there is an afterlife or not, this "prepareness" in this life have vastly improved circumstances, relationships, and spiritual maturity for many seeking a higher level of life. It is the idea that there is a Higher Power that created us and therefore has a standard of living for us that is important. If we cannot achieve such in this life, then the next life is not going to be better off anyway, is it? So it how could it be wasting time? What else are we supposed to do?

[17th Angel]

Originally Posted by Dondi

I was struck off by the early discussion that because no one has come back from the dead, no one really knows what to expect from the other side, that there is no evidence that there is anything beyond death, and therefore we are simply "wasting our time" trying to prepare for the next life.

Whether there is an afterlife or not, this "prepareness" in this life have vastly improved circumstances, relationships, and spiritual maturity for many seeking a higher level of life. It is the idea that there is a Higher Power that created us and therefore has a standard of living for us that is important. If we cannot achieve such in this life, then the next life is not going to be better off anyway, is it? So it how could it be wasting time? What else are we supposed to do?

post 17....

What are we supposed to do? I could go on and on and ooon, on that subject but, I expect you know along the lines of what I would say...

You may believe that the "prepration" you do is great and makes your life better, but again, if there is no judge... Who are you to judge what is deemed an acceptable life? I would certainly not agree with that being a good life (for me personally) Weekly spending time to worship something (that in this situation it doesn't exist) I have spent idle time trying to make others be suckered into this scheme.... I have had this massive hope of fluttering off to heaven and that also doesn't come to pass... I would be indeed pissed.... All that work for nothing.. And I never experienced smoking that bong... Getting that tattoo... Having fun with that cheeky cheeky lady... OR whatever lol... I would be upset that I had sampled so little when there was so much to be sampled...

( now here is my judgement of a good life which you'd disagree with )
I want a life where I could look back, when drawing final breath and be pleased with.... I go along the lines of just live life... If there is something after this, then I would expect forgiveness... I was given a life, I used that life to live.... Simple, I do not see fault here... But if some grand inquisitor does... He should of personally made this clear to me, he has failed to do so... So I make no err, to my own personal knowledge that is I see something I have never experienced... Be it condemened by a holy book, pfffft I am still gonna do it... Cause I may never get the chance to ever, ever.... again.

[Tao_Equus]

Bravo old chap!! Well said I must say!! Life is indeed for living and those that choose to abstain from the many pleasures may live a purer life, but that purity is only that because it is undiluted with fun and pleasure and wonderful sensory experiences. We are a long time dead!! Fill your life while you have the chance!!

[17th Angel]

That is my message I am trying to get across with my previous post yes... lol.

If I am wrong.... And there is a creator... And he is of love and mercy... He shall forgive me.... Who wouldn't? If I was in that situation hell, I'd understand.. This little human has used the most awesome.... AWESOME gift I could ever give him (life) and just used it to the full he has appreciated my gift.

[Dondi]

What makes you think that you are enjoying more pleasures than I? I've been on both sides of the fence, my friend. And while debauchery has it's merits (shortlived, I might add), what I found has so far surpassed what I've indulged in the past. I feel more alive now than I ever have. I drink in life all around me. If this is all a delusion, I haven't missed anything.

[I, Brian]

Originally Posted by marb

-Like Jesus, Horus was born to a virgin, Isis-Meri, on December 25 in a cave or a manger.
-Like Jesus, Horus' birth was announced by a star in the east and he was allegedly attended by three wise men.
-Before his death, Horus had 12 disciples..
-To begin with, Mithra was born of a virgin in a cave on December 25.

I've seen this sort of claim before, and it's not founded in any fact so far as I can tell.

Try and find an original source for any of the above - I think you'll find they don't exist.

The whole Horus rewriting just doesn't occur in Ancient Egyptian mythology so far as I've read - the Horus story and the whole Osiris-Set tale is very different.

Also, there are no written records regarding the beliefs of Mithras - we have a few carvings and reliefs, but certainly nothing that offers a date.

[17th Angel]

Originally Posted by Dondi

What makes you think that you are enjoying more pleasures than I? I've been on both sides of the fence, my friend. And while debauchery has it's merits (shortlived, I might add), what I found has so far surpassed what I've indulged in the past. I feel more alive now than I ever have. I drink in life all around me. If this is all a delusion, I haven't missed anything.

Exactly... Who can judge?

I too have been on what you call both sides of the fence..... I prefer -my- side....

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by 17th Angel

Exactly... Who can judge?

I too have been on what you call both sides of the fence..... I prefer -my- side....

To Each His Own
I cannot change the way I am,
I never really try,
God made me different and unique,
I never ask him why.

If I appear peculiar,
There's nothing I can do,
You must accept me as I am,
As I've accepted you.

God made a casting of each life,
Then threw the old away,
Each child is different from the rest,
Unlike as night from day.

So often we will criticize,
The things that others do,
But, do you know, they do not think,
The same as me and you.

So God in all his wisdom,
Who knows us all by name,
He didn't want us to be bored,
That's why we're not the same.

mamarocks.com

We can still share coffee across that picket fence... Right?

[17th Angel]

Coffee? But, of course.

[Muslimwoman]

Originally Posted by Dondi

What makes you think that you are enjoying more pleasures than I? I've been on both sides of the fence, my friend. And while debauchery has it's merits (shortlived, I might add), what I found has so far surpassed what I've indulged in the past. I feel more alive now than I ever have. I drink in life all around me. If this is all a delusion, I haven't missed anything.

I agree completely Dondi.

Wil, on your recommendation I went back and tried again. My problem is how many times they stress that what they are telling us are FACTS, yet a number of times I can refute, with evidence, what they are saying, particularly with regard to the Islamic and ancient Egyptian issues. So these are not facts, so why should I believe what they are saying are facts about issues I know little if anything about? Let's be honest if we go to scientific lecture and the speaker begins by saying E=mc3 we are not going to take the remainder seriously unless the lecture is called Eistein was wrong.

[wil]

Originally Posted by Muslimwoman

Wil, on your recommendation I went back and tried again. My problem is how many times they stress that what they are telling us are FACTS, yet a number of times I can refute, with evidence, what they are saying, particularly with regard to the Islamic and ancient Egyptian issues. So these are not facts, so why should I believe what they are saying are facts about issues I know little if anything about? Let's be honest if we go to scientific lecture and the speaker begins by saying E=mc3 we are not going to take the remainder seriously unless the lecture is called Eistein was wrong.

Namaste Muslimwoman,

My recomendation? My recomendation wasn't that they were 100% right and had all the fact correct, my recommendation was that it was worth watching, in that some of the information they had was valid, and watching how they stretched it, how their bias twisted it, how they utilized it. As said by others these same techniques are used by many and it is worthwhile to know how manipulative some people and organizations can be. Also when folks come out of the blue with 'facts' and information it is places like this they are getting it...knowing what is 'out there' is a benefit.

[Muslimwoman]

Originally Posted by wil

Namaste Muslimwoman,

My recomendation? My recomendation wasn't that they were 100% right and had all the fact correct, my recommendation was that it was worth watching, in that some of the information they had was valid, and watching how they stretched it, how their bias twisted it, how they utilized it. As said by others these same techniques are used by many and it is worthwhile to know how manipulative some people and organizations can be. Also when folks come out of the blue with 'facts' and information it is places like this they are getting it...knowing what is 'out there' is a benefit.

Hi Wil

That was all I meant, your recommendation that it was worth watching, so hence I gave it another go. I see where you are coming from and as a Muslim I experience this 'twisting' in a close up and personal way. It is also nice to see that it is not just the religious leaders that do this, but anyone that wishes you to believe and follow their way of thinking. It does make me wonder how much of what I believe (of history, political issues, etc) is in fact just spin?! What a depressing thought, so maybe it really is E=mc3

Salaam