RE: "Acts of God" Riddle

imtempting -

Please forgive me jumping in here - ignore it if you wish - I know your question was addressed to Timothy, but I just wanted to add my perspective.

In my understand, like Timothy, it's about humility. God forgives the humble and those who ask for forgiveness with a true and open heart, and those who realise their imperfections. I don't believe God forgives everyone, but he does have the ability to forgive everyone, should they choose to accept humility over selfishness.

As for the healers and movers - the key here is that they claim that they themselves are able to heal. That is IMO - total falicy. God heals - not them. Any priest, follower or person who claims to have the power to heal is not showing humility at all. God heals - and he heals through others - but it's not their power, not their making. Only God. Jesus on the other hand, was God - and so His claim is alot different to those in modern day world.

I can 'claim' to have been healed - and you can choose to accept that it was medical or my body healing itself - although the doctors cannot account for it and I will always be just viewed by those that don't believe as just 'one of those strange occurances that happen' But I felt God heal me - I knew I was the moment it happened. And yes, hand were laid on - but that person was not doing it because they could heal, but because God used them. And no - I didn't become a christian because of my healing, I had already been one for many years, so it wasn't a reason for my conversion.

Any christian working through Gods gifts in it's purest sense will do so with humility and with conviction. No adverts, no money involved, no commitments and no comeback. Because the gift of healing isn't theres to give - it's the love of God.

Love and Blessings

[quote]Do you believe Scientology is a proper religion or a false religion? [/quote]

"The Church of Scientology is a vicious and dangerous cult that masquerades as a religion. Its purpose is to make money. It practices a variety of mind-control techniques on people lured into its midst to gain control over their money and their lives. Its aim is to take from them every penny that they have and can ever borrow and to also enslave them to further its wicked ends.

It was started in the 1950s by a science fiction writer named L. Ron Hubbard in fulfilment to his declared aim to start a religion to make money. It is an offshoot to a method of psychotherapy he concocted from various sources which he named "Dianetics". Dianetics is a form of regression therapy. It was then further expanded to appear more like a religion in order to enjoy tax benefits. He called it "Scientology".

Scientology is a confused concoction of crackpot, dangerously applied psychotherapy, oversimplified, idiotic and inapplicable rules and ideas and science-fiction drivel that is presented to its members (at the "advanced" levels) as profound spiritual truth. "

http://www.xenu.net/roland-intro.html

"January 22, 2004

Tom Cruise: Psychiatry Should Be Outlawed
You may already know that Tom Cruise is a member of Scientology, the science fiction fan club that tries to act like a religion, but lately he has been pushing Scientology orthodoxy pretty hard.

iAfrica reports:

The ardent Scientologist has now weighed in on the subject of counselling. “I think it's an utter waste of time. There's nothing scientific about it,” he fulminates. "Communication is a good thing, but I think people get more mentally out of having a good meal or going for a walk. I think psychiatry should be outlawed.”

Rick Ross makes an interesting observation:

[Tom Cruise] knows the story of an evil galactic overlord named Xenu who is supposedly responsible for the human condition. Some might observe that anyone who would swallow this story must be “crazy,” or maybe just a bit “brainwashed.”

I don't know about being "brainwashed," but it is quite arguable that "there's nothing scientific about" his religious fantasies. Arguable? No, it's more than arguable that this Scientology nonsense is not only unscientific, but it's probably a whole lot less scientific than psychiatry - a profession which itself has it's own share of problems. "

http://atheism.about.com/b/a/058731.htm

i am a Catholic..so we lay claim to being the One True Church. Snobbish, but not cultish. i am a bit suspicious of religions whose founders are within living memory, but i am not entitled to that bias.

i think the "gold standard" is the effect the religion has on its members. If they begin donating more than they can afford; refusing medical attention; quitting their jobs to live in a commune..these things would tend to make me designate a religion as a cult. Also, if the well-known methods of brain-washing were used on members and recruiting was aggressive..that too would cause me to consider a religion as a cult.

pinkpleasures

Imtempting -

A cult is defined in all the ways as above - a cult is simply a selection of people who follow a belief, that is not held by everyone - or - the majority of society. So, on an individual basis - there are many things you may deem a cult. In otherwords, if you think that something is unorthodox for you, then it is a cult.

In essence - the Romans were (during invasion) a cult as well as christianity. Both were regard as strange by the majority, both 'imposing ideas'(although it would be argued that christianity does not impose, but it is an advocate of free will) on others and both worshiping an authority figure.

scientology - the white house - even the National Organisation for Womens Rights - All of these can be considered a cult. It's a word used to justify a dislike in something that doesn't sit well with an individual. Even BDSM can be viewed as a cult - what do you think about that?

Peace and Love

It could be argued that the Dominant is the 'God' - but the reality is that to some people - BDSM is a religon - I have heard that claim b people many times - in which case - BDSM is a cult. It has all the factors for some people. And as much as you might not wish to see it, the facts are clearly there - if you want to see it - People have killed for BDSM - people have died - every single community could be designated a cult if someone wishes to - that's my point. The word cult is a scare word - a word to use when people don't understand something and have no desire to - it's no different IMO to using the words 'true' 'real' or 'gift of'. The word cult is given to give something percieved as being without body, form and substance, so it can be seen, generalised and filed - so that one can then protect oneself from being infested by it. What is a fetish? - the word is closely linked with 'cult'. There are defined rules in BDSM - those are the rules and limits and boundries set up between you and whoever you decide to work with - BDSM, to some people is a cult.

I have a sugestion(IMO) that you may be mixing the word cult up with sect - that may be closer to what I believe you might be hinting at. But even then, christianity doesn't come close. Certain sections of the christian community maybe - but not as a whole. Same for BDSM - or any other 'cult'.

No - man has killed - not christianity. You and anyone else can use religion as an excuse. The Romans(which was the initial point) murdered and killed in the name of their 'God'. Muslim extremists - in fact there is probably one well known religion who has not killed(to my knowledge) and that is buddism. The serb/croatia conflict was many deaths - the IRA- all these extremsits will kill and use religion as an excuse to target the weak and to try to absolve themselves from guilt. But it just don't work like that.

No idea - why does it matter? Only matters if they rebuild the temple. If you want to 'see' it to make some sort of proof - then you would be fooling yourself. Nothing will convince you until you are ready to accept, not what you assume, not what anyone can teach, not even what you may physically 'see' with your eyes - but what may be possible.

As for the scrolls - you will have to get a RC to answer that.

Merc, I am sorry if you misunderstood me, my thought wasn't that without religion their would be less war - because I believe that, even without religion, man will kill. Man would just find another excuse, another reason... there will not be less war, just a different excuse.

Buddism is a beautiful and just concept of self realisation and the acceptance that we are responsible. I agree with you, I truely believe that Buddism taken as a concept is void of hypocrasy. Enlightenment is the only way to any kind of 'salvation' - in truth, buddism and it's thoughts, is exactly (IMO) how a christian should approach God. I believe in God, yet I guess, I have buddist leanings and the lessons taught in buddism are the most poinant and complete a person could ever read... I completely recommend anyone to examine the teachings.

Peace and Love

What are the sacred scrolls? i have never heard of them...going to dogpile, LOL.

http://www.tehutionline.com/newpage4.htm

Can't make heads or tails of this site.

http://www.sacredscrolls.net/

A site where Jews can buy the Torah and other holy books.

metaphysical research is found on sacred scrolls referenced at this web site:

http://www.tehutionline.com/

Now; i tried "vatican sacred scrolls" and "catholic sacred scrolls" and came up with nothing. dogpile is the best search engine; so i'm in the dark.

What are these sacred scrolls the Vatican holds? Would really like to know.

pinkpleasures

LaM & Merc

I am not sure about in the usa - but in the UK and in Aus I know there were programmes broadcast that cast doubt over the moon landings - ok - call it conspiricy(sp ?) theories, but they were made by reputable sources - the lastest one in the UK was ummm about 8 months ago?

Now whether you believe the tapes - or believe that it's conspiricy - is not the point. The point is you believe in it and you believe it possible - why? Because of hearesay and what other people have taught and what you are open to hear, what you are wishing to understand. Not because you have 'walked on the moon' yourself.

You are assuming that christians believe in God and creation, just because of a few words in a book. Or that all spiritual peoples, be they muslim, jew, wiccan, buddist etc... is learnt and indoctrinated or just comes from a few, considerably short texts that you cannot verify personally. Not all spiritual people are like that - they have' walked on the moon' in some way or another, understandable to them. So although it may make no sense to you or to the finite mind, those that wish to grasp the infinite are aware that anything is possible...

Peace and Love

Sure Merc - I am not denying there is written documentation - but you still didn't do it yoúrself and until you do - it is just a story.

I believe it is possible to visit the moon - but belief and actual experience are two different things entirely.

(and don't you just love conspiricy theory?[;)])

Peace and Love