Society & Culture - 9 January 2007

Pleasant it is, when on the great sea the winds trouble the waters, to gaze from shore upon anothers's great tribulations: not because any man's troubles are a delectable joy, but because to perceive what ills you are free from yourself is pleasant. Pleasant is it also to behold great encounters of warfare arrayed over the plains, with no part of yours in the peril. But nothing is more delightful thatn to possess lofty sanctuaries serene, well fortified by the teachings of the wise, whence you many look down upon others and behold them all astray, wandering abroad and seeking the path of life: the strife of wits, the fight for precedece, all laboring night and day with surpassing toil to mount upon the pinnacle of riches and to lay hold on power.

2007-01-09 18:28:31 · 18 answers · asked by george 3 in Religion & Spirituality

2007-01-09 18:27:40 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Mythology & Folklore

2007-01-09 18:27:07 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

"The heart of the human problem for the Gnostic is ignorance, sometimes called "sleep," "intoxication," or "blindness." But Jesus redeems man from such ignorance. There is no need whatsoever for guilt, for repentance from so-called sin, neither is there a need for a blind belief in vicarious salvation by way of the death of Jesus."17 Rather, Jesus is savior in the sense of being a "spiritual maker of wholeness" who cures us of our sickness of ignorance.18"

Is there a cure for the sickness of ignorance?

2007-01-09 18:25:38 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

Judges 1:19-

The LORD was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had iron chariots.

Because I believe that you should have the entire context, take a look at:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%201;&version=31;

There's the first chapter of Judges. I'm not too sure that the context really helps in this case. As I see it there are a few possibilities:

1.) The Bible is correct, and Yahweh has a really hard time against iron chariots.
2.) These events occurred, but the Bible described them incorrectly.
3.) The Biblical narrative is correct, but incomplete, leaving out a vital clue as to why Yahweh abandoned the tribe of Judah - indeed that he had abandoned them in the first place.

and of course the obligatory

4.) This is all tribal fairy tale and doesn't need to be consistent or coherent.

How do you folks see this?

2007-01-09 18:24:48 · 14 answers · asked by The Man Comes Around 5 in Religion & Spirituality

Do you think that your religion is addressing the issues of our planet and our atmosphere, to assure that there is a safe and healthy future for them on earth?

It seems that some religions focus more on the after-life and less on the future life of our youth.

2007-01-09 18:24:23 · 12 answers · asked by ? 5 in Religion & Spirituality

I've met filipinos who say they have spanish blood in the US , although I must admit the ones I've met most do look hispanic/even spanish and could pass for one.

2007-01-09 18:21:44 · 15 answers · asked by krissy_gaviola 1 in Other - Cultures & Groups

2007-01-09 18:21:31 · 10 answers · asked by Dino 4 in Religion & Spirituality

have you ever heard of the legend of the bell witch? i grew up in middle tenn. and my father was one of the original desendants of the bell family of robertson county. tell me your story if you have ever been to the bell witch cave or the old bell homesite or school!!!!!

2007-01-09 18:21:18 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Mythology & Folklore

2007-01-09 18:21:04 · 10 answers · asked by jai 1 in Other - Cultures & Groups

I've met filipinos who say they have spanish blood in the US , although I must admit most of them do look hispanic/even spanish and could pass for one.

2007-01-09 18:20:43 · 8 answers · asked by krissy_gaviola 1 in Other - Cultures & Groups

i have always been told by Christians that God is so forgiving and loving...etc. However i am now reading the Old Testamont, Exodus, and basically God seems like a child to me. he is jealous, angry, mean, and unforgiving. he MAKES the pharoah deny Moses, and then punishes him for it! in fact, he barely seems like a diety to me, more like a greedy ruler. i am very confused. if the Bible is a guideline for the Christian faith, this must be who he is to Christians. but his character contradicts everything i have ever heard about him. please explain why he is such a jackass!

2007-01-09 18:18:08 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

According to the Gnostic gospel of Thomas:


Jesus speaks of the kingdom: "The kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty."12

2007-01-09 18:18:00 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

It seems to me that if Satan was Gods first favorite angel,wise and pure,(before becoming evil) then maybe it is some how Gods fault that he is now evil. How do you get evil from all good? It doesnt make sense, God has to be part evil, you cant get somethin from nothing, evil couldnt come from all good, meaning if God created Satan, he had to put the evil in him, Satan being the product, can only be made how God made him. And free will doesnt make sense in this situation because Lucifer is supposed to be so intelligent then he knows whats going to happen to him, i mean he witnessed everything God did to create the universe, why wouldnt he just come back to God, he cannot win, and he knows his fate. Obviously hes smartet than any person, and no person would choose this stupid choice, knowing what will certainly happen, I mean eternity is a long time. God must have made him evil to serve his purposes, which sucks for the Devil, would God make a soul burn forever that has no choice?

2007-01-09 18:17:46 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

2007-01-09 18:14:45 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

Has to be for some one who has NEVER read the bible....

2007-01-09 18:14:41 · 6 answers · asked by kinneybrundrett 2 in Religion & Spirituality

2007-01-09 18:13:13 · 7 answers · asked by jai 1 in Other - Cultures & Groups

It seems as if lesbians have not respect for men so why should the opposite be true. If a woman puts herself in a mans place, then shouldnt she be treated like a man?

2007-01-09 18:12:44 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender

Christianity, Judaism or Islam? I was raised Christian, until recently I basically began to break away from it, as I ceased believing that JC was Divine, or in some cases REAL or maybe a myth in the first place.

Practicing Judaism seems difficult...all the Hebrew and traditions you have to learn about...

Islam is difficult as well. For a while I was practicing that one. But praying 5 times a day and fasting during Ramadan was too hard and requires too much discipline. I suppose I could practice Islam and pray once a day...

OR I could just say "forget them all" and be fully Pagan.

2007-01-09 18:12:30 · 16 answers · asked by Meatwad 6 in Religion & Spirituality

I'm just curious as to what your take is on this issue.
So humans are failable and no matter what they do, they will sin. So if that is the case how guilty do you feel about sinning? You would pray and ask for forgivness, of course, but don't you just think, Oh well, I'm only human.
Now please do not feel that I am attacking your faith, this is something that I have really been curious about, I do not have some type of agenda or am trying to prove a point.
Thanks.

2007-01-09 18:12:08 · 19 answers · asked by haiku_katie 4 in Religion & Spirituality

2007-01-09 18:11:43 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

i have always heard that american girls like aussie guys?? is this true?

2007-01-09 18:11:16 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Cultures & Groups

I've heard its because the pretty and skilled women athletes are always drooled over and objectified/sexually harassed so they eventually lose interest in their sport. Do you think this is true? I think it sounds about right.

2007-01-09 18:11:09 · 6 answers · asked by P.T 1 in Other - Society & Culture

but then sigh in relief when you know its going to good causes like the Israeli government and bombing Arab kids?

2007-01-09 18:10:38 · 6 answers · asked by 818er 2 in Religion & Spirituality

2007-01-09 18:07:49 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender

and why isnt thems black peeps be able to talk right?

2007-01-09 18:07:30 · 5 answers · asked by NONAME 2 in Other - Society & Culture

IN Minhang district Shanghai CN do rich people or poor people stay there?

2007-01-09 18:06:25 · 1 answers · asked by Tega A 1 in Other - Society & Culture

Other than uor idiot president, and out teeny-bopper celebs, why do u hate us? we've gone to war for u and u guys just ***** and moan about us. we are not stupid okay?

2007-01-09 18:05:21 · 31 answers · asked by miss ya 2 in Other - Cultures & Groups

Hi, my name is Yasirah. I have a deep interest in learning more about Gulf Arabian culture (Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc). My interest is more cultural than political/religious. Im not studying anthropology...but i would like to know what opportunities would i have available to me to meet the women of the culture and learn about their everyday lives whether it is formal or informally. I was thinking i may have an opportunity if a study or work there. Can anybody tell me what to expect and what my situation would be like? I would also like to know if there are currently any student exchange/cultural exchange problems. I really need your help. Thankyou so much!

2007-01-09 18:04:50 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Cultures & Groups

Saul of Tarsus arguing with the early Christians?

Saul was a highly educated individual in the religious arts, who could easily argue with clear logic that this new religion, that had people going from door to door, was clearly a false cult. He could show Biblically that these uneducated people were being brainwashed into thinking that Jewish teachings, rituals, and observances (holidays), dating back hundreds of years, was no longer valid. Worse yet, it was being done by lower class, uneducated individuals, like an ex-fisherman (Peter) and an ex-tax collector (Matthew).

Didn't he have just as valid a point as those today, who claim good Bible knowledge, in proving that Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong? It took a major miracle to convince Saul otherwise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_of_Tarsus

2007-01-09 18:03:32 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality