Religion & Spirituality - 27 December 2007

i found this best answer in someones else question about casting the circle and i want to know if this is right and if there is something missing:
You'll need something to represent the elements, inscence sticks (air), a candle(fire), a small bowl of water(water), and some salt(earth).
Light the inscence and the candle.
Take the inscence and walk around the space you wish to cast circle, and say
"by the air that is her breath"
Now replace the incence with the candle and repeat the motion around the circle and say,
"by the fire that is her bright spirit"
Now take the bowl of water, and dip your fingers into it, and flick water around the circle as you go, saying,
"by the living waters of her womb"
Now take the salt and sprinkle it around the circle saying
"and by the earth that is her body"
Now stand at your alter and say
"the circle is cast, we are between the worlds, byond the bounds of time, where day and night, birth and death, joy and sorrow meet as one".

As you move around the circle with the elements you should imagine/feel their qualities, their spirit surrounding and protecting you, and the space you'll be working in.
It's not a complex casting, but it is simple, and it is easy.

2007-12-27 11:10:55 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous

We all know that material substances exist within space-time. If the soul is an immaterial substance where does it exist?

2007-12-27 11:07:39 · 18 answers · asked by Future 5

Quiet often there will be instances where religion will appear to border on child abuse.
For one thing, I dont think children should be forced and coerced into a religion, denying them their constitutional freedoms of thought, speech and religion. They may not be able to assert them when young but when they are older they are unable to think beyond what has been drilled into them with horrendous stories of hell and how so and so died for their sins and all the punishments awaiting for them.
I think children should be exposed to a variety of faiths and the option of non-belief and then they should be able to decide for themselves rather than just be forced into the religion of their parents.

Secondly, there are parents who will force their children/youth to comply with the rules of their religion i.e. going to church, dressing modestly, denying certain medical options i.e. birth control, sex education and in some instances blood transfusions.

Any thoughts?

2007-12-27 11:05:58 · 28 answers · asked by Vampie 7

lol x 1,000,000

2007-12-27 11:04:19 · 50 answers · asked by Anonymous

I am a 23 year old virgin and Christian. I have had my share of losers. I am so tired of settling because in the past that is basically what I was doing. I am on a new level now and my list contains 100 things that I want my mate to have. I know that no one is perfect and neither am I . But I refuse to settle just because I want a boyfriend. I want something different because I am tired of playing games. I know God will send what I want I just have to pray about it and be patient. When praises go up blessings come down.

2007-12-27 11:03:22 · 8 answers · asked by shortstump911 1

And now i dont do what i use to and now uth group is over i dont do what i did before. i want to get closer to God what can i do please help.

2007-12-27 11:00:31 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-5;14

2007-12-27 11:00:24 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous

my aunt is an jehovah witness i asked her why they dont celebrate christmas or birthdays she answered Jesus told us to celebrate his death not his birth. okay i understand that so why cant they celebrate other birthdays?

2007-12-27 10:58:20 · 19 answers · asked by Nena87 1

You see this subject has come up a few times lately and when I answer I speak the truth - that the Bible says to abstain from blood. I also state that since no-one was doing blood transfusions at the time the Bible was written, this no doubt refers to eating or drinking it, and must have been put in the Bible as a health warning - since people in the desert, dangerously thirsty, might well consider drinking something they wouldn't normally, and drinking blood (or urine) would have the same effect as drinking seawater. Usually I also put in the sources section that I am a volunteer blood donor.

For this I always get thumbs down, and it's not just the Jehovah's Witnesses that are doing it as there are too many TDs for them alone. You must think this is a bad answer, or plain wrong. Why?

2007-12-27 10:57:57 · 20 answers · asked by Citizen Justin 7

2007-12-27 10:57:57 · 39 answers · asked by Anonymous

i dont think so.
but can any stoner athiest prove it?

2007-12-27 10:56:33 · 22 answers · asked by Priestcalling 3

Who are these people who mock the believers,
they are so rude and pompous
Question to those, WHY

2007-12-27 10:56:25 · 27 answers · asked by denis9705 5

I do NOT mean "raised Christian". I mean can you be a converted/believing Christian and NOT have a personal relationship with Christ?
I just wonder.....I KNOW that no one is perfect, but I know fellow Christians who are so consistently mean/rude/jugdmental and I wonder if they even have a relationship with Christ. I am not JUDGING them (I am not saying they are bad people/going to hell, anything like that), but I am curios if it is possible to BE a Christian but not know Christ......and is it possible to KNOW Christ, but not act like someone who is striving to follow him?
What do you think?

2007-12-27 10:56:21 · 22 answers · asked by Sunny And '74 4

How do you break from an addiction to a fetish? How do you keep from being so depressed if you dafault and endulge in it again?

2007-12-27 10:54:51 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

Like being a piece on a chess board waiting for the higher forces to make their next move with you.

2007-12-27 10:50:52 · 17 answers · asked by Obanroo 4

I'm wondering if anyone could tell me what is closer or the closest to heaven if "the kingdom of heaven is AT HAND", (where is heaven?) it's been 2000 years and if he really meant that it was close in time, then people must have waited a long time for promises "The time is at hand sweety...". It's also been translated as "is near." and "is coming closer". Now, why would Jesus say that if its been 2000 years?! This must also be a parable, only for those to understand it who get it...

2007-12-27 10:50:49 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-12-27 10:49:54 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-12-27 10:49:06 · 38 answers · asked by Guy 2

How do you cope with changing religious beliefs?

I don't believe exactly the same dogma I was taught as a child anymore. But I don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater (so to speak).

How do you deal with the disillusionment and hurt of finding out that you no longer believe what your folks taught you but still continue to be a spiritual person?

(Source: L)

2007-12-27 10:48:51 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous

When a new religion takes the place of an old one, there is inevitably bloodshed. I mean, the proponents of the new religion are trying to convince people to forsake their existing religion. The thing is, the proponents don’t have more proof for the new religion or tangible evidence of any sort, all they have is their word, but in the case of Christianity, they had a book. Wow! A book in an age where 90% of people were illiterate. So they must have used violence, but of course, bloodshed at the start of religion has such dark connotations, so knowledge of it was suppressed wasn’t it?

2007-12-27 10:47:51 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-12-27 10:45:47 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous

I went to talk to a priest today about getting baptized; he flat out told me that I am nothing, and that I am not even allowed in church, let alone confession. I am sure he didn't mean it how I took it, but he was in such haste and a bit rude, I took offense anyway. Everyone in my family has been baptized (Catholic). When I told my mum about it she took me to the Catholic church down the road where we live and one of the lady's there was appauled to hear what was said, and she told me that I could still go to church, I just can't get communion until I am baptized, and in order for me to get baptized, I have to attend class in July, until next Easter (which is when I will get baptized, received the three sacraments, etc.) Until then my mum said I am Catholic in my heart, haha, and to wait until Easter.

I'm twenty years old now, and by the time I get baptized I will be twenty-one. Has anyone else gotten baptized at this late an age, and could anyone tell me what it will be like?

2007-12-27 10:44:07 · 20 answers · asked by Anja 3

2007-12-27 10:43:45 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous

Lets do a round of judging, instead of all the hypocritical behaviour such as: I dont judge anyone.

Give me your best shot.

Whats your most hatefilled judgement of someone so far?

Note: if you use swear words you might be reported so, use proper wording. Thank you

2007-12-27 10:40:32 · 12 answers · asked by Antares 6

meant as a question of psychology not as a slam on the clergy.

2007-12-27 10:39:06 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

Do you think that they way you treat others is drawing them to Christ or pushing them away? Do you talk to people in a way that will cause them to turn from Christ?
Sometimes I am amazed to find out some people are fellow Christians-aren't we supposed to let his light shine from within us, rather than hide it under a blanket or mean speech, accusatory words, judgmental behavior, and harshness? Sometimes I meet people who claim to be fellow Christians who are the least Christ-like people you could ever meet.
If you are one of these people who claims to be a Christian, yet treats people harshly and with quick words, do you care that if they turn away from God their blood is on your hands?
Just wondering............

2007-12-27 10:36:36 · 29 answers · asked by Sunny And '74 4

2007-12-27 10:34:37 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous

Out of the last 50 questions, at least 10 were something like "Atheist/Athiests/Athesists?!?!?! How did the universe come to existence?"

Sigh. Like all atheists are interested in science.

My basic question to all theists and atheists out there is this one: Does your absolute, complete, utter lack of knowledge on how the universe came to existence, have anything to do with your beliefs on/in/about god, gods or no gods?

2007-12-27 10:33:45 · 24 answers · asked by ? 6

i know a certain religion, i dont want to say what since im not 100% sure, that the majority believes the messiah will come within the next 400 years, and after like 1400 years something so drastic will happen , our minds cannot comprehend, and there will no longer be life on earth. anyother religion belive in this?

and if not what does your religion say about a messiah, or what will happen after messiah?

2007-12-27 10:33:12 · 7 answers · asked by pizzaboy 1

From the questions and answers the atheists provide it seems that they are barraged with Christians. They always say how we are always trying to convert them and that they always have us coming to to their door again trying to convert them. But in all my life the only people who have come to my door trying to convert me were mormons. And on answers I have seen only a couple people doing this. Honestly if this is all they use as leverage than thank you atheists for making my faith stronger :)

2007-12-27 10:26:45 · 36 answers · asked by Art 4