Fear

[crunchy_pickle (5)]

Fear without love without light, is the greatest Satan in the world. Fear is what brings us further from truth, trust, and love. Fear contaminates us with corruption. Fear of who we are, and where we came from. Fear to expose the light within ourselves. Fear to expose ourselves to the light and the truth. Fear of how we will look to ourselves and each other. Who are we? Why are we here? What makes us, us, and them them. We are in darkness, and we have covered the light with fear and hate. Our greatest adversary is not the Devil, but ourselves. If we had the light and the truth, religion and differences would not matter. God would be God, and we would be the like children of the light. Our love and respect would conquer all fear and darkness would cease to exist.

There comes a point in life when we have to stop blaming others whether it be each other or fallen angels for our shortcomings, and let the light and truth shine upon us. We don't need another Messiah, when he is with us, and in us. We only need to quit discovering the world around us, and start discovering the world within us.

(this was a response to a threat somewhere else, but I thought I'd share my response here as a conversation starter)

[Msterbeau]

Fear sucks. Overcoming it, once it's there, sucks.

[kellygrrrrrl]

I suppose that a lot of the decisions I have ever made have been influenced by the fear of what GOD might think of me....in some deep way that I won't get into.

I guess it comes down to morals and who's getting hurt and would I want to be treated in such ways, or how would I feel if....

Looking back in retrospec, it has only caused myself the pain....when I knew even then.

Fear of God and fear of consequence are two totally different outcomes.

Now that I look at my own world....so to speak.

[Msterbeau]

Fear has a place in our minds that does us good. It can keep us from doing harm to ourselves or others. But it can also cripple us. Whether the fear is of god, or consequences or the unknown (Or perceived) it can do us good and not so good.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Fear, no matter what camp your in (the Beleif in God camp or the Non-Believer camp), is an important part of what we are. Without fear, we would not have evolved, if evolution is what you believe in, to the point we are at now, nor would we evolve further... Without fear, noone would get into Heavan, if you are of the Faith, because Fear is what keeps us from doing bad things.

Denial of Fear... is just another form of fear. Denial of the nature of who and what we are is just another form of fear.

No matter what you believe. Every living thing on this planet knows fear, we have just evolved to a point that we think we are above it... and that denial/smuggness kills many otherwise good people.

Embrace fear... understand it. Control it. Or it controls you.

[crunchy_pickle (5)]

Fear, no matter what camp your in (the Beleif in God camp or the Non-Believer camp), is an important part of what we are. Without fear, we would not have evolved, if evolution is what you believe in, to the point we are at now, nor would we evolve further... Without fear, noone would get into Heavan, if you are of the Faith, because Fear is what keeps us from doing bad things.

Denial of Fear... is just another form of fear. Denial of the nature of who and what we are is just another form of fear.

No matter what you believe. Every living thing on this planet knows fear, we have just evolved to a point that we think we are above it... and that denial/smuggness kills many otherwise good people.

Embrace fear... understand it. Control it. Or it controls you.

I agree partially with this, but mostly do not. Fear is for certain not the way to heaven. Morality is not controlled by fear, but rather faith. If morality is controlled by fear, than Christ died for nothing. What purpose would he serve if he was just another burnt sacrifice? What freedom from sin or salvation could possibly be achieved from a sin offering that does nothing more but leave us without a greater intelligence, and in the same slavery to sin, fear, and our bodies that we were prior to the resurrection and grace bestowed upon us?

If one knows him or herself well enough religion is irrelevant anyways. Show me an atheist who fears only in the present moment when his life is in danger, and is honest to the point that he hides nothing from no one and is selfless too, and I will dare call him agnostic. No such person could firmly believe that there is nothing greater than him in this world, but such a person would be more intelligent than any Jew, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, or Pagan for that matter, and much closer to Godliness that we could ever hope to achieve.

Jesus was such a man, but let's not quibble over history here. I can neither prove or disprove history or current events for that matter, but I can say that if we had the courage to stand up for truth and justice at all times instead of cowering in indifference in the face of injustice, what would history matter anyways? We are a great people capable of so much, but we have let knowledge prevail over intelligence, and hate prevail over love. What greater moral law is there, than love each other? If we had the capacity to love each other as we loved our parents and/or children, as well as respect each other's differences what sin would we have to fear? Our doubts would subside and knowledge would turn into knowing.

[know_buddy_kares]

heh.. hehehehh.. sorry... this whole fear/love thing reminds me way too much of Donnie Darko.

[BrassFusion]

Are you afraid to die if your God's been imaginary all along?

[crunchy_pickle (5)]

Are you afraid to die if your God's been imaginary all along?

If my God is a figment of my imagination, then I would have no choice but to laugh in the face of death knowing that there's a certain amount of irony in having the same false dreams and hopes as billions of other people. I knew God before religion, defined religion through this awareness, and left my religion because of incompatibilities between what I knew, and what I learned. This is why I say that knowing is superior to knowledge. If my faith is therefore a dream, then let this dream make me a better person, so I can leave this world a better place. When I am dust and ashes, history may not remember me, but I will go on. If my soul does not exist, the pebbles I've thrown into the water of men will ripple forever. Every person you show kindness to is in someway effected by you, and because of this we have no reason to fear death even if our afterlife is only an ongoing message of kindness and love.

[Scary Guy]

Didn't we already banish you like 5 times.

Welcome back, play nice.

*sigh*

[BrassFusion]

If my God is a figment of my imagination, then I would have no choice but to laugh in the face of death knowing that there's a certain amount of irony in having the same false dreams and hopes as billions of other people. I knew God before religion, defined religion through this awareness, and left my religion because of incompatibilities between what I knew, and what I learned. This is why I say that knowing is superior to knowledge. If my faith is therefore a dream, then let this dream make me a better person, so I can leave this world a better place. When I am dust and ashes, history may not remember me, but I will go on. If my soul does not exist, the pebbles I've thrown into the water of men will ripple forever. Every person you show kindness to is in someway effected by you, and because of this we have no reason to fear death even if our afterlife is only an ongoing message of kindness and love.

Awesome. I have nothing further.

[Msterbeau]

Awesome. I have nothing further.

*Chokes*

[crunchy_pickle (5)]

Didn't we already banish you like 5 times.

Welcome back, play nice.

*sigh*

From here? Sorry no, but I've never been banned or banished from here. I asked to have an old account of mine on DCC removed and banned once, but later decided the ignorance of a few wasn't worth it.

[Homicidalheathen]

Fear is our sixth sense trying to warn us of danger. to ignore it is foolish.......to overindulge in it also foolish....I think it is an evolutionary tool with us designed to force us to bring about change or avoid that which harms us.

How many times I thought.....oh your being foolish with having fear about this or that......only to later wish I had listened to my gut.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

knowing is superior to knowledge?

In otherwords.. you have made up your mind about things and know amount of facts, logic or common sense can change your mind?

[Marblez]

If my God is a figment of my imagination, then I would have no choice but to laugh in the face of death knowing that there's a certain amount of irony in having the same false dreams and hopes as billions of other people. I knew God before religion, defined religion through this awareness, and left my religion because of incompatibilities between what I knew, and what I learned. This is why I say that knowing is superior to knowledge. If my faith is therefore a dream, then let this dream make me a better person, so I can leave this world a better place. When I am dust and ashes, history may not remember me, but I will go on. If my soul does not exist, the pebbles I've thrown into the water of men will ripple forever. Every person you show kindness to is in someway effected by you, and because of this we have no reason to fear death even if our afterlife is only an ongoing message of kindness and love.

I like this.

Am I assuming correctly when I interpret your quote "knowing is superior to knowledge" to mean that your faith in your personal experiences and communications with your God that no no non believer or even the "religion" or church that you once prescribed to can sway what you already know about your God?

I like to assume that you are christian...but if not that is ok, I still agree with what I read in your statement wholeheartedly. I am of the impression that the bible was written by man. Perhaps these men were inspired by God to write it, but it was still written by man. Someone once told me that if we aspire to be righteous in Gods eyes we would be best served to do it theway of Abraham or Isaiah. Where was their bible? Where was their preacher/pope? They communicated with the Lord personally. Is there a particular church or religion that can tell us exactly how God wants us to be/act? I believe no. These churches are also created by man. We need to research into ourselves, into the bible for reference and seek the answers from the Lord within ourselves. When we do so, He will give us the knowledge that what we need.

If you look for ghosts with the knowledge that they are there, you will see them. If you look for God with the knowledge that he is there you will see and receive guidance from him.

[know_buddy_kares]

From here? Sorry no, but I've never been banned or banished from here. I asked to have an old account of mine on DCC removed and banned once, but later decided the ignorance of a few wasn't worth it.

Actually, he called you out pretty good. I heard all about you on DCC from a few friends of mine, one I worked with. No need to try to cover anything up, no one gives a shit as long as you behave. There's a few of us that are proof of that.

[Onyx]

It's been mostly a negative emotion in my life. Fear can be so limiting to one's life when it's out of control. I have battled stupid, irrational fears all my life, though I've won most of the battles.

"I have lived a long life and had many troubles, most of which never happened."

— Mark Twain

[Sybil]

Fear sucks. Overcoming it, once it's there, sucks.

**nods**

ya know.. its wonderful when you simplify things like this.

[Shade Everdark]

I am sensing a distinct deficiency of testosterone in this thread. With that in mind, my fear can kick your fear's ass.

[Msterbeau]

**nods**

ya know.. its wonderful when you simplify things like this.

I have an engineer's sense of efficiency, that way...

[Hellion]

I fear what this idiot is doing to the world.IMO

[crunchy_pickle (5)]

Actually, he called you out pretty good. I heard all about you on DCC from a few friends of mine, one I worked with. No need to try to cover anything up, no one gives a shit as long as you behave. There's a few of us that are proof of that.

You've heard? You speak this hearsay and secondhand knowledge as if it's fact. I came to terms with the fact that not everyone is going to agree with me a long time ago. There is a little section on the DCC board called "the flame forum" and that is it's purpose. If your friends are crying over that, perhaps they should stick to other forums that are not meant for that purpose. As for me, if you have a problem with my opinions you can take them up with Troy or anyone else who actually "knows me" on this board. As far as behaving goes, you and Scary are the only two people who have made attacks where I have made none. Who is the intelligent one here?

[crunchy_pickle (5)]

I like this.

Am I assuming correctly when I interpret your quote "knowing is superior to knowledge" to mean that your faith in your personal experiences and communications with your God that no no non believer or even the "religion" or church that you once prescribed to can sway what you already know about your God?

I like to assume that you are christian...but if not that is ok, I still agree with what I read in your statement wholeheartedly. I am of the impression that the bible was written by man. Perhaps these men were inspired by God to write it, but it was still written by man. Someone once told me that if we aspire to be righteous in Gods eyes we would be best served to do it theway of Abraham or Isaiah. Where was their bible? Where was their preacher/pope? They communicated with the Lord personally. Is there a particular church or religion that can tell us exactly how God wants us to be/act? I believe no. These churches are also created by man. We need to research into ourselves, into the bible for reference and seek the answers from the Lord within ourselves. When we do so, He will give us the knowledge that what we need.

If you look for ghosts with the knowledge that they are there, you will see them. If you look for God with the knowledge that he is there you will see and receive guidance from him.

Yes, I equate knowing as what I know versus what knowledge men have left us in this world. A man can read and read and read as I have done, and this may make him well educated, but I have found that there are many very educated people in this world who can only survive on their education and have no real intelligence. Knowing comes from experience, and not being closed off to possibilities your whole life because of knowledge obtained. I really like your example of Abraham here, and think I might borrow it from you in the future to clarify some of my points.

I don't really consider myself Christian, because I have learned much from many different faiths, however I do believe that Christ is the Messiah, and that Jesus is the Christ.

[BrassFusion]

You've heard? You speak this hearsay and secondhand knowledge as if it's fact. I came to terms with the fact that not everyone is going to agree with me a long time ago. There is a little section on the DCC board called "the flame forum" and that is it's purpose. If your friends are crying over that, perhaps they should stick to other forums that are not meant for that purpose. As for me, if you have a problem with my opinions you can take them up with Troy or anyone else who actually "knows me" on this board. As far as behaving goes, you and Scary are the only two people who have made attacks where I have made none. Who is the intelligent one here?

Who really knows you on this board? Your post count's kinda low... and it didn't look like either of them were attacking you. Give people the benefit of the doubt and it'll be easier for everybody.