one thing i think that bears repeating is that most of the relevant founding fathers were about as chriatian as red, which is to say not christian at all. they thought there was some creator, but knew nothing about it and were not terribly concerned with it. compared to them, all modern politicians, including barack obama are religious lunatics.
Have you ever considered that reality and faith might collide at some point? For example, you assume meditation is a joke and don't take it seriously, though many report that they have bridged the chasm between physical reality and a different plane of reality. Without seriously exploring a phenomenon widely reported your criticism is incomplete and weak. It stands only on the pillar of your ego, which is very temporary. I guess you'll scoff at the notion of a different plane of reality, but that just reiterates your close-mindedness. You are not correctly using your keyboard. There is a space bar at the bottom and a backspace button at the upper right. The space bar is used for spaces and the backspace button is one way to delete erroneously typed words. I don't hate science or rational thought; I'm just not imprisoned by them. Wizards were assumed magic at one time, but much of that magic was proven by science and the amazing and supernatural became reality. Magic gave science a direction to explore. Why do you think we should shun imagination and magic now? It can, has, and should continue to give science a direction to explore. I imagine God and spirituality can all be explained scientifically and that some assumptions are wrong and some assumptions are right. When most of the world believes something, I find it pretty stupid and egotistical to just dismiss it. Just because science is not sophisticated enough doesn't mean that we should turn off our imagination and sense of wonder. And it doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to explain the unexplainable. This reminds me of art. You're a realist, I'm an impressionist. I'll forget how to spell it in a minute and I do own a dictionary if I care enough to look it up. But I guess that was just your helpful genetics kicking in to help a brutha out. So really, no real thanks are in order. You were ultimately doing so so that your grandbabies will live in a better world. Clearly as the mud which you're a stick in.
I believe you find it easier to live in the world as you perceive it and are unwilling to think outside of the box you've imprisoned yourself in.
i didnt mean what do you believe is true about me. i meant about magic. which particular magic do you think is true. which of the famous wizards has real powers, and which ones are frauds?
What I meant is that "magic" can give direction to scientific research. I believe in the concept of God but I don't believe you have to belong to a certain religion (or any religion) to transcend human frailty. Like I said before, I respect you for not just accepting religion and asking questions, but I feel like you are stuck in cynicism. Wasn't Sartre an atheist and didn't he believe that the bravest men accepted that we are all crazy to cope with the terror of life and that if we break down that common insanity we will live life most truly? Then there was Kierkegaard before him and Ernest Becker (after, I think) that believed that Sartre was to an extent right, that life is fundamentally irrational, but when you finally accept that and overcome all of your psychoses, peace and happiness can be found by realizing the only rational solution is the belief in a higher power. It seems I remember Sartre died brave but miserable, while the other two had a higher degree of contentment. It has been a while since I read all that stuff.
you are almost as bad as red. just answer the question, willya? i will make it simple for you, if you hate answering. which of the following wizards has actual powers, and which are frauds? i will allow it if they are not proper wizards, but can merely cast simple spells, like seeing the future. 1. pope, fraud or wizard? 2. mohammed 3. rael, the pope of raelianism 4. the angel moroni, one of the founders of mormonism 5. zeus 6. famous psychic slyvia brown 7. jesus of nazareth 8. thor 9. buddha 10. yuri gellar 11. allah 12. moden christian god simple question, which of these folks have superhuman powers and which do not? how can i tell which are real? feel free to note which of them can cast high level spells like fireballs or lightning. i do not want to assume, but i am gonna guess that christian god can fire ligtning balls, or even ice rays if he wanted. is that correct, according to your understanding? extra bonus question: i am allowed to dismiss any of these as a fraud without being considered a know-it-all closed minded cynic? ok good luck.
I think the magic that most people revere these days is that of transcendence and personal growth. It's been said that Gautama Buddha became one with God (or close to it), achieving almost total transcendence. I'm guessing Jesus and Muhammad did as well, though I'm less certain about Muhammad. If you meant modern Christian god, I imagine God and Allah are conceptually close. Zeus and Thor are probably somewhat close as well to the concept of God. That leaves Yuri Gellar, Sylvia Brown, Moroni, Rael, and the pope. The pope is a religious leader and I couldn't begin to guess how transcendent the current guy is. That really seems like more a political position to me. It would be great if he has attained great spiritual accomplishments, but I am not aware one way or the other. This Rael guy seems interesting but I don't know anything about him. I don't know much about Mormons, but I'd read their books before I came to a conclusion. I'd consider what Sylvia Brown has to say, but I feel a little skeptical of her. Gellar seems even less credible.
