Do you believe in God and why

[Sunmaster]

57 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

 

Ah ha!  You're from Bozen!! 

 

Isn't that still a part of Italy? 

 

Or perhaps you're right on the borderline and that's what makes you a hybrid.  No matter.  You're Thai now. 

 

All joking aside they're beautiful watercolors, Sunmaster.    I was into art until my early twenties.  Even had a job opportunity as an illustrator.  Unfortunately I dropped it as I didn't have enough confidence in my artwork.  I made the bad mistake of comparing my work to others and thereby always falling short in my eyes.  Gave it up after I had kids. 

Right, you got me. 55

It is part of Italy since 1919, but was part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire before that, with German culture and German language. My mother tongue is a German dialect, but I grew up in a mixed family, so fluent in both languages. I always felt neither fish nor meat as a kid. Defending Germans when Italians overstepped and the other way around as well. Firmly perched on the fence, so to speak. 55
Nowadays, when asked where I'm from, I just say I'm Southtyrolean and let others work it out for themselves. 

[Sunmaster]

41 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

 

I hate funerals.  Not easy getting out of going to your own mother's if in country.  I was out of country when my father died.  So I had some luck there.  It's not that I have any aversion to paying my last respects but the grief and the tears and the sadness is what I have an aversion to.

 

Everyone dies and that's only sad given the belief that it's the END.  Once it's understood that there is no end and it's only a new beginning can there be a joy within it.

Last year, I had the privilege of having my mother-in-law staying at our house for her last 4-5 months. I was there when she released her last breath. It was the first time for me to witness the process of dying this close. It was a beautiful thing really. She had time to say goodbye to friends and family, get her things in order, even dropping a long-held family secret on us! My wife and her sister stayed with her day and night, showering her with love and attention. I hope it will be like this when my time comes. 

Edited January 6 by Sunmaster

[Tippaporn]

22 minutes ago, Sunmaster said:

Right, you got me. 55

It is part of Italy since 1919, but was part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire before that, with German culture and German language. My mother tongue is a German dialect, but I grew up in a mixed family, so fluent in both languages. I always felt neither fish nor meat as a kid. Defending Germans when Italians overstepped and the other way around as well. Firmly perched on the fence, so to speak. 55
Nowadays, when asked where I'm from, I just say I'm Southtyrolean and let others work it out for themselves. 

 

Hybrid?  I dunno.  I'd say that if we were speaking of dogs then using that terminology you'd be considered a mutt, aka mongrel? 

 

Both my parents were born in Poland but were German citizens.  From my understanding during the early 1900's Poland had a shortage of skilled labour and enticed skilled Germans to emigrate to fill the shortage.  Once Poland was invaded in '39 my mother and her family had returned to Germany, as well as my father's family.  My father fought against the Russians on the eastern front during WWII.  My mother was just a girl and attended middle and high school in Germany during the war.

 

So I guess I'm a pure breed.  Not that I put much stock (pun intended ) into that.  After all, we're all ultimately descendants of from Adam and Eve, right? 

 

Since I was born in Germany, then emigrated to the U.S., moved back to Germany and once again back to the U.S., and have since lived in Thailand for 20+ years when someone asks me these days where I'm from I just reply, "Earth."    I could, of course, just point to the sky.  Sometimes I do that. 

[Tippaporn]

39 minutes ago, Sunmaster said:

Last year, I had the privilege of having my mother-in-law staying out our house for her last 4-5 months. I was there when she released her last breath. It was the first time for me to witness the process of dying this close. It was a beautiful thing really. She had time to say goodbye to friends and family, get her things in order, even dropping a long-held family secret on us! My wife and her sister stayed with her day and night, showering her with love and attention. I hope it will be like this when my time comes. 

 

Now that's a beautiful experience, Sunmaster.

 

The only experience I've ever had of witnessing a final breath was with one of our cats (we've 10 at the moment).  We don't know how old she was as my wife had taken her and her new litter of kittens in off the street.  She was a sweet cat with a huge heart.  And very much overweight.  Perhaps she made up for all of her hungry days once she had food anytime she wanted it.

 

We had premonitions of her end of days and when her time of choosing arrived it was not unexpected.  She was keeping to herself in our bedroom and I can't recollect what it was that gave me an awareness that she was ready to exit.  I called my wife and we sat on the bedroom floor with her laying between us.  I picked her up and put her on my lap but she immediately walked off, then plopped down on her side on the floor, took a few heaves and the process began.  She stretched her legs out and after a short shudder she was gone.  Took less than 30 seconds after she got off my lap.

 

Her one kit is still with us.  She was born on New Year's Day so she just turned 13.

 

I don't know how anyone else feels about their preferred method of exiting.  I'm torn between a peaceful sleep and an exit with a lot of fireworks.    I'll probably cut out without a lot of fanfare and go quietly into that gentle night.  I never really got into fireworks as I've always thought it a waste of money.  I mean once or twice is good but after so many it's 'seen that, done that' ho hum.

[Tippaporn]

2 hours ago, Sunmaster said:

I often come across statements like "You can't just pick and choose." when religious people refer to spiritual people. Of course you can, and you should. That's what I did my whole life. No, I don't subscribe to any eastern philosophy in particular, although I recently dove into Advaita Vedanta and was awestruck at the simplicity and clarity of its map. In my map I also incorporate many of Seth's ideas, but I haven't read all of the material yet. So far, I couldn't find those gaping discrepancies you were talking about. Would be interesting if you could expand on that some more.

Yes, sure...the ego is a part of the bigger Sunmaster....it's a marvelous creation to interact with the world....when healthy.

But the only healthy ego is a dead ego. 555 
I'm only joking, but not much. 
What I'm so clumsily trying to say is that the ego is what divides reality in "me VS the rest". Its job is to cut reality in 2 parts so that those other parts can be observed as objects and interacted with. It concentrates awareness to shine a light on the material world, to the detriment of more subtle realms. 
I truly don't think it's possible to access the subtle realms of the Self with an intact ego. In fact, it is the very thing that prevents it. I think that's where we differ.

The ego will tell you it's a lie, that it is so precious, so necessary for your wellbeing, that it alone can lead you to salvation or freedom. It really is the thief dressing up as a policeman and pretending to chase itself. 
I think the ego is necessary to manipulate the material world, but I don't think the ego is necessary to experience life at its fullest. 
 

 

Sorry, Sunmaster.  It'll be another 9 months before I can give you a reply. 

 

It may, though, come as early as tomorrow morning. 

[Tippaporn]

Just curious.  What's happened to mauGR1?  Just checked his profile.  His last postings were in the God thread on May 25 of last year.  No posts anywhere else since.  Last visited the site on Sept. 21.  Hope he's well.

[Sunmaster]

9 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

Just curious.  What's happened to mauGR1?  Just checked his profile.  His last postings were in the God thread on May 25 of last year.  No posts anywhere else since.  Last visited the site on Sept. 21.  Hope he's well.

Funny. I too was thinking about him just yesterday and sent him a message on FB. 
I met him a few times (thanks to this thread) at his place. Will try to give him a call if he doesn't answer.

[Sunmaster]

29 minutes ago, Sunmaster said:

Funny. I too was thinking about him just yesterday and sent him a message on FB. 
I met him a few times (thanks to this thread) at his place. Will try to give him a call if he doesn't answer.

He said he was a bit tired of the thread but maybe will come back to have a look. 

[Tippaporn]

33 minutes ago, Sunmaster said:

He said he was a bit tired of the thread but maybe will come back to have a look. 

 

mauGR1 3079 posts

 

I guess I'd be tired, too.  55555555555

Well, hope he returns.

[Chris Daley]

Fairly easy one for today.  Why did God allow the Holocaust to happen?

[Sunmaster]

17 minutes ago, Chris Daley said:

Fairly easy one for today.  Why did God allow the Holocaust to happen?

Why only the holocaust? 

Why do wars happen?

Why do children get cancer?

Why do accidents happen?

Why did he give us emotions like hate, envy, anger?

Why do we have to die at all?

If God existed, he should allow only good things to happen. He should make us all immortal, and loving, and perfect.

He should give us perfect wisdom and knowledge right from the moment we are born, instead of being clueless, helpless babies. No need to learn, no need to experience anything but love, no responsibility, no wonder, no discovery, no surprises.

 

What a great life that would be. Or would it?

[ozimoron]

2 minutes ago, Sunmaster said:

Why only the holocaust? 

Why do wars happen?

Why do children get cancer?

Why do accidents happen?

Why did he give us emotions like hate, envy, anger?

Why do we have to die at all?

If God existed, he should allow only good things to happen. He should make us all immortal, and loving, and perfect.

He should give us perfect wisdom and knowledge right from the moment we are born, instead of being clueless, helpless babies. No need to learn, no need to experience anything but love, no responsibility, no wonder, no discovery, no surprises.

 

What a great life that would be. Or would it?

 

Why does God want to give Trump a leg up?

[Tippaporn]

20 minutes ago, Chris Daley said:

Fairly easy one for today.  Why did God allow the Holocaust to happen?

 

Good answer by Sunmaster.

 

Here's a fairly easy one for you.  Why are you in this world, Chris?

 

If you can answer that you wouldn't be asking the question you asked.  But I understand the question I posed is one you don't have an answer for.  Nor can you even begin to come up with any inkling of an answer.  I might be wrong but it's just my educated guess. 

[Tippaporn]

2 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

 

Why does God want to give Trump a leg up?

 

Because God loves Trump.  In fact, God voted for Trump both in '16 and '20. 

[ozimoron]

1 minute ago, Tippaporn said:

Because God loves Trump.  In fact, God voted for Trump both in '16 and '20. 

 

Makes sense. God is a fascist as well. Dictator for life.

[Tippaporn]

11 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

 

Makes sense. God is a fascist as well. Dictator for life.

 

How would you know.    There's a phrase for that . . . talking out yer ar$e. 

[ozimoron]

8 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

 

How would you know.    There's a phrase for that . . . talking out yer ar$e. 

 

I know the same way you know he votes for Trump. Do you believe God sent Trump to do his work?

[Sunmaster]

We should start a new thread called "Why does God >insert your grievance here<....?"

Atheists will love it.

Edited January 6 by Sunmaster

[brianthainess]

49 minutes ago, Chris Daley said:

Fairly easy one for today.  Why did God allow the Holocaust to happen?

He didn't 'coz he don't exist.

[Tippaporn]

29 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

I know the same way you know he votes for Trump. Do you believe God sent Trump to do his work?

 

You're trolling.  I gave you a ridiculous answer to your trolling ridiculous question.

[save the frogs]

On 1/5/2024 at 3:44 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

Google is your friend

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amen

 

I don't believe in wikipedia.

 

So I did my little search and here's my wacky theory. 

 

https://www.gotquestions.org/sun-worship.html

 

1 - pre bible era, people worshipped the sun

"it was common for ancient peoples to worship the sun or perhaps, more accurately, the sun-deity. The ancients would not have viewed the sun as an inanimate object, but rather as a deity or as part of a deity."

 

2 - the bible folks came along and put an end to that party

"Deuteronomy 4:19 and 17:2–5 specifically forbid the worship of the sun"

 

3 - are the bible folks a "do as I say, not as I do" kind of crowd?

"In Egypt the sun god was called Amun-Ra"

 

Amun-Ra = Sun God = Amen in the Bible

When people are saying Amen, are they inadvertently paying homage to the Sun God? 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

18 hours ago, Sunmaster said:

Last year, I had the privilege of having my mother-in-law staying at our house for her last 4-5 months. I was there when she released her last breath. It was the first time for me to witness the process of dying this close. It was a beautiful thing really. She had time to say goodbye to friends and family, get her things in order, even dropping a long-held family secret on us! My wife and her sister stayed with her day and night, showering her with love and attention. I hope it will be like this when my time comes. 

Don't let them put you in hospital then, or at least take out a Do not Resuscitate order ( I have ), or your last days might be with broken ribs ( from cardiac compressions ) and full of tubes, hooked up to machines.

Nothing beautiful about dying in ICU, especially if they have to pull the plug to let your body stop working after determining that "you" has departed.

 

Obviously death of the body is no unique experience to me ( many deaths in hospital are expected, so not in ICU ), though I was never there for the last breath- many other patients to look after as well.

I don't recall any dying surrounded by loving relatives- usually called after.

Might be different in a private hospital with a private room, not on a ward with many other patients in the room

[thaibeachlovers]

13 hours ago, Sunmaster said:

What a great life that would be. Or would it?

I'd like it if I could have sex all day long.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

13 hours ago, Chris Daley said:

Fairly easy one for today.  Why did God allow the Holocaust to happen?

What about the poor insects that have to eat each other? Why is it always about humans for you guys? Shouldn't they all just live off grass or something, but then why do plants have to die to feed other species? Don't plants have a right to live without being eaten?

Why have animals and humans at all and just have plants living peacefully together?

[john11k]

On 4/14/2019 at 4:50 PM, DaRoadrunner said:

We are the highest form of intelligent life on the planet, yet we did not create everything we see around us, so who did? There has to be a creator. Take a look at the human genome, it’s too complex to have just happened by accident.

 

Having said that, I look at life and consider that perhaps God has a sick sense of humour…. as do many who post here!

 

Guru Rajneesh said... "Life is a lemon, squeeze the whole juice."… Not bad advice that.

 

(Looking at some people’s behavior, - I use the words “intelligent life” with considerable reservation!)

We claim to be the highest form of intelligence. ! 
is it intelligent what we are doing to the planet. ! 
or is the animals more intelligent. !!

[save the frogs]

Everyone is always talking about the Bible.

No one notices the religious symbolism in music. 

Here is Sam Smith doing the sign of the cross. It's not just in Church. 

 

 

[Sunmaster]

@Tippaporn

 

If possibile, I'd like to continue the discussion around the ego and free will. 

 

As far as I can judge, my arguments are  build on sound logic. I know you value logic and don't base your beliefs on thoughts without heads or tails. 

For that reason, I would like to hear from you (no Seth quotes please) where you think you disagree with what I wrote. 

 

To summarize:

1. The ego is the very "thing" that prevents opening up to a wider reality, because its very job is to concentrate your attention on a small part of reality. 

2. Does Free Will exist? Yes and no. It apparently exists within a paradigm bound by time and space, but since we know that this reality is only one reality within a bigger reality that is not bound by those restrictions, free will becomes just another illusion. In short, free will appears to be real when we look at it from inside the dream (this reality as seen from the ego perspective), but once you wake up, it disappears along with the dream. 

3. A personal question. Do you practice any kind of meditation or have other ways to find the silence behind the thoughts? If yes, what happens when your thoughts quiet down?

 

 

[Tippaporn]

@Sunmaster

 

Hey Sunmaster,

 

Busy today.  Had a procession of monks early this morning so the moo ban lined the streets to give their offerings.  And shortly after we've had company arrive.  I'll be tied up all day.

 

No worries about continuing our discussion.  I'm all in. 

 

Edited January 7 by Tippaporn

[Chris Daley]

I am interested to know why the Japanese airline on it's way to send aid to the earthquake victims was set ablaze by God?

[Sunmaster]

17 minutes ago, Chris Daley said:

I am interested to know why the Japanese airline on it's way to send aid to the earthquake victims was set ablaze by God?

I'm confused. I thought you don't believe in God, yet here you are, trying to blame all the world's problems on God. 
If you do that then, if you're honest and fair, you'll have to praise him for all the good things too, right?

Edited January 7 by Sunmaster