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Kingmi
Actually snow's forecast of all areas above 500 metres here.... and we're about 800.
Hate it so much!
posted by
ariel70
on November 25, 2005 at 12:49 PM
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Ariel, Iowa is bad in winter, but not as bad as Minnesota! Be glad you got
Espana!
posted by
kingmi
on November 25, 2005 at 12:37 PM
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Kingmi
Is that a threat or a promise????
posted by
ariel70
on November 25, 2005 at 11:13 AM
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ariel70, no worries. Take it easy and enjoy life. You could be in Iowa!
posted by
kingmi
on November 25, 2005 at 11:11 AM
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Kingmi
Owing to a back problem, I am unable to sit for long periods at my computer, so I propose to paste all comments in a separate post, and reply to them in detail. So please be patient with me and await that post.
posted by
ariel70
on November 25, 2005 at 11:09 AM
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ariel70, I regard you reference to the good shepard as a fable consistent
with science as we know: simbiotic cycles exist at most levels macro and micro. Your teen years would find this perplexing, but today I do not find it at all confusing that we were created in another's image in order to serve and love that source. Looking forward to catching up n today's part two. I'm so behind!
posted by
kingmi
on November 25, 2005 at 10:41 AM
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Malcolm
Thank you for your comment. Albeit a bit delayed!
My purpose in writing as I do is to induce people to subject their beliefs, Christian or other, to the same rigorous scrutiny that scientists do to their theories. I shall pose more questions in future posts.
posted by
ariel70
on November 23, 2005 at 1:30 AM
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Fiona
Thank you for your comment. Albeit a bit delayed!
Everyone to their own beliefs, I say. I have an open mind about Wicca, and I think that it's a pity that research isn't carried out into it. But people have such closed minds, don't they? They make such beliefs the butt of ignorant jokes
posted by
ariel70
on November 23, 2005 at 1:28 AM
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Strat
Thank you for your comment. Albeit a bit delayed!
I'm glad you liked it. There is more to follow
posted by
ariel70
on November 23, 2005 at 1:25 AM
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Cosy
Thank you for your comment. Albeit a bit delayed!
Indeed there are many unanswered, and one suspects, unanswerable questions for Christian, and I shall pose more of them in my following posts.
And thank you for your continuing support!
posted by
ariel70
on November 23, 2005 at 1:24 AM
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Anthony
Thank you for your comment.
So, you're a 1931er too, eh? We oldies have got to pass on our experience to all these kids in here, don't we?LOL
posted by
ariel70
on November 23, 2005 at 1:22 AM
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Ariel
Deeply thought out for sure and I identify with it very well. We are about the same age I think. I still go to Mass, but I just go for me and Him.
Of course it could be anywhere now, I just like the memory of the fact that the Man ~Jesus was here~ and all the gold rings, red hats, Pope-mobiles, or ex-Nazi popes, won't change that one little bit.
Thanks for posting my friend.
posted by
WileyJohn
on November 22, 2005 at 10:10 AM
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Ariel
This is so thought provoking...I too left my religion and have been "relligionless" for the last ten years of my life. I do believe in a higher power so I don't consider myself an atheist...but there are plenty of questions that none of the founded religions do satisfy. This is highly interesting...thanks for sharing and thank you for always being supportive...love Cosy
posted by
cosy
on November 22, 2005 at 8:28 AM
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This is one of the best reads I've seen in awhile.
Thanks, Ariel!
posted by
strat
on November 22, 2005 at 7:53 AM
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I was also raised in a
a very Christian family but as I grew up I started questioning the existence of God. I have found great peace in Wicca as I do believe there are Godesses and Gods but not necessarily in the form that I grew up with. I have learned to accept that humans are the cruelest species on the planet.
posted by
fionajean
on November 22, 2005 at 7:48 AM
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Great read Ariel
and really thought-provoking.
posted by
malcolm
on November 22, 2005 at 6:28 AM
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Ariel, a pleasure to read!
posted by
ARGUS
on November 21, 2005 at 4:19 PM
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Layla
THank you for your comment.
By the way, he likes the hedgehog-flavoured ones
posted by
ariel70
on November 21, 2005 at 2:10 PM
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I, too, can't wait to read more...
As usual, Ariel--this was done very nicely. You are such a talented writer!
(And--I will dig deeper into this blog as promised--with "minotaur treats" in hand!!! :-) ) ~LB~ xoxo
posted by
Anony_Miss
on November 21, 2005 at 2:06 PM
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Sorry, Ariel70. I guess that I took the sentence in your comment below totally wrong. But, it could be taken that way by anyone as it stands. I guess I missed the sidebar (or forgot).
posted by
TAPS.
on November 21, 2005 at 10:11 AM
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Tapsel again
I actually put it in my sidebar, when I entered blogit in July
posted by
ariel70
on November 21, 2005 at 10:01 AM
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Tapsel
You misunderstand me completely. I don't reject it ; I live by it. What I said was that I would do so whoever had said it. How can one not admire and respect the man who said that?
posted by
ariel70
on November 21, 2005 at 10:00 AM
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Ariel70, your writing is great. It draws one in and makes the reader want more and more. It is very sad though that you would reject the precept, "Love your neighbor as yourself," just because it was Jesus who said it.
posted by
TAPS.
on November 21, 2005 at 9:27 AM
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no lol t oit
sadly enough
many people here need a basic writing course.
passed up their junior high courses.
i've seen some very good thoughts that are hard to read because the writer cannot express well.
posted by
Xeno-x
on November 21, 2005 at 8:35 AM
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I have one of those belt buckles....from an uncle who survived the Battle of the Bulge.
posted by
babe_rocks
on November 21, 2005 at 8:10 AM
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Ariel70
My heart breaks at the reading of this sad story for many reasons. I will continue to read for you are sharing a deeply private part of yourself and, since you chose to share it, it needs and deserves to be read. I am really sad about your loss of faith. I can see from your words very clearly how it all happened.
posted by
RAME
on November 21, 2005 at 8:03 AM
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Xeno
Thanks for the compliment as well!
It grieves me to see bad writing, both in blogit and without, for I have a lifelong passion and love affair with the English language.
There is no excuse for bad grammar and syntax, and generally sloppy writing. All it takes is to pause for a while, think what you're going to write, and check it check it check it.
And if you don't know, ask someone who does! Altho' I guess they might be difficult to find, 'cos most of us are in the same leaky boat of modern English.
Your ability to marshal your thoughts, and set them down lucidly and forcefully invariably aroused my admiration. Maybe we ought to start a language teaching blog, eh?LOL
posted by
ariel70
on November 21, 2005 at 8:01 AM
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Ariel, I find this worthy and heartfelt. That gives it spiritual properties, too, for those of us who seek not to believe blindly. I will be back.
posted by
curator
on November 21, 2005 at 7:57 AM
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Flame
Thank you for your comment.
As I shall show, it was not at all any of the most often cited and hatred and contempt of religion, and of Christians that set me upon my journey, for I did not then, nor do I now despise them for their beliefs.
We are all, followers of religions and those having no beliefs, on the path to none knows where, and we all have a duty to love, respect and assist each other upon out journey.
" Love thy neighbour as thyself" would be my guiding precept had it been said by Buddha, Mohammed, or any secular philosopher
posted by
ariel70
on November 21, 2005 at 7:53 AM
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Xeno
Thanks for dropping in. I hope to get you even more intrigued in the following part/s! I'll have to see how many posts it takes to get my views across.
posted by
ariel70
on November 21, 2005 at 7:46 AM
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Honest and honest was your naration of your youth until you decided to take your own independent course in life. I was afraid to read the usual hyminals, but it did not happen. Congratulations.
posted by
Flame-thrower
on November 21, 2005 at 7:45 AM
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i enjoy your writing style
very mature -- reflects your long experience.
many of these younger writers should take a few tips from the way you write.
posted by
Xeno-x
on November 21, 2005 at 7:44 AM
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Renigade
No, indeed not, it didn't strike me as being a bit preachy.
I take your point about the utter helplessness of people in such dictatorships as that of the Nazis ; the unspeakable dilemna that they must face in doing what they perceived to be their duty to nation and folk.
One has only to think about the dire consequences to oneself and family of one assisting a Jew to escape, to see clearly how the Holocaust was based upon millions of good people doing nothing to stop it. I am sure that both you and I would have done the same. Upon this basis of fear for one's family most dictatorships have been based
In my post of some months ago " Guardian Angels" I drew attention to people who did have the courage to attempt to save people from the Holocaust ; including the Nazi Karl Lutz, who saved thousands from death.
But my long, exhaustive research into such matters has shown me beyond doubt that there were many killers of Jews and others who did it because they liked doing it. They were volunteers, given a choice of killing or performing other duties, and if they refused to kill, they suffered no punishment whatsoever.
I shall probably write a post on this one day.
posted by
ariel70
on November 21, 2005 at 7:44 AM
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i'm intrigued
posted by
Xeno-x
on November 21, 2005 at 7:28 AM
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Ariel--I'm hungry to read more. I think the path that each of us takes
is so very personal. It's impossible for anyone to label the beliefs of others as "wrong", in my opinion. I find your journey to be a fascinating one.
And BTW--Did I ever tell you of my german grandfather who fought in the SS? He did so against his will (as did two of my uncles). They were hardly beasts. They were scared men fighting to save their own families from Hitler. I'd like to think that God held their hands and brought them back to us. Maybe the guy who wore the belt your brother found believed in God AND Hitler's cause. Maybe God decided to show him who's cause really was just. Just thought I'd mention that. Although I didn't take offense and I knew exactly what you meant.
Hope that didn't sound all preachy...
posted by
Renigade
on November 21, 2005 at 7:14 AM
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