Nithavela said:

I think it was a mistake to reduce the "body positivity" movement to people being happy with being fat. Especially since that is one of the body alterations that is easily reversible by changing habits in most cases. It not only drastically reduces quality of life and life expectancy, but unduly causes costs and drains manpower in the health industry.

If you are okay with having turned your body fat into your own enemy, fine, but leave some room for the rest of people who aren't at fault for having a body they are being shamed for.

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Body positivity should've always been reserved for circumstances of birth, or perhaps someone who had some sort of accident and lost a limb or had some condition like vitiligo.

But the majority of the messaging surrounding it always seemed to be pertaining to the "Proud to be plus size" angle.

ThatRobGuy said:

Yes, I went to college, I have a Computer Science degree from a public university. I'm from Ohio, so obviously it's probably a far cry from present day UC campuses...but none the less.

Graduated in 2004.

If I came of age now instead of then, I would've just gone the certification route. But back then, the corporate culture was very much "if you want a white collar desk job (even in IT), gotta have that degree"

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Graduated in 1964 for the same reason. Worked in a white collar for a few years and then got disgusted with it and went back to the shop. Have you ever read any Eric Hoffer? You might find it encouraging.

ThatRobGuy said:

I would disagree, there is that period of time where you put College instructors on a pedestal and feel like they're the "smartest people you've ever met", and that creates an inclination to want to mimic them in ways that aren't affiliated with their area of subject matter expertise.

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An authentic liberal arts education teaches you that instructors have to earn their place on that pedestal. It turns your BS detector to high gain.

What you seem to be talking about is the "job college" approach to higher ed.

ThatRobGuy said:

Fun Fact: One of the instructors I had in a Java class (who I did look up to at one point) ended up being a co-worker who was a rung beneath me on the ladder) 8 years later. I was a Sr Dev at the time, they got hired in as an App Dev II. It sort of "pulled the curtain back" a bit. I didn't have to call them "Mr." anymore, and they had to come to me for guidance and info.

To be more specific, Democrats have become the party that embodies the HR department of the office environment.

You go into meetings involving the top brass, there's some very cut-throat republican economic thinking, or have an environment where it's "just the boys", there's a lot of that "locker room talk" if you catch my drift.

He won the primary because they had a bunch of people up there and the "sanity" vote was split between a dozen other people.

Armed with the information that there's a solid 20-30% of people who will lock into the most zany option available, it serves a party well to make sure that the other 70% isn't split 12 ways.



Basically, what I think is happening is a cultural/ideological capture of what's perceived to be "intelligent", with regards to the modern college environment.

The people who hold the keys to knowledge can shape other people (and societal perceptions) by having a system in which people have to enter their preferred bubble/echo chamber for an extended period of time in order to be the benefactor of a "knowledge hand-off". And after a certain period of time, people start to associate that ideology with intelligence.

It's not unlike the early church. There was a time when the only access for learning to read, getting access to certain books, or attaining other forms of knowledge was isolated to those entering the seminary to become members of the clergy. That was no accident.

If "the smartest guy in the room" is (99% of the time) someone from a particular ideological framework, it's only a matter of time before large parts of the general public associates that ideology with intelligence, and gaining knowledge comes saddled with sitting through years of their overall sales pitch, and like with anything, there is a percentage of people who are susceptible to sales pitches.

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Hentenza said:

You are. The 6th commandment is foundational to all of Christianity.

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Not all Christians have the same numbering.

Hentenza said:

Earthly death punishment kills the body but the spirit returns to the one who made it. Eternal punishment is corporal and spiritual and not temporal.

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Personally, I don't invest in this sort of thread since I think the topic itself is underdetermined and can be seen from either viewpoint.

stevevw said:

This is double stanbdards. You demand peer review and make people jump through hoops with demands of independent evidence. Then post a list of claims without any link or evidence at all let alone peer review and celebrate it a winner.

Just shows how willing some are to accept stuff without evidence. So long as it fits their beliefs.

I can play this game and make up stuff in a table.

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Here is the table again with the relevant references.


I don't take kindly to being accused of lying by "make up stuff", in fact this is all about psychological projection since you have been caught out lying on subjects such as Old and New Kingdom obelisks. While you have a propensity for dishonesty don't expect others to follow your example.

Now I would ordinarily ask what you think constitutes evidence but since your response has degenerated into personal attacks I don't hold much promise of reading a coherent and ad hominem free reply.

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen

I wonder what will happen once the flat earthers discover that Flat Earth was created by the elite in order to discredit Christianity by making them look like fools.

Sara50840 said:

I’ve always struggled with feeling God’s presence. It’s hard having faith in something I can’t feel or haven’t really EXPERIENCED in the way I hear stories about. It makes me scared that my faith isn’t genuine or if I’m doing something wrong.

I’ve been a Christian since I was 4. Yes, this has haunted me for awhile because I feel like that was way too young, but I feel as if I’ve had enough faith since then (and panic prayers) that at some point it really did become genuine. Plus I read “Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart” by JD Grear to help with some of my fears.

But now, I don’t know if I’m just backsliding or if it’s something more serious.

I’ve never been good at prayer or Bible reading. I get distracted. I get busy. I have really good phases where I do it daily and then I drop off and have trouble getting back on it. But even then, it feels more like studying and learning information instead of meditating and sitting with God. I read, do a quick prayer, and go about my day. I’ve tried to sit with Him more, but then my thoughts just wander, and I don’t ever hear Him or feel Him.

I keep trying to pray for God to reveal Himself to me. To ease my anxiety. To give me some kind of answer. But I hear nothing. And then I just become less motivated to read the Bible or pray. I’ve never been good at praying anyway.

I don’t know what to do at this point. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this normal for Christians to just feel distant? I feel like most of my “encounters” with God have just been vicariously through others. I know all the answers to questions at church, am very familiar with the Bible, and serve regularly, but it just feels like I’m following obligation and not living by faith.

It feels like I’m just forcing everything, and I don’t know how to make it feel real.

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Do you Love Jesus Christ of Nazareth?

FromWesternCanada said:

God's explained to me, many times, that this Church, this 'religion', is rooted in the meaning of Life. I am going to take the OCIA here within a month or two. I just am in the middle of moving, but it all seems good to go. I know this will sound stupid to people, maybe, but I was in the hospital and this Priest came, and he gave me a Rosary. I can't lose that thing. It just, shows up. Same as this daily Bible journal book from years ago. We would move and move, and I'd find that book. Anyways, God bless. I've got a Catholic Bible through Amazon. And some Church history. I'm just excited, talking on and on. But God so loved the World, He gave us Roman Catholicism.

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Welcome!

pastorwaris said:

Brother, thank you for your thoughtful contribution!
Your observations about the decree of Artaxerxes, the 360-day prophetic calendar, and Josephus’ account of the cessation of sacrifices are valuable pieces of the discussion. You clearly have a good grasp of the historical data and how many scholars approach Daniel’s timeline. I appreciate the precision and care in your argument.

Allow me to respond point-by-point with respect, while also offering a few clarifications from the Hebrew text, chronology, and New Testament context.

1. About the 444 BC decree (Nehemiah 2)​

The 444 BC date is indeed widely held (Artaxerxes’ 20th year), but even conservative scholars acknowledge some chronological uncertainties in Persian regnal years.
However, Daniel 9:25 says:
מִן־מֹצָא דָבָר לְהָשִׁיב וְלִבְנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם
"From the going forth of the word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem."
Many scholars note that Ezra 7 (457 BC) is the only decree that explicitly authorizes restoration (לְהָשִׁיב) not just repairs. Nehemiah’s decree is more narrowly focused on the walls.
So while 444 BC is a legitimate position, 457 BC remains linguistically stronger.
Your point is well-taken, but the Hebrew nuances keep the discussion open.

2. About the 360-day prophetic calendar​

Yes, prophetic literature often uses a 360-day schema (e.g., Rev 11–12: “1260 days = 42 months = 3½ years”).
But applying a strict 360-day year to Daniel’s 70 weeks is interpretive, not required by the Hebrew text.
In Daniel 9, no unit of days is mentioned only שָׁבֻעִים (weeks/sets of seven).
The text leaves the “type” of year undefined.
So using a 360-day year can be helpful, but it is not mandated linguistically.

3. “The 70th week is not connected to the 69th”​

This is an excellent observation. Many scholars agree with you:
There is an intentional gap between the 69th and the 70th week.

Daniel 9:26 explicitly states:
וְאַחֲרֵי הַשָּׁבֻעִים שִׁשִּׁים וּשְׁנַיִם
“After the sixty-two weeks…” then events occur before v.27’s final week begins.
This does show a structural separation.
Where interpreters differ is how long the gap is.

You propose 33–63 AD.
Others argue the gap continues into the last days (cf. Matt 24:15; 2 Thess 2; Rev 13).
Both views attempt to handle the same textual tension in different ways.

4. Eleazar ben Hananiah stopping the sacrifices (66 AD)​

You are absolutely right that Josephus records this:



This is a strong candidate for the “cessation of sacrifice” in Daniel 9:27.
However:

• The text of Daniel 9 describes a covenant being enforced (וְהִגְבִּיר בְּרִית לָרַבִּים)​

There is no record of Eleazar, Zealots, or Romans strengthening a covenant with many.

• Jesus places the “abomination of desolation” (Dan 9:27) in the future relative to 30 AD (Matt 24:15)​

Meaning something beyond His earthly ministry.

So 66–70 AD is historically important,
but not a complete fulfillment of Daniel 9:27.

5. “Inspired Scripture stopped here.”​

Brother, respectfully this is a theological conclusion, not a textual one.
Jesus and the apostles treat the destruction of Jerusalem as a pattern, but not the final culmination:

• Paul (2 Thess 2) speaks of a future man of lawlessness seated in the temple of God.
• John (Revelation) describes further abominations, prophetic timelines, and covenant persecutions.
• Jesus (Matt 24:21–29) links a future tribulation to Daniel’s prophecy.

So the New Testament does not treat 70 AD as the end of prophetic history.

Blessings

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457- 483 (69 7s) =26 - another 1 because of going from bc to ad=25ad You likely do not believe that was the crucifixion date. And yes you have to adjust if changing from Gregorian to 360 day calendar so you have to - even more years. The evidence is the authors of the bible are using a 360 day a year calendar. If you have evidence to show otherwise then do it. Not the talmud aka jewish fables. What I said is right unless you want to argue against any of those things. 2 Thes 2 happened 70 AD. The believers body is the temple of the holy spirit now. All of math 24 happened 70 ad. I explained it in the Jude Enoch thread. Rev 1-12 happened 70 ad but rev 13-22 is future. Vision and prophecy was sealed up by 70 AD. Revelation was written 41 AD. The final 7 was 63-70 AD. Whatever the abom of des was it happened 70 ad but was not recorded past tense. 483 times 5.24 = (whatever it is) / 360 = 7 years less when using a 360 day calender vs gregorian 365.24 so if the decree was 457 bc the crucifixion date would be 18 ad.

How long before he convinces Kanye to get Trump to give him a pardon?

Homily Friday, December 5 2025



Isaiah 29:17-24

“On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a scroll; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.”

For us, it is wonderful to think about these major transformations in people’s bodies.

God leads us to a deeper understanding. It is also about allowing Him to open our hearts to His grace.



Matthew 9:27-31

The blind men on the road believe that Jesus can restore their sight. Welcoming God’s presence, His joy and peace, our hearts find their joy again.



Biblical texts: NAB-RE

Normand Thomas.

December 4, 2025

Our Morning Offering – 4 December – Daily Prayers to the Infant Jesus


One Minute Reflection – 4 December – “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 13:14

Saint Peter Chrysologus propers & commentary (EF)

St. Peter Chrysologus, Doctor of the Church propers with Feria and St. Barbara commemorations (EF)

Thursday of the First Week of Advent readings & commentary (OF)
Saint John Damascene, Priest, Religious and Doctor—Optional Memorial

Thursday of the First Week of Advent; Opt. Mem. of St. John Damascene, Priest and Doctor readings & commentary (OF)
Other Commemorations: St. Barbara, Virgin and Martyr; St. Osmund, Bishop

Daily Gospel

Saint Peter Chrysologus

Saint Barbara Virgin and Martyr

The Legendary Saint Barbara

Pope Benedict and Saint John Damascene

Saints of the Day

Sermons for Everyday Living - St Peter Chrysologus & St Barbara 12/4/25

Audio version of Gueranger
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Fervent said:

If historical-cultural context are consulted, God-breathed has nothing to do with inspiration. It's expiration that is in view, which is why it is useful...because God makes the text alive.

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I disagree.

Fervent said:

The OP seems to promote at least 2 traditions that developed in the late middle ages in sola scriptura and the sui generis nature of the Bible such that it can be called the Word of God in its own right rather than functioning as an icon.

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Actually the primacy and holiness of scripture is well documented among the ECFs.

Instead of complaining about prayer after communion I wish he would address the people who can’t silence their tongues before and during Mass.

Ophiolite said:

Seriously, would you be OK with people making up fairy stories about you after you were gone?

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Like they do with Rob Skiba.
Anyway it's not me that is expressing the story, blame the one who wrote the book.

rjs330 said:

Once again this is a failure of our Government. Biden's administration let him in and apparently a judge let him stay as an asylee.

We shouldn't be letting people from third world countries with their terrorism and Islamist points of view into this country.

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This person served the interest of our government for nearly a decade in Afghanistan. Reportedly, he was assigned to an Aghan military unit that was tasked by our own CIA to carry out missions that according to a friend, left him scared and likely dealing with PTSD. Were those scars apparent when he was granted a visa? Probably not. Like many US military veterans, he probably suffered silently, with no one around him that could related to experience he had in Afghanistan.

I don't know what the answer is here but I do believe we, the U.S., have an obligation to care for those Afghan nationals that carried out our national interest for years in Afghanistan. Simiply declaring that all Afghans are dangerous based one former soldier flipping is wrong and immoral.

God may have relented on occasion due to Moses intercession, but there were several occasions when He still punished the people of Israel, sometimes severely.

This is an AI generated summary -

Key instances where God punished the Israelites include:

Worship of the Golden Calf (Exodus 32): After Moses was on Mount Sinai, the people created a golden calf to worship. As punishment, God ordered the Levites to kill about 3,000 people.

Complaining at Taberah (Numbers 11:1-3): The people complained about their hardships, and the Lord sent fire that burned the outer edges of the camp.

Craving Meat (Numbers 11:4-35): After complaining about the lack of meat and being tired of manna, God provided a massive amount of quail but also sent a severe plague that killed many people due to their gluttony and lack of trust.

Miriam and Aaron's Rebellion (Numbers 12): When Miriam and Aaron challenged Moses's authority, God punished Miriam with leprosy for a period of seven days.

Refusal to Enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14): The most significant punishment occurred when the people, out of fear after hearing the spies' report, refused to enter the Promised Land and wanted to return to Egypt. God sentenced that entire generation of adults (except Joshua and Caleb) to die in the wilderness, wandering for 40 years. The ten spies who brought the bad report were struck down by a plague and died immediately.

Korah's Rebellion (Numbers 16): Certain leaders, including Korah, rebelled against Moses's and Aaron's leadership. God caused the earth to open up and swallow the main offenders and their families, while a subsequent plague killed 14,700 people who sided with the rebels.

Complaining about Lack of Water (Numbers 21:4-9): The people complained again about the lack of water and food. God sent poisonous snakes (fiery serpents) into the camp, which bit the people, and many died.

Idolatry at Peor (Numbers 25): The Israelites engaged in sexual immorality and worshipped the Midianite god, Baal of Peor. This resulted in a plague that killed 24,000 people.

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God might concede to Mary's requests from time to time, but if He gets fed up enough, He'll act and when He does it will be tough.

Mary might intercede for us, but she can't hold back HIs wrath.

johansen said:

I'm reluctant to reply to this because I've had a few drinks but:

I've been toying with the idea in my mind for about a year now that the spirit of a person is not the same as the flesh of a person, and so this allows for re-incarnation of spirits of persons and permutations of persons. so imagine you bake a sourdough bread starting from the same starter, but you change the recipe each time. you save a bit, but save the original, and keep doing this over and over again. the recipe is the flesh. the spirit is from God. you combine the two you get a new "person" each time.

so for example, Jesus says john the baptist is Elijah. but john says he isn't Elijah... john is both right and wrong.

so suppose the spirit of a person (which is from God) is not necessarily new, suppose its been on the earth before. but each time results in a new person.

so while pondering specific details of these thoughts, within 1 day someone on a certain internet forum creates a post that suggests that Jesus is Elisha re-incarnated.
i read it thinking to myself: that's weird. never heard that idea before. I privately message him and initially the exchange is positive, then, he starts mocking me. I then think to mock him back saying, Jesus can't be Elisha, because i am.

but i don't, I knew i would be lying if i said that. so i ask him: what is the name of the spirit that called me by the name of Elisha, 12 hours before you made your post?"
and he replies back with "Yeshua"

I share this whole exchange with a friend of mine and.. turns out he met a man who started a cult that believes Jesus is Elijah re-incarnated.

---i'm still left wondering what called me by the name Elisha. -and had the ability to put the same idea into some random person's head who then puts it on the internet.. a person who chooses to mock me rather than accept my free will invitation to talk about the concept.?


for most of my childhood i assumed that Elisha was a female prophet, based on the character as expressed in the accounts. . to be honest i'm still left wondering on that.

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Elisha was a he / him in the bible. Yes maybe it meant John the Baptist had the same spirit of prophecy Elijah had. I don't know really.

Miaomiao said:

Time is running short; The Great Judgment is at hand.
All souls that fail to meet the standard will be destroyed, for this judgment is a prelude to Christ's Final Judgment.
Any soul that has participated in cult sacrifices or worshipped demon will be destroyed.
Any soul of a pastor who has used the name of God to illegally reap wealth will be destroyed.
Any soul that is maliciously involved in the LGBTQ movement will be destroyed.
What is the destruction of a soul?
To suffer forever and ever in the eternal fires of

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God's Judgemt Day indeed draws closer continually as time advances… beyond that we know little of the timing. Jesus says in Matthew 24 that all the signs are were already there at that time. Keep Watch of yourself… your life and doctrine is being warned of here. Watch to protect God’s sheep and have a heart toward people and in this way continue to evangelize and have hope for them and remember such ones in prayer. We all were once lost so have mercy on them, mixed with fear!

We see the written accounts of folks who sinned these great sins you listed and they repented, were forgiven and thanked and praised God for the reward of eternal life within them. Even the last hour workers receive an inheritance

Guojing said:

When you say new Jerusalem, are you referring to heaven, or a place on earth?

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It is heaven comes down to new heaven and earth eventually. Are you IO preterist?

i feel so sorry if this is how teens see themselves if they truly do , sometimes teens like to role-play or do cosplay as in dress up as their faveorate charter from movies or tv shows and anime , but if a teen think they ARE animals they need to see a dr asap , they need to see a psych and fast
when i was a child i would role-play and teen are still children, you don't have a full brain capacity until you are 25 .they have research it . i know where are adults that feel they are from tv and films etc there is game play in board games that you role-play, i won't say what game as it not a thing we should talk about he cos we do have younger members of the forum .

...Nowhere in their research do Jewell and Brown discuss transgender identity, nonbinary identity, gender transition, pronouns or anything adjacent to contemporary culture-war debates. Rather, their focus is gender typicality — how closely a child’s visible behavior matches peer expectations...

...Fulnecky’s reflection misreads the article by assuming it is about transgender or nonbinary ideology, when in fact the article does not address those topics at all. Terms like “gender atypicality” refer to children liking non-stereotypical activities — boys who enjoy art, girls who prefer sports (and this is where we should note that Fulnecky is a member of OU’s women’s tennis team) — not to children questioning their gender. The reflection attributes views to the article the authors never express....

...Another misunderstanding arises when the reflection frames the article as advocating for “eliminating gender.” The study does not argue this. Its only claim is that children fare better when they are not punished for liking activities outside traditional stereotypes. Affirming that a boy can enjoy reading instead of football or that a girl can prefer science to dance is not a call to abolish gender. It is a call to stop harming children for being themselves....

...Fulnecky also denies the article’s central finding that gender-based teasing harms children, writing that teasing “is not necessarily a problem” and suggesting men and women are not pressured to conform. This contradicts the research directly, which links teasing to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, negative body image and school avoidance. Dismissing these data because they conflict with personal ideology is not an academic critique — it is a refusal to understand or engage the material.

In short, Fulnecky’s reflection on Jewell and Brown’s article is not actually a reflection or reaction to the article. She does not meaningfully engage the article’s variables, data or methodology. She misunderstands its central premise and contradicts without rationale its central conclusion.
Instead of analyzing the study, Fulnecky critiques an ideological position unrelated to the article’s content. She reacted to an imagined version of the article, not the research in front of her. And that is the larger issue....

...Fulnecky’s response does not merely misunderstand Jewell and Brown’s findings; it reinforces the very harm the researchers documented. And this is not an isolated misreading but a textbook example of a broader pattern within contemporary conservative ideology, where empirical questions are routinely reframed as theological battles or moral panics.

Instead of engaging the study’s clear evidence that shame and teasing damage children, Fulnecky substitutes an entirely different issue: Gender panic and culture-war rhetoric.

By shifting the conversation away from the well-being of children and toward a manufactured ideological threat, she protects the systems of ridicule and social pressure the article identifies as harmful. In the end, Fulnecky’s reaction doesn’t just miss the point, it becomes part of the problem by perpetuating the very patterns of bullying and coercion she insists are acceptable for others while demanding validation for herself....