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Pardon For Ghislaine Maxwell?

That's interesting to know.

He still does some extremely... Interesting... Stuff that makes me think he's one of their sects.
Trump? Who's "sects"?
The well-known "creepy comments about Ivanka" and others.
The word you were looking for is sex. It sounds kind of like "sects" but it is quite different.
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Is purgatory a Biblical or extra biblical teaching?

If doesn't appear in medieval literature before AD1300 and the French medievalist Jacques Le Goff believed it was invented then to compete with the pagan cults.

I used to be really into classic literature (which I can't recommend because some of it's kind of dark.)

Purgatory in the older medieval literature isn't RARE.
It's non-existent.
Um, no. Not at all the point Le Goff was trying to make.

"In his 1984 book, The Birth of Purgatory, he argued that the conception of purgatory as a physical place, rather than merely as a state, dates to the 12th century, the heyday of medieval otherworld-journey narratives such as the Irish Visio Tnugdali, and of pilgrims' tales about St Patrick's Purgatory, a cavelike entrance to purgatory on a remote island in Ireland.[2] Alexander Lee argued in History Today, "This innovative use of popular culture to uncover the roots of a central idea in the religious thought of the Middle Ages was firmly within the Annales tradition, but extended the boundaries of the Annalistes’ approach in such a way that its broader potential as an historiographical methodology was almost beyond question."[3]"

Point is purgatory has long been recognized as a state of being, even a 'central idea in the religious thought of the Middle Ages'. His point was that it was being newly imagined as a physical place starting in the 12th century.
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James 5:16 - What does confess your sins to one another mean?

I think it's meant to be on a personal basis just to help with one another. Like, if I were to tell you I was struggling with alchohol. The point is to give me guidance that might help me overcome this sin and not like it's going to absolve me of the sin itself. I think some people believe that it does (catholics for instance), but the context tells me it's just supposed to be a helpful thing and nothing more. Specially because of the last verse:
remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

That being said, I am reading that many are embarrassed or ashamed so this once popular action is not very popular, anymore?
I think it is, it's just mostly used within intimate circles. Friends or people that you know, instead of like just a random stranger. Might be why it isn't so apparent. Just a guess though.


And yes, this verse among a few others is what Catholics use as to why they confess to a priest.
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Do the Ten Commandments still apply under the new covenant today?

Paul concerning the unchangeable Royal Law of God. (Rom. 13:7-10) (v.7) Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. (v.8) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. That’s the biblical definition of love, the keeping of God’s law. (v.9) For this, THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, THOU SHALT NOT KILL, THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, THOU SHALT NOT COVET; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF. (v.10) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

And that is what God’s holy commandments are all about; the first four tells you how to love God and the last six tells you how to love your neighbor. If you love your God you will not do any thing to offend him, like having other gods before him. You will do as he says like remember the sabbath day to keep it holy on the seventh day of the week. If you love him you will obey him when he tells you not to eat certain meats etc… And the same goes for your fellow man, if you love your neighbor you wouldn’t steal from him, you wouldn’t kill him, you wouldn’t try and sleep with his wife and so on and so forth. (See exodus 20: 1-17)

This is God’s definition of love and it is perfect in its ways. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: And in keeping of them there is great reward. (Psalm 19: 7-11)

So if you say that you know God, but you don’t keep his commandments, lets see what the Lord had specially written for you.

(1John 2:3-4) (v.3) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (v.4) he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Thank you for the beautiful verses you quoted. But if you have not taught or understand this, then let me tell you, the old covenant law (10C) was given only to show Sin and Not Love. Romans 3:20, Gal 3:19-
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What Satire are You Reading?

The Biggest Fussy Eater (Chapter 2)

"....When you repeat the same action over and over—like eating junk food constantly—you stop noticing its effects. But your body doesn’t stop reacting. The damage keeps building, even though your brain tunes it out. That’s why you think you’re fine, but your cough tells the truth."

The kidnappers, though still skeptical, exchanged uneasy glances. Their growing discomfort validated
Johann’s claims, and he seized on their hesitation. “If I die,” he said weakly, “you lose everything. No ransom.
You’ll have nothing to show for your trouble. I need a specific medicine to counteract this.”
Their resolve finally faltered. Reluctant but desperate to keep him alive, they asked Johann what medicine he
needed. Johann provided them with a list of ingredients: vinegar, ground nutmeg, crushed chili peppers, and
adelwez. He explained that the ingredients must be cooked together and insisted the concoction be prepared
with all windows closed to retain potency.

Johann explained carefully, emphasizing that the ingredients must be cooked together in precise proportions
to ensure the mixture’s potency. He insisted the concoction be prepared with all windows tightly shut, claiming
that even the faintest draft could weaken its effectiveness. Many people know it's dangerous to cook while closing all windows, but not them. Knowing nothing of the risks, the kidnappers followed his instructions, bolting the windows and sealing every crack.

The small, dimly lit room grew increasingly stifling, the air turning thick and oppressive. As the mixture simmered on their wood-burning stove, an ominous transformation began. A new toxic gas crept into the room, its presence subtle but a bit dangerous. Apart from that, the lack of ventilation caused carbon monoxide levels to rise imperceptibly, unnoticed by the kidnappers who remained focused on their ransom plans.

Johann, fully aware of the consequences, stayed low to the ground, breathing the marginally clearer air near
the bottom edge of the door. From his position, he watched intently as the effects of the gas began to take
hold. Gradually, their movements slowed, their once-brisk actions reduced to sluggish, clumsy gestures. Their
speech became slurred and incoherent, their heads drooping as if weighted down by invisible hands. Johann
remained still, his heart pounding, as the room sank into a suffocating silence.
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The Book of Enoch?

So, dispense with Enoch as scriptures because there was not a quote from it...

I never argued "Enoch isn't scripture because there wasn't a quote from it in Matthew." I argued that one cannot try to use Matthew 22 to argue for it being scripture because it isn't being cited at all. The whole argument is "Jesus refers to the scriptures, then to Enoch, showing it's scripture" except Jesus never gives any quote from Enoch.

I dispense with the argument that there was a quote from 1 Enoch in Matthew 22 because there was not a quote from it.

That would dispense with a lot of books we acknowledge as part of the Bible. Maybe that is not such a good argument as you thought it was.

Well, it wasn't the argument I made, so..

I can dispense with apocrypha being scriptures as I find contradictions to scriptures in them, and internal inconsistencies. What is found for that in 1 Enoch? I am looking at it and yet not finding it myself.

Well, I wasn't trying to argue anything about contradictions or inconsistencies, but still, various people have pointed to what they consider to be contradictions or inconsistencies in 1 Enoch; given his posts in this topic, I expect Jipsah would probably be happy to point to what he considers examples.

And about not being quoted, Enoch was quoted. Certainly by Jude, speaking of it as being from Enoch.

You didn't mention Jude in your post, so this is criticizing me for not responding to an argument you didn't make.

And there is more than that passage used in the new testament though without Enoch being named. So why did Jesus even say that angels in heaven do not give themselves in marriage? Where was that from? Just special inside knowledge Jesus chose to use, this time?

Hardly special inside knowledge; this was a belief by some Jews at that period, which presumably made its way into 1 Enoch on that basis. But there is no reason to believe that Jesus's statement was any reference to Enoch as scripture given that (1) Jesus doesn't introduce it in the way Jesus introduces scripture on essentially every other occasion, (2) it isn't a quote from Enoch anyway, and (3) the actual scriptural quote Jesus gives is from Exodus 3:6.

Where else does Jesus do that... with those not believing anyway?

As noted, there is no need for "special inside knowledge" for this--unless that special inside knowledge refers to knowing which of the various Jewish beliefs were correct.

However, even if it was indeed special insider knowledge of what is true, the question was posed to Jesus, and Jesus answered it. Even when non-believers posed questions to Jesus, Jesus would normally answer them. There's an example of such a thing just before the incident with the Sadducees, where the Pharisees try to do a similar "gotcha!" question to Jesus about whether to pay the imperial tax, to which Jesus gives the famous "render under Caesar what is Caesar's" quote.

His whole point is that those Sadducees do not know scriptures that they should. Not a great time to mention a concept not from scriptures that would be his very special knowledge exclusively. I am not buying that.

Jesus's reference to them being ignorant of the scriptures was, presumably, in reference to their denial of resurrection, which Jesus goes on to defend by citing Exodus 3:6 (the actual scripture cited). This seems like a bit of an odd choice to cite when there appear to be stronger verses, but there is evidence the Sadducees considered only the Pentateuch (Genesis/Exodus/Leviticus/Deuteronomy/Numbers) to be scripture, in which case Jesus obviously wasn't going to get anywhere citing something from outside of those. Which only goes to show it would be very odd for Jesus to try to cite 1 Enoch as evidence for something to the Sadducees, as they presumably didn't accept it.
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I don't like my church - need advice

Thanks all, so much, for your input here!

Things have evolved, insomuch that I have spoken to the elders about how I feel about their sermons etc, and I have given this many months of prayer.

I believe God is working through me, via this church, and so will stay for now.

I am still looking to visit local churches, only because this one is kinda far from me and I think it's important to support local churches and the community, but I don't want to leave until I feel God has instructed me to do so.

God bless you all!
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Trump campaign officials, led by Rudy Giuliani, oversaw fake electors plot in 7 states

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What true revival looks like

To be honest, I'm a bit cynical about the claims of "revival" which seem to be coming out of some parts of the US.

It may be true church attendances are up, and more Bibles are being sold, but I think it's a long way short of a revival.

Hopefully it will become a "revival", but I've been Christian long enough to have heard similar claims before and they have all fizzled out.
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Deal Reached To End The Government Shutdown

The Democrats had previously talked about the suffering a shutdown would cause but went ahead full steam. The administration stated that since Congress had not authorized the funds they could not be required to use the contingency funds. Trump has said full benefits would be paid once enough Democrats voted to stop the shutdown. Activist judges interceded and order that the contingency funds must be used to pay full SNAP benefits, Justice Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Biden nominee, temporarily blocked the lower court ruling.

Every President, including Trump in his first term, authorized the payment of SNAP contigency benefits during a government shut down. No authorization from Congress was needed (but you knew that didn't you).
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What are YOU currently reading? (8)

Just about finished with Absolution by Jeff Vander Meer. I plan on reading several sci fi books by Stanislaw Lem. The books are Fiasco, Solaris, and The Invincible. Lem was Polish but he was born in Lviv, Ukraine (USSR) in 1921. He passed away in 2006. The books I plan to read take a philosophical look at potential "first contact" of Humans and aliens and how we likely won't even be able to relate to an alien intelligence and they likely will find us as incomprehensible. Lem's story, His Master's Voice, tells how scientists try to comprehend what they think is a message from an intelligent alien civilization and they fail to do so. I find I tend agree with Stanislaw Lem on the concepts of Humans dealing intelligent aliens (if they even exist). Although I enjoyed Cixin Liu's trilogy Remembrance of Earth's Past (AKA Three Body Problem) I am not completely convinced of the Dark Forest answer to the Fermi Paradox. I also do not agree with the more positive views of first contact Carl Sagan wrote about in his book Contact or Ted Chiang's Story of Your Life (film title Arrival).
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