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BCP1928 · Oct 19, 2025

Hans Blaster said:
I had to look that one up. The wikipedia page has a long list of "see also" articles including numerology, neoplatanism, and various esoterian, dualistic, and mystical movements. Among these is theosophy which is ... (you didn't see this coming) influenced by Connolly's atlantis mythology. It's all a big bag of "ideas" that keep getting scrambled into new movements.

I grew up near San Jose, CA home to the headquarters of a Rosicrucian sect founded by an east coast adman turned guru named H.Spencer Lewis who was heavily influenced by Donnolly. Except Lewis believed in Lemuria instead. But they have a nice place, a park and meditation gardens, pseudo-Egyptian architecture. There is planetarium and a small but apparently respectable Egyptian museum. When I was in school it was considered an improving field trip--to see the mummies. Why the funerary practices of a vanished ancient civilization should be of concern to 20th century California schoolchildren was not explained to us, but it was fun seeing the mummies and all the statues and stuff.

Fervent · Oct 19, 2025

Maria Billingsley said:
This does not negate the fact that He deliberately broke the law. Perfect example of what is meant by " weightier ".

As with the Leviticus passages, context matters. Jesus did not deliberately break the law in John 8, but prevented it from being broken through false testimony. When Jesus said "he who is without sin," he had a specific sin in mind and it takes understanding the legal procedures of Torah to understand what happened there. The person who throws the first stone in a case like the woman caught in adultery is her accuser, and through throwing the first stone was testifying to the guilt of the accused at risk of being cut off by God. The one throwing the stone was saying they personally witnessed the act of adultery, which if the men's statement about her being caught in the act were true they would have been in full rights to do so. There certainly wouldn't have been any consciousness of general guilt or a need for perfection to participate in the legal action, so when Jesus said "he who is without sin" what he was saying is if you can make that accusation without lying then throw the stone. He called their bluff, and evaded their trap. And in doing so prevented the law from being broken.

As for Leviticus, the book is about how to prevent contamination of the land so it doesn't vomit the people up and is principally dealing with religious practices. Its various bans must be understood in reference to the religious practices of the Canaanites and the social implications within the ancient near east's hierarchy. We cannot simply hold them up as universal dictates, we have to work through the context.

Arcangl86 · Oct 19, 2025

Valletta said:
“I bring greetings today from our commander in chief, Donald J. Trump, and he wanted me to tell each and every single one of you that he’s proud of you, that he loves you,” Vance said. “And despite the Schumer shutdown, he is going to do everything he can to make sure you get paid exactly what you deserve.”

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5562206-vance-shutdown-marine-corps-pay/

It's the right thing to do.

I don't recall a "It's the right thing to do" exception to the appropriations clause.

Nithavela · Oct 19, 2025

JosephZ said:
Get rid of Hamas and Netanyahu.

Now that the war is over, perhaps at least Netanyahu can be removed via democratic processes. That's up to the people of Israel and their judicial system.

Removing Hamas is far harder.

Neogaia777 · Oct 19, 2025

We can probably use or program AI to look for mathematical patterns, and signs of non-randomness on the quantum level, and maybe connect it to what exists above it, which we already know is very much deterministic right now. Just because we can't see or don't know it right now doesn't mean it's not there, but just that we don't know it right now. If I were a betting man, I would very, very much place my bets on it being there, but just that we don't know it, or can't find it or discover it right now. It's still a very new field of discovery for us, so I'm not at all surprised that we can't see it or find it right now. It might require some new math maybe, and maybe a re-evaluation of everything we thought were mathematical constants, or absolutes maybe, for everything we use above that level right now, which might be why we can't find it, or can't discover it/figure it out right now, but maybe AI can figure it out, etc.

Belk · Oct 19, 2025

Servus said:
The small percentage @comana spoke of.

So you don't know. That makes sense.

Fervent · Oct 19, 2025

stevevw said:
I think things have changed. Though I disagree with mixing politics with religion that is how it seems to be going for both sides. Its really a cultural and sociological phenomena that the mindset or consciousness of people are making everything about moral truth and who is the ultimate ruler or should there be any moral laws that govern and order society.

But this is something subjective. People are claiming moral and spiritual truths even when not religious.

This is what is happening in the culture wars. The political has become the personal and in becoming the personal it will fundementally become the moral, religious and spiritual.

That is why people are so desperate and passionate and angry and even violent. Because it is now seen as a matter of life and death. Its become deeply personal and not just politics or religion. They have merged into one phenomena.

In doing so this has created a battle between beliefs and ideologies. Naturally the most obvious being Jews and Christians in the West as the target for attack.

So IMO its not just that Christians are making it about Christianity. Its that also non Christians and other religions that are rising and making this about the truth of belief and morals. Who is ultimately King of our world.

But I don't think Trump even sees it this way. Like the Nazi label this is those who are fixated on Trump. But we know this is not just about Trump but a belief and ideaology about how the world should be ordered. We see this with the many labels and even anger and violence for what Trump stands for. Whether that be Kirk, or other attacks on churches or Jews or conservatives.

Thats not to say that Trump or the conservatives hold the truth either. This is just the way all grups are going. Christ is not in any of them. Though there are aspects of conservatives that align with Christs truths. Though fighting over the constitution can align with God. But none are specifically of Christ but expressions of Christs truth as opposed to the worlds truth.

Perhaps this is how it has to go from the cultivation of alternative ideologies that oppose God. We use to as nations unite under God. Christ was our King. But in the last 60 odd years we have rejected God from the public square. I think it inevitable that at some time the two worldviews would clash.

Moral authority is inseparable from politics, but the issue isn't that people are injecting their religious beliefs into politics or being guided in their political beliefs by their religion but that they're treating it as if being a republican and being a Christian are identical, and more often than not it's Christ who's supposed to shut up and go along for the ride. I see this as a bigger issue not because of some culture war, but just as Paul believed that the Cretans needed greater censure because there was truth to what they said, where this syncretic confusion is in agreement with Biblical values makes it more dangerous and requiring greater concern. Very few people are going to confuse progressive values with Christian values, even when progressives adopt Christ's moral authority to forward their political values.

BCP1928 · Oct 19, 2025

stevevw said:
So if their knowledge is highly imperical how did they gain such knowledge before academia.

Empirical knowledge is knowledge gained by experience and observation rather than deductive discourse. Academics can gain empirical knowledge by doing experiments and studies, but a man in a stonecutter's yard developing new techniques by trial and error is also gaining empirical knowledge.

Rescued One · Oct 19, 2025

Worth reading. God bless America!

Fervent · Oct 19, 2025

Servus said:
In Genesis 1:28 God said to fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over every living thing.

Okay? Is that supposed to be carte blanche to be bad stewards and imprudent in our dealings with nature? Do you think God gave that command for us to satisfy our every appetite, or to uphold His image as a loving caretaker?

Fervent · Oct 19, 2025

This is one of those questions that really depends on individual theological convictions, though of course there are specific guidelines from various ecclesial authorities. If you believe it to be a purely symbolic act, then what does it matter if protocols are violated? The sanctity is in the rememberance itself, not the elements or the procedures. On the other hand, if you believe that there is something metaphysical going on(i.e. real presence) then there are bound to be restrictions that go hand in hand with your traditional alignment, most likely requiring a validly ordained adminstrator in good standing with the church to ensure that the proper procedures are followed. So the question is more one to either consult your personal convictions or consult your pastor about.

Christsfreeservant · Oct 19, 2025

“Depart from evil and do good,

So you will abide forever.

For the Lord loves justice

And does not forsake His godly ones;

They are preserved forever,

But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.

The righteous will inherit the land

And dwell in it forever.

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,

And his tongue speaks justice.

The law of his God is in his heart;

His steps do not slip.” (Psalm 37:27-31 NASB1995)

Whether you are reading in the Old Testament or in the New Testament, we are taught that faith in God, in Jesus Christ (God the Son), if it is of God, will result in us dying to sin, and in us following our Lord in surrender to his will in walks of obedience to his commands. And this is required of God of us for salvation from sin and for eternal life with God, not as a means of us trying to earn our own salvation, but as part of biblical faith which comes from God, which is gifted to us by God, and which is persuaded of God.

For we read in Hebrews 3-4 and in 1 Corinthians 10 that the majority of the Israelites, who followed Moses into the wilderness, tested and tried God. They hardened their hearts against God, they provoked God, and they went astray in their hearts. They were hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. They were those who craved evil things, who had evil unbelieving hearts that fall away from God. And they were idolaters, revelers, drunkards, immoral, and grumblers against God and against his servant Moses, who disobeyed God.

“And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:18-19 NASB1995)

“Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, He again fixes a certain day, ‘Today,’ saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, ‘Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.’” “Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:6-7,11 NASB1995)

“Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.” “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:6,11-12 NASB1995)

So, what is this teaching us? It is teaching us that whether in the Old Testament or the New Testament, the same biblical rules apply which define what genuine biblical faith in God/Christ Jesus must be like, in action, in conduct. We must die to sin and obey God, in practice, in submission to the will of God, and as empowered by God. For if we continue to make sin our practice, and not obedience to God, we will not enter into God’s eternal rest, i.e. we will not inherit eternal life with God, because of disobedience to God.

But what does it teach us about disobedience to God? It is unbelief. We cannot live in sin, in disobedience to God, in practice, and be those of genuine biblical faith. Now this is not to say that a genuine follower of Christ can never or will never fall back into sin. We have biblical examples of that. But always there is a call for repentance and for renewed faith, and there is a warning that if they remain in sin and do not repent, that they will not have eternal life with God. For biblical faith must continue until the end.

And there is a warning for us here that if we follow the example of disobedience as that of the majority of Israelites who wandered in the wilderness, we will suffer the same result as they did. They were banned from entering into God’s eternal rest because of unbelief. And we will be, too, regardless of what our lips profess, if we do not turn from our sin and if we do not follow our Lord in obedience to his commands, in practice. So, today, if you hear God’s voice, do not harden your hearts in rebellion.

So, if you are thinking that you are standing firm in your faith in Jesus Christ, and that you have forgiveness of all sins, and that heaven is what awaits you when you die, take heed. For faith in Jesus Christ, which comes from God, will result in us dying to sin and obeying our Lord, in practice, or it is not biblical faith which saves. “Depart from evil and do good, so you will abide forever,” is both Old Testament and New Testament teaching, and so is, “For evildoers will be cut off.” So please take this seriously!!

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

The Heart of Man

Based off Matt. 15:1-20; Mk. 7:1-23
An Original Work / April 4, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Listen to me ev’ryone and
Understand this teaching of Christ:
Why do you break the commands
Of God for the sake of tradition?
When you follow the ways of man,
And don’t obey the words of Christ,
You nullify the words of God,
And you hold to the ways of man.

What comes out of a man’s mouth is
What makes him unclean and dirty.
The things that come out of the mouth
Come from the heart, from within him.
The heart of man is so sinful;
From his nature, out comes evil:
Lying, cursing, greed and malice,
Lust and lewdness, deceit, slander.

Jesus calls us to obey him;
Turn from our sins; follow His ways.
Yet, his people honor him with their lips,
but their hearts not with Him.
Their worship of God is in vain.
Their teachings are rules taught by man.
Jesus calls us; gently leads us
To return and follow His truth.

Login to view embedded media
So You Will Abide Forever
An Original Work / October 19, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Yarddog · Oct 19, 2025

Vambram said:
Why do you think that?

I saw something about Hama's firing on some Israeli soldiers and Netanyahu was going to retaliate.

stevevw · Oct 19, 2025

Fervent said:
It seems to me the more pressing issue should be the syncretism that is happening with Republicanism being equated with Christianity. It seems to me that such political posturing shows far too much comfort with secular power for a faith that is at least partially tasked with speaking truth to power. The no kings rally is a purely political protest, and so doesn't really demand a specific Christian response other than possibly engaging with the protesters regarding the gospel message that while injustice and oppression may be the order of the day, God is aware and will avenge the poor.

I think things have changed. Though I disagree with mixing politics with religion that is how it seems to be going for both sides. Its really a cultural and sociological phenomena that the mindset or consciousness of people are making everything about moral truth and who is the ultimate ruler or should there be any moral laws that govern and order society.

But this is something subjective. People are claiming moral and spiritual truths even when not religious.

This is what is happening in the culture wars. The political has become the personal and in becoming the personal it will fundementally become the moral, religious and spiritual.

That is why people are so desperate and passionate and angry and even violent. Because it is now seen as a matter of life and death. Its become deeply personal and not just politics or religion. They have merged into one phenomena.

In doing so this has created a battle between beliefs and ideologies. Naturally the most obvious being Jews and Christians in the West as the target for attack.

So IMO its not just that Christians are making it about Christianity. Its that also non Christians and other religions that are rising and making this about the truth of belief and morals. Who is ultimately King of our world.

But I don't think Trump even sees it this way. Like the Nazi label this is those who are fixated on Trump. But we know this is not just about Trump but a belief and ideaology about how the world should be ordered. We see this with the many labels and even anger and violence for what Trump stands for. Whether that be Kirk, or other attacks on churches or Jews or conservatives.

Thats not to say that Trump or the conservatives hold the truth either. This is just the way all grups are going. Christ is not in any of them. Though there are aspects of conservatives that align with Christs truths. Though fighting over the constitution can align with God. But no religion or political ideology are specifically of Gods Kingdom.

Perhaps this is how it has to go from the cultivation of alternative ideologies that oppose God. We use to as nations unite under God. Christ was our King. But in the last 60 odd years we have rejected God from the public square. I think it inevitable that at some time the two worldviews would clash.

.Mikha'el. · Oct 19, 2025

I honestly am not giving them any heed. Like the vast majority of other such demonstrations, these events are nothing more than a giant show of virtue signalling that seek nothing more than to flaunt one's perceived moral superiority against the person or issue being protested. These people have absolutely no solutions to propose, will achieve absolutely nothing but giving the participants gooshy feelings about themselves, and in many cases, haven't even really identified a specific matter to protest about. For the most part, all they're doing is chanting empty slogans, carrying around signs and banners with more empty slogans, and making speeches that do nothing but call the members of the current US administration nasty names. Really not worth my time, or anyone else's. They will say "But we made our voices heard!" Who cares? Nothing is going to happen as a result.

Fervent · Oct 19, 2025

I don't think we can come to a conclusion on the question without bringing our conclusion to it. What Paul says on the matter is not necessarily that we can, without prior understanding, reason ourselves to anything approaching God. What he says is that God's power is known, basically identifying it as something we should recognize as a brute fact. But whether this strikes us as true or not is going to depend on our framework for making sense of the world, as our thinking is not without contamintion before we can even begin to reason on such matters. Being that I trust the Bible as God's word, I am of course inclined to recognize the truth of the statement.

RDKirk · Oct 19, 2025

So, what's been going on since September that troops should be sent in now?

I guess people have forgotten what a real riot looks like. And people don't know what "war ravaged" really looks like.

Fervent · Oct 19, 2025

Servus said:
Unfortunately the Climate Change folks are total hypocrites in the matter as @AV1611VET pointed out.

I myself have challenged them to give up diving their cars, SUVs and trucks, and that of course is too much to ask. "But, but, I need to get to work, and go shopping, and pick up the kids from soccer practice...".

The impact that individuals could have through even drastically changing their lives the way you bring up would be a drop in the bucket since the primary producers of greenhouse gasses are industrial corporations. The issue is a societal one, not an individual one and activism and petitioning for policy changes is far more likely to have a positive impact than personal changes.

And this isn't a question of concern, or lack there of, for the future. It is a question of stewardship and prudence, fulfilling our God-given role as global administrators.

childeye 2 · Oct 19, 2025

ralliann said:
Oh Geesh yes. We have been seeing that for years. What it has been over ten years that trump came on the scene. This country has seen all the propaganda and corruption enough from the marxists..

You said yes to this question --> "Do you have any proof that the liberals speaking out don’t want a president, they want a king?" So, where is the evidence that the liberals speaking out don't want a president, they want a king?

Vambram · Oct 19, 2025

White Heart is an excellent Christian band from the 90s. I have many of their albums.

Vambram · Oct 19, 2025

Yarddog said:
Hasn't this deal already fallen through?

Why do you think that?

actionsub · Oct 19, 2025

RamiC said:
Link here - What do Anglicans believe? - to an very short description of Anglican beliefs.

What do the people here in Scripture, Tradition, Reason think? Does the article depict what you believe?

This is my favourite bit at first glance "We believe that other churches that also confess Jesus as Lord, that baptize in water the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that believe in the Gospel and the Bible are our fellow Christians. Therefore, we do not believe that we are the only true Church."

This is the actual statement of the Church of England from their Articles of Religion:
"Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church."

Articles of Religion — Center for Reformation Anglicanism

www.anglicanism.info

eclipsenow · Oct 19, 2025

Learning always said:
"Emergency!!! The oceans are rising, rising and rising!!"

They are - but deniers just get photos of Sydney harbour and ask "What's changed in the last few decades" and we're not even sure whether the photo is high tide or low tide. Tell me - how do they measure ocean height? You seem to know so much about it!?

In reality - that's way down my list of climate concerns. I don't think it's in my top 5. But then, I'm Australian. I'm not a Bangladeshi farmer who suddenly lost all their crops because a few centimetres of sea level rise can mean dozens of kilometres extra inland range when the wrong storm-surge gets together with that scientifically measurable higher sea-level rise - and thoroughly salts the land!

Learning always said:
The same people telling you the oceans are rising are the same people buying up all of the ocean front properties.

Really? What facts have you got on this?

And what does it even MEAN? Like - so what?

EVEN IF a rich middle aged or even elderly climate activist like Al Gore happens to want to waste money on an ocean front property, what does that even have to SAY about the science of climate change? Maybe they know one day that property will be underwater one day - but they've only got 10 years before going into aged care anyway?

Can you see how utterly inconsequential and petty such an objection is?

Learning always said:
The oceans -- did they mean the money in their pockets ?

Big Oil CEO's earn more in their lunch hour than a climatologist does in a year.

Who has the incentive to lie?

Oh - history has already answered that one! Exxon are currently being sued because their climate scientists CORRECTLY modelled today's climate crisis back in the late 1970's and early 1980's - over 40 years ago - and then signed their scientists to strong NDA's and fired them all.

Learning always said:
(Also, the climate alarmists never dared take part in public debates)

Because people like you cheer on some dopey Nationals / Barnaby Joyce / Pauline Hanson sort when they say rubbish like your "points" above - and the meek and mild scientist - with all their years of training in academic research protocols - gets stomped on by silly memes.

But they do debate more serious and scientific objections online. But that requires reading academic scientific papers - not letting yourself be yelled at by silly "Social Influencers" after a click-baitey title.

But hey- if that's what you're into - just watch Trump. He's a very stable genius apparently.

Belk · Oct 19, 2025

Servus said:
If it's an insignificant percentage, why haven't the Democrats eliminated it from their demands?

Eliminated what? Reimbursing hospitals for the services they provide? You feel hospitals should provide their services for free?

NxNW · Oct 19, 2025

Servus said:
They want benefits for illegal aliens, and subsides or free healthcare and benefits for people who don't want to work or can't because they indulge in substance abuse.

None of this is true.

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