Spiritual is not Material

[rockytopva]

If virtue is not knowledge can it be taught? If not... Is it not a Devine gift?

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

If virtue is not knowledge can it be taught? If not... Is it not a Devine gift?

That's philosophy.

 

[rockytopva]

Is not spiritual virtue important? The forces that causes us to take interest in the topics of science to begin with? "The virtue that is in us comes not from nature, nor is it taught, but is put in us by the divinity." - Plato

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

Is not spiritual virtue important? The forces that causes us to take interest in the topics of science to begin with? "The virtue that is in us comes not from nature, nor is it taught, but is put in us by the divinity." - Plato

Still not science...

 

[Johan2222]

This work hints that the real nature of man is originally good, but it becomes clouded by contact with earthly things and therefore needs purification before it can shine forth in its native clarity.

This work hints that the real nature of man is originally good, but it becomes clouded by contact with earthly things and therefore needs purification before it can shine forth in its native clarity.

If that’s what your work hints at, it is deception and delusion.

Psalm 51:5 KJV
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Romans 7:18 KJV
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Proverbs 22:15 KJV
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

 

[rockytopva]

Early ventures into the spiritual... *At fifteen I was bent upon learning. At thirty I stood firm. At forty I was free from doubt. At fifty I knew the dictates of heaven. At sixty my ear was obedient for the reception of truth. At seventy could follow what my heart desired without transgressing that which was right. *What the superior man seeks, is in himself; what the ordinary man seeks, is in others. *If the will be set on virtue, there will be no practice of wickedness. *The superior man learns in order to attain to the utmost of his principles. *The superior man in everything puts forth his utmost endeavors. *What the superior man requires is that in what he says there may be nothing inaccurate. *The superior man in all things considers righteousness essential. *The superior man is anxious lest he should not get the truth; he is not anxious lest poverty come upon him. *Good and evil do not wrongly befall men but Heaven sends down misery or happiness according to their conduct. *The superior man wishes to be slow in his words and earnest in his conduct. *The faults of a superior man are like the sun and the moon he has his faults and all men see them. He changes again and all men look up to him. *The superior man is satisfied and composed; the ordinary full of distress. *The superior man is distressed by his lack of ability; he is not distressed by men not knowing him. *That wherein the superior man cannot be equaled is simply this, his work which other men cannot see. *The superior man has neither anxiety nor fear. *They who know virtue are few. - Confucius

 

[rockytopva]

Early ventures into the spiritual... *In ancient times men learned with a view to their own improvement. Nowadays men learn with a view to be accepted of others. *The superior man on literary grounds meets with his friend and by their friendship helps his virtue. *The superior man seeks to devise the admirable qualities of men. The ordinary man does the opposite of this. *The practice of right living is deemed the highest. Complete virtue takes first place; the doing of anything else whatsoever is subordinate *When you do not know a thing, to acknowledge that you do not know, is knowledge. *In archery, we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns around and seeks the cause of his failure within himself. *With coarse rice to eat, water to drink and my bended arm for a pillow, I still have joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors, acquired by unrighteousness, are to me as a floating cloud. *Virtue is more to man then either fire or water, I have seen man die by treading upon fire or water, but not by treading the path of virtue. *A superior man acts before he speaks and then speaks in accordance to his act. *When internal examination reveals nothing wrong, what is there to be anxious about, what is there to fear? *Do not try to fathom what has not yet arrived. *The superior man is modest in his speech, but excels in his actions. *The way of the superior man may be found in its simple elements in common men and women. In its utmost reaches it shines brightly through heaven and earth. *If the will be set on virtue, there will be no practice of wickedness. *Without knowing the ordinances of heaven, it is impossible to be a superior man. *The way of heaven is to bless the good and make the bad miserable. *(l) A superior man sends a man to a distant mission test his loyalty. (2) He employs him near by, to test his manners. (3) He gives him lots to do order to judge his ability. (4&5) He puts a question to him in order test his knowledge, and makes a commitment with him to test his ability to keep his word. (6&7) He trusts him with money in order test his heart, and announces to him the coming of a crisis to test his integrity: (8&9) He makes him drunk in order to see his character, and puts him in female company to test his attitude. Submitted to these nine tests, a fool always reveals himself. *The way of the superior man is threefold: Virtuous, he is free from anxiety; wise, he is free from perplexities; bold, he is free from fear. *The superior is modest in speech, but surpassing in his actions. *To know what is right and not to do it, is cowardice. *Knowledge, courage, and energy, these three are the virtues that are universally binding. *Exalted merit depends upon high aim. *Action takes precedence over words. *The superior man sets his heart on virtue, the ordinary man sets his heart on land. The superior man sets his heart on law, the ordinary man sets his heart on privilege. *Those not charitable cannot endure adversity nor be long happy. The charitable are at ease with charity, the wise profit from charity. *Three hundred verses of The Odes may be summed up in a single sentence, which is, "Think no evil."

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

That's a solid 'no' to there being any science in this thread I take it.

 

[rockytopva]

Early ventures into the spiritual.... Those not charitable cannot long endure adversity. *There are men who invent what they do not know. I do not. *With wisdom there is no delusion, with charity, there is no worry, with courage, there is no fear. The superior man is free and bountiful. The ordinary man bound and grieving. *In ancient times men would hesitate to speak out, for their conduct, if falling short, would be shameful. *The superior man helps others to accomplish good. *Do not be concerned about others not appreciating you. Be concerned about your not appreciating others. *The superior man is at peace without being arrogant. The ordinary man is arrogant without being at peace. *When in the right, there is action without orders. When in the wrong orders are ignored. *Having made a mistake, not to correct it is a mistake indeed. *What is to be done with those who say, What is to be done? What is to be done? *Men who do not care about the future will soon have trouble. *A superior man is ashamed if his words outshine his actions. *There are times when a superior man is not charitable, but at no times is the fool charitable. *The superior man is faithful to what is right, irrespective of others faith in him. *To spread hearsay mindlessly is to abandon virtue. *Only the wisest and most dull-witted are unchangeable. *Confucius to Tsze-Hea: I am fortunate! If I have faults, people are sure to know them. Mencius: When anyone told Tsze-loo that he had a fault, he rejoiced. *Behave towards everyone as if receiving a great guest. *To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it. *The superior man rests in this that he will indulge in no injurious ease. *Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men. *Things that have their origin in heaven tend upward; things that have their origin in Earth, tend to what is below. - Confucius

 

[rockytopva]

That's a solid 'no' to there being any science in this thread I take it.

A holy and a spiritual curiosity are very important... "The key to success for Sony, and to everyone else in business, science, and technology is to never follow the others." - M. Ibuku. "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help to be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough when one tries to comprehend a little of this mystery every day." - Albert Einstein

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

A holy and a spiritual curiosity are very important... "The key to success for Sony, and to everyone else in business, science, and technology is to never follow the others." - M. Ibuku. "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help to be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough when one tries to comprehend a little of this mystery every day." - Albert Einstein

Again: That's a solid 'no' to there being any science in this thread I take it.

 

[rockytopva]

There is no proving God with what the atheist call science. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." - Revelation 3:30. It takes the opening of other doors to prove that which is eternal.

 

[Aaron112]

14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean

I can think of nothing more sick, twisted and delusional than that claim.

You ought first read thru the whole entire Bible.

At least check for what is written instead of make such ungodly statements as you posted.
======================================
MSG
For the rest of you who are in mixed marriages—Christian married to non-Christian—we have no explicit command from the Master. So this is what you must do. If you are a man with a wife who is not a believer but who still wants to live with you, hold on to her. If you are a woman with a husband who is not a believer but he wants to live with you, hold on to him. The unbelieving husband shares to an extent in the holiness of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is likewise touched by the holiness of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be left out;
------------------------------------------
EASY
God accepts a husband who does not believe in Christ because of his Christian wife. And God accepts a wife who does not believe in Christ because of her Christian husband. If that was not true, the children would not belong to God.
-------------------------------------------------
AMPC
For the unbelieving husband is set apart (separated, withdrawn from heathen contamination, and affiliated with the Christian people) by union with his consecrated (set-apart) wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart and separated through union with her consecrated husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean (unblessed heathen, outside the Christian covenant)

 

[Johan2222]

Early ventures into the spiritual... *At fifteen I was bent upon learning. At thirty I stood firm. At forty I was free from doubt. At fifty I knew the dictates of heaven. At sixty my ear was obedient for the reception of truth. At seventy could follow what my heart desired without transgressing that which was right. *What the superior man seeks, is in himself; what the ordinary man seeks, is in others. *If the will be set on virtue, there will be no practice of wickedness. *The superior man learns in order to attain to the utmost of his principles. *The superior man in everything puts forth his utmost endeavors. *What the superior man requires is that in what he says there may be nothing inaccurate. *The superior man in all things considers righteousness essential. *The superior man is anxious lest he should not get the truth; he is not anxious lest poverty come upon him. *Good and evil do not wrongly befall men but Heaven sends down misery or happiness according to their conduct. *The superior man wishes to be slow in his words and earnest in his conduct. *The faults of a superior man are like the sun and the moon he has his faults and all men see them. He changes again and all men look up to him. *The superior man is satisfied and composed; the ordinary full of distress. *The superior man is distressed by his lack of ability; he is not distressed by men not knowing him. *That wherein the superior man cannot be equaled is simply this, his work which other men cannot see. *The superior man has neither anxiety nor fear. *They who know virtue are few. - Confucius

How gracefully Confucius was able to let us know about the details of his exaltation.

Amazing also that you are able to testify of your own purity, saying you;

“could follow what my heart desired without transgressing that which was right.”

Unfortunately I cannot lie, I am far from being a superior man. In fact, if truth be told, I am only too aware of the fact that I am a worthless lazy covetous selfish wretched man and I know when they lower me into the grave I shall be far less evil than I am today.

What is however the most encouraging thing of all to me is that when I am raised from the ground I shall be like the son of God.

1 John 3:2 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Luke 18:10-14 NKJV
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. [11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. [12] I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' [13] And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' [14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Sounds like Confucius was even more righteous than the Pharisee.

 

[Aaron112]

Many Christian denominations believe that humans are born with a sinful nature, a condition known as original sin.

see above (previous post) and below , what God Believes. (His Own Word)

14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean

 

[Aaron112]

We are born with a sin nature.

AMPC
For the unbelieving husband is set apart (separated, withdrawn from heathen contamination, and affiliated with the Christian people) by union with his consecrated (set-apart) wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart and separated through union with her consecrated husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean (unblessed heathen, outside the Christian covenant)

EASY
God accepts a husband who does not believe in Christ because of his Christian wife. And God accepts a wife who does not believe in Christ because of her Christian husband. If that was not true, the children would not belong to God.

 

[rockytopva]

When a wise scholar hears the spiritual, he practices it diligently. When a mediocre scholar hears the spiritual, he wavers between belief and unbelief. When a worthless scholar hears the spiritual, he laughs at loud at it. But if it such a one didn't laugh, the spiritual would not be spiritual. The way to greater light leads through darkness. The even path seems rugged. All life embodies darkness and embraces light, through their union achieving harmony. - Lao-Tzu

 

[Aaron112]

Most people live in darkness, yes. This is truth.
Few people embrace light. Even Jesus' own people opposed Him.
Today most people on earth still oppose (hate) the light, because their deeds are evil.

 

[Johan2222]

I can think of nothing more sick, twisted and delusional than that claim.

If that's where your religion takes you, then I feel nothing but pity for you .. and revulsion of it.

On your way to work when you stopped to fill up your car, how many other peoples cars did you fill up?

How many hours early did you get to work and how many hours did you work before you clocked in?

After you clocked out how long did you continue working for free?

How many hitchhikers did you pick up on the way home?

How long did it take you to walk around your neighbourhood and pick up trash?

Oh no, I am so terribly sorry, I have made a huge mistake, please accept my profuse apologies.

I forgot, you don’t have a car or central heating or a stove or electricity or any appliances that cause any global warming because you live in poverty under a palm tree so that you can try and save the world.

Thank you so much for being one of the only righteous holy people around, we all worship you and we so desperately wish we could be like you.

Sorry that we are unworthy and that we use cars and electricity and running water and although we know this all causes global warming and suffering for our fellow man we are kind of selfish really and we don’t really think too much about the pain it causes others.

I mean, when we see peoples houses being washed down the river and their kids drowned in floods and burning to death in fires and all their possessions being taken away we kind of feel sorry for them, but not enough to do anything about it that is going to make any appreciable difference.

We know that we have contributed to it but to be honest, we don’t really care enough to give up our cars or give up our stoves or give up our air-conditioning or our central heating or our kettles or our tv’s or our hair dryers or our cell phones or our microwaves and saunas and swimming pools and holidays abroad and our precious electricity.

We know that the Earth is being ravaged to feed our consumerism and I read recently that the average human brain now actually contains one plastic spoons worth of micro plastic but to be honest, I still use plastic stuff because it is so much cheaper and convenient than other alternatives and to be honest I’m more focused on my own convenience than thinking about how much plastic people have to eat or how much plastic fish have to eat or birds or anything else living on the planet.

Sorry, I really do wish that I could be better, but I just am so focused on my own convenience that I don’t really think of those kind of consequences.

In fact, to be kind of honest, I am so deluded that I have kind of persuaded myself that none of the consequences of my consumerism are really my fault and I like to think that I cannot really do anything about them anyway, because like a lot of people I am pretty good at persuading myself that I am a decent guy. Sorry.

I am just being honest, please don’t hate me for it.

I know that a lot of us are too focused on ourselves so sorry for being selfish but thank you so much for being one of the righteous holy ones who always does the right thing all the time no matter what.

Oh, that I had the faith and righteousness to live under a palm tree in poverty like you.

Sorry that so many of us are so sick and twisted but no matter how much I think about it I never seem to be able to raise my game.

Please tell me which palm tree you are living under and I will try and visit you and bring you some food and clothing.

I promise not to bring any rayon or nylon or polyester clothing because I know you only use natural fibres. I also won’t bring any food that contains preservatives or has been canned or packaged or picked by illegal aliens or sprayed with pesticides or transported using anything but an ox cart or a donkey cart.

I will try to think of other considerations that you would want to be applied to account for your great righteousness, but I probably won’t get everything right. Sorry.

Thank you so much for your great charity and self sacrifice and righteousness and may God bless you abundantly for your holy life.

 

[AV1611VET]

But to just say out of hand that the flesh is the enemy when with out it we can not know God just does not work for me.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.