InMySoul77 wrote: Sat Aug 26, 2023 4:45 pmLook at Crowley and the Book of the Law for one example. He got channeled messages, allegedly, and of course at the end it turns from sweet talk to raging blasphemy.

Crowley was a self-conscious and proud blasphemer all his life. He never tried to pretend differently.

InMySoul77 wrote: Sat Aug 26, 2023 4:45 pmSatan loves nothing more than to mislead us.

If one does not ever hear the word of God that does not sentence them to Hell; they are sentenced to Hell because they are born sinners. That seems misleading to me and has nothing to do with Satan.

rsmurphy wrote: Sat Aug 26, 2023 5:27 pm

InMySoul77 wrote: Sat Aug 26, 2023 4:45 pmSatan loves nothing more than to mislead us.

If one does not ever hear the word of God that does not sentence them to Hell; they are sentenced to Hell because they are born sinners. That seems misleading to me and has nothing to do with Satan.

Are you referring to the idea of original sin? All that means is that as humans we have a natural tendency to sin. We can resist it.

InMySoul77 wrote: Sat Aug 26, 2023 6:28 pm Are you referring to the idea of original sin? All that means is that as humans we have a natural tendency to sin. We can resist it.

No. I should have been more clear. You posited that Satan loves to mislead us and I was attempting to show that God can be just as misleading with circular logic and, well, conundrums. When I was a child being forced to go to Sunday School and church every Sunday I was taught that if one doesn't hear the word of God before they die then they are going to Hell. I guess that sounded too harsh because today word on the street is that's not true; we'really being sent to Hell because we are sinners. Whichever the case God's laws are fairly misleading, especially the 10 major ones.

rsmurphy wrote: Sat Aug 26, 2023 6:56 pm

InMySoul77 wrote: Sat Aug 26, 2023 6:28 pm Are you referring to the idea of original sin? All that means is that as humans we have a natural tendency to sin. We can resist it.

No. I should have been more clear. You posited that Satan loves to mislead us and I was attempting to show that God can be just as misleading with circular logic and, well, conundrums. When I was a child being forced to go to Sunday School and church every Sunday I was taught that if one doesn't hear the word of God before they die then they are going to Hell. I guess that sounded too harsh because today word on the street is that's not true; we'really being sent to Hell because we are sinners. Whichever the case God's laws are fairly misleading, especially the 10 major ones.

What's wrong with the ten commandments? Other than the fact those stone tablets must have been awful heavy?

InMySoul77 wrote: Sun Aug 27, 2023 6:32 am What's wrong with the ten commandments?

Nuthin'!

Are you keeping this day holy and how?

rsmurphy wrote: Sun Aug 27, 2023 7:32 am

InMySoul77 wrote: Sun Aug 27, 2023 6:32 am What's wrong with the ten commandments?

Nuthin'!

Are you keeping this day holy and how?

Yes, by listening to Bo Diddley.

The basic, vague sense of a centralized creative force or root cause for existence- God- is a reasonable and intuitive notion. There's all kinds of problems with the bearded man construct but broadly, it makes sense that cultures have sketched out their best idea for something to call God. Satan however is patently absurd. If I have anything approaching faith in a religious conviction it's that the devil does not exist.

Most of the most agonizing religious pains could easily be rectified by an open minded trip to the planetarium. Take a big gulp of galactic wonder and then see what prescribed theology or lore can even approach the strange vastness of space and the inconceivable powers of its energetic components. Anything left will be the most enduringly wise metaphor for the grandeur driving existence and consciousness. All lesser concerns: prayer for a victorious outcome in a sporting event, fire and brimstone for sexual longing, bureaucratic policies on repentance and being saved, are clearly the overtures of a childlike game.

The entire manichean viewpoint is only useful for creating Lord of the Rings type high fantasy.

InMySoul77 wrote: Sun Aug 27, 2023 7:48 am

rsmurphy wrote: Sun Aug 27, 2023 7:32 am

InMySoul77 wrote: Sun Aug 27, 2023 6:32 am What's wrong with the ten commandments?

Nuthin'!

Are you keeping this day holy and how?

Yes, by listening to Bo Diddley.

I am tickled by your declaration but don't you go blaspheming on the Lord's day. God don't fuck with blasphemers.

In true Christian tradition, all heretics, heathens, and blasphemers will be burned at the stake.