Posts by jademarlin26

Jeremy Davis7 said:jademarlin26;

...And so this endless cycle of stupidity and ignorance just keeps spinning through the years, with nothing but the occasional flicker of ethics acting as some sort of positive spiritual spark.

If you haven't built a solid foundation within your own inner temple, any outward progress is just going to vanish into a cloud of wishful thinking and broken dreams.

I just hope you aren't using this whole "enlightenment" angle to push some kind of "third option" on us...
You aren't trying to lead us—whether by accident or design—to the conclusion that it’s finally time for the "exhausted," "burnt out," and "lost" masses to just bow down to the leadership of those who have been quietly watching from the sidelines all this time...
That "invisible" elite that can't stand liberals OR believers (Christians or Muslims alike).

God forbid we hand over the keys to these self-appointed "guardians of the inner temple." Like we're supposed to just hand them over and shut our mouths... letting them ride us like cattle and steer us wherever they feel like?!

PS.
👍 Cheers for the topic, Paul.

The mind is a hell of a thing... if it doesn't have an anchor, it’s incredibly easy to throw it off course and mess with it!
Especially the collective mind.
At every turn, you see these subtle hints that someone, somewhere at a global level, is working tirelessly to grab the reins for themselves...

Social engineering is actually pretty straightforward;
Break the cohesion, ridicule or discredit everything that gives a mind direction or stability, then isolate that mind, make it self-centered... nudge it toward where you want it to go, and finally, use that isolated individual as fuel for your machine!

Your limitations are occasionally quite amusing.

Jeremy Davis7 said:jademarlin26;

...And so this endless cycle of stupidity and ignorance just keeps spinning through the years, with nothing but the occasional flicker of ethics acting as some sort of positive spiritual spark.

If you haven't built a solid foundation within your own inner temple, any outward progress is just going to vanish into a cloud of wishful thinking and broken dreams.

I just hope you aren't using this whole "enlightenment" angle to push some kind of "third option" on us...
You aren't trying to lead us—whether by accident or design—to the conclusion that it’s finally time for the "exhausted," "burnt out," and "lost" masses to just bow down to the leadership of those who have been quietly watching from the sidelines all this time...
That "invisible" elite that can't stand liberals OR believers (Christians or Muslims alike).

God forbid we hand over the keys to these self-appointed "guardians of the inner temple." Like we're supposed to just hand them over and shut our mouths... letting them ride us like cattle and steer us wherever they feel like?!

PS.
👍 Cheers for the topic, Paul.

The mind is a hell of a thing... if it doesn't have an anchor, it’s incredibly easy to throw it off course and mess with it!
Especially the collective mind.
At every turn, you see these subtle hints that someone, somewhere at a global level, is working tirelessly to grab the reins for themselves...

Social engineering is actually pretty straightforward;
Break the cohesion, ridicule or discredit everything that gives a mind direction or stability, then isolate that mind, make it self-centered... nudge it toward where you want it to go, and finally, use that isolated individual as fuel for your machine!

Drop the paranoia. This doesn't apply to you or the other conformists. Your handicap is your own crisis; perhaps you can hope for reincarnation, where you might finally "wake up" into a family and society that treats you like a human being instead of a child, rather than stripping away your right to an undefined future.

👍

I applaud your courage and Enlightenment spirit in opening such a topic here, especially since most active participants build their worldviews on the irrationality and superstitions of ancient mythologies. During the dawn of the Enlightenment, this was a massive hurdle; however, today we find ourselves on the opposite end of the scale, facing the lukewarm mush of an impotent liberalism and relativism. Their constant chest-thumping regarding "tolerance" and "everyone is entitled to their opinion" in their "who cares" kind of world hinders genuine progress just as much as the irrationality and superstition of the former—both of which these moderates actively sustain through their apathy. Thus, a vicious cycle of stupidity and ignorance is propagated through time, punctuated only by occasional flashes of ethics acting as manifestations of the spirit in a positive direction.

Without the quality construction of one's internal temple, any outward appearance will simply be lost to wishful thinking or unfulfilled dreams.

Arthur White37 said:So, here is my situation. I am quite fond of PC gaming, and there are times when I find myself lost in it for hours on end—honestly, I don't know where I would be if my parents didn't set some boundaries on my screen time 😢....
I have spent a significant amount of time delving into various conspiracy theories, and I frequently immerse myself in books regarding spirituality. I also make a conscious effort to practice meditation 😢, as I am truly striving toward a deeper level of spiritual growth.
My question is this: does my passion for computer games somehow undermine my spiritual journey? Should I consider giving it up entirely? If I were to stop, I suspect it would be an incredibly difficult transition for me to navigate.
👎 😠

Just install a classic like Crowdsourced and you'll reach the peak of spiritual enlightenment. Exercising mercy when you actually hold power is a virtue most people rarely get the chance to refine. You won't necessarily experience that within the game itself, but it's worth noting. 😉

Thomas Booth5 said:Brenda Cook4 said:

I guess I’m just thinking about servantes. Maybe it's nothing, but they've been on my mind lately. Just sort of... there. Anyway. [User] says: Almost everything alive out there seems to have some kind of niche specialty. An elephant’s got its trunk, eagles have that killer eyesight, storks have their beaks... you get the idea. But humans? We aren't really specialized for anything specific. So, I guess you have to wonder—is this whole specialization thing just a way of circling back to those basic animal instincts? Maybe.🤷

Good point. I’ve actually been thinking about specialization lately myself, and I keep landing on the same conclusion. I was looking at it from a bit more of a big-picture angle, I guess, but at its core, human specialization is really just about focusing on one specific task. That part isn't even the issue, it's more like... Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like people try to claim they can do everything when they're really just leaning on one specific skill they happen to be good at. Like, you're calling yourself a jack-of-all-trades, but you're actually just specialized in one niche area of your work. I guess that's how it works, though.
It’s like when you tie yourself down to something so narrow and specific... I don't know, maybe it just ends up stifling everything else you're actually capable of. It kind of stunts all your other skills, I guess.

The world today feels like one massive, non-stop demand for specialization. And honestly? That trend isn't slowing down anytime soon. I guess it makes sense for work and everything else, really. But maybe we should apply that same kind of depth to our own lives too—to how we actually connect with ourselves and the world around us. It just feels right.

Identifying with anything at all—whether it is specific or broad—can lead to the atrophy of one's remaining capabilities.

Mark Torres14 said:Almost everything living out there is specialized in some way. Elephants have trunks, eagles have sharp vision, storks have specific beaks... you get the idea. Humans aren't specialized for anything. So, isn't specialization actually just a retreat back to being animals?🤷

Then how did that essence lead to the division of labor, specialization, and civilization? I probably haven't quite grasped your definition of specialization, which is why we're talking past each other.

Hope that clears things up.🙂
As Nietzsche writes in Thus Spoke Zarathustra:

"We have invented happiness," say the last men, and they blink their eyes... From time to time a little poison: that makes for pleasant dreams. And at last, a lot of poison, so that dying is easy. There is still work to do, for work is play. But watch out that you don't wear yourself out from all the playing.

If one isn't specialized for anything, then we aren't actually discussing specialization; furthermore, regarding humans, there is no "regression" to any animalistic state. I assume you aren't suggesting a return to some fetal stage based on vague biological similarities.

The combination of the brain and the hand compensates for most animal specializations (or at least provides the necessary utility since they lack alternatives). A human doesn't require a trunk or a long beak to reach something, much less eagle-like vision to see into the distance. We simply use what we have, and if we lack something, we buy it. 😉

Mark Torres14 said:I see it differently.
Human beings are built for freedom. We know there are endless paths open to us at any given moment. But every time you hesitate or stall, you shrink that freedom and trap your own consciousness. Eventually, your narrow interests become your entire identity, and you start seeing yourself only through that lens.
Just look at how many people define themselves solely by their job or a single obsession. Anything outside of that feels like a distraction to them.
That leads right back to hyper-specialization—which is really just a regression to primal, animalistic behavior.
The whole point of being human is staying unspecialized and keeping the ability to pivot in a thousand different directions. But that’s also the fatal flaw. By spreading our freedom too thin, we end up losing our sense of self and our inner core.

I don't see how specialization relates to returning to an animal state, regardless of what that implies. Isn't specialization actually the move toward the "modern," an evolutionary step forward?

Mark Torres14 said:I see it differently.
Human beings are built for freedom. We know there are endless paths open to us at any given moment. But every time you hesitate or stall, you shrink that freedom and trap your own consciousness. Eventually, your narrow interests become your entire identity, and you start seeing yourself only through that lens.
Just look at how many people define themselves solely by their job or a single obsession. Anything outside of that feels like a distraction to them.
That leads right back to hyper-specialization—which is really just a regression to primal, animalistic behavior.
The whole point of being human is staying unspecialized and keeping the ability to pivot in a thousand different directions. But that’s also the fatal flaw. By spreading our freedom too thin, we end up losing our sense of self and our inner core.

If that is true, how did that essence lead to the division of labor, specialization, and civilization itself? I likely misunderstood your definition of specialization, which explains the disconnect.

"Quote:"

[Note: The user provided only a single word "medeari" which does not contain any instructions for rewriting, nor does it fit the persona description or substitution list. However, since I am instructed to act as a professional copywriter and follow specific rules, I will await further input if this was an error, or interpret it as a prompt that lacks sufficient content to process according to the complex transformation rules provided.] says: And what "neutral ground" are we even talking about? We have abstraction on one side and reality on the other (which is now staring us right in the face). Where exactly is this change supposed to take place?🤷

Equality is merely an abstraction in our current reality. The concessions granted by patriarchal leaders today are nothing more than crumbs tossed from the table rather than genuine attempts at reform. The system we operate under isn't built on equality; quite the contrary, it is fundamentally rooted in hierarchy. Any semblance of equality might be achieved on certain horizontal levels, but even if it were, it would have zero impact on the vertical power structure.

Where neutrality exists, I have no idea. I am not drawing conclusions; I am merely making an observation.

slyfox49 said:Honestly, I think they've finally had enough of all that patriarchal tyranny...

Attempting to integrate into a "male-dominated" world via supposedly progressive means is just another subtle form of patriarchal tyranny. True equality should be pursued on neutral ground, rather than within the existing system.

I have no idea what you are trying to say. As stated by:
If I understand you correctly, you aren't just spinning your wheels in a void thinking you have all the answers; rather, you are listening to that "inner voice." ☕

Does intuition only manifest when one has the luxury of waiting for that "inner voice"? I know individuals who claim to be guided by intuition, yet they leave a trail of failed relationships in their wake. How is that possible? Can intuition actually fail us or lead us astray? Furthermore, does intuition operate on a temporal constraint—perhaps perceiving only five minutes ahead rather than the broader picture?

dustyraven26 said:That is a fair question 👍, and it aligns perfectly with your idea that ignorance isn't a sin 🙂
When a hunch eventually proves to be correct, we call that intuition. It is a phenomenon that arises precisely at the moment when active thought ceases.
I have personally encountered instances where I had a distinct feeling about a situation, yet I allowed my preconceived notions to override it, ultimately leading me astray.
One cannot learn intuition any more than one can learn love, freedom, or spirituality; it is not a byproduct of accumulated knowledge or logic built upon it. No specific rituals, biases, or dogmas can grant us these states.
Instead, they must be attained by letting go—by consciously moving away from their opposites in our daily lives. One must embrace the principle of

I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT I CERTAINLY KNOW WHAT IT IS NOT

.
Someone seeking to experience the profound power of intuition will work to break the habit of relying solely on their intellect to answer every question.
Someone seeking to experience love will let go of any behavior that manifests as its opposite, such as possessiveness or longing.
Someone seeking freedom will release themselves from all forms of conditioning, including rigid goals and the methods used to achieve them.
And someone seeking spirituality will distance themselves from a purely materialistic way of living, observing and acting through a secular lens.

How does one intuit without thought? And what use is an intuition that only reveals itself after the fact? You could simply call that luck.

Maria Hughes52 said:Quick question for everyone; is the actual title of this subforum "pro and contra Christianity in a thousand different ways," or am I just imagining things?

I agree. It seemed to me that the religious crowd on this forum has convinced themselves they’ve reached some peak level of spirituality. Now, acting like spiritual salesmen, they've spent the last six months peddling their specific doctrine everywhere they go. 🤷

wearyowl29 said:Quick question for the group: at what point does a simple superstition cross the line into actual belief?

Once it transitions into an organized structure and evolves into a state-sponsored superstition... excuse me, I meant a state-sponsored delusion.

wearyowl29 said:I’ve got a rabbit's foot and a medallion featuring a Catholic saint.

Now, I don't personally view them as mere fashion accessories—though I know some people might disagree with me there😲—but I truly believe they have a deeper purpose. So, I wanted to ask you all: which one should I carry when I head out the door?

Who or what will provide the best protection and keep any kind of evil from touching me while I'm on my journey?🤷

What is the actual difference in how they work—you know, having a rabbit's foot tucked in your pocket versus wearing a saint's medallion around your neck?

So... thoughts?

None at all. In both instances, sympathetic magic is only as significant as you make it. It is your relationship to the object that dictates its importance, rather than the object itself.

Susan Price30 said:It’s simply the absence of faith, just like I mentioned 🙂 earlier—feel free to explain the rest yourself.

...anyway, greetings to you all. Remember when this place was just three people on a chatroom posting once every leap year? Sooo cool 😁 and sooo... dead.

Faith is an absence of faith? Truly remarkable nonsense.

Susan Price30 said:Atheism essentially means a lack of belief in an omnipotent, omnipresent God—derived from the Latin deus, coming from *divus*, and the Indo-European deiw, meaning light or to shine. So, atheism is effectively the belief in the nonexistence of God. As far as I know, there's no hard evidence, just faith...

How can non-belief be considered faith? Let's try using some Aristotle.

darkfalcon21 said:When I was talking about evil angels, I meant demons—basically fallen angels.
Supposedly they serve Satan, but hey, believe what you want...

I don't really care about how they look or if they even have wings...
It’s more about that bright, beautiful force that loves and protects you. It truly is a comfort, provided you have enough faith. 🙂

Kids are actually capable of seeing other entities (like spirits) from different dimensions.
We aren't talking about imaginary friends here. They are real.
Sadly, parents often end up destroying that gift. They force their children to accept a version of the "real" world where nothing supernatural exists.
Modern society is moving so heavily toward pure logic and reason, especially within the school system.
And look what we've become. 😢

Is that so? Perhaps you can attempt to shoehorn that fantasy into the period when a child is too young to articulate anything, leaving you free to believe whatever conveniently fits your personal "philosophy."

Once you impose an identity and language upon them—essentially conditioning them for life—they lose touch with objective reality. I am not suggesting this conditioning isn't necessary. It is simply a fact that children, much like adults, invent stories.

Kevin Bailey2 said:Has anyone actually found a cure for changing your perspective? 🤣

Look. What can I even tell you.
It’s basically an act of will.

In the end, everything boils down to "practice."
Order, hard work, and discipline.

Everything else is just an illusion... let's call it that.

Nothing happens without effort... in this case, "working on yourself."
Working on order.
Putting things where they belong.

The problem is you have to force your thoughts toward the positive.

How do you think you get overwhelmed by negative thoughts?
That was also a process... a long, drawn-out process... that a person just gives in to.
Because it's easy.
Going downhill? Oh, there's nothing easier.
Just tumbling like a ball... 🤣 and rolling straight down.
Great!!! 🤣

That's just a pile of trash that builds up inside a person.

First, you have to purge it all out, then start building from the ground up.
Because how are you going to build on top of trash?
No chance.

I'm sorry I have to be blunt with you... but you have to fight.
That's the whole philosophy.
The struggle.
And it's hard... and that answer doesn't sit well with everyone.
It's easier to just pop some Zoloft, Xanax, or Prozac... 😍

But what does that get you? Eventually, you aren't even aware of your own personality... so what did you actually achieve?

What do you really have if you don't have yourself?

Today you look up at the sky and think it looks gloomy.
You tell yourself: "Gloomy sky. It's going to rain. Wonderful. Perfect! It's all part of nature. Man, I love life."

Besides, you mentioned you don't want to wake up at 50 and realize you wasted your entire self.

Isn't that enough motivation for you?

You won't be here forever.
This life might be the only one you get.
Learn to appreciate it.
It's short. You wouldn't believe how short.

Maybe you should start... not tomorrow... but... hm... right now? Right this second?

Yesterday, I set out to find a remedy for shifting one's perception, but I managed to gather nothing but some oyster mushrooms, chanterelles, and porcini. Adding sesame to my breading mix somehow altered my sense of taste, though not nearly enough to be spiritually profound.

Jeremy Ross42 said:Spirituality as a career.
God loves that.🙂

And how exactly do you determine what God loves and what He doesn't?

Gregory Jackson said:There goes Benjamin Taylor6 again with the whole "evidence" thing! Always demanding proof, proof, proof! Like, okay, fine, why don't you go ahead and prove God to me? I guess if you actually managed to prove spiritual phenomena using material, scientific evidence, you’d probably snag a Nobel Prize and become the most legendary figure in human history, wouldn't you? See, spirituality is something you experience through your own journey—it's about inner work, gaining insight, reaching enlightenment, and basically just the sheer amount of love you radiate out into the world. How are you even supposed to "prove" something like love, or dreams, or deep feelings, or our whole inner life? By that logic, I suppose Jesus and Buddha were just con artists because nobody can physically prove they did what they said they did, and we don't exactly go around believing in fairy tales, right?

Fairy tales are packed with timeless human dynamics, virtues, flaws, and moral lessons. What is timeless doesn't require faith because it remains obvious even today. However, when you attempt to force something into a historical context as an absolute fact—as an event that occurred exactly as some scribe recorded it—that occasionally requires an act of faith, whether you are discussing Jesus, Buddha, Robin Hood, or Prince Marko. Mythologizing actual historical figures creates confusion through the interplay of faith and doubt when a person fails to recognize them.

Alex Walker5 said:Alex Walker5 says:
I don't see them anywhere.

Well, I can't see radio waves, radiation, or atoms either... but they're still there.

Simply fire up an oscilloscope, a spectrum analyzer, an X-ray spectrometer, or just use a General Electric Geiger counter. It’s quite a miracle—there isn't a single angel or demon to be found. No human traits. No goodness or evil.