Posts by Ethan Hill

Nicholas Barnes74 said:But, I guess animals kill too... my cat loves playing with grasshoppers and moths—not even to eat them, just to mess with them, which is kind of brutal, I suppose...
As for that ecopsychology stuff, I watched it—well, more like listened to it—but it felt like they were just recycling old ideas and slapping a fancy new label on them.

So, does that make cats sinners too? 😬

The whole idea of ecopsychology basically boils down to this: our minds were built by nature, even if the modern world tries to tell us otherwise. Theodore Rozak was actually the first one to coin the term in his book "Voice of the Earth." His big takeaway was that when we reconnect with the natural world, it actually helps us get along better with each other and feel a lot better emotionally. Ecopsychology also digs into why we act in ways that wreck the environment—it turns out it’s really a question of what "normal" even means. Is being normal following social and tech trends, or is it staying in sync with the rhythms of nature?
Do you think it's even possible to balance those two things now that technology is running the show and nature is getting pushed to the sidelines?

@Nicholas Grant20, can you give me one example where technology actually helps save nature?
I mean, just making the stuff itself already destroys nature on so many levels...
Technology is just nature, processed. A tree is real nature. A living tree and a wooden chair aren't the same thing—there's a massive gap between the real deal and the processed version.
All this material progress is driving us straight into a wall. We haven't gained anything; we've lost everything. What kind of climate, air, or water are we leaving behind for the next generation when our oceans, soil, and atmosphere are already choked with microplastics and greenhouse gases?
Why shouldn't our work be in harmony with nature?

Sometimes I catch myself being way too critical, even when I mean well, and I know that just ends up making me a target for certain groups. But honestly? I don't really care. I’m going to keep talking about protecting our environment as long as there's breath in my lungs. It’s pretty simple: humanity only makes it if we save nature. Instead, it feels like we're sprinting toward self-destruction. All this massive industry, mindless consumerism, tech obsession, and paving over every inch of green space—we're basically destroying the very things we need to actually survive.
And what can you even say to that? Calling this "wisdom and intelligence" is a joke.

At the end of the day, I just need some food and clothes. What I really need is clean air, but it feels like that's becoming a luxury.
In my ideal world, money wouldn't even exist, let alone cars...
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I honestly feel like God tests us when He tells us to consume, shape, and manipulate... If God loves all living creatures, why did He give humans the power to kill them just to eat? And don't even get me started on how much suffering animals go through all because of human "progress."
Sure, tend to your gardens—moderation is key—but don't go destroying everything in sight just so we can waste food, act like bullies, and fuel this massive cycle of industrial production, pollution, and the destruction of our ancient forests. It’s all connected.
I caught this really great program the other day that dives into all of this—ecopsychology.

Amy Howard18 said:That is just beautiful!
...always talk to God in your own way. Just tell Him exactly what's on your heart when you pray, and keep that faith in Him.

Exactly. 🙂

Keith Allen3 said:It's not just that I'm bored with praying; honestly, I'm starting to get really scared of it.
Before I started praying, things were manageable. Once I began praying deeply every single day, everything collapsed into unbearable pain and hopelessness. Now, good luck trying to pray again after all that.

As for me, I spend about an hour every day talking to God in my own words. I pray for the suffering in the world to ease up, and I pray that the people carrying all that violence in their heads can find a way to stop hurting themselves and everyone else. Most of my prayers are focused on healing, both for myself and for others. And through it all, I always make sure to say thank you for everything.

Oh yeah, nature—water, greenery, and all the little critters. That’s everything. 🙂
Honestly, being out in the wild is where I really connect with my spiritual side. For me, spirituality is just this deep sense of peace and pure bliss.
🙂

I'm just absolutely overflowing with spiritual love. 😍

coastalwalker9 said:Ethan Hill, I truly appreciate your positivity, those heart emojis you use, and your overall bright outlook on things.
I find myself unable to agree, even in the slightest, with the points you've laid out. 🙂

I have had an identical experience myself—navigating my darkest moments entirely on my own. It seems that whenever things truly fall apart, everyone you thought you could count on suddenly vanishes. It’s like a sudden, jarring recession in the tide right after a massive earthquake hits the ocean; everything just pulls away, leaving you stranded.
I find myself in agreement with the sentiment that one must master the art of solitude. There is a certain necessity in learning how to be truly alone and, more importantly, how to be self-sufficient. Ultimately, you have to be the one to carry yourself through this life.
I’ll stick to my own wits and my own reliable horses, thank you very much.
I find that life feels significantly more meaningful when I am surrounded by those I hold dear. There is a certain comfort in knowing I am not navigating this world alone—having hands to hold that can warm the soul and steady the heart. It makes the difficult moments feel far more manageable and considerably less painful. I thank God for these people; they truly are my smile and my strength when things get tough. 🙂🙂

I am not suggesting that one ought to burden everyone around them with every personal struggle, but I have reached a point where I no longer feel the need to maintain an image of stoic strength at all costs. There is no longer a desire to shoulder everything alone. I have come to realize that seeking assistance—and being willing to offer it in return—is not a weakness. In fact, it is a wonderful thing; a genuine blessing to both receive help and to be able to provide it. 👍

Of course, everyone carries their own set of burdens, but to intentionally alienate oneself or retreat into isolation just to avoid being a weight on someone else—or to avoid being weighed down by them—is simply not an option. What exactly is the payoff? You gain nothing: no joy, no strength, and certainly no willpower. I have tried that path, and frankly, the taste is bitter. I make no effort to impose myself on anyone, but as long as I have people in my life whom I love and who love me in return, I see absolutely no reason to go through life trying to be some sort of solitary hero.
I am not posting this to be stubborn or to prove a point. I spent many years honing my resilience and building up my own strength; I’ve always been someone who could stand firm for myself and for others. However, life has taught me that I don't have to navigate every hardship entirely on my own. These days, I've learned to accept help with open arms and a genuine smile, and frankly, I am profoundly grateful that things have changed.

So yeah, whether you like it or not, you just have to dig deep and rely on your own grit.
I guess you hadn't met those people yet who actually help warm your soul and lift your spirits.

.. Of course, everybody is dealing with something, but pulling away or isolating yourself just so you aren't a burden—or because you don't want anyone to be one to you—is just no way to live. What do you even gain from that? You lose your joy, your strength, and your drive.

Honestly, I find peace.
I suppose we all eventually head toward whatever it is we're searching for.

The real question is, can you handle the fact that we're all going to have different opinions, wants, and needs on certain things?

coastalwalker9 said:Everything stolen eventually falls on someone else's shoulders. Usually, it's the low-level employee whose paycheck gets docked to cover the shortage.
Sure, massive retail chains might fleece customers with high prices, but that's never been a motivation for me to steal, nor would it ever be.🤷
To be honest, I find it to be a rather unsightly character flaw. I am almost certain that people prone to that kind of behavior are capable of committing other questionable acts, justifying them through various rationalizations. 👎

I agree regarding the fruit.

Well, even swimming comes with a million different variables.😁
What if you're reaching the end of your rope? Or perhaps you know how to swim, but your heels are acting up? Or what if swimming isn't the solution, and you simply need to find another way to ask for help when life hits hard?

We are all equal in God's embrace.
🙂

I concur. 👍

If you want to steer clear of the negativity in life—you know, those perpetual victims who always need endless hand-holding and the overly emotional energy vampires—well, most of us aren't walking psychiatrists. I honestly think people need help most when they're sick, helpless, or just little kids.
I learned the hard way back when I needed support the most that I couldn't just lean on everyone. And hey, I don't hold it against them; I'm sure everyone has enough of their own stuff to deal with.
People help the best way they know how, and I've always been grateful for whatever comes my way.
Just trust yourself and your own grit.
At the end of the day, you're your own best advocate. And when things get really heavy and there’s nobody around to pull you up, that's when you pray for the strength to just endure. I don't expect anyone to dive into the deep end to save me; I'd much rather stay away from the deep end and pray for calm waters.

🙂

Anthony Perez9 said:Miracles are all around us and inside us, we just don't notice them.😉
(which explains why we go pay to watch magicians.)

Happy equinox, everyone! 😁

🎉

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Every single empire and all that massive wealth? It’s always built, stacked, and constructed on the backs of broken and suffering people.
A shepherd and teacher was born, someone whose whole philosophy was about bringing everyone together into one equal class. He wanted to set the servants and slaves free; he wanted to put an end to the agony, the torture, and the killing. But the emperors and the slave owners? They weren't having any of it. They tortured and crucified Jesus, and honestly, they went after anyone else who dared to follow His word too. The emperor knew perfectly well that without slaves and servants, his lifestyle wouldn't exist, so he did what he had to do—he tried to crush every word Jesus spoke about freedom. And look, this pattern has been repeating since the beginning of time, from the earliest humans right up to modern history—take Lincoln's era, for example (Abraham Lincoln, the US president. Back when he was working as a raft builder on the Mississippi and saw Black people being chained up at slave markets, he swore he'd stand up against slavery).
And just like that, Jesus's word keeps living through history.
Every era has its own Jesus.
In every age defined by slavery, torture, and chains, the word of Jesus meant freedom. His words offered relief to the mistreated servants and rest for the souls of exhausted slaves. His message beat like a heart in millions of suffering people scattered across the entire empire.
And that's how a legend is born.

Even today, no empire has ever been able to destroy, silence, or break the freedom over life itself.
Jesus's word is written in every spoken word that breaks the chains of torture, and in every single word that speaks of love, equality, liberty, and peace.

coastalwalker9 said:

They certainly exist. It isn't anything unusual, and I certainly don't judge them. Everyone looks out for their own skin and does whatever they can to protect it.
Do you honestly think American churches and services are filled exclusively with people who are benevolent, patient, and overflowing with love? Not every priest is like that, let alone the average person who doesn't know much beyond the idea that if they don't pray or show up to service, they'll end up in hell. And how many of them pray without any soul behind it, driven purely by fear, simply believing it will save them when they eventually have to answer to God.
How many kneel in a pew, only to walk into a CVS and shoplift a candy bar or a magazine? Or spend the drive home gossiping about neighbors. Or sit in a service critiquing someone’s outfit, thinking, "Look at her acting all important," while knowing her husband is having an affair.
It's just the mundane, messy things that make us human.

I find your mention of "reacting" quite interesting. 😁👍
It suggests you are a person of heart and passion. It matters little if you stumble occasionally; those types of people are often far better than someone who is "good" only because they are passive and lifeless. You can actually rely on someone like you. A "benevolent" passive person might just shrug their shoulders and say, "Well, that's life," and then offer a quick prayer for you.

So, which would you prefer? Someone jumping in to lend you a hand, or someone watching you drown while they calmly offer a prayer for your soul?
I suspect the former, even without the prayer, would find more grace in the eyes of the Lord than the latter, who prays for both themselves and you.
They certainly exist. It isn't anything unusual, and I certainly don't judge them. Everyone looks out for their own skin and does whatever they can to protect it.
Do you honestly think American churches and services are filled exclusively with people who are benevolent, patient, and overflowing with love? Not every priest is like that, let alone the average person who doesn't know much beyond the idea that if they don't pray or show up to service, they'll end up in hell. And how many of them pray without any soul behind it, driven purely by fear, simply believing it will save them when they eventually have to answer to God.
How many kneel in a pew, only to walk into a CVS and shoplift a candy bar or a magazine? Or spend the drive home gossiping about neighbors. Or sit in a service critiquing someone’s outfit, thinking, "Look at her acting all important," while knowing her husband is having an affair.
It's just the mundane, messy things that make us human.

I find your mention of "reacting" quite interesting. 😁👍
It suggests you are a person of heart and passion. It matters little if you stumble occasionally; those types of people are often far better than someone who is "good" only because they are passive and lifeless. You can actually rely on someone like you. A "benevolent" passive person might just shrug their shoulders and say, "Well, that's life," and then offer a quick prayer for you.

So, which would you prefer? Someone jumping in to lend you a hand, or someone watching you drown while they calmly offer a prayer for your soul?
I suspect the former, even without the prayer, would find more grace in the eyes of the Lord than the latter, who prays for both themselves and you.
Honestly? I’d probably just learn how to swim first. 😬

.. I have this feeling that the first person—the one who acts without even praying about it—might actually find more grace from God than the guy who spends all his time praying for both himself and you.

At the end of the day, we're all equal in God's embrace.
🙂

We can’t just go around reshaping the world or tailoring it to fit our own little whims. Honestly, the best thing we can actually do is just be the living example of change ourselves. It feels pretty futile to spend all our precious time trying to fix every single injustice out there. Yeah, watching everything go wrong in the world is heavy, but since we can't force it to be different, we get to make a choice: we can sit around being miserable and negative, or we can choose to follow the good stuff—spending our energy on things that are kind, human, and actually positive.

All the answers you'll ever need are already tucked away inside you. From the moment you were born, your inner conscience has been pointing toward the absolute truth. Sure, sometimes you take the right path, and sometimes you trip up and go against your own grain, but deep down, you always know where you stand. You feel it in your soul, no doubt about it. You know exactly when you messed up, when you stood up for what was right, and you can sense the consequences coming your way because of it.
That call from your conscience? That comes from having true freedom of consciousness.
And that freedom really just wants to live. If we suffocate it with immoral or bad choices, our whole being starts to suffer. We end up tossing our days and our very atoms into a void of negativity, losing that natural harmony and that beautiful feeling of being at peace. There's this incredible force within us—something much bigger than ourselves, something beyond our control—that pulls us back when we get stuck in the mud, and it’s the very thing that catches up to us sooner or later.
If you're sleeping soundly and peacefully, just know it's a sign that your being is healthy, your conscience is clear, and your soul is at rest.
🙂

coastalwalker9 said:There are so many complexities surrounding whose God it is, which version is correct, and why people have "divided" God into so many different iterations or interpreted Him in such specific ways—I can't quite explain it, but listening to everyone claim their own unique story only serves to invite more doubt and questioning.
Personally, I believe there is one God; He doesn't belong to us, we belong to Him, and He looks at the state of the soul rather than which specific believer we happen to worship. The fact that humanity has spent history splintering into various factions based on different faiths and versions of God doesn't sound like anything God would have planned.
That is why, when someone says, it matters what kind of person you are, to me, that sounds the most divine—or at least closest to it.

Because at the end of the day, what is the point of honoring someone or something if you aren't a decent human being or if you possess a heart of stone? Honoring God feels like a mere drop in the ocean; I deeply doubt it is the deciding factor for everything.

Communities, churches, branches, books—all of that is fine. It is good that they exist because they provide answers and guidance, helping people find shape and stay whole when they navigate difficult times, temptations, or certain life stages.

So, when someone who is genuinely good and pure of heart says they honor Jesus, I am perfectly fine with that, because I see it as just another act of love within the series of loving actions that person already performs.

But when someone does it out of fear of what comes after death, or because it feels like a mandatory obligation or a way to gain some sort of social credit, then in my eyes, that person has missed the entire point.
Though, perhaps that is still a better option if it keeps a person away from crime, the temptation to fall into evil, or the impulse to harm others. From that perspective, I understand why churches strive to emphasize the importance of belonging to a community and gathering together.
Even ancient tribes had their shamans and interpreters who passed down wisdom and served as wells of knowledge; modern man isn't much different. The only difference is that the modern man has priests, psychologists, schools, and everything else that shapes and directs him. More knowledge leads to more questions, which leads to more answers, which ultimately leads to more complications and struggles for the human mind and soul.

I honestly love hearing people talk about God. It doesn't matter what they say—even if they’re venting or arguing against Him, it never makes me doubt anything. If anything, the more I listen to these stories, the more I just feel God stirring something inside my own heart.
What kind of man are you? Life is basically one long lesson. You’re constantly learning how to navigate things. First off, you have to figure out how to actually be a decent human being, which is harder than it sounds. That's why I think where you get your guidance from matters so much. It really sets the tone for everything else.
I’ve been thinking lately about how our souls aren't some separate thing floating around inside us. They’re tied directly to our humanity. It’s through being human—really living, you know?—that the soul actually shows itself. Basically, whatever your human side chooses to believe in, your soul hitches a ride on that. It identifies with it. That’s why I think it’s such a big deal who we choose to follow, what we put our faith in, and what we celebrate in our daily lives. To me, true celebration means choosing to follow and honor peace, kindness, love, and God's word. At the end of the day, celebrating isn't just some ceremony; it means actually living out God's word.
Faith is really just about looking inward. It’s that gut feeling that leads us toward what’s good, peaceful, and fair—that quiet sense of righteousness we all carry inside. Honestly, if you look at any teaching about God, that's pretty much the core of it.
I first felt God's word stirring right in my own heart, and then I went looking for it in the Bible. It turns out, everything I was feeling inside was exactly what the Bible confirmed.
I personally feel like I have this direct connection with God, and honestly, the feeling is mutual.

If every single religion, church, and community out there just decided to actually love one another for once, man, things would be so different. There wouldn't be any reason for all this pain we see. We'd finally have some real peace across the whole world.
Sometimes, you can celebrate just by staying quiet.

Nicholas Barnes74 said:There’s also a difference in how heavy the sins are, right? - It's not the same thing as just being sinful, versus being really sinful, or even extremely sinful.

Yeah, you made a good point—Christianity is based on, I mean, one group of people centered themselves around the existence of Jesus and built their own religion from there. But do you think Jesus wanted to be just "Christian," or was he more of a teacher, a healer who wanted to bring all the people in this world together in peace?
People witnessed his miracles—they weren't witnessing a religion. Faith came from those testimonies, and then faith formed into religion through history. Religion was supposed to be this unified community that honors Jesus, promotes Jesus' teachings, brings people together, and actually lives out its faith.Now, whether that's actually how it works... well, everyone has their own opinion on that.
How would the Christian Catholic community look at us unbaptized folks—people who don't belong to any specific religion, but still honor and believe in Jesus Christ?[/I]

Well, that's just how it is.
As someone part of that community (though I don't love the term since I'm kind of an individualist), I think God knows best what's in anyone's heart... and since MM is an atheist, I honestly think God might save him before He saves me.

He wasn't stumbling anymore, he was doing great. 🙂

Nicholas Barnes74 said:Yeah, that’s a really good way to put it.

Wait, how can you say they aren't connected?
I know so many people whose lives were completely transformed by their faith—like, specifically through the Catholic Church or religion itself.

Nicholas Barnes74 said:But honestly, I don't think there's a single person out there who isn't a sinner, you know?
Christianity is built on the fact that Jesus existed. It wasn't just some made-up thing—it started because people actually witnessed what happened.
And yeah, I don't exactly live my faith perfectly either—I want to, I really do—but I feel like I "fail" maybe a hundred times a day.

So, where exactly is this change you're talking about? Like, what does it actually look like in practice? I'm struggling to see the point.

Does the weight of sin actually vary? I mean, there’s definitely a difference between just being a sinner, being a huge sinner, and being an absolute wreck. It's not all the same.

Christianity isn't just some story someone cooked up out of thin air. It’s built on the fact that Jesus actually existed. It didn't just appear out of nowhere; it grew from what people actually saw happening with their own eyes.

Yeah, you hit the nail on the head there. Christianity is basically built on... So, you've got this whole group of people basing everything on the existence of Jesus and building an entire religion around it. It makes you wonder, though. Do you think Jesus intended for his message to be strictly tied to Christianity, or was he more of a teacher and healer who just wanted to bring everyone in the world together in peace?
People saw his miracles firsthand, you know? They weren't out there witnessing some organized religion; they were seeing things happen right in front of them. That's how it started—real testimonies sparked faith, and then that faith eventually grew into the history and the religious structures we see today. In my mind, religion should have just been one big, unified community dedicated to celebrating Jesus, spreading his teachings, and actually living out that faith together to bring people closer.
Look, at the end of the day, everyone’s got their own take on things. It really just comes down to what you believe.
How do you think the Christian community would view people like us? I mean, we don't belong to any specific religion or church, but we still celebrate and believe in Jesus Christ.

Anthony Perez9 said:Superstitions and religions hang on regardless of the truth. Same old story.

Do you actually believe Jesus existed,

Nah. At best, he's a 1:3 ratio.
I figure it's just an inspiring parable based on the Old Testament about the Messiah, told by Mark the Greek. 🙂

that God revealed Himself through Jesus, and that Jesus eventually became the Son of God?

Aren't we all technically God's children? 🙂 People see whatever they want to see.

There's the city of Nazareth in Israel where Jesus comes from,

Hard to prove, since there's zero evidence.

the empty tomb,

Plenty of those, but they were cooked up later.

the Stations of the Cross,

Made up much later. There's even the flying shrine of Mary, Jesus' mother, currently sitting in Loretta, Italy. 😁

The Shroud of Turin...

Medieval hoax, proven by Carbon-14 testing. 🙂

"Most scholars agree

... but there isn't enough proof. Jesus still hangs in limbo as a historical figure.

As long as it encourages spirituality, empathy, personal growth, and being a decent human, it's fine as inspiration.😉

Faith shows up whenever it feels like it. 🙂

Anthony Perez9 said:That's just some later church propaganda cooked up without any actual proof to back it up.

I don't know about you, but that one fact alone is more than enough proof of Jesus's greatness and holiness for me.

It’s not even a fact. Believe those myths if they help you sleep at night, though.

Same here... just go take a look at the life stories of hundreds of Christian saints from the last 2,000 years.

Most of those miraculous martyrdom stories from early Christian saints are just church legends. As for religious fanatics willing to die for their ideology? Yeah, we all know those guys exist.

Look, a lie doesn't usually stick around for this long if there's zero substance behind it.

Do you actually believe Jesus was a real person? Like, do you buy that God revealed Himself through Jesus, and that He eventually became the Son of God?

There’s the actual town of Nazareth in Israel where Jesus grew up, the empty tomb, the stations of the cross, the Shroud of Turin... stuff like that.
"Most historians pretty much agree that Jesus was a Jew from Galilee, known as a teacher and healer, baptized by John the Baptist, and eventually crucified in Jerusalem on the orders of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate for allegedly conspiring against the Roman Empire."

Nicholas Barnes74 said:Yeah, that’s a really good way to put it.

Wait, how can you say they aren't connected?
I know so many people whose lives were completely transformed by their faith—like, specifically through the Catholic Church or religion itself.

I guess I could also point to a huge number of religious folks who are pretty sinful and don't actually live out their "faith" through any formal church structure.
Man, humans basically invented religions to serve their own interests. True faith is something much bigger—it’s spiritual, all-encompassing, and sits way above any specific religion.

Nicholas Grant20 said:That's a heavy one. I guess what stays with you are those few convictions that feel true deep down in your bones, because everything that feels fake or doesn't fit who you really are gets filtered out during that whole process. As for whether it actually cuts down the pain... I don't know. Maybe. But I think it just makes you a more authentic person, I suppose.

I don't really buy into that whole spiritual ideal of the perfectly zen, balanced human being who's totally unbothered by anything in their "sublime state." I think we're always just in some state of flux, constantly changing, and pain is always going to be there. It’s always present. Maybe we just get to decide what we turn that pain into, and maybe through that, life actually feels a bit more real.

Do you think you know it, or do you actually *feel* in your gut that those beliefs are true? And if you really feel them, why not just write down your truth? Or is it just hard to put those feelings into words?

.. How much that helps with pain reduction—who knows, but I think it just makes you a more authentic person.
I don't really buy into that whole spiritual cliché of the perfectly calm, balanced human being who stays totally unbothered in some enlightened state. I think we're always in flux, constantly changing, and pain is always going to be there. We just get to decide what we turn that pain into, and through that, life can actually feel a lot more intense.

Yeah, I used to fool myself into thinking I could handle everything entirely on my own, too. 🙂