Posts by Brenda Cook4

Jonathan Brooks8 said:But you dodged the actual question; they ought to be generating value for themselves—would you truly characterize high-stakes stock manipulation as legitimate work? And tell me, do these speculators actually risk their own capital, or are they just playing with everyone else's money?

It’s a job well done.🤷

Does a machinist at the plant use their own gear, or do they rely on the shop's equipment? What exactly does that imply?

Jonathan Brooks8 said:Working—say, acting like those Wall Street speculators who simply buy low and sell high—does that even qualify as actual labor?

Oh boy... honestly, does anyone out there have a better deal than them? I mean, come on, they aren't paying a dime for anything yet, but they're selling it at top dollar and walking away clean. Where else in the galaxy can you find a business model like that? It's unreal...

Jonathan Brooks8 said:The real question here is—what exactly do you mean when you use the term suicide...

Think about it... like something drastic... just dropping everything and finally getting to work...

redtinker36 said:.. well .. I don't think they'd see eye to eye anymore ..
.. what I’m getting at is .. that .. now .. we can build upon the teachings of Jesus .. and continue following his path ..

Yeah... there's no way they'd understand each other...

Look, this whole thing with that barren fig tree is incredibly telling. It’s all just a thinly veiled metaphor for "individualism." Basically, the message is: if you aren't producing results—meaning, if you don't blindly follow the party line like a sheep following a shepherd—then you’re going to face the fate of that tree. He was so furious because it didn't bear fruit when he was hungry, even though the poor thing was simply out of season. The implication? You'll be uprooted entirely. Just look at how it plays out...

That alone tells the whole story. Is this really about a person, an individual, or just a loyal little party member?

Are you familiar with what Epictetus taught? He used to argue—and actually live by the principle—that you shouldn't get angry at someone who strips the clothes right off your back. His logic was that if you view your possessions as mere "clothing" rather than part of your core self, you won't feel robbed. In fact, he suggested you should just hand over whatever else they want. He also spoke about turning the other cheek and practicing *philanthropia* when facing those who strike you, all in the pursuit of moral excellence. Even Seneca noted how pathetic a person is when they respond "tooth for a tooth." Doesn't that sound like the starting point for contemplating superiority over others? Like a massive egotrip?

Tell me, what did Jesus specifically do for the people surrounding Him?

And why did He destroy that miserable fig tree? I mean, it couldn't possibly bear fruit in the winter anyway. Why does this non-Jewish woman have to humble herself so much before she can receive "mercy"?

Why do we even bother making things up? I’m telling you, if you spend all your time staring at the sky, you miss everything right in front of you... including the very people walking beside you.

Are you absolutely certain we’re actually keeping the "individual" in mind here?
To me, it feels like all this talk is exactly what triggered the slow death of individualism... honestly, it stems from religion in general... from this whole "us versus them" mentality...
It’s just such a grotesque mismatch—this word "love," which has been completely cheapened and hollowed out, clashing against their actual actions. It’s a total contradiction: they spend centuries preaching about modesty and renouncing worldly possessions, yet they act in the name of a God they claim to serve while doing the exact opposite.

What really gets to me, though, is this deep-seated hatred for life itself. If you take a good, hard look at the heavens, it’s hardly any surprise that you can’t find anything of substance left on earth...

If you look at it through a Marxist lens...

Well, in that case, I guess I’m a total Marxist.😁 You really nailed the structure here... though I’ve got a few gripes regarding the human element. But hey, nothing is ever truly perfect. There are some bizarre inconsistencies that just clash with that "flawless" image of Jesus. It felt like it hit you hard, didn't it? Like it reached somewhere deep inside. Was it a tear in your eye, or are you just being more than your usual self—just stirring up the neighborhood on a global scale?

steeleagle2 said:Brenda Cook4, the debate here concluded with rowdyhawk10's post, which clearly makes it known that the Dervish Lodge remains open. Everything else is just beating a dead horse. For us, it's a waste, and for the Forum, it certainly isn't constructive or productive because, frankly, it's just filler...

In that context, I am taking the opportunity to call out everyone involved, because someone has to say it. Just watch me, Brenda.😍

P.S. There will be plenty of opportunities for you and me to wrap this discussion up and for me to answer your questions.

Always😁...there you go again...just stay positive...it makes everything so much easier.

Come on then...let's head over to the Dervish Lodge and talk.😬

steeleagle2 said:

That’s exactly it. I think the issue lies within us... within ourselves.
I won't get sidetracked right now by the whole debate over what constitutes true spiritual strength and how one actually attains it. Sure, having support is great, but at the end of the day, a person has to fight their own battles alone. Otherwise, you just end up with a herd mentality where only the "strongest" survive. But anyway, that’s a conversation for another time.

So, we're blaming atheists and non-believers for the current state of things? Let's look at the Dervish Lodge specifically. Tell me, what exactly have atheists done to the Dervish Lodge? Where and when did they provide this "critical mass of immorality"—these supposed provocations—that would trigger a reaction from believers, leading to them being sanctioned or, essentially, stripped of their ability to practice their faith?

As an atheist, I’ve been reflecting on my participation in a Dervish Lodge gathering. It feels a bit out of place since I don't know anyone else who has taken part in one for any significant amount of time. I find myself wondering: what exactly was I doing there?

I expected a bit more precision from you, but whatever.

I never explicitly labeled atheists as participants in any spontaneous or organized actions. My point was simply that the moderators steer the direction of the discussions by favoring atheism and "pushing" it—which has nothing to do with them personally, nor does it have anything to do with you. Therefore, everything you've pointed out misses the mark. Please read my posts more carefully.

Once again, who exactly "polluted" the space with their "spiritual filth"?
Please, if you could, define "spiritual purity" for me. It seems absolutely necessary, especially since you're suggesting that problems are starting to arise here because of it.

It wouldn't be right to point fingers, but just to clear the air—it wasn't you.😍 Honestly, it could be anyone—even a brother who sits right beside us in the Dervish Lodge. Purity isn't a static thing; states of cleanliness fluctuate. Someone might be completely centered today, only to lose that footing tomorrow. My job is to nip these disruptions in the bud. I try to redirect them by pivoting to a different topic before they even settle in. It’s a preventative measure. If someone enters the Dervish Lodge in a bad state, it creates a mess. Sure, the moderators eventually clean it up, but the bitter aftertaste lingers. After a while, that bitterness starts to define the entire Forum. We all end up tasting it. Eventually, we get so used to that bitter flavor that when someone tries to offer us something sweet, like strawberries with whipped cream, our first instinct is to cough. That’s why you need a buffer zone to ease the reaction. You start with something simple, like a bit of bread and white garlic, then move slowly toward dairy, and only then do you introduce the sweets.

Is the "spiritually pure" category popping up again, along with this new "outside interference" section?

External interference is essentially an excess triggered by individuals—and I’m being precise here, it could be anyone—occasionally because they fail to pass through the buffer zone, and partly due to their inherent nature.

One more thing I wanted to ask—did you actually request that the human stay away from the Dervish Lodge, or did I just get my wires crossed?

And finally, what exactly was the contribution of those banned users to the "vibe" or the overall atmosphere within the Dervish Lodge? Is everything really just Shady's fault? Or should we be pointing the finger at the atheists instead?

The human in question doesn't actually have anything to do with this, other than serving as my case study to illustrate two specific points. I’ve already laid them out, but I suppose I should start getting used to your lack of precision😛.

Essentially, this human is a textbook example of what happens when a creative yet highly temperamental individual is pushed toward pure destruction by moderator politics, rather than being given an environment where they can actually let their talent shine. It is a failure of moderation, par excellence. Honestly, I couldn't care less about the human; he isn't even five years old, he's got food, a place to sleep, and he's warm enough😍

The moderators have done such a stellar job with the deleting and banning, they might actually qualify for the Olympics.🤣

On the contrary, I was actually quite precise. I laid out my questions for you very clearly.

Here we go again. So, what exactly are we diving into right now? What’s the actual topic here? Honestly, I was under the impression we were discussing the closure of the Dervish Lodge.

I asked quite a few specific questions about that, didn't I? But somehow, in the end, the whole conversation just drifted toward rowdyhawk10... and atheists.

Let me say this again, and please, try to give me a straight answer this time. I see what's happening here. When people start making broad generalizations about religion, it completely changes how they act. It leads to this total breakdown in decency and a complete slide into using foul language. So, let's apply that logic directly to the Dervish Lodge and this specific thread. Who is actually responsible for this aggressive, toxic vocabulary? Is it the atheists, the mods who are letting it happen, rowdyhawk10, or perhaps certain believers... and I mean the prominent ones?

...and please, be specific. I don't want the vague stuff—give it to me straight.

So, you're saying the mods were deleting posts? But wait, didn't you say yourself earlier that they actually *should* be doing that to handle all the spam and the off-topic clutter? Now suddenly, what happened? Why isn't it okay anymore?

And hey, thanks for that—glad to see I’m not the one getting the heat this time...

steeleagle2;23284406] Blue, it’s not just that I "got hooked" out of nowhere. The Dervish Lodge section is unlike any other topic on this entire Forum. There is absolutely nothing else like it. It has to walk this fine line where it follows all the standard site rules and general Forum operations, yet at the exact same time, it needs to be completely set apart—protected, really—to actually work. How do you balance those two things? And more importantly, why is it absolutely necessary to do it that way?

I'm not saying you're just "horny" or whatever... I mean, what's happening here is something else entirely. It’s deeper than that.

She followed the rules of the Forum and played by the book. So, my question now is: who exactly do you think was attacking her? Was anything actually done about it? What steps did you personally take? And what specific actions were you asking the mods to take?

The answer to this question is incredibly complex. Speaking as the one who set this whole thing in motion, I can only tell you that the current state of modern religion is such that the protection surrounding the Dervish Lodge has effectively shattered. It’s become just another topic of casual conversation. Under these specific circumstances, there is simply no way for it to fulfill the promise made in the opening post.

Alright, this really calls for an answer to the question I posed earlier. So, who exactly turned the Dervish Lodge into just another "ordinary thread"? And more importantly, were people’s concerns ignored when they spoke up about drifting away from the topic and losing the whole purpose of what this virtual Dervish Lodge is meant to be?

It’s pretty obvious to everyone why following the forum rules is so essential. It just makes sense.
How can something be kept completely separate yet remain fully protected at the same time? It sounds like a total contradiction, doesn't it? Like trying to hold water in your hands without letting a single drop escape. But when you really dig into it, that balance is everything. It’s about creating a boundary that doesn't act as a wall, but rather as a sanctuary. You need that space to keep the core essence pure, but you also need a shield to ensure that what's inside stays safe from the outside world. Finding that sweet spot—where isolation meets security—is the real challenge.
I’ll give it my best shot.

An actual Dervish Lodge needs its own dedicated space—a physical sanctuary that sets it apart from the chaos of the outside world. Without that boundary, it just can't function properly; a Dervish Lodge simply cannot exist as an institution without it. It’s essential because once you step inside those walls, you create a specific atmosphere necessary for everything to work. First and foremost, we're talking about purity—starting with the physical environment and then moving deep into the spiritual. Spiritual purity within a space isn't something that just happens by accident. It’s built through constant, humble prayer and dedicated rituals. You also need the presence of spiritually grounded people to make it work. Only then can a Dervish Lodge truly provide the "tools" necessary for spiritual education—helping to shape and build up individuals, or simply serving as a sanctuary for souls searching for a place to rest. That’s essentially the core, condensed set of requirements a Dervish Lodge needs to meet.

Once again, who exactly went and "polluted" the space with their "spiritual filth"?
And please, if you could, give me a definitive explanation of "spiritual purity." It seems absolutely necessary, especially since you're suggesting that this is exactly where all the issues start to surface.

S

Let’s get back to the reality of this virtual Dervish Lodge. If we want actual protection here, it isn't enough for moderators to just stay on top of things by deleting off-topic chatter or spam. We need something deeper than that. First off, the people who call this place home—those who feel they truly belong here, whether through merit or simple desire—need to be spiritually grounded and resilient. It’s that combination of individual strength and purity that actually keeps the walls of this virtual Dervish Lodge standing against outside interference. Now, look, when an intrusion happens, it’s easy enough to delete the offending content. But the real goal should be to nip it in the bud—to stop the intrusion before it even starts. Once it hits, it’s already too late. Why? Because once someone breaks in, they leave behind a kind of spiritual impurity. Even after you delete a post, there’s still a lingering "vibe" or a sense of tension hanging in the air. That’s the part that needs cleaning, and frankly, moderators don't have the tools—nor should they have the authority—to deal with that. That responsibility falls on the people truly dedicated to the Dervish Lodge itself. If a critical mass of that impurity takes hold, it will flood the entire community, and individuals simply won't be able to...
It’s all about the cleansing process—the more they strive to purify things, the more they end up purifying themselves in the process. But let's face it, that massive wave of spiritual impurity we're seeing? That was created by the very atmosphere surrounding religion itself.

So, looking at how things were handled—deleting those off-topic posts, all that spam, and the insults—it was definitely the right call. It shows the mods were actually stepping up and doing their jobs.

So, is the whole issue really about the people who were at the Dervish Lodge? Are we seeing this "spiritually pure" label popping up again, along with this new idea of "outside interference"? I'm curious—as the one who opened the doors and kept watch, how did you actually handle that?
Was there anyone else who was supposed to step up?

We made a promise right from our very first post. And that’s a promise we have to live up to. When someone walks through the doors of our Dervish Lodge, they need to feel—truly feel—that we kept our word. No one should ever walk away from us feeling heavy-hearted or disappointed. There is no room for deception here. You simply can't cheat the human soul.

It would be such a refreshing change—and honestly, just plain normal—if people actually meant what they said. If our thoughts truly aligned with our words, and more importantly, if our actions actually followed through on those promises.

Maybe you’re sitting there wondering if the problem lies within us—if we’ve just lost our grit? Look, here’s the reality: an individual draws their spiritual strength from the community. Think of it like this: a single bird doesn't fly on its own power; it soars on the wings of the flock. Without that collective lift, a person is just lost and weak. The recent turn of events over on the Religion forum, which rowdyhawk10 moderates, has visibly drained the strength of our community. And because that foundation is crumbling, it has automatically stripped away the strength from those of us tasked with maintaining the Dervish Lodge. Essentially, the moderators have fostered an atmosphere on the Religion forum that actively weakens our group's core. In social terms, you could call it "turmoil." And we aren't the only ones feeling the burn. This affects all believers. You can see the proof in the endless stream of complaints coming from various denominations and individuals alike regarding the state of the Religion forum. Everyone can sense that something is fundamentally broken. So, I’ll tell you exactly what’s going wrong. Let me repeat:
Religion has turned into this place where disbelief and atheism are being pushed, both subtly and intentionally, all while trying to stifle any kind of actual faith—no matter what that looks like. It’s all part of a calculated strategy: they serve up a critical mass of immorality just to trigger a predictable reaction from the faithful—usually some kind of protest—which then inevitably leads to them being sanctioned. When this is done systematically and by design, the end goal is clear. Over time, the community gets purged of believers, specifically those who can actually spot the treacherous provocations planted by the powers that be in charge of the PDF-religion structure. What's left behind are the believers who are blind to these maneuvers, or perhaps someone like me, who actually gives a damn about making things right again.

That’s exactly it. Honestly, I think the issue lies within us... within all of us.
I don't want to get sidetracked right now by diving into the whole debate over what true spiritual strength actually looks like or how one even begins to find it. Sure, having support is great—it really is—but at the end of the day, a person has to fight their own battles alone. If you rely solely on the group, you just end up with that herd mentality where only the "strongest" survive. But hey, that’s a whole different conversation for another time.

So, we’re really going to blame atheists and non-believers for the current situation? Let's look at this logically. When we talk about the Dervish Lodge, tell me—what exactly have atheists done to it? Where or when did they ever serve up some "critical mass of immorality" or throw out provocations just to bait believers into reacting so they could be sanctioned or, essentially, stripped of their right to practice their faith? It just doesn't add up.

I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit lately. As an atheist, I found myself participating in a Dervish Lodge gathering, and honestly, I don't even know anyone else who has done that—at least not consistently over any long period. It leaves me wondering: what was I actually doing there?

rowdyhawk10 calls himself a "philosopher." Just take a look at his posts compared to mine—especially regarding this whole situation with closing down the Dervish Lodge—from yesterday through today. Anyone paying attention will notice the shift.Yesterday was awkward, cold, and honestly felt pretty threatening. Then, suddenly, today he shows up acting all pleasant and perfectly poised for dialogue and change and blah, blah, blah... I’d call that emotional instability, but let’s not get bogged down in that. There is something else I need to point out: none of this stuff he’s proposing is actually backed by his own convictions. He doesn't truly believe what he's saying. It’s nothing more than a performance—his own little personal show. Moving past the mood swings, though, here is the real kicker: he’s just looking for a way to protect his position and ensure this Forum keeps running exactly how the administration wants it to. Because of that, he’ll say absolutely anything to anyone just to hit those targets. It doesn't even matter to him whether what he’s saying is the Truth or if he actually stands behind his words. It’s a complete farce, bordering on a total fiasco. And the people who actually noticed the act? They either got banned or they just walked away from the Forum entirely.

Let me give it to you straight, just being honest here. I haven't noticed any real shift in how rowdyhawk10 acts—he’s the same guy today as he was yesterday. But you know what I *did* catch? Looking at your last post (#72), where you bold things in those two spots... honestly, if I hadn't spotted your username, I would have thought northernrider9 was the one typing. That’s his specific style, and now I’m seeing it in yours too. That’s the little detail I picked up on.

One more thing, did you ask the Human not to show up at the Dervish Lodge, or am I just getting my wires crossed?

And finally, what kind of actual impact did those banned users have on the "vibe" or the overall "situation" at the Dervish Lodge? Is rowdyhawk10 solely to blame for everything? Or is it the atheists?

boldgull19 said:I'll answer part of that for you—here's how I see the current state of the Dervish Lodge.

To you, is "hanging out and talking" just trashing people who aren't present, using crude language unworthy of a human, let alone someone who considers themselves a believer? Is "talking and hanging out" just shouting over others and forcing your opinion on them just because *you* think you're right?

For me, that isn't conversation or community. That's why (among other things) I supported steeleagle2 in closing the thread. Believe me, Brenda Cook4, NOT ONE of the people writing like that would act that way on the street, much less in the Dervish Lodge, nor would they talk about others like that if they met them face to face.

So you decide: is THAT sincerity, or is there another word for it? I'm emphasizing this (for those who think I'm arguing for being just "sweet-talking") that everything said could be phrased differently—in a decent way, at least—without insulting anyone, while still staying true to the path they've chosen to follow.

edit: since Gorčin has the idea and the will (if he's allowed) to keep going, it's probably best to wait until he checks in.

Look, I’m not exactly out here throwing around profanity, nor am I someone who goes around judging people's lives. Some of those words used were definitely heavy—manly, even, and honestly, a bit much. I get that. But couldn't the host have stepped in to handle it? We all know how moderators like to keep things orderly, even in private messages. Instead of just shutting it down, couldn't it have been addressed at the Dervish Lodge through a meaningful lesson or maybe just a calm conversation with the person acting out?

I can only imagine how rowdyhawk10 feels when reading some of those insults. I mean, I get it—he’s a moderator, so he has to step in; he’s just following the rules of the Forum. But honestly? If it were up to me, I’d never ban someone like Humanside. And since I see he’s currently reading through things and making decisions, I certainly wouldn't ban him either. Those two are basically the same person anyway... and I’m not trying to backtrack on what I said before, just doubling down. Losing them would be such a massive loss for this community. Look, I’m not saying you should turn this place into a "sweetheart club," but there's just too much fluff lately. A hundred times over, I’d much rather deal with blunt, direct, intelligent perspectives. What I really miss seeing at the Dervish Lodge is someone like a lame deer or Master Ivan—someone who actually makes my brain work, someone I can learn from, where real "battles" of wits take place. That's how you expand your universe. Please, just bring Humanside back.😁 In a word... look, I know that if he’s given the green light, everyone else will follow suit. Guess what? Maybe it isn't the most balanced way to handle things, but as the saying goes, what's allowed for the king isn't necessarily permitted for the commoner. A person's unique character, their intelligence, their depth of knowledge, and even their wit—those things should actually carry some weight. If we truly care about having a high-quality forum here, then we need substance. If all we wanted was a bunch of parrots just echoing the same thing over and over, there would be no point in coming to a forum at all.

What I can't stand is the theater of it all—the forced sentimentality, the constant drama, and that desperate urge to run away from reality. It’s just too much.🤷

But... can anyone tell me, is it actually possible—or even wise or right—to use the Dervish Lodge as a way to settle someone else's petty squabbles? And is the Dervish Lodge really so weak and fragile that even the slightest breeze could knock it down?

Here’s the original post that opened the doors to the Dervish Lodge:

This is a sanctuary for celebrating God's love and the hope He has given us to eventually return to Him.
Whenever you feel lonely, sad, joyful, or elated; when you feel cast aside, when you've been lied to, or when it feels like the whole world is stacked against you—when you're just absolutely overwhelmed with worry...
Come here and try being sincere.
Ask questions; perhaps I will answer them.
The lost soul seeks, and it shall be found. Just keep seeking, and you won't leave this Dervish Lodge with a heavy heart.
Even those who struggle to believe in Divine love might find faith here.
Everyone has a right to hope. No one is denied it.
And you, who already love—come, so that we may increase your love.

...wasn't that an open invitation for connection and conversation? Is it really okay for someone to suddenly decide to slam the door in your face?

Besides, honestly, if everyone just kept opening up and then felt like shutting down topics whenever they pleased, what would be the point of any forum member even engaging? What for?

A little bit of Sufism wisdom... let's see if we can actually put it into practice... time to walk the talk:

Vilayat Khan says something along these lines: if you find yourself unable to conquer bitterness, realize it’s because you haven't yet grown into the magnitude of the discontent you've been entrusted with...

Jeffrey Fox84 said:...letting that gold chain jingle...

this sounds exactly like some old country song chorus 😍

😁...it reminds me of what the Swabians might say: "Here is the Rose, now dance," which was actually directed by Hegel toward the Rosicrucians—those folks who loved bragging about how their esoteric wisdom could reshape society... in the blink of an eye... so he gave them that little reality check...

Honestly, it’s like an Aesop's fable about a boastful athlete. You know the one? It goes *Hic Rhodus, hic salta*—"Here is Rhodes, now jump!" Basically, the guy kept bragging about his phenomenal leap, but he only ever did it on Rhodes. So they told him, "Alright, imagine this is Rhodes, then jump." I just used that popular Marx's version of the proverb...

rowdyhawk10 said:

Alright, does anyone else want to chip in with some closing thoughts?

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there. When The Soul Lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase ‘each other’, doesn’t make any sense.
Rumi

Or maybe just a little something about Sufism and how I found my way into it...

And finally (one more from Rumi, since he's in my signature):

Beneath this water-wheel of stars
Your sleep Has been heavy.
Observe that heaviness and beware
For Life is Fragile and Quick.
Heart, aim yourself at Love!
friend, discover the Friend!

Sending greetings to Tiki...

Living in the world, but not of it

While traveling toward Mecca, Ibn Arabi passed through Tunis. He’d heard a story about a holy man living there that he simply had to meet. This holy man was just a simple Fisherman, living in a modest little shack, catching exactly three fish every single day—no more, no less. He’d give the meat to the poor and cook only the heads for himself, day after day, year after year.
Ibn Arabi was struck by this simplicity. The Fisherman asked him, "Will you be passing through Cairo on your way?" Ibn Arabi nodded, and the man made a request: "My mentor lives in Cairo. Please, visit him and ask what advice he might have for me. You see, I’ve spent all these years praying, fasting, and living humbly, yet I feel like I haven't made any spiritual progress at all. Please, ask him for guidance."

Keeping his word, once Ibn Arabi arrived in Cairo, he asked around for the mentor. "See that massive, glittering mansion on the hill? That’s where the mentor lives." When Ibn Arabi knocked on the palace doors, he was received with incredible hospitality. They led him into lavishly decorated halls, offered him fine food, and asked him to wait while the mentor went to visit the President. It felt a bit strange for a Sufi, honestly; such luxuries are usually avoided because they can become a veil between a person and God—just another attachment to this material world.

After a while, Ibn Arabi stood up and looked out the window. He saw the mentor riding a magnificent Arabian horse, wrapped in a fur coat, wearing a grand turban studded with jewels, and sporting diamond rings on his hands. He greeted Ibn Arabi warmly and welcomed him with genuine kindness. He was a truly lovely, polite man. Once they sat down, they began to talk. "You have a student in Tunis," Ibn Arabi noted. "Yes, I know," the man replied. "He is seeking spiritual guidance from you." The mentor then added, "Tell my student this: if he remains so tethered to this world, he will never make any spiritual headway."

The message left Ibn Arabi feeling quite conflicted. On his journey back, however, he stopped in Tunis to visit the Fisherman. The man immediately asked what the mentor had said. Though it felt a little awkward, Ibn Arabi told him, "Well, your mentor lives in quite grand style, with a lot of pomp and circumstance." The man sighed, "I know... and what was his message?" Ibn Arabi answered, "He said that as long as you are so attached to the world, you won't get anywhere."
The man wept and wept and wept.
"My mentor is right," he finally whispered. "Every day, as I give the meat of those three fish away to the people, my heart goes with them. Every day, I find myself wishing I could keep the whole fish for myself instead of just the heads. Meanwhile, my mentor lives in immense wealth and luxury, yet he doesn't care one bit. Whether he has it or not, it doesn't touch him."

Why Dervish?

Noah King2 said:I’m speaking up about this issue—and others like it—for the second time now. There seems to be a real lack of fairness toward anyone who doesn't align with Eminem's specific religious views. I honestly used to think he was a pretty tolerant guy, but I’ve almost entirely lost that respect for him.

Well, look, I don't see it working quite like that. For Eminem to make a final call, the rest of the moderation team has to be on board. It's like a consensus thing. We just added two new Christian mods, just like was requested, and I'm fairly certain they're all in agreement on this—unless I've got that completely wrong.🤷

My own experience with Eminem tells a very different story than what's being said here. Pache, you're mistaken if you think otherwise; Eminem is actually going to be the first moderator to step in against insults, whether they come from "his people" or anyone else. I think you guys are seriously misjudging him. Actually, I don't think... I know.

Hey mods, please, can we just open a proper thread? Let's lay out exactly what needs to happen and how, because this discussion definitely belongs right here.

restlessbear9 said:👋 so good to have you back...

And he was actually thinking about CNN and all that. I think you missed the point 😛

come on, baby 👋
if that's just how things go according to the rules—basically splitting hairs—then let's just call it a day...

restlessbear9 said:Look, Rade, I think you’re being a bit too harsh here. In my experience, Eminem
doesn't actually have a beef with you personally or anyone else you've mentioned;
his issue is strictly with what was posted and whether it actually fits the vibe of this subforum.

If people are actually interested, why not start a whole new thread about justice? Let's go.

P.S.
Honestly, trying to pick a fight with the moderators is a losing battle.
It’s basically doomed from the start! 😉

'Why not?' Seriously? They literally just shut it down.😁