What Confuses You About the Bible?

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   Jeramiposted 14 years ago

   Imagine yourself  ALONE  with 563 9 year old children and it is your job to make sure that they learn how to get along..
   
     But since God is who he is; multiply that 563 children by 93,243 and tell me how you would handle this situation  while alse encouraging free will. 
   
     I almost got a headache just thinking about it for 27 seconds.

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      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I would have begun by building a sound human being with good brain chemistry!

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         Jeramiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            But if you child proofed the earth; no one would wanta be on it.

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            earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            No not child proofing the earth, just better brain chemistry, not perfection!

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               Jeramiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                   Well I guess that I'm not going to get to convince you of how right that I am..tonight, (Just kidding)
                   So I might as well go lay down and watch the fights till I start snoring.
                   Been a long day and I get to go do it again tomorrow AM.
                   Good night.  YAUL

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                  earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Goodnight Jeremi, rest peacefully.

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   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   Hey Jerami and Earnest, let me ask you both a question and let's see how different your answers are going to be.
   
   What is the highest cause you would give up your life for?

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      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Easy. My family. Any of em!

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         Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Would you do it for a complete stranger?

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            earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            No, not knowingly, but I have taken very high risks, like wade in to 4 big blokes!

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      Jeramiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Almost Everyone would give up their life for family      (or Loved ones)
          Most would state that this is the highest cause to do so.
          Some might say "for God," being the highest cause??
          A better question would be; "What is the least cause that you would be willing to give up your life"
          Some days I'd give it up for a peanut butter sandwich to give to a total stranger.
         
          Your question is actually asking; "How valuable is our own life to us?" What will we give it up for? What in life has equal or greater value to us.
         
          Some of us "worship" our life above all else.
          Some of us do not.

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   qwarkposted 14 years ago

   Yes! I am confused!
   In Genesis, this biblical god thing/s said: "Let us create man in our image."
   "They" created Adam.
   Eve was not even thought of then. "They" created Eve as an after thought.
   Now tell me, was Adam created sans a penis?..and all the accoutrements therein?
   Then when Eve was created, did "they" install aftermarket accessories which would enable them, then, to "go forth and multiply?"
   oh, I almost forgot, if they did this, wouldn't the whole action be proof that "They" are not omniscient?
   Anyone?
   ..bless you!  :-)

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      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      omniscient? Check out all the repair work modern medical science has gotta do a rebuild on.
      If we were a car it would be a Lada!

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         qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Now Earn:
         Be kind and gentle to me!
         I am seeking an honest retort from one who "knows" the bible and what and why "They" did what "They" did.
         This is a very serious question and should be taken thus.
         I am holding my breath, Earn, and praying that one with true "knowledge" of "They," responds.
         This is no joking matter.
         Now, pls, anyone?
         Bless you..:-)

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            earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Lada! Lada! Sorry, just had to put out an alert for incoming Ladas.

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               qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Earn:
               I don't think you are taking me seriously....:-)
               Isn't there a serious "fundie" in this forum who will try to compose an intellectual response to that which so confuses me about "They?"
               C'mon pull yer knickers down gather up some bravado and impress me with a very knowledgeable response..ok?
               I know ya can do it..:-)
               Bless you. :-)

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      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Qwark, that would be the trinity. Father son and holy ghost talking or just use of the "royal we" perhaps.
      Me myself I.

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         qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Earn:
         Jeez! No kidding? lol
         I hope yer not taking me seriously on all this biblical inanity!?
         I'm just having fun on a rainy nite and "rAttlin" the cages of moronic fundies who might try to answer me  gap   :-)
         Ok ok ...I'll leave a gap    :-)    hahaha..did that work?
         I gotta stop being so serious!  rontfl....   :-)

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            earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            The fundies don't actually answer questions, they just quote the "good book", so I figure we can have a bit of fun instead!
            God's creation is a Lada!
            Also fundies are devoid of humour, so we will have a very lonely thread!

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               qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Earn:
               And amen to that "lada lada."  :-)
               I spent 2 1/2 years "living" in that "wacky" tome!
               I look back at my seminary time now and bless serendipity for my " early release."  lol

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      SirDentposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      A little story before I go into details. When I go to build a house, I must first have a set of blueprints. The blueprints show where everything goes and the measurements of each room. Each part of the building process is aloted a certain amount of time. The foundation must be first then the floor, walls, roof, etc. . .
      
      God created Adam from the dust of the earth. He used His own hands to form man. God spoke which would be Jesus Christ or Yeshua (spelling) for those who are Jewish. God then breathed the breath of life into Adam's nostrils and then he became a living soul. God saw that it was good. Man was created with every part he would need to do what God had planned.
      
      Eve was created later from the rib of Adam. The time had come for her to make an entrance.
      
      So we have God the Father, Jesus or Yeshua the Word of God, and the Holy Ghost or breath of God.

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      Valerie Fposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Where did it say that woman was created as an "afterthought"? Nowhere. You're reading something in the Bible that's not there.

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      LeslieAdrienneposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      qwark......
      
      Here is your answer....if you notice in that scripture, it says, Let US....make man in OUR image.....the Hebrew  word for US and OUR is elohim, this is a plural word. This scripture is often used to prove the concept of the Trinity.....
      
      As you have said, they (the Trinity) created Adam....Adam means mankind, but...because God said ....."in our image and likeness", we understand that Adam must have also been a pluarlity. Woman was in Adam and the Spirit of God was in Adam.
      
      Before God took Woman out of man, Adam named her "Woman", which means "man with a womb"... the "creation" of Woman was a matter of simply separating her from him....
      
      she was there all of the time, but she was not separate from him...
      
      And,....she wasn't called Eve until after they fell...."Eve" means mother of all living
      
      Hope this helps.....

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   Madame Xposted 14 years ago

   What confuses me is why some people believe it is the ONLY word of God? After all, even a rudimentary understanding of what the bible says describes an infinite God. Why would anyone think that everything he ever did or said would be limited to one book?

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   earnestshubposted 14 years ago

   qwark you gotta leave a gap or the smilies don't work.

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   earnestshubposted 14 years ago

   Brothers! We both escaped from the clutches of the not very well!

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      qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Earn:
      Here here!  well said!    :-)

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         earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I only know a handful of people who have managed it.

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            qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            EArn;
            It's past history.
            A learning experience.
            Being released from a concentration camp is pure ecstasy!
            I have deeply embedded views about "believers" that will remain with me until I "pass."
            They may approach me. I will accept them warmly but with trepidation. I will let them know, very candidly, that I keep one eye on them. They are not worthy of my trust.
            I hate the idea of self imposed ignorance and they represent that to me. It is evidence of a primitive, unevolved psyche. None are credible. None is an ABSOLUTE!
            Don't get me started...lol
            Freedom, Freedom! Freedom from "absurdity!"
            Nuff said!     :-)

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               earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               And a truly great freedom to feel!

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   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   Hey, it really matters, I spent over 10+ testing doctrines, you know the first three the bible puts forth.
   
   (a) to be selfless in life
   (b) to oppress desires in life
   (c) to believe in a mystical god entity
   
   I put them to work and found that each are unachieveable by human standards. And, the first two are actual "anti-life" mechanisms. These two individual actions will drive one to become selfishly insane. Hence, possibly making the third easily possible since all rationalized thinking and every reasoning skill is completely skewed.
   
   You will run into more obstacles believing in a god, than if there really was one. A believer sets themselves up for failure, yet don't realize their actions are actually against their own existence to begin with.
   
   It's a sad fact to learn through doctrines that there is no god, because as a faithful catholic for which I was raised, I now reject all religions based on the god concept.
   
   Just so you know?

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      SirDentposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Obstacles do come to those who believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him. Satan is always attempting to throw believers off-track. Of course if you do not believe, Satan doesn't have to do anything to throw you off-track because you are already off-track.

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      LeslieAdrienneposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Cagsil,
      
      You have just demonstrated why the world needs a saviour....it is impossible to keep the law of God....no man can because all men were born in sin...only Jesus Christ the righteous was sinless and could pay the price for us.....
      
      Only He can reconnect us to the Father God....after we are connected, we are under God's grace.....and all of the law is summed up in this...that we love the lord our God with all heart, mind, strength and soul, and love thy neighbor as thyself.....
      
      Thanks Cags......

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8. 61

   Hokeyposted 14 years ago

   When his life was ruined, his family killed, his farm destroyed, Job knelt down on the ground and yelled up to the heavens, "Why god? Why me?" and the thundering voice of God answered, "There's just something about you that ticks me off.

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      qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Hokey:
      lololol...that is funny! TY for the laugh!

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      SirDentposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      What kind of illegal drugs do you take anyway?

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         earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         It's called having a free spirit. You should try it.

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            Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Thank you brother! I am at your service.

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               qwarkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Hokey:
               Great response.!!!

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                  Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Thank you very much! I like you too.

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            SirDentposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            What makes you think I don't have a free spirit?

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               Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               A good sermon should be like a woman's skirt: short enough to arouse interest but long enough to cover the essentials.

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               earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Sir Dent,
               All your spirit seems to be tied to some super entity that instructs your every move. Not my idea of free.

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                  SirDentposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  I could say the same about you. Who is more powerful, God or Satan?

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                     Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Sir? Dent?  Knights Templer?

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                        SirDentposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Nope. I am a pentecostal Christian. Non denominational.

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                           Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           So you believe in the Rapture?

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                     Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Who is more powerful? Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny?

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                        earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        
                        Is humour a Bhudist thing?

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                           Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           Buddhism is a be happy thing. Happiness is a personal choice no matter what. So I choose to be happy. No matter what.

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                              earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                              Sorry about the misspelling!
                              I make the same choice. Easy isn't it?

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                                 Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                 Simplicity is the key brother.

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                                    earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                    Ageed! Simplicity may lay within complexity, but it sure is worth looking for!

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                        Valerie Fposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Since Santa Claus is actually based on a real historical figure, Santa beats the Easter Bunny.

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                           Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           Santa beats Jeebus too.

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                     earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Well as you claim that both exist I would leave that assessment up to you.
                     I have no satan no sin no god. I live a moral life, love my fellow man and my family, make mistakes do wrong things enjoy my life, you know just like any non believer I guess!

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                        Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Well said!

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                        SirDentposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        I live a moral life also, to the best of my ability. I alos love my fellowman and take care of my family. Mistakes are plentiful in my life also. Only difference is that I believe in Jesus.

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                        Valerie Fposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Earnest, are you perfect? Have you always lived a perfectly moral life? And what gives you, an equal to everyone else, the right to decide what moral is?

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                           earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           No one is making any claim to perfection, sin may be your concept of morality it is not mine. Sin is a religious concept.
                           I do not believe in your god, that does not handicap me in any way whatsoever, or make me "only believe in myself".
                           I do not answer to your god or any of the others.

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                              LeslieAdrienneposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                              if you don't "only believe in yourself", who or what else do you believe in?

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                              Valerie Fposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                              Sin is imperfection. It is any wrongdoing at all. If you're not religious, but you behave in a manner you know is wrong, you're no better than a religious person who behaves the same way.

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                                 china manposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                 Not so - religion deals with sin as morals - the rest of us use ethics that rely on reason to decide what is good or bad relative to any situation.
                                 
                                 Morals would be ok if they stayed in line with the original ethics that started them up, unfortunately, like the bible, they are misinterpreted by the bigots who inhabit religion, to the detriment of those good people who are there for spiritual comfort or whatever.
                                 
                                 The other issue of the superior being (earlier) is not - IF there is one - it is why do people think that they can speak for it if it exists.

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                                 (Q)posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                 The real problem is when you can't explain why those who are not believers behave well while the believers behave badly. Try that one on for size.

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               Pandoras Boxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               you gave it to a god.

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         Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Don't do them but thank you for the offer. High on life!

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      Pandoras Boxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      hah!

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   Hokeyposted 14 years ago

   When I am gone, I hope it may be said: 'His sins were scarlet but his books were read. Namaste

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    mintinfoposted 14 years ago

    It reveals the gullibility of the human psyche. I found it to be a violent patch-work History book more than anything else. Keep in mind that it was put together thousands of years after many of the alleged events occurred by people who wanted to galvanize their fragmented and downtrodden race. The Old Testament that is.
    
    The new Testament was added by outsiders who admired the original works and attempted to add to the legacy.
    
    Aside from Proverbs and some others scriptures with morally underlying themes I found it hardly useful. But then again no one really knows why we are here so it is useful to bring structure and meaning to peoples lives. Until we find something better I support it for that reason.

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    hamstersmessiahposted 14 years ago

    What confuses me about the bible is not the text itself but people's total ignorance in how the document was constructed in the first place.  There is an excellent video on how the New Testament was constructed from texts dating back to about 300 AD, most of which are fragmentary and would probably make people rethink their view of the entire Canonical nature of the document.  You can view this video on Google at the following link and it's presented by a prominent biblical scholar who may actually know something about the bible and make you think outside your pulpit!  Here is the link:
    
    [url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=397006836098752165&q=Misquoting+Jesus&total=107&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0#]

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       hamstersmessiahposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       ok so i can't make a link work!
       
       url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=397006836098752165&q=Misquoting+Jesus&total=107&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0#

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    Mishaposted 14 years ago

    Obviously you angered the GOD
    
    Here is your link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid … 6098752165

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       hamstersmessiahposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       thank you!  i'm still learning how to do this embedding links stuff...  the video however is well worth the hour plus to watch if you have the time.

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    Mishaposted 14 years ago

    Nah, I don't watch videos longer than a few minutes. And you are welcome

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    waynetposted 14 years ago

    The fact that each chapter doesn't relate to each other like traditional stories, I mean Jesus Christ!! a beginning, a middle and an end is what should be done in a novel!!!!!

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       Valerie Fposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       The whole book is an anthology, a compilation of a variety of stories of different literary genres. If you try to read the Bible like it's only one story, of course you're going to be confused.

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    Hokeyposted 14 years ago

    I intend to live forever, or die trying.

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       Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       

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    Hokeyposted 14 years ago

    NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH
    
        1. Right View/Understanding
        (Understanding the Four Noble Truths) - See things as they truly are without delusions or distortions for all things change. Develop wisdom by knowing how things work, knowing oneself and others.
    
        2. Right Thinking
        Decide to set a life on the correct path. Wholehearted resolution and dedication to overcoming the dislocation of self-centered craving through the development of loving kindness, empathy and compassion.
    
    
        3. Right Speech
        Abstinence from lies and deceptions, backbiting, idle babble and abusive speech.     ivate honesty and truthfulness; practice speech that is kind and benevolent. Let your words reflect your desire to help, not harm others.
    
    
        4.Right Conduct
        (Following the Five Precepts) - Practice self-less conduct that reflects the highest statement of the life you want to live. Express conduct that is peaceful, honest and pure showing compassion for all beings.
    
        5. Right Livelihood
        Earn a living that does not harm living things. Avoidance of work that causes suffering to others or that makes a decent, virtuous life impossible. Do not engage in any occupation that opposes or distracts one from the path. Love and serve our world through your work.
    
        6. Right Effort
        Seek to make the balance between the exertion of following the spiritual path and a moderate life that is not over-zealous. Work to develop more wholesome mind states, while gently striving to go deeper and live more fully.
    
    
        7. Right Mindfulness
        Become intensely aware of all the states in body, feeling, and mind. Through constant vigilance in thought, speech and action seek to rid the mind of self-centered thoughts that separate and replace them with those that bind all beings together. Be aware of your thoughts, emotions, body and world as they exist in the present moment. Your thoughts create your reality.
    
        8. Right Concentration
        Deep meditation to lead to a higher state of consciousness (enlightenment). Through the application of meditation and mental discipline seek to extinguish the last flame of grasping consciousness and develop an emptiness that has room to embrace and love all things.

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       china manposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Is this the 'way' according to Hokey or are you combining stuff from the 8 'levels' in Buddhism, various Indian sources and a couple of other places ?
       
       While I can agree most of this is all useful I would like to know where it comes from

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    Hokeyposted 14 years ago

    Theravada

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       hamstersmessiahposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       the larger vessel?

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          Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Way of the elders

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             china manposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Interesting stuff - it has some similarities with the Chinese Tao (philosophy not religion). And the Tao has some similarities with today's Critical Theory. Not that they are the same but the same ideas put in a different way, all of them a 'way' to live rather than a rigid code of morals that can be mis-translated or misrepresented however you choose.
             Keep up the good work Hokey

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                Hokeyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                Thank you. Theravada is the closest to the original teachings of the historical Buddha.

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    Twenty One Daysposted 14 years ago

    Leslie, thank you. FINALLY! someone said it: Grace!
    
    Grace through faith is salvation.
    Grace is the anointing and baptism of spirit.
    Grace is beyond the consciousness of sin/logic/reason.
    
    Grace is great!

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