For the love of God!

[MagsJ]

51818473_313895319265949_856181857643921408_n.png (130.35 KiB) Viewed 13417 times

When I hear the word "Love", it makes me think of... food, my reflection, my coherency.

When I'm looking for advice on love, I most often turn to... the inner workings of my overactive mind.

When I'm having relationship problems, the first thing I usually do is... what relationship? my relationships with others have all broken down over the past year, because I can't be toyed with/manipulated/bullied/wound up/annoyed/dictated to.

On a journey to somewhere.. for something, an Eritrean woman made it her priority to join me.. from the back of the bus, to the viewing row that I occupied, to talk about the bible.

Now.. I don't usually partake in public repartee, especially in discussions of my own private thoughts and feelings on most matters.. but I humoured her and downloaded the bible app she recommended - did she think I needed saving and prayer, or was she simply recruiting for the big guy up there? I so dislike others encroaching on my life and personal space, and thus my thoughts.

Would you be tolerant in such an instance? I really don't want to be, next time.

[MagsJ]

51933363_1712515392383168_6767480307886063616_n.png (272.14 KiB) Viewed 13415 times

Is this the epitome of love? Is love a diktat? How did we feel loved before God's plans were recommended to us?

My Spiritual being is clashing with the daily Christian reading notifications that this app delivers every day, but my curiosity compels me to not uninstall it, but for no particular or important reason other than that.

[MagsJ]

What would your answers be? up in the heavens or down on the ground..

-When you hear the word "Love", it makes you think of...?
-When you're looking for advice on love, you most often turn to...?
-When you're having relationship problems, the first thing you usually do is...?

[Prismatic567]

What would your answers be? up in the heavens or down on the ground..

-When you hear the word "Love", it makes you think of...?

bonding, harmony, peace, for survival of the species.

-When you're looking for advice on love, you most often turn to...?

Myself and own wide range of philosophical knowledge.

-When you're having relationship problems, the first thing you usually do is...?

If any, then first to be mindful, check and modulate one's emotion, psychoanalyze and reflect on all available knowledge to deal with the situation.

I have proven,
God is an impossibility to be real.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=193474
Thus the question of God is moot and a non-starter and I will not entertain anyone who tries to proselytize God to me.

[MagsJ]

What would your answers be? up in the heavens or down on the ground..

-When you hear the word "Love", it makes you think of...?

bonding, harmony, peace, for survival of the species.

-When you're looking for advice on love, you most often turn to...?

Myself and own wide range of philosophical knowledge.

-When you're having relationship problems, the first thing you usually do is...?

If any, then first to be mindful, check and modulate one's emotion, psychoanalyze and reflect on all available knowledge to deal with the situation.

I have proven,
God is an impossibility to be real.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=193474
Thus the question of God is moot and a non-starter and I will not entertain anyone who tries to proselytize God to me.

I do not believe in a/any god.. I hope you got that from my witty replies, to the questions on love that the app posed.

You might have listened to this already.. A Universe Not Made For Us (Carl Sagan on religion) is quite compelling.

[Mad Man P]

What would your answers be? up in the heavens or down on the ground..

-When you hear the word "Love", it makes you think of...?
-When you're looking for advice on love, you most often turn to...?
-When you're having relationship problems, the first thing you usually do is...?

Most of the time when I hear the word love I feel a great deal of sorrow being reminded of how that word has been diluted to something trivial and mundane...
When I'm looking for advice on love... well I'll have to let you know if ever that happens, though the prospect seems absurd to me... it would be like looking for advice on joy.
When I'm having relationship problems, the first thing I usually do is take a critical look at myself, honestly try to identify the problem, then talk to the other person about it, when I have something productive to say.

[surreptitious75]

When you hear the word love it makes you think of ... ?
When you re looking for advice on love you most often turn to ... ?
When you re having relationship problems the first thing you usually do is ... ?

No to all three

I dont think of anything specific when I hear the word love
I never turn to anyone for advice on love as there is no one
I am not in any relationship so dont have that type of problem

[Artimas]

What would your answers be? up in the heavens or down on the ground..

Both, for my ego and what I identify to others as, is upon the ground to be judged, but only truly judged by the "heavens" but my mind is in the "heavens" doing the judging of this temporary identity(ego judged by subconsciousness). I solve issues by using my mind of which I base a model of our reality with its universal laws, in my thoughts to further discover and understand it through self.

-

When you hear the word "Love", it makes you think of...?

I think of sharing you with you or another with another for the only change I promote is the discovery of yourself, not the alteration of it if already discovered. Love and attachment are not to be confused. Love is intangible and powerful due to it being a universal language of least resistance, a path from existential pain.

-

When you're looking for advice on love, you most often turn to...?

subconsciousness and reflection of self to see if I made the mistake if one is made, talk to the other to attempt to understand their point with unbiaseness.

-

When you're having relationship problems, the first thing you usually do is...?

Discuss them, think on and attempt to understand them so a clear point can be made, often a contrast so one may learn the root of issue.

[MagsJ]

The app was steering its users to look to God for love and to put all their love into God.. that to me is for the fanatics, whom the woman on the bus was, and wanted me to become. Why? Does one get a merit or gold star for each person they convert, and the fact that I was born into the faith didn't seem to deter her in her mission, so I can only conclude that she was getting her feel-good factor off me.. I'm happy for her that she felt good in trying to turn me into a religious fanatic for a religion I was born into.

Love is.. not dictated by a religion, but by what we deem it to be for ourselves, it seems. I'm sure that it is a useful tool for those that need moral guidance, but I detest her thinking I did, by approaching me in the first place.. her projection onto me, in this case, was unfounded.

[Arcturus Descending]

MagsJ

What would your answer s be? up in the heavens or down on the ground.

.

Meaning God's whereabouts? If I believed, it would probably be "ubiquitous" every space within the universe both inward and outward.

-

When you hear the word "Love", it makes you think of...?

That would probably depend on "where I am at in the moment". Sometimes it might just make me stare into space and contemplate it all. Other times, I might think of all of the good people in the world who try to make it happen.


-

When you're looking for advice on love, you most often turn to...?

What kind of love are you speaking of? Romantic, compassion and empathy?

-When you're having relationship problems, the first thing you usually do is...?

That is not an easy one. What I need to do first is detach and try to be objective. I like to walk without thinking. Then walk more and more and more and more. Sometimes it is a catharsis which leads to better understanding.

[MagsJ]

I deleted the Bible App a couple of weeks back, as I do not live my life through a god or the Christian faith in the all-encompassing form that they were trying to advocate (sell), as I think being spiritual/kind/good is my own private god that I answer to.

It was bordering on fanaticism, and ain't nobody got time for that.

Every day can be a holi day, but not an eternally idol-worshiping day.

[Bob]

What would your answers be? up in the heavens or down on the ground..

-When you hear the word "Love", it makes you think of...?
A mystery, because the normal state of affairs amongst human beings is that of ego-centered survival instincts and animosity. The fact that we have havens of peace is evidence that someone has worked this out, and got people to comply. Love is a number of things in a relationship: an affinity with someone's mindset, sympathy for someone's past, attraction to someone as a sexual partner, or as a friend to list but a few. I find this all very mysterious because it can be ephemeral, and suddenly evaporate, or it can progress through many phases and be an ultimate bonding, which only ends with the death of one or both of the people concerned.

-When you're looking for advice on love, you most often turn to...?
I turn inwards in some cases, but I also enjoy seeing someone who is loving in action. I also enjoy reading inspirational literature, including religious texts. After many years of work in the Church, I have come to the conclusion that love is the one thing whereby we should judge ourselves, and whether we have loved as we could have. I also believe that people who love selflessly transfigure for people around them, so that onlookers have the feeling that something odd or awe-inspiring is at work.

-When you're having relationship problems, the first thing you usually do is...?
Meditate on the situation, and consider what part was my own contribution to the problems. I believe that relationship problems are always caused by both sides and that we are seldom courageous enough to consider what we have done to change the situation.

[Bob]

I deleted the Bible App a couple of weeks back, as I do not live my life through a god or the Christian faith in the all-encompassing form that they were trying to advocate (sell), as I think being spiritual/kind/good is my own private god that I answer to.

It was bordering on fanaticism, and ain't nobody got time for that.

Every day can be a holi day, but not an eternally idol-worshiping day.

I have a lot of sympathy with what you have said here since I too left the church after realising that I was being moved towards selflessness and losing myself. I don't dismiss selflessness altogether, but it has to be in balance with a healthy self-appreciation. My tendency was to forget myself and the end was a combination of PTS and depression. This is something that I feel the Church tends to neglect, and the tendency to utilise people like myself is sometimes ruthless.

Having said that, I don't think the people I had to do with actually knew what they were doing. There was no "evil" intention there, just plain ignorance and a focus on results. It has become a tendency to turn faith into an ideology, which they sell, and in doing so, they forget to love. We can all fall into this trap, and we need interaction with others regarding this subject to be told what we're doing, because we often don't realise it. That is really what a Church should be, but it isn't in many cases.

Fanaticism occurs when religion becomes an ideology because it is then lacking the devotion that comes from love.

[promethean75]

I don't think the people I had to do with actually knew what they were doing. There was no "evil" intention there...

didn't know what they were doing? no evil intention there? bro.

[Bob]

I don't think the people I had to do with actually knew what they were doing. There was no "evil" intention there...

didn't know what they were doing? no evil intention there? bro.

I was referring to the people around me, rather than taking the broad view. As a system, there are various avenues that people can go down, which are very malevolent. Regarding the experience of the love of God, we have a choice in many ways, between the superficial, the spiritual and the ideological. Very many churchgoers are at the superficial level, in some countries they have sped to the ideological level, ignoring the spiritual. But it is at a spiritual level that people are inspired to deeds of love, of art and music; this is passion and compassion rolled into one.

Our problem is that the spiritual is said to be ephemeral, emotional or nothing specific, notably by people who have no spiritual experience. I have noticed how the suppressing of emotion can cripple people inwardly and lead to depression and despair. Spirituality is therefore holistic if it is worthwhile.

[Arcturus Descending]

MagsJy,

-When you hear the word "Love", it makes you think of...?

Once in a while, I reconsider my past in terms of some of the people who came into it, who have come and gone, but who have really touched my life by paying attention, by "seeing" me, teaching and showing me who they saw me as, not as who I thought myself to be and/or experienced myself as, as a result of everything which is important for a child to have growing up, yet was sorely lacking.

"Real" love has the capacity to recreate us out of the minds and hearts of others.

[MagsJ]

I deleted the Bible App a couple of weeks back, as I do not live my life through a god or the Christian faith in the all-encompassing form that they were trying to advocate (sell), as I think being spiritual/kind/good is my own private god that I answer to.

It was bordering on fanaticism, and ain't nobody got time for that.

Every day can be a holi day, but not an eternally idol-worshiping day.

I have a lot of sympathy with what you have said here since I too left the church after realising that I was being moved towards selflessness and losing myself. I don't dismiss selflessness altogether, but it has to be in balance with a healthy self-appreciation. My tendency was to forget myself and the end was a combination of PTS and depression. This is something that I feel the Church tends to neglect, and the tendency to utilise people like myself is sometimes ruthless.

I would rather go to a local church than entertain that bible app, which is the most downloaded bible app on the planet apparently, but.. like your church, it wants to claim ownership of your very soul.

Having said that, I don't think the people I had to do with actually knew what they were doing. There was no "evil" intention there, just plain ignorance and a focus on results. It has become a tendency to turn faith into an ideology, which they sell, and in doing so, they forget to love. We can all fall into this trap, and we need interaction with others regarding this subject to be told what we're doing, because we often don't realise it. That is really what a Church should be, but it isn't in many cases.

Are churches governed by a watch dog organisation over there? ofgod, perhaps..

Fanaticism occurs when religion becomes an ideology because it is then lacking the devotion that comes from love.

I found the expectations of the app's plans fostered fanaticism in its users, by the sheer amount of devotion that was asked for.. much more OTT than a regular church would ever be.

Since that lady on the bus/that app, I don't entertain strangers with talk of anything anymore.. I wonder if she sensed that her celestial brownie-points that she earned off of me had been revoked.

[MagsJ]

MagsJy,

-When you hear the word "Love", it makes you think of...?

Once in a while, I reconsider my past in terms of some of the people who came into it, who have come and gone, but who have really touched my life by paying attention, by "seeing" me, teaching and showing me who they saw me as, not as who I thought myself to be and/or experienced myself as, as a result of everything which is important for a child to have growing up, yet was sorely lacking.

"Real" love has the capacity to recreate us out of the minds and hearts of others.

What is "Real" love? How do you tell?

Can a person have the capacity to love a 'god' unconditionally and love another? Is the Bible app asking too much of its subscribers?

[Dan~]

What would your answers be? up in the heavens or down on the ground..

-When you hear the word "Love", it makes you think of...?
-When you're looking for advice on love, you most often turn to...?
-When you're having relationship problems, the first thing you usually do is...?

Love reminds me of mom, but also supernatural instances.

I turn to reason and logic when i try to temper my loving sentiments.

First thing in a relationship is honest communication.

[Bob]

What is "Real" love? How do you tell?

Can a person have the capacity to love a 'god' unconditionally and love another? Is the Bible app asking too much of its subscribers?

I think that this question was emotionally adequately answered by Jordan Peterson in an interview. He asked how Christians could have the gall to claim they believe. He said that the only one who believed was the man on the cross. The one who died out of love for mankind is leading us to realise that we don't even try because it isn't in our nature to try. When we read about the fall of Adam, it is about our nature, it isn't about wrong-doings so much as saying, you always miss the mark because of what you are.

Every now and then someone comes along and believes, and dies for it. Often it is a brief episode, but one that invokes humility and reinstalls hope. And that is all we have!

[MagsJ]

Love reminds me of mom, but also supernatural instances.

I turn to reason and logic when i try to temper my loving sentiments.

First thing in a relationship is honest communication.

Good answer(s).. I like the first one especially, although I find supernatural instances disturbing.

Honesty.. in all walks of life is best, especially friendships, as I abhor friends that are deceitful and self-serving.

[Arcturus Descending]

MagsJ:

What is "Real" love? How do you tell?

Well, the first thing which comes to my mind is that it is not necessarily based on sentimentality. That would be kind of a hedonistic form of love although being human we can be sentimental toward those we love.

It can also be tough on both parties since whatever a particular act or discipline (non-physical) may be it is based on wanting someone to learn, to grow, but in a gentle way.

Love also has a lot of "sticktoitiveness" to it. It is commitment and faithfulness though not to the degree that someone loses his-her self to the other person. It is not being a doormat or a masochist.

I think that in order to really love someone in the right way we also need to know how to love our self in the right way and to understand our self.

It pays good attention to...

et cetera, et cetera....

Can a person have the capacity to love a 'god' unconditionally and love another?

By unconditionally, do you mean to continue to love and serve that God, no matter what happens to them or around them? Yes, I think so. There are individuals like that especially if they believe that their God is a loving one and not responsible for the evil in the world.

Are you asking if loving God unconditionally could be in conflict with loving another? I am not quite sure what you mean by the above.

Is the Bible app asking too much of its subscribers?

By what you have said and not having a clearer picture or more of a picture, I would have to say Yes. There does not seem to be any room for free will and I do believe that real love does not force one to love. I personally could never believe in a God who would force me to love. That is a form of slavery.
They have been indoctrinated so you must be too. It is almost a form of brain-washing to me. People like that turn my stomach.

[Exuberant Teleportation]

Some of the more narrow and closed minded don't allow spiritualities that make the roses smell better, or make the garden greener. They cling to an indoctrination, a puppetearing masquerador that seemingly answers blessings, but does so as a cover up of haunting your life.

1 of the scariest things about religion is that prayer works. God sets up synchronicities in our life to torture us with dependence on him. Then he drains our soul energy, and leaves us lifeless.

Now, there are some values in religious folks of the right kind, like benevolence, faith, hope, dreams, and fantasy, even families being together forever, but they introduce demonic entailments into our living stations, overseeing all events in our lives, and coordinating them into destruction.

[MagsJ]

Some of the more narrow and closed minded don't allow spiritualities that make the roses smell better, or make the garden greener. They cling to an indoctrination, a puppetearing masquerador that seemingly answers blessings, but does so as a cover up of haunting your life.
Wow! sounds ominous. Fake love? Drake.. and then later BTS, sang about that..

1 of the scariest things about religion is that prayer works. God sets up synchronicities in our life to torture us with dependence on him. Then he drains our soul energy, and leaves us lifeless.
..then how is that prayer, working? it certainly isn't for the praying, but for the prayed to.

Now, there are some values in religious folks of the right kind, like benevolence, faith, hope, dreams, and fantasy, even families being together forever, but they introduce demonic entailments into our living stations, overseeing all events in our lives, and coordinating them into destruction.
You have an 'interesting' way of seeing things.. lives, coordinated into destruction. Why that outcome, over a less-negative option?

[Exuberant Teleportation]

Some of the more narrow and closed minded don't allow spiritualities that make the roses smell better, or make the garden greener. They cling to an indoctrination, a puppetearing masquerador that seemingly answers blessings, but does so as a cover up of haunting your life.
Wow! sounds ominous. Fake love? Drake.. and then later BTS, sang about that..

1 of the scariest things about religion is that prayer works. God sets up synchronicities in our life to torture us with dependence on him. Then he drains our soul energy, and leaves us lifeless.
..then how is that prayer, working? it certainly isn't for the praying, but for the prayed to.

Now, there are some values in religious folks of the right kind, like benevolence, faith, hope, dreams, and fantasy, even families being together forever, but they introduce demonic entailments into our living stations, overseeing all events in our lives, and coordinating them into destruction.
You have an 'interesting' way of seeing things.. lives, coordinated into destruction. Why that outcome, over a less-negative option?

The less mysticism and enchantment running the show, the more random and spontaneous life morphs into. If there's always a higher meaning for everything, then our ideas start to seem too fated, too stuck in an interval of little patterns that tend to repeat everywhere.

I think of free will more like a clock. There's always a different ticker, something more joyous to make us scatter about the portrait with more splash and mania dressing up our every step. Another incantation, another inscription in the tablets makes the fun more wavy and electrifying.

Well, annihilation may be somewhat less exaggerated than we might guess when heroic, inspiring themes get mashed under the iron fist of life's flux. If there's a timeless theater of magic and greenery that we can always return to, then amazingly, there may be much less scare about blessings going away.