Search results

I thought you might like it here. I came back because, of course, I forgot a book: Zen and the Art of Knitting. It ties into some theories I've had about knitting producing a sort of alpha state which can enhance mental concentration or serve as a form of meditation. To me, it gives the...

I'm about as hard-core a Christian as you'll find on this board other than Polycarp, and I see nothing wrong with exploring other religions. When I was living in Hawaii, I had friends who were Wiccan, and, believe it or not, I even underwent a Wiccan initiation ritual. In the end, I decided...

I am, technically, between books at the moment, having polished off Terry Pratchett's Men At Arms last night. I've been reading a history of the Apostles at bedtime, and the latest issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine in the bathtub. I suspect the next book will either be Karen...

Welcome back, Bill. It's good to see you in your element again. By the way, while you were away, I do believe I lured a former friend of yours here. CJ

Thanks Brian. He has a lot of respect for you and this board, too. I've passed your good wishes on to him, and I'll keep all of you posted. CJ

Hello everyone, WHKeith asked me to tell you that he won't be posting for a while. His wife is very ill, I'm afraid, and matters have come to a head. I've been in touch with him by phone every day since this happened, and I'll be happy to pass your kind words and good wishes on to him...

Hmm. I think I sent Polycarp a PM once and didn't have a problem, but that was a few weeks ago. CJ

While reading Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma mysteries, I came across a Celtic Catholic concept called "anmchara", soul-friend. This idea is expounded on in Thomas Cahill's How the Irish Saved Civilization, and it's one that makes sense to me. Let me give you the way Cahill explains it: I find...

And how exactly is this a bad thing? ;D

Re:Hell ala Seige Here's my vision of hell, somewhat influenced by what I've heard from Christians I agree with, but mostly my own combination of prayer, thought, rationalization, and guesswork, heavy on the guesswork and rationalization. If hell/a place of punishment must exist, I see it as...

I would like to know what Jesus was like as a teenager and in His early 20's. I've no doubt the miracles would be powerful, and hearing His actual words in full context would be marvelous, but I have evidence of that (besides, it'd probably be way to crowded for me!). In the second chapter...

In my fantasies, I live in a house on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean with a path to the beach below and mountains behind. Ideally, there would be a city with a good symphony and good theater close, but not too close (not to mention the money for all this). I've got an affinity for wild...

One thing I've come away with in my discussions with Fundamentalist Christians is this. I've encountered several such people who need to have a line drawn between Saved and Unsaved so they can be sure they are right. Basically, it seems to come down to "Well, if everyone can get in, what's the...

Well, between us, WHKeith and I might have something that will help with the "Fundamentalist Atheist" crowd, or at least with one argument I've seen them use. That's the "No truly intelligent person can be an anything but an Atheist argument." You see, he and I are friends in real life, and...

Being a trifle shy of giving out my real name on the web, I first typed in my SCA name and got this: Then, curiousity overruled paranoia, and I typed in the name I go by most these days. Here's the result: Engineer's daughter and general geek that I am, I can catch a glimpse of how the...

I freely admit that I stand a better chance of becoming a Wiccan than I do a Fundamentalist type of Christian (I'm an Episcopalian type). The beliefs and attitudes I've read from Fundamentalists are a bit, well, foreign to me, and I cannot agree with some of the things they've said or the way...

By the way, Brian, I love your sig! CJ

In a discussion at another message board, a Fundamentalist Christian once said that if Christ did not consider homosexuals sinful, he wouldn't worship him. I'm not an end-times oriented person; to me, I should behave the same whether I expect Christ to return in 5 minutes or 5 millenia. My...

I too have a weakness and admiration for Fools, but what would you expect of a Christian posting in a Wiccan forum? ;) To me, a Fool is one who has deliberately discarded at least some of the standards of the conventional world to seek and speak a higher Wisdom. Traditionally, a Fool could...

Why? No, never mind. Having recently stopped spending time at a Christian message board, I dealt with people who seemed to think any trace of doubt was an indication of wavering faith. On the other hand, I have met people who have beliefs which are diametrically opposed to mine, yet who hold...