JW

I can't argue with that, however, I would add that such a God is highly likely. IMO

skyrider

From another viewpoint it could be said that the Universe was created with its intent to be compatible to life, which was included in the plan for "down the road" so to speak.

Roamin' Catholic Loc: luxurious exile

JW, I think a lot of people share your view. I probably would too were it not for the observation that any given species of animal will behave in certain ways but humans have a high degree of unpredictability and no limits to our love or depravity. Add to that the observation that we are not very well fit to live naturally on the Earth. Either we don't belong here or something has gone terribly wrong with our home.

I agree that the animal nature is within us, but I don't think it should be.

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

Hi Ricktloml,

Thanks for the information.

I have long understood that "Christian Scientist" beliefs are neither Christian nor Scientific, but had lost sight of it being pantheistic, and how closely it mirrors classic Gnosticism.

Satan seems to have no concept of originality, as all false gospels since Nimrod have closely resembled remakes of that original (after the Flood) Babylonian disaster.

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

Good morning, Manning,

It's obvious you're not embracing any existing theology - however, it is also obvious that no subject or experience thus far mentioned, is in any way new to man.

Initially, I kept expecting someone to surface with a cheerful "Happy Early April Fools Day"!

The United States is one of those few countries on earth still blessed with the freedom to buy or be given a Bible.

With the most cursory reading of said Holy Book, every question this august assembly has proffered would be answered.

Satan is the only god that unholy men can worship. Every expression of pagan religions, cults, or any distorted form of Christianity is a religion of Satan. Whatever the god of these religions may be called, behind that god is Satan. Even when men debauch the Christian faith and preach another gospel, the true personality behind the form is Satan. In Matthew 24, four times, Jesus said, "Do not be deceived."
“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:5).

Far be it from me to be either offensive or condescending, but IMHO, every phenomenon thus far superficially described, could have been understood by a nine year old, after reading the Bible through for the first time.

After ya'll have done everything possible to invoke the king of demons, outside of a written postmarked invitation, it is my opinion, he will be on you like a duck on a June bug or white on rice.

You won't have to search for a way to communicate. Jesus called him the "god of this world," and he is not shy.

skyrider

Quite the commentary. The sarcasm in labeling this group an "August Assembly" is quite astonishing.
To a few of your points:
(1) No one has ever said this question is new. Everyone knows that this question has been pondered since before
man first stepped into shoes.
(2) It was clearly stated that this is to be a study of real time events that millions of folks have experienced,
and to try to acquire a better understanding of those experiences through comparisons. This was not
intended to be a Theology class.(challenging our minds in our old age ain't a bad idea either).
(3) No one that is interested in this has stated that clues could not be found in the Bible. However there is no
better teacher than a real time experience, and that is the subject we intend to look at.
(4) And to your "demon" reference, when did furthering knowledge and understanding become Demonic?

manning5 Loc: Richmond, VA

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The was a very solid response, sky, and beautifully meshes with our stated plan. However, Z has a very important point there that we must account for, and that is the Satanic influence. If I read Z correctly, literally all contacts not coming from God, are coming from "Satan", so everything from poltergeists to mediums, to warning messages from somewhere came from Satan, trying to bring us into his fold. If we are to avoid Satan, which we are well advised to do so, then our UM objective can only come from God and God's Mind. In which case, we are forced to consider a fully Biblical approach to our quest! Just what we have tried to avoid because of the hedgerows in it!

One thing I want to do anyway is to collect our different experiences and share them. I believe doing this is useful for several reasons: 1) It will show us the range of these kinds of events, and probably clue us in when something happens in the future we need to classify as Satanic; and 2) perhaps it will allow us to differentiate more easily between Satan's and God's messages going forward, or not. If we proceed to try to understand God's Mind, we have a totally different plan to come up with! What say you?

One verse from Leviticus is indicative of our problem: Liv 20:6! and then Rev 21;8. There are 8 or more in the same vein. Found Liv 19:31 ALSO.

skyrider

All things considered, we must continue this effort. I've never been much of a believer in the concept of the Devil per se. Of course I can't prove non existence either. Even if we assume that there is actually a Devil, it would be a powerless factor over anyone who has an innate "knowing" of the difference between right and wrong. It's a safe bet that anyone joining this effort would fall into that category.
I think it's best to leave "the Devil" in the trash can.

manning5 Loc: Richmond, VA

aLSO Liv 20:27 Deu 18: 9-12 Deu 18: 21,22 2King 21:6 1Cori 10:13-14 Isa 8:19, and 47:13-15 and maybe more!
Z was warning us quite rightly, I think. The Bible talks of wizards and sorcerers, etc!, and they come to rather gruesome ends!

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

For those with ears to hear…

But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:12-15

In the spring of the year, the cuckoo bird can be seen mimicking the flight of the sparrow hawk. Flapping, gliding, and soaring like a natural predator, this impostor frightens songbirds and distracts them to the point that they leave their nests unattended. She then moves in and devours an unguarded egg, leaving one of her own in its place. A counterfeit egg has replaced the true egg of a songbird. This is a fitting illustration of how Satan works among unsuspecting people.

People have the idea that Satan has cloven feet and horns. This kind of erroneous idea comes from the great god Pan of Greek mythology, who was portrayed as half-animal and was worshiped as Dionysus. Satan himself is a subtle serpent, a roaring lion and also an angel of light. If he would make himself visible to you, you would see a being of breathtaking beauty. So, spiritual responsibility requires discernment in recognizing deceptive teachings or practices. Don’t underestimate Satan’s ability to trick you to camouflage his corruption.

Realize also that Satan has servants too. If Satan disguises himself, we should not be surprised when his servants or minions masquerade their deception and evil by a disguise of righteousness, in this case in “furthering knowledge and understanding.” For this reason, be careful who you listen to. Satan is most effective when he comes not as an open enemy, but as a false friend.

JW

That is as likely as the other. I prefer the other because it eliminates the biggest point of argument between religion and science. It puts the obvious indications of evolution on the same track as God's creation and the tenets of the Big Bang.

JW

Humans behave in typical and predictable human ways. If that was recognized, things like political correctness, multi-culturalism and Jim Crow would be understood in the context they deserve. We would also be able to understand tribalism and why one world government will never be realized.

JW

Satan is the animal nature of man. Every evil in the world can be shown to correspond to the natural behavior of any of the other apes. Lying, rape, murder, thievery, even war, all are manifested in apes, monkeys and other pseudo-predatory social animals.

It is the idea of human specialness that obscures the relationship.

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

You say I can't prove what I say although Genesis 3 and Romans 1 would beg to differ but you can't prove what you say. Why do they call it the THEORY of evolution yet teach it as fact?

JW

Everything in science qualifies as a theory. Atomic theory or the theory of gravity, for example, are theories because they are still open to question. Science will always be open to scrutiny. The modifier, theory, is dropped in the vernacular only because it is generally thought by the public to be fact. It is never dropped in science.

I can prove everything I have said.