When Einstein gave lectures at U.S. universities, the recurring question that students asked him most was:
- Do you believe in God?
And he always answered:
- I believe in the God of Spinoza.

Baruch de Spinoza was a Dutch philosopher considered one of the great rationalists of 17th century philosophy, along with Descartes.

(Spinoza) : God would say:

Stop praying.
What I want you to do is go out into the world and enjoy your life. I want you to sing, have fun and enjoy everything I've made for you.

Stop going into those dark, cold temples that you built yourself and saying they are my house. My house is in the mountains, in the woods, rivers, lakes, beaches. That's where I live and there I express my love for you.

Stop blaming me for your miserable life; I never told you there was anything wrong with you or that you were a sinner, or that your sexuality was a bad thing. Sex is a gift I have given you and with which you can express your love, your ecstasy, your joy. So don't blame me for everything they made you believe.

Stop reading alleged sacred scriptures that have nothing to do with me. If you can't read me in a sunrise, in a landscape, in the look of your friends, in your son's eyes... ➤ you will find me in no book!
Stop asking me "will you tell me how to do my job?" Stop being so scared of me. I do not judge you or criticize you, nor get angry, or bothered. I am pure love.

Stop asking for forgiveness, there's nothing to forgive. If I made you... I filled you with passions, limitations, pleasures, feelings, needs, inconsistencies... free will. How can I blame you if you respond to something I put in you? How can I punish you for being the way you are, if I'm the one who made you? Do you think I could create a place to burn all my children who behave badly for the rest of eternity? What kind of god would do that?

Respect your peers and don't do what you don't want for yourself. All I ask is that you pay attention in your life, that alertness is your guide.

My beloved, this life is not a test, not a step on the way, not a rehearsal, nor a prelude to paradise. This life is the only thing here and now and it is all you need.

I have set you absolutely free, no prizes or punishments, no sins or virtues, no one carries a marker, no one keeps a record.
You are absolutely free to create in your life. Heaven or hell.

➤ I can't tell you if there's anything after this life but I can give you a tip. Live as if there is not. As if this is your only chance to enjoy, to love, to exist.

So, if there's nothing after, then you will have enjoyed the opportunity I gave you. And if there is, rest assured that I won't ask if you behaved right or wrong, I'll ask. Did you like it? Did you have fun? What did you enjoy the most? What did you learn?...

Stop believing in me; believing is assuming, guessing, imagining. I don't want you to believe in me, I want you to believe in you. I want you to feel me in you when you kiss your beloved, when you tuck in your little girl, when you caress your dog, when you bathe in the sea.

Stop praising me, what kind of egomaniac God do you think I am?

I'm bored being praised. I'm tired of being thanked. Feeling grateful? Prove it by taking care of yourself, your health, your relationships, the world. Express your joy! That's the way to praise me.

Stop complicating things and repeating as a parakeet what you've been taught about me.

What do you need more miracles for? So many explanations?

The only thing for sure is that you are here, that you are alive, that this world is full of wonders.

- Spinoza

Emily, just say it. You want me to disappear. Leave and don't come back. Thing is, you imbue me with more than I have. Changing user names is allowed. A changed user name is not a separate account. This is the only account I have. If I left, you would then pick on people who you only THINK are me. I will leave, but the people who you think are me will wonder what the fluff. And THAT will forever be on your (un)Christian soul.

I have not consumed any alcoholic beverages in over 20 years.

I am pretty sure that you and albertk are the same person. And you have NO clue about who I am. If you accepted facts, you would be so ashamed of yourself...

EmilyD is spinning right now because she believes you and I are the same person. THAT is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

Be brave Liberal Lily, we are in for a ride!!!

I think she was an a******n who survived. In any case, her parents must be VERY proud.

What is important about digging up a 12 year old post on another forum? What is wrong with you? Why do you care about something from TWELVE YEARS AGO?

EmilyD and albertk have a catalog of everything everyone has ever said. She is obsessed with me. I think she's a stalker. What must have happened to her in her life to make her such a judgmental prig?

Does the *D* in *EmilyD* stand for *Dumb?* I'm only asking because you are having delusions that I am smart enough to have all the *sockies* you think I have.

So, your free speech right is an excuse to be mean and caustic? And, BTW, you accuse EVERYONE of lying, so I am not your sole focus. But yes, you have weaponized our First Amendment to suit yourself.

You're flattering yourself. You are one of the biggest assholes on OPP.

You do know that you can leave anytime. No one will mind.

Have you ever been to Wauwatosa? You OBVIOUSLY have no idea what you are talking about. No clue.

In what way am I being immoral?

Time IMMEMORIAL

Over 9000 Palestinian citizens have been murdered by Jewish forces.

https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-2-2023-6a398d4aeba979aef24960efc31eb772