You guys ever heard of Quakers? They were a clan of colonists way back in America's first days. These guys were Puritans, like most of the other settlers who came here were, but they had an edge to them. They didn't take any crap off of anyone. They didn't bow and show deference when the royals walked by. They chose to allow anyone into their group, no matter their religious denomination. They even let girls be ministers, a second aspect which was waaaay ahead of their time, considering it was waaaay PRE-America. These, and many other ideals that the colonists came up with then, the Fore fathers used later to make the United States. But during this time, the Quakers were hated by all Puritans, Catholics, and even those "closet-catholics" the Anglicans. Some were even executed for practicing their strange ways.
"What's the point to all this, Troy?"
Those guys did everything they did, even sacrificed their lives, all for God. Personally, I do not think this was the best thing for them to do. Martyrdom just doesn't sound like something a God who cherishes life, and its continuation, would favor. But because of the misguided beliefs instilled in them, a number of the Quakers took hanging at the gallows over being forced to just leave the colony, and stop preaching to whomever they happened by in the streets. Nutso, huh?
Oh, pashaw. I am sure you guys have met with some of the more "fanatical" believers before, right? I certainly have. They always end up asking me, "if I died today where would I go?" I used to think they were about to try hurting me, if I didn't say the right thing back. :lol: heh. But now I just shake my head and walk away.
The Quakers were like this. They were religion fanatics, who used God to justify not only their screwy behaviors, but to provide an excuse every time something new or unique happened to them. That's what you guys seem to be doing here. But God has nothing to do with your social anxiety, guys. I promise.
"We didn't say God did, we said "evil spirits" did, Troy."
I know. :wink: Keep thinking, guys. Now. Any of you ever seen a set of birds fighting over a discarded French frie in the McDonald's play area? I have. They exhibited the EXACT same behaviors that a pair of starving, ravenous wolves I saw on Discovery showed after they happened by a dead rabbit.
The Mc' D birds fought together, but one fought harder, so he got the french frie, and the other had to submit. Same thing with the wolves. Christ teaches us to
give rather than take from our fellow man, and not act in such a survivalistic way. But if you needed that french frie like that bird
believed he did, you would probably have fought for it with the same passion.
Uh oh. Christ would have to tell you, like your ministers and Church goers that you are a bad person and in danger of hell fire if you acted this way! The devil is telling you you need that French Fry, and you shouldn't EVER listen to him. Now, that's cool if you
really believe what Jesus is saying here. Heck yeah, we don't like
anything the devil is selling! But what if it isn't the devil telling you you need that French Frie, after all?What if it's just your
gut?? Yup. That's what I said. Your gut, sans your body, sans
you!
You didn't think the devil was really out getting his rocks off tempting birds and wild dogs to fight, just so he can screw up their lives and
they burn forever and ever, did you?
Of course, he does that! Even though they have no soul, and can't actually
go to Hell. HAA! The Devil loves to hurt anything if he can!! But you know, you gotta admit, that devil dude sure doesn't have his standards set very high these days. Man, oh man. I bet if his devil wife ever found out about that crap, she'd divorce him that very day, and find her someone who tortures ONLY the higher class animals! Jeez Loise, sakes alive.
Do you understand my conjecture here, guys? There is NO devil. If there really was something fiddling with all of us like that, God would have sent him packing back when Friday, from Robinson Crusue reminded Him, "if God so strong, why he no kill devil?"
Since I can't think of a precident before that in literature, God MUST have replied after that: "Hey, there's an idea, Mr. Defoe! I'm a goin snake huntin! See ya later!" He obviously did, and that Devil snake thing that messed with Adam & Eve went bye bye now 320 some years ago. That MUST be true, also. Otherwise, God will have to be regarded by us as just as evil for letting the devil continue hurting us. Am I right here? God is NOT evil. That's just silly. So, there you go. No Devil to cause social anxiety for us today.
"Well, what the heck did it, then, Troy?!!"
Maybe it's like that French Frie thing, again. Maybe it's just
us? Think about it. :wink:
Life can be VERY hard, sometimes. But you are alive to live it. That is our most precious gift. We get a chance to
try. And when we do try, the results have a knack for amazing us sometimes. Keep trying, guys. You'll get it eventually.
PS: Some people actually need drugs because they've already taken other drugs, and botched their brains. They are screwed, sadly. Are you one of them? If you aren't just yet, don't count on drugs helping you deal with your problem. Some people, when their head starts to hurt, automatically seek pain pills rather than try to understand why their head is hurting. I've never understood this. Can you? :?:
Bye now.