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Crazy Joe Wilson posted:I will pray my Rosaries this week for you Docbeard I'm familiar with Augustine but it's been a good minute since I read him, so now is as good a time as any to resist. The link you posted looks interesting as well. Thank you Very much!
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Nov 8, 2021 01:52
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I don't know whether any of the rest of you read GBS but Lowtax committed suicide. As much of an rear end in a top hat as he was I always kinda hoped selling off the forums would make him reform his messed-up life.
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Nov 11, 2021 22:46
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TOOT BOOT posted:I don't know whether any of the rest of you read GBS but Lowtax committed suicide. As much of an rear end in a top hat as he was I always kinda hoped selling off the forums would make him reform his messed-up life. Yeah definitely seemed like a piece of poo poo, but any loss of life is tragic IMO, especially when they die of suicide.
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Nov 11, 2021 23:15
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We should pray for his soul (for those of us in an ecclesial community that does that) and especially pray for his daughters and their mothers.
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Nov 11, 2021 23:26
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The thread's discord server has been praying for him; thanks, TOOT BOOT, for making sure the thread denizens who aren't on Discord (and why not, I ask you) have the same chance to do so.Hegel posted:we too will one day stand before the throne of god, and the same judge that is over him will be over us. this should be a reminder to us to consider our deaths, for we are all mortal zonohedron posted:one day the Lord will review our post history Hegel posted:dies banhammer, dies illa
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Nov 11, 2021 23:46
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zonohedron posted:aren't on Discord (and why not, I ask you) Forums and discord work in fundamentally different ways and forums are a better fit for the way I want to post (badly)
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Nov 11, 2021 23:58
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And for tzedekah/zakat/almsgiving/a spirit of goonwill, here's the fundraiser for the family he left behind: https://www.gofundme.com/f/helping-a-friend-in-hiding
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Nov 12, 2021 02:02
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zonohedron posted:The thread's discord server has been praying for him; thanks, TOOT BOOT, for making sure the thread denizens who aren't on Discord (and why not, I ask you) have the same chance to do so. Sadly, I work a job where I'm barely at the computer during the day. I was worried when the Discord started that it would hollow out this thread...
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Nov 12, 2021 02:54
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zonohedron posted:the thread denizens who aren't on Discord (and why not, I ask you) Taking this at face value because this is interesting. I didn't even know that the discord that was set up during the forum crisis was active after Jeffrey bought the site. I like the thread a lot and it is important to me but I cannot stand the idea of a chat I would "have" to read constantly. I like that I can check here once a day or every couple of days and see what's up. Having to keep up with a discussion through an electronic means feels exhausting. (On top of whatsapp discussions that I have going on sometimes. ) I wonder if I'm to only one.
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Nov 12, 2021 14:53
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My stance is that the discord is aggressively unofficial. It's not required reading. I would vastly prefer it if any stuff that goes on in the discord stays in the discord. It was set up as a lifeboat during Lowtax's meltdown, and it's stayed around, but it's a separate thing of its own at this point. If you choose to participate in that community, fine. There's nothing I or anyone else can do to prevent people from making discords to discuss, well, anything. if that one went away I have zero doubt that another would crop up in short order. This community, here, however is something different. There's going to be a lot of overlap, but they aren't the same thing and no one should be expected to keep tabs on one to be in the other.
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Nov 12, 2021 14:58
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Valiantman posted:Taking this at face value because this is interesting. You're probably not the only one, and I really hope the "and if not, why not" I tacked on came across as joking - it really really wasn't meant to be pressure to join. Honestly, the majority of good discussions still happen here in the thread; there's just occasional gems that I like to bring back to the thread, because I do know chat isn't everybody's thing. The only thing I do there that I don't do here is post religion-related tweets that I run across, because I don't think anybody wants me using this thread as a tweet aggregator.
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Nov 12, 2021 15:01
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I think the thread will always have the advantage of being open and accessible to outsiders, even with the paywall barrier. A lot of the value of our discussion is the effect it has on lurkers.
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Nov 12, 2021 15:09
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Yeah, I'm not good at discord either, but I drive-by post in there a lot because it's cosy and has a lot of food, craft and faith chat. It's definitely not a part of SA, nor a requirement to post here.Slimy Hog posted:Yeah definitely seemed like a piece of poo poo, but any loss of life is tragic IMO, especially when they die of suicide. As someone with a similar history, and who have myself participated in the abuse of others because I never learned anything else, I will offer this: Lowtax came up wrong, and his parents diseases of alcoholism and self-denial was taught to him before he could know that there was any other way. The disease made him act out, not some inherent 'piece of shitness'. I ain't even a christian, but seriously, keep his original state in mind before you condemn him.
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Nov 12, 2021 15:13
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Tias posted:Yeah, I'm not good at discord either, but I drive-by post in there a lot because it's cosy and has a lot of food, craft and faith chat. It's definitely not a part of SA, nor a requirement to post here. I've said this in a few difference contexts in various places on the board, but here's my take on it: I'm a very different person than I was in 2001. I was never some kind of hard core rear end in a top hat, but I was a young, early 20s idiot and did a lot of growing and maturing in the intervening two decades. Some stuff that I thought was hilarious back then I see as cruel and damaging now. Some attitudes I had back then I see as ignorant at best today. I'm glad that I'm no longer that kid, and that I had the opportunity to grow beyond that. The same can be said of the forums. This is not the same community in 2021 as it was in 2001. We're still defined by irreverent humor and a strong anti-authority streak, but the forums have also matured and grown. Another mod made the comment elsewhere that they wish that, at some crucial point, he had gotten help that might have put him down a better path. That's where my head is in all this. I'm sad that the 2001 Lowtax who started these forums never grew and matured in the way that his creation did, and that he didn't come along for the ride with the rest of us. I wish he had made better choices, I wish he had gone down a better path, both for the sake of himself and especially for those who he hurt.
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Nov 12, 2021 15:25
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Also, I just want to say this as clearly as possible: Lowtax took a very permanent solution to a temporary problem. We'll never know what he was thinking in those last minutes, but a lot of suicides are impulsive and come out of moments of crisis. This is something I've been leaning hard on in my capacity as the mod of TFR, because being a gun owner dramatically increases your chances of a suicide attempt being successful. Lowtax was a gun owner, and that's the route out that he took. If you're a gun owner, secure your firearms. It isn't just about keeping burglars from getting them or keeping small children and drunken roommates safe, it's also about protecting us from our own darkest impulses. There's an ad that I've seen a bit recently on sunday night football that for the life of me I can't remember who it's from - maybe USAA? - but it's stuck with me. It's a vet in sitting in a car under a tree with a pistol in her lap. The commercial isn't about banning guns or anything like that, it's saying to put locks on your guns because - and I'm paraphrasing here - "a lock puts space between a thought and a trigger pull." Regardless of whether you're a gun owner or not, if you have thoughts about self harm go talk to someone. Get some help. TFR has an excellent mental health resources thread and while it's a little focused on gun owners the vast majority of it is general and applicable to everyone. However you try to get help - psychiatrist, talking to a priest or other spiritual leader, opening up about your struggles with friends and family - just make sure to unload that burden if it's something you are dealing with. If you're hurting, get help.
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Nov 12, 2021 15:31
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Someone wanna throw the thread Discord up here? My server list is woefully empty and consists of Playstation Goons, my personal server where I throw images, a porn addiction recovery server, and the TCC Goon Recovery server. I would love to add another wholesome one! EDIT: Can I get some prayers, please...just found out my paternal grandfather is on a ventilator and heavily sedated, probably dying. I haven't talked to him in over a decade, and I've known for months that he was having issues and have neglected to call him. And now I feel terrible. D34THROW fucked around with this message at 18:41 on Nov 12, 2021 |
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Nov 12, 2021 17:36
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Tias posted:Yeah, I'm not good at discord either, but I drive-by post in there a lot because it's cosy and has a lot of food, craft and faith chat. It's definitely not a part of SA, nor a requirement to post here. My comment came out different than what I meant and you're 100% right, please forgive me. (FWIW I was trying to say something like "we shouldn't revel in the death of Lowtax regardless what he may have done in the past")
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Nov 12, 2021 18:29
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Valiantman posted:I didn't even know that the discord that was set up during the forum crisis was active after Jeffrey bought the site. I like the thread a lot and it is important to me but I cannot stand the idea of a chat I would "have" to read constantly. I like that I can check here once a day or every couple of days and see what's up. Having to keep up with a discussion through an electronic means feels exhausting. (On top of whatsapp discussions that I have going on sometimes. ) you are not. i find realtime online chat impossible to keep up with, even if its just a small group of irl friends, let alone a larger group of internet acquaintances and strangers i think its an age thing to some extent because i used to be on irc all the time but my brain cant handle it anymore
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Nov 12, 2021 18:40
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Same here, I got on a few channels when the uncertainty here increased, because I didn't want to lose my internet home, but that was enough to tell me it wasn't going to be a long term solution.
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Nov 12, 2021 18:57
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zonohedron posted:You're probably not the only one, and I really hope the "and if not, why not" I tacked on came across as joking - it really really wasn't meant to be pressure to join. Honestly, the majority of good discussions still happen here in the thread; there's just occasional gems that I like to bring back to the thread, because I do know chat isn't everybody's thing. The only thing I do there that I don't do here is post religion-related tweets that I run across, because I don't think anybody wants me using this thread as a tweet aggregator. No problem, the joke came across just fine. In a stereotypical Finnish way I just cannot take a rhetorical question without answering it at least in my mind. And this time it made me curious. 
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Nov 12, 2021 19:52
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D34THROW posted:Someone wanna throw the thread Discord up here? My server list is woefully empty and consists of Playstation Goons, my personal server where I throw images, a porn addiction recovery server, and the TCC Goon Recovery server. I would love to add another wholesome one! Can't figure out how to get the mobile app to generate a unique link, or I would. I'll leave it to someone on a real computer to do. We'd love to have you!
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Nov 13, 2021 00:47
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there's a permanent Discord link in the OP, I just checked and it still works
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Nov 13, 2021 01:01
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Discord is still up at https://discord.com/channels/725383472100671541/725383472524427457Slimy Hog posted:My comment came out different than what I meant and you're 100% right, please forgive me. (FWIW I was trying to say something like "we shouldn't revel in the death of Lowtax regardless what he may have done in the past") No worries my dude 
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Nov 13, 2021 13:02
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I’m leaving on Monday for the Monastery again. I have some interviews with the higher-ups (abbot, prior, etc) and some psychological testing. Please pray for me this is going to be a taxing week.
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Nov 14, 2021 05:30
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Thirteen Orphans posted:I’m leaving on Monday for the Monastery again. I have some interviews with the higher-ups (abbot, prior, etc) and some psychological testing. Please pray for me this is going to be a taxing week. May God help you find strength to stay on the path that is right for you, whatever that path may be. Amen. PS. Are we allowed to send you care packages in the monastery? Like a box of biscuits?
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Nov 14, 2021 13:08
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Some excellent news! We really did figure out what was wrong with my kidney and my kidney function is back up to completely normal, healthy levels! Thank god for that, sincerely, and thank you to those who offered their prayers for it. And God be with you, Thirteen Orphans. I hope all will go well and you'll find your calling.
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Nov 14, 2021 13:28
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My wife was at the Salvation Army store the other day and they dont believe in selling Bibles. She was digging through the bin of them, knowing that I adore the Bible and am becoming sort of a collector. KJV for my main reading, I just picked up a CEV for the Apocrypha, etc. A glint of gold caught her eye and she pulled it out. She couldn't find jack poo poo on Google about it but when she brought it home and gave it to me, I managed to find out what it was. 1950 vintage KJV with olive wood cover and color pictures of the Holy City and study maps in the back. It is the moat beautiful Bible I've ever seen and really only an heirloom piece - or when you need a pick me up and let your fingers guide you through it. Also, we celebrated my birthday last night since my wife was sick as a dog last weekend. I got Matthew West's Christmas CD, 2 of his books, and one of Mark Hall's books! So excited 
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Nov 14, 2021 15:00
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D34THROW posted:KJV for my main reading Any particular reason for this?
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Nov 14, 2021 16:12
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Slimy Hog posted:Any particular reason for this? I identify most strongly with it. I've always been drawn to the King James, particularly the versions with Jesus's words in red text. Something about the structure and format speaks to me in a way I can't explain. That's not to say I dont ever look at other versions. Just today I decided to use my CEV as a reference for the Sunday morning radio show I listen to, and highlighted some passages they referenced. My wife has a New Rainbow Study Bible, which I think is NIV, so I'm hoping to get one of those at some point so we can read tobether more efficiently. Maybe it's because it was the first English translation from the Greek and Hebrew but i can't honestly say for sure. I do recognize the English Bible but that was a translation of the translation from Hebrew and Greek to Latin Vulgate.
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Nov 14, 2021 17:48
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Does Mary, mother of Jesus receive less emphasis in Protestant religious observance than in Catholicism? I've never witnessed a Protestant make a prayer for intercession directed at Mary, or seen a Protestant school named after her, for example.
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Nov 14, 2021 19:46
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Kevin DuBrow posted:Does Mary, mother of Jesus receive less emphasis in Protestant religious observance than in Catholicism? I've never witnessed a Protestant make a prayer for intercession directed at Mary, or seen a Protestant school named after her, for example. Yes. Mary is an important person, but has no special place of reverence in Protestant churches. We emphasize the priesthood of all believers, which means we all have direct access to God without the need for any intercessors.
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Nov 14, 2021 20:00
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BattyKiara posted:May God help you find strength to stay on the path that is right for you, whatever that path may be. Amen. Thank you! And to answer your question, I’m pretty sure that’s allowed! Night10194 posted:Some excellent news! We really did figure out what was wrong with my kidney and my kidney function is back up to completely normal, healthy levels! Thank god for that, sincerely, and thank you to those who offered their prayers for it. Great news! And thanks!
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Nov 14, 2021 20:03
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Yes. I'd estimate in a typical year of sermons at a protestant church, Mary gets mentioned once at Christmas. She's admired and respected, it's just that she's not considered any more "supernatural" than the other human figures of biblical history.
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Nov 14, 2021 20:08
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Kevin DuBrow posted:Does Mary, mother of Jesus receive less emphasis in Protestant religious observance than in Catholicism? I've never witnessed a Protestant make a prayer for intercession directed at Mary, or seen a Protestant school named after her, for example. Protestants, in general (Anglicans are an exception) do not do intercession, period. In the theology I grew up with and believe in, the whole concept of intercession is deeply alien (and in my particular beliefs, downright offensive). https://i.imgur.com/teJvkvL.mp4
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Nov 14, 2021 21:29
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Cythereal posted:Protestants, in general (Anglicans are an exception) do not do intercession, period. In the theology I grew up with and believe in, the whole concept of intercession is deeply alien (and in my particular beliefs, downright offensive). I always thought (with most protestants) that it was weird to talk to saints when you could just talk directly to God. But I heard an explanation from a Catholic friend that I have to admit I found pretty convincing. Basically, we're perfectly comfortable asking a friend to pray for us. If that friend gets hit by a bus, then they're absent from us but present with God in heaven. Why are they suddenly less qualified to pray for us? That said, there's probably a difference in philosophy between "St. Whoever, pray for us" vs "St. Whoever, help me directly" vs "St. Whoever, you've got more pull with God so I'm going to talk to you instead of God", and I would guess protestants would generally be more sympathetic toward the first. In Catholic thought I'm not exactly sure exactly what the nuances are w/r/t praying to saints, especially whether those latter two are just inaccurate stereotypes.
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Nov 14, 2021 23:25
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Captain von Trapp posted:I always thought (with most protestants) that it was weird to talk to saints when you could just talk directly to God. But I heard an explanation from a Catholic friend that I have to admit I found pretty convincing. Basically, we're perfectly comfortable asking a friend to pray for us. If that friend gets hit by a bus, then they're absent from us but present with God in heaven. Why are they suddenly less qualified to pray for us? My objection is that, to me, if you suppose that some people are inherently spiritually elevated or special - be it as priests or saints or Mary or whatever - then you are by definition saying that God plays favorites (I know the Catholidox goons would probably say that this is a gross oversimplification, we've had this argument before, this is how it comes across to me personally). A very important part of my understanding of religion and of God is that we are all equal in His eyes: for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. For me personally, the moment you declare that some people are spiritually special or different from anyone else, you lose a vital part of what Christianity is. I don't mean to offend anyone who does believe in saints or whatever, this is just how I personally see things. https://i.imgur.com/CPpDgHD.mp4
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Nov 14, 2021 23:30
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Maybe I'm wrong but I feel in the Bible there are passages that refer to some people as being closer to God than others, not because God plays favorites but because some people are better at or more willing to follow His Divine Will. Folks who jump to mind are King David or John the Baptist. But my Catholic background has always indicated those people (I.E. Saints) to be role models for us all, not a separate class that the average folk can never hope to be like.
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Nov 15, 2021 02:03
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There are rumors going around that Marilyn Manson has converted to Christianity. Someone asked his publicist and they neither confirmed nor denied it. He was spotted at some Kanye West event in a prayer circle with Kanye and Bieber. Honestly I'm fairly skeptical. It could be that he wants to deflect from the numerous allegations from ex-girlfriends that all came to light this year, or it could be that he just saw what remains of his career going down the tubes and he's trying to find a lifeboat. Or maybe both of those things are false and he had a genuine realization at rock bottom.
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Nov 15, 2021 02:52
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Read that as Charles Manson, got really confused at the Kanye part. That aside, my personal view is that to take all professions of faith at face value. I have no idea what is going on in someone else’s head, and I’m in no position to sit on a moral high horse and say that based on what I know of their life they’re a bad Christian/muslim/Buddhist/etc. Worst case scenario someone BS’s me and shucks I guess you got me. It’s not like I’m lending money based on conversion narratives. Plus, I think it’s also possible to recognize that a person’s internal landscape can change. Even if they seek to drop the religiosity down the road, maybe they still internalized it and just set aside the more self consciously conspicuous. I know a few people who have consciously done that because of their own criticisms of what they call “publicly conspicuous piety.” On the other hand, even if someone genuinely rejects it down the road it doesn’t mean they were any less genuine when they were practicing. I dunno. I had a friend in middle/high school get into Buddhism and had to watch a bunch of people insist it was “just a phase” or that he was just seeking attention. Almost thirty years later and he’s still at it, so if it’s a bit he’s really committed. And, you know, it’s a thing he chose to do at fourteen in a very much Christian-centric community at the same time as he rejected a lot of other stuff around him. Maybe he started looking into it as a bit of a “F U dad” kind of rebellion, but if that’s the case it obviously stuck for other reasons. If Manson wants to pray with Kanye and Beeber good for him. It’s not my place to question weather he’s sincere or doing it for publicity.
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Nov 15, 2021 15:08
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You can't know what is going on in someone else's heart. You can look at their actions and how they handle themselves and decide if they are a model to be emulated or if they could be leading people down a bad path. It doesn't mean you can't challenge them and ask them serious questions and criticize their actions. But you can't know if it's all for show, or if it is in part genuine.
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Nov 15, 2021 15:19
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