God, defined.

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by sexobon

I nearly fell off my chair when, not knowing the origin of my username, brother Klyde came up with this:

Isn't that weird? JBK thought of sex when he saw your handle and I thought of --- Cinnabon.

One of us has his/her mind in the gutter.

[JBKlyde]

the main point I am trying to make is that I can play both sides of the coin. Either Heads. I'm really smart and I digitally assinated Saddam and was kind harted enough hand him over to a jury of his peers. Or Tales. I hijacked the Atlantis and and simlpy crippled the mules on a doomed vessel. Or Sping Hole in one.

Works for the mental illness too.. I am able to function on a disabled yet cognitive level and as long as I can paint I can proceed with LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFFFFFFFFFFFEEEEE it's life jim but not as we know it.

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

So it looks as though the exchange between JBK and Sexobon is winding down.
It went on for quite while without interruption by other Dwellars.

How do you feel about that exchange ?

*shrug* Maybe I'm totally misinterpreting things, but I felt like sexobon was never really angry, he was trying to do one of those quasi-therapy things where you use anger as the only way to reach someone, like when you goad someone into screaming at you and then suddenly say, "Now, doesn't that feel better?" But I don't think that sort of thing ever works on people who are legitimately mentally ill. It's clear JBK got genuinely riled up in his post with all the spelling errors, despite his best efforts, but in the end he's not in a place to be able to objectively reflect on that, so it was pointless. So I personally feel like it was a misguided effort and sexobon pushed it too far, but I also believe his heart was in the right place, and that he was trying to help JBK for his own good, not just being mean for the fun of it.

(That'll teach you not to ask me for my opinion...)

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

*shrug* Maybe I'm totally misinterpreting things, but I felt like sexobon was never really angry ...

Actually, you got the attention grabber methodology right; however, not the goal. As with others who have passed through here, this is not a venue for effecting long term results. It was simply delivering a short term attention fix, at a controlled level that would hold a short attention span, so the recipient could chill for a little while afterwards. It was a viable outlet for his less desirable behaviors since I don't take it personally or hold grudges. He had multiple avenues of egress; yet, chose not to avail himself of them because the interaction was cathartic for him. No guarantees, results are highly variable. The recipient won't remember the content; but, perhaps the duration. I just happened to have the time this weekend which is why it hasn't happened before and may or may not happen again.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by sexobon

Actually, you got the attention grabber methodology right; however, not the goal. As with others who have passed through here, this is not a venue for effecting long term results. It was simply delivering a short term attention fix, at a controlled level that would hold a short attention span, so the recipient could chill for a little while afterwards. It was a viable outlet for his less desirable behaviors since I don't take it personally or hold grudges. He had multiple avenues of egress; yet, chose not to avail himself of them because the interaction was cathartic for him. No guarantees, results are highly variable. The recipient won't remember the content; but, perhaps the duration. I just happened to have the time this weekend which is why it hasn't happened before and may or may not happen again.

tl;dr

You Can't Always Get What You Want. (But if you try, sometimes, you get what you need.)

[DanaC]

That' rings right to me clod. I did at one point think sexobon was really riled but
as the argument continued I thought.not. But JB seemed rattled by it and not in any way placed to understand such a lesson.

[JBKlyde]

just another day in paradise... still can't sleep

[SamIam]

Originally Posted by JBKlyde

just another day in paradise... still can't sleep

I hear ya, JB. Those long 3:00 am's of the soul suck. Think I'm in for one tonight myself.

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

So it looks as though the exchange between JBK and Sexobon is winding down.
It went on for quite while without interruption by other Dwellars.

How do you feel about that exchange ?

I agree with sexobon. He (sexobon) was just being an attention whore at JBK's expense. Sexobon may have a clever vocabulary and a certain sort of wit he shares in common with bullies everywhere. But it was sexobon who acted the part of the troll that he accuses JBK of being.

I believe that JBK is sincere in his effort to convert even one of us heathens and thus spare that individual the wrath of the god JBK believes in. It's actually pretty altruistic on his part, although I still feel that JBK would be better received and get a better discussion if he cruised on over to the Internet Infidels Forums.

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

I am disappoint. So few actually took the time to define god, and instead used this as another opportunity to discuss whether or not an undefined god exists.

As has been mentioned, I too feel the irony is that "god" is not a term that I can use to describe or define that which is the spirit of the universe. And "spirit of the universe" is just my short hand for how I think of a Greater Intelligence which infuses all sentient beings everywhere. I am "god." You are "god." The cats and the dogs and the mice and the rats are "god." We all inter-be. We all have the power to act like the angels or take on the role of the devil. And I use the terms "angels" and "devil" metaphorically here because I don't believe there actually are such things until they are called into power by individual human beings. Think Mother Theresa versus Adolf Hitler.

When it comes to a spiritual path - NOT a religous one - Buddhism works for me. When asked if there was a "god" or not, the Buddha replied, "God exists and god does not exist. If you spend your time trying to understand about the possibility of god and setting forth doctrine, you are straying from the true path - the eight fold noble path which leads to the end of suffering.

I doubt if JBK would be pleased with this comparison, but I actually view him as someone very similiar to a Buddhist who has taken the Bodisattva Vow. One who does this vows to never attain perfect enlightenment and thus go to Nirvana where suffering ceases to exist. Instead, the person - usually called a "stream entrant," vows to return life time after life time to this world until all sentient beings have attained enlightenment at long last and all suffering is at end.

This is an act of deep compassion for one's fellows just as JBK is concerned about the unbelievers here on the Cellar. I think JBK is doing the best he can despite great difficulties. It is easy to mock, but far harder to attain understanding.

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by SamIam

... I agree with sexobon. ...

[footfootfoot]

I am disappoint. So few actually took the time to define god, and instead used this as another opportunity to discuss whether or not an undefined god exists.

[Griff]

I believe in an undefined god.

[John Sellers]

Originally Posted by DanaC

If it is a 'gift' then it comes with more strings than a harpsichord.

How so? When is the freedom to choose not the freedom to choose?

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

I am disappoint. So few actually took the time to define god, and instead used this as another opportunity to discuss whether or not an undefined god exists.

Some of us did. You asked us how we define God. Some of us, me included, gave you our answers. Some of us, me included unfortunately, flamed poor JB for his beliefs.

[DanaC]

If there is a God, and free will is his gift to us, then it is a gift with strings. If the choice is simply that we abide with him and go to heaven, or not abide with him and go to hell.

We have a choice. But if we exercise that choice in anything other than absolute obedience to his will, the consequence of that choice is everlasting torment.

If it is a gift then it is a gift with strings. Personally I don't believe free will is a gift I think it just is. It is simply another way of saying we have independent consciousness.


[eta]if there's a God and he gave us free will then it is not a gift. It is a maze with one door leading to bliss and another leading to damnation. It is a self indulgent glory fuck and grand experiment.

[Clodfobble]

Only if you include a literal heaven and hell in your belief set, which many do not.

[John Sellers]

And I do not.