================================================ Subject: Odp: RE: LOst Faith From: "Jackson Crawford" To: Date: Fri 18 May 2001 15:58:33 -0500 ================================================ The description of your old church recalls to mind the words to that great Creed classic, "In America", does it not? "Church bells ringing, pass the plate around, the choir is singing, while their leader falls to the ground..." And I can't see the immorality in drinking after baptism even from a Christian viewpoint - I mean, is there supposed to be some sort of limbo period prior to your first post-baptismal drink? I'm reminded of a Catholic friend of mine who got himself drunk in celebration of his Confirmation. I don't know exactly what to believe about a "guiding spirit" - even I am occasionally tempted to think in paranormal or even borderline religious terms (though such thoughts rarely last more than an hour or so). I guess the idea that most continuously tempts me to see past what I define as "reality" is a tendency for me to believe in a sort of "totemic connection" betwixt me and ravens. 'Tis not that I believe in it, I just have to keep reassuring myself that I don't believe in it. Right, "Come on baby, light my fire"...lol...one of the first manuscripts that I ever wrote was entitled "St. Ian and Jackson Go To Hell" ('twas the sequel to my ever-popular "The Mock Funeral Papers"), a satire in which this friend of mine and I died and were profressively punished in the worst manner possible by every religion of which we could conceive for our sins, and finally ended up in Christian hell where we came to the realization that the true master of the universe was a cat named Snowball, who was a pimp, and the various deities of the world were the bitches in his harem. The thing is, I think we actually used that same song in conjunction with hell in the manuscript! Just thought that I'd point out the coincidence... Excellent point, the one on a god's words being printed in written format, and yes, I think there was (is?) a cult that believes that their god will contact them all via email at the time of the apocalypse and will instruct them in the manner in which they might save themselves. You certainly do have some fascinating ideas on life after death. Especially your concept of a "conglomeration of matter and energy" directable by one's past mind after death. Though once again, I raise the question of - can you see it, hear it, smell it, taste it, or touch it? Or does it just exist where we cannot detect via such means? A somewhat Orphic idea, I'd say, and Orphism is rare nowadays. "Forget this live a deprived life, take others abuses and you will be rewarded in the afterlife crap." - great line! As has been said before, only by accepting your mortality can you learn to be immortal. See ya'round, Jim - keep that thinking cap on! Jackson Wade Crawford - The Raven of Texas/ Corvvs Texanis/ Kruk Teksasu International Director, Corvist Association for the Preservation and Perpetuation of Free Will To unsubscribe or change your preferences for the Creed-Discuss list, visit: http://www.winduplist.com/ls/discuss/form.asp