it will be brimstone alright-but not from war-from mother nature-[global warming] if a person really educates himself on the subject, its quite shocking. read findings from james lovelock-our retired top scientist-read all he has accomplished then decide if his word is good.--as for war-i think if usa gets involved with iran--lots of rioting and terriorism will be this countries reward.

by TRADESMAN (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 335 comments [40 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008 at 6:13:41 PM

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Lord Stirling (and fellow concerned citizens),

I have pondered several of your recent articles, and as advised, felt it wise to prepare for a period of family isolation. Your info is both critical and time-sensitive. Knowledge can certainly create empowerment.

However, after resuming my teaching position in two short weeks, how do I stand before these innocent children pretending they have a rosy future? And exactly how does one cope with the thought that today could be the day the other shoe will drop?

In short, how does one become Emotionaly Prepared for a disaster of this magnitude??

by sandra ray (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 11 comments) on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008 at 6:49:38 PM

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Quite honestly I do not think the Bible quite matches, what Jamasp has foretold in the oldest book in the world, namely the Zend-Avesta. Many need to consult older more genuine documents, before making any conclusions on Iran.

As an a Astrologer, and one who comments on current affairs, I have seen countless stories like the one above. We were supposed to have had WW III a few month ago, with all those awkward planetary aspects then.  Our very very ancient Astrologer Jamasp, very accurately predicted the coming of Arabs, some ten thousand years ago. It is actually, just a brief episode in the very long history of Iran.

The problem at hand does not need any military armada of any sort.  And the solution is remarkably simple.  It needs the media of the world, to inform the Seyyeds, that they have no power, if the people of Iran decide to not run the factories and stay at home. Once the world media decides to ask these questions, and the Seyyeds realise how pathetically weak they are against a non-violent general strike, then their time is over.

by Ali Mostofi (6 articles, 1 quicklinks, 18 diaries, 31 comments) on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008 at 7:07:23 PM

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Thanks Sandra for your nice comment. I taught (seventh grade homeroom) many years ago and I understand what you are saying. However, you don't have to solve the problems of the times. If what I, and many others, believe is happening (the End Time) is correct, then don't worry. Those innocent children will have a rosy future, granted with some months of not so good times but the Bible tells us that Jesus will return (and in fact were it not for His return all of mankind would perish). He will make it alright. Those who pass away, and are with God, will be just fine. And our world will see a thousand years of peace, in the New Earth that His return will usher in.

I approach what is happening from two widely different directions. The first is that of someone who has worked in advanced warfare; who knows what the modern technology of war can do. The second direction is that of a Christian who sees the tie-in between the evil unfolding and events foretold long long ago in the Bible.

It will be ok. The hard times will not last too long and then we will see a New World and a New Heaven and all will be made whole and well. Just trust in Jesus. It will be ok.

Stirling 

by Lord Stirling (26 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 151 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008 at 9:21:19 PM

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The prophesied son of man, the witness and servant of God, and the messenger for the Spirit of truth, is already here.

I quote an excerpt from one page of highlights from his message:

The message from the Spirit of truth is designed not to condemn, but to educate; not to punish, but to correct; and not to destroy, but to save.

The message is designed to bring a reformation of all religions, particularly of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, to reconcile all religious conflict, and establish the true family of religions.

Therefore it is very important and crucial to understand that the messenger is not God "Himself" and he is not a king. He does not claim divinity for or of himself, nor does he seek personal power or office as head of church or state. He merely delivers the prophesied message from God and the Spirit of truth, because it is the truth, and nothing but the truth, that the world needs.

At this time the messenger is not to be considered as a Christ or a Buddha or an Avatar or a King. He is a spiritually anointed witness of God, but he is merely a messenger and is a fellow servant of God, and not "holier than thou." In fact, he is a prodigal son of man who fell from grace and was stricken and afflicted, and even though he serves as the messenger of God and the Spirit of truth, that does not mean that he is "holy." For only God is the Holy One, and the messenger serves God because he acknowledges the supremacy of God and the fallibility of man, including himself.

"He is my witness and my servant whom I have chosen, so you may know and believe me, and understand that I am the Holy One. Before me there was no God formed, and neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord God, and beside me there is no Savior." (Isaiah 43:10-11)

Contrary to traditional Christian belief, that does not speak of the Christ Jesus, even though Jesus was also a servant of God. It speaks of this witness and servant of God. For according to Jesus himself, the one who will fulfill both the Judaic and Christian prophecies glorifies God the Holy One in heaven, and also glorifies the Christ who is with God in heaven.

You see, the mortal Christ Jesus, also a son of man, spoke of the one to come in several ways, as a son of man who would first be rejected by his generation, and also as a messenger for the Spirit of truth.

However, Jesus spoke of the Spirit of truth in two ways. The first way was as the Spirit who can visit us individually through revelation and epiphany. For Jesus said: "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not and does not know him. But you shall know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you... Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more ... [And one] day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." – John 14:17-20

The other way Jesus spoke of the Spirit of truth was when he spoke of the one who would deliver a message to all humanity. In that instance he spoke of that one also as the "Comforter," which also refers to two entities, one ethereal and one mortal. For while the Comforter is on one hand the "Holy Ghost" or Holy Spirit, it is also a mortal son of man who serves the Spirit of truth, and the following makes that more clear.

Jesus also said: "I tell you the truth; It is to your advantage that I go away: for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him to you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in me [or my teachings]; of righteousness, because I go to our Father [to heaven] and you see me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. For he shall not speak of himself [but serve only as messenger]; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he declare, and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall declare it to you." (John 16:7-15)

That clearly reveals that because Jesus had to go away and we would see him no more, he would send someone delivering the message from the Spirit of truth and the Comforter, who will issue the judgment, guide humanity unto the truth, show you things to come, and glorify and declare the testimony of the Christ in heaven.

However, while the Spirit of truth and Comforter can influence and inspire individuals through spiritual revelation or epiphany, the Holy Spirit-Consciousness of the Ancient One needs a messenger, a son of man, to convey and deliver the message to all humanity. It couldn’t happen otherwise. And the message reminds all the world of what the enlightened ones taught; to guide us unto the truth, clarify the truth, show us things to come, and deliver the judgment in writing so that the message can be delivered to all humanity.

But again, the messenger is not a leader in the usual sense of the word, and he readily admits that he is not the Holy One but serves the Holy One, and that he merely shows the way from behind the scenes. But, because of that, people do not believe him and reject him, as Jesus prophesied.

Isaiah wrote about that too, and I will show you instances of that. But first please look at how the Christ Jesus spoke of the messenger for the Spirit of truth in other ways as well.

For example, Jesus said: "For as the lightening that lightens one part under heaven shines unto the other part under heaven, so shall also the son of man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things, and be rejected by his generation." (Luke 17:24-25)

Of course, traditional Christian belief is that Jesus was speaking of himself there, but that misunderstanding was because Jesus did speak of himself when he said something very similar. That is, Jesus said of himself: "this son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain."

That is indeed similar, which is why it was assumed that what is written in Luke 17:24-25 (about the son of man first suffering many things and being rejected by his generation) was also about Jesus. But it was not. Granted, Jesus certainly was a son of man. He certainly was rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and he certainly did suffer and was slain as a martyr and sacrificial lamb of God. However, his suffering was not first or beforehand. It was only at the very end of his life and after his mission was fulfilled, whereas the modern son of many has suffered first (see the page titled Author’s Personal Note, which explains his suffering).

Furthermore, even though Jesus was rejected by those in power (by the elders and chief priests and scribes), he was not rejected by his generation. In fact, Jesus was accepted by multitudes from every generation at the time. That is made clear throughout the book of Matthew and in the book of Luke. It was also confirmed by an impartial Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, who wrote at the time that Jesus "won over many Jews and many of the Greeks."

Unfortunately, the truth has not been understood because there are certain phrases written in the Christian gospels that have contributed significantly to myth of the "second coming" of the Christ Jesus. Many Christians cling to phrases like those that speak of the Christ’s "appearing," not understanding what they really mean.

Excerpted, quoted from, and continued at:

http://reformationcomingsoon.bravehost.com/RealProphecies.html

The message from the Spirit of truth, delivered by the current son of man, is the "stone that shall shatter the image of the King of Babylon, and the stone shall become as a great mountain that fills the whole earth."

by Jessica Moore (7 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 87 comments) on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008 at 10:35:10 PM

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by Drew Terry (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 28 diaries, 125 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008 at 10:41:06 PM

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Drew, it always amazes me just how far some people will go to oppose God. As a historian I have to say that what you have written is contrived nonsense. I hope that you will somehow find God in your life.

Stirling

by Lord Stirling (26 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 151 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008 at 10:58:38 PM

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I did not write the text. Did you happen to notice the entire text is one big link to the site of the person that did write it?

Please do not assume that I do not know God. I do.

Furthermore, I know his-tory. 

by Drew Terry (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 28 diaries, 125 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008 at 8:14:19 PM

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SEARCH,(" FREEMASONRY WORLD WAR  III"), THIS IS ANOTHER VENUE, ON THIS SUBJECT. 

by RICH SHA (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 106 comments) on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008 at 5:47:25 AM

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 The Aug 1 eclipse which will run close to the mideast  Revelation 6:12 :

  And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

by John Williams (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4 comments) on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008 at 6:19:28 AM

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I quote:

The "meek" (who are the humble, gentle, peaceful and faithful majority of people in the world) shall indeed inherit the earth, because most of us honor, or at least understand and try to live by the real and true spiritual values that have to do with universal love, peace, freedom, equality, justice, mutual respect, fairness, empathy, compassion, understanding, tolerance, forgiveness, charity, and pacifism.

Most of us at least try to abide by the golden rule and divine imperative that is common to all religions, and all good laws of our lands. We realize we should treat others as we would want to be treated if we were them.

Unfortunately, the humble and meek cannot inherit the earth as long as arrogantly proud and militant "religious" zealots have worldly power, and fight and kill to rule the world. In other words, prophecy cannot be fulfilled as long as unfaithful, aggressive hypocrites (those "wolves in sheep’s clothing" who claim to be Christians or Muslims or Jews) have the influence and power to cause so much conflict, division, trouble, violence, death and destruction in the world. And they will have influence and power as long as their spiritually blind flocks continue to support them, do their bidding, and give them power.

Fortunately, as all the greatest prophets foresaw and foretold, there is a divine intervention and judgment that will, in due time, render bad and divisive leadership powerless and contrite in the face of truth. The prophesied message from the Spirit of truth will not only deliver judgment, but guide us unto truth, and show us things to come. And those who do realize their error, become contrite of spirit, and repent, will be forgiven.

Quoted from the beginning of an article titled How the Meek Shall Inherit the Earth, continued at:

http://reformationcomingsoon.bravehost.com/InheritTheEarth.html

The prophesied message is from the Spirit of truth, and is the "stone which will shatter the image of the King of Babylon (Bush), and the stone shall become as a great mountain that shall fill the earth," as the prophet Daniel envisioned and foresaw.

by Jessica Moore (7 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 87 comments) on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008 at 10:23:38 AM

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You are %100 right and our society would have naturally flowed to total abundance if it were not for an artificial feudalism being put into place. The amazing thing is one of their major mechanisms for doing so is quite apparent. It is in the form of the interest (or usury) that all people pay for to get money from the bank and it is actually responsible for many of the ills not just in our country but on our planet. People in 3rd world countries live in worse conditions because of crushing debt than they would have lived if they stuck to the barter system.

Another readily visible form af aristocarcy is in the properties of the world. By calling a high percentage off the property in the world crown or government they are imposing an artificially high price on the rest. When we first settled these lands we did not have to pay for them they were given and rightly so since our government were only custodians of our society not the owners. Many of these lands can be bought and so they are not all wild life reserves. This is just a means to keep property costs high a disservice to the citizens so taxes could be raised. The proper way our government should of acted if they were truly being represantative custodians would be to lay out which lands to keep as wildlife reserves and then given every family their own single plot of land to own. This is just one example of a multitude of cases of upside down thinking that would have increased everyone prosperity and quality of life exponentially . Instead most of the decisions of our represantatives has lowered our quality of life over the years.

by John Williams (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4 comments) on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008 at 11:38:24 AM

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 There is a Man called Branch in Zechariah 6 has 7 women take him as his wives in Isaiah 4.  In Zechariah 3 that Branch will lead them to a day when all will sit under his vine and figtree with no one to make them afraid.  He is alo in Jeremiah 23 where they will no longer teach as Moses led them out of the wilderness, and is also called a she in some versions of Jer. 33:15.  He is one of the olive branches who may yet get killed in Rev. 11.  But not even Daniel 12:1 have to cause a great distress.  Nor even does the world court of Daniel 7 have to sit for judgment. (food for thought)

by Michael Dewey (5 articles, 1 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 245 comments [12 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008 at 11:54:56 AM

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I quote from commentary just provided on this subject:

July 23, 2008

Despite the fact that in December 2007 U.S. Intelligence Services released information from a report stating that Iran had in fact stopped their nuclear weapons program, George W. Bush has pushed for military action against Iran.

Consequently, on July 21, 2008, U.S., British, French and other military forces launched "Operational Brimstone." It has been implemented as a "practice exercise" by a huge naval armada aimed at giving military teeth to the two-week ultimatum the most powerful world powers gave Iran in Geneva on July 19 to accept the suspension of uranium enrichment or face harsh sanctions and isolation.

The exercise is scheduled to end July 31, two days before the U.S.-European ultimatum to Iran expires. Immediately after the Geneva talks ended in failure, the U.S. State Department issued a statement giving Tehran the option of "cooperation or confrontation."

The name, "Operation Brimstone," is very significant, because it refers to the old "fire and brimstone" idea of "God’s Wrath" being brought down in a "holy war against evil." In other words, the leaders of the U.S., British and French forces are playing God, not understanding what God is.

They do not understanding that all references to "fire and brimstone" reveal that it comes from heaven, and are symbolic of the heavenly forces that deal spiritually with those who are driven by evil, malicious thoughts and desires. Vengeance is the Lord’s, not Man’s, and the weapons of the Lord are not carnal or lethal, but they are mighty through God for pulling down even the strongest stronghold of misused military power. They are also mighty through God for pulling down even the most egocentric, power-hungry, brutal man, with purely spiritual forces. That is why the first Commandment is, You Shall Not Kill.

The arrogantly proud and militant "Christians" and "Muslims" and "Jews" who think God is on their side are ALL wrong. They're all ignorant of God, and they betray God and their religion.

Those who live by the sword shall perish by the sword. Jesus said that for a very good reason. And he said that the meek shall inherit the earth for a very good reason. It is true.

A naval blockade of Iran’s gulf ports will have grave consequences. It will only escalate the conflict, and it is not the way to deal with misguided Muslim extremists. Two wrongs do not make a right. Peacemakers are not warriors who try to "win" the peace by waging war and killing their fellow human beings. Peacemakers are those who make peace, who help adversaries reconcile differences, acknowledge their offenses, and make amends. It takes honesty, forthrightness, and the willingness on all sides to confess their offenses.

Unfortunately, the Western Christian forces, aligning themselves with the Israeli government, will not acknowledge the offenses to the Palestinians, which have been increasing ever since 1917 (see the page titled The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict). And the Muslim extremists, even though they have very legitimate grievances against the Israeli government, the U.S. and the British, will not acknowledge that indiscriminate killing was condemned by the prophet Muhammad, who said that Jews, Christians and Muslims "believe in the same God" (Allah being the Arab name for God).

The worst offender, of course, is Osama bin Laden. But the next worse is George W. Bush, whose "Christian" advisors have told him his war in Iraq is the fulfillment of the prophecy warring "sixth angel" who "poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates..." (Revelation 16:12) They don't realize that chapter is mostly symbolic, just as so many things are in the Bible, and they know not what they do.

Granted, John used that symbolism because bloodshed and killing in Iraq was foreseen and foretold. However, that does not mean this long horrible war must continue, and it certainly does not mean that God caused it or would sanction it. John's symbolism in the Book of Revelation was mainly designed to portray that those who "blaspheme" against God suffer in many ways. But it's not because God is not merciful and loving. In fact, God loves us all and does not want anyone to be killed. It's because those who judge, hate and curse their enemy actually curse or "blaspheme against" God, because they do not realize what God really is. In hating and cursing their enemies they unwittingly hate and curse God and themselves, and they are at war with God and their own spirit-soul.

That is in fact why Jesus said we should not judge, and if we are tempted to judge we should resist not evil but love good, overcome evil with good, and love even our enemy, because our enemy is usually just a reflection of our self.

Quoted from: http://reformationcomingsoon.bravehost.com/NewsCommentary.html

by Jessica Moore (7 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 87 comments) on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008 at 2:56:11 PM

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they have this big machine that shakes a prototype airframe to see how many parts will break or fall off. The earth too will soon be shaken and anything that is not firmly rooted into the bedrock will fall. Perilous times are upon us and many mens hearts will fail them for fear. Just like the days of Noah, many are too busy or just too evil to seek God. One day the door will close and the flood will begin. Dont wait a minute more. Seek the Lord while he may be found. Before you speak he will answer.

by john riggs (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 463 comments [24 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008 at 7:56:23 PM

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This is ridiculous!  What supposedly started as a secular post on the consequences of starting a war with Iran has morphed into a discussion of Bible prophecy among religious fundamentalists.  Its almost as if I had fallen back among the Jehovah's Witnesses that I had the misfortune of my mother joining when I was about six years old and bringing me up among.

There a many potentially disastrous consequences of the U.S. starting a war with Iran but they have nothing to do with religious imaginings written down 2000 years ago.

MILITANT ATHEIST, Robert Halfhill

by rhalfhill (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 327 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008 at 10:38:56 PM

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Regardless of your belief system, World War III is the direction that the neo-cons are taking us. It will not likely happen soon if they do not attack Iran. If they attack Iran, and this includes a Blockade which is an act of war under international law, the probabilities are very high that things will simply get out of hand. I have several in depth articles on the military technology involved posted on OpEdNews and on my blog EUROPE.

Iran already has advanced biological warfare (ABW), which is a new form of global strategic warfare involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD). When the Soviet Union fell apart the Iranians hired many of the "best and brightest" from the highly advanced Soviet biowar program. They have recombination DNA/genetic engineering technology to create new man-made killer viruses designed for mass death. We, thanks to our neo-con overlords, are close to beginning a war with a nation that has a MAD (mutually assured destruction) environment with us.

In all the years, of the Cold War, that we had a MAD with the Soviet Union both sides were smart enough (sometimes it was a close thing) not to start a war with each other because we knew that "victory would be ashes in the mouth of the victor". The neo-cons are charging ahead regardless of the danger to America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, NATO, Israel, and the rest of the world. That is so insane that one can only ask if they are crazy or if they are satanic.

In any case, we are headed for a place that will bring the most horrific deaths in human history, and that is only from an attack on Iran and their counter-attack on the neo-con western nations. If history is any judge, the aftermath of the spread of ABW and nuclear fallout and global economic collapse is apt to push the entire world into a even greater stage of total global strategic war. Sadly what I am saying is a logical analysis of the crisis facing the world today. Regardless of your belief system, either the people of the world will force the neo-cons to stop their insane march to our destruction or we will go through hell on earth.

Stirling

by Lord Stirling (26 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 151 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 9:14:25 AM

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Right-wing religious bigots, whether they claim to be Christians or Muslims or Jews, believe that only a great "holy war between good and evil" (as they judge it) will fulfill prophecy and usher in the coming of the Messiah/Moshiach or Christ or Imam Mahdi.

They do not realize that the prophesied wars and rumors of war have aleady taken place, and are taking place as we speak.

They do not realize that the terrible ordeal and tribulation that was prophesied, which includes not only all the wars, but also the "seven plagues" (diseases, famines, pestilence, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, and droughts) and "many other terrible things," have already been taking place, increasingly as the end of the age draws nearer.

In spite of that, religious bigots and hypocrites are hell-bent on waging "holy war" or "jihad" against the "godless unbelievers" or "infidels."

Ironically, the son of man, the servant-messenger of God is already here and has made his message available. But he waits, rejected by his generation, because religious people accuse him of blasphemy, and agnostics and atheists accuse him of being a religious nut. And this is just as the prophets Isaiah and Jesus foresaw and foretold.

The beauty of his message is that it calls for a reformation of both religion and government, to establish equality of religions and secular government that is actually of, by and for the people, and no longer of, by and for the wealthiest few.

http://reformationcomingsoon.bravehost.com

Granted, things will only get worse unless and until enough people in the world get the message.

My hope is that will be sooner, rather than later.

by Jessica Moore (7 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 87 comments) on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 10:28:25 AM

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You said it: "either the people of the world will force the neo-cons to stop their insane march to our destruction or we will go through hell on earth."

So, let's stop counting on God to save us and get off our asses!

"God helps those who help themselves"! 

by Bia Winter (6 articles, 2 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 762 comments [119 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 10:50:06 AM

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As soon as enough people get the message and learn how we can unite, be empowered, and save ourselves and our world, we will indeed stop the neo-cons and inherit the earth.

http://reformationcomingsoon.bravehost.com

by Jessica Moore (7 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 87 comments) on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 12:05:02 PM

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NOT IN OUR LIFE TIME.

by RICH SHA (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 106 comments) on Sunday, Jul 27, 2008 at 2:56:06 AM

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Things are not very good now and they are not going to get any better the way things are going. It is sad but true that in order for things to change there has to be an upheaval. I am not being crass and would much prefer that it was not the case but it is.

by John Williams (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4 comments) on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 2:11:24 PM

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Belief in invisible things to prove by not proving something is a solipcism. If we are going to stop this atrocity then it will be by homo ex machina not by a dei ex machina as too many profess and promote. Such abilities to create and believe in such things as elementals and gods may have been necessary for survival in the past but now it is directly related to our immanent demise if we don't stop it now. Most of us won't like the future the Dominionists have planned for us.

by nightgaunt (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 449 comments [27 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 3:44:11 PM

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For every person that hopes and yearns for something better the overall the overall tragedies will be lessened.

by John Williams (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4 comments) on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 3:50:18 PM

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I repost an ariticle titled Signs of Hope and Progress:

Despite all the signs of conflict and violence which cause so much despair and decline in the human condition, we should keep in mind that there have been and are great signs of hope and progress.

Science and technology are making great strides in discovering how we can enhance and improve our lives and improve our environment in a myriad of ways. But even more important, increasing numbers of people are realizing that they must stand up and speak up to give voice to the humanitarian Spirit of truth, in order to counter the ugly spirit of bigotry and divisiveness that has created so much conflict, violence, death and destruction in our world.

In that respect, a fairly recent sign of hope and progress in America is that mainstream progressive Christians finally began to speak up after more than two and a half decades of remaining silent while bigoted, hypocritical, aggressive right-wing conservative leaders of the "Christian Right" used their pulpits for partisan political grandstanding.

In fact, progressive Christians were in large part responsible for the victory of Democrats in the 2006 mid-term election, because they began to point out true Christian values, which naturally contradicted what the right-wing hypocrites had long been claiming were Christian values. That is a positive sign of truth winning over falsehoods, and I trust that will continue and increase.

But I want to point out that there are and have been many other signs of hope and progress, some of which were shown long ago.

In the 1960s many spiritual teachers were quite effective in spreading the word that there are many core universal truths common to all religions. And they were in fact renewing the efforts that many wise people had made back in the 1700s. After all, many of the founding fathers of America and many European and American poets, philosophers, and writers had begun advancing that knowledge. And in the 1960s those efforts were renewed by many wise and caring people. (See the page on Little Known American History.)

But even more traditional religious leaders also started to try to do the right thing as well. For example, throughout his papacy, Catholic Pope John Paul II preached a message of peace, hope and the bringing together of all religions. He established a dialogue of friendship and understanding between Christian denominations, and non-Christians. He tried to bring reconciliation between all religions, visiting and praying with many, and even preaching in a Lutheran church. He was the first Pope to visit a Synagogue, and he established diplomatic relations between Israel and the Vatican. In Assisi, Italy, he held prayers for peace, inviting spiritual leaders from 12 of the world's major religions.

For the first time in history, leaders from all the major religions assembled in one place, bringing Jews, Buddhists, Shintoists, Muslims, Zoroastrians, Hindus, Unitarians, traditional African, and Native American religions. They all prayed for peace, and the Dahli Lama even placed a statue of Buddha on the altar. Pope John Paul II stated that they were all praying to the same God for the same purpose, and that their spiritual energy was bringing about a new climate of peace. Catholic-Muslim dialogue also expanded under John Paul the II's leadership, and he tried to create a bond between Christianity and Islam.

In 1969, the World Council of Churches gathered with Christians and Muslims, setting the stage for future dialogue. A Christian-Muslim Seminar was held in Tripoli in 1976, as well as open dialogue engaged through the Royal Academy for Islamic Civilization Research. Pope John Paul II addressed Catholics in Turkey and said, "I wonder if it is now urgent, precisely today when Christians and Muslims have entered a new period of history, to recognize and develop the spiritual bonds that unite us."

Unfortunately, the rise of the "Religious Right" in the world, and particularly the rise of the "Christian Right," which gathered steam in 1979 in America with their support for Ronald Reagan, started to undermine such progress. But despite the divisive militancy of the misguided religious zealots who claim to be Christians or Muslims or Jews, good people from all faiths have still been trying to promote harmony, unity and peace.

The Catholic church has even been seeking a relationship with Islam. In 1994 the Vatican published a document titled "Recognize the Spiritual Bonds Which Unite Us," directed towards Muslims and Catholics alike. John Paul II was the first Pope to enter a Muslim place of worship, visiting the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria. He also visited Morocco at the invitation of some of its religious leaders, and in May of 1999, he kissed the Koran. At a later rally with thousands of Muslim youth in attendance, he said, "we believe in the same God, the one God, the living God" (which, by the way, is exactly what the prophet Muhammad said and wrote).

Of course, that certainly does not excuse the Roman Catholic Church from past offenses and crimes against humanity. After all, since it was established in the fourth century, it was responsible for the horribly oppressive theocratic "Dark Ages," the cruel Inquisition, and the bloody Crusades against Islam. Papal documents from the 1400s show the Papacy played a role in justifying the genocidal onslaught that affected millions of indigenous people in many areas of the world. One edict authorized Portugese "Christian soldiers" to"invade, search out, capture, vanquish and subdue all Saracens and pagans" along the west coast of Africa, which served to justify the enslavement of indigenous people and confiscation of their property and land. And that set the tone for European military conquest of many different indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere, where European Christians killed many and occupied their lands, a practice then continued not only by other European Catholic Christians, but by European and American Protestant Christians as well. Military imperialism, conquest, occupation, colonialism and, if necessary, even genocide, was considered the "Christian" thing to do.

Unfortunately, some "Protestant Christians" still believe that today. But the leadership of Pope John Paul II began the much-needed Catholic process of apology and making amends, and trying to do the right thing. He made some progress.

Unfortunately, the hypocrisy of George W. Bush and the whole "religious" right or the "neo-conservative movement" in America has undone or tried to undo a lot of that progress, and they have in fact damaged and worsened the relationship between Christians and Muslims. And, of course, misguided radical Muslim hypocrites have also damaged and worsened it.

Fortunately though, in spite of the religious bigotry of certain right-wing Americans who falsely claim to be Christians, the United Nations and the European Union have participated and sponsored interfaith meetings, taking up the theme of religious pluralism and equality. In 2000, the United Nations held its first ever Millennium World Peace Summit. It brought together thousands of the world's preeminent religious and spiritual leaders. This was the first time such an event had taken place through the UN. A new declaration of peace created the beginning of an era of collaboration between religions. A Council of Religious and Spiritual Leaders was also established at this summit, which later led to some high-level international interfaith dialogue.

Increasing numbers of people are beginning to believe that in order to achieve a world where there is no conflict, feuds, or wars, there will have to be a dialogue between and reconciliation of all faiths. Even the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger, in spite of his being a Zionist, has called for the creation of a world council whose representatives are from all major religions. While addressing the International Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace in March of 2006, he stated that bringing religious groups together to communicate in peace could "bring a bridge between religions."

In June of 2006, the European Union held a high-profile series of interfaith meetings. It was attended by Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist leaders, including the Dahli Lama, as well as some influential European politicians.

Knowing that the late Pope John Paul II had sought to draw representatives of all religions into a greater mutual spiritual understanding and a respect of shared values and beliefs, his successor Pope Benedict XVI traveled to Turkey and openly called for further Muslim-Christian dialogue, preaching respect for the differences between both faiths, and emphasizing what they have in common. He became the second pontiff to visit a mosque. The ongoing dialogue throughout the years has been aimed towards contributing to world peace.

The Dahli Lama, who preaches a message of peace and unity, believes that peace can only be achieved through world, political, and spiritual unity. The World Council of Churches has stated that the practices and concepts from other religions must be introduced into the Christian faith in order to create greater understanding and dialogue.

Additionally, several books have been written to point out that there are remarkable similarities in the life and deeds of the Christ and the Buddha. If you are interested in those similarities, please read Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings, by Marcus Borg et al, or Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers, by Thich Nhat Hanh, or one of the many other books on the subject. There are also many other good books that point out the similarities and compatibilities of all religions, because they were all in fact derived and inspired by One Source, the Divine Spirit of Truth.

Now, all this is good news, and shows signs of hope and progress. But, unfortunately, there are some who don’t see it that way.

Ironically, there are very misguided, misinformed and malicious leaders of the right-wing conservative Christian Right who think all this is an attempt to create a "One World Religion" and a "New World Order." They have been spreading such false prophecy and claiming that all this positive and progressive action to achieve peace and reconciliation is ominous and evil. Yes, as outrageously wrong as that obviously is, that is what they’ve been doing.

However, that shows how misguided these religious bigots are, because they have been indoctrinated and simply do not realize that they are actually the biggest and most hypocritical false prophets Jesus warned us about, who pray for the ears of men and claim to do wonderful works in the name of the Lord, when they in fact "work iniquity" and do wrong, knowing not what they do. They are under the delusion that they serve God, even though they actually betray God.

I tell you truly that there will be no single world religion, not when real prophecy is fulfilled. But, people like George W. Bush, Pat Robertson, Osama bin Laden, Ehud Olmert (like Ariel Sharon before him), certain leaders of the Taliban, the Mahdi Army, Hamas and Hizbollah, and all others who claim to serve God but do not, have been fighting very hard to try to establish one world religion based on their false idea of religion. THAT is what was foreseen and prophesied, because it was foreseen that these hypocrites and false prophets would fight for dominant and exclusive power in the name of God/Allah. That’s why we’ve been going through such a terrible tribulation, which was also prophesied and foreseen.

When real prophecy is fulfilled, there will actually be a family of religions, and a family of nations ... all honoring the values of mutual respect, equality, fairness, cooperation and collaboration, and thereby creating peace in the world.

All the positive things that are going on show great signs of hope and progress toward that. And as you may know, there are many other signs that more and more people are realizing the need for religious understanding, reconciliation and equality.

There have been many television shows devoted to that. The latest one, for example, was on December 23, 2007, on the American CBS Television Network. It was a two hour special titled, In the Name of God. It did not go nearly as far as it could and should have, and in certain respects they missed a good opportunity. However, it did express the views of many moderate religious leaders, including those representing moderate Sunnis, Shiites, Sikhs, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Catholics, Lutherans, Russian Orthodox Christians, and even a somewhat moderate American Southern Baptist. And it was very good and pretty effective, as far as it went.

What we need is more good people speaking up, not only to express what is good in the world, and how we should treat each other, but also to say very clearly that people should avoid and reject leaders who claim to serve God but are in fact misguided.

Of course it should be in a nonviolent way and in a unifying spirit of goodwill and peace, but we must get serious about exposing and denouncing falsehoods and wrong-doing. Truth will prevail over falsehoods, but only when we make it so.

Quoted from:

http://reformationcomingsoon.bravehost.com/SignsofHope.html

by Jessica Moore (7 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 87 comments) on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 at 6:52:10 PM

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