Any questions?

[Magic Man]

Well, if you find something that makes no logical sense, tell me. As I told lava, it's not enough to believe. The theology has to be coherent.

Well, the idea of "God" doesn't make logical sense to me.

No, you can't. Everything else is fair game, however. So long as we both understand this, we'll have ourselves a grand old time.

We'll have a grand old time, anyway.

It's relevant for one reason: it makes me welcome challenges.


hmmm... No. "Psyche" is too limited in defintition, it refers to a specific aspect of sapient biological life. Rhys is awareness, not hormones.

I'm still not completely sure of your definition of rhys as awareness. It is awareness, but it's not self-aware? How is that possible?

(And, I wish I could do more, but I tend to only have 5 minutes at a time here, so it's hard to really think things through, but I'm doing my best. )

 

[Storm]

Well, the idea of "God" doesn't make logical sense to me.

But you see how it does to me. You don't have to agree to find it logical on its own terms.

I'm still not completely sure of your definition of rhys as awareness. It is awareness, but it's not self-aware? How is that possible?

It is self aware. Is your confusion about individuation, or my remark that without us it would have nothing to be aware of?

(And, I wish I could do more, but I tend to only have 5 minutes at a time here, so it's hard to really think things through, but I'm doing my best. )

It's ok.

 

[Magic Man]

But you see how it does to me. You don't have to agree to find it logical on its own terms.


It is self aware. Is your confusion about individuation, or my remark that without us it would have nothing to be aware of?


It's ok.

I guess it's the fact that without us it would have nothing to be aware of.

I also still wonder, and I know you said you don't know, about the maturation of the roth. If you think that's the goal, then what does that mean exactly. I know how a human matures, but how would a "universe" mature?

 

[Storm]

I guess it's the fact that without us it would have nothing to be aware of.

Then it's my fault, I spoke in haste. Without us, the rhys would have no stimulation. It would be self aware, but have no means of exploring new concepts. It would be static and unchanging.

I also still wonder, and I know you said you don't know, about the maturation of the roth. If you think that's the goal, then what does that mean exactly. I know how a human matures, but how would a "universe" mature?

Well, part of it is all individuated rhys becoming Elders. Life as we know it might cease to exist, or we might collectively choose to live on. We might cease to be individuated. If we continue in individuation, we would retain our perfect understanding of our nature, as the Avatars do. Of course, all this is rampant speculation. The answer is not merely unknowable, it is nonexistant at this point. Part of our purpose is to decide what the nature of the fully Become roth should look like, and work at making that the reality, and I don't think that decision has been reached yet.

The one thing that can be reasonably concluded is that once the Becoming is complete, the roth will turn it's attention outwards. We will begin to explore reality beyond Godself.

 

[Magic Man]

Then it's my fault, I spoke in haste. Without us, the rhys would have no stimulation. It would be self aware, but have no means of exploring new concepts. It would be static and unchanging.


Well, part of it is all individuated rhys becoming Elders. Life as we know it might cease to exist, or we might collectively choose to live on. We might cease to be individuated. If we continue in individuation, we would retain our perfect understanding of our nature, as the Avatars do. Of course, all this is rampant speculation. The answer is not merely unknowable, it is nonexistant at this point. Part of our purpose is to decide what the nature of the fully Become roth should look like, and work at making that the reality, and I don't think that decision has been reached yet.

The one thing that can be reasonably concluded is that once the Becoming is complete, the roth will turn it's attention outwards. We will begin to explore reality beyond Godself.

This perfect understanding, how does one "section" of the rhys have perfect understanding, but not all of it. What exactly is perfect understanding, and what does our nature really matter to the rest of the roth?

Do you think that there is such a thing as a roth whose Becoming has been completed? If so, then what does that roth do, and wouldn't it remain stagnant, having already "figured it all out"? Is the key to existence change?

(I call this post: Random Thoughts. )

 

[Storm]

This perfect understanding, how does one "section" of the rhys have perfect understanding, but not all of it.

For this question, we turn to our own minds. (While psyche is too narrow a word, rhys is certainly the mind of God.) You have different thoughts and aspects of your personality. Some you embrace, others you reject, and still others you have no strong feeling about one way or the other. For instance, an indivdual might be gifted with extraordinary capacity for moral reason, which he seeks to nurture. He might also have a temper he struggles to keep under control. These are two different aspects of his personality, one of which could be considered enlightened. The enlightened aspect takes responsibility for the baser aspects, and struggles to enligten them.

What exactly is perfect understanding

If I knew that, I'd be an Elder. I do think it includes finally laying to rest what Sunstone refers to as the "subject/object divide."

, and what does our nature really matter to the rest of the roth?

I don't understand the question. Restate, please?

Do you think that there is such a thing as a roth whose Becoming has been completed?

Big Mama.

If so, then what does that roth do, and wouldn't it remain stagnant, having already "figured it all out"?

Explore the universe. If there's nothing out there, that might explain why Big Mama is Creating us. Boredom, and loneliness.

Is the key to existence change?

That might be overstating it a bit. Stagnation is death, however. Worse than.

 

[tomspug]

I have a question. What is your perspective on life before birth?

 

[Storm]

I have a question. What is your perspective on life before birth?

Reincarnation. Does that answer your question?

 

[tomspug]

Reincarnation. Does that answer your question?

Hmm, I guess it does. But where does life begin then?

 

[Storm]

Hmm, I guess it does. But where does life begin then?

I need a more precise question. Are you asking what the original beginning was, or when I consider an individual life to begin (as per the abortion debate), or something else entirely?

 

[tomspug]

I need a more precise question. Are you asking what the original beginning was, or when I consider an individual life to begin (as per the abortion debate), or something else entirely?

What is your view of the beginning of life as a whole? What was the beginning of the life process and is the number of beings reincarnated consistent over all time?

 

[Storm]

What is your view of the beginning of life as a whole? What was the beginning of the life process

The Big Bang. Arn came into being with matter and rhys. Everything since then is just those three primal elements dancing together.

and is the number of beings reincarnated consistent over all time?

Yes and no. The amount of rhys is consistent, but it is constantly breaking itself apart and regrouping. As it does this, the number of incarnations changes.

 

[tomspug]

The Big Bang. Arn came into being with matter and rhys. Everything since then is just those three primal elements dancing together.


Yes and no. The amount of rhys is consistent, but it is constantly breaking itself apart and regrouping. As it does this, the number of incarnations changes.

Interesting, so is it the goal of rhys to be completely reunited over time? What is the actual ebb and flow that makes up this process?

 

[Storm]

Interesting, so is it the goal of rhys to be completely reunited over time?

A dangerous question, whether or not God wants something. I think it will strike a balance between individuation and awareness of the whole.

What is the actual ebb and flow that makes up this process?

Consider the World Mother. All life the life on our planet is an aspect of Her, as She is an aspect of God. Our collective rhys is Her rhys. Life forms constantly die and are born, but the balance is maintained.

 

[Magic Man]

For this question, we turn to our own minds. (While psyche is too narrow a word, rhys is certainly the mind of God.) You have different thoughts and aspects of your personality. Some you embrace, others you reject, and still others you have no strong feeling about one way or the other. For instance, an indivdual might be gifted with extraordinary capacity for moral reason, which he seeks to nurture. He might also have a temper he struggles to keep under control. These are two different aspects of his personality, one of which could be considered enlightened. The enlightened aspect takes responsibility for the baser aspects, and struggles to enligten them.


If I knew that, I'd be an Elder. I do think it includes finally laying to rest what Sunstone refers to as the "subject/object divide."

I don't understand the question. Restate, please?

How does the nature of human life further the understanding of the roth as a whole?

Big Mama.


Explore the universe. If there's nothing out there, that might explain why Big Mama is Creating us. Boredom, and loneliness.

So, perfection, to you, leaves room for this kind of "petty" emotion? (I don't mean that as an insult, it was just the best word to describe it.)

That's the problem I have with the Christian God, actually, that it seems to me that that could be the only reason for our creation, but that doesn't fit the Christian interpretation of Him.


That might be overstating it a bit. Stagnation is death, however. Worse than.[/quote]

Then, how is my statement an overstatement, if the opposite is non-existence?

 

[Storm]

How does the nature of human life further the understanding of the roth as a whole?

Well, all sapient life is an expression of the One's sapience. Our thoughts are God's thoughts. This goes for all sapient life, but let's take a closer look at humans.

To what purpose do we put the gift of sapience? I can think of three answers: Art, science, and morality/ ethics. Each of these is a holy pursuit. Art: the celebration of Godself. Science, seeking to understand the workings of Godself, finding the patterns. And then there's morality. Seeking to answer the question what Godself should be.

This then, is our most important offering to the whole. Our exploration of virtue and os.

So, perfection, to you, leaves room for this kind of "petty" emotion? (I don't mean that as an insult, it was just the best word to describe it.)

That's the problem I have with the Christian God, actually, that it seems to me that that could be the only reason for our creation, but that doesn't fit the Christian interpretation of Him.

"Perfection" is so subjective as to be meaningless. The ideal of my theology is not perfection, but balance.

As for emotion, it must always be remembered that we are living theomorphisms. We simply cannot possess any trait or ability that God does not. Therefore, if we have emotions, so does God.

Then, how is my statement an overstatement, if the opposite is non-existence?

Perhaps I'm getting hung up on the phrase "Key to existence." Growth is the process.

 

[Magic Man]

Well, all sapient life is an expression of the One's sapience. Our thoughts are God's thoughts. This goes for all sapient life, but let's take a closer look at humans.

To what purpose do we put the gift of sapience? I can think of three answers: Art, science, and morality/ ethics. Each of these is a holy pursuit. Art: the celebration of Godself. Science, seeking to understand the workings of Godself, finding the patterns. And then there's morality. Seeking to answer the question what Godself should be.

This then, is our most important offering to the whole. Our exploration of virtue and os.

So, virtue is an objective concept?

"Perfection" is so subjective as to be meaningless. The ideal of my theology is not perfection, but balance.

But, isn't everything already in balance? If things were thrown out of balance, wouldn't that lead to destruction?

As for emotion, it must always be remembered that we are living theomorphisms. We simply cannot possess any trait or ability that God does not. Therefore, if we have emotions, so does God.

But, we also don't have a perfect understanding of ourselves, much less the entire universe. I just think that if something achieves "perfect understanding", possibly considered Nirvana by some, then they should be able to overcome and leave behind emotions like those, or emotions in general. Also, at that point, would we as humans exist? I would think we were only here to further the Becoming, and so when that was finished, so would we be. If we then didn't have those emotions, they wouldn't necessarily be part of the roth either.

Perhaps I'm getting hung up on the phrase "Key to existence." Growth is the process.

I just mean "key to existence" as the thing most necessary for existence. Would that be correct to you?

 

[Storm]

So, virtue is an objective concept?

What do you mean by "objective concept"? It is an idea, or rather, a collection of ideas, that we are exploring.

But, isn't everything already in balance? If things were thrown out of balance, wouldn't that lead to destruction?

Yes, and destruction is part of the balance. Entropy balanced by evolution.

I just think that if something achieves "perfect understanding", possibly considered Nirvana by some, then they should be able to overcome and leave behind emotions like those, or emotions in general.

Why? Would you really want to be incapable of experiencing love and joy?

Also, at that point, would we as humans exist?

No. We might very well choose to inhabit similar bodies. Bodies are fun. But we would not be human, we would be Elders in bodies.

 

[Magic Man]

What do you mean by "objective concept"? It is an idea, or rather, a collection of ideas, that we are exploring.

I mean a concept that is part of reality, not just in our human psyches.

Yes, and destruction is part of the balance. Entropy balanced by evolution.

Then nothing could ever be out of balance, and so we've already attained perfect balance.

Why? Would you really want to be incapable of experiencing love and joy?

No, but those would be part of a perfect understanding. It seems to me that understanding gives us these emotions, so perfect understanding would give us the "perfect" versions of these emotions. I didn't mean that all emotions were petty, just the negative ones.

No. We might very well choose to inhabit similar bodies. Bodies are fun. But we would not be human, we would be Elders in bodies.

So, if the universe stops learning, how does it continue to change? Just like you want your beliefs to be challenged to continue your development, wouldn't the perfect situation be to never gain all of the answers and the "perfect understanding"?

 

[Storm]

I mean a concept that is part of reality, not just in our human psyches.

One of us is having trouble understanding, and I'm not sure which.

All concepts are part of reality. Rhys and matter shape one another.

Then nothing could ever be out of balance, and so we've already attained perfect balance.

Cosmically, perhaps. On the smaller levels, not so much. Again, look at the World Mother: humans have our place and purpose, but we're upsetting the natural balance in a way that cannot be sustained. If we continue to do so, we may well be eliminated. If that happens, we will need to be replaced, a tricky business. Look at the personal level: my struggle with depression is a result of chemicals in my brain being out of balance. And yet, all these imbalances are part of the greater balance.

No, but those would be part of a perfect understanding. It seems to me that understanding gives us these emotions, so perfect understanding would give us the "perfect" versions of these emotions. I didn't mean that all emotions were petty, just the negative ones.

You're letting perfect get in the way again. Allow me to backtrack: I should have said "complete understanding." The "negative" emotions balance the "positive." They define one another.

So, if the universe stops learning, how does it continue to change?

It can't. It can must seek out new stimuli.

Just like you want your beliefs to be challenged to continue your development, wouldn't the perfect situation be to never gain all of the answers and the "perfect understanding"?

With my correction in place the complete understanding of the Becoming is understanding of Godself. There's still a universe to be explored once that is achieved.