Since I promised to be a more productive and retroactive member of dev. i.e. actually update my stuff, I wanted to let all those who actually read this I still do exist and am continually updating my stuff. I'll have to dedicate part of my Sunday morning to this...


I updated my sideboard. No not my M:TG sideboard, a different sideboard, the one with my age, and personal stuff. I'm 22 now. My birthday rocked, and it still holds fond memories in my brain.

I've done some weird stuff lately. One this, that I know Meg and a few others are going to pop their eyes out at me for is I'm trying to learn more about my heritage. One method is to understand Mormons. I've gone to school with them, had my family live around them, and at one point, long ago, my family was founding members with Joseph Smith...(don't ask...long story) then my select branch was too crazy, rowdy and the like, so we were excommunicated from the Mormon Church.

The primary thing I want to understand for myself is whether the lore of my grandmother (the non-Mormon, anti-Catholic, type) was indeed correct or if my father is. He points to the fact they are Christians, just different. I'm on as unbiased a note as possible going to have to agree. They are just REALLY different.

The best way to describe what they believe is a fundamental altercation in the socio-economic structure of the church. They believe they are the "new" church. I say "new" instead of new, because I'm not God. I can't make objective comments when I just don't know. The book of Mormon is interesting, the idea is that Christ, after helping us Mortals of the Old World, came to the New World. I don't know much about the history of any of it, but it looks interesting, if at most as a perception into the minds of part of this nation and the world. Remember, America is an interesting place, we unlike many other countries, do not give up our individuality. We are unique people from unique places around the world, each with our own ethnic groups, our own cultures that should be learned, understood, and appreciated for their value to one of the world's most unique cultures.

I'm not saying Meg, before you start ranting that I'm going to become a Mormon, you know me better than that. I'm interested in learning about what my family members believe, and what a great part of this nation believes. I'm trying to start a dialogue. I think the biggest problem with Mormonism as I can start to see it after walking in the front door, is secretism. Not cultism like my grandmother called them, but just a generally hugging to one another. I think they have closed themselves off from debate because of their believe they are the new church. I'll get into the argument about how in blocking debate one prevents God's truth from reaching your ears, but in effect, they do know their stuff.

Mormons are highly educated Christians, they just have another book. Think about it like this, imagine what it is like for Jews...And I'm part Jewish and have been trying to reach out to that part of my heritage too. Jews treat Christians differently because they believe we were following a false prophet. Why? Because they have their own transcendental dialogue. However, they followed the same weakened path the Catholics and many other religious bodies have taken. Elite Authority. I believe the authority of the church comes from God, yes, but also that he give individuals the right and ability to detect truth. Debate exists, widespread because even God's prophets are imperfect. They can misinterpret his meanings and when that happens God give others the ability to translate the definition.

It's like the fundamental study of the bible. Everyone has their own interpretations of the bible. Each one is fundamentally correct in some way. But, even if one is fundamentally correct, it doesn't make it true. Does that make sense? It's like saying, "the apple falls because it is God's Will". Well, fundamentally that is true, but in practice that's only a micro fraction of the true answer. You'd be doing God and God's Will a disservice. Ignoring all the glory God proliferated in the universe's creation, physical law. The ever complexity of the universe's existence is but a fraction of God's Will, to describe the apple falling as his will is missing out on everything, the "gravity of the situation", one might say.

I don't try to make jokes lightly, but the facts are simple, one transcendental dialogue is all that is necessary. However, I said a dialogue, it means one group has a discussion betwixt a group of it's members that discuss and argue openly and freely. You know, the ideals established in this great nation? The idea of teaching a transcendental narrative. It's long, haudy, and complex, but core in the greater understanding of God's Will, and more importantly God. I'm more focused on the creator than what he wants from me. The relationship is everything. Through that relationship I will be moved to do God's bidding, but only through that relationship. I believe the relationship is where we start to move on a better path. We are motivated to do what is right, what is wholesome and good. Virtuous as the Greeks might say.

If Plato in Euthyphro could not establish the definition of Piety, I dare not try today, but I believe it has more to do with one's relationship with the creator that it does with the actions of the created. The stronger one's connection, the closer one is, the brighter the glow of perfection and the easier it is to follow. Think about it like this, humans are habitual, we often find it easier to do things when we do as others do. Well, when you are "with God" it's human nature to do as God does. I think it was built into our genetics.

So our relationships, our human genetic needs are established through God. Some can argue against me there, you have every right. But know this, it wasn't until I started to feel God that I felt whole. It's weird, it's complicated, and it just dang crazy at times, but perhaps that just my mortal perceptions. When you've never experienced a lot of miracles in your life it is harder to believe in them. But when you have seen them, been touched by God's desire to help others all your life, and you see him every day, hopefully (I have my off days too, then you miss out), you have an easier time believing.

Some of my friends call themselves Christians, many have strong relationships with God. But few I believe can describe those relationships as anything besides out of this world. It's complex, I can't describe it in words. Just vague terms. It's like having a weird connection with a person, perfect, loving, a glowing feeling. You can call it enlightenment, reaching inner peace, whatever. It's simply a feeling that is indescribably. You just have to experience it yourself.

I really do wish they taught religion in school. Not to make any one specific religion trump another, but to give people a chance at having their own relationship with their creator and to give them the ability to understand others. Do you know how many false claims have been made about others because we don't understand them? How many lies, falsehoods, destructive claims. It's terrible. Humanity has nearly been destroyed countless times over. Africans, Jews, Native Americans, Chinese (referring to WWII and Japan). The world practically. How can we, especially modern people who talk about having a Unitarian view of the world, not at least learn the fundamentals about others beliefs. You know, sometimes you learn the most, the most important things, from those you completely disagree with.

I know that sounds weird and I know this has turned into a novel, but I've learned the most about morality, the greatest degree of truth, in my discussions with people I wouldn't always have agreed with. Meg is one, my physic prof. was another, hell my parents, friends, family, pretty much everyone. I don't always agree, you listen to their logic, understand them, and sometimes when God speaks, you listen and find the underlying truth, when you find that, you carefully remove it from the falsity, and gain a new perception. When I do, I make sure to tell others, and when they get a new perspective it's a nice warm feeling. I just need to tell these guys on Monday, when I meet with them again to yack back. If I say something they disagree with, tell me, tell me why, and then let me respond. If they can't, are afraid to, then it tells me they have suffered backlash.

The two guys I met the other day, were kind and respectful. They feel deeply and passionately about their beliefs. Not to say their are right, but the light of God does radiate from them, the problem is, I believe I do as well. And when you see light clashing, you need to ask yourself, why? And which light is unbroken in the area the other isn't. I know I'm making that mirror analogy again, but you get the idea.

I hope this has been a lesson in my daily confusion to everyone.

I'm constantly being challenged in new ways. And perhaps, someday, I'll have a larger view of this small planet than I did when I started. ^_^'

-Chris

PS. School is going great and I'm having loads of fun. I hope to hear from you all ASAP! Kay. Got to go send my English friend, Andrew a reply. I've had his email sitting in my inbox, unanswered in months. Dam I feel like an ass!

To my friends, eventually I'll have my footer list complete. Give me a week. I have to write everyone's username down then add it. I have to go to church now.

Update: Sorry haven't even thought about this. I'll get it done, eventually!