christians

  On 1/8/2010 at 10:10 PM, Hautlle said:

  On 1/8/2010 at 9:09 PM, troon said:

  On 1/8/2010 at 9:05 PM, data said:

exception

 

 

The Rastafari Movement is based on Biblical language.

 

I love the understanding and practice of Ital and the love that is shared for all living things.

 

The only problem is the emphasis on sacraments that take over Rastafari peoples lives.

 

True Rastafari are Vegan and drug free. (believe it or not)

 

Vegan I'll agree with, but marijuana is considered a sacred herb that is ok because it grew on King Solomons grave

 

 

Did King Solomon leave directions on what we are to do with it?

 

....or are we just kind of inventing that one as we go along

 

It is indeed sacred, but it is all in the definition of how we are to make use of it.

Edited January 9, 2010 by troon

  On 1/2/2010 at 3:07 AM, glasse said:

Slay them wherever ye find them and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. - 2:191

muslims say "ye"?

  On 1/9/2010 at 6:30 AM, EDGEY said:

  On 1/2/2010 at 3:07 AM, glasse said:

Slay them wherever ye find them and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. - 2:191

muslims say "ye"?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qur'an#Translations

Hare Rama Hare Krishna!!!!

  On 1/9/2010 at 4:41 AM, troon said:

  On 1/8/2010 at 10:10 PM, Hautlle said:

  On 1/8/2010 at 9:09 PM, troon said:

  On 1/8/2010 at 9:05 PM, data said:

exception

 

 

The Rastafari Movement is based on Biblical language.

 

I love the understanding and practice of Ital and the love that is shared for all living things.

 

The only problem is the emphasis on sacraments that take over Rastafari peoples lives.

 

True Rastafari are Vegan and drug free. (believe it or not)

 

Vegan I'll agree with, but marijuana is considered a sacred herb that is ok because it grew on King Solomons grave

 

 

Did King Solomon leave directions on what we are to do with it?

 

....or are we just kind of inventing that one as we go along

 

It is indeed sacred, but it is all in the definition of how we are to make use of it.

 

Fair enough, but is there anywhere in the bible that it states not use use marijuana to get high? Egyptian accounts of Jesus make him out to be a rebel healer that uses plants for their medicinal properties. It is thought that the oil that Jesus and John were anointed with contained cannabis, there is a recipe in the old testament for such oils.

  On 1/9/2010 at 8:24 AM, Hautlle said:

  On 1/9/2010 at 4:41 AM, troon said:

  On 1/8/2010 at 10:10 PM, Hautlle said:

  On 1/8/2010 at 9:09 PM, troon said:

  On 1/8/2010 at 9:05 PM, data said:

exception

 

 

The Rastafari Movement is based on Biblical language.

 

I love the understanding and practice of Ital and the love that is shared for all living things.

 

The only problem is the emphasis on sacraments that take over Rastafari peoples lives.

 

True Rastafari are Vegan and drug free. (believe it or not)

 

Vegan I'll agree with, but marijuana is considered a sacred herb that is ok because it grew on King Solomons grave

 

 

Did King Solomon leave directions on what we are to do with it?

 

....or are we just kind of inventing that one as we go along

 

It is indeed sacred, but it is all in the definition of how we are to make use of it.

 

Fair enough, but is there anywhere in the bible that it states not use use marijuana to get high? Egyptian accounts of Jesus make him out to be a rebel healer that uses plants for their medicinal properties. It is thought that the oil that Jesus and John were anointed with contained cannabis, there is a recipe in the old testament for such oils.

 

Up until recently, when I kinda had my 'revival' if you will, i smoked pot pretty much every day multiple times a day. I was resistant to quitting, and went online and found a few of these forums where they kicked some of these ideas like in Genesis where it says God gives us every seed bearing plant for meat, and then this idea that cannabis was used in the anointing oil. I almost bought it, but then I remembered reading before about the words sorcery or witchcraft being translated from this greek work pharmakeia. It is used a couple times in the NT.

 

Galatians 5:19-21 (New International Version)

 

19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft (pharmakeia); hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

http://home.netcom.com/~horse/sorcery.html

https://www.evidenceforchristianity.org/index.php?option=com_custom_content&task=view&id=4118

 

Now fast forward to modern society. Are the things Paul mentions here part of our society? Sexual immorality, check, hatred, discord, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, drunkenness, orgies, check, but what about witchcraft, or sorcery? Do we have a rampant sorcery problem in our society? Perhaps in third world countries, or within groups like the illuminati, but not so much among us average, every day citizens. Yet here, and then in Revelation, this word pharmakeia is used in a way that seems to apply to people generally. One can only conclude that this applies to the definition where drugs are being used to achieve an altered mental state. The truth is, even if you are not yourself engaging in sorcery, sorcery is being engaged on you.

 

How about "medical" marijuana? We have congressmen saying that if pot became legal, they might want to try it. Let's not allow ourselves be deceived, we know that it does more damage to the lungs than cigarettes, and has as many if not more carcinogens. Even if you don't smoke it but use it in food or something, it still kills your drive and ambition, makes you burnt out all the time, affects memory and focus. The fact that is so subtle almost makes it more dangerous than harder drugs like coke and heroin because it is so widely accepted.

 

While not everyone that smokes gets into harder drugs like coke or meth, many will try more related drugs like lsd, shrooms, salvia, etc. These drugs can and do open you up to the spirit realm. When you smoke salvia and your body dissolves and you find yourself in a vortex, you can tell yourself it is just blocking certain receptors in the brain, but really you are inducing types of OBEs. Ever hear those voices while on salvia, or hear about these elves or other beings people encounter while on DMT? Why do different people encounter the same kinds of beings when they use DMT?? Could it be, I dunno, because they're real? Friends, you have entered the realm of witchcraft, divination and familiars. Ever have an acid trip where it is all peachy kaleidoscopes and cool patterns, and then all of a sudden demonic faces, spiders coming out of the walls, crazy thought loops you can't get out of, and next thing you know you are huddled in a corner scared out of your wits? Again, you have just given the devil access to much more than just talking you into lying, stealing, or looking up porn. God restricts the spirit realm for a reason. Let's not go around opening doors we shouldn't open, when we know what is lurking on the other side.

ok

  On 1/8/2010 at 9:15 PM, data said:

i was just saying that rastafarais are seldom a subject of ridicule.

When they say "God", the Dutch think they are agreeing.

Machine Elf

 

I'm guess I should clarify that I don't think these elves themselves are real, but they are a projection coming from something that is real. It is too uncanny that multiple users all give the same or very similar experience.

response to glasse post (warning tl;dr)

 

 

edit: fuck it, nm.

Edited January 10, 2010 by 42Orange

  On 1/9/2010 at 1:24 PM, glasse said:

Do we have a rampant sorcery problem in our society? Perhaps in third world countries, or within groups like the illuminati

lol?

 

 

  Quote

While not everyone that smokes gets into harder drugs like coke or meth, many will try more related drugs like lsd, shrooms, salvia, etc. These drugs can and do open you up to the spirit realm. When you smoke salvia and your body dissolves and you find yourself in a vortex, you can tell yourself it is just blocking certain receptors in the brain, but really you are inducing types of OBEs. Ever hear those voices while on salvia, or hear about these elves or other beings people encounter while on DMT? Why do different people encounter the same kinds of beings when they use DMT?? Could it be, I dunno, because they're real? Friends, you have entered the realm of witchcraft, divination and familiars. Ever have an acid trip where it is all peachy kaleidoscopes and cool patterns, and then all of a sudden demonic faces, spiders coming out of the walls, crazy thought loops you can't get out of, and next thing you know you are huddled in a corner scared out of your wits? Again, you have just given the devil access to much more than just talking you into lying, stealing, or looking up porn. God restricts the spirit realm for a reason. Let's not go around opening doors we shouldn't open, when we know what is lurking on the other side.

sounds to me like much too far an overinterpretation to take witchcraft to mean drug-use to the extent of bullshit. you may as well claim high technology to be witchcraft, and preach about the supposed dangers of radiation from using mobile phones too much.

 

 

what any one religion calls witchcraft is merely supernatural practises from outside that religion in question; considered to be dangerous due to the invoking of forces from outside that religion. the very existence of the concept of witchcraft is an interesting admission by a religion that powers from beyond that religion do exist. if (evil?) non-christian supernatural beings don't exist - as christianity surely preaches - then why would any christian bat an eyelid to "witchcraft" practises? surely any christian should know that the beings they try to invoke are false, and so the practises cannot be dangerous.

Edited January 10, 2010 by ezkerraldean

Watmm keeps making me want to try different drugs. Must...obey, try...all. drugs.

  On 1/9/2010 at 1:24 PM, glasse said:

When you smoke salvia and your body dissolves and you find yourself in a vortex, you can tell yourself it is just blocking certain receptors in the brain, but really you are inducing types of OBEs.

 

dude, i can tell myself this coffee i'm drinking actually contains energy crystals that manipulate my chakra according to the holy lord vishnu, but... it's really just a stimulant. those drugs? they're really just chemicals that mess with your neurotransmitters. so unless you have any evidence for out of body experiences that you forgot to include, your statement about them is just baseless postulation.

 

as for machine elves... i wonder what the tendency to see them on dmt was before mckenna talked about them?

 

and in that same vein, you could ask why most people have at some point dreamt of dead humans. does this mean dreams are a connection to the afterlife?

OK well, I'll be honest, this is one area that I'll admit I'm still working around the details. I think I'm thinking about the spiritual experience in more of a Jacob's Ladder or Waking Life kind of way. Everything is still in your mind, and hallucinations are caused by your brain, but something else is able to hack in, and because of the drugs, has more opportunity as to what it can do. Like a computer running some kind of backdoor or malware. Of course, I base my comments on and form my ideas around a presupposition that the claims of christianity are true, and when you have affirmed, at least to yourself, that the background is grounded in evidence, you can theorize and make predications, or educated guesses if you will, about something that stems out or is related to it.

 

Ezkerraldean what do you mean by non-christian evil spirits? The bible does not offer a concordance on all the various kinds of evil spirits, but it does more than imply that there are various kinds of evil spirits. No where in the bible does is state that all angels are the same, in fact quite the opposite. I can at least think of cherubim and seraphim, which are given different descriptions than other angels. The same holds true for fallen sprits as well. In the gospel, there is a demon of this, a demon of that, this type of demon can be cast out this way, but not this other one, etc. As far as the word pharmakeia, saying i'm stretching it from sorcery is not quite right, because sorcery and witchcraft are the english translations. The original greek word actually has much broader meaning.

 

In Revelation the word is used as one of the acts people remain unrepentant of, even as God is pouring out His judgement on the world. I believe there are signs and evidences that we are in or close to those end times. Because I can see trends showing more people using drugs, especially marijuana, recreationally, and only lesser trends of people getting involved in magic type religions like Wicca, I have to conclude that the text is referring the former at least in addition to the latter, because the context seems to be speaking to people at large.

 

Take a look at this article here: http://www.reasons.org/extra-terrestrials-ufos/close-encounters/alien-encounters-fail-test.

 

Now compare this, this, and this. Note that I do not believe the experience in the last link is from God. Can you see, though, why I would see trends in these kind of experiences?

 

Then, there is this this, and this.

 

Hopefully this will explain my viewpoint on this, and even if you don't agree you can see that there is some amount of research and data behind it.

People have believed they were in the end times since forever, pretty much, you're no different. You can say "more people are using drugs", or "look at all the violence these days" but these views are products of our modern communication systems. When you can watch anything happen in real time on the television, sure it's going to seem like there are more bad things happening around the world. The truth is that we are living in some of the most peaceful times in recorded history. Drug use may be higher per capita, but you can't really argue that because of the drastic rise in population, and the constantly changing definition of drugs. Marijuana wasn't illegal until the 1900's, and with a little research you can see that big business and racism combined to cause that. During colonial times marijuana (hemp) was a crop endorsed by the government. Perhaps not for consumption as an intoxicant, but we cannot be certain that people didn't use it that way, and I would argue that they most certainly did. So marijuana didn't achieve it's "drug" status until recently. Would the people who wrote the new testament agree that marijuana was a drug? We cannot know. Your argument is based on your speculation. You also admit that the original greek word had a much broader meaning, how are we to know what was originally intended? More people are supporting the idea that Jesus and his followers used cannabis. Consider what the term Christ means: "The anointed one" anointed with what?? The grace of God? This article argues he could not have the title Christ without being anointed by these holy oils (I'll admit it is a pro-cannabis site, so it could be biased) There are many other writings about Jesus from that time that describe him in a manner different from the bible. What it really comes down to though, is the fact that we do not/cannot know.

Edited January 10, 2010 by Hautlle

  On 1/10/2010 at 7:03 PM, Hautlle said:

People have believed they were in the end times since forever, pretty much, you're no different. You can say "more people are using drugs", or "look at all the violence these days" but these views are products of our modern communication systems. When you can watch anything happen in real time on the television, sure it's going to seem like there are more bad things happening around the world. The truth is that we are living in some of the most peaceful times in recorded history. Drug use may be higher per capita, but you can't really argue that, because of the drastic rise in population, and the constantly changing definition of drugs. Marijuana wasn't illegal until the 1900's, and with a little research you can see that big business and racism combined to cause that. During colonial times marijuana (hemp) was a crop endorsed by the government. Perhaps not for consumption as an intoxicant, but we cannot be certain that people didn't use it that way, and I would argue that they most certainly did. So marijuana didn't achieve it's "drug" status until recently. Would the people who wrote the new testament agree that marijuana was a drug? We cannot know. Your argument is based on your speculation. You also admit that the original greek word had a much broader meaning, how are we to know what was originally intended? More people are supporting the idea that Jesus and his followers used cannabis. Consider what the term Christ means: "The anointed one" anointed with what?? The grace of God? This article argues he could not ahve the title Christ without being anointed by these holy oils (I'll admit it is a pro-cannabis site, so it could be biased) There are many other writings about Jesus from that time that describe him in a manner different from the bible. What it really comes down to though, is the fact that we do not/cannot know.

 

Let's agree to leave it at that, then. I am starting to realize anyway that taking you on a path toward occult and mystery, even if my intentions are good and I merely want to show you how it is deceptive, powerful and evil, it is still taking you on a path toward occult and mystery. The best thing I can do is proclaim Christ, and leave some of the other finer points to the Holy Spirit, who is much more educated about these matters than me. I merely want to seek out the connections so that I can be equipped, and not myself fall into any sort of deception or illusion. Hopefully you'll just realize that drugs is bad, mmkay, but if not (and I did not for many many years) then that is your choice and you will just have to play it the way you feel it.

  On 1/10/2010 at 7:13 PM, glasse said:

  On 1/10/2010 at 7:03 PM, Hautlle said:

People have believed they were in the end times since forever, pretty much, you're no different. You can say "more people are using drugs", or "look at all the violence these days" but these views are products of our modern communication systems. When you can watch anything happen in real time on the television, sure it's going to seem like there are more bad things happening around the world. The truth is that we are living in some of the most peaceful times in recorded history. Drug use may be higher per capita, but you can't really argue that, because of the drastic rise in population, and the constantly changing definition of drugs. Marijuana wasn't illegal until the 1900's, and with a little research you can see that big business and racism combined to cause that. During colonial times marijuana (hemp) was a crop endorsed by the government. Perhaps not for consumption as an intoxicant, but we cannot be certain that people didn't use it that way, and I would argue that they most certainly did. So marijuana didn't achieve it's "drug" status until recently. Would the people who wrote the new testament agree that marijuana was a drug? We cannot know. Your argument is based on your speculation. You also admit that the original greek word had a much broader meaning, how are we to know what was originally intended? More people are supporting the idea that Jesus and his followers used cannabis. Consider what the term Christ means: "The anointed one" anointed with what?? The grace of God? This article argues he could not ahve the title Christ without being anointed by these holy oils (I'll admit it is a pro-cannabis site, so it could be biased) There are many other writings about Jesus from that time that describe him in a manner different from the bible. What it really comes down to though, is the fact that we do not/cannot know.

 

Let's agree to leave it at that, then. I am starting to realize anyway that taking you on a path toward occult and mystery, even if my intentions are good and I merely want to show you how it is deceptive, powerful and evil, it is still taking you on a path toward occult and mystery. The best thing I can do is proclaim Christ, and leave some of the other finer points to the Holy Spirit, who is much more educated about these matters than me. I merely want to seek out the connections so that I can be equipped, and not myself fall into any sort of deception or illusion. Hopefully you'll just realize that drugs is bad, mmkay, but if not (and I did not for many many years) then that is your choice and you will just have to play it the way you feel it.

 

Not to try to continue an argument, but I just want to try to understand your view.

 

Are all drugs bad or only certain ones? Are all pharmaceuticals (derived from the greek word from earlier) bad? Aspirin is a drug, is it bad? What about anti-psychotic drugs? What about anti-depressants such as SSRI's are those bad too? Where does one draw the line?

  On 1/10/2010 at 4:57 PM, glasse said:

Ezkerraldean what do you mean by non-christian evil spirits? The bible does not offer a concordance on all the various kinds of evil spirits, but it does more than imply that there are various kinds of evil spirits. No where in the bible does is state that all angels are the same, in fact quite the opposite. I can at least think of cherubim and seraphim, which are given different descriptions than other angels. The same holds true for fallen sprits as well. In the gospel, there is a demon of this, a demon of that, this type of demon can be cast out this way, but not this other one, etc. As far as the word pharmakeia, saying i'm stretching it from sorcery is not quite right, because sorcery and witchcraft are the english translations. The original greek word actually has much broader meaning.

oooh interesting, fair enough then.

 

still see this witchcraft-drugs thing to be quite a leap though.

 

 

also ongoing illuminati lol

  On 1/10/2010 at 7:42 PM, Hautlle said:

  On 1/10/2010 at 7:13 PM, glasse said:

  On 1/10/2010 at 7:03 PM, Hautlle said:

People have believed they were in the end times since forever, pretty much, you're no different. You can say "more people are using drugs", or "look at all the violence these days" but these views are products of our modern communication systems. When you can watch anything happen in real time on the television, sure it's going to seem like there are more bad things happening around the world. The truth is that we are living in some of the most peaceful times in recorded history. Drug use may be higher per capita, but you can't really argue that, because of the drastic rise in population, and the constantly changing definition of drugs. Marijuana wasn't illegal until the 1900's, and with a little research you can see that big business and racism combined to cause that. During colonial times marijuana (hemp) was a crop endorsed by the government. Perhaps not for consumption as an intoxicant, but we cannot be certain that people didn't use it that way, and I would argue that they most certainly did. So marijuana didn't achieve it's "drug" status until recently. Would the people who wrote the new testament agree that marijuana was a drug? We cannot know. Your argument is based on your speculation. You also admit that the original greek word had a much broader meaning, how are we to know what was originally intended? More people are supporting the idea that Jesus and his followers used cannabis. Consider what the term Christ means: "The anointed one" anointed with what?? The grace of God? This article argues he could not ahve the title Christ without being anointed by these holy oils (I'll admit it is a pro-cannabis site, so it could be biased) There are many other writings about Jesus from that time that describe him in a manner different from the bible. What it really comes down to though, is the fact that we do not/cannot know.

 

Let's agree to leave it at that, then. I am starting to realize anyway that taking you on a path toward occult and mystery, even if my intentions are good and I merely want to show you how it is deceptive, powerful and evil, it is still taking you on a path toward occult and mystery. The best thing I can do is proclaim Christ, and leave some of the other finer points to the Holy Spirit, who is much more educated about these matters than me. I merely want to seek out the connections so that I can be equipped, and not myself fall into any sort of deception or illusion. Hopefully you'll just realize that drugs is bad, mmkay, but if not (and I did not for many many years) then that is your choice and you will just have to play it the way you feel it.

 

Not to try to continue an argument, but I just want to try to understand your view.

 

Are all drugs bad or only certain ones? Are all pharmaceuticals (derived from the greek word from earlier) bad? Aspirin is a drug, is it bad? What about anti-psychotic drugs? What about anti-depressants such as SSRI's are those bad too? Where does one draw the line?

 

How about nowhere because it's all just human concepts? The universe is fucking screaming to us don't bother trying to draw the line because it doesn't work but oh no.

Just want to make it clear that my reply is really to Glasse, not Hautlle obviously!

  On 1/10/2010 at 7:42 PM, Hautlle said:

  On 1/10/2010 at 7:13 PM, glasse said:

  On 1/10/2010 at 7:03 PM, Hautlle said:

People have believed they were in the end times since forever, pretty much, you're no different. You can say "more people are using drugs", or "look at all the violence these days" but these views are products of our modern communication systems. When you can watch anything happen in real time on the television, sure it's going to seem like there are more bad things happening around the world. The truth is that we are living in some of the most peaceful times in recorded history. Drug use may be higher per capita, but you can't really argue that, because of the drastic rise in population, and the constantly changing definition of drugs. Marijuana wasn't illegal until the 1900's, and with a little research you can see that big business and racism combined to cause that. During colonial times marijuana (hemp) was a crop endorsed by the government. Perhaps not for consumption as an intoxicant, but we cannot be certain that people didn't use it that way, and I would argue that they most certainly did. So marijuana didn't achieve it's "drug" status until recently. Would the people who wrote the new testament agree that marijuana was a drug? We cannot know. Your argument is based on your speculation. You also admit that the original greek word had a much broader meaning, how are we to know what was originally intended? More people are supporting the idea that Jesus and his followers used cannabis. Consider what the term Christ means: "The anointed one" anointed with what?? The grace of God? This article argues he could not ahve the title Christ without being anointed by these holy oils (I'll admit it is a pro-cannabis site, so it could be biased) There are many other writings about Jesus from that time that describe him in a manner different from the bible. What it really comes down to though, is the fact that we do not/cannot know.

 

Let's agree to leave it at that, then. I am starting to realize anyway that taking you on a path toward occult and mystery, even if my intentions are good and I merely want to show you how it is deceptive, powerful and evil, it is still taking you on a path toward occult and mystery. The best thing I can do is proclaim Christ, and leave some of the other finer points to the Holy Spirit, who is much more educated about these matters than me. I merely want to seek out the connections so that I can be equipped, and not myself fall into any sort of deception or illusion. Hopefully you'll just realize that drugs is bad, mmkay, but if not (and I did not for many many years) then that is your choice and you will just have to play it the way you feel it.

 

Not to try to continue an argument, but I just want to try to understand your view.

 

Are all drugs bad or only certain ones? Are all pharmaceuticals (derived from the greek word from earlier) bad? Aspirin is a drug, is it bad? What about anti-psychotic drugs? What about anti-depressants such as SSRI's are those bad too? Where does one draw the line?

 

Of course medicine is ok. Anti-psychotics and anti-depressants are for the most part ok, just have to be prescribed and taken with care (which even secular doctors will agree with). 1 Timothy 5:22-24 Here Paul is instructing Timothy to take some wine instead of water because of his stomach and illness. Here are some additional references. So let me see if I can anticipate your next point, which may be what about a person who is terminally ill, or has glaucoma where the only substance that offers them any kind of relief is marijuana. Well, if it is legal in that jurisdiction and that is what the doctor and the patient agree on, then I guess I don't see a problem. Much has to do with intent. I would say the same thing about codeine or oxycontin, though. If someone is in a high degree of pain then they should take pain killers. If someone just wants to get all f-ed up on some oxycontin, not only do they sin but they are risking their life.

 

Doctors in California and other places are giving out medical marijuana cards for any and every minor ailment. Now you might say, well what about wine and alcohol, it seems like it is ok to use that recreationally, even in the bible. That much is true, it is biblical to drink in moderation. So you say, well if a person only smokes maybe once every other weekend, or only smokes a very small amount, what is the diff? Well I am not going to be dogmatic where the bible is silent, so I will say maybe. Maybe for that person, it is ok, so long as it is legal (we are told to obey the magistrates, so long as the laws do not directly contradict God). I know for me, like I said, I was smoking everyday multiple times a day. My lungs felt hot all the time, I was dumb often, had no ambition, never got anything done. It was idolatry, too. I cared more about making sure I never had a gap in-between bags then I did about God, and I still considered myself a Christian. Everything I did centered around pot .. let's go to a movie, oh it will be cooler if we're stoned, let's go to the mall, ok well let's smoke up first, do we want to smoke before or after dinner cause if before we'll come down if we eat, well how about both. So for me, it was a form of bondage, and it is that way for many people I know that smoke. There is an addictive quality to it, even if not physical.

 

Now when I was at the beach this summer I ate some mushrooms, and I had an experience which I would say was having a very strong connection with God. I stood out at the beach and watched the waves go in and out, and was just in awe at the majesty of it. Why did God come close to me when I was doing something I wasn't supposed to? I don't know, maybe because He wanted me to come back, and chose to be close to me in spite of the drug. I hadn't been that close to Him for a very long time, so maybe it was kind of like the prodigal son where He wanted to seize the moment in drawing close to me because I was thinking about Him. That being said, I will not be doing them again. In another time, in another place, where the devil and his angels weren't roaming the Earth, would it potentially be ok for there to be various substances that changed your perception? Again I can only say perhaps, I certainly can see the good in them, along with the bad. The fact of the matter is, though, that the devil and his angels do roam the earth, and a person is much more open and vulnerable when under the influence. It is like this, if you were to jump in the middle of the ocean and float there for an hour, maybe you will get attacked by a shark, but maybe not. Now if you tie a great big bloody piece of horsemeat around your neck and jump in for an hour, the chances of you getting attacked are far greater. The sharks will be attracted to you, and you will be more vulnerable. 1 Peter 5:8.

 

Where do we draw the line? Again, the main thing for us Christians to do is proclaim Christ. The Holy Spirit then comes and engages in what us managers refer to as situational leadership. He examines the heart, and speaks to our consciences. So for some a drink here or there may be ok, for others they really shouldn't. Again, I don't want to say whether that applies to the very moderate use of pot or not, because the bible is silent and I don't know. Divination drugs, and drugs like coke, meth, etc. no way, out of the question. Way too dangerous, physically and spiritually.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmNb3xJFzkc

making nature illegal is stupid

data: i think i can go ahead and lol at that with you.

 

Also...

 

 

Genesis 3:17-19 (New International Version)

 

17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,'

"Cursed is the ground because of you;

through painful toil you will eat of it

all the days of your life.

 

18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,

and you will eat the plants of the field.

 

19 By the sweat of your brow

you will eat your food

until you return to the ground,

since from it you were taken;

for dust you are

and to dust you will return."

 

Think the curse is just related to literally just thorns and thistles, (as in when you are farming you are going to get a little scratched up?) I think it means a bit more than that. Nature is cool though, so maybe we should make some deadly nightshade smoothies, and then latter on relax with a soothing poison ivy bath.

Edited January 12, 2010 by glasse