Faith and mistakes

Jumi said:

Perhaps our definitions of self-improvement are different. How do you improve yourself?

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Keep a pure heart...be honest...stay sober...do unto others as I would have them do to me... meet with proffesionals...daily mass... Rosaries... Liturgy of the hours... spiritual writing... meditation... seeking enlightenment... self-discipline... self-control...obey the law...be charitable...avoid selfishness...and more...

PopeADope said:

Keep a pure heart...be honest...stay sober...do unto others as I would have them do to me... meet with proffesionals...daily mass... Rosaries... Liturgy of the hours... spiritual writing... meditation... seeking enlightenment... self-discipline... self-control...obey the law...be charitable...avoid selfishness...and more...

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Some of these are a good start, but how about learning some skill you can use to help community?

PopeADope said:

How is it unhealthy for a person to no longer want to be a thorn in the side of others? Sometimes death is the only cure to this...Sounds perfectly healthy in some cases

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at first glance of your rant....
it was obvious you are venting

good for you

but then at the end....the mention of death as a cure

let's not be.....jumpy

Jumi said:

Some of these are a good start, but how about learning some skill you can use to help community?

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We simply have a different idea of success...sharing my testimony online, at group, AA meetings, or elsewhere could be a service to the community cuz I explain what keeps me sober and how much drugs ruined my life and caused me to harm others...

You and I simply don't have the same views of what success is...in my views (and probably the views of Jesus and Saints) success is being full of the Holy Spirit, enlightenment by the Spirit of God, having the gifts of the spirit (like prophecy or healing), having prudence, wisdom, relationship, and unity with God or Heavenly beings...

To have those gifts, it doesn't come from school, degree, Doctorate, or learning a trade...and there have been mighty well-known Prophets who served and influenced the world more than you or anyone at RF, who were quite uneducated and even unemployed...

Honestly, I think the epitome of success is dying in a state of grace and getting to Heaven... that sounds insane to worldly people (most people) but I think Jesus would agree with me

Epic Beard Man said:

But I never made such a claim in the first place

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Okay... usually when a poster refers to God as "Allah" and repeatedly posts or starts threads defending or glorifying Islam and Muhammad, that poster is Muslim... you seem to be an exception to that rule, so I admit my mistake and accept correction.

Anyhow, It seems like a big difference between you and I is, you really don't seem to believe in Heaven , or your idea of Heaven is way different than mine... and most Abrahamic Monotheistic Theology...

For instance, if you really believed heaven contained true beauty and treasures that do not fade or perish, eternal life, perfection, good health, freedom from suffering, enlightenment, understanding, no crime, no violence, no bigotry, no confusion, no division, no despair, no hunger, no hate, no injustice, no death, no sickness, no sin, and you are reunited with Mom and Dad, and fellowship with ancestors and heroes who have died, HOW COULD YOU NOT WANT THAT???

Honestly, I doubt you really believe that...you can say you do...but I think there is a lot of doubt in you... it's obvious!

You see, I desire unity with God, riches and beauty that doesn't fade and isnt fleeting, "mansions above", but most importantly: Understanding, fellowship with heavenly beings, enlightenment, perfection, Heaven, wisdom, spiritual maturity, and holiness...

According to an enormous amount of spiritual Giants, Saints, Prophets, etc. That simply isn't reached in the first degree of perfection, until after death.

The things I desire are quite Noble from a spiritual perspective. People like Jesus would agree with me.

The things you are attached to seem more temporary, passing, worldly, fleeting, and far from eternal...well, most people are like that, so I can't fault you (it is human nature and instinct)...
...but spiritual maturity, sanctity, enlightenment, and holiness, just isn't about that...far from it...

Dear OP,

It might seem at first glance that your initial post was concerning Revelation 9:6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will escape them..

But after your last post it might better be observed as a feeling similar to these Revelation 6:9 And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld.

And if you ever get a chance to read http://www.end-times-prophecy.org/daniel-revelation.pdf you will understand that the realization of your deepest desire is not very far off at all.

And IMHO, just as every true Christian is in fact a Jew, they most assuredly are also a Muslim: http://www.30factsaboutislam.com/the-meaning-of-muslim/

And whenever you happen to stumble brother, just remember 1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One..

BTW, when I was a snake handler, I raised hamsters to feed them. Fastest gestation period of any mammal except of course an opossum. But who wants to raise those?

Great post, thanks for sharing.

Peace Out.

PopeADope said:

If there is anything that shakes my faith in God or supernatural entities, it is making mistakes...

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You are not alone. The Apostle Paul had the same problem. Read Romans chapter 7. Read it a few times.

When you were born again you received Christ in you.

Col 1:27,


Furthermore, that Christ in you makes you as righteous as God himself.

Rom 3:22,

Don't argue with God! If he said your are righteous, you are righteous. It does not depend on your feelings. God said it, that settles it!

However, you still have your flesh and, as Paul said in Romans 7, that flesh will continue to blow it day after day.

Jesus himself said something revealing about the flesh.

John 6:63,

Paul also said there is no good thing in the flesh (Rom 7:18). Unfortunately, for the most part, churches do not believe Jesus or Paul on that point. They insist on preaching about the necessity to work on your flesh and somehow make it better. But how can you do that if there is no profit or no good thing in the flesh? No wonder you feel so bad! You, a victem of church doctrine, are just beating your head against the wall.

God did not redeem you by somehow making your flesh better. He's not stupid. Instead He created a whole new you.

2Cor 5:17,

Gal 6:15,

This new creation is the Christ in you of Col 1:27. The born again child of God therefore has two natures, flesh and spirit. God ignores the flesh and loves the spirit like nobody ever loved.

Rom 5:13,

Jesus ended the law, so the law is gone. Because of that, whenever your flesh blows it (which happens often), God does not put it in your ledger. If He did, you'd hardly be as righteous as God, which I've showed that you are.

God doesn't look at your flesh. He looks at the Christ in you and that is where your perfections and true self abides. You are the absolute apple of God's eye. Align your thoughts with God. He knows better than you.

The more you see how God sees you (by studying scripture), the more Christ like you will become. It will be quite natural and effortless.

2Cor 3:18,

Look at the Christ in you and forget the flesh. I hope this helps you see how wonderful you really are in God's eyes. It's best not to argue with God no matter how you feel or what you think about yourself. Father knows Best!

PopeADope said:

God, Yahweh, Jesus, Father, Holy Spirit, Elohim...but I pray to spirits in heaven...the dead...the Angels...the Saints...The Kami... I embrace many Shinto and Shaman traditions, practices, spirituality etc.

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PopeADope said:

I only have one God...

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OK. Which one is it?

Sorry to say, but many people have one God. The important question is, does that God have you?

RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

OK. Which one is it?

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Yahweh created heaven and Earth but there are many Angels, Archangels, Guardians, souls, and spirits in Heaven who assist earth and do his will

PopeADope said:

Actually, I do want to change...if you have ever been addicted to alcohol, drugs, tobacco, porn, or sex, I'm sure you can relate to being powerless over bad behavior....

It's just things keep happening and I think, "That was stupid, wish I hadn't done that"...and eventually you just say **** it! You start hating God, hating people, hating yourself, and death is the only solution.

There is not a damn thing I can do, because I make a resolution, and hours or days later become a different person, with different inclinations, different desires, different impulses, and everything goes to ****, and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it....I've tried with all my might...it is friggin absolutely 100% impossible! And I know that with total, complete, absolute, 100% certainty!!

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You honesty is refreshing, but sad because you keep trying, trying, and trying to carry the burden to fix yourself.

Jesus, the only One who can save said...
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

PopeADope said:

Yahweh created heaven and Earth but there are many Angels, Archangels, Guardians, souls, and spirits in Heaven who assist earth and do his will

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OK. One correction there; There is only one archangel. When you pray to Yahweh, which, by the way, the English translation is Jehovah, like Yeshua is Jesus, but that isn't significant when praying. You can use Yahweh if you prefer. You can't have anything to do with souls, spirits, the dead, angels, Saints, Kami, Shaman or Shinto.

Elohim is a Hebrew word for God, like El. The Hebrew words for God, mean mighty, venerated. So, the title doesn't mean much, really. Yahweh doesn't tolerate competition. So, idols like the Vatican flag in your sig . . . have to go. Stuff you might have around your house like Ouija boards, Buddha Statues, good luck charms, books on astrology, witchcraft, stuff like that. Get rid of it or your prayers to Yahweh are useless. You can't pray to Yahweh for something that isn't within his will.

Yahweh isn't interested in your winning the lottery, or that your football team wins the world series. Don't pray for stupid **** like that.

Always pray to Yahweh, that is Jehovah, by name, and always with Jesus Christ as mediator. In other words, pray to Jehovah in Jesus' name. In our sinful nature creates a disconnect between us and our creator, so we have to pray through Jesus.

It's also important that you not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, even cigarettes.

PopeADope said:

...There is not a damn thing I can do, because I make a resolution, and hours or days later become a different person, with different inclinations, different desires, different impulses, and everything goes to ****, and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it....I've tried with all my might...it is friggin absolutely 100% impossible! And I know that with total, complete, absolute, 100% certainty!!

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What do you think is the reason you can’t prevent it? Could you tell an example, what and why?

RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

OK. One correction there; There is only one archangel. When you pray to Yahweh, which, by the way, the English translation is Jehovah, like Yeshua is Jesus, but that isn't significant when praying. You can use Yahweh if you prefer. You can't have anything to do with souls, spirits, the dead, angels, Saints, Kami, Shaman or Shinto.

Elohim is a Hebrew word for God, like El. The Hebrew words for God, mean mighty, venerated. So, the title doesn't mean much, really. Yahweh doesn't tolerate competition. So, idols like the Vatican flag in your sig . . . have to go. Stuff you might have around your house like Ouija boards, Buddha Statues, good luck charms, books on astrology, witchcraft, stuff like that. Get rid of it or your prayers to Yahweh are useless. You can't pray to Yahweh for something that isn't within his will.

Yahweh isn't interested in your winning the lottery, or that your football team wins the world series. Don't pray for stupid **** like that.

Always pray to Yahweh, that is Jehovah, by name, and always with Jesus Christ as mediator. In other words, pray to Jehovah in Jesus' name. In our sinful nature creates a disconnect between us and our creator, so we have to pray through Jesus.

It's also important that you not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, even cigarettes.

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The Church that Jesus founded, the one Church that dates back to the time of Christ, teaches something totally different than what you teach...but your opinion is noted...
I have a different opinion...

1213 said:

What do you think is the reason you can’t prevent it? Could you tell an example, what and why?

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I just become a different person, with different thoughts, emotions, and desires that get out of my control...

PopeADope said:

The Church that Jesus founded, the one Church that dates back to the time of Christ, teaches something totally different than what you teach...but your opinion is noted...
I have a different opinion...

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Some people do not believe the church you are talking about is the one Jesus founded. Maybe you have been misled by the teachings of this church. The great universal church really did not start in its present form until around the third century. Many false beliefs had found their way into it by then. Forget about the statues and the beads and the so called saints and look for God alone.

27 jun 2018 stvdv 013 30

RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

There is only one archangel

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It seems to me you need to be God to know such details. I will ask God. Once an angel blessed me with a visit, I welcome any amount of archangels

RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

When you pray to Yahweh, which, by the way, the English translation is Jehovah, like Yeshua is Jesus, but that isn't significant when praying. You can use Yahweh if you prefer

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Thanks for the clear information

RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

You can't have anything to do with souls, spirits, the dead, angels, Saints, Kami, Shaman or Shinto

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My God taught me "See unity in Diversity"

RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

Elohim is a Hebrew word for God, like El. The Hebrew words for God, mean mighty, venerated. So, the title doesn't mean much, really.

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Thanks for the information, I did not know.

RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

Yahweh doesn't tolerate competition. So, idols like the Vatican flag in your sig . . . have to go

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Seems to me, if Yahweh created all, he created competition. So he more than tolerated it. Maybe you try to say "Focus on Yahweh is best"

RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

Stuff you might have around your house like Ouija boards, Buddha Statues, good luck charms, books on astrology, witchcraft, stuff like that. Get rid of it or your prayers to Yahweh are useless

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My prayers have been vary useful, even with my full house. So obviously this is your personal opinion, not a fact. I have personal proof of this.

RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

You can't pray to Yahweh for something that isn't within his will

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My idea "nothing happens without the Will of God". Seems that everything is within His Will. Maybe not His Desire...Only God knows IMHO

RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

Yahweh isn't interested in your winning the lottery, or that your football team wins the world series. Don't pray for stupid **** like that

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Nothing is stupid for God, for He created us this way. You imply "God is stupid", just sayin' IMHO

RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

Always pray to Yahweh, that is Jehovah, by name, and always with Jesus Christ as mediator. In other words, pray to Jehovah in Jesus' name

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Thanks for your opinion. My Guru is perfect and He "works perfect for me". As good as your Jesus IMHO

RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

In our sinful nature creates a disconnect between us and our creator, so we have to pray through Jesus.

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Like above, I focus different when praying "and it works miracles for me". My Master is my connection and a perfect one IMHO

RothschildSaxeCoburgGotha said:

It's also important that you not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, even cigarettes.

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My Master is perfect IMHO. He advises the same. But does not stop there. He told me additional "No sex, unless you have desire AND then you should marry + no masturbation + no meat [full vegetarian, follow genesis 1:29 advise] + do not look with desire to women".

All are relatively easy to follow for me [I like sex, but I love God far more]. So I told my Master, I follow all if you take care of the last one. He did, He took my desire away from me. Of course I am humble to admit that is nothing of my doing. All this is my Master doing, He is the greatest IMHO. Once I mentally asked Him "show me how much desire is still there if you take away your Grace from me". Okay after a few seconds I said "Thank you my Master, you humbled me again. Please put on the lid again". And He did, within seconds all thoughts vanished again. Have been like 10 years since this challenge to show me.

I would not advise you or anyone else to follow the advises my Master gave me [is personal and only for me]. You might go crazy or get a guilt feeling when being unable to follow them. That is why I am very careful to give advice to others. If they are not ready to follow they might get guilt and all other nasty stuff.

There was a singer Robert Long. In one of his songs he said "masturbation makes you blind". Only now after reading your post I realize what he meant. The Bible states "If you look with desire at a woman, pluck out your eye". Let us be honest, can you honestly claim, following the Bible to a tee, that you are still able to look with two eyes. I am honest here, I would be blind, even before age 20. I need the Grace of my Master to keep my sight.

So as is obvious from my reply we differ quite a bit on essential parts. I am not here to debate any of these. I just gave my view, my thoughts to show that there is not just 1 way, but many other ways that are good, humble, respectful and including intense sacrifice. I do respect your opinion (though you stated most as facts, and with regard to religion/belief we should always realize that it is just our opinion in the end, IMHO).

So let us agree to disagree on these issues.

May God Bless us all with vision, insight and Wisdom

The prefix arch means chief or principal, implying only one. In the Bible the term is never plural. Michael is the archangel, Jesus' pre -human form.

The writers of the Bible were henotheistic, which means they worshiped one God while accepting that there were others. The word God itself simply means mighty or venerated. Any one or anything can be a God. Jesus, Moses, Satan, Jehovah, Dagon, Molech, Baal, Ashtoreth, and many others were called Gods in the Bible. Most of them were created by men.

Often people manipulate their prayers according to their own whim. For example, I knew a couple who prayed to get a red convertible. They decided God wanted them to get a red convertible so they got it. God, they said, wanted them to have it. Then when the payments got to be too much they prayed if they should get rid of it, and God wanted them to get rid of it.

Much of what happens is against the will of God. Adam's sin, war in heaven are two examples.

If we are talking about Jehovah, many things are stupid to him. The worship, for example, of valueless Gods.

Like prayer, many people manipulate their Gods. Much of what might be attributed as being good with God isn't. None of this is my humble opinion. It is all backed by the Bible or facts outside of the Bible. Here, I'm not talking about Gods in general but a specific God, Jehovah.

PopeADope said:

.But seriously, how does a guy really trust in God or the Holy Spirit to guide him, when repeatedly life is nothing but failure after failure, one regret after another, constantly offending people?...you can just tell by looking at people's faces when they are uncomfortable or offended

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Some people are just "bless your heart". I grew up with my grandparents always thinking I'd be some super person and I am learning to be comfortable just being me. I'm not there yet, but it's a work in progress. If you live by someone else's standards for your life, you'll never live yours.

PopeADope said:

Some people here have rebuked me for wanting to die young. Can't it be healthy to desire death? Some people make mistakes, are addicted to drugs or bad behaviors, are an annoying thorn in everyone's side, don't respect boundaries, don't respect the law or authority, and just can't help but screw up.

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I've been so low lately I've thought about calling for counseling. I feel you. I just don't see much of a light. If it weren't for the fact I want to see my dogs are okay, I'd probably go ahead and go.

PopeADope said:

How is it not healthy to desire true liberation from that?...what if you were constantly ticking people off, making people uncomfortable, hurting people, annoying people, whatever...and you tried really hard to stop and remove all drama from your life...and you realized you were somewhat powerless over it? Why is it not healthy to want to die so that there is no more of that??

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While it would sadden me, I respect people who "turn the game off" when it's game over. I hate seeing crappy lives more than I hate seeing relief from it. It's important to "know when to fold them". I can't stand it when people tell me "it gets better" because those people almost never volunteer to help make it better.

This is not to be viewed as encouragement for suicide, only respect for the option.

1213 said:

Why you don’t want to just change bad habits and live well?

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Why don't diabetics just make their own insulin?

Why don't people without legs just get up and walk?

Why don't people with strokes just fix their brain?

PopeADope said:

Actually, I do want to change...if you have ever been addicted to alcohol, drugs, tobacco, porn, or sex, I'm sure you can relate to being powerless over bad behavior...

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Not sure what your addiction is, but toys can help with sex stuff. I'm not a big fan but, hey, they aren't sentient, so who cares?

PopeADope said:

.another poster recently said "Keep the interesting threads coming PopeADope, never a dull moment with you", another poster said "You are by far the most interesting poster at RF", another person PM'd me and said "You are one of my favorite posters and I know a ton of people who feel the same way"...

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Yes. I may not always agree with you, but I have never thought of blocking you, either.

We are, I feel, kindred spirits in a way.

Epic Beard Man said:

Then again I went to school for this and you didn't. I find the psychopathology quite alarming.

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So did I. Pity your degree program didn't teach you some empathy.

Epic Beard Man said:

You have to want to be better.

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And I'm sure rocks want to dance but I guess we can't have everything.

Epic Beard Man said:

You are sick plain and simple and need help.

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No, no, don't sugarcoat it. Beating a person when they're down is statistically guaranteed to never push someone over the edge.

Epic Beard Man said:

Our human ancestors have survived harsh conditions so that we may exist.

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They also historically didn't live that long.

osgart said:

I want it to happen naturally. Quitting sucks basically, and would make me feel worse.

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I want to go to a dino dig site, trip and fall onto a dinosaur tooth or something, and die. My epitaph will then claim I was killed by a dinosaur, which is an epic way to go.

rrobs said:

You are not alone. The Apostle Paul had the same problem.

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Hell, nearly all the prophets have some sort of issues. Ezekiel, if I recall, lay around his house all day for a year eating bread he cooked in his own poop. That's not healthy.

stvdv said:

My God taught me "See unity in Diversity"

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So did mine!

Kelly of the Phoenix said:

Hell, nearly all the prophets have some sort of issues. Ezekiel, if I recall, lay around his house all day for a year eating bread he cooked in his own poop. That's not healthy.

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In the Middle East dung was (actually still is) used for fuel, not for food. Usually it was cow's dung, but because of a shortage of food, water, and everything else, Ezekiel, at God's command, used his own dung. He did it, not closed up in his house as you aver, but right in front of their faces. He was just showing Israel how far they had sunk because of their chronic disobedience.

A serious student of the Bible understands that the book wasn't written last year in New York or LA. One needs to have some understanding of ancient Middle Eastern culture. That would have helped you avoid making such a preposterous claim that Ezekiel ate excrement. In fact, Deut 23:12-13 makes it quite clear that God instructed Israel in basic hygiene. Normally they buried their excrement.

Perhaps a reread of Ezekiel with that in mind would help clear up some of your misconceptions. That is unless you are already convinced of error.