Say Something Nice

I grew up Protestant, and was Catholic for a while. I like that Catholics have a devotion to Mother Mary. I think it's beautiful.

Ashoka said:

I grew up Protestant, and was Catholic for a while. I like that Catholics have a devotion to Mother Mary. I think it's beautiful.

Click to expand...

This shrine for Mother Mary is awesome... all built by one man. He was very ill as a youngster and promised Mother Mary if he overcame his illness, he'd make her a beautiful shrine. He made good on it. Became a priest as well.

Its hard to see in the pictures, but its built out of individual rocks and crystals.

Called Grotto of the Redemption, in West Bend, Iowa. Home - The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption | West Bend, Iowa

JustGeorge said:

This shrine for Mother Mary is awesome... all built by one man. He was very ill as a youngster and promised Mother Mary if he overcame his illness, he'd make her a beautiful shrine. He made good on it. Became a priest as well. View attachment 49412 View attachment 49413

Its hard to see in the pictures, but its built out of individual rocks and crystals.

Called Grotto of the Redemption, in West Bend, Iowa. Home - The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption | West Bend, Iowa

Click to expand...

So beautiful!

Heyo said:

Jehova's Witnesses have a very thought out interpretation of the bible. They got rid of some of the fluff added by other Christians without Bible background (afterlife, Christmas, etc.)
They are truly pacifistic.
They are truly secular, even so far that they don't even vote, let alone run for office.
But ... (damn, failed again, I was doing so good)

Click to expand...

Thanks, Heyo.

I like your humor!

FYI, we do believe in an afterlife...just not an immediate one, right after death, you know? John 6:40

JustGeorge said:

Wow! I didn't know they went so far as to not vote. I can appreciate that in a time where so many get so bothered about politics.

Click to expand...

Yes, it’s a divisive topic. So we avoid it. (It would interfere w/ 1 Corinthians 1:10) Our refusal to engage in politics, though, is based on Jesus’ statements about his followers being “no part of,” or “not of,” this world. — John 15:19; John 17:14-16.

But to get in line w/ this thread....
I find many LDS adherents to be very family-oriented; most seem to have strong, close-knit families & marriages....which I think is partly attributable to their religious training.

I love people that tenaciously hold onto marriage & family values, in spite of this world’s apathy towards those values.

I really am a people lover, as my description says — and I look at everyone, first, as my cousin. Then if I get the chance, I look at their behavior. Who they are.

Religion has no bearing on how I view them....only behavior.


This is a good thread, Just George.

I admire the devotion and universal mysticism of Sufism, the path closest to my own.
I like how the Bahai try to see the unity in all religions.
I admire the service-mindedness of many Christian groups.
I admire the sincere sadhana both individual and collective of many buddhists.

Isolde Schulz said:

In secular society, I would be considered "conflicted" between religion and science. But I see no reason not to reconcile the two in my own way. I've always been enchanted with the Japanese religious forms, and traditional koto music to go with it seems befitting of such an articulate society. But Eastern forms are just some of many in the world, which I'd like to understand more.

Click to expand...

Do you believe religion and science can be reconciled?

Hockeycowboy said:

Yes, it’s a divisive topic. So we avoid it. (It would interfere w/ 1 Corinthians 1:10) Our refusal to engage in politics, though, is based on Jesus’ statements about his followers being “no part of,” or “not of,” this world. — John 15:19; John 17:14-16.

But to get in line w/ this thread....
I find many LDS adherents to be very family-oriented; most seem to have strong, close-knit families & marriages....which I think is partly attributable to their religious training.

I love people that tenaciously hold onto marriage & family values, in spite of this world’s apathy towards those values.

I really am a people lover, as my description says — and I look at everyone, first, as my cousin. Then if I get the chance, I look at their behavior. Who they are.

Religion has no bearing on how I view them....only behavior.


This is a good thread, Just George.

Click to expand...

I haven't had the pleasure of meeting any LDS members, but I remember an atheist woman admitting to loving the blogs of Mormon homemakers because of the positivity they put forward.

I like your views. I try to do the same thing, though I try to go a step further and figure out why they behave as they do.

JustGeorge said:

I like your views.

Click to expand...

I appreciate that. To me, it’s the only genuine way to start building a relationship w/ someone.

JustGeorge said:

I try to do the same thing, though I try to go a step further and figure out why they behave as they do.

Click to expand...

Yes, of course! Though in this regard, I think most people are influenced more by their life experiences — what they’ve endured — than by their religious training & views. Figuring that out may be difficult! But having “insight” can certainly “slow down anger”! — Proverbs 19:11

Case in point:
In tracing my ancestry, I found that one of my GG Grandfathers was a mean, uncaring person! (I don’t know how he ever courted and married his wife, my GG Grandma! Probably a story there.) They had 4 boys. Living in PA, he made all 4 of his sons sleep in the barn after a certain age, not even caring how cold it was in winter. They all grew to hate him! And his wife left him.
His business dealings were mean-spirited, too. He ended up alone, and poor.

What had happened to him?

Well, from what I’ve been able to piece together....when he was about 5 yrs old in the 1850’s, his Mama was carrying his infant younger brother in their house while she was cooking. She had a seizure & dropped her baby into the fireplace, where it killed him!
After that, she couldn’t function anymore & remained bed-ridden the rest of her life, about another 20 yrs or so. Never once did their father allow any of their children (about 7) to see their Mother again!
He was only 5! He needed his Mama, but grew up never seeing her again - alive, anyway — although knowing that she was still living!
I think that experience made him a bitter man, but his 4 boys never knew that story! If they had had that knowledge, they may have been able to understand his demeanor. Maybe.

There’s been so much hurt! Only in the Resurrection, IMO, will such past experiences be revealed, brought out into the open, and then forgotten! Isaiah 65:17

Take care, my cousin.

Hockeycowboy said:

I appreciate that. To me, it’s the only genuine way to start building a relationship w/ someone.



Yes, of course! Though in this regard, I think most people are influenced more by their life experiences — what they’ve endured — than by their religious training & views. Figuring that out may be difficult! But having “insight” can certainly “slow down anger”! — Proverbs 19:11

Case in point:
In tracing my ancestry, I found that one of my GG Grandfathers was a mean, uncaring person! (I don’t know how he ever courted and married his wife, my GG Grandma! Probably a story there.) They had 4 boys. Living in PA, he made all 4 of his sons sleep in the barn after a certain age, not even caring how cold it was in winter. They all grew to hate him!
His business dealings were mean-spirited, too. He ended up alone, and poor.

What had happened to him?

Well, from what I’ve been able to piece together....when he was about 5 yrs old in the 1850’s, his Mama was carrying his infant younger brother in their house while she was cooking. She had a seizure & dropped her baby into the fireplace, where it killed him!
After that, she couldn’t function anymore & remained bed-ridden the rest of her life, about another 20 yrs or so. Never once did their father allow any of their children (about 7) to see their Mother again!
He was only 5! He needed his Mama, but grew up never seeing her again - alive, anyway — although knowing that she was still living!
I think that experience made him a bitter man, but his 4 boys never knew that story! If they had had that knowledge, they may have been able to understand his demeanor. Maybe.

There’s been so much hurt! Only in the Resurrection, IMO, will such past experiences be brought out into open, and then forgotten! Isaiah 65:17

Take care, my cousin.

Click to expand...

What a very sad story! How awful for all involved...

My mother's husband was a difficult man. They married after I had moved out, but my sisters were still young and had to deal with him. He was a drunk, and he was argumentative. He was neglectful of his children, and blew all his money on booze. My sisters couldn't stand him, and had good reason not to. The extended family couldn't handle him. Briefly, in my adult years, I had to live with my mom and him for about half a year. At that point, my eldest son was about 4. He was my only one at that time. My mom's husband said "I don't like kids. I ain't dealing with him. I didn't raise my own kids, I ain't putting up with him."

LeeAnder was different than most kids. We know now he's on the autism spectrum(on the Asperger's end), but at that point, folks just thought of him as quirky. Didn't say much, and watched everybody. One night, my mom's husband came in from the bar, drunk as a skunk. Came into the kitchen and fell over. Immediately, LeeAnder ran up to him and laid on the floor next to him. Very casually, he said "Hello, Al." And Al laughed... and laughed... that non judgement was new to him. From that point on, they were the best of pals.

Al tried often to bait me as well. He'd come in and tell me a list of awful things he did, expecting my temper to flare. I'd just blankly ask "why'd you do that? Do you feel better now? Did you like the results of that?" To which he'd get quiet and reflect. Once he didn't get the reaction he sought, he'd calm down and we'd have some meaningful conversations.

He was sold into slavery at 9. His parents had too many kids, and they'd sell them off to farmers when they reached a certain age. The only family he knew was the group of other slave kids at the farm, and he got into drinking and drugs when most kids were learning to multiply and divide. He didn't know love; you can't understand something you haven't experienced. He was simply being the only way he knew how to.

Honestly, I grew to like the man. He was rough, and he did mean things to people, but like a toddler pulling the dog's ears, he didn't know any better. He had a human side if only you treated him like one. Unfortunately, his drinking cost him his mind first, and later on his life. He quietly wasted away from lung cancer, of his own choice. At that point he could no longer walk or talk, so what was the bother? Sadly, he came into the world unnoticed, and he went out that way, too, his relationships all having been severed at the beginning of his mental difficulties.

Ashoka said:

I grew up Protestant, and was Catholic for a while. I like that Catholics have a devotion to Mother Mary. I think it's beautiful.

Click to expand...

That's so nice to hear. Thank you

JustGeorge said:

What a very sad story! How awful for all involved...

My mother's husband was a difficult man. They married after I had moved out, but my sisters were still young and had to deal with him. He was a drunk, and he was argumentative. He was neglectful of his children, and blew all his money on booze. My sisters couldn't stand him, and had good reason not to. The extended family couldn't handle him. Briefly, in my adult years, I had to live with my mom and him for about half a year. At that point, my eldest son was about 4. He was my only one at that time. My mom's husband said "I don't like kids. I ain't dealing with him. I didn't raise my own kids, I ain't putting up with him."

LeeAnder was different than most kids. We know now he's on the autism spectrum(on the Asperger's end), but at that point, folks just thought of him as quirky. Didn't say much, and watched everybody. One night, my mom's husband came in from the bar, drunk as a skunk. Came into the kitchen and fell over. Immediately, LeeAnder ran up to him and laid on the floor next to him. Very casually, he said "Hello, Al." And Al laughed... and laughed... that non judgement was new to him. From that point on, they were the best of pals.

Al tried often to bait me as well. He'd come in and tell me a list of awful things he did, expecting my temper to flare. I'd just blankly ask "why'd you do that? Do you feel better now? Did you like the results of that?" To which he'd get quiet and reflect. Once he didn't get the reaction he sought, he'd calm down and we'd have some meaningful conversations.

He was sold into slavery at 9. His parents had too many kids, and they'd sell them off to farmers when they reached a certain age. The only family he knew was the group of other slave kids at the farm, and he got into drinking and drugs when most kids were learning to multiply and divide. He didn't know love; you can't understand something you haven't experienced. He was simply being the only way he knew how to.

Honestly, I grew to like the man. He was rough, and he did mean things to people, but like a toddler pulling the dog's ears, he didn't know any better. He had a human side if only you treated him like one. Unfortunately, his drinking cost him his mind first, and later on his life. He quietly wasted away from lung cancer, of his own choice. At that point he could no longer walk or talk, so what was the bother? Sadly, he came into the world unnoticed, and he went out that way, too, his relationships all having been severed at the beginning of his mental difficulties.

Click to expand...

Wow, what a story! Good for you, that you took the time to get to know him! And what a precious Son you have.

I believe so strongly in the Resurrection promised by Jehovah / Yahweh through Jesus, and in the loving qualities of both of them, that I’m sure all people who’ve experienced such awful circumstances, will be given another chance at life under God’s Kingdom rule (Matthew 6:9-10), in perfect living conditions! - Revelation 21:3-4

When the issues related to Sovereignty, raised in Genesis 3, are finally settled, then all the problems we have now will be removed, and the love that we would expect from a caring Creator / Father will be felt by everyone living, especially by those brought back to life.

He was sold as a slave! Oh my goodness! What hurt he had inside.

IMO, the Resurrection will provide the chance to rectify all the wrongs ever committed!

Have a good night.

Ostronomos said:

Do you believe religion and science can be reconciled?

Click to expand...

I do, because all that science reveals seems to be the unfolding of God or Universe. We know more than we ever have now, yet are vulnerable to cosmic forces that confound our understandings.

While I subscribed to Kemetic Spirituality, I haven't let that stop me from looking into other forms of religion. At my job I have a copy of the Quran and a copy of the Bible (New Living Translation). I've read through both books and have found certain sections that describe who I am as a person so I would be disingenuous to talk down on them. Matter of fact, I just finished watching Bishop TD Jakes preach a sermon via his website this morning that had me feeling good. I say that to say that all forms of religion can be used as a guide to help people move throughout life on a path they deem reasonable. I love seeing people go to their place of worship on Saturdays and Sundays to hear a religious lecture because it is like one big group therapy session that helps them unwind from all of the stuff they went through during the week and to prepare them for the upcoming week. This is why I add the Omnist title behind Kemetic.

goledensilence said:

While I subscribed to Kemetic Spirituality, I haven't let that stop me from looking into other forms of religion. At my job I have a copy of the Quran and a copy of the Bible (New Living Translation). I've read through both books and have found certain sections that describe who I am as a person so I would be disingenuous to talk down on them. Matter of fact, I just finished watching Bishop TD Jakes preach a sermon via his website this morning that had me feeling good. I say that to say that all forms of religion can be used as a guide to help people move throughout life on a path they deem reasonable. I love seeing people go to their place of worship on Saturdays and Sundays to hear a religious lecture because it is like one big group therapy session that helps them unwind from all of the stuff they went through during the week and to prepare them for the upcoming week. This is why I add the Omnist title behind Kemetic.

Click to expand...

I enjoy reading on other religions, too. I may have my own religion and worldview, but that does not stop me from appreciating the outlooks, traditions, and stories of others. I believe all paths lead to the same destination, just some are better suited for certain people.

There's a definite thrill in "shock value" when exploring another religion. Immersing oneself entirely may render one feeble at first, but that is just a side effect of conditioning. Paths leading to the same destination is brilliant, and is only confirmed by the other world trends begging for us to comprehend.

JustGeorge said:

This may be the ultimate challenge for some. I'd like you to....

Say something nice about another religion. If you're atheist, say something nice about any religion.

Try to do so without 'buts' or snide jokes added in after. Just be genuinely nice if you can.

Anything will do. Appreciation of a religious structure, music, teaching or tradition... all of it(or anything) works.

What have you got for me?

Click to expand...

All right! Here goes...

I greatly appreciate that Judaism places a strong emphasis on moral and ethical uprightness as taught in their Tanakh.

Christianity – being the religion in which I was reared – is built around the ideal of love and mercy, which I carry with me, even as a Traditional Stoic. I’m also enamoured with its positive contributions to Western art, music, literature, and science, and social life.

As to Hinduism, what more can I say? This particular religion had turned my mind inside out, introducing me to concepts such as karma, dharma, reincarnation, and polytheistic and henotheistic conceptions of the divine (the latter of which I myself accept). The philosophical systems of India also possess a depth that Western philosophy — with the exceptions of Platonism, the teachers Socrates and Aristotle, the Pythagoreans, and the Stoics IMO — cannot match.

As to Sikhi, I’m quite fond of their sense of humility and willingness to defend the followers of other religions in times of distress and danger.

I love about Buddhism it’s emphasis on practical religious matters; it’s not too stuck on intellectual pondering. I’m especially thankful for the practice of mindfulness meditation, which is very similar conceptually to the practice of prosoche (mindful attention) in Stoicism.

Shinto, its animistic nature is very intoxicating and its development as a religion (flowering into various sects and schools, becoming the officially sanctioned religion of an empire, opening itself to foreign influences) remind me quite a bit of ancient Roman Paganism.

Having previously been a Bahá’í, I do immensely admire its cosmopolitan nature regarding other cultures and religions (another thing I’ve always carried with me), the inspiring and (all in all) optimistic view of human growth and development, and the daily prayers and the breadth of scriptures it has from its own central Figures (in addition to recognizing the scriptures of other religions as sacred). I will say honestly that had I been a monotheist instead of a henotheist, I would be a Bahá’í again.

Mauricius Modestus said:

All right! Here goes...

I greatly appreciate that Judaism places a strong emphasis on moral and ethical uprightness as taught in their Tanakh.

Christianity – being the religion in which I was reared – is built around the ideal of love and mercy, which I carry with me, even as a Traditional Stoic. I’m also enamoured with its positive contributions to Western art, music, literature, and science, and social life.

As to Hinduism, what more can I say? This particular religion had turned my mind inside out, introducing me to concepts such as karma, dharma, reincarnation, and polytheistic and henotheistic conceptions of the divine (the latter of which I myself accept). The philosophical systems of India also possess a depth that Western philosophy — with the exceptions of Platonism, the teachers Socrates and Aristotle, the Pythagoreans, and the Stoics IMO — cannot match.

As to Sikhi, I’m quite fond of their sense of humility and willingness to defend the followers of other religions in times of distress and danger.

I love about Buddhism it’s emphasis on practical religious matters; it’s not too stuck on intellectual pondering. I’m especially thankful for the practice of mindfulness meditation, which is very similar conceptually to the practice of prosoche (mindful attention) in Stoicism.

Shinto, its animistic nature is very intoxicating and its development as a religion (flowering into various sects and schools, becoming the officially sanctioned religion of an empire, opening itself to foreign influences) remind me quite a bit of ancient Roman Paganism.

Having previously been a Bahá’í, I do immensely admire its cosmopolitan nature regarding other cultures and religions (another thing I’ve always carried with me), the inspiring and (all in all) optimistic view of human growth and development, and the daily prayers and the breadth of scriptures it has from its own central Figures (in addition to recognizing the scriptures of other religions as sacred). I will say honestly that had I been a monotheist instead of a henotheist, I would be a Bahá’í again.

Click to expand...

I am well impressed with the beauty you see in so many different religions.

JustGeorge said:

I am well impressed with the beauty you see in so many different religions.

Click to expand...

I do my best to, dear Friend!