Questioning God, Change, Christianity, and Fate

 

“There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.”

-- Aldous Huxley

What are some things that people take for granted?

Family. Most people take their families for granted. They “expect” the family to be there and are shocked when they’re not. The “family” will loan you money, but, the good family will have you sign a contract in order to teach you there is no such thing as a free lunch.

Are people more concerned with how they are perceived or with being who they are?

How they are perceived. Years later, they will learn that how they’re perceived is so much less important than being who they are. The “ego” is a horrible thing.

What's an example of one fundamental change you made in your life and how did it impact you in a positive way?

After a 25-year marriage ended in a messy divorce, I got up off my knees and made the conscious choice to be truly happy always and in all things. I accepted the apology I knew I would never get from her, forgave her, forgave myself, and rebuilt my life from the bottom up. I’ve been living in sin with my “new” significant other for almost 20 years, now, and have never looked back.

When you make a personal choice and stand by it, regardless of what drama is visited upon you, you have created a true and sustainable choice that will last a lifetime.

How do you deal with people who are jealous of your many gifts?

I try not to. Jealousy is an issue they have to work on, not me. I’m too damned busy striving to be happy always and in all things. Maybe they should put their effort there instead of wasting it on jealousy.

Can someone be jealous of a person without being envious of him or her?

Yes! It looks as if one has little to do with the other. We learn something every day.

Let’s look at the definition: 

“Envy means discontented longing for someone else's advantages. Jealousy means unpleasant suspicion or apprehension of rivalship.” 

-- Merriam-Webster

How do you deal with a cheating ex-partner?

If they’re an ex-partner, why are you dealing with them, in the first place? In the second place, why do you think it’s your business if they’re cheating? Time to move on and put them behind you. Well, maybe not behind you. You know what I mean.

Does a married woman look for a single man to cheat with?

It can be less complicated. She’s decided to destroy her own marriage, why destroy two just to satisfy a sexual urge?

Why would my mother forgive her brother even after he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars and never acknowledged nor returned the stolen funds to her? They still talk and act like nothing bad happened even though she has proof.

Family can operate with contradictory rules. I would recommend you sit down with your mother and have her explain why she can do this. The answer will probably reveal your mother’s, or your family’s, nature.

Is everybody who he pretends to be?

No, but, few people know who they really are.

Was prophet Moses a Christian?

Moses was a Jew who lived over a thousand years before the "Christ", therefore, he can’t be a Christian if Christ Jesus wasn’t even born. The title of Christ means "Messiah" which Moses also wasn't considered to be. Christianity is a title given to those who follow the teachings of the “Messiah” Jesus.

“I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the US Congress.”

-- Ronald Regan

When someone says "Let's play again sometime", what does it mean?

That they’d like to play with you, again, sometime? Is this a trick question?

Can a trust continue indefinitely?

Probably not, since change is the only true constant in the universe. Sooner or later, who we trust falls from grace. We are only human, after all.

What should you not do after being cheated on?

Assault them. You’ll be cheated on, and have an arrest record.

How do you forgive someone for hurting you?

You accept the apology you know you’ll never get, forgive them, and strive to be happy always and in all things. Been there, done this.

What is your favorite phrase or saying?

“It is what it is until it isn’t, and then it is what it is… again.”

"Life is not a fairy tale. If you lose a shoe at midnight, you're drunk."

-- Unknown

Do I like to socialize with other people?

I don’t know. Do you?

Would you fight or let go of the one you love?

Let go. Fighting accomplishes nothing. It is counterproductive to the relationship.

Can people make you cry as an adult?

All the time. I’m just a softy. Heck, I need a tissue box when I watch “The Incredible Journey” movie. 

What are the major sins God can not forgive?

The seven deadly sins of pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth.

How can you accept being misunderstood?

Are they just stupid, or are you not being clear? Not that it matters. You might need to consider your audience before speaking, and “dumb it down” if necessary. Or, you might want to consider what you’re going to say, before you speak, and ask yourself if it is understandable. We tend to talk like people around us know what we’re talking about, many times they don’t. 

“Maybe each human being lives in a unique world, a private world different from those inhabited and experienced by all other humans. . . If reality differs from person to person, can we speak of reality singular, or shouldn't we really be talking about plural realities? And if there are plural realities, are some more true (more real) than others? What about the world of a schizophrenic? Maybe it's as real as our world. Maybe we cannot say that we are in touch with reality and he is not, but should instead say, His reality is so different from ours that he can't explain his to us, and we can't explain ours to him. The problem, then, is that if subjective worlds are experienced too differently, there occurs a breakdown in communication ... and there is the real illness.”

-- Philip K. Dick

What is an argument to try to show theists that God doesn't exist?

An argument is only as good as the proof that makes it a fact. There is no proof of the existence or non-existence of God. This is where faith comes in. Faith is a belief in something that has little or no proof. In this respect, both theists and atheists have faith that they are right.

In what ways can I contribute to better the future of religion?

You will be better served to selflessly contribute to the betterment of your fellow man.

I don’t think I’m Christian what should I do?

Do good. Be selfless in helping others. Strive to be truly happy always and in all things. And, thank God each and every morning for the “gift” of another day in paradise and another chance to excel in this life. But, above all, do good.

What do you do if your mom beats you because of a mistake?

I’m in the wrong house.

When the pope gets stuck in an elevator, is it the Will of God?

No, it’s the will of the elevator or the crew that forgot to maintain it. God gives us the intelligence to create elevators, but it is up to us to keep them running. The current pope will take this situation in good humor.

“God's relationship with man does not work in a way in which man stumbles and then God has to drop what he is doing in order to lift him up; rather, man stumbles so that God can lift him up. Hence it is utterly impossible to truly diminish his glory.”

-- Criss Jami

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com