Taoist81

True, it is hard to tell what was what since the Bible was just a hodgepodge of manuscripts written by who knows who. Two things though: 1st the oldest manuscripts found say 616, not 665. 2nd, does a God of love who makes all the rules really need his creation to beat and crucify someone (whether "good enough for a sacrifice" or "suicidal godman") in order to forgive? Do you require people to beat someone before you forgive them? Again, this interpretation is dependant on the belief that he needed to die as a sacrifice. If he didn't, then the teaching "Love one another as I have loved you", which was given just after he "the Master" had served them by washing their feet, would just be a teaching of "Be humble", "serve one another" etc. which was not original and was consistent with his other teachings. The golden rule was only part of his teaching. "Love others as yourself" was the root. Jesus didn't seem to care one iota about "works", he wanted people to Love. One can see how this would have been easy to morph into a sacrificial mystery religion, after all, other dying gods had sacrificed themselves for Love before (in myths). If Love is there you don't need to teach ethics, if you are always serving others, you don't need hell fire to scare people into behaving, hence Jesus' lack of significant hell fire theology. The world apparently needed Paul for that. And you are righy, you don't get a powerful religion from philosophy, you need an endorsement from an Empire for that (or at least endorsement from celebrities in the case of Scientology). All of the major western world religions (and most eastern onese) have been spread by being endorsed by Empires or kingdoms. Before that, they were sects revolving around philosophy and some myths. However, Humanism is growing, so maybe one "religion" will eventually grow up from philosophy and basic ethics. This is true, and odd, since the Book of Enoch is referenced as even in Jude but modern Christianity rejects it (except the Ethiopian Church).

The "racist" stuff is not really intended to say he "was racist", after all he did have less racism than say the Pharisees of his day. And none of this is intended as an "assault". It is just that people seem to lift Jesus up on a pedestal as if he were somehow the supreme teacher, when very little if anything he taught was unique or original. Don't take this the wrong way, Jesus like all teacher/prophets was important in context and in the place and time that he (supposedly) existed (not to mention the special place he has in modern western mystic/magick practice), he just doesn't seem to have been any more important that any other teacher/prophet throughout history. If the Romans had adopted the Pythagorean religion of Apollonius of Tyana then we would be talking about what was so special about Apollonius. It is just a question, not an attack. The same can be said about most teachers (some more so) through history.

A few examples: Jesus is famous for his "love thy neighbor as thyself" But he was just quoting: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Bible_(Jewis...eviticus#19:18: "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself:" As for the Golden Rule (even ignoring the fact that most cultures had some form of it): Among the Greeks: "Do not to your neighbor what you would take ill from him." (Pittacus) "Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing." (Thales) "What you wish your neighbors to be to you, such be also to them." (Sextus the Pythagorean) "Do not do to others what would anger you if done to you by others." (Isocrates) "What thou avoidest suffering thyself seek not to impose on others." (Epictetus) Some of these guys lived long before Jesus supposedly lived, some were contemporaries. The reference to the dog comment was in Matthew, a reference to "his Jewish brothers" feelings can be seen both in his parable of the Good Samaritan (elucidating the fact that someone they thought of as "lesser" could be more loving than themselves) and by the reaction of the disciples in, for example, John chpt 4 when he is speaking in public to a Samaritan woman.

The fact that they were already teaching most of the things that Jesus taught before he came along suggests (admittedly, like everything to do with Jesus, without absolute proof) that he picked his teaching up from them. He likely got his fame from trying to lead a revolution against the Romans. But his teachings were already prevalent before he taught them. The Samaritan comment was just a racist comment he supposedly made to a Samaritan woman. He simply (according to the text) shared the disdain for them that his Jewish brothers held. You may be right about it only being in Matthew. Anyway, he did seem to believe and teach some okay stuff. There is just nothing inherently special about what he taught according to the gospels unless you buy the sacrifice stuff.

So just the fact that he taught things that he learned from the Greeks, other pagans and the Talmudic Rabbis makes him great? Please don't take this as an actual arguement, there are some good things in the Judeochristian scriptures (if one avoids taking them literally or as history). As said before, just curiosity. Also, how do you take his refering to Samaritans as "dogs"?

Why do you think he was great? Just out of curiosity. If you ignore the resurection theology and assume he was just a teacher what made him special to you?

"Let there be no difference made among you between any one thing & any other thing; for thereby there cometh hurt." The Book of the Law Chpt 1 v. 22

It wouldn't destroy christianity because there would be enough people who would claim it was fake and just Satan trying to fool the faithful. Just look at all the people who buy into Intelligent Design despite the fact that no ID book or movie can be produced without a number of lies and logical fallacies. Some might try to spin it that way, but they would have to chop the end of three of the four gospels and a mass of sections from Paul's writings that all refer to the ascension. Not to mention the parts that refer to his return at the end of time. Sure, Xtianity has a lot of it wrong. But even the good stuff that Jesus allegedly had to say didn't originate with him. Most of it was teaching that already existed in the Rabbinic or other middle eastern/roman thought. There are groups, but none of them mainstream. Perhaps the Anglicans could edge that way, and if solid proof could be unearthed (which it can't) then some denominations might try it too, but most of them would just tell their followers to bury their heads in the sand.

The A.'.A.'. is descended from the Golden Dawn with Crowley's personal discoveries and Yoga he learned added in. You only begin working with the Rosy Cross formula officially when you reach the grade of Zelator (you go through a 1 year Probationer Grade 0=0, then at least an 8 month Neophyte Grade 1=10 before Zelator 2=9), but it is in the study material beforehand. (www.outercol.org) The AMORC and the BOTA are supposed to have good study material and good programs. The Golden Dawn Inc. is also supposed to have a good system

It does seem like it would be common sense, but even the founder of our school has had "traditionalists" from China (he is Chinese) that he is crazy for not doing ____ . But you are right, some people will go no matter how the treatment feels if they feel like it is helping, and if you sell yourself well (something most "healers" are uncomfortable with) your business will do well and you will be able to help more people. As for politics....the schools are only half of it. The national board is highly political. And it does seem off that an MD can come in from another country take the exams and be licensed, do surgery etc., but an acupuncturist has to go to school even if they have practiced for 30 years. Of course, CNT is quite different here, but still....

Every lineage/tradition either started from another one, or was founded by someone who "made it up". At the same time, having a teacher to go to with questions and to be tested by is advantageous. If you can find a teacher, do it, if not, do what you can on your own until you can or until you "make it". Good luck.

One note on this point. Many patients who come to our clinic tend to prefer the Western trained acupuncturists. Those trained in China or other Asian countries tend to cause more pain. Some of us prefer to learn both ways because experience shows that for some cases the "no pain, no gain" approach is the best, while in others the "make the patient as comfortable as possible" approach is best. One classmate went to study at the school in Shanghai and when she visited recently and demonstrated the methods she learned, the acupuncturists (US trained) that she demonstrated on compared it to "torture". On the other hand, some patients prefer Asian trained practitioners because they think they are more "authentic". So you gain and lose on both sides of the Pacific, but either way you have to pick up some hours at an American school to practice in America in most cases.

If one is planning to practice in the US there may be complications with this. Many students at our school practiced in China (or other Asian countries) for years, decades in some cases. But they still had to go through school here because not all of their schooling in Asia was recognized.

Wow, cost seems to vary a lot, or maybe it is just because you are in CA. Here in Houston ACAOM totals out at somewhere between $40,000-50,000 for a MAOM with paim management certification. Schools on the East coast were similarly priced. It would seem with the multitude of schools on the West coast prices would be lower... As for the career, it seems to vary from person to person. Some graduates from ACAOM are making loads of $, others are working at restaurants or Walmart. It really boils down to the business side of it. Of course, in CA you would be able to charge higher prices than you could get away with in Houston also. We'll see after graduation (Dec. this year) and licensing here. Good luck.

Get her to go to an acupuncturist as soon as she gets out of the hospital. If you get to it quickly the results are amazing. At our clinic we have treated a number of stroke patients. The ones who came right away seemed like completely different people after just a few treatments, those who came in months (or worse, years) afterwards have made much slower progress (though still some progress).

See both a western doctor, for blood work etc, and a TCM practitioner. What you describe is a classic symptom of Stomach Fire/Heat. Spleen deficiency would usually result in a decreased appetite. Just check with your GP for safety sake, then see an acupuncturist for some needles and a good formula for your constitution.

They are both perported to be by King Solomon of the Bible (proverbs, song of solomon etc.) though the texts likely originated in the Middle Ages. So, yes, the Solomon is the same, though he is likely not the actual author.

No, the Abraham in the Abramelin book (the alleged author) is not, nor is he claimed to be, the founder of Judaism. He simply shares the name with the father of Isaac.

A couple things. First, if he is attacking you, then he is not a Wiccan that is following the rede. The first/only law is An' it harm none, do what ye wilt (yes, Gardner ripped that off from Crowley, just like lots of his rituals). He can only expect it to all come back on him threefold if he is a Wiccan. As for advice, look up two rituals: the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (which can allegedly strengthen the aura as well as utilize Divine protection) and the Rose Cross Ritual (which allegedly cloaks your "astral impressions" with white light, don't let the use of Y'shua get to you, it has more meanings than most preachers understand). Practice each of these daily, two to three times if possible. As others said, don't retaliate, just let nature take its course. Also, why is it that you think it is this guy? Did he tell you he was doing it? Did he have a reason? Are you sure you aren't just going to unscrupulous websites?

Okay, a couple of things need to be clear. First off, you are right, the "Religion of Peace" website is not representative of all of "Islam". Mainly because there is no 1 Islam, Muslims disagree with each other almost as much as Xtians do. But irregardless of that fact, the post above linked the website to "Muslim Extremism" not "Islam". And it is quite representative of the nuts that bring shame to your faith every day. That said you do prove their point, you complain about people not "getting Islam" instead of complaining about Muslim extremists blowing up Muslims and non-Muslims. Lastly, you are not addressing someone with a lack of understanding of Islam. The religion itself has its beauty, and Muslims make great friends. Still the crazies of any faith make the religion look bad. Anyway, regarding Religulous, Maher is quite honest in the film (we saw it this morning). He lets the religious nuts hang themselves and doesn't have to say much on his own. He has Imams address Islam, Rabbi's address Judaism and Christians address Christianity etc. That is actually the reason the ratings may be low, because Christians tend to downgrade anything that disrespects their faith. Either way, people don't care for people that make them think about things they don't want to think about. Everyone in the theater we were in loved it....loudly. : ) Just watch the movie and make your decision, not the other way around. (Disclaimer: As with any movie that tries to prove a point there were some cheap shots in Religulous, but they were all simplifications of actual doctrines of the faiths addressed, not distortions. They were simply arguments that could have been elaborated on. Perhaps they will be addressed in the deleted scenes on the DVD.)

Are you asking for help to stop practicing "black magick" or do you feel someone is attacking you? What is the "aa" in your subject line for? If you are meaning the A.'.A.'., it is not a "black magic" order. Quite the contrary. Without more information on your situation all offers for help are stabs in the dark.

Um, yeah, you are right that a perfect time to get into the market is on its way, but this would be one of the worst times for anyone who hasn't gotten out to get out. Even during the Depression stocks rebounded after a few months. The problems came from everyone emptying bank accounts and defaulting on loans....hmm, sound familiar?

Certainly don't ignore what is going on, but don't freak out about it either. Keep a historical perspective, there have been worse times, much worse, we just didn't have 24 hour news and constant noise telling us how bad things were. They keep saying that things are as bad as the thirties, but we didn't have many of the things then that we do now. Again, don't freak out, that is what will contribute to what you fear, just be cautious and plan ahead, like always.