Luke_Wilbur

Hollywood has to take some responsibility for the tragedies that have befallen us. Guns are tools and they are weapons. But, our youth look at them as toys. In my opinion, Congress needs to understand that people of all ages (including myself) want to put aside their worries by parking themselves on the couch, or in front of a desk, or sit in a movie theater to be entertained. I am not against the idea of the individual pursuit of happiness, but what is worrisome is how people become engrossed in virtual exploits. We spend so much money on the drug culture. But, how much is spent understanding the intermixing of international belief systems within video culture? One example comes to mind is Assassin's Creed, a popular video game with children and adults. The kids cannot get enough of it. Assassin's Creed virtual world was inspired from the novel Alamut by the Slovenian writer Vladimir Bartol. The video game features this novel's famous quote, 'Nothing is true, everything is permitted'. The phrase is taken from the words of Hassan-i Sabbah, the first recorded Mentor of the Assassin (Hashashins) military order of the the Fatimid Empire. Hashashins fought against Sunni Seljuq authority within the Persian territories. All Hashashins were trained in both the art of combat as in the study of religion, believing that they were on a jihad and were religious warriors. Some consider them the Templars of Islam and, as such, also formed an order with varying degrees of initiation. The Shī‘a Imami Ismā‘īlī Tariqah also referred to as Nizari Ismailism is a branch of Shī‘a Islām. Shī‘a Imami emphasizes social justice, pluralism, and human reason within the framework of the mystical tradition of Islam. The Nizari are the second largest branch of Shia Islam. There are an estimated 15 million Nizari Ismā‘īlīs residing in more than 25 countries. Nizari teachings affirm the Islamic tenet that "there is no god but the One God, and Muhammad is the prophet of God" For Nizari reasoning is arrived at through a dialectic between revelation and human reasoning, based on a synergy of Islamic scripture and classical Greek philosophy, in particular Aristotelean reasoning and Platonic metaphysics. It seeks to extend an understanding of religion and revelation to identify the outwardly apparent (zahir), and also to penetrate to the roots, to retrieve and disclose that which is the inner underlying (batin). This process of discovery engages both the intellect (‘aql) and the spirit (ruh), operating in an integral synergy to illuminate and disclose truths (haqa’iq) culminating in gnosis (ma'rifat). Assassin's Creed takes what is known and creates a world of historical fiction that blends the need to understand the cultural aspects of the era of Hasan bin Sabbah for you Avatar to survive in the game. It would be advised that our government leaders study historic impact of the interactions of the Christian Knights Templar and their Muslim counterparts, the Hashashins. Then measure the affects of video game constructs like Assassin's Creed that reintroduce philosophies like this in a fantasy role playing format in today's society. It is my opinion, Assasin's Creed desensitizes the killing of an individual and gives a moral precept in justifying it. The psychological games like this form of entertainment are very difficult to evaluate without having a consortium historians, ethnographers, psychologist, and socialist working together. If Groups like the NRA really mean what they say. It is time for them to take the lead and start funding the research with definite timelines for the public to view.

It appears the real Armageddon in North America last night was Speaker Boehner's major blunder in House yesterday. Would not be surprised if he gets a vote of no confidence for thinking Republicans would consider embracing the first tax increase in two decades without significant cuts in medicare and medicaid. Now his only option is allow the Fiscal Cliff to happen or gather enough votes from both sides of the aisle within his chamber and shape how tax increases and spending reduction happens before the Bush-Obama cuts expire and blind sequestration commences.

Rest easy. Nothing will happen tomorrow. Acts 1 1:6 So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, “Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 1:7 He told them, “You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.

Made the decision to attend LDS Christmas Service today. I enjoyed the music very much. I imagined a choir of angels singing before God. After service I attended Sunday School where the Connecticut tragedy was discussed. It is here that I realized the power of family, community, and more importantly the Creator is in helping innocent victims work through their emotions of being harmed. I then attended an Aaronic Priesthood class for men. Luke 8:12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The class was very inspirational to me. I listened to the importance a father's role with his child in teaching morality. I could not help from noticing how well kept the clergy men are. All were neatly shaved, and had nice suits on. The brethren shared inspirational stories on the moral lessons their fathers had taught them. I drifted off to 'Leave it to Beaver.' I always admired the wisdom of Ward Cleaver and realized the men in the room shared values that I considered lost. After service I spoke to one of the Elders about some of my thoughts about what I quoted above. In the Beginning, Jesus through the power of God created the universe. God then a presented plan to Jesus, Lucifer, Michael, Gabriel and the rest of his spirits about what he wanted to for them in this new world. This plan included getting a physical body like his. But, through this process they would forget all that was taught to them. Lucifer/Satan and other spirits did not like the plan, thus they were cast out of heaven to keep their spiritual form for eternity. The first spirit to be sent down was Michael, who was given a immortal body named Adam. The name of the next spirit sent down is not known, but the immortal body given was named Eve. Now Adam and Eve had no idea they were spirits in a formal life when they encountered Lucifer/Satan in the Garden of Eden. Lucifer/Satan who knew fully what they were before and what they had become. Lucifer/Satan was able to use the knowledge and power given to him by God to trick Adam and Eve to bite the forbidden fruit and become mortal. What Lucifer/Satan did not know that his trick was part of God's plan. For if Adam and Eve did not eat the forbidden fruit, then they would not have become mortal and be able create offspring. Adam was raised to a glorified Angel with a body and temporary ruler of Angels and Men until the coming of Christ who with the power of the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost would be born of the once spirit, then mortal Virgin Mary, who was later glorified as well. Christ death redeemed all Spirits of the curse of Adam/Michael and Eve's transgression to those that believe in him and follow his teachings. It is believed that Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost will get a glorified body at some point as well.

I spoke with two nice Latter Day Saints missionaries who visited my about what has been stated. It is true that Angel Michael is Adam. A confusion comes to mind is after Adam/Michael goes with God's plan and banishes Lucifer to Earth, Adam/Michael then goes down to Earth and is transformed into a mortal and is tricked by Lucifer into not following God's plan and is kicked out of the Garden of Eden/Adam-ondi-Ahman by God and lives out his life in exile, Adam/Michael naturally dies was then resurrected with a glorified body and became once again head of both the Angels and Man until Christ was transformed into a mortal and died on the cross and thus Atoned the sins of Adam/Michael. Christ was was then resurrected in his glorified body and became head of the Angels and Adam/Michael head of mankind. Both Adam/Michael, Christ, and other Glorified Angels still visit Earth on occasion and speak to prophets that will in turn become glorified Angels as well. In the final days Adam/Michael come back to Earth to blow the trumpet to Announce the second coming for Christ to all mankind. I have located key excerpts to get a grasp of what is being said. I recommend going to the source. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1980/10/adam-the-archangel?lang=eng Adam, the Archangel Mark E. Petersen The Church of Jesus Christ was well established in the time of Adam (see Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938, pp. 157, 169). Men like Seth and Enos grew to become the early patriarchs of the Church, and through them a long line of priesthood leaders was established. Adam held the keys of the First Presidency and stood directly after the Savior in authority (see Teachings, p. 168). He received those keys in the Creation, according to the Prophet Joseph Smith, who added, “Christ is the Great High Priest; Adam next” (Teachings, pp. 157–58). Who was Adam that he was privileged to begin the human race here on earth? Had he been some very special personage in the premortal world? Indeed, Adam was very special and very important. Before coming into mortality, he was known as Michael. The Prophet Joseph Smith clearly identifies both Adam and Michael as one and the same person, an angel, the chief angel, or archangel, of heaven, the special servant of God and Christ. When Michael came into mortality he was known as Adam, the first man, but he was still his own self. Although he was given another name, that of Adam, he did not change his identity. After his mortal death he resumed his position as an angel in the heavens, once again serving as the chief angel, or archangel, and took again his former name of Michael. In his capacity as archangel, Adam, or Michael, will yet perform a mighty mission in the coming years, both before and after the Millennium. This is startling, but the scriptures declare it. One important assignment that awaits him is to be the angel to sound the trumpet heralding the resurrection of the dead. The scripture reads, “Behold, verily I say unto you, before the earth shall pass away, Michael, mine archangel, shall sound his trump, and then shall all the dead awake, for their graves shall be opened, and they shall come forth” (D&C 29:26). Orson F. Whitney Conference Report October 1925 Adam was the first to receive and obey the Gospel, revealed to him out of Eternity at the very beginning of Time. Since his day it has been upon the earth repeatedly, in a series of dispensations, of which this the greatest and the last. Adam presides over all the gospel dispensations, including the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times - he presides over them all, just as the President of the Church presides over all the Stakes of Zion and all the outside authority. Joesph Smith is the immediate head of this dispensation, and Adam is the general head of all. Standing next to the Church in Priesthood, whenever the divine power is revealed from heaven to earth, "It is by Adam's authority." So says Joesph Smith. The world has not seen the last of Father Adam. He is coming again, as the Ancient of Days, to fulfill the prophecy of Daniel. He will come to the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, where the old he blessed his posterity, foretelling what should befall them to the latest generation. He will call a council and assemble his righteous descendants, to prepare them for the glorious advent of the King of Kings. History of the Church 3:386 - 87 Joesph Smith Jr. Daniel in his seventh chapter speaks of the Ancient of Days; he means the oldest man, our Father Adam, Michael, he will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. He (Adam) is the father of the human family, and presides over the spirits of all men, and all that have had the keys must stand before him in this grand council. This may take place before some of us leave this stage of action. The Son of Man stands before him, and there is given him glory and dominion. Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was delivered to him as holding the keys of the universe, but retains standing as head of the human family. Wilford Woodruff Again President Young said Joesph the Prophet told me the garden of Eden was in Jackson County Missiouri and when Adam was out of the garden of Eden He went about 40 miles to the Place which we Named Adam Ondi Ahman and there built an Alter of Stone and offered Sacrifice. That Alter remains to this day. I saw it as Adam left it as many others, and through all the revolutions of the world that Alter had not been disturbed. Today 3000 acres Adam-ondi-Ahman is owned and maintained as a historic site by the LDS Church and remains largely undeveloped farmland. According to a revelation declared by Smith, Adam met his children at the site three years before his death to bestow his blessing. LDS Church leader Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. has stated that before the Second Coming, Adam will convene another meeting there to turn the government of the human family officially to Jesus Christ.

I imagine Zarathustra's idea to use fire as a metaphor for the mysteries of God probably came from witnessing the spontaneous flames that still naturally burn in Azerbaijan's Absheron Peninsula. Today Atashgah is a sacred Zoroaster-Hindu temple and every Novruz its visited and honored by both Zoroaster and Hindu pilgrims.

I think the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem has the right idea of bringing Christian and Muslim children together to celebrate the Advent Season. http://en.lpj.org/20...usand-children/ More than a thousand children gathered on Thursday, December 6, 2012, for their traditional march to the Nativity cave of Bethlehem. It is a beautiful tradition of inviting children of Palestinian villages for a peace march to the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

I received this diagram to post and would like to know it meaning and who actually created it.

I like the cross symbol used in this fashion.

All I am Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, sufi, and zen. I am the known to all religions and cultural systems. I exist in the East and the West, out of the ocean and up from the ground, natural and ethereal, I am the composer of all elements. I exist, I am the creator of this world and the next, I am the author of Adam and Eve and all origin stories. My thought is Creation, creating space from the spaceless. Both body and soul. My beloved belong to me, have seen the two worlds as one that I have let be known, first, last, outer, inner, all conscious righteous spirit being. — Luke Wilbur —

Would the Sufi Divine message be the understanding what is love? This is similar to the teachings of Jesus. I will learn the spiritual path of peace through understanding the sacred sounds of 'summati.' There are three ways of seeking God in the human heart. The first way is to recognize God the divine in every person, and to care for every person with whom we come in contact, in our thought, speech, and action. Human personality is very delicate. The more living the heart the more sensitive it is; that which causes sensitivity is the love element in the heart, and love is God. The person whose heart is not sensitive is without feeling; his heart is not living, but dead. In that case the divine spirit is buried in his heart. A person who is always concerned with his own feelings is so absorbed in himself that he has no time to think of another. His whole attention is taken up with his own feelings: he pities himself, worries about his own pain, and is never open to sympathize with others. He who takes notice of the feeling of another person with whom he comes in contact practices the first essential moral of Sufism. The next way of practicing this religion is to think of the feeling of the person who is not at the moment before us. One feels for a person who is present, but one often neglects to feel for someone who is out of sight. One speaks well of someone to his face, but if one speaks well of someone when he is absent, that is greater. One sympathizes with the trouble of someone who is before one at the moment, but it is greater to sympathize with one who is far away. The third way of realizing the Sufi principle is to recognize in one's own feeling the feeling of God, and to realize every impulse that rises in one's heart as a direction from God. Realizing that love is a divine spark in one's heart, one blows that spark until a flame may rise to illuminate the path of one's life. The symbol of the Sufi Order, which is a heart with wings, is symbolic of its ideal. The heart is both earthly and heavenly. The heart is a receptacle on earth of the divine spirit, and when it holds the divine spirit it soars heavenward; the wings picture its rising. The crescent in the heart symbolizes responsiveness; it is the heart that responds to the spirit of God that rises. The crescent is a symbol of responsiveness because it grows fuller by responding more and more to the sun as it progresses. The light one sees in the crescent is the light of the sun. It gets more light with increasing response, so it becomes fuller of the light of the sun. The star in the heart of the crescent represents the divine spark reflected in the human heart as love, which helps the crescent toward its fullness. The Sufi Message is the message of the day. It does not bring theories or doctrines to add to those already existing, which puzzle the human mind. What the world needs today is the message of love, harmony, and beauty, the absence of which is the only tragedy of life. The Sufi Message does not give a new law. It wakens in humanity the spirit of brotherhood, with tolerance on the part of each for the religion of the other, and with forgiveness from each for the fault of the other. It teaches thoughtfulness and consideration, so as to create and maintain harmony in life; it teaches service and usefulness, which alone can make life in the world fruitful and in which lies the satisfaction of every soul.

I came by this quote from the Book of Mathew, Chapter 11, Verse 25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do."

I find it fascinating that the Greek Hippocratic Oath taken by medical physicians and healthcare professionals curses those who are in practice of abortions, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and drug administered executions. I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement: To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art; and that by my teaching, I will impart a knowledge of this art to my own sons, and to my teacher's sons, and to disciples bound by an indenture and oath according to the medical laws, and no others. I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion. But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts. I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art. In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or men, be they free or slaves. All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal. If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all humanity and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my life.

This may be a leap, but it appears the Ebbonite Community is the closest link to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

Ebionite Community are strick monotheists worshiping Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel in a renewed covenant but Torah observant way through the teachings of Yahshua ben Yosef.

Would you say that we need to understand the difference between Arab nationalism and Political Islam?

The Basilica of San Vitale is a church in Ravenna, Italy and one of the most important examples of early Christian Byzantine art and architecture in western Europe. The central section is surrounded by two superposed ambulatories. The upper one, the matrimoneum, was reserved for married women. One of the series of mosaics in the lunettes above the triforia depict sacrifices from the Old Testament: The left wall, central lunette depicts Abel and Melchizedek bringing their offerings to the altar. http://www.templestudy.com/2008/09/09/the-seal-of-melchizedek-part-2/ I recommend clicking on the above link for more information on the subject.

The video was disabled, but I clicked on the link to watch it on Youtube. I think the premise of Divide and Conquer is good. But, I do not believe that it is being orchestrated in the way you think. So many groups have their own agendas (make money to preach particular belief) that overlap with others that it appears to be orchestrated. But, I see it in a different light. Top financed organizations are very aware of what organizations benefit their cause and what organizations do not. The ones that support their cause they promote and the ones that are threat they demote. These top organizations use money and sometimes whatever is necessary to support their mission. But realize they are just mortals like you and I.

I went to Mormon service last week. I was quite impressed with the whole congregation. They are truly devout, family, and community oriented. While having children and young adults as Aaronic and Melchizedek priests was completely foreign to me, I was captivated by their purity. After service the congregation splits up and goes into priestly education. I really enjoyed the discussion.

People have been asking me to come up with an ornament that is both patriotic and religious. So, I came up with symbols that all faiths recognize. The one that I worry is the All Seeing Eye. I view it as the Creator. Why are these two passages from Sirach in Catholic bible so different? I am hoping one of theologians that post here can help http://www.newadvent...ible/sir014.htm 14:22 Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall meditate in his justice, and in his mind shall think of the all seeing eye of God. http://www.usccb.org/bible/sirach/14 14:22 Who pursue her like a scout, and watch at her entry way;

It appears that both candidates economic plans do not add up. One depends on government stimulating the economy and increasing debt. The other depends on big business and finance to stimulate the economy and still increases debt. Both trickle down plans hope to increase the tax base. I hope we stop the name calling and start moving toward a middle ground where government and business work together to rebuild our infrastructure and lower our debt. We are the greatest nation when we are not divided. Finally, WE THE PEOPLE need to start buying locally here in the United States. And WE THE PEOPLE should honor the businesses that have stayed here in America as true patriots to our country.

The Hydrogen House Project is a 501©(3) non-profit organization dedicated to education and the pursuit of clean and renewable energy technologies. The organization was founded by inventor Mike Strizki in 2011. Strizki gained international notoriety in 2006 when he converted his home in Hopewell, New Jersey, to run exclusively on solar and hydrogen power. With grants from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, as well as his own personal funds, Strizki was able to complete the Hydrogen House, the first solar-hydrogen residence in North America. Strizki has since offered educational tours of his home to show how effective the system is at providing clean, safe, renewable energy. His house is completely off the grid, and the only byproducts of his system are chemically pure water and medical grade oxygen. The Hydrogen House Project plans to move forward with Strizki's research and development efforts in the renewable energy sector, investigating practical applications for solar, hydrogen, fuel cells and other clean energy technologies. Side-by-side with these research efforts, the organization will educate the public through guided tours of the Hydrogen House, presentations, student internships, research projects, and events. http://www.hydrogenhouseproject.org/

LDS does not own the Salt Lake City Tribune. They own the Deseret News. The publication has an interesting timeline of what happened in Benghazi.

I wish that Iran and Israel could learn to better respect each other.