While we're on this subject, and neither here nor there, but because of so much of the foolishness and hypocrisy I sometimes come across from so many of the Televangelists (and a crazy ole' musician friend I once knew, who crossed our circles, when some of us went thru that searching period, from time to time, and looking for the meaning to life, in Eastern Mysticism, Christianity, Judaism, Kabbalah, or whatever) or just coming across a quote like in these memes for instance, that really makes ya' think, and then, when I'm turning the channels and sometimes pausing for a moment, listening to some preacher, I would think of a time, when I had myself discovered, that the Bible actually mocks the idea of things like "Predestination" - based on faith in Jesus, or a surpreme being alone, as espoused in the Judeo/Christian religion, for example. Which I found really interesting. I do have to say however, that the quotes I recently came across here, and remembered from when I was a kid and went to Catholic School, are pretty powerful, and encouraging. If there is anything to any kind of religon, or spirituality (and the belief in a surpreme being) at all, that has got to be it. It is beyond religion, if you ask me. As, religon, was really created by man. Not the other way around. (And that is not to say, that some forms of organized religion cannot be used as a point of contact either, but that God has just GOT TO BE too big for any one religion). And at some point, certain truths, have to line up with each other in some way...
In fact, (just from some of the objective research that I have done myself, with an open mind), if it says anything, (despite allot of its contradictions), it basically says, that the more you know, the more you will be held accountable! In other words, compassion and justice are everything. (And the most logical and sensible). And so, ironically, if anyone is 'predestined' at all, it is those who have (or who have learned and exemplified) these attributes, and virtues. Here are just several examples, from the very Bible itself. Dig it...
The Parable of The Sheep and The Goats
"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’
“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’
“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” -Mt. 25: 31-46
It seems that Jesus (allegedly) in the above parable, takes that passage in the Hebrew Bible, where God (allegedly) says to Abraham: "I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you" - to the next level. I guess. I don't know, man. Its really freaking deep. (I have to be honest when I say though, that I freakin' LOVE that line. Ya know why? Because it's basically saying, that if God likes you, you don't necessarily have to take justice into your own hands, in a way. Because, God will pay it back for you). But how did I freakin' get on this subject in the first place anyway? Oh yea, I remember. Coming across that ole' friend that I mention above, on social media. (And how the contradictions would really turn me off). Also, I guess, sometimes when you are going through some things and looking for answers, you get deep. And/or just having some really good liquor, and getting a really good buzz. Either way, there's got to be something man. Whatever. I mean, I can remember when I was like 2 yrs old, and thinking: "W.T.F.? I'm just 2 yrs old. I've only been living on this earth for like 2 years! Where was I before I was born?" Ya know what I mean? Life is freakin' deep, man. I don't get it. And then you have this...
The Parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
"But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ "Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone were to rise from the dead.’” -Luke 16: 19-31
Some music videos of hope and encouragement, that really make ya' think, that quite possibly, there very well may just be something more...