RicOlie_2

Well, better to do it on a forum where you’re anonymous than all over social media.

In the right hands, it makes a difference. And so far, Andor seems to be in the right hands (unlike, say, The Acolyte).

I have no problem with a lot of money being spent on Andor. You can see the results. Unlike some of the other shows we’ve been getting.

Glad to hear it!

No need to worry about making me feel judged! If I’m going to bring up my religion all the time, it would be kind of silly to get offended about people disagreeing with me.

I can understand. I’ve been in that mindset (or at least a similar one–I can’t read your thoughts), so I don’t blame you at all. I just know how great it’s been to rediscover my faith (and discover how many misconceptions I had about it), so it’s hard to resist throwing it out there at random passersby.

But whatever you believe or do, I wish you well, and I’m truly happy to hear at least some things are looking up for you.

…Is that good news? I hope so.

God hasn’t given up on you. He’s just respecting your choices.

Shoot. Now when I don’t see someone, I just assume they’re sticking to other parts of site, but I’m sorry to hear that’s not the case. Hopefully he’s doing alright.

I’m very sorry to hear that, Mike. I wish I knew what to say.

I know I say this a lot in this thread, but I might as well give you your annual reminder to give Jesus a try, since I truly believe it’s the only thing that will make you really happy. It’s not necessarily the message you want right now, but it’s what I’ve got.

That’s a good perspective. As someone who’s pretty much grown up with the MCU, and then again with several years in a row of Star Wars movies, I easily forget that that isn’t normal.

Very cool. I’m really happy the show is bringing in people like that. It does so much to contribute towards its believability and realism.

That’s gorgeous!

Here it is, posted by the original artist (this version includes a theme for Thrawn as well!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA-uSnkNPQg&t=617s

Sounds like you’re doing a lot better than you were before, which is good to see.

Those people feel exactly the same way about the other side. What you mean by “alt right” is unclear, since the term get’s thrown around a lot, but I think it’s important to recognize that people on all sides feel the same way. There’s been a significant shift to the left in mainstream media in the last decade or two, and people who aren’t on board with it often react by going in the other direction.

Definitely agree. That immediately makes this movie much more interesting to me. The prison arc in Andor was superbly written.

Holy crap…65,000 texts?! Definitely wouldn’t want to be that guy.

LOL

Ah, I love that. Same thing with watching the snow when it’s dark and snowing, but I love the sound of rain.

I just looked up the red sheep one… it looks like it’s a Sicilian riddle. Apparently the answer is roof tiles(as in the typically reddish-orange tiles you see in a lot of European countries), which all “cry” when it rains . That definitely doesn’t translate for a North American (or even British) audience…

I’m really sorry Mike. I wish I could understand better. I am here for you if you need to talk. I know a short sentence isn’t likely to change the way you see your situation, but I’ve seen too many people who thought they had nothing left to live for rediscover the joy of life, for me to be able to accept that there’s nothing left for you. Your life still has value and there is still a future for you.

Please send me a PM if you think there’s anything I can do to help, even if it’s just to listen.

V x M + XLI

I’m really sorry to hear it, Mike. I wish I could help… If you need to talk things out more, my PMs are always an open door.

That aged really well…

Darth Tremor said:

RicOlie_2 said:

The belief that God doesn’t send people to hell, but that we send ourselves there, is exactly what mainstream Christianity believes (Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and many varieties of Protestantism). It’s mostly just Calvinists and fundamentalists who don’t believe that.

God created hell for the devil and his angels, “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!” (Matthew 25:41) and He does send people there who refuse to believe (John 3:18), “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell,” (Matthew 10:28), “And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15). In those cases yes the unbeliever paves there way to hell, but God does the sending / sentencing or casting into lake of fire at judgement.

Thank you for your reply. I think the verses you cited make a compelling point at first glance, but what was said in the above-posted article about prooftexting applies here.

There are countless ways in which the Bible attributes direct agency to God to emphasize His authority over all things. Another example is when Exodus alternately says that “God hardened the heart of Pharaoh” and “Pharaoh hardened his heart.” I don’t think there’s any reason to see those passages as saying different things–that sometimes it was God, and sometimes it was Pharaoh. Rather, Pharaoh’s heart hardened in response to God because of his own inner state and choices, just like some materials harden when exposed to the sun, while others melt (and it isn’t that the sun acts differently in the different cases).

Similarly, I interpret all of the passages you cite as figurative imagery, reflecting how the sinful soul is unable to endure the presence of God. It is almost impossible for us human beings to imagine condemning ourselves to eternal torment, so Jesus and Revelation speak of it in juridical terms, which would have been better understood by the people of that time.

The position of the Catholic Church is twofold: (1) we condemn ourselves to hell through our own actions, (2) God is our supreme judge.

My preferred theological interpretation of this (among several possible ones) is that in deliberately rejecting what is good (which is what a mortal sin is), we implicitly reject the source of goodness and the supreme Good (i.e., God). If we do not repent of that sin–in other words, if we do not come to see it as evil–we will hate whatever is incompatible with that sin. In coming face-to-face with God at our judgement, we will be unable to stand God’s presence and God will cut us off from that presence in accordance with our own choosing, so as not to override our decisions. Were God to simply change who we were or force us to be in His presence anyway, it would be an annihilation of ourselves–one might even say a kind of divine rape. That’s the summary version of it, anyway.

I totally agree.

5033

I’m a bit late again, but that’s tough. Hope you’re doing OK, broth3r. I didn’t realize he passed away so young…