Ahira's Hangar

I am reading The Iliad right now with my younger son.

The constant divine interventions by the Greek gods and goddesses are freaking him out.

While I know that some people do believe that God/Allah/whatever spiritual being they pray to/ does intervene in people's lives, no one I know believes that their gods/goddesses do to the extent of what goes on in The Iliad.

Do you believe in divine interventions? Do you not believe in them? If you do believe in them, have you ever experienced something that you feel or know is one in your own life? ******************************************************

Our lives are the songs that sing the universe into existence.~David Zindell
<i>Edited by: Duchess of Malfi at: 8/2/06 10:09 pm
</i>

Perhaps unsurprisingly, I don't believe in them. That is not to say that amazing things don't happen, even highly unlikely things, but the kind of deus ex machina that, for example, the classical greeks (and about everybody else) used is particularly...I dunno...annoying.

Apart from anything else, it sorta demeans all your struggles. You might as well sit and do nothing if the gods are going to descend and save or destroy you...

--A ____________________________________

"We have become a society in which the Artist is regarded as
A self-indulgent superfluity, and the person who juggles stocks and shares
Is an essential part of the economy. Something is Wrong" -Pam Brown.
<i></i>

I'm gonna have to vote No. heh ____________
Highdrake's mastery of spells and sorcery was not much greater than his pupil's, but he had clear in his mind the idea of something very much greater, the wholeness of knowledge. And that made him a mage.<i></i>

Haha, how eloquent.

--A ____________________________________

A sense of the sardonic preserves a man from believing in his own pretensions. -The Sayings Of Maud'Dib<i></i>

*nyuk nyuk*

lol

It's difficult for me to say more. You folks know that, even if I don't say there isn't any god/creator, I don't particularly believe there is. It's therefore difficult to believe there's any divine intervention going on, neh? First things first. Let's work on making me believe there is a creator, then we can work on making me see divine intervention.

Unless the instances of divine intervention are evidence of such a being. In which case, give me examples of divine intervention. heh ____________
Highdrake's mastery of spells and sorcery was not much greater than his pupil's, but he had clear in his mind the idea of something very much greater, the wholeness of knowledge. And that made him a mage.<i></i>

Well, you know I pretty much agree with you. As I've said before, I like the idea that randomness is behind it all. It makes it so much more incredible.

--A ____________________________________

A sense of the sardonic preserves a man from believing in his own pretensions. -The Sayings Of Maud'Dib<i></i>

Randomness is consistent. Or at least it's consistently inconsistent. Divine intervention, otoh...

Of course, this agnostic's understanding of divine intervention cannot be considered complete. There are doubtless views of it that I would find much, much more logical than those I'm familiar with. (Such as the kind in the Iliad. Or the kind where people pray for someone with a terrible illness. If the person recovers, they say God intervened for them because of their prayers; and if the person dies, they say, "God doesn't change His plan simply because I asked him to.") I imagine Furls' view would make more sense to me. Hey, dollface, you here? ____________
Highdrake's mastery of spells and sorcery was not much greater than his pupil's, but he had clear in his mind the idea of something very much greater, the wholeness of knowledge. And that made him a mage.<i></i>

That touches on something I was just thinking recently actually. You know these "reality" shows that are like competitions? I often see Americans saying things like, "I know I'm gonna win because God is on my side."

Now I wonder, when they don't win, does that mean God isn't on their side afterall?

--A ____________________________________

A sense of the sardonic preserves a man from believing in his own pretensions. -The Sayings Of Maud'Dib<i></i>

My guess is that those who say such things in the first place would likely now say something like, "I don't know what God's plan is, but He needed me to lose in order to fulfill it." ____________
Highdrake's mastery of spells and sorcery was not much greater than his pupil's, but he had clear in his mind the idea of something very much greater, the wholeness of knowledge. And that made him a mage.<i></i>

Mr. Disappointment-Neil Young

Where did all the feelings go?
What about that happy glow?
Was that so long ago,
When we were first in love?

I didn't feel the change,
Everything was still the same.
And when that moment came,
I didn't know.

I miss the feeling,
I miss the light,
But I got faith in something,
I'll never give up the fight.

Why's it so heavy,
This love of mine,
I lost the feeling,
I lost the time.

I'd like to shake your hand,
Disappointment.
Looks like you win again,
But this time might be the last.

Let's say I got a habit,
Let's say it's hard to break,
Let's say we got to do something,
Before it's just too late.

I want to get you back,
I don't know how to do that,
I miss you loving me,
The way you used to.

I'm taking the blame myself,
For livin' my life in a shell,
And now I'm breakin' out,
But will you still be there?

Let's say that love is blind,
Let's say that time is kind,
Let's say that it's not over,
'Til it's over.

I'd like to shake your hand,
Disappointment.
Looks like you win again,
But this time might be the last.

I'm saving the best for last,
Let's leave this all in the past,
The beauty of loving you,
Is what we've both been through.

So now it's up to me,
To set your spirit free,
So you can swing again,
On our gate.

I'd like to shake your hand,
Disappointment.
Looks like you win again,
But this time might be the last. *****
Before, you are wise; after, you are wise. In between you are otherwise.
Fravashi saying (from the formularies of Osho the Fool) <i></i>

--A ____________________________________

A sense of the sardonic preserves a man from believing in his own pretensions. -The Sayings Of Maud'Dib<i></i>