[Wide-Open]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

Nothing invalidates my Bushido code.

Nothing invalidates my Bush code. So now what?

[Shinto_Warrior_Wannabe]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

What does that have to do with anything? You just confused me something fierce.

[One-eyed Jack]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

Well, there are two ways of looking at your conversion to Japanese superstition.

1. To a Christian, there is only one rejoinder: God does not approve. The Christian God is the only real God; we know that from Isaiah. If you flout His will then He will get you in the end. Period. It doesn't matter if you are a Clinja, a Pitied Foo', a Samurai, or a lump of human sheep's dag -- God will get you in the end. And it won't be pretty.

2. To a logical positivist, your conversion from Episcopalianism to Shinto is simply nonsensical. Refusing to believe in leprechauns, you have decided to believe in gnomes instead. Why not believe in the real world? And, while you're at it, you can construct an intelligent system of morals and ethics instead of getting one shoved up your ass by "teachers" and "wise men" and "sensei". What is better, creating a code of morals and of ethical behavior from your own understanding of human good and evil, of human right and wrong behavior, or getting it instilled in you by a dubious authority figure?

Being of a philosophically flexible nature, I can argue either or both of these positions. (My True Christian beliefs aside, of course.) I suppose I could argue your side as well, but you are starting out reasonably well. (You might bring the value of centuries of codified wisdom into it if you want to take the discussion to a little higher level, though.)

Cheers --

~~ OEJ

[Shinto_Warrior_Wannabe]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

I appreciate what you said. I have constructed my own morals and ethical behaviours. No one person has ever forced me to believe what I don't want to. I live each day as best as I can by my code of honor. I try very hard to be a very good person and help those that I can when I can. What I really don't understand is why people have to say "this is the only religion or that is the only religion" now understand I am not knocking anyone for what they believe and the only thing I ask is that the same respect is given me.

i thank you for seeing things from my perspectives. Now I know you don't agree with my viewpoints but at least you are willing to listen to another angle so to speak...

And to everyone else who thinks I sound queer or a fag or whatever, I ask that you do not question my heterosexuality. That would be a mistake.

[Shinto_Warrior_Wannabe]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

I may be making headway. Or not, but it's a learning experience. I am trying to enhance my patience by going to a hostile environment and converse about different subjects.

[Toxicroak]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

Hey hey relax shinto, I think these folks have their morals mixed up.. Landover may leave some folks with a bad tatse in their mouths about christains, But you know guys, You make jesus to be so hateful, Like why would you think that, I see alot of racist comments, thats not the was of the holy spirit, its just more hate..... Keep in mind, this comment is if this is serious, Wich I still think its a trolling site. Shinto chill out aye, changing your name was just immature..

[Shinto_Warrior_Wannabe]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

I agree it was immature, but at the same time. The people here believe that it was a misrepresentation of myself and saw fit to amend it to fit. I guess it was reasonable, but immature...

[Hitoshi]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

I am expert in Bushido code.



I am train you and make you same like tom cruise



but please try control yourself when are go on oprah

[Shinto_Warrior_Wannabe]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

your a funny guy. I don't know if i should take you seriously or you are mocking me.

[Nobar King]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

What Hitoshi's trying to say is, "you would just believe anyone who shows you a photoshopped picture of him and claims to know Bushido code?" How do you know that your master knows anything from a gnat?

[Shinto_Warrior_Wannabe]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

obviously I didn't just blindly believe him and take it at face value... I am a suspicious person by nature. So I don't take things at face value, I ask questions all the time... I guess that's a problem I have.

[Shinto_Warrior_Wannabe]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

I do wish everyone a good and safe week-end, and I hope to continue this discussion at another time...

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

I appreciate what you said. I have constructed my own morals and ethical behaviours. No one person has ever forced me to believe what I don't want to. I live each day as best as I can by my code of honor. I try very hard to be a very good person and help those that I can when I can.

There is your first sin, son. You've created your own morals and ethics, rather than following what God put in the Bible.

Why do you think God gave us the Bible? So we could make up something different, or so we could follow it? I'll answer for you: So we could follow it, of course!

Doing things because YOU want to do them is anathema to Christianity. You should not help someone because you think it is right, or more realistically to make yourself feel altruistic, but in order to bring Glory to God. God is the focus of a proper human's life, not the human's worthless ego!

What I really don't understand is why people have to say "this is the only religion or that is the only religion" now understand I am not knocking anyone for what they believe and the only thing I ask is that the same respect is given me.

Son, how can two different religions with two different deities and two different belief systems both be correct? Either one is right, and the other wrong (as in the case of Christianity vs. anything else), or they are both wrong (as in the case of, say, Buddhism vs. Islam). They can't both be right.

Let me give you an example.

Islam says that Jesus was a teacher, like Muhammed. A prophet. Islam says that praying to Jesus is a sin and will condemn you to Hell.

Christianity says that Jesus is God. Christianity says that not believing Jesus is God will likewise earn you a one-way trip to Satan's Lair.

Catholicism says that Mary is Goddess. Catholicism says that you should pray to statues of Mary or her image in a taco.

Now, can these all be right? I'll answer for you: Of course not! They contradict each other!

Therefore, Christianity is True Religion, the others are false cults.

i thank you for seeing things from my perspectives. Now I know you don't agree with my viewpoints but at least you are willing to listen to another angle so to speak...

My rock-worshipping friend, I'm always happy to listen to anyone. I'm sure the folks at Landover are, as well; like them, I just want you to find Jesus and be saved!

And to everyone else who thinks I sound queer or a fag or whatever, I ask that you do not question my heterosexuality. That would be a mistake.

I'm not sure where that came from, son. I'd not thought anything about your sexual proclivities. Are you bringing it up because there's an issue you'd like to discuss?

[One-eyed Jack]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

The good Reverend Rodimer has ably expressed the True Christian™ viewpoint on false religions. He is a true Soldier of the Hung Savior.

Sigh. OK, here is what your argument could be: "The Shinto code consists not of superstition but of moral and ethical wisdom refined over many centuries by people deeply concerned with the concept of right living. While there are religious trappings, what I find important are the codified rules for social interaction: rules for cooperation, for respect, and -- yes -- for conflict."

The Christian counter will be that God Almighty has given mankind His rules for exactly those things, and you ignore the Christian God at your peril. God has given mankind rules for obtaining slaves, for instance; He has told mankind that homosexuals and false prophets must be killed. And His greatest promise is to cast all those who do not accept Him into Hell.

The Zen Buddhist argument would be that all gods are illusory, and codes and rules only separate the mind from what is immanent and real. Perceive rightly, the ghost of Gary Snyder might say, and you will act rightly in the moment.

The rationalist might argue that certainly one can take what is wise and perceptive from ancient teachings, but to accept a moral code constructed upon ancient premises is feckless at best and psychologically dangerous at worst. The first tool used to brainwash cult members is the guru's kindly assertion that "You do not understand this teaching yet, but in time you will grasp it." That is simply a way of saying that any challenge to the belief system will be deferred until you learn to accept the unthinkable without asking questions. The rationalist would be very suspicious of any sensei, guru, teacher -- anyone who seeks to place himself in a position of instilling belief in others.

__________________________________________________ _______________

Now, I must repent my secular thoughts.

Let us pray.

OH Lord! I beg You, in all your might and magnificence, warsh these here impure rationalist rationalizations from my quivering brain. Let this mass of gray jello betwixt my hairy old ears be CLEANSED of these abominable thoughts! Let my mashed potaters be light and fluffy, Lord, and my gravy without no lumps in it. (Must be coming up on suppertime...)

God, You sent Your only Son to this darkly whirling world to teach man about Your great Plan for Man, and You had Jesus tortured to death just as a mighty SIGN of Your eternally loving nature. PRAISE THE LORD! Oh, it makes these rheumy old eyes just fill with tears to think how much God loves mankind...yes, every little baby shitting itself to death in Bangladesh, every child dying slowly of malaria in the Sudan, every victim of tornadoes and earthquakes and tsunamis and cholera! How Your great and perfect Love shows itself to our poor mortal eyerballs! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!

Amen.

~~ OEJ

[Wash O'Hanley]

Re: Curious as to why my name was changed

With learning Shinto I hope to one day be the equivelent of a Samurai.

Modern day samurai

a funnier phrase has never been uttered.