Anybody recognise anybody?
Photo.1 Father Keith and my sister Irene (extreme right)
2 My brother Keith on the right
3 Brother Keith 3rd from right
Just realized that could be Marie Jones extreme left
I remember Father Keith....."You Wanna PLay a Game Of Basketball?"...in an American Accent... And A squash player who like to bend the law a bit.........
On closer inspection, is that Father Keith?
I remember him in the mid 70's?
I'm right this time that is father Keith.He had this skipper dog called Bingles,he would say "dance Bingles dance" and Bingles would get on his hind legs and dance with this toothy grin. You guys should remember that.
I remember his crew cut and those glasses, he just seems very young and his hair seems to dark....
1966 MIchael 1966 :36_2_35:
SSssssssh! Diana, you don't have to give away your age like that.... we understand!
yougogirl
Never mind I'm proud of my 52 yrs. poledancing1
Even if somebody says Half a Century and 2 years old.... ?
Yip its a cool age. hoolahoop1
Keep on Believing it........!
OUMA!
Diana is that not Charlie Huntley standing behind Irene in photo 1??
Quite right Richard.So now we have 3names
Is the tall guy infront of Father Keith not Terry Early and the girl to his right Patrick O'Brians sister?Did he have a sister?She just looks like an O'brian to me.
Yes I think the boy might be an Early, but not Terry?
Yes that is Patrick O'brian's younger sister - I think she became a nun?
He also had a older brother, Rorry - who was a Springbok Scout as a teenager and a older sister, cannot remember her name.
Bridget O'Brien ?
Is that Mrs O'Brien's (english teacher ) children
idontknow about being an English teacher.
Yes Bridgit sounds right.
Diana
You go girl!! Sit Mike op sy plek!!! Age will be creeping up on him as well, and yes, I agree with you, being over 50 is not bad at all!!
Charmain
eng teacher and blue house choir coach, yes
Blue House choir coach.............takes a while but yes now I remember.
Dianna ,
me a failed protestant but I remember father Keith very well .. sort of stood out with his yankee accent . and sometimes different ways of tackling things .. If I am not mistaken was it him that placed an ad in the newsletter when he noticed his attandance at church dropping ?? it read something like " good sheperd looking for some of his flock that have gone astray, if anyone has seen or found any of them please contact ......... "
We also had another interesting catholic priest some years later . forget his name
( german sounding ) but he was quite wacky , had a pilots licence .. also said he had money from an inheritance stashed away , so was more than comfortable but remained in priesthood cos he enjoyed it ..
You were telling Mike about age and being proud of it .. yes we all now in our half century still all young at heart and hope to enjoy many more years having fun with friends and family well into the autumn years .. I attach a cute cartoon pic of such scenario ... enjoy !
:emot19: Me on the right,has to be Debbie in the middle as she has the darker hair,Dalene on the left. The two of you can be fifty for the hell of it.
Of course the wine.The thing about our age is we now have fun and are not out to impress everyone.
cheers to us half centurians discodance
:sorriso2: Yes Father Keith did place that advert.That priest with the aeroplane,( he did have his own one here in Cape town) took me for a spin one time and did all these spins and turns (aerobatic stuff) I sh*t myself,but kept thinking "I'm with a man of the cloth here so the Lord will look out for me". Will get his name and a photo from my mom.
I was not a Catholic (was half breed Catholic namely Anglican), but the priest's name was father Eckerstoffe (excuse the spelling).
I remember our group Diana downing pepermint liquors at your folks house one Christmas eve after mass.
He was quite a character, good at photogaphy and full of life.
He was from a welthy German famely of the old school where one of the sons had to become a priest and remain as such or loose it all.
Some one in the Catholic church dropped him in the shit because of his photgraphy - he was not at the Wednesday mass when these only two people arrived, they found him at the camera club and as the story goes reported him to the big boys in Cape Town.
They transfered him to Kamieskroon, where he preached and made a big name for himself by taking photographs of wild flowers (next time you are in the area go to the Kamieskroon hotel and see some of his photographs on the walls) - the best thing that could have happened to him - th Lord works in mysterious was!
Debby and I bumped into him on Cape Town airport in 2000, he could not remember us, but we had a good chat with him and he is now preaching in the Keimoes/Kakamas area.
Another character of Oranjemund's yester year.
Richard
Father Eckersdorffe ( also excuse the spelling) , I bashed into him last in 1988 at Salesians Hostel in CPT, He is featured on one of the covers of a Newsletter abouut a sports day in Oranjemund.
Oh! I forgot, The age thing, You okies are all just jealous that you have rapidly passed the half century and I am but a chicken full of spring with 12 years to go....and anyhow , by that time they will have discovered how to reverse the aging process ... but by then it will be tooooo late for you lot.....
laughpoint
:emot19:
:36_2_35:
mike ....we "oldies" are you in a few years time.......... iknow :emot19:
We'll see if the Chicken really does have more spring hoolahoop1 in his step eh girls!!!!!!!!! poledancing1
Quote from: Michael Alexander on February 04, 2008, 02:45:03 PM
Father Eckersdorffe ( also excuse the spelling) , I bashed into him last in 1988 at Salesians Hostel in CPT, He is featured on one of the covers of a Newsletter abouut a sports day in Oranjemund.
Wasn't he around befor the american priest?
Just for the record
Father Eggersdorfer from Austria as far as i remember
Or the Red Baron.....he used to fly with a small aeroplane until he crashed on a fence
Also an ardent Camera Club Member
The Machts in the Cape still have contact with him
After he left O-mund, the next father was dutch, to be seen in Oklahonma Pics at Beauvallon
No Father Keith came way before, as I said the photo was taken in 1966. Yes I knew that plane well I flew with him.
Will still post a photo of Father Eckerstoffe,yes Richard he was quite something.
As for age Michael go sit in your corner again ok. We can out party you guys anyday thumper bring it on.
... and I found a photo of the good father Eckersdorfer at a camera club prize giving...
Thanks for the Pic
In the mid: Neville de Witt very active in the Camera club
On the right a young geologist, he recorded the weather in my days in OM
Quote from: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on February 04, 2008, 09:22:54 PM
No Father Keith came way before, as I said the photo was taken in 1966. Yes I knew that plane well I flew with him.
Hey you naughty girl, is this why he crashed ????? Who knows.... laughpoint
Neville De Witt retired to Tulbagh in then Cape... that was his son in law, Clint Ebstein that sent you and email about rocks and stones...
Quote from: Michael Alexander on February 05, 2008, 03:24:43 PM
Neville De Witt retired to Tulbagh in then Cape... that was his son in law, Clint Ebstein that sent you and email about rocks and stones...
Upps, never got such a mail !!! I usualy answer very quick
He was visiting me last week and mentioned that he had sent you an email.... he is also into collecting rocks and stones..... i'll ask him again about it....
Quote from: Michael Alexander on February 05, 2008, 03:31:14 PM
He was visiting me last week and mentioned that he had sent you an email.... he is also into collecting rocks and stones..... i'll ask him again about it....
Yes do that Mike, thanks
send him that Link here, my stones >>> http://www.dersofaladen.de/edelsteine/index.html
Diana, isn't Mike perhaps thinking of the priest that came after Father Keith. He was from America and quite athletic, can't remember his name though.
Here is a photo of Eleen and myself at our "First Holy Communion", can't remember what the Sunday school teacher's name is.
Not from America, I see, from Austria. Not Eleen but Ellen. Promise I have had nothing to drink. idontknow
This lady taught us too. Can't remember her name, but she was very strict. For some reason she taught us Ruf in kids in something like private lesons. We must've been fantastic scolarls, seeing that our parents were such great catholics. bling1 In the end she gave up. Had to catch up at the age of 14. Very late I know.
Pics of Patricia (Lineker) first holy communion and myself (Susan)
Gosh, Susan, you went digging deep! :-) We were sooooo sweet!!
Love from your big sis!
Patricia
Hi Dianne
I am sure the girl on the left is Marie, she was really cute then. The priests I remember are father Groenendyk, father Kieth, father Ekesdoffer and father Ebenhoeh(we used to count the number of exam pad pages he had written his sermon on to know how long mass was going to be.
I can remember telling Lou Griffeth-Richards that both my dad and Christopher were lay minister, his comment was "is there any room for God" I found that very funny.
My father had to make sure that Ann and I never sat next to each other in church, because we would alway start laughing. As you must know the more you try not to laugh the more you have to. You would always here these odd grunts coming from the chior section. I'm laughing just thinking about it.
:emot19:
As much as I resented having to go to mass every sunday, we had some good laughs.
Take care
Carolyn Evans (nee Jones)
Yes thats Marie...I remember always sitting in the back row of the "Wing" so we could fool around and sneak out at communion. Father didn't seem to look sideways.
We were told Bible stories in a room at the side of the church by ???? Barnes; think her husbands name was Rex. At communion time we were allowed into the church - once the first holy communion was made, then we had to stay in the church throughout the entire mass.............
Father Keith taught me how to make popcorn.....in the days before microwaves :sorriso2:
Lucky you. Heard of a preach teaching...
Monica (Matron) Barnes was her name. She read bible stories to me as well. The first thing I remember having learnt was the difference between a venial sin and a mortal sin. That was way back in Sub A.
Quote from: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on April 30, 2008, 06:34:04 AM
The first thing I remember having learnt was the difference between a venial sin and a mortal sin.
And dit you understand the difference between venial and mortal at that innocent age ????
Wonder, do you still know the difference today ????
I think we are all "Venialists " meanpuff
Quote from: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on April 30, 2008, 06:34:04 AM
Monica (Matron) Barnes was her name. She read bible stories to me as well. The first thing I remember having learnt was the difference between a venial sin and a mortal sin. That was way back in Sub A.
Scary isn't it? teaching kids sh** like that in such a young age.
Each to his own Boy Georg........that so called "SH*T" has not made me a bad or confused person to-day.I consider myself fairly balanced,I brought up 3 great children,with good moral grounding,they have not given me any major problems. I must be a good wife as I have been married for 32yrs,quite an achievement I would say. So while you are intitled to your opinion, I would appreciate it if you wouldn't offend me regarding my religion regardless of your thoughts on the matter. thnx
:sorriso2: Daddy Georg , I thought back then ,that stealing my brothers sweets was only a little "Venial" sin. As long as I didn't commit murder.
Yip I'm Venial alright. Just ickle bickle baby sins.
Sorry if you took that personaly Diana. I've experianced my own stories especialy with the cathlic church. To me it is strange for eg how preasts who are not allowed to have sex or get married can tell anybody about the moral of love between man and women or parents and their kids. ect ect.
I'm sure you did/are doing a good job for your family. But you're not representing the church and not the dirt happened or still happening in this church.
it's more of a philosophil thing I was refereing to.
Ah Jnr - the 'dirt' that you are referring to only represents a small minority, as in all walks of life; priest or not - the 'dirt' comes out.........and maybe you are not into religion but you have to respect others that are - the church is not all bad and has taught some good lessons as well and a lot of us got a good grounding....
@Diana - Monica Barnes - you are spot on; I remember at one time we lost the resident priest in O'mund and Rex Barnes used to do a service - inbetween the priests visits..........I don't remember this, but my sister swears he could remove one of his eyes!!!
Obviously it's a minority. The church protects the (realy bad guys) minority. I'd like to remind you of what a lot of you wrote in the topic "Rape in OM". Most of you were ready for revenge. Need I say more?
That's just part of the bad side of churches.
Back in the day,when we had Religious Instruction at school us catholics would have to traipse over to the pondock at the church for a spot of Catechism. Did that still happen in your time Rhona?
Hiya Diana - we didn't have any religious education while I was OPS - it was taught as an extra curriculum - we went to somebodys house after school where we were taught the Bible and the teachings of God. I remember one afternoon as I was splashing about the swimming pool - I got a phone call to say I was s'posed to be at Catechism........
Never knew they had waterproof phones back in the day...... bravo
None of your teasing, Michael Alexander - I was summoned to the phone and no doubt I was in the middle of a very important game of ''something, something - turn around; something, something - tip the ground; something, something - show your shoe; something,something - that will do'' Just for the life of me, I can't remember what the something was - could it perhaps be ''Simon, Simon etc etc'' - anyway no doubt I was beating you and the rest at the game cause I was super fast in the water..........
@Rhona.....what was your impression of the movie.... "Bruce Almighty!" ?
bless u my child amen.
"father Chris" swim swim
Never saw 'Bruce Almighty' - but I loved 'Something about Mary'
Don't make me rent out crap Mike.......is it worth seeing???
Ooooh Yes,,,,, if you like the comedy of Jim Carrey..... "Oh Schmiter Scmite me......" Morgan Freeman plays godd.... I thought it was good.......
Poster...
mmmmm - okay so; I'll give it a go - but it better be up there with ''frank and beans'' or I'm coming to get you!!!
... No you're not...... laughpoint
Oh yes I am.........don't ever make that mistake - e180
.. No you're not......
Oh yes I am............and that's the end of it........finished in Claaaaa (as yours and my mom used to say when we were acting the maggot about the place)
Hey Rhona, are you practicing Anny get your gun ?????
Yes i can, no you cant LOL hoolahoop1
No Georg, no gun - Mike is trying me, that's all...
Quote from: Rhona on May 05, 2008, 07:44:16 PM
No Georg, no gun - Mike is trying me, that's all...
I watch who wins that one thumper
Come now children I'm watching you, that will be "4 Our Father's,6 Hail Mary's and 1 Glory be" for Michael and Rhona.
We hang our heads in shame for arguing in the Catholic section - but in my defence........he started it - and he should be put in the wardrobe and made think about what he did
If he can't fit..... he can just say the rosary twice.
:emot35: I think that makes a pretty rosary.
The rosary aint gonna fit either..... I mean, not fitting for him.... whatever.....
:sorriso2: true
He should be ashamed of himself....
Quote from: Florrie van Zyl (Muir) on March 03, 2008, 05:33:21 PM
Diana, isn't Mike perhaps thinking of the priest that came after Father Keith. He was from America and quite athletic, can't remember his name though.
Here is a photo of Eleen and myself at our "First Holy Communion", can't remember what the Sunday school teacher's name is.
Hi Florrie,
yes was American, wasnt it Father Hurley? Where did Father Groenendyk fit into the picture. Alfred will have some stories to tell about him. Strange man!!
Yep! Yep!, Father Keith played squash a lot, my mom used to play against him quite often, he was a short guy, Father Hurley was the , "You wanna play a game of basketball?" priest.....
Diana.......can i ask what what the 2 different sins you mentioned are .....ive never heard of either of them....maybe thats where ive been going wrong////i might ne commiting sins that i didnt even know where sins....... idontknow
Don't worry about your sins Bev just say 6 Our Fathers and 4 Hail Mary's every nite and you'll be forgiven..... :sorriso2:
Never understood the technicalities of it .. I am by own admission a failed protestant ( a play on the term of lapsed catholic ) I just remember what my good parents tried to pass onto me in the form of values and try to live by the basic premise of try to do no harm to yourself or to others .. try to be truthful to your heart and to others .. love yourself and love all around you as you would wish to be loved .. understand others as you would wish to be understood .. never forget where you came from .... one could go on and on .. again absic premise of always putting the others persons shoe on your foot but then never ever forgetting at the same time to love and respect yourself ... balance .. balance ... balance .. after all what is life but just one huge juggling act ??
bravo Sandy NO Hail Mary's for you this week.
Sandys Hail Mary's are CALLED SHIRAZ theres no way about it iknow meanpuff
Damn !! I think Georg Snr has just gone and padlocked the cellar for a week .. In the smalls an ad will appear .. for swop 1 rosary for a bottle of shiraz .....
Let me find a rosary and we swap......... meanpuff
@SANDY..... ASK DIANA FOR DIRECTIONS TO MR NIGERIAN GOOD SH..T THERE.
Good one .. I shall do ...
SANDY........ CANT SEE WHERE DI SAYS GUZZLERS WAS AN EYE OPENER. NICE PUB, SPENT MY RECUPERATION TIME THERE AFTER MY OP.
Well said Sandy, you do not have to have a ' 'Religion' to know what is right and wrong, good and eviletc.No disrespect to any one. But isn't a lot of the pain and killing in this World due to Religion! :looser1: bighug
I agree with you Pam.......I get upset when somebody states a religion is wrong. Who knows? Not having any religion isn't wrong either. Who knows? Whatever carries you well through life.
HEY Chris ; 5 FULL Rosary's for you my friend for bringing pubs and Nigerians into this topic. :sorriso2:
Rosary-Shiraz- Rosary- Shiraz mmmmmmm thats why I lost the pub? I was being a good cathoic again
have been in catholic religion long time, catholic school marist brothers, all us jewish guys and girls seemed to have been educated at catholic schools. my mother maristella durban,cousins , star of sea durban, good education teaching u to to look out on life. we still have same g_d at the end. u wonder why i miss the "o" out of the g-d word ? i am not allowed to mention the word out of context in a sentence.
'Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain' - The second Comandment as I was taught as a little one.
you learn fast o daughter of the lost green leprichaun
Learn fast and forget nothing............
i think learn fast and forget nothing was bashed into my head at marist brothers. made me what i am today,those brothers,cyril, dennis,patrick
realy drummed it into you.
All that helps for when you hit your 50's and forget why you going to the loo.
Why Diana - you go to the loo for some peace and quiet while reading your new book....
How are you - it seems like ages since we were logged on together
No I'm here, you just flirting with all the old men.... :sorriso2:
Now no-body loves me anymore..... :emot78:
I'll just have some communion .... quickdop
diana you forget why u go yo loo????
you also forget where chill out is. :emot19: :emot19: :emot19:
i must speak to steve to let u off the leash. :emot98: :emot98:
I've been chatting to the boys while I was waiting to go drinking with you............and everybody loves you e154 ; don't ever forget that....
:emot19: You getting smart now Chris, wait untill I see you in Pick and Pay again. yesno
dawoman yougogirl I'm enjoying your posts Rhona...putting them guys nicely in their place.
thnx e154 Rhona The old girl must go get her beauty sleep now gnite
Will order the BierSuip BierSuip BierSuip BierSuip for to-morrow
so di after all these years you wanna bash me, dont forget i got more lives than a cat, just dont take my batteries out ok
I seem to recall stories of Father Eckerstopfer followed by Father Gruenendeik (excuse spelling for both names). Not being Catholic myself (Anglican no diffs really), a good friend of mine was. My friend told me that the Catholic priest would visit their house regularly because his Dad and the Priest were both Austrians. Although my friend's father wasn't a regular church go'er I think it was that sort of coming from the same country that did it for them. Seem to recall a story that either Father Eckestopfer or Gruendeik offered to do a couple of different stunts for the childrens Xmas party on the cricket field. Priest standing on the wing of a low flying aeroplane, De Beers said absolutetly "no ways boet" too dangerous. Priest then suggested that a car drive around the perimeter of the cricket field on two wheels with said Priest standing top of the car as per EVEL KNIEVEL (obviously rejected by the "Company")
Here's a freshly scanned Newsletter image of Father Keith....
I was brought up as a catholic but have since decided that religion does more harm than good. My youngest son is an atheist like me and has been called the devil's child because he chooses not to believe in God, yet he is probably the most sensitive, caring child you would find. I am proud of the fact that I don't need to put the fear of God in him to make him live as christians should be living. Firstly, the bible was written by man, there are so many contradictions and people choose what to believe and what to discard. The story of Jesus was copied from the Pagan religion. Read the Jesus Myteries and The God Delusion and you will understand why so many of the most intelligent people in this world are atheists.
I feel with you Florrie.
For a long time I believed there was no god because of the bible being written by man. At least it was one of the reasons.
Now I know there's a god. Bu god doesn't need a bible nor religion.
If he is so almighty, why does he let bad things happen to good people?
You're hinking of god the way they wanted you to hink as a child. God is not good or bad. God is just everything. Like ying and yang.
Somehow everything is good and bad at the same time. Things are just the way they are. Faith is the trust in this fact. Faith has nothing to do with you believeing you're going to heaven. I's knowing that you're part of the whole no matter what "state" you're in. Dead or alive. Man or women. Healthy or sick ect.
Georg, I get where you are coming from but that isn't the God they talk about in the bible.
Yep.
As you said, the bible was writen by man. I have my own head on top. So I have my own idea of god.
What are your thoughts on Jesus, Christianity, the devil, heaven and hell, etc?
I think most of the ancient scripts go back to the way people tried to learn to understand the way things are. The better we "understand", the better we feel. The nicer the explaination the better... If I believe I'm going to heaven, it's easier for me to die... ect.
Jesus might have lived. But how were all the stories made up. No-one knows for sure.
The name Jesus has so often been used for war ect. If you think of the 2nd and 3rd world. The way Europians tried to force people to believe in their god.
huh??
I wonder, if god says one has to just ask for forgivenes one can get into heaven, does that mean all the rapist and murderers can get in if they say "oh, I'm sorry" I would not like to be in a place that is filled up with that lot.
mind you, I might not be going there anyway!
idontknow
lol You wouldn't deserve that anyway Paula... hihihi
I think it's all a matter of being on your way. Something very private. Finding peace with yourself and this crazy world.
Going to heaven? I think heaven is everywhere, just like hell.
Quote from: Paula Gottsch (Willson) on August 20, 2008, 02:02:43 PM
I wonder, if god says one has to just ask for forgivenes one can get into heaven, does that mean all the rapist and murderers can get in if they say "oh, I'm sorry" I would not like to be in a place that is filled up with that lot.
That would be a MORTAL SIN.....he would have to say 3,500 Hail Mary's and 4,653 Our Fathers first, ending off with 5,2133 Glory Be's.
well I take it they won't be going to heaven then, they won't have enough time to say all that before they go on their merry way.
:buffo9:
Quote from: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on August 20, 2008, 08:40:23 PM
Quote from: Paula Gottsch (Willson) on August 20, 2008, 02:02:43 PM
I wonder, if god says one has to just ask for forgivenes one can get into heaven, does that mean all the rapist and murderers can get in if they say "oh, I'm sorry" I would not like to be in a place that is filled up with that lot.
That would be a MORTAL SIN.....he would have to say 3,500 Hail Mary's and 4,653 Our Fathers first, ending off with 5,2133 Glory Be's.
You must decide what you think is right. God gave you a brain to use. Don't let ohers do that for you...
@ Florrie - i used to ask myself that same question "why does God allow bad things to happen to good people". I believe humans have misunderstood the meaning of us being created in God's image. Humans have projected their human qualities onto God and believe that He's like us whereas to me, it's the other way around - we were made in His image ie. his spiritual image, referring to our souls being a spark of Him. As George says - he's not good or bad (those are human qualities), He just is..Just like a wave is a tiny part of the ocean, it remains part of the ocean. That is how i equate my soul to being a part of Him. The singular wave is not as mighty as the ocean as a whole but it still has all the same qualities that make up the ocean, just on a smaller scale. I see all mankind as His spirit children......souls on a journey through "time". The body is just a vehicle for the soul which we drop at the time of death......the soul is who we really are, the part that lives on eternally.
In 2004, a tragic family event catapulted me into exploring my spirituality and along that path i have come across so many wonderful books & people, they appeared at precisely the right time. There's an ancient saying among the mystics "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear".
Read "Conversations with God" by Neale Donald Walsch, book 1, 2 and 3. He speaks about karma, reincarnation, good and evil, and answers questions that humans have been asking about God since the dawn of time. I don't practice religion, i practice spirituality which to me is a "universal religion" focusing on the journey of the soul from the time of its creation along its evolutionary path back to Source. The "Conversations" series of books will give you food for thought re your questions. As with everything, take it or leave it, whatever serves you. We all have to find our own truth. Let each soul walk its path. Reading your postings, i think your mind is open enough to read these books and decide for yourself.
@ Georg - like the way you think, we could have some interesting conversations
I like your attitude and statement Delia.
Yes, we'd have a lot to talk about.
PS. Florrie - if you do decide to read "Conversations with God", i'd really be interested to hear what you think.....i know the books are VERY controversial amongst dogmatic religions but the logic in them just sits right with me. I fully believe in tolerance for everybody's beliefs and would never be so arrogant as to say "this is the way and the only way to think"........what works for some doesn't necessarily work for others.
Please, in no way was i having a go at your beliefs, i respect and admire you for standing up for what you believe in and am open minded enough and secure enough in my own beliefs not to get offended by you saying you don't believe in God. There's an old saying, "if you don't stand up for something, you'll fall for anything".....so........you go girl!!!! Hope to chat soon.
allgood
@ Delia, will read Conversations with God, just very busy till end Oct, will let you know when I have read it but won't be soon. I won't say that I don't believe in God altogether, but I definitely don't believe in God as portrayed in the Bible and I definitely don't believe in Jesus especially that he is the only way to eternal life. I find that statement extremely arrogant. I am sick and tired of "Christians" pointing fingers, if they were true "Christians", they would be embracing everyone (non-believers too) and living their lives like a shining example, I'm sorry but there isn't one Christian that I know, that I can look up to and make me want to have what they have or be like them.
"It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring" - Carl Sagan
bravo A'la COSMOS!
Well said Florrie (or should I say Carl Sagan)........about sums it up. I don't either believe in the God of the bible and the fact that Jesus is the only way to salvation, i believe he was a prophet that came for the west (like buddha & krishna came for the east) to teach us the way to salvation through ourselves. The bible was full of karma and reincarnation (taught by Jesus) until 6AD when Constantine decided to take out what didn't serve the church and keep the masses enslaved. They knew that if people found out that they were actually in control of their own destiny as spirit on the path back to Source, they'd lose power and control and the church would crumble. Keep them fear based was the idea so everything to do with karma & reincarnation was removed from the bible. So no, like you, i don't believe in the God of the bible, too many contradictions and inconsistencies.
With my dad being so involved in the church I am so thankful he introduced me to a loving God who is above pettiness and being offended by our actions - that always confused me as a kid - one minute we're being told that God is all loving, then the next minute he's a vengeful, fearful God who's gonna condemn us to hell - huh, which one is it???? Contradiction if you ask me and the fact that the churches who preach this message don't even see this contradiction blows me away. So yeah, just like i said to Georg, i think we could have some good chats Florrie.........as reading between the lines, we have a similar outlook.
And you right, I've also yet to meet one "true" Christian that practices what they're supposed to - one of the most important teachings - TOLERANCE!!! Very narrow minded...........I've been told by some that i'm condemned to hell for my view on God, etc and what He is ie. 'cos i' don't conform to dogmatic religions, don't go to church 'cos i believe God is everywhere as the energy of pure Love (not an old man with a long white beard sitting on a chair in the clouds counting our every "sin") - i don't have to go somewhere specific to talk to Him; i go to mediums; meditate; do tarot cards; go for energy healing, etc. ie. quite involved in the esoteric side of life - i've been told it's the devil's work - funny, since i've been on that path my life's been filled with inner peace, calm and happiness. Love to know how they'd explain that one?????????? When i tell them i'm only doing what Jesus said ie. "Look within, the kingdom of heaven is within you" - they're lost for words, don't quite know what to say to that one??? I wish they would just open their minds a bit and explore a lot of the literature that's out there on the true message of his teachings and on spirituality itself instead of twisting it to suit themselves, and more so, stop just accepting what is shoved down their throats ie. start thinking for themselves a bit.........
Anyway, we could chat for hours about this, it's so difficult to put one's outlook on a topic like this into a forum discussion, it's so vast and the matrix is so wide..........so till next time, cheers
Great words Delia.
The system of fear still works. Even in the so civilized industrial world.
The two tourists from Texas that I was showing around the other day and myself had quite an interesting discussion on religion, both being scientific types, do not agree with religion.... and pointed out an interesting fact..... when a child dies of Luekemia or gets hit by a car.... the church will console the parents saying...the lord had a plan...or the lord is testing you..... Aw! Come on, what kind of test would this be?
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It must be noted, I too am not a fan of religion, but do believe in a Great Architect... that covers all of our so called man made beliefs.....
Aah Mike - the Great Architect - you a freemason? My dad was and so was Lance, and I often heard that term.........i've always thought it a very good title.
And yah, i don't believe God tests us.......how would he decide who to test and on what basis? On this topic, as he says in "Conversations........." ........"by what rule of thumb would i decide?"
@ Mike - things happen for a reason; whether we understand the reason straight off or whether we find out along the line..........we might not understand it and we might not want to accept it - but none the less we cannot stop it and so eventually we have to come to terms with it...
I don't there's a reason for what is happening. I believe man tries to understand in a "human" kind of way: everything needs a reason. God is not like ma. God is just there. Almighty and lets things happen. There's no reason for that.
Things just seem to fit together. Like birth and death ect.
Maybe so Jnr - but we all have our own ways of getting us through the hard times and heartache.......we deal with things differently and what some of us accept others cannot. For me; I believe what's for you wont pass you - whether it's good or bad and whether you understand the reason for the occurance or not
My words Rhona.
I was just putting my point of view.
It's important to respect the differences in belief!
now's the time to be jolly, la lal la laaaa la!
let's all get sloshed and have a party lalala laaaaa la la
bar(1) anyone??
Hmmm, be warned people, I know how to do this on my own!
BierSuip image 11 quickdop
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God gave us the booze tooo... BierSuip image201
Want to share some humour from the book i've just finished reading called "Past Lives Future Lives" by Dr Bruce Goldberg - he's a hypnotherapist specialising in parapsychology - he regresses and progresses people back to past and into future lives. To end the chapter on reincarnation, he says "Don't worry if you don't believe in reincarnation now. You will in your next life". I loved that - my sense of humour.
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sorriso2
I must've meant me. Yes, I don't believe in reincarnastion in a sence of me Georg coming back. I believe our spirit is out there. Sometimes seen as my spirit, but mostly not. I also believe our spirits mix with others and return as a kinda "mix". Nobody comes back to life.
Hey, I do!!!
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Vampires are dead. Give it a try Paula. Go on outside. We'll see if you get back quick enough... lol
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Vamp
Hmmm I seem to be doing all right outside, now what Georgjr?!?!
:culo1: ha ha
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...and I'm Marilyn Monroe cowgirl
You tell them Diana, they must not mess with us!
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and some quotes on religion
Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?
Douglas Adams
This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.
Dalai Lama
When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said "Let us pray." We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.
Desmond Tutu
Eskimo: "If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?" Priest: "No, not if you did not know." Eskimo: "Then why did you tell me?"
Annie Dillard
Nobody talks so constantly about God as those who believe there is no God
Brown
I like the last quote in particular.
Yes, we don't need the fairies. The garden itself is god enough. No diffs if it has flowers or thorns.
fantasy-18
@ Delia, yes we do think a lot alike. Two books you might find interesting: The Jesus Mysteries and The God Delusion.
@ Barbs, like your quotes, I'm guilty of the last one. I think I'm like the born again christians who have to tell everyone about their new-found faith. My turnaround regarding christianity feels like the world has been lifted off my shoulders and the pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place and I just want to shake people who don't question their beliefs and say wake-up, the bible doesn't make any sense! So you could call me the opposite of a born-again christian, a born-again agnostic.
Hi Diana
I'm new to this site. My sister's name was Bridget O'Brien, but always called Biddy for short! Sadly she died of cancer in 2005 aged 34. Yes, she is the one in the photo - I still have a copy of this pic somewhere. Regards Paddy O'Brien
Paddy, welcome to the site, are you any relation to the O'Brien that once taught at CBC?
Paddy O'Brien - Patrick O'Brien? - Bother Rorry? - Mother Mrs O'Brien? Then you might remember me Richard Opperman we also lived in 6th avenue -used to play at your house in the 60s?
Welcome!
Hi Diana
Pic 1, my sister Bridget (Biddy) O'Brien (third from right). Still have a copy of this photo too. In one of the other pics is Mrs Paddy Wessels who prepared the little ones. She also used to be Akela for the Cubs. Alfred still going strong somewhere?
Hi Paddy - welcome. Pat O'Brien - horseriding club - your dad? If it is, Uncle Pat used to give us riding lessons and give me and Teresa Wilson a lift home afterwards. He used to let us steer the car home (with one finger on the wheel) ever so slowly - i remember Teresa and i used to fight about whose turn it was and Uncle Pat would have to allocate turns. I would get home and my mom would make me go change first before sitting down to supper to get rid of that horse/stables smell.............fond memories.
Cheers, Delia (Olivier)
Of course yes Paddy Wessels...now I remember her.I knew the face but forgot the name.
Alfred still up in O'mund and keeping well. He is a member of this forum so you can message him as well. He can then update you on his life.
Sorry to hear about Bridgets untimely death.....oh so young still.
My father passed away last year March and my mom is still staying next door to me which is great from both sides.
Micheal is correct you were at CBC weren't you?
Again .. I pick up things too late sometimes ... so awful to hear Bridget passed away Paddy .. your Mom was one of my special teachers .. i recall bumping into her in Pinelands many years ago .. same hairdo.. the same old Mrs O'Brien that i remembered ...
Mrs O'Brien - strict teacher but I credit her with instilling my love of readiing; she always read stories in class and kept us riveted!
Remember her well, even thou she wasn't my teacher.
Far a I can remember one of her favorites was Winnie the Pooh?
Yep! Yep!, turns out, it was the right Paddy...... used to teach me back in the 80's at CBC, in all honesty , it was quite reassuring to go to boarding school and in Std 6 to find out that one of your teachers was an ex Oranjemunder. Paddy would always ask me at the beginning of each term, how things were back home, remember once you asked about the radio mast to the north of town for some strange reason or other.....
Hi Paddy How you keeping send me your address and contact no would like to pop in some time saw you last when you where teaching at Parklands been some time
Alfred