Talossans in Christ Church

[Ián Tamorán S.H.]

The stories told about Mulla Nasreddin [transliterations differ] are a mixture of jokes, and dangerous choices, and sharp perceptions of different parts of our experiences and our potentials: they are certainly not intended as historical record, but they are teaching. Similarly the (supposedly mystic) approaches to the deeper world use seemingly non-sensical images like "the sound of one hand clapping" or the question "When is Now?". These things may not "make sense" in either the scientific or historical way, but they point in the way that poetry points.

The Islamic view of Jesus (and please forgive me and correct me if I am wrong) is one of great respect. The story of the pile of bones and the lion is not told to make a point about the anger of Jesus, but partly as an image of the fact that the troublesome man had chosen to walk into his own destruction: if you already have the knowledge but you choose to ignore, or you choose to disrespect, then you have chosen. And it is you that has chosen. [I do not mean you personally, the reader - but every person]. The troublesome man was clearly asked whether that was what he wanted, and he chose his path: it was not the path he expected, but it was the one he had chosen. Jesus here was not being Angry, but being Just. To see Jesus angry we only have to read the story of the money-lenders in the temple [Lk. 19:45, Matt. 21:12] to see that he really could be angry, when it was necessary.

One side of all spiritual teachings is the warning "beware: these are loaded guns".

[Antaglha Xhenerös Somelieir]

As much as i enjoy having discussions and different views etc being shared here, i feel it is dominating the thread at the moment, so i would ask you to continue having discussions in the following thread :- http://wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?topic=457.0

I only ask this, as although i stand by wanting this to be a place of discussion and open mindedness, tolerance etc, i do feel that the discussions should be more Christanity focused on thos thread, espeically as this is a place intended for Christians in Talossa to come together in fellowship. Of course hose who arent Chirstians can come and ask quesions of us and our beliefs (and those who believe are also free to ask questions too) but its not the place for general religious discussion hence the foudning of the religious debate society, which is found in the link above.

I hope you all appreciate why im asking this. And please dont feel your not welcome here, its just that some boundries must be in place and respected. I hope that everyone is ok with this?

Antaglha

[Éovart Andrinescù]

Hear, hear! We might equally need a Talossa Mosque thread given the wide interest in Islam  :)

[Iason Taiwos]

Hear, hear! We might equally need a Talossa Mosque thread given the wide interest in Islam  :)

I support this Talossan Mosque thread idea (until Miestra tells me my Muhammed Maraduke Picthall Quran is bowdlerized! 😁)

[Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC]

I support this Talossan Mosque thread idea (until Miestra tells me my Muhammed Maraduke Picthall Quran is bowdlerized! 😁)

LOL, I've got no issues with brother Pickthall's rendering of the sacred text. My own personal favourite translation is the the Muhammad Asad version, because it's scrupulously academic and modernist; and Edip Yüksel's oddball, numerologically-structured "Reformist Translation" is a guilty pleasure.

Anyway, given my bad habits and total slackness, any "Talossan Islamic Centre" which I set up would end up an online version of the house from The Taqwacores, and my brothers and sisters who practice normative, mainstream Islam would rightly be scandalized.

[Éovart Andrinescù]

Felt like sharing that I had my first confession in 12 years yesterday (1 Nov, All Saints' Day)—the last time I confessed was for my first reconciliation, I must have been 11 or 12 at the time. So I feel very full of kháris at the moment. God bless you all and God bless Talossa.

[Éovart Andrinescù]

Azul à vaes fratreux es sorors in Iesu C'hríost,

Just thought I'd stick my head through the door of our little chapel and see what's going on. How are you all? What's going on in your lives? Belated greetings for Christmastide.  :)

I posted about Talossan translations of prayers like the Lord's Prayer in the language forum, but I thought I'd repeat the question here. Is there a document containing that stuff, like in the archives? Is there a Talossan translation of the Bible?

God be praised. You are all miraculous creatures of God and I love you dearly.

☧

[Antaglha Xhenerös Somelieir]

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
I hope everyone has a Happy, Blessed, and Safe Easter!
Things again are not easy or usual this year, as was Easter last year. It has been a hard year, for everyone, and although I do miss Chruch services as they used to be (and have struggled to keep up with online services) I know that the Change has, and continues to be needed. But through this, my love for God, and my faith, although maybe dwindled a bit, has not gone.
I still strongly believe that God is with us, through this, and I pray on this Easter Sunday, that God brings comfort, strength, love, grace and peace to those who need it, and that God gives us all the strength, hope and faith to get to the other side of this pandemic, so we can worship together in person once again, until then, I hope any pray that you all stay safe and continue to show through faith, the love that God has granted in sending Jesus, to die, and be ressurected for our sins, (and so much more that we have not seen), helps to carry you through this.
Thanks to all my friends who have been there for me, and sparks of hope and light in these time, and I pray for them, and all that those who might feel alone etc can find some comfort and companionship in some (safe) way today.

I might write another longer post for here soon depending on mental health, but i posted this on fb earlier and thought it would be fitting for here too :)

And once again,
Chirst is Risen, Alleluia!
Happy, Blessed, and Safe Easter to you all!

[Sir Ian Plätschisch]

He is risen indeed!

[Antaglha Xhenerös Somelieir]

It has been a while since i've come to this thread, thought id come back to it, and try to be a bit more active with it.
For now, i will post a prayer, and will think about future things to post soon.

Father,
First of all, I pray that a peaceful, and the best possible solution to Russia - Ukraine war is found, and that, your peace, love, grace and strength are with those in Ukraine and those who have fled, in these most awful of times for them, I pray that you help them in whatever ways they need, and inspire others, both individuals and Governments, to do everything they can to help those in Ukraine.
I lift up my thoughts and prayers on this to you now.

Next, i pray for all those struggling around the world, for whatever reason, and that your love, grace, hope and strength are with them as they make their way through the day, and that you help them realise that they are loved, and that they have worth, and despite the struggles they might have, that people love and care for them.

Finally i pray for Talossa, we are a small country, but a rich and fascinating one, but of recent years has become lethargic and has been a slog. So lord, i pray that new vitality, options and ideas are breathed into Talossa to help it grow once again, and become energised once more. This community of people, this nation, draws from people across the globe, and unites different people, cultures and ideals from around the world, to make Talossa into the great place that it is. And i pray that this country grows stronger, and more populous, over the coming months and years.
I also pray for all of my fellow Talossans, that you will be with them, guide them, help, and bring them love and peace.

In Jesus name.
Amen

[Ián Tamorán S.H.]

...If you look to science for gnosis
You will come up empty-handed every time.
As if you look to Christ in false search of worldly peace
Your own uncertainty will chastise you...

I am a Christian, and I am a scientist.  And I do not understand Christianity, and I do not understand science - but for two very different reasons.

Science gives information about science, though it is used to try to find (some) truths about the real world.  Science keeps changing, science asks questions impossible to answer, science talks about the visible universe, but cannot change that universe.  The one central thing that science shows us is how ignorant we are.  And science cannot, in the long term, remove all of that ignorance.

Christianity gives us information about God, and central truths about the real world - the world we can see and hear - and about the private world that each one of us has.  Christianity tells us that God knows everything - the whole universe - and He knows you personally.  For God there are no questions that are impossible to answer. Christianity partially shows us how ignorant we, mankind, are - but promises us the wiping away of that ignorance.  Science changes: God does not change.

On earth we also are God's hands. If there are things we have the power to do, those things will not happen magically by themselves - we have to do them. We can - and should - ask for guidance, through prayer, so that it is God's work we are doing. The "easy" bit about prayer is us speaking words to God: the "hard" bit about prayer is being silent, giving space for God to answer us - and to listen to his answers.

Father God, I pray patience so that I may hear Your words.  I pray that all of us here may listen. And I pray that all those in authority or influence - large or small - will also hear Your words, and act by them,

Amen