… in purgatory you knew that you were going either to hell or to heaven, and it was up to you where you went. With the joys and freedom of heaven as a carrot, you strove like hell in purgatory. You knew the theory of how to get the ticket to heaven. But the practice… ah, the practice… that eluded you. You snatched it away from yourself.

-Philip Jose Farmer: Gods of Riverworld

Jack
I Listen.

Basic Ideology 101
Lesson #28
The Battle of Limbo

In everything there will be nothing. Nothing will ever hurt anything or anyone. And we will be truly safe and free.

Jack.
I Listen.

Basic Ideology 101

Battle #9
Speculation

There is a message to the madness. Not a method. A message.

redemption – noun
1. an act of redeeming or the state of being redeemed.
2. deliverance; rescue.
3. Theology. deliverance from sin; salvation.
4. atonement for guilt.
5. repurchase, as of something sold.
6. paying off, as of a mortgage, bond, or note.
7. recovery by payment, as of something pledged.
8. conversion of paper money into specie.

redeem – verb (used with object)
1. to buy or pay off; clear by payment: to redeem a mortgage.
2. to buy back, as after a tax sale or a mortgage foreclosure.
3. to recover (something pledged or mortgaged) by payment or other satisfaction
4. to exchange (bonds, trading stamps, etc.) for money or goods.
5. to convert (paper money) into specie.
6. to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.).
7. to make up for; make amends for; offset (some fault, shortcoming, etc.)
8. to obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom.
9. Theology. to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.

Okay, Let’s think about these definitions for a moment.  The most important thing to notice is that the idea of ‘redeeming’ or ‘redemption’ is based entirely on something that was supposed to have been paid for to begin with.  The problem with this is that with the promise of redemption, we accept a debt.  This will not do for free-thinking people.

Redemption no longer has a reason to exist.  Instead, things should be paid for at the time of service, or things should be free.  We seek redemption for our actions.  We should have a free conscience after our actions, thus negating the need for redemption.

Our thoughts have no business creating the state of debt or guilt that brings on this concept.  We should pay for our thoughts accordingly and promptly, and not take on states of debt at all. If we can do this, then we can experience true freedom.

Jack
I Listen.

Basic Ideology 101

Battle #6
Freedom.

(definitions care of Dictionary.com)

Then it hit. The clog in the cogs. Everything stopped moving, and all we could do was watch. Stuck in our current positions, not even able to do our rounds without the cogs pushing us around.

The thing next to me started to shake. It trembled and tremored, until a small crack appeared towards the bottom revealing a boot. Soon all the casing broke away and it was a person!

She was naked and shaking, covered in sweat. She fell to the ground and continued that seizure-like motion. I heard other things start to shake and tremble and tremor and crack.

Even I was trembling and shaking.

The First to Freedom stood up. She walked a little. Or maybe wobbled is a better word. She wobbled towards the cogs. I was on the ground now, the last of my shell had cracked. I could see Her, but could not yet move on my own. I heard the cogs start up again. She had removed the clog.

I managed to stand and look around. With the cogs working again, all the things that had not freed themselves began moving in that same circular pattern.

Counting myself, five had broken free.

————

Should I continue this story? I will only continue it if I hear positive feedback or see page views go up.

Loki
I Listen.
fiction.

Blogged with Flock

Tags: fiction, short, cogs, people, creation, theory, ideology, theology, philosophy, inspirational

Seems my Dream Catcher is getting those nasty thetans for me. No more auditing.

-Loki.
Yeah, I’m listening.

[EDIT - ADDITION - 02.21.08 01:32AM]

As a journalist and self purported religious scholar, it is time I made a stand on this. Take this however you like. I love writing and I love religious freedom. You are breeding intolerance and hate, and chopping all kinds of freedoms down. When a man or a group messes with freedoms, it cannot be allowed. We have here established Rights, as everyman does. These tell us our freedoms. One of those is Speech. In fact, the other 9 don’t even count if we don’t get free speech. Think about that. Also instead of litigating, try fucking talking to people. You think the Pope sues everyone that ever says anything bad about Catholicism? No. You have no right by United States law, other than those 10 as people. Tell us why were are wrong. Show us the ‘gift’ of your ‘religion.’

People have already said that by stating the above, I have shot myself in the face. Prove them wrong. Give me a real answer.

Loki.
I’m Listening.

Loki.
Developmental Theology 089
Lesson #41
02.02.08

Update:
Wow lesson 41!!! I’ve been doing this for 11 months now. I’ll do a very special March for the first anniversary blog post. You may also notice the “About Me” page. I took down a lot of the ads, because they didn’t generate enough to warrant damaging the viewing pleasure. I’m doing lots of freelance gigs, which I will make known here in some way. Contact me if you want me to write something for your magazine/ezine/blog(guest blogger). I’m also going to try and put together a collaborative blog/zine in the next month or so, and anyone interested needs to contact me. Think of my writing style, thrown against different news and views. That’s what I’m looking for in collaborative authors. Strong, straight edge writing a must. Dark humor is a plus, cynicism, conspiracy theories, music, movies, TechGeek, strong adult fiction, up-to-date news, just give me your pitch! Use the contact form below.

[contact-form]

Blogged with Flock

Tags: theology, religion, philosophy, rights, freedom, update

We found something. We loved something. We grew something. Not them. Not those people who want to throw down laws and legislation for it. Why do we get to invent something, and then let someone else tell us how to use it?

What do you love about the internet? For me it was always the freedom.

Just a thought.

-Jack
cat: internet
“From freedom came elegance.”

Blogged with Flock

Tags: internet, invention, laws, legislation, generation gap, freedom, linux mint

-Loki
11.16.07
Developmental Theology 089
Lesson #31

(Coming Soon! Developmental Theology: Additional Readings! With guest writers!{okay, right now, just Cheshire, hopefully more people will show interest. What is required for a DT089 submission? Merely something that is simple and straight forward, describes something you truly believe, and maintains layers of depth for others to discover their own meanings. All religions and ideologies welcome.}.)

Here’s a quote from the site:

“Officials in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are now seeking public comment on the agency’s proposal to accept Wyoming’s disastrous wolf management plan and to give Idaho and Wyoming vast new powers to kill wolves — even while these magnificent animals remain listed under the Endangered Species Act.”

Here’s what’s happening. The government wants to take these wolves off of the endangered species list. This could work, assuming these states would put a plan into effect that would insure the current wild population would remain healthy and continue to grow.

But, listen to this statement and tell me if you think this is what’s going to happen.

“In January, Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter said that once the wolves are de-listed, his state would kill all but 100 of the wolves, making the decades-long efforts to strengthen wolf populations in vain.”

Governor Otter has made it clear: These animals will not be protected!

So, if you have any kind of human heart, I think it’s easy to see how much wolves mean to the human race. Wolves are a powerful archetype that still affects the conciousness of every man, woman, and child. Wolves are one of the last creatures in the world that represent true freedom. It’s going to take a lot of people to help keep these animals from going extinct. I don’t think that people can handle a world without wolves.

If you want to help, click the link below and sign the petition.

Help Save the Wolves.

-Loki.

Liven up, people.

(Statements in italics have been taken from The Petition Site.)