um, I think I've changed my mind. Howzabout I marry Ralphie, and you take the wierdo who posts bizarro visuals that refuse to leave the brain unmolested?

Oh, and I was really serious, in my own twisted way, about the HIV+ teenager. I think gay teens and gay AIDs victims are seeing plenty of beef. Er, I mean, the "beef" you mentioned in terms of money from gay organizations.


And squids are not just less cute than dolphins; they're less smart. Dolphins get money and attention because they are the other brilliant, fully conscious species on our little planet. Most of them are smarter than most of us.

And few of the boy dolphins have any hang ups about being outrageously homosexual. No conflicts there at all. And no Catholic Church Under the Sea.

I like your wierdo. He reminds me constantly not to take this world too seriously. I wish I'd listen. ;)

As for marrying Ralphie... Well, the topic has come up. :)

No, I think you're totally right about gay teens and HIV+/AIDS victims.



Dolphins are the whores of the undersea world.
:D

I can certainly relate to you on the Catholic church issue, GC- I have resolved it to my satisfaction by going back and studying the history of the church, from inception to current times. So much dogma is man-made, politically and socially motivated and (I think) strays far from the original church. Obviously, that puts me outside of it, but I still believe in the basic tenets. So many reformed churches began by throwing out the aforementioned crap, but they all seem to have degenerated down the same path as Catholicism. Probably just human nature, but I can't be a part of something that conflicts with my beliefs. So, I just follow my own path and hope I am doing right.

I have lots to say on the gay issue, but am running late. I have to (finally) take my car in to get fixed. I'll bet if I were gay my girlfriend would have my car fixed by now. :rolleyes:

The world is full of contradictions and sometime I think we drive ourselves mad trying to find a consitent path through it all. "Moving on" for me is accepting the contradictions, that your support for one thing or issue needn't carry with it a whole host of attachted beliefs and condemnations. We're just to complex to be treated that simply - but we do it all the time.

Any group writ big like "Catholics" will have problems as well as benefits. Their current dogma may rub you the wrong way, but you recognize it's influence on your heritage and know some great people involved in the church - why should you exclude them? If anything, I think keeping the relationships and all their tensions and contradictions going is that irritation that ultimately results in great changes - though maybe not in our lifetime.

But it's your lifetime that you'll be experienceing so, to some extent you may have to bakc off the larger "casues" and focus on what it is that makes you happy - and be unashamed in pursuing it - be that gay sex or Christmas Mass. Becasue while those two things might appear contradictory to the current touted dogma of the day, they live fine side by side within you and it needn't be your job to resolve it.

wendybeth ~ I hear you. I'm looking for my path. It's there, I just can't see it yet. :)


€uroMeinke ~ Sometimes, I have a hard time distinguishing someone from their religion. I am quite confused when someone says they are Catholic and then say they support gay marriage causes. I want to ask them how they can be both. Because supporting gay marriage and gay causes puts you at complete odds with the Church. I get confused about that. But I'm thinking it's that grey area that I'm not grasping.

What causes turmoil in me is that I feel like I have an inherent belief on what is right and what is wrong. I am certain the Church is wrong about gays and it is not like me to sit by when I witness something that is unjust. It eats away at the core of who I am to do so. Yes, I can tell myself to focus on what makes me happy, but I know lingering injustice makes me unhappy. The knowing that I can't do much about it depresses me. Letting it go doesn't make it stop. I don't know...

I think it's more about recognizing what you have contol over. Some things are just beyond your control and you're better off accepting that. Perhaps, it's just the realization that thee way you might make the greatest difference is by using your influence in other ways - leading by example perhaps?

Also the world is full of stimuli - you needn't react to all of it - in fact that's quite impossible. Sometimes we also use the "there is so much wrong with the world" excuse to avoid looking the problems within our own personal lives. It might help to spend some contemplative time on how these larger issues impact you personally, and address solutions on a more personal level - i.e. what you can do to change or live with them. That could mean leaving the church - or becoming more a a thorn in the church's side becasue you refuse to leave it.

In either case, I think it needs to be a personal decission, focus on what exactly you have control over and how it makes you feel. This is a place where I think selfishness is a must.

PS - I'm looking forward to some great dinner conversations when we're in Boston next month ;)

I am not particularly religious lately but was at times.

But seeing as how you should have a relationship with god first and not the church It would seem to me that although it's the hardest thing to pray for perhaps something for yourself...

Very hard to do but perhaps you might
Pray for your own inner peace in your own way disregarding all else.
Then don't forget to listen for an answer...

If honestly looking for answers whether it comes from yourself or God. Believe an answer will be waiting for you. Just don't forget to listen for the answer...

I deflated my ego and asked.

I found the answer I think at least for me and it came in a childs eyes.
(At disneyland no less)

I set a goal to have kids before I am 35.

Good luck. :)

I only wish a few more of the facetime conversations were as insightful and compassionate as the conversations typical of the LoT. Fun and freewheelingness in person seems to take a toll on talk.



We need more salons.






I read that as three way.
:eek: