tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post3610860099349082910..comments2024-03-28T00:33:57.308-07:00Comments on Sociopath World: Petty tyrantUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-69593939307142538322012-01-05T11:22:36.990-08:002012-01-05T11:22:36.990-08:00i can live with that.i can live with that.Zoenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-15305153131464368532012-01-05T00:52:16.789-08:002012-01-05T00:52:16.789-08:00@Zoe: I understand and fully respect this definit...@Zoe: I understand and fully respect this definition of “truth”: it is inclusive and generous. But Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)<br /><br />With all due respect, I’ll take His word over yours. :)Alteregonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-72061250499583014712012-01-05T00:47:47.624-08:002012-01-05T00:47:47.624-08:00Ok, it seems to be a trend for me to be several po...Ok, it seems to be a trend for me to be several posts behind. I actually have lots of stuff to do during the day, lol! <br /><br />@ Well-meaning Christian Anon:<br /><br />You said: <b>“I accepted that the Bible was a Divine Book with my mind. Then, I took a step of faith and asked God to come in to me. My experience may be different in that I thought I was Born Again for 15 years, but was not. After I asked God to come in, I felt no different, ever. I had no real change. I knew the words of the Bible very well, but was no different inside, at all.”</b><br /><br />If knowing the Bible very well didn’t change you for over 15 years, you weren’t applying its teachings. You refused to submit to Christ’s Lordship in various areas of your life, but that doesn’t mean you weren’t saved. Perhaps you spent too much time reading books about the Bible, as opposed to the Bible itself? <br /><br />The Bible is not like other books. It is spiritual and effectual; it is the very Word which gives eternal life. <br /><br />“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12<br /><br />I am not saying you shouldn’t read theology books, nor am I seeking to undermine the authenticity of your experience, of which I cannot be the judge. I would not advise anyone to base their faith on a “spiritual experience”- and I say this as a person who had one. <br /><br />I urge you to base your faith on what the Bible actually teaches- that we are saved by faith in Christ alone- as opposed to any spiritual experiences you may or may not have had:<br /><br />“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:0-10<br /><br />An interesting side note, on showing love, from someone on the “sociopathic spectrum” (Again, I do not believe I am a full-blown sociopath, but I am not “qualified” to make that diagnosis.I have <i>blunted</i> empathy, as opposed to <i>non-existent</i> empathy.) <br /><br />I don’t feel pain when my friends undergo trials, nor do I empathize deeply with their hurts and troubles. I am not intimate like that with anyone except for my husband, and we are- in reality- one person. <br /><br />I will probably not be the shoulder you cry on when your world comes crashing down around you, but I might take care of your kids, make meals, or fend off others... if I like you enough to defend you, that is. (Actually, I would more likely organize a team of people behind the scenes to do it for me, he he) <br /><br />And as a bonus, I’ll tell you the truth when you ask me whether those jeans make you look fat. :PAlteregonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-67277094769900480502012-01-05T00:25:45.974-08:002012-01-05T00:25:45.974-08:00@ Stupid anon: Sigh. Ok, I’ll take this bait, but ...@ Stupid anon: Sigh. Ok, I’ll take this bait, but only because I really enjoy teleological arguments. It’s not my fault if you can’t keep up; either shit or get off the pot. <br /><br /><b>Ukan Be Damned said: <br /><br />Our 'minds', 'souls', 'spirit' and consciousness are all physical in nature. Years of research have shown that our brains comprise and produce our true selves. Souls and spirits do not exist. Our bodies run themselves. We know from cases of brain damage and the effects of psychoactive drugs, that our experiences are caused by physical chemistry acting on our physical neurones in our brains. Our innermost self is our biochemical self. Really, before you post such utter bullshiit and wishful thinking, try doing a simple google search. Moron</b><br /><br />I think you’ve spouted this shite once before, yes? As UlgyNRude, at TalkParanormal, here: <br />http://www.talkparanormal.com/thread-10893.html :)<br /><br />Saying that “years of research have shown that our brains comprise and produce our real selves" is the logical equivalent of saying that “years of research by the Catholic Church have proven that the earth is flat”: it just isn’t true. There are many documented phenomena that science cannot explain satisfactorily. Do you have a biochemical explanation for remote viewing? How about NDEs, in which a randomly misfiring, dying brain, purportedly immerses the person in a sensation-rich, incredibly detailed life-history, overlaid with colours richer than they’ve ever seen, and emotions more complex or profound than they’ve ever experienced? Drugs have not even come close to recreating this experience, and let us not forget, the mind can be tricked into perceiving spiritual realties when under the influence of psychoactive substances. (If you are not familiar with the concept of the "NDE", do a simple Google search, moron.)<br /><br />The Bible teaches that man is a tri-partite being – spirit, soul and body. <br /><br />It is with his spirit that a man worships God, and it is upon this level that rebirth occurs. The spirit is the immaterial part of man: man is not a spirit, he has a spirit.You will never prove or disprove this scientifically.<br /><br />The Hebrew texts denotes the spirit as "ruach" and refers to it as only the immaterial part of man (Num 16:22). <br /><br />The soul includes the conscious and subconscious <i>minds</i> and comprises the realm of emotions and the will. The soul (or mind) is what gives a man his personality, self-awareness, rationality and natural feeling, and it encompasses more than the mere "brain". <br /><br />In Hebrew, the word for “soul” is “nephesh”, which means literally "life". It is also used for animals (Gen 1:20-24) and man as a whole person (Joshua 2:13, Exodus 21:23). <br /><br />The body is a complex physical creation by which a person relates to this world and to other people in the world. It is the seat of the soul and of the Spirit. <br /><br />Yes, our bodies were *created* to run themselves. Any good software engineer will approach his craft systematically, and create modules of code that he can re- utilize over and over again. We were created to seek God- there is evidence for this in our genetic code- a “God gene”. (Theistic evolutionists appreciate this as a part of the exquisite relationship that mediates the physical and the immaterial.) <br /><br />Even at the physical level of the mind, we were designed to seek our Creator. <br /><br />Just because that arrogant ass Dawkins made it trendy to be an incendiary, flag-waving atheist, doesn’t make it wise to jump on his bandwagon; you may someday find yourself getting burnt.<br /> <br />If I were physiologically more capable of greater empathy, I might feel bad for you. But I did say that I would pray for you. I have, and will continue to do so. Speaking of which, did you watch the documentary I linked you to? <br /><br />I may not be as clever as you, but I am smarter. So quit being a pussy, fuck with me like a real man, and save the muppets for those whom they will actually deceive. :)Alteregonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-24651689276601026932012-01-04T10:21:08.650-08:002012-01-04T10:21:08.650-08:00anonymous, what does google say about free will?anonymous, what does google say about free will?Zoenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-86269350047251559512012-01-04T05:01:21.911-08:002012-01-04T05:01:21.911-08:00Souls ? Really ? haha
Our 'minds', '...Souls ? Really ? haha<br /><br />Our 'minds', 'souls', 'spirit' and consciousness are all physical in nature. Years of research have shown that our brains comprise and produce our true selves. Souls and spirits do not exist. <br /><br />Our bodies run themselves. We know from cases of brain damage and the effects of psychoactive drugs, that our experiences are caused by physical chemistry acting on our physical neurones in our brains. Our innermost self is our biochemical self.<br /><br />Really, before you post such utter bullshiit and wishful thinking, try doing a simple google search. MoronAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-21806075316492015412012-01-04T01:49:39.316-08:002012-01-04T01:49:39.316-08:00My results are boring:
Paranoid |||| 18% 49%
Schi...My results are boring:<br /><br />Paranoid |||| 18% 49%<br />Schizoid |||||||||||||||||||| 90% 53%<br />Schizotypal |||||||||| 34% 53%<br />Antisocial |||||||||||||||||| 78% 47%<br />Borderline |||||| 22% 47%<br />Histrionic |||| 18% 43%<br />Narcissistic |||||||||||||||| 66% 41%<br />Avoidant || 10% 39%<br />Dependent |||| 18% 37%<br />Obsessive-Compulsive |||||| 26% 40%<br /><br />Taking it I felt like the questions were bad. Most of them imply an intent that just isn't there for me.MHMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-91681530427545260022012-01-03T17:13:07.859-08:002012-01-03T17:13:07.859-08:00@Zoe I hear you <3@Zoe I hear you <3Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-56657993542557642262012-01-03T16:58:05.338-08:002012-01-03T16:58:05.338-08:00i think it's possible that the same truth is b...i think it's possible that the same truth is behind different concepts, behind all the different beliefs.<br /><br />man creates concepts, including the concept of God. but God, if there is a God, is beyond concept. so in a way we created God, or this idea hat we have of God. <br /><br />but the truth? it can't be conceptualized, only experienced. your born again experience is a truth, and your belief that the bible is a divine book is a concept, how you interpret the experience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-90223675311634166882012-01-03T15:37:51.414-08:002012-01-03T15:37:51.414-08:00@Zoe For me, ...@Zoe For me, I accepted that the Bible was a Divine Book with my mind. Then, I took a step of faith and asked God to come in to me. My experience may be different in that I thought I was Born Again for 15 years, but was not. After I asked God to come in, I felt no different, ever. I had no real change. I knew the words of the Bible very well, but was no different inside, at all.<br /><br /><br />Then, a year ago, I had an actual literal "experience" where I felt oxygen coming in to the my head and I kept repeating "I am Born Again" .It was in the middle of the night.<br /><br />After that, I felt a Power that was not mine. I will never cease to be amazed that if *I* move over, the Power comes in and acts through me, as a channel.God is love. If a supposedly Born Again person has no love, he is not Born Again.<br /><br />The Born Again person has nothing of value in himself. His value is in God's Presence in him.<br /><br />God's Presence is in the spirit part of man, not the soul or body.<br /><br />As Alter said, a man must renew his mind and then his mind can change to some degree, a large degree, even.<br /><br />However, he will always have flaws and always be a screw up, as all humans are. However, in his spirit, the man is perfect, as God's Spirit has come inside him in the Divine Exchange. That is the Born Again experience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-86047599979578555442012-01-03T14:41:19.589-08:002012-01-03T14:41:19.589-08:00@Alter I am using the term &...@Alter I am using the term "spirit" as separate from the body and soul, as the Bible teacher Andrew Wommack does. You and I may have a difference in some terminology, but I know we are talking about the same thing. Wommack did a study called "Spirit, Soul and Body" which is a fantastic explanation imo. That study is where I have derived my particular terminology.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-84688600425412933422012-01-03T14:34:49.297-08:002012-01-03T14:34:49.297-08:00@Zoe
At the point where I left off, I did not ha...@Zoe<br /> At the point where I left off, I did not have the Born Again experience, yet. I was just leading up to where I was looking for Something greater than myself. I was just describing the beginning of the search which was from my mind(intellect) and soul(emotions, feelings, needs)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-3293706561739297832012-01-03T14:30:45.429-08:002012-01-03T14:30:45.429-08:00Here is a verse that might help clarify things, Zo...Here is a verse that might help clarify things, Zoe:<br /><br /><b>"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, <i>but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.</i> Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 </b><br /><br />The Bible changes a person to the extent that he permits God to shine His light in the dark recesses of his soul. You are right in stating that God does not force anyone to love or worship Him; we have been invested of free will.<br /><br />Furthermore, you are absolutely correct in stating that I am the one who made good choices. Contrary to what some Christians believe (many of whom don't even read the Bible for themselves, but merely accept what someone spoonfeeds them) and as may be clearly understood from the verse I shared above, the will AND mind are actively engaged in the process- and it is this <b>*process*</b> that makes one stronger... better. That is what so many holy rollers fail to understand. It is not some magical, overnight transformation by the Sky Fairy. That is just a load of bull. <br /><br />My mind is empowered to change by the understanding I glean from Scipture, but my soul was re-born when I accepted what God did for me by faith. I think this is the point that Anon was trying to stress. <br /><br />Perhaps others can achieve similar results in their minds with therapy, although ASPD is notoriously difficult to treat, from what I understand. The rebirth of the spirit is something that only God grants, and we may not feel any immediate impact. But the internal change *will* occur, slowly but steadily, *if* one perserveres in his faith by reading the Bible, praying, and earnestly seeking God's will. The good news is that salvation is free for the asking, with no pre-conditions attached, other than faith.<br /><br />Difficult to treat indeed. Even after many years, some things remain stubbornly entrenched in my character. But God can use even my sociopathic tendencies to glorify Himself, for He made me to be who I am, and some of those attributes translate into REAL strength when they are channeled properly! <br /><br />As for what I get from this blog: there are many intelligent, thought-provoking articles that resonate with me on this site, due to my past, but also due to the nature of my current struggles. <br /><br />This place has helped to understand who I am.Alteregonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-62789499920572768312012-01-03T14:06:51.536-08:002012-01-03T14:06:51.536-08:00guess who has the week off :)guess who has the week off :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-12182935902661822962012-01-03T14:06:11.781-08:002012-01-03T14:06:11.781-08:00@Alterego
"Though I have not yet described w...@Alterego<br /><br />"Though I have not yet described what it means to be born again from the Bible's perspective (I will try to do so later, when I have time, if you are still interested. I am not about to shove it down your throat)"<br /><br />sure, go ahead.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-81613974906405418832012-01-03T13:49:31.441-08:002012-01-03T13:49:31.441-08:00Anonymous said...
I prayed for that Force to revea...<b><i>Anonymous said...<br />I prayed for that Force to reveal Himself to me. Then, I studied the Bible. I had studied most other religions, prior to this, with no filling of the emptiness.</i></b><br /><br />that sounds like your mind was transformed, or your beliefs, rather than the spirit?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-77141904550182487622012-01-03T13:45:23.245-08:002012-01-03T13:45:23.245-08:00Alterego said...
@Zoe: Thanks for the clarificatio...<b><i>Alterego said...<br />@Zoe: Thanks for the clarification. :) Though I have not yet described what it means to be born again from the Bible's perspective (I will try to do so later, when I have time, if you are still interested. I am not about to shove it down your throat) you might want to read my response to "To Zoe". It is a personal account of my own, subjective experience of being "born-again", and what that has meant for me.</i></b><br /><br />i read your response. what can you gain by being here, Alterego? are you testing your faith? <br /><br />ultimately, the good things in your life happened because of the choices you made. you made the first choice to let God in your life, and after that you made other choices that supported the first one. you chose to walk the path. God is not some parasite that invades and transforms us. it's all about choice. <br /><br />but hey i wonder what would happen if we found there was a God parasite?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-80335012230785501592012-01-03T13:06:25.932-08:002012-01-03T13:06:25.932-08:00@Zoe
The Born Again experience is a unique, disc...@Zoe<br /> The Born Again experience is a unique, discrete experience which is not airy fairy or wooly.<br /><br /> There, usually, has to be some emptiness in one's life: a sense that one needs and wants something more, of a spiritual nature. If one is satisfied with oneself and one's life, one would not have a desire to even look at spiritual realm.<br /><br /> Then, for me, I prayed to Whatever was out there, to show me who He was. I had no idea, no preconceived notions. I did know there was Something bigger, but not more.<br /><br /><br />I prayed for that Force to reveal Himself to me. Then, I studied the Bible. I had studied most other religions, prior to this, with no filling of the emptiness.<br /><br /><br />I studied the Bible for 3 years, particularly prophecy. How could a book predict events if it were not Divine?<br /><br />Then, I accepted the Bible and God's Way, as set forth in the Bible, by faith, as there is some jump from the intellect to faith. The jump is about 25%, in my experience, but 75% is rational and logical with the specifics of prophecy.<br /><br />That does not answer the specific question, but if you care for me to go on, I will.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-76191990182771026442012-01-03T12:46:29.894-08:002012-01-03T12:46:29.894-08:00@Zoe: Thanks for the clarification. :) Though I ha...@Zoe: Thanks for the clarification. :) Though I have not yet described what it means to be born again from the Bible's perspective (I will try to do so later, when I have time, if you are still interested. I am not about to shove it down your throat) you might want to read my response to "To Zoe". It is a personal account of my own, subjective experience of being "born-again", and what that has meant for me.Alteregonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-73145109197910057552012-01-03T12:38:12.325-08:002012-01-03T12:38:12.325-08:00Alterego said...
@Zoe: I couldn't find your co...<b><i>Alterego said...<br />@Zoe: I couldn't find your comment, but I linked to the article earlier. You had written "My reply here"- and the "here" was hyperlinked to the article about the sociopathic “broken brain”.</i></b><br /><br />okay now i understand. by article you mean M.E.'s post "Sociopath = broken brain?".<br /><br />my comments to Daniel are at the end of the comments section. here is the link again: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.sociopathworld.com/2008/11/sociopath-broken-brain.html" rel="nofollow">click here and scroll to bottom</a><br /><br /><b><i>I am certainly not suggesting that David is M.E, lol! They are a different breed altogether; there is just no comparison. :) </i></b><br /><br />i like the mental gymnastics required to imagine it. no offence to either of course.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-70806546228153559032012-01-03T12:34:40.601-08:002012-01-03T12:34:40.601-08:00@To @Zoe: Here is the key:
“But he said to me, ...@To @Zoe: Here is the key: <br /><br /><b>“But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”(2 Cor. 12:9)</b> <br /><br />That is the incomparable beauty of the Gospel. The hallmark of a true Christian is faith, not how well he follows a bunch of rules he believes have been imposed by the Bible. (In fact, many of the rules that Christians invent - such as not gambling or drinking- have no actual basis in Scripture.) Of course he stumbles and fails sometimes- he is an imperfect human- but that does not render his faith any less effective. <br /><br />I am a real born again Christian (the conventional use of that label bugs me, because it tends to be associated with blow-hard, Bible thumping fundamentalists. This is not how I practice Christianity.) But according to the Scriptural definition, it fits: I truly have been born again.<br /> <br />According to your definition, I should be “failing for the world to see”, if one takes it upon themselves to examine my life closely. But Jesus said: “You will know a tree by the fruit it bears”. So let’s take inventory, shall we, and test the strength of that hypothesis in my life:<br /><br />What good fruit has Christ borne in my life? For one thing, I no longer steal, manipulate or gaslight anyone on purpose- ever. That was easy to give up. I don’t abuse hard drugs, lie gratuitously, or get into fights anymore, unless someone hits me first. (Admittedly, I long for this to happen sometimes, so I can let loose with aggressive abandon. The trait is still there.) I assume a leadership role within my community and have spearheaded many faith-based initiatives. I spend most of my time helping others- for free- in various ministries. I don’t cheat on my spouse, and no longer indulge- in practice- my most depraved sexual tendencies (no judgment here- I am certainly not one to be throwing stones). I take intellectual inventory of how I treat others and repent if I have mistreated someone. (No, I cannot feel deep remorse, and shame is not an emotion that I experience, but I do know right from wrong, and can seek to apply them.) <br /><br />God has BLESSED me in more ways than I can describe here. He has taken my broken life and transformed it into one in which I enjoy fulfilling relationships, as well as material and emotional security. I am watching my abusive, psychopathic father *melt* as we toke together and I share the teachings of Christ with him. (This from a man who told me to never speak of the Bible in his house again, a mere 5 years ago. Now, he cries like a baby when I speak to him about the Lord. The Spirit is doing His gentle work, in the most beautiful, unobtrusive way- and bringing healing of a sort that I could not have dreamed possible just a few years ago- to both of us.) <br /><br />These are just a few things that I can name off of the top of my head. He has been so good to me that I cannot do justice to the radical transformations he has effected, and continues to effect, in my life. My passions, actions, thoughts and many (though not all) of my personality traits have changed dramatically, directly on account of my relationship with Jesus Christ.<br /><br />You can choose to dismiss my witness as you see fit, or take heed and listen: God wastes *nothing*. You don’t have to disappear and become some ass-munching weaktard because you accept Christ. On the contrary, you will experience TRUE power, possibly for the first time in your life. But don’t take my word for it. Taste, and see for yourself that the Lord is good. :)Alteregonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-42529488785839911082012-01-03T12:30:18.825-08:002012-01-03T12:30:18.825-08:00Anonymous said...
@Zoe
The Born Again experience i...<b><i>Anonymous said...<br />@Zoe<br />The Born Again experience is one which has certain parameters which are definite and unique.<br /><br />Do you want me to explain it?</i></b><br /><br />sure. you said earlier than one cannot see or feel the difference when one's spirit changes. if you have to accept it on faith that your spirit has changed then how do you know when it happens? what triggers the sudden faith?Zoenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-50830308529688580662012-01-03T12:13:35.691-08:002012-01-03T12:13:35.691-08:00LOL
David as ME-------- -no wayLOL<br /> David as ME-------- -no wayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-26613733650726446222012-01-03T12:04:10.600-08:002012-01-03T12:04:10.600-08:00@Zoe: I couldn't find your comment, but I link...@Zoe: I couldn't find your comment, but I linked to the article earlier. You had written "My reply here"- and the "here" was hyperlinked to the article about the sociopathic “broken brain”. <br /><br />I am certainly not suggesting that David is M.E, lol! They are a different breed altogether; there is just no comparison. :)Alteregonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-628748600098131100.post-5115617888818602112012-01-03T11:42:12.701-08:002012-01-03T11:42:12.701-08:00@Zoe
The Born Again experience is one which...@Zoe<br /> The Born Again experience is one which has certain parameters which are definite and unique.<br /><br />Do you want me to explain it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com