<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
		>
<channel>
	<title>Comments on: Hope and Folly</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/04/hope-and-folly/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/04/hope-and-folly/</link>
	<description>the radical way of Jesus in the Empire</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:46:54 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2</generator>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
		<item>
		<title>By: AhavahOlam</title>
		<link>http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/04/hope-and-folly/comment-page-1/#comment-15521</link>
		<dc:creator>AhavahOlam</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:01:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/?p=2844#comment-15521</guid>
		<description>Thank you for writing this.  It was something I personally needed to read after many downturns after what should have been a success.  Critically thinking outside of the scholarly realm created a conflict with myself and the world around me.  I read the Bible on my own (select books starting with Revelations) while working as a projectionist which allowed me to see humanity as I never should have.  Since then I have been enamored by the Path of Jesus and his transfiguration, and since then my life fell into this border world between life and death, but everyone struggles against the same system.  A realistic conspiracy theorist becomes a practical &#039;spirit&#039; led Christian.  I hear accounts of demons and devils but no love of wisdom in the churches around me, and so far every other philosopher proved their hypocrisy by hating the bible (most without reading).  The bible I read was very different from what was being preached, and sadly I learned the harshest lesson, the people has a whole thrive on misinformation.  Christ did provide some of the more powerful text, but what did He reference?  Proverbs and Ecclesiastes lifted the Eugenical veil of the world.  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The point of my letter was thank you for addressing the spirit at the end as you wrote this truthful document from your true self.  That same spirit allowed Jesus to be who he was, and that same spirit exists in everyone and everything.  What is the point of knowing the spirit?  Why do people question the existence of God for their own personal validity?  I know God exists because I exist, and if I didn&#039;t exist I wouldn&#039;t be writing this.  My beliefs are meaningless to anyone else but my own self, but my actions and my intellect are the responsibility of my living here, which thus brings back the issue of personal responsibility being more important than a religious government.  The world is going to face a book of revelations type of scenario if those who control it don&#039;t change their ways.  It just seems unfair that being a good person and helping the world by enlightening it with love is always met with some resistance.  Jesus was sent into the heart of confusion(Babylon) and was rewarded with death and by the birth of people like you being inspired by his story and doing what you do, exercising free will by seeking the truth.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Now that great city that has been alluded to is one again nearing full strength, and if you look at the recent political history of the US and its Many Industrial Complexes it doesn&#039;t take a genius to see that whoever is controlling the spirit of the leaders of America is still in power (Jesus, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah helped critically reveal what and who the evil is) thanks to our actions in the past.  There has to be something better, and if not, then one day the forces of good and light will have to leave society and build their own.  Don&#039;t be on your quest for the promise of something better in the afterlife, just be glad that you helped someone in this life.  You will don&#039;t know how much I enjoyed reading this.  I shut down nearly all of my social outlets because I thought people like you were a dying breed, now I understand that it&#039;s just the city I live in.    Things will improve, that is the virtue of sacrifice.  You burn away all the impurities until you are only left with the purest silver; there is A LOT of dross that needs be burned.  Peace be with you :)</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thank you for writing this.  It was something I personally needed to read after many downturns after what should have been a success.  Critically thinking outside of the scholarly realm created a conflict with myself and the world around me.  I read the Bible on my own (select books starting with Revelations) while working as a projectionist which allowed me to see humanity as I never should have.  Since then I have been enamored by the Path of Jesus and his transfiguration, and since then my life fell into this border world between life and death, but everyone struggles against the same system.  A realistic conspiracy theorist becomes a practical &#39;spirit&#39; led Christian.  I hear accounts of demons and devils but no love of wisdom in the churches around me, and so far every other philosopher proved their hypocrisy by hating the bible (most without reading).  The bible I read was very different from what was being preached, and sadly I learned the harshest lesson, the people has a whole thrive on misinformation.  Christ did provide some of the more powerful text, but what did He reference?  Proverbs and Ecclesiastes lifted the Eugenical veil of the world.  </p>
<p>The point of my letter was thank you for addressing the spirit at the end as you wrote this truthful document from your true self.  That same spirit allowed Jesus to be who he was, and that same spirit exists in everyone and everything.  What is the point of knowing the spirit?  Why do people question the existence of God for their own personal validity?  I know God exists because I exist, and if I didn&#39;t exist I wouldn&#39;t be writing this.  My beliefs are meaningless to anyone else but my own self, but my actions and my intellect are the responsibility of my living here, which thus brings back the issue of personal responsibility being more important than a religious government.  The world is going to face a book of revelations type of scenario if those who control it don&#39;t change their ways.  It just seems unfair that being a good person and helping the world by enlightening it with love is always met with some resistance.  Jesus was sent into the heart of confusion(Babylon) and was rewarded with death and by the birth of people like you being inspired by his story and doing what you do, exercising free will by seeking the truth.</p>
<p>Now that great city that has been alluded to is one again nearing full strength, and if you look at the recent political history of the US and its Many Industrial Complexes it doesn&#39;t take a genius to see that whoever is controlling the spirit of the leaders of America is still in power (Jesus, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah helped critically reveal what and who the evil is) thanks to our actions in the past.  There has to be something better, and if not, then one day the forces of good and light will have to leave society and build their own.  Don&#39;t be on your quest for the promise of something better in the afterlife, just be glad that you helped someone in this life.  You will don&#39;t know how much I enjoyed reading this.  I shut down nearly all of my social outlets because I thought people like you were a dying breed, now I understand that it&#39;s just the city I live in.    Things will improve, that is the virtue of sacrifice.  You burn away all the impurities until you are only left with the purest silver; there is A LOT of dross that needs be burned.  Peace be with you :)</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: AhavahOlam</title>
		<link>http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/04/hope-and-folly/comment-page-1/#comment-14443</link>
		<dc:creator>AhavahOlam</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2009 01:01:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/?p=2844#comment-14443</guid>
		<description>Thank you for writing this.  It was something I personally needed to read after many downturns after what should have been a success.  Critically thinking outside of the scholarly realm created a conflict with myself and the world around me.  I read the Bible on my own (select books starting with Revelations) while working as a projectionist which allowed me to see humanity as I never should have.  Since then I have been enamored by the Path of Jesus and his transfiguration, and since then my life fell into this border world between life and death, but everyone struggles against the same system.  A realistic conspiracy theorist becomes a practical &#039;spirit&#039; led Christian.  I hear accounts of demons and devils but no love of wisdom in the churches around me, and so far every other philosopher proved their hypocrisy by hating the bible (most without reading).  The bible I read was very different from what was being preached, and sadly I learned the harshest lesson, the people has a whole thrive on misinformation.  Christ did provide some of the more powerful text, but what did He reference?  Proverbs and Ecclesiastes lifted the Eugenical veil of the world.  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The point of my letter was thank you for addressing the spirit at the end as you wrote this truthful document from your true self.  That same spirit allowed Jesus to be who he was, and that same spirit exists in everyone and everything.  What is the point of knowing the spirit?  Why do people question the existence of God for their own personal validity?  I know God exists because I exist, and if I didn&#039;t exist I wouldn&#039;t be writing this.  My beliefs are meaningless to anyone else but my own self, but my actions and my intellect are the responsibility of my living here, which thus brings back the issue of personal responsibility being more important than a religious government.  The world is going to face a book of revelations type of scenario if those who control it don&#039;t change their ways.  It just seems unfair that being a good person and helping the world by enlightening it with love is always met with some resistance.  Jesus was sent into the heart of confusion(Babylon) and was rewarded with death and by the birth of people like you being inspired by his story and doing what you do, exercising free will by seeking the truth.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Now that great city that has been alluded to is one again nearing full strength, and if you look at the recent political history of the US and its Many Industrial Complexes it doesn&#039;t take a genius to see that whoever is controlling the spirit of the leaders of America is still in power (Jesus, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah helped critically reveal what and who the evil is) thanks to our actions in the past.  There has to be something better, and if not, then one day the forces of good and light will have to leave society and build their own.  Don&#039;t be on your quest for the promise of something better in the afterlife, just be glad that you helped someone in this life.  You will don&#039;t know how much I enjoyed reading this.  I shut down nearly all of my social outlets because I thought people like you were a dying breed, now I understand that it&#039;s just the city I live in.    Things will improve, that is the virtue of sacrifice.  You burn away all the impurities until you are only left with the purest silver; there is A LOT of dross that needs be burned.  Peace be with you :)</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thank you for writing this.  It was something I personally needed to read after many downturns after what should have been a success.  Critically thinking outside of the scholarly realm created a conflict with myself and the world around me.  I read the Bible on my own (select books starting with Revelations) while working as a projectionist which allowed me to see humanity as I never should have.  Since then I have been enamored by the Path of Jesus and his transfiguration, and since then my life fell into this border world between life and death, but everyone struggles against the same system.  A realistic conspiracy theorist becomes a practical &#39;spirit&#39; led Christian.  I hear accounts of demons and devils but no love of wisdom in the churches around me, and so far every other philosopher proved their hypocrisy by hating the bible (most without reading).  The bible I read was very different from what was being preached, and sadly I learned the harshest lesson, the people has a whole thrive on misinformation.  Christ did provide some of the more powerful text, but what did He reference?  Proverbs and Ecclesiastes lifted the Eugenical veil of the world.  </p>
<p>The point of my letter was thank you for addressing the spirit at the end as you wrote this truthful document from your true self.  That same spirit allowed Jesus to be who he was, and that same spirit exists in everyone and everything.  What is the point of knowing the spirit?  Why do people question the existence of God for their own personal validity?  I know God exists because I exist, and if I didn&#39;t exist I wouldn&#39;t be writing this.  My beliefs are meaningless to anyone else but my own self, but my actions and my intellect are the responsibility of my living here, which thus brings back the issue of personal responsibility being more important than a religious government.  The world is going to face a book of revelations type of scenario if those who control it don&#39;t change their ways.  It just seems unfair that being a good person and helping the world by enlightening it with love is always met with some resistance.  Jesus was sent into the heart of confusion(Babylon) and was rewarded with death and by the birth of people like you being inspired by his story and doing what you do, exercising free will by seeking the truth.</p>
<p>Now that great city that has been alluded to is one again nearing full strength, and if you look at the recent political history of the US and its Many Industrial Complexes it doesn&#39;t take a genius to see that whoever is controlling the spirit of the leaders of America is still in power (Jesus, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah helped critically reveal what and who the evil is) thanks to our actions in the past.  There has to be something better, and if not, then one day the forces of good and light will have to leave society and build their own.  Don&#39;t be on your quest for the promise of something better in the afterlife, just be glad that you helped someone in this life.  You will don&#39;t know how much I enjoyed reading this.  I shut down nearly all of my social outlets because I thought people like you were a dying breed, now I understand that it&#39;s just the city I live in.    Things will improve, that is the virtue of sacrifice.  You burn away all the impurities until you are only left with the purest silver; there is A LOT of dross that needs be burned.  Peace be with you :)</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Andrew</title>
		<link>http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/04/hope-and-folly/comment-page-1/#comment-13828</link>
		<dc:creator>Andrew</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:29:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/?p=2844#comment-13828</guid>
		<description>Right, Darla. I quick survey of the most influential and reknown scientists would demonstrate as much. Anyhow, according to Luke&#039;s own philosophy he simply cannot take credit himself for anything. &lt;i&gt;He&lt;/i&gt; did not discover critical thinking. Rather, he displays the inevitable as a consequence of genetics and environment.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Right, Darla. I quick survey of the most influential and reknown scientists would demonstrate as much. Anyhow, according to Luke&#39;s own philosophy he simply cannot take credit himself for anything. <i>He</i> did not discover critical thinking. Rather, he displays the inevitable as a consequence of genetics and environment.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Darla</title>
		<link>http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/04/hope-and-folly/comment-page-1/#comment-13824</link>
		<dc:creator>Darla</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:09:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/?p=2844#comment-13824</guid>
		<description>Christians who are thinking should and often are among the most critical thinkers around.  There is a very false notion/rumor going around in some of academia that critical thinking and Christianity are mutually exclusive.  However, history will show that among the most critical thinkers of our western world are those with Christian worldviews, or those who came to acknowledge the existence of God.  It is truly just a hollow insult to call those who believe the claims of Jesus unable to think critically.  If there are people who dislike believers in Jesus, the ultimate insult is to just say they are just stupid/ignorant/incapable of analyzing and processing.  There is no backing to this insult.  It is just a &quot;trend&quot; with no merit.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Christians who are thinking should and often are among the most critical thinkers around.  There is a very false notion/rumor going around in some of academia that critical thinking and Christianity are mutually exclusive.  However, history will show that among the most critical thinkers of our western world are those with Christian worldviews, or those who came to acknowledge the existence of God.  It is truly just a hollow insult to call those who believe the claims of Jesus unable to think critically.  If there are people who dislike believers in Jesus, the ultimate insult is to just say they are just stupid/ignorant/incapable of analyzing and processing.  There is no backing to this insult.  It is just a &#8220;trend&#8221; with no merit.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Darla</title>
		<link>http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/04/hope-and-folly/comment-page-1/#comment-13825</link>
		<dc:creator>Darla</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:00:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/?p=2844#comment-13825</guid>
		<description>Good article, Sarah.  You make a great point when you say:  &quot;Sure I can proclaim that when all else fails I’d be willing to suffer death for the sake of the gospel, but am I willing to die to myself for the sake of my neighbor?&quot;   A whole new level of &quot;self-protection&quot; and fear can kick in when you have a family.  Your first natural concern is not just yourself, but those in your house.  Sometimes it becomes all-consuming and insular, and your writing encourages me to think more of a &quot;group-serve&quot;, or to become one in service to others outside our home.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Good article, Sarah.  You make a great point when you say:  &#8220;Sure I can proclaim that when all else fails I’d be willing to suffer death for the sake of the gospel, but am I willing to die to myself for the sake of my neighbor?&#8221;   A whole new level of &#8220;self-protection&#8221; and fear can kick in when you have a family.  Your first natural concern is not just yourself, but those in your house.  Sometimes it becomes all-consuming and insular, and your writing encourages me to think more of a &#8220;group-serve&#8221;, or to become one in service to others outside our home.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Andrew</title>
		<link>http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/04/hope-and-folly/comment-page-1/#comment-13791</link>
		<dc:creator>Andrew</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:32:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/?p=2844#comment-13791</guid>
		<description>Josh, I do believe we can infer what I and Mark have regardless of whether Luke was making such a claim explicitly.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Josh, I do believe we can infer what I and Mark have regardless of whether Luke was making such a claim explicitly.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: markvans</title>
		<link>http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/04/hope-and-folly/comment-page-1/#comment-13781</link>
		<dc:creator>markvans</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:23:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/?p=2844#comment-13781</guid>
		<description>Sure, Josh. But when someone says &quot;I was a christian until I learned to really think&quot; they should be able to take statements like Andrew&#039;s.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sure, Josh. But when someone says &#8220;I was a christian until I learned to really think&#8221; they should be able to take statements like Andrew&#39;s.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Joshua Douglas Ellens</title>
		<link>http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/04/hope-and-folly/comment-page-1/#comment-13780</link>
		<dc:creator>Joshua Douglas Ellens</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:15:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/?p=2844#comment-13780</guid>
		<description>andrew, that wasn&#039;t his point.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>andrew, that wasn&#39;t his point.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Andrew</title>
		<link>http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/04/hope-and-folly/comment-page-1/#comment-13776</link>
		<dc:creator>Andrew</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:33:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/?p=2844#comment-13776</guid>
		<description>I appreciate hearing more of your story, Sarah, and I agree with both A and B as well.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I appreciate hearing more of your story, Sarah, and I agree with both A and B as well.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: SarahLynne</title>
		<link>http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/04/hope-and-folly/comment-page-1/#comment-13768</link>
		<dc:creator>SarahLynne</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:03:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/?p=2844#comment-13768</guid>
		<description>one anecdotal illustration of the shift and impact this had on me.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;This experience occurred in the middle of 10th grade.  My 9th grade year was really lonely for me and I decided to change schools (for 10th grade).  I came back in 11th grade and became re-acquainted with who I had considered my closest friends in 9th grade.  A few months later one of them suddenly said &quot;man I&#039;m really glad you aren&#039;t a pretentious bitch anymore!&quot;  Apparently they had all be relieved when I&#039;d changed schools.  These are still my closest friends, and though I can be both pretentious and bitchy at times, I&#039;m glad I&#039;m no longer a pretentious bitch : )</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>one anecdotal illustration of the shift and impact this had on me.</p>
<p>This experience occurred in the middle of 10th grade.  My 9th grade year was really lonely for me and I decided to change schools (for 10th grade).  I came back in 11th grade and became re-acquainted with who I had considered my closest friends in 9th grade.  A few months later one of them suddenly said &#8220;man I&#39;m really glad you aren&#39;t a pretentious bitch anymore!&#8221;  Apparently they had all be relieved when I&#39;d changed schools.  These are still my closest friends, and though I can be both pretentious and bitchy at times, I&#39;m glad I&#39;m no longer a pretentious bitch : )</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
</channel>
</rss>
