RSVP Blog

Hey Timewarp,
What happened to the young lady, who danced in the hall, did she catch up with the older man who sounds like a lover from her past life.

If you dont know, you may be able to make up something. It sounds like the older man may have wanted to keep in touch, and she was drawn to him anyway.

Posted by: virgil at February 27, 2008 9:10 AM

SS.

It’s not a matter of just going out with real women. It’s more that they need recovery time – something I learnt after each music festival.

She thought she had Some Life In Her Yet. Ho Hum.

So I says: Next week we duck down and dig our lost fortune at the rockies fest, nip down to Thedbro for their country music spectacular with Gary Allan, back to Byron for the Bluesfest, down to Tasmania and the Barossa in April deviating into every nook and cranny, and you can cycle the Nullabor, or do you really want to do the Cape York experience, up to Cairns in May, round Australia in June and July, Broome , jumping dolphins at Monkey Mia, wildflowers, Rottnest, blah blah, Gympie Muster in August, overseas to England and France and Tuscany and Germany and Prague, Provence in Sept, Bathurst and Indi in October, down to Victoria for the Great Victorian Bike Ride in November, I’ll let you see your offspring for Christmas, then Woodford in January and let’s do it all over again- now how much money did you say you had? What you’re broke! Oh dear, then it’s fruit picking for you then sweetie (whilst I watch with beer in hand- she has to pay her way- like watching her cycle the Nullabor, the Simpson Desert, Cape York, southern France- I’ll just drive the support vehicle with beer fridge, or in the case of Fwance, snooze at the next vineyard rest stop).

Never again will any woman on rsvp advertise that they “want to travel” Now did I forget anything in that itinerary. Yes. Another 50 overseas destinations. But I didn’t want to shock her. Her head was spinning as it was and she was heading for the isolation ward with post traumatic stress disorder from meeting one of the maddest males on rsvp (and that was without even being dragged to Australia’s most haunted cemetery). Actually she wants to ski (snow that is, her last broken leg didn’t teach her a lesson), sail a yacht, nothing under 60ft and a $1m,, cruise the Mediterranean and Greek Isles, climb Mount Everest, traverse the Sahara on foot, so she gets her own back in her own way (there’s no beer fridge top of Everest)

Posted by: neuroticfish at February 27, 2008 6:34 AM

Posted by: blueeyes1955 at February 26, 2008 3:58 PM

No blueeyes1995 I would not decline a date based on their astrological sign. I notice if they are certain ones, that often turn up in friends and people I just meet randomly. I do not really look at the star sign on a profile...do you?

SSC

Posted by: slightsynchronicity at February 27, 2008 1:48 AM

Well, for any woman who wants a Date of a Lifetime, I am prepared to accompany you to the most haunted Cemetery in Australia. Noone yet has survived a whole night and not done a runner (well- that should suit all those women who do perpetual runners on their men).

Your reward if you succeed is- a free year off rsvp in an isolation ward recovering from post traumatic stress disorder from meeting eccentric men who propose weird dates.

Posted by: neuroticfish at February 26, 2008 7:36 AM

Sounds like more fun than my recent online dating experience. Are you saying you are eccentric NF...or are you referring to others? Perhaps Marcus could go also in a non dating capacity as the debunking prescence. It would have to be videoed also.Maybe the ghosts would run away in terror from RSVP bloggers. RSVP will post a spooky tour up soon, you wait and see.

Good on you NF for at least going on dates and fitness jaunts with real live people and getting offline.

Posted by: slightsynchronicity at February 27, 2008 1:44 AM

The day of Weeping, Doom for the final day!!!

" So Be It "

This is for you Marcus....

Posted by: aliane at February 26, 2008 2:15 PM

So lets be nice to each other now..........oh dear Aliane...you would make a good preacher..and I mean that in a nice way. Your own TV show....better than Benny Hinn!

Posted by: slightsynchronicity at February 27, 2008 1:32 AM

Hi SlightSynC...

Ha ha!...surely, I will visit you in Adelaide, before I die in 40 years time from now,..I will proved the paranormal ghost but not spooky...nice one, I won't frighten you. Practice the Numerology's Astrology, as I will give you, 6 numbers to win Lotto first division. So you and your loving mate can jet-set around the globe, Romance in Air. :))

Gee, I can be the longest blogger in 40 years. RSVP bloggers book of record, unbeatable.

I hope and pray to your new man now, with mutual chemistry, happiness and twilight zone...:)))

Visit me in Sydney before 40 years then...

Posted by: aliane at February 26, 2008 12:55 PM

Hi Aliane..well if you have found me a man, you had better provide his name and phone number as I am unaware of him right now. Thanks for your support. Sure I will visit you in Sydney before 40 years is up...even on my budget that should be possible. Yes I suspected that if you visited me as a spectre..you would be friendly of course : ))

Romance in Air sounds interesting and I will not comment on that as of course I have silly thoughts. I will pray that you find your soul mate Aliane.

And someone asked if we all thought we were waiting for "The One", I think...someone special and in a whole world you would expect you could get on real well with more than one person...but its timing, surely. Some people have one great love in their life and some have several. There is a saying about people being in your life for a reason, a season and some people are in your life for a lifetime. A blogger may know the quote. I had a great love for a short time once as he rekindled his desire for someone he loved since age 13, and she started chasing him. So one significant love that I can think of for about a year..the measuring stick is the passion that we had, I suppose. Can not really count my ex-husband either. There is no rush.............

Posted by: slightsynchronicity at February 27, 2008 1:29 AM

Amber @ 2.09pm and Marcus just before:

I posted at 2.34am that I'm personally not worrying much about the afterlife/lives - just trying to live as good a life as I can, and then see what results, at the time.

Because of what's come up today, I'd like to add a couple more points:

1) The 72 virgins: My muslim tradie told me they aren't just your average virgin, mate. While the hero who's taken out the infidel or 300 is working his way through the pack, every perforated hymen is busy growing back like a lizard's tail, just in time for our hero to have a ripping time all over again.

Maybe that's why they need the 72, to keep up with him. If he's macho enough to kill people, he'd be sure to have quite a libido, eh?

This was all a bit too blokey for me - like eating the boiled paws, one a month, off live caged bears , or the raw brain out of a dead-drunk monkey. (Yes - they call us foreign devils and barbarians ...)

Next religion please.

2) The other afterlives on offer are less sexist, but the emphasis is still on the carrot-and-stick control of ignorant peasants. Anyone remember the movie "Brother sun, sister moon"? Marcus should have a loaner copy - it's far more telling than any of his sermons.

3) A year ago I decided that the buddhists may have the answer, thanks to RSVP.

I dated a woman with an enthralling life story. She was English-born, and had had many dreams as a young person about her previous life as a young scottish woman, about 25 years older. Vivid pictorial images of countryside and the insides of rooms in houses and other buildings.

On a ship from Australia to England in her 20s to do the european working holiday, she felt unusually drawn to an older man, and told him about her persistent dreams. After a while he began to cry.

He told her addresses for the places she had described, and his story. He was engaged to a young woman, but she broke the engagement to seek her fortune in New Zealand. On the way over, she was drowned off the west coast of Africa, about a year before the young woman was born.

She visited the places, and they were as her dreams, even the coating of dusty white powder in the hall where her previous self went for her last dance, before she sailed.

Now she knew it was a flour store beside the mill. And she searched and found newspaper reports of the loss at sea of the young emigrant.

Posted by: timewarp1 at February 26, 2008 11:47 PM

ISTJ @ 8.12am: You are right and I sit corrected.

Posted by: timewarp1 at February 26, 2008 10:47 PM

Copyright worry Kaz, would I make a ytpo like that

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 10:25 PM

Trouble is finding anyone older than me in any walk of life.

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 10:22 PM

Has anyone heard from MOAM4U, he seems to have gone missing.

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 10:19 PM

Thank you Marcus

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 10:14 PM

Oh dear Marcus, best l call the man up the street who is a sparkie in the morning to come and fix it then.........
See this is why we need men around, to give us a helping hand and advice when required.

Seriously will get on to it and ta ..............K

Posted by: auntykaz at February 26, 2008 10:12 PM

Not my doctor, AmberLight! He is 68. We were both attending a civic reception this evening (sounds grand, but wasn't). He rang me to say he was going to run cross-country there (13 kms) and could I pick up a change of clothes for him at his practice and meet him at the reception a little early so he could change before the 'do', then drive him home after. What a man!

Posted by: ninaschen at February 26, 2008 10:01 PM

Auntykaz.
You need a registered sparks for a short out like that. You are risking a fire and or electrocution. Make it urgent. When you ring, tell him you can smell burning.
Cheers MS

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 26, 2008 9:58 PM

The Wixard of Oz, OG??? Yeeha bring him on...........K

Posted by: auntykaz at February 26, 2008 9:44 PM

Kaz
Just think you may not be that far from the Wixard of Oz anyway!
LOL LOL LOL

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 9:39 PM

THe trouble is the older you get, the younger the tradies get! Have you ever noticed how even the doctor is younger than you are?

Posted by: amberlight58 at February 26, 2008 9:34 PM

More cute singe tradies , thats what caught my eye!!there really should be more of them in the world, I think they have all gone up nrth , out west, down south, because there arent many left here!!

Posted by: noname7 at February 26, 2008 9:30 PM

Hey Jen, maybe thats it.....more cute single tradies and less RSVP ;)

Posted by: jenjen57 at February 26, 2008 9:08 PM

Thanks guys for your advise re the washing machine. I know it is probably just some simple thing but you know how it is - yeah I must get someone out and then never do. lol. It's not even that old either - won it in a competition, so shouldn't be playing up.
Oh and re waiting for tradesmen to call. Just last night my plumber came back to talk completion of some roof plumbing he started before Christmas. Yeah, he arrives about 7.30pm while I'm enjoying my bath after a hard days work. Aargh! Got me in my dressing gown. lol. Damn shame he wasn't cute and single. (wink, wink)

Posted by: jenniferhi at February 26, 2008 9:01 PM

Marcus do you have a solution for a dicky dishwasher that keeps shorting out half the 3 phase power house????

MOTH, a tradie, has told me time and time again "mum don't get a sparkie in, so and so will come and do it".

Ahhh..... the tradies famous last words when it comes to problems in the home in which they live........

Am still waiting for promised sparkie to eventually arrive........ but in his absence, any advice is welcome.....l'm getting sick of re setting the safety switch...............K

Posted by: auntykaz at February 26, 2008 8:36 PM

Hi Jennifer :)

Posted by: jenjen57 at February 26, 2008 8:27 PM

Amber,
I really do not know why I responded that way and have been trying to remember when I did. I do know that what we do in this existence reflets on us when we finally do pass over. I have heard one person say she was shown the hall of reflections before being sent back. She would not elaborate any further. I have often wondered why no Clairvoyant has never claimed to have contacted the great monsters of history, to my knowlege anyway
Cheers OG
Ps the fish was ok, maybe in the resturant I would have had a look at the drinks on the table before serving. Now I am working on a receipe for doing a neuroticfish. LOL

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 8:19 PM

amberlight.
There is a very simple water level switch in most washing machines. Probably a dicky one what is wrong with yours. About 20 bucks to buy and 1/2 hr to fit.
Cheers MS

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 26, 2008 7:51 PM

You aren't kidding NF, there really is an Australian Yowie site. And an Australian Yowie Specialist. Long time between sightings though

Posted by: amberlight58 at February 26, 2008 7:30 PM

Well amber eyes,

You have to realise that my “Beloved” could hardly keep her cycling gear on long enough to complete much of her own personal Tour De France.

She regards Monogamy as a disease you catch if you have a stitch of clothing on.

France would be an even bigger smorgasbord than rsvp.

Think I’ll settle for a Ghost Tour of England’s Haunted Houses. We are discussing the paranormal here, aren’t we.

Posted by: neuroticfish at February 26, 2008 7:30 PM

Australia's most Haunted Cemetery? (Where is it by the way?) Rainforests inhabited by Yowies? Min Min Lights? Such exciting places to visit NF!
I can well understand your Beloved's need to cycle the South of France. By herself!

Posted by: amberlight58 at February 26, 2008 6:49 PM

Did you know that my favourite temperate rainforest retreat is the subject of numerous Yowie sightings

Two younger fellows heard strange noises in the bush surrounding the forestry huts and announced that they would be going back the Easter before last with video cameras and sound recording devices.

I thought I might help them along by adding some extra feed for the Yowie so she would come around the huts at night more regularly. I could just picture the pair of them racing down the mountainside at midnight, absolutely terrified, at the slightest sound, let alone when she actually comes around and roars (yes, it is a She and she is very lonely. My mate tried to get her registered on rsvp once to find her a soulmate but the powers that be decided that they already had enough Yowies on rsvp

I nearly got Madam to the top of the Mountain the trip before last- it�s a great place to run around nekked- and she sheds her clothes at a moment�s notice- more so if there is a camera present.

But then again I also suggested numerous other �exciting� trips- like chasing the Min Min Lights, followed by hot artesian mud baths at Yowah (nekked of course- always some rhyme and reason to this sort of thing). She says: �What�s wrong with an overseas trip anyway. Blow your Min Min Lights. I just want to cycle the south of France!�

Women!

Posted by: neuroticfish at February 26, 2008 6:27 PM

OG,
If you experienced what you did and personally know others who have experienced even more, then how can you say that there is nothing? Or is that only for the non-Christians?

Jen, mine started doing the same, the water wouldn't turn off (well only when it felt like it!) we have a rebate in SA for new water-saving washing machines of $200.00, so by the time I factored in the cost of repairs it was cheaper to get a new one! I'm not sure where you live (I haven't checked out your profile yet) but I know that SA is pretty 'economical' compared to the eastern states when it comes to water saving rebates, so yours could be even more generous

OG that fish sounds quite delicious!

Posted by: amberlight58 at February 26, 2008 6:05 PM

Auntykaz,
I must have been given your virgo trait then. I keep my cupboards very tidy. I am red headed aries and people think I should be fiery tempered. Nothing could be further from the truth.Maybe the hair colour cancels out the aries bit. I'm sure we all have traits of each sign in our personalities. Mind you I seem to pick on Libras for some reason-and I didn't know their star signs in teh first place. Two very good male friends of mine turned out to have their birthdays on the same day.

Posted by: blueeyes1955 at February 26, 2008 5:43 PM

Now I have to go and bake this beautifull young Schnapper in Lemongrass and butter with just a touch of garlic and celery salt, garnished with mild chilli with a side of Med salad. Later maybe.
Cheers OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 5:43 PM

Interesting comment Marcus,@ 4.37 science is now how old, when we came down out of the trees? Would it not be more like observing which is the prerequisit of learning. Which I would presume is the forerunner of science.
Cheers OG,

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 5:30 PM

Kenny, 72 virgins would wreck even the most dedicated man surely??? Mentally as well as physically.........

Sorry oldergent l have no tale to tell re seeing the light, have lived a fairly safe life so far.....

Blueeyes l don't look at starsigns as l have no interest in them...people say to me that l'm a typical Virgo, to which l usually reply "and what is that?".
Someone once told me that Virgo's are anally tidy with their kitchen cupboards.....
Well not me.

Oh dear l have led a sheltered life...........K

Posted by: auntykaz at February 26, 2008 5:19 PM

Jenniferhi,
have you checked your filters and your overlow outlet, the other thing is you may have a sensor failing, washing machine mechanic needed, (another chance to meet someone?)
Cheers OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 5:18 PM

Hi Amber. Well can't really sort it out, just clean up the mess. lol. For some silly reason, sometimes it overflows and sometimes it doesn't. Go figure. I need to be right at the machine as it nears filling to cut off the water. Of course on the days I don't - are the days that it overflows.

JenJen - I tried to get that name when I registered. lol. I often get called that. Nice to say hello to another Jen.

Posted by: jenniferhi at February 26, 2008 5:05 PM

Now there are you out there reading this that have had the experience. Come forward there are so many stories to tell and so much hurt and pain to ease.
OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 4:53 PM

blueeyes,
Not a question but a comment. I was not conscious of a body, but could see, had complete recall of this existence, did not feel great sorrow at passing over, but a great peace to know that I had another existence to come, at the first glimpse of the light I was back on the floor of the ward. I have spoken to others that progressed much further than me (before you start Marcus, stop listen then you may learn something you may need later in life) Those that got all the way reported nothing but the feeling of absolute love. One man said he seen his wife and daughter as he remembered them before they died, his son killed in the same accident had progressed on to the next existence. He was sent back and now works as a councellor on suicide watch. It is no wonder that many who have had the experience do not come forward, but someday walk with me and if you are lucky you will see what I am saying.
OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 4:46 PM

Riversong 4:12.
Get it right. Science has known for eons that the earth is a sphere. Your savannah dwelling ancestors were able to observe the circular shape of the earth's shadow on the moon and make that deduction.
Magellan proved it and discovered America.

The irrational christian religions holy ghost decided a flat earth better suited their brainwashing routine and tried to set science and exploration back even further.
Yes and you have just made a motherhood statement about scientific logic.
What is your point?

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 26, 2008 4:37 PM

Amber, what awaits, nothing.
OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 4:22 PM

Think, 72 virgins in heaven and your not allowed to touch them ( no sex in heaven please) a suitable punishment for a suicide bomber ?
OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 4:20 PM

Laughsandtalks - science is based upon hypotheses, that if not disproved, become "theories" and accepted as "fact". Theories hold "true" until something comes to light to challenge them, that they can't explained within their paradigms.

Once upon a time it was accepted scientific "fact" that the earth was flat, because no-one up to then had managed to cirvumnavigate it, in order to disprove it..

Just because something has not yet been done, doesn't mean it never can or will be - basic principles of scientific logic :)

Posted by: riversong1 at February 26, 2008 4:12 PM

I was told by an elderly lady whose cousin( from the earlier story I blogged) that when you die you can choose to stay at the age you were when you died or choose to keep aging. Wonder how old you can grow to be in heaven?
OG Have been thinking about the next question. Was going to ask whether bloggers here would choose or reject a possible RSVP connection simply by their star sign? I sometimes do look at the compatibility but really feel that if I look hard enough I have traits of all the star signs.But I certainly wouldn't make a decision on the compatibility rating.Still enjoying this topic though. What's your next question OG?

Posted by: blueeyes1955 at February 26, 2008 3:58 PM

Jen, Did you sort out that wretched washing machine?

Posted by: amberlight58 at February 26, 2008 3:44 PM

THat's a scary thought, (the surprise factor) Virgil, although I suppose we all have to come to terms with our mortality one day, hopefully in the future! It would be nice if it's a PLEASANT surprise (I wonder what does await the non-believer?)

Posted by: amberlight58 at February 26, 2008 3:41 PM

Come to think of it amberlight58 72 virgins would probably be suicide ayway

Posted by: abckenny at February 26, 2008 3:33 PM

Me either virgil........quite happy to hang around here (on earth NOT rsvp) for another 50 years !!!

Posted by: jenjen57 at February 26, 2008 3:33 PM

Whatever we meet when we die and pass on will be a huge surprise, Jesus spent 3 days somewhere before his resurrection, maybe that was like a transition place sort of to prepare us for the next step?

Not in a real hurry to find out.

Posted by: virgil at February 26, 2008 3:27 PM

Sorry abckenny,
Don't you have to be a Muslim extremist suicide bomber to be rewarded with 72 virgins?

Istj,
That is the reason I've never been interested in going for a "reading". I think I'd rather keep hoping for the best, you know, tomorrow is another day....... I think appreciating what you have and taking each day as it comes works best for me.
I'd like to think that if I'd been "good" that I could get to choose my visitors!!

Posted by: amberlight58 at February 26, 2008 3:26 PM

Raisins...OH no ...well then I'm not going.

Posted by: abckenny at February 26, 2008 3:25 PM

Virgins kenny ?? I thought it was raisins..........

Posted by: jenjen57 at February 26, 2008 3:17 PM

The thought of a heaven is a very interesting concept.Will I be reunited with my loving wife and mother of my children or will it be my cheating ex wife and her new partner?
What will my dearly departed father now make of his favourite daughter in law?
Will I even care as I make my self acquainted with those 72 virgins that await me?

Posted by: abckenny at February 26, 2008 3:09 PM

I think all of these psychic, or after death, things are wonderful only in theory if we have ultimate control of the things happening or the people we see. When we think of them, we think of only the people we want to see again...but we would not have control and would be faced with the "family reunion" scenario?...rsvp...no thanks...just death with nothing sounds fine.

Also with the psychics and mediums...great when it is good news or warnings that come in time...but what about constantly hearing bad stuff that may happen to you and your friends or family?...devestating...even if it never happens...most people just want the good stuff but life is a mixture of both...do we really want to know it all before it happens?

Posted by: istj54 at February 26, 2008 2:53 PM

You don't mean like a "family reunion" do you, ISTJ. Mmmmm, I might need to re-think things!

Posted by: amberlight58 at February 26, 2008 2:45 PM

I somehow don't think we will be able to pick our visitors, amberlight58...there are sure to be a few we would rather not see again:)

Aliane...have you been watching I Am Legend?

Posted by: istj54 at February 26, 2008 2:41 PM

Thanks Aliane.
I am quite a nature and architecture buff so the wild jackals and building ruins would be interesting.
Cheers MS

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 26, 2008 2:38 PM

Oh, just saw something so funny. (Well to me anyway.) Lol. Is on a new male members opening line.
"Live life like you were dying."
Think he means like you were to die tomorrow. (hee hee)
Am I wicked?

Hi to you too bm and thanks for welcome.

Jen

Posted by: jenniferhi at February 26, 2008 2:37 PM

But ISTJ, although I enjoy solitude too, you might appreciate the odd "visitor" in your everlasting stay in the whatever!!

Posted by: amberlight58 at February 26, 2008 2:35 PM

To jenniferhi...Hi Jennifer! :-)
To aliane...thankyou.

Posted by: bm1960 at February 26, 2008 2:25 PM

Imagine the absolute horror of it...arghhhhh...all those souls of the faithful departed together for a catch-up...just like at an rsvp social night we would all be running for the exit...even if they were family and loved ones.

Posted by: istj54 at February 26, 2008 2:17 PM

Hi Marcus,
Well as I intend on being cremated, they probably wouldn't recognise my pile of ashes anyway!!
Seriously? You raise an interesting question. I'm not so sure about the "bodily incarnation" that the Bible talks about and which I suppose, is why some people are horrified at the thought of cremation. I'm thinking more of the spiritual or what is known as souls meeting up again (I know it probably sounds completely flaky!)

Posted by: amberlight58 at February 26, 2008 2:09 PM

Hi All,

Absolutely Marcus, all religious belief has its basis and foundation due to superstition.

Regardless of whether virgin births are possible or not, the fact is that if Jesus, or anyone else for that matter, were not a first child then the birth could not be from a virgin (unless of course ALL were virgin births and, if you believe the bible text, we know that is not true).

Bob

Posted by: notgodsgift at February 26, 2008 2:07 PM

Amberlight.
The ubiquitous religious promise you will meet with other dead relatives is part of the game.
If your rello's and friends died of old age or illness or accident, what sort of knick would you expect to find them in after death? Perfectly reconstituted or as they were at death? Serious question.
Cheers Marcus

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 26, 2008 2:01 PM

Aargh - See as soon as I join the blog - A Sign. Just flooded the whole laundry. Bloody washing machine. Someone/something telling me to get off this computer and pay attention to what is going on around home. lol.
But seriously - how could all this be if there was not a deeper, universal 'something'.
Be it whatever our own belief system can accept.
For me - too many incredible paranormal events prove there is definately more. Seek and we shall find.
But of course, everyone is on their own journey. Jen

Posted by: jenniferhi at February 26, 2008 2:01 PM

Hello All,
I spend the night putting together one of those metal shelves with a hundred nuts and bolts for my garden shed, and what happens? You have an interesting and fiery discussion!
I am amazed when I hear of people who have had some type of "psychic" experience, because I can't remember ever really having such a feeling. Except when I was about 16. My parents were looking at a small farm in the Sanderston area of South Australia (we moved a LOT when I was growing up!). We walked into this really big old house and I immediately felt very uncomfortable. By the time we walked into this area that had been made into a courtyard between the house and an old shed or something, I had such a sense of dread I had to get out of there! Every hair on the back of my neck was standing up and I just felt terrified. My heart was pounding and even after I got out of there it took several minutes before my sense of panic subsided. I have no idea why this happened and I have never felt like that in another house again. Though I often noticed (as we moved so often) that different houses seem to have different atmospheres. Some feel bright and happy, some feel miserable and heavy, some feel okay. (Of course, this probably means that I am just an an eccentric, bordering on insanity)

As far as beliefs are concerned, I am quite happy if people believe what ever they want to. The only time I feel threatened by someone's beliefs is if I feel that they are hurtful to another person or inflicting unneccessary hurt and pain on an animal.
I am not religious, but I believe there is much more to this world than we know about. My younger son believes strongly in God and Jesus, and I encourage this as I have seen the comfort that religious faith brings to those who have lost someone or who are dying themselves. By the same token, I have seen people who are quite happy to die as non-believers.
The only thing I dislike about Christianity is the emphasis on Jesus dying for our sins. If you truly believe in Jesus, then any horrible thing you have done in your life will be forgiven and you will ?enter the Kingdom of Heaven?. I think I prefer the religions that make you a little more accountable for your actions!!
I guess like VIrgil and like most of you, my only wish when I die, would be for me to meet up again with those friends and family who REALLY liked me or loved me. So meeting up with my mum and dad and some relatives again may be more like Hell than Heaven!

Posted by: amberlight58 at February 26, 2008 1:50 PM

factsfirst.
A virgin birth is parthenogentic and quite common and sensible in nature. I don't know of any human examples but there was a good story about a female Komodo dragon who did same in London Zoo. I don't think she was intent on starting a reptile religion. Mind you some animals, reptiles have 'supernatural powers' and can store sperm for months or longer.
As far as I am concerned Jesus was merely a hypothetical spearhead for the crazy beliefs made in his name, but it would raise some interesting genetic questions re Mary.
Ha Ha cheers

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 26, 2008 1:44 PM

OG.
Religion was in this discussion from the word go.
Valentine's Day is a Catholic Saint's feast day that had been superimposed over a perfectly good Roman celebration date.
There is no greater repository of cant and superstiton mental and physical intimidation and supernatural belief rubbish than found there. Miracles? The church does not even know who he was or what the hypothetical St Valentine did but snuffed out a pantheon date anyway...
Cheers Marcus

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 26, 2008 1:37 PM

Am so enjoying this topic. Wish perhaps I had joined the blogging community earlier than this. Will see if I am allowed to join and then maybe get amongst the fun.
I follow other blogs on-line and am involved with those - where does everyone get the time? There simply isn't enough hours in the day. Jen

Posted by: jenniferhi at February 26, 2008 1:30 PM

istj,
just a note in case you misread my last comment, I meant thank you for the clarity and good sense of your comment.
Cheers OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 12:32 PM

Following Jesus to me has a much different interpretation to that of Born Again Christians who use everything as a method of control.
I like Timewarp's explanation of Jesus as a McGregor figure Y person who said care about the environment, and love your fellow people as yourself, dont be a dorrmat.

The example of letting go one's possessions i feel has much relevance to today, when we hold on to so much clutter and find it very hard to let go of.

The Gospels show Jesus obtaining Divinity at 3 different points, one says he was born divine, another says he achieved divinity when baptised, and a third says he was made divine on resurrection.

What does this mean?

I don't know, but I suspect it means something different to each of us.

Posted by: virgil at February 26, 2008 10:37 AM

The marriage of religion and state the occurred under the rule of the Roman emperor Constantine in the year 396AD, was pretty much under the idea that if you cant beat them, join them.

Nowhere in the bible is given the birthdate of Jesus. Now if God thought this to be important, for the birthdate of the central figure of the whole book, then we can be absolutely assured, it would be there.

The date chosen for Jesus' birthday was of course the existing celebration of the winter solstice (lets not waste an existing festival here).

Most bible students put the birthdate of Jesus around October 2BC this matching up with verifiable facts like how long King Herod had been on the throne and Roman Governors of the time.

Clearly, the day a person is put to death, is the same day each year, but wily old Constantine had an existing festival for this to be lined up with.
I think this festival had something to do with fertility etc, hence the rabbit and the egg.
Again lets incorporate existing festivals and clearly this one had to do with the moon, and fertility.

Posted by: virgil at February 26, 2008 10:13 AM

I do not know how Religion, got into this debate, the Para Normal has nothing to do with any religion, Now that it seems to be the main topic I am out of this one.

istj. sanity at last, Marcus I have never denied Science, nor have I said that the para normal it is the end all and be all to peoples problems. They exist and to shut your mind to them is as stupid as denying science. Now that the one unwinable debate subject has arrisen.

blueeyes, Whats the next subject?

Posted by: oldergent at February 26, 2008 9:45 AM

Morning all....I have something to share...Yesterday morning my calendar fell off the wall. My 99 year old Granda passed away yesterday afternoon. May he rest in peace. I am Irish born and bred and somewhat superstitious...and when a picture or calendar falls, it usually portends a death....so, I am rather open minded when it comes to physic stuff....

Posted by: bm1960 at February 26, 2008 8:48 AM

Virgil...my son came up with a good one the other day about Easter/Ressurection...wanted to know why it is a different date every year...I said it was determined by the first full moon after Christmas(? not real sure) and he found this interesting to say the least...questioned why Jesus rising should be a different date each year...Astronomy as part of religion????

Marcus you are arguing the logical against the emotional...a no win situation as Kaz said...I, personally, see both sides of the coin having experienced psychic stuff myself, but know that there is probably no evidence to support such beliefs and it could all just be coincidence...eerie/spooky nonetheless...electromagnetic fields can cause many of the paranormal phenomena too but it is all interesting stuff...I do believe that many people are gifted with psychic abilities and I do believe there are many charlatons out there only too willing to defleece the unsuspecting who are desperate for answers to their problems...tread carefully those people.

Also, personal insults have been hurled from both sides of this debate...just my observation from reading a few days postings...another observation is that the people on the majority side tend to insult with impunity.

Posted by: istj54 at February 26, 2008 8:12 AM

I disappear for a few days with my Beloved (that’s her vomiting in the background when she hears what I am calling her)(oh and merrily mobiling her next date asking to be rescued post haste) and I come back and you are all talking paranormal stuff.

Well, for any woman who wants a Date of a Lifetime, I am prepared to accompany you to the most haunted Cemetery in Australia. Noone yet has survived a whole night and not done a runner (well- that should suit all those women who do perpetual runners on their men).

Your reward if you succeed is- a free year off rsvp in an isolation ward recovering from post traumatic stress disorder from meeting eccentric men who propose weird dates.

Posted by: neuroticfish at February 26, 2008 7:36 AM

Marcus @ 2.39am: Now you're fair dinkum. And right about anecdotal evidence. You need a fair bit of it, each carefully documented at the time to satisfy evidencial requirements and sceptical third parties.

But not many carefully-documented first-hand experiences in one lifetime to satisfy this old geezer that telepathy does work, somehow or other.

Before I die I hope to read that they've identified the mechanism, and what it is.

Posted by: timewarp1 at February 26, 2008 3:54 AM

Slightsynch: I believe the two phenomena are different examples of the same mechanism, which I in my ignorance call telepathy. (The Irreverend Marcus may know a more specific name for this phenomenon, whose very existence he has been denying all day.)

1) You look at her hair from the back with no agenda, except to prove that when you do that, they somehow know and look around. She nearly always notices, without seeing you, that someone/something (could be a lion or a mugger) is looking at her hair and thinking about her. So she checks who/what is focussing on her, so she'll know how to react, and with how much urgency.

I look at her convexity without her seeing me do it. (It's rude to be noticed, staring.) She senses not only that someone is looking at her, but where they are looking, and because it is presumably a stranger, she is modest and covers up the target area.

I believe both situations scientifically prove the existence of telepathy, by Marcus's correct criteria (repeatability etc.)

The intellectual problem for me is when the target doesn't react. This is where the guesswork comes in. Occasionally the woman you look at, Sue, does not turn round. Is she preoccupied, so that sensor's turned off at the moment? Or she senced, but her preoccupation drowned out the signal? She sensed you, but consciously chose not to look round? Because she felt safe and secure enough then and there, not to need to know? Because she was embarrassed by the attention, and didn't want to let om that she'd noticed?

Very rarely, my target does not react either. Why not? Receptor switched off? Proud of her figure, and the more people that admire it, the better? Embarrassed to show that she noticed?

If you think the hand raised to hair or face is to groom there and not to provide a block, why is it always the hand on my side, or the handbag moved from the other side to my side? Coincidence? I don't think so.

Posted by: timewarp1 at February 26, 2008 3:22 AM

Timewarp1.
If you contact me off line I can direct you to plenty of scientific papers on studies of the paranormal. Standard telepathic tests using Zener cards and Ganzfelds test are among them. You will probably have to pay for the Journal downloads for most of them.
Cheers MS

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 26, 2008 2:39 AM

Fellers

How many angels can fit on the head of a pin? That was the biggie Christian debate about the 6th century, I believe.

I have a busy life, and see Jesus' main contribution to civilisation, ie. the improvement of THIS life for everyone THIS time around, as arising from His being the first exponent of what McGregor called theory Y.

The previous religions were theory X like the Qld. criminal code - a list of a limited number of DO NOTs, and leave the rest to chaos.

Jesus pointed us towards 2 things which I interpret as
1) Care enormously about the universe and its parts, and protect it and them from all assaults
2) Care about everyone else as much as you care about yourself, and act accordingly, ie. don't be selfish - or a doormat.

That's what I try to focus on, day to day, not on the authenticity of His place in the Holy Trinity.

When I die, most religions suggest that I will then be rewarded somehow if I've lived a virtuous life, and punished if I've lived a selfish life.

The Prophet was a very randy man and he came from a shepherd society, with many ewes for each ram, so his view of Paradise was rather blokey.

But he did go to a lot of trouble to try to include in his list of Dos and Donts, all the best he could find in the Jewish religion, and in the Christian. Like me, he reckoned that a good idea didn't care who had it, as long as it got used.

I don't think about the afterlife/lives very much. Carrots and sticks are for slaves. Theory X stuff to make you behave, this time around.

My focus is to keep satisfying myself that I am worthwhile, because I'm behaving well, as often as I can. Which requires me to behave well today. And tomorrow. If I do, the day after that can take care of itself.

I don't need to be satisfied of the credentials of the gurus (religious or secular) who had the good ideas on how to live a life you can be proud of.

I just want to get on with living that sort of life.

My mum said civilisation was the bye-product of most of the people being well-behaved most of the time, and I want to live a life that helps that process. Simple as that.

Past my bedtime. Night night.

Posted by: timewarp1 at February 26, 2008 2:34 AM

timewarp1...the womens psychic or intuitive reaction to your bust ogling is amazing. I have to agree with marcus. That is so funny. Well done for noticing but are you sure they are not just fixing their hair.Perhaps it is coincidence.

When you stare at the back of someones head (not me, I don't do that) why do they often sense it and turn around? Marcus you may know this...it surely happens.

Posted by: slightsynchronicity at February 26, 2008 2:31 AM

Timewarp1.
By zip up your fly I meant you had your hand on your old boy and it was time to let go. It is a mildly derogatory colloquialism. The next bit of the expression says you are cracking a dry horn. You were waffling and obfuscating and trying to put the burden of proof on me when I was sceptical about your tea leaf story. It also seemed an appropriate comment after your lions, bandits and hair on end reference, the muggers you fought off in Central Park and the parallel evolution theory of the Diprotodon and Rhinoceros. Not to mention the telepathic warning transmission of your bust ogling propensity.
Mate, I am not making any supernatural claims at all. They are popping up all over the place around me. I just want some reasonable evidence of the operating mechanism to convince me how the position of tea leaves say are a reliable predictor of distant events. I'm waiting.
Cheers Marcus

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 26, 2008 2:12 AM

Some things in life are just mysteries....

Posted by: slightsynchronicity at February 26, 2008 2:01 AM

Re: Post by: virgil at February 26, 2008 12:21 AM.

Not intended as a criticism of anyone's belief's or non-beliefs but medically/technically, a virgin birth is possible.
Not just through today's modern invitro test tube conceptions, either.

Just think about it for a minute, or longer if the grey and white cells can't breach the gap.

Posted by: factsfirst at February 26, 2008 1:23 AM

Virgil,

There's more to worry about than your post of 11.02pm.

It is almost a foregone conclusion that if Jesus actually even existed then he was not the oldest in the family, therefore....virgin birth?? Additionally, the dogma now goes that he is not the son of god, but god incarnate. If this is true then how the hell did he die and get resurrected....who or what resurrected him if, as the dogma says, he is god incarnate and died??

Bob

Posted by: notgodsgift at February 26, 2008 1:02 AM

TLD: Several times I had to call out "Touche, Ms Puddytat."

Posted by: timewarp1 at February 26, 2008 12:51 AM

Where would we all be without Marcus?

We would all roughly agree, would that be boring?
I don't know, maybe we could investigate the bible as text, written by the dominant culture?
Or maybe whether I will come back as a fly in my next re-birth.
Maybe we can get a "Born Again" Christian to debate with Marcus, it would be interesting, although nobody else would get a word in.

Posted by: virgil at February 26, 2008 12:48 AM

SSC Sorry to disappoint but I don't do profile rewrites and I can confirm that men who do not keep their dicks in their dacks are abundant, normal and healthy. No sane red blooded bloke is going to wait years on a promise from a women he has never met 10000 miles away. My advice for you is to find a lover a bit closer to home, like within about 10k. Even if he is not ideal it will be a lot easier.

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 25, 2008 2:43 AM

Cheers Marcus..well he was due to come to Australia in April but has taken up with someone he met on holiday for 5 days and is now going to live with her. We both like words and seemed to have an OK thing going. 1 1/2 months is not that long to wait, and of course he still wants to meet me (he says??) and no I do not just want a lover, but thanks for the suggestion, friends and workmates say it all the time. And 10 km away..well I am barely home..would that be to maximise my time?? It has to be special or it ain't happening. Now I am reading that Stephen Pinker book. See how that goes, I may learn something.

Phenomenae: When my cousin died, I am 100% sure I felt it. I could not stop thinking about her for yours...while I was trying to read a book. Then at 5.am approx I just had this terrible feeling and awareness that something bad had happened to her.Then about 7.30am my Mum rang to say she had heard my cousin had died around 5am.

A friend did my tarot recently and 4 of the cards were about finances. Basically if I worked real hard and was careful with money, then all the other areas of my life would improve. Now I have two jobs and there is a light at the end of the tunnel and am motivated to travel OS. I do not want her to keep doing my tarot and that one was pretty good in the long term. Villa in Tuscany anyone. It does not hurt to dream...

Posted by: slightsynchronicity at February 26, 2008 12:41 AM

Marcus @ 10.24pm:

"Zip your fly up Timewarp." This is the second time you've said this today. Actually I'm not wearing one, Marcus. Only Chinese-made lounging boxer shorts, with a modesty button instead, so can't oblige you: the button is done up already.

I guess you were really using the classic old retort of "Shut ya gob!" which illiterate people have always used when they were beaten in an argument, because they had no logical answer to the other person's points, so it was easier to try to shout them down.

You've just lowered the site down from the mouth to your personal focus.

At 2.55pm you'd claimed "All the controlled studies have failed to come up with any support for your idea (the reality of telepathy), and despite big prizes and first rate facilities; nothing."

I'd asked you @ 10.12pm to cite the scientific authorities who had conducted these famous studies that had debunked telepathy, and your answer is "Zip your fly up Timewarp."

Marcus, you are no fun at all to debate with.

You're not a genuine scientist, or even a science reporter, upholding science against counter-attacks by religion or the occult, or you'd be quick to legitimise all your claims on behalf of science by citing your authorities for each scientific claim that you've made, even before that self-justification was demanded by your more-scientific opponent.

No, you're a typical religious ratbag, Marcus, full of nothing but hot air, like the barber's cat.

You accuse religion of preaching the unproveable, and like any insult, it's also a self-description.

You're just preaching anti-religion, and making a very poor job of it - totally unconvincing, because you keep on pontificating instead of proving. Exactly what you accuse the religions of.

But I'm glad my tealeaves story (1.13am, 25th) has appealed to you, and thank you for your earlier acknowledgement of that, cf. your later "50 year old anecdotes don't qualify I'm sorry."

Nor do your empty, unproven iconoclastic sermons, Marcus, and I'm not wasting any more time giving you opportunities to get real and debate with us in a way that might sway this intelligent congregation to your way of believing.

Posted by: timewarp1 at February 26, 2008 12:33 AM

auntykaz.
Perhaps your dying patient was thinking "thank goodness I won't have to look at that painting anymore"
Just as likely and no more or less discernable.
Cheers Marcus

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 26, 2008 12:28 AM

Or come to Adelaide and say hi while you are living Aliane !!!

Posted by: slightsynchronicity at February 26, 2008 12:21 AM

Absolutely MS, Anglicans are way different from the fundamentalists, who believe, if its in the Bible it must be literally true.

Anglicans have widely different belief structures, Bishop Spong writes very convincingly against the idea of a virgin birth.

It may well be that the notion of virgin birth was borrowed from the myths and ledgends of the past, in particular, Roman culture and the birth of Romulus and Remus.

Posted by: virgil at February 26, 2008 12:21 AM

f I die, let say in 40 years time from now...
then Raised your Hands who wants to see my Ghost Spirit. I will visit you after I die within 40 days, Believed Or Not, will proved it, when I passed away then post to blogs to witness if still online's rsvp exist. Ohhh very Spooky!!!.....

Posted by: aliane at February 25, 2008 11:12 PM

Aliane feel free to visit me when you die but be nice and I sure hope I am not on the blog in 40 years time...no offence anyone.

Posted by: slightsynchronicity at February 26, 2008 12:20 AM

Weta..
what a shame you are looking for an older woman...LOL

Posted by: slightsynchronicity at February 26, 2008 12:18 AM

We have, as a society, come a long way, as science no longer rules unchallenged.

Maybe 40 years ago, bfefore the Beatles investigated Eastern Spirituality, no one would have challenged the notion that if we cant see it, smell it, touch it, or hear it, then it is not real.

On the surface, buddhism offers some really good insights into human nature, etc.

Where they lose me is they say a human soul is re-born at a maximum of 45 days after death.

I would like to believe that when I die, my family members who have gone before, will be there to greet me.

Posted by: virgil at February 26, 2008 12:14 AM

Virgil.
A lot of Anglicans seem to have trouble with the virgin birth. I listened to the head of the Anglican Communion ( is it Peter Carnley?) and he sounded quite embarrased speaking about the huge leap required to get over it.
The english churches a couple of hundred years ago were great promoters of science. Many clergy I suspect were atheists and used their stipends and facilities for scientific exploration, the equivalent of a modern research grant.Charles Darwin was a good example of this. Mendel the father of genetics was a Lutheran? monk. A terrible monk bty accounts but a bloody good researcher. The Catholics on the other hand had a much less positive view of scientifically inclined clergy
Cheers MS

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 26, 2008 12:13 AM

Weta.
Science is not a religion or belief system because it doesn't come down to faith.
Science is based on verifiable evidence. Religion and the other paranormal and supernatural constructs trade on their lack of evidence.
If you have faith in something I cannot examine your reasons. If something is scientifically proven, anyone can view the evidence, read up on it.
Cheers Marcus

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 26, 2008 12:04 AM

MS,will read up on your answer tomorrow. Need some sleep to comtemplate my next question.
Restless- if you check in-taa for compliment-just too far away.

Posted by: blueeyes1955 at February 26, 2008 12:04 AM

MS, can you explain your last question? The gentleman who found out that he had a brother following this meeting would not have been set up. He was actually quite ill at the time and the host would not have dreamed of doing anything as a joke that might upset him. The story was told to me in seriousness. There were no tangible objects used in the incidence, just the cousin saying that the deceased person ws contacting her and want ed to pass on the message to the gentleman visitor. These things make me keep my mind open.

Posted by: blueeyes1955 at February 25, 2008 11:59 PM

blueeyes1955.
Re your anecdote earlier.
A chaneller eh? A bit hard to research who knew what and what was said etc. The cousin may have had a mischevious streak and organised a set up, etc.
What would you imagine the mechanism that a pile of babies bones, or ashes would use to communicate with the living?
Cheers MS

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 25, 2008 11:54 PM

yes there is

Posted by: eapfanatic at February 25, 2008 11:54 PM

Is there a restless fellow reading these blogs tonight. Check in if you are. Adelaide is a little far for a social call.

Posted by: blueeyes1955 at February 25, 2008 11:50 PM

I have a bit of a whinge session here .... have been on RSVP on and off for sometime now and find that the majority of men are ignorant, self centered and just plain rude. I understand that your photo may not be to their liking, but one would think that if you take the time to email or forward a 'kiss' that it is common courtesy to reply one way or another. I have not found anyone out of the ordinary on RSVP so who do they think they are ... certainly not God's gift. Men who are in their 60's don't even have the courtesy to reply to emails, what on earth is their problem. Come on guys, be a little respectful and common courtesy does go a long way.

Posted by: eapfanatic at February 25, 2008 11:35 PM

riversong, I can't agree more with you on your last comment about wanting to know more.The mere fact that we have inquiring makes us intelligent.

Posted by: blueeyes1955 at February 25, 2008 11:34 PM

OK Timewarp1 - the parable of the five blind Indians:

Five blind Indians stumble across an elephant. The first grabs its tail. “An elephant is like a tassle” he says decisively.
The second feels it’s leg. “Don’t be ridiculous, any idiot knows it is like a tree trunk.”
The third blind Indian feels its ear. “You are both psychotic – it is obviously like a big flap!”
The fourth reaches for the trunk and shakes his head. “I can’t believe how stupid you three are – anyone can see it is like a hose.”
The fifth grabs it around the middle. “OMG you are all wrong – it is just like a big barrel!”

They sit and argue and curse each other for the rest of the day, each one knowing full well that they are “right” and how mistaken the others must be.

The more I know, the more I know I don't know, and the more I am prepared to listen to other points of view. :)

Posted by: riversong1 at February 25, 2008 11:30 PM

Out of curiosity , is there any bloggers there of the buddhist , hindu or other faith or have knowledge of , and want to or are game enough to add their tuppence? Again, I am only interested in different view points not in a slanging match.

Posted by: blueeyes1955 at February 25, 2008 11:23 PM

thanks, aliane (just caught up with the posts here, it's a fair way back now!) Lovely, kind words.

I've really enjoyed the "spiritual" versus "fact" debate too. I believe there's a lot more going on in the cosmos than as mere mortals we're currently aware, but we get snippets of the possibilities from time to time. There is also a lot of "hocus pocus" (for want of a better phrase) too and people preying on vulnerability. It's important to maintain some critical thinking, but also an open mind....

Posted by: malsie at February 25, 2008 11:03 PM

I am of the Anglican faith, as that is one of the most liberal and questioning of the organized religions. I have faith in something, but feel when we fet to see the reality of the situation, when we pass from this world to the next, it wont be much like we expect.
We are told that the risen Jesus sits on the right hand of God the father.

This will be interesting to see, although I have questions, are these seats in the clouds?
Do passing aircraft cause any difficulties?
How many chairs are to the left?

Hmmm not really in a hurry to find the answers.

I certainly do not believe that we evolved from a single celled amoeba, as there is certainly much more intelligence in our design than we will ever possess.

Posted by: virgil at February 25, 2008 11:02 PM

Virgil, we are all saying what we believe, the fact that most disagree with Marcus is neither here nor there.

I actually have no belief in anything religious, psychic tarot, or anything, that is me and how l choose to think.

Simply saying that we all have a right to our thoughts and to voice them.......all of us. In an environment that is accepting of our right to express ourselves, whether we agree or not...........K

Posted by: auntykaz at February 25, 2008 10:54 PM

Lynath
Yes I am sure you have wondered "what if". I am just glad the reader we saw was so very very insistent with my MIL. It was much more than advice to see a doctor.So I now am not the sceptical total non believer that I was !!

Posted by: jenjen57 at February 25, 2008 10:51 PM

HI Bob,
actually I don't think that I have ever said that I believe wholeheartedly in any of this but the experiences I have had have certainly made me think about it. Human fraility will probably steer me to believing when i face the inevitable but at this stage I remain open to any stories or scientific discoveries that are presented.The stories don't prove it anymore than science can disprove some of them.It's all food for thought and it can certainly stimulate conversation as it has done here.
I must head off to bed soon and will come up with another question for tomorrow night if possible.

Posted by: blueeyes1955 at February 25, 2008 10:49 PM

Valentines is time to commiserate for me because the one I love doesn't love me.At least I got to spend the evening with him sharing dinner and a good conversation.He doesn't know what he's missing out on.

Posted by: jetgirl43 at February 25, 2008 10:49 PM

Okay l will share a story that l have.

As some of you are aware l work with elderly people in an aged care facility.

Last year one of our ladies passed away and l was with her when she went.

As she was dying, not on Palliative Care or anything, so generally as alert as she could be, she was intently focusing on a painting on her wall, which l did notice even though it was a bit traumatic at the time.

As l mentioned this to her daughter, who missed her 96 year old mum's passing by only a few minutes, she looked at me with an "oh my god", look on her face.

Apparently it was the first painting that her husband had done over 70 years prior and given to her as a wedding present from him to her.

Some thought, as the daughter did, that she was seeing him as she was passing......
Well we will never know will we.

Working with the elderly can at times give me experiences such as this, and l say well if that helps them get through then okay, but as above, we will never know will we...........K

Posted by: auntykaz at February 25, 2008 10:48 PM

I would like to enter this dicussion on Marcus' side as he has the guts to go against everyone here in saying what he believes.

Personally I think runes are crap, but I am a regular, if sometimes infrequent church goer, who occasionally gets the Tarot cards out.

I'm not sure if I do it right, because if I dont like what the cards tell me, I re-shuffle them and do it again.

I suppose it would be hard on that basis to come down on Marcus's side.

Posted by: virgil at February 25, 2008 10:47 PM

Here's an example of how we look at things from different angles. My son,whom left home a few years ago tends to the gothic way of life. As a protest type reaction and to show his interest in gothic ways and anti-church etc, he went and had a tattoo of an upside down cross on the inside of his lower arm. He thought he was standing up for what he believed him. He felt a little silly when I asked him to hold his arm up because then the cross was in its correct position.
We all look at things differently.

Posted by: blueeyes1955 at February 25, 2008 10:42 PM

Hi Blueeyes1955,

I am with Marcus in that I dont believe in any of this stuff, though it is yours and others right to do so and far be it for me to attempt to force my beliefs upon you or anyone else. However, I think you analogy of a person drawing their last breath is not a good one. Desperate people do desperate things when faced with their own mortality. Even the Roman Emporer Constantine (who was a fully fledged pagan, regardless of what you might be told by the church) converted to Christianity on his deathbed, not because he believed in one true god, but because he was covering his bases.....just in case.

Bob

Posted by: notgodsgift at February 25, 2008 10:40 PM

The thing is Marcus, they didn't and I was stuck with the situation. It does not work very well in a remote situation, as to the start of this with blueeyes, I felt the need to consult with them, that is all I did and then came back and tell her the answer I received. Now go back over this blog and look at the unsolicited stories that have come to light, as to the hocus pocus, from all of the experience I had after the operation, it has removed all fear of death, when it comes I can pass over in peace.
as I try to live this life, except for defending myself from unwarranted attacks on my integrity.
Cheers OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 25, 2008 10:38 PM

I think the stories here around predictions are providing some form of evidence ,at least enough to be unable to say for sure that it is all false.
Jen Jen the psychic I saw suddenly said "Tell your father to see a doctor"
My father at that time lived 1000kms away and I asked her why. She stated" I see something is not right with him. You must get him to see a doctor"
I thought about it for a short time and casually asked my Mum how Dad was only to be told he was fit and well, and .I fogot about it. My father never went to doctors unless absolutely necessary. Several years later my father was diagnosed, still with only vague symptoms and looking as well as ever, with well advanced cancer and he died not long after.
One day I found the box where I had thrown the tape from the reading years ago, and decided to replay it. When I heard those words again I couldn't help but wonder "what if"

Posted by: thelynathdiary at February 25, 2008 10:37 PM

hey Lynath,
Its great to see the symbols of MiRC, here, shame we cant play somngs and MP3's in channel as well, they were good days.

I like to see posts by marcus, they are usually well thought out, and it takes courage to go against the grain.

I know, as in my church website, I was the first of several people who argued against saying sorry. I have since changed my mind on that issue, but what had looked like a non-issue, as all previous respondents had imagined there was no disagreement on the issue.
It was from my postings on the issue, that the website became more of a discussion forum, much like here.

Posted by: virgil at February 25, 2008 10:33 PM

marcus....science is just another construct and belief system......

Posted by: weta at February 25, 2008 10:32 PM

Hey fella feel free to ark up that is fine but you do not need to insult others here or anywhere else who have their own views.

Which of course goes for all of us lest l get called a bully or somesuch....but l digress as l often do......

They chose to share them with us for whatever reason, no one makes us read them.
That is our choice.
Wasn't it just a response by oldergent to another's question???

Like l said earlier, religion or politics equals argument. one that no one ever is gunna win.....

An interesting discussion though even so................K

Posted by: auntykaz at February 25, 2008 10:31 PM

Marcus, would you consider my earlier story of my hairdresser and her new client as observable proof. Obviously you only have my say so on this but it did happen only 5 weeks ago. I posted it last night at 10.08pm. It was only words I had to pass on, nothing tangible,but it certainly left me thinking.

Posted by: blueeyes1955 at February 25, 2008 10:29 PM

Lynath,
I try not to resort to that kind of language,
No matter what the provocation LOL
Cheers OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 25, 2008 10:27 PM

Sure OG. It may work in positive ways to prevent a suicide. So might a good talking to and some medication.
Cheers MS

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 25, 2008 10:26 PM

Zip your fly up Timewarp.
As I keep saying I am open minded, but it is incumbent on those making the extraordinary claims to provide some testable, observable proof. 50 year old anecdotes don't qualify I'm sorry.
Cheers Marcus

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 25, 2008 10:24 PM

Marcus,
I stand by my challenge, you proclaim the scientific, analytical, superior modern mind.

Prove me wrong or stop blathering on about a subject you know nothing about, I just read the runes in responce to an unknown question, how it works I don't know, but I have people who have been on the verge of suicide and after the reading got what ever answer they were looking for and decided to live. I do not like that situation because it puts me under tremendous pressure. What would you do Marcus? Tell them to rack off.
Cheers OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 25, 2008 10:21 PM

JenJen.
You are determined to be blonde aren't you? Going to a doctors for a check up is good advice for anyone. It is a pure coincidence. I hope you can self examine for BC.

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 25, 2008 10:15 PM

At least Marcus you are upfront about your hobbies. Pasted from your profile "
Natural sceptic and enjoy debunking; including astrological, theist and New Age hocus pocus".
I wonder if you will feel the same as you approach your last breath. I have seen many elderly in homes who when really running out of time take a strong belief in the hereafter. I think that if you believe you are going to another place then leaving here is so much easier. What does you mum think on this topic?

Posted by: blueeyes1955 at February 25, 2008 10:14 PM

Why can't everyone just accept that others have different beliefs and thoughts...thank god - or we'd all be clone-like, and how boring would THAT get. Marcus....give up - everyone is entitled to their own opinion - it certainly isn't a case of "everyone is entitled to YOUR opinion"....

I never believed in psychics, card readers etc but went along with a friend who was keen to go but afraid. The card reader looked over at me and asked me who I'd lost that meant so much to me - I wasn't going to tell her ANYTHING - if she was on the job -she'd KNOW (wouldn't she??). Well she described someone right down to the ridiculous hat he used to wear to embarrass me as a child, the scar on his back, things no one would have been able to research or find out....scared the hell outta me....

Posted by: wishfulthinker03 at February 25, 2008 10:14 PM

Marcus @ 6.51pm was unwise enough to post:

"Surely if someone is making claims about supernatural beliefs it is up to them to show some evidence for their contention. It is not enough to retreat behind faith; faith being belief that is not based on any evidence.That evidence must be freely available to anyone who wants it. Anyone must be able to study the evidence and come to the same conclusin that you did."

Marcus, you have finally got it dead right, at long last.

Which is why I had already asked you in mine @ 5.14pm to list the scientific sources that you claim you have been relying on, as authorities who had proved that the parts of the paranormal that we are discussing are just bunk.

You said "That evidence must be freely available to anyone who wants it. Anyone must be able to study the evidence and come to the same conclusin that you did."

So stop bleating your strongly worded but totally unproven iconoclastic BELIEFS at us, Marcus, and show us your evidence for them.

Chapter and verse, author and periodical, just like a genuine lower-high-school research student.

Marcus, we're happy for YOU to believe in nothing that you haven't already touched, tasted or paddled in, but don't try to snow us with your unproven BELIEFS, disguised as reportage of real science, you blustering charlatan.

Put up or shut up, sonny. Now.

Posted by: timewarp1 at February 25, 2008 10:12 PM

auntykaz.
Not at all. If they are quietly and privately held how can I object?
It is when the become public, offered as advice, predictors, controllers or determinators of behaviour that I arc up.
Cheers MS

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 25, 2008 10:12 PM

I mean there is such a thing as being too far up yourself.
OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 25, 2008 9:55 PM

Oldergentplease don't use that "neardeathfuddyduddy" expression in front of our modern man Marcus.
The thing that you say if you are 'so cool' is this:

"Why don't you shove your GPS up your *&&& and then see if you know where you find yourself"

Try it..it's right up to the minute.......

Posted by: thelynathdiary at February 25, 2008 10:11 PM

Marcus, are you not claiming, by your very argument, that others beliefs are not worthy of their time and thoughts??? Just because there is no factual evidence, in your opinion????.........K

Posted by: auntykaz at February 25, 2008 10:08 PM

Me too, Lynath! Me too! Oh to be young! Oh to be uninhibited ! Damn my pedanticness (I just made that word up).

Posted by: ninaschen at February 25, 2008 10:08 PM

thelynathdialtone.
None of the above. I am bemused that in an age of enlightenment when science and technology has us living twice as long as we did a few centuries ago, when we can travel to the other side of the world in hours, when we can see far enough back through space and time to almost view the beginning of the universe that people transplant a faith in the patent quackery ofastrology say, for a belief in reason and science.

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 25, 2008 10:08 PM

Marcus, how do any of us know for sure ?
I was never a believer in card readers or psychics and regarded them as merely harmless amusement. Until 18 months ago. I went with my ex mother in law to a card reader on a whim while we were out shopping. She implored her to see a doctor immediately. My MIL was not unwell but went to the doctor anyway. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, was operated on within the week, had a breast removed and is now still alive and well.
What might have been the outcome if we hadnt had that chance reading ??
So now I have a healthy respect for the hocus pocus as you call it.

Posted by: jenjen57 at February 25, 2008 10:06 PM

So Marcus have you revealed the cause of your angst?

Have you escaped a cult or been damaged by a religion or an over zealous Nun in your time?

Posted by: thelynathdiary at February 25, 2008 10:02 PM

OG.

You are making extraordinary, supernaturally predictive claims about Runes. I am claiming nothing. You are by recomendation and inference inference making strong representations about the goodness of your 'product'. I just ask you to provide some decent, testable evidence that your belief mechanism works. Should not be that hard if it is any good.
Cheers Marcus

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 25, 2008 10:02 PM

Marcus, you blather on about me being caught up in a cult etc, self important, no way, opiniated, mea culpa, but I don't think any more than you, pots calling the kettles black.
Cheers OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 25, 2008 10:00 PM

oh Nina, if only you knew the times I wanted to cut loose with a smiley face or a LOL! :o))))
; -) { :-)) *i * ))))))))
U

Posted by: thelynathdiary at February 25, 2008 9:56 PM

I'm big on free speech too, in the best liberal traditions.
Espousing nonsense and hocus pocus and making unsubstantiable promises and predictions is not free speaking. Even if it is done for the 'readers' own sense of self importance, OG say, it is still a worry and at best mildly dishonest.
Better you are not religious or caught up in a cult or New Age or paranormal. You then have a chance of objectivity, as you say "not that faith lets us have the right to be"
Cheers Marcus

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 25, 2008 9:55 PM

Marcus,
What makes you think anyone has to prove anything to you, I have made several posts, if you don't like what I have said, it is up to you to prove me or anyone else you disagree ( I would surmise that it would be everyone on this site) with wrong, I mean there is such a thing as being too far up yourself.
OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 25, 2008 9:55 PM

It intimidates and threatens non believers and those who might wish to leave.

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 25, 2008 9:29 PM

Now this is an interesting comment. It is also possible that a very strong belief in a faith or fortune telling etc could be more intimidating as one could be too scared to question these ideas.I would think that a non-believer would find it easier to walk away. This is often the case with people in very difficult or abusive relationships. They are usually to scared to walk away from them.

Posted by: blueeyes1955 at February 25, 2008 9:48 PM

Marcus......

......saying it is so does not make it so.....

Posted by: weta at February 25, 2008 9:46 PM

Lynath - You may recall that I balk at using smiley faces and such. But I can't help myself. Here is one just for you: :)

You deserve it!

Posted by: ninaschen at February 25, 2008 9:45 PM

Marcus, l'm talking more about your positive spiritual side of faith and what people get out of it in terms of comfort and assistance..... All good to them if that blows their hair back.

Many people need to believe in something...that's fine, it helps them get through whatever bad times they may experience.

And l said "we have the right to be if we all let each other"....Not that faith lets us have the right to be.

I don't buy into the negative side of religion, that is the domain of those who choose to hide behind faith and religion as a wheelbarrow for their own agendas in my ever so humble opinion.....
Not being religious at all l can't really say one way or another what is right and wrong as l have no belief in it as opposed to agreeing or disagreeing with it........................K

Posted by: auntykaz at February 25, 2008 9:43 PM

How inconsiderate of me Marcus, I should have waited until you had gone to bed and the adults could talk freely.

btw...if you are going to to carry on with your bowel and poo references could you at least learn to spell diarrhoea:correctly>?

Posted by: thelynathdiary at February 25, 2008 9:36 PM

thelynathdiahorrea.
Sex, politics and religion.
Interesting topics in adult company.

Auntykaz.
Problem with faith in many cases, especially religious, is that it does not let people be. It intimidates and threatens non believers and those who might wish to leave.

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 25, 2008 9:29 PM

Kianee.
It is up to those making the extraordinary, supernatural claims to provide the supporting evidence.
If I said I can sell you a device for $1000 that allows your car to run on tap water instead of petrol you would want a little verification I am sure.
Why not with this other paranormal and faith stuff, often potentially very dangerous, that asks you to totally suspend reason? I'm happy to accept it if it can be demonstrated.
I believe in lightning, telephones, computers and all sorts of other things that once were the realm of magic.
Archerising. What world view have I stated?
I first posted this thread before OG reminded me of Runes. I asked if the positive aspects of VD (Valentines Day that is) for some out weighed the hurt and disappointment to those spurned and ignored.
Cheers Marcus

Posted by: laughsandtalks at February 25, 2008 9:20 PM

True, TLD ,as is it impolite to call people names.... lets add that to the list l think.......
Marcus don't be so bloody rude..... you are already getting under peoples skin without resorting to silly takes on peoples names.
Kind of thing that kids resort to in the schoolyard when someone challenges them or they are in bully mode.

Quite an indication maybe of your character..... there is no need to be insulting to get your point across..............K

Posted by: auntykaz at February 25, 2008 9:07 PM

sex ,religion, politics the forbidden topics. in polite company. Better add Runes to the list.....reminds me of a joke....
A Philosophy Lecturer(we'll call him Marcus) asked his students to write an essay. It had to contain three themes ..sex ,religion and mystery.
In due course the work was submitted amd he opened the first ready to mark.
To his amazement it contained only three lines:

Oh my God!
I'm pregnant.
I wonder whose it is?

Posted by: thelynathdiary at February 25, 2008 8:55 PM

Well, again, just my view is that "faith" is the prerogative of all.

Muslims included Marcus.
Religion is something that is up to anyone to embrace if they so wish.
Whatever their motives are.
Whatever their excuses are.
Maybe a bit simplistic but really how hard do you want to make it.
Six of one half a d of the other to me.

We all have the right to be if we let each other...I am a big advocate of that. Again simplistic probably but there you go, you get that.
Can't really be bothered with the big argument of religion / faith, good or bad....

Its like politics, it really gets you nowhere except into an argument ....the inevitable really when you come to think about it..................K

Posted by: auntykaz at February 25, 2008 8:44 PM

Blueeyes,
In general it is bad for a reader to portend a death.
The thing that is important in the Rune reading is that I do not know the question being posed before or afer the reading, The only true answer can come that way.
Cheers OG

Posted by: oldergent at February 25, 2008 8:42 PM

Just a thought but, why don't all the people who respond to the one(s) that spew forth aggressive, judgemental and offensive opinions just.... ignore them.

It's clear that the whole point of posting that sort of thing in the first place is to bait for a reaction. By virtue of reacting you give their vacuous remarks credibility and you are playing right into their hands.

The impact of skipping past the post and not even reading it let alone replying would be far greater than any well put together retort or put-down.

Imagine the frustration! A swift shift of power your way is the key.

Posted by: dha