To start with, let us assume that reincarnation indeed takes place. What do the Vedic literatures tell us as to why it does take place? Two reasons have been given: Firstly, we re being given a chance to live out our desires. Secondly: We re being given repeated opportunities to attain spiritual realization, break free from material entanglement, and resume our eternal nature in the spiritual world. The Vedic writings are meant to guide us in achieving this goal. …
Christmas can be a very confusing time, and perhaps most especially when it comes to explaining to our children what it is really supposed to be about. There is such a mixture of secular and religious motifs around at this time of year that it can be hard to differentiate between the two, and know where one starts and the other stops? I read once of a Japanese chocolate manufacturer who produced a line of chocolate Santas one year, trying to cash in on Christmas fervour flowing over from the West. …
Krishna, the Supreme Lord, has three types of energies: 1. Material, 2. Spiritual, and 3. Marginal. The material energy is the dull matter that has no consciousness. The spiritual energy is the conscious energy that is devoted to His service. The marginal energy consists of the living entities--individual souls, such as ourselves, that have the choice of either identifying with matter or spirit. In actuality, the marginal potency individual spirit souls is also spiritual. Because of his marginal position, the soul can be illusioned by the material energy, and completely forget his real nature. …
If we serve a supernatural God, then why are we called to keep our natural bodies in out of this world shape? One would petition that if the God of the Bible is a loving, healing God, then there is no need to strive to attain good physical health, all that needs to be done is say a simple prayer for health and God will heal you. Hold on my lazy brother in Christ. James 2:17-20 says 17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. …
Jesus Saves What Team Are You On? Just the other day I was fortunate to run into an old friend from high school. We got the chatting and then he asked what I was doing with my life. I humbly said that I am studying at Palmer Seminary for Biblical Studies. His reaction was Geeze you sure are taking this Christian thing serious, what are you going to be a preacher or something? I was use to hearing this from people who knew me from the past. …
Does God require 10 of your gross income to go to the local church - for the rest of your life? What do you really know about this important Bible teaching? Well, here s your chance to find out! Each question is worth 5 points. Normally, a score of 60 would be a passing grade. But, in this case, I want you to study this subject until you score a 100! My reason is simple. If you make 50K a year, after 50 years, you will have given 250K to the local church - a quarter of a million dollars! …
An excerpt from, Why Take a Boat When You Can Walk On Water? Throughout time, man has struggled with his own destiny. Where, in the scheme of things does man fit in? What is the human condition and is man accountable for his own conditional state? Is there a God that administers man s fate? Can man be successful in love and business and still have an intimate relationship with God? Should man be uplifted to the world? …
Theodicy is an unfamiliar word in religion and the Bible that relates to the question of why a benevolent God would allow evil and suffering to exist in this society and culture. Stanley Fish, a columnist for The New York Times, examines two new titles that address this problem from opposing viewpoints: Bart Ehrman s God s Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question 65533; Why We Suffer, and Antony Flew s There Is a God: How the World s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind. …
Aries 2008 Horoscope: Indastro 2008 will be a positive year for Aries natives. Luck will rise and gains travel from foreign countries will become possible till 10th December 2008. Period between 10th May and 8th September 2008 would be a favorable period of high activity. Income will be good throughout. Career will undergo sudden positive changes after 6th May 2008. Creative work will be rewarded. You should take up new opportunities but with caution. A sudden dip or problem in career could build up after the 10th December 2008 which could make 2009 quite turbulent. …
A reader asked: There is an immature, angry member of my extended family. They are not only truly hateful and argumentative, they have told blatant and dangerous lies about my family, specifically that my husband did something inappropriate. There is no doubt to anyone in the family that this is not true, but I m wondering how to handle the situation, especially with the holidays coming and family events are being planned. I don t want to be around them, or want my family around them. …
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