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In New Orleans, there is no waiting under eaves for the rain to pass. One's only options are to get comfortable in one spot for a long time, or just accept the drenching.

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Another poll answer.

how do we get to know you better?

Do I come across as unapproachable? If so I apologize, that is not the way I am at all. I really strive to be approachable, outgoing, open, and down-to-earth.

If you're local you might ask when I'm going out and arrange to meet up with me somewhere. Or you might even buy me a drink. ;->

Whether you're local or not, you can learn more about me by interacting with me in my journal or by email.

(no subject)

Was commenting on a remark in ravenia's journal and realized the post was good enough to put here.

I find it interesting that most critiques of Gnosticism published by the church (the most recent one I commented on here:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/sophiaserpentia/123334.html ) criticize Gnosticism as *both* dualistic and pantheistic.

The only logical explanation is that Gnosticism became a whipping-boy, a scapegoat, upon which accusations of all the "unfavorable" in mainstream Christianity were heaped.

The idea that Gnosticism was dualistic was taken as doctrine even by impartial scholars who examined first the heresiological writings, and *then* the Nag Hammadi texts. If you read these texts looking for evidence of dualism, you will find it easily; but when you read them from a truly detached perspective, you will see the question is actually much more complex.

While mainstream Christianity, especially in the modern sense, is defined by a saved/unsaved, heaven/hell dualism, Gnosticism admits of a much more complex scheme with at least three states of being (hylic, psychic, and pneumatic).

Edit Wednesday 9:12 AM: Wanted to add definitions of these three states of being:
The three natures (compare the three gunas of Hinduism):
hylic means earth-natured or carnal-natured
psychic means soul-natured
pneumatic means spirit-natured

In classical Gnosticism:
the hylics were those who were completely outside of the realm of spiritual concerns -- they were entirely wrapped in the needs and lusts of flesh.

the psychics were those who were primarily people of logic or emotion who tried to connect with the divine by way of worship, devotion, and following of religious codes.

The pneumatics were those who sought a direct mystical connection with Spirit and so had little use for religious code or prescribed sorts of worship.

(no subject)

aarondarling has a knack for asking good questions, and I'm going to "kangaroo" our discussion a second time into a new journal entry in order to answer his last question on this thread:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/sophiaserpentia/186888.html

Once you commit the act...you have stepped across boundaries that the NT does deal with however. I woudl say that you love yourself and how you feel more than you love GOd...if you are attempting to be both actively homosexual...and a NT christian.

I can't dodge this question, so I will address it head-on.

( Read more... )

begging for crash space

My supple lips part, and you see my lower lip quiver slightly as I say, in a raspy purr of a voice, "I am tentatively planning a trip to Austin, Texas, the third or fourth week of this month. This trip will be much more feasible if two or three kind souls offer to let me crash on their couch. The more who offer, the less of an imposition I will make on any one of you."

I follow this with a hair flip and gaze back at you over my shoulder. "Unless you... ask me to hang around longer."

I wink. "I do windows."

Hmm, might be better if anyone who may be interested email me privately at sophiaserpentia -at- aol -dot- com. :) I will be eternally grateful.