Avatar of IceHeart

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6 yrs ago
Desktop profile login won't work. Coincidence that Windows 7 is no longer supported on same day? Consider me doubtful.
7 yrs ago
I wonder why I have no notifications, then I realize I forgot to sub to my own threads. Whoops!
5 likes
7 yrs ago
I'm having way too much fun with my Legend of Zelda Encylopedia. This is the game that got me into roleplaying so have a lot invested in it's lore and stories. Too bad can't have all the games too.
4 likes
8 yrs ago
It's begining to look a lot like Christmas...too bad it was already looking this way back in October...
2 likes
8 yrs ago
Whew, looks like only 5 days, stupid thing showed me six just to try and scare my pants off...

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@vancexentan

Sorry but it's holidays, spending time with family after traveling half-way around the world after a really long flight kind of takes my priorities at the moment. I'll see if I can do something tomorrow but right now I'm dead tired and need more sleep to deal with jet-lag.
Teresa spent little time admiring the rituals as they started and quickly went to work on her own. As the circle was already prepared the only thing she needed to do was place the catalyst. Out of the bag came a sealed, red box. With a few quick motions with one of her carving knives, the seal was opened and out came the green piece of cloth that the Knights of the Round Table once wore. Placing it neatly in the center she then stepped away and started her chant.

Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill.
Repeat five times, but destroy each when filled.

A base of silver and steel.
A foundation of stone and the archduke of contracts.
Black is the color I pay tribute to.

A wall to block the falling wind.
Close the gates of all four directions.
From the Crown, come forth and follow the forked road to the Kingdom.

I hereby propose, my will shall create thy body and thy sword shall carve my fate!
Abiding by the summons of the holy grail, if thou dost accede to this will and reason answer me!
I hereby declare, I will be all that is good in the eternal world.
I will be the disposer of evil in the eternal world.

Thou, who is as unstoppable as the roar of nature, reveal thyself to the world!
Champion of knights and Lord of many!


With her final words spoken at first nothing seemed to happen, then from the void came the sound of heavy hooves, which got louder and louder until finally, a massive warhorse jumped into the circle from out of thin air. The warhorse breathed heavily, as if it had just run a tight race, and was covered in heavy, silver plate armor.

On top of the warhorse was her servant, a large looking individual in powerful looking suit of full-plate armor and helmet, making it impossible to see their face. In his hands was a large battleaxe with a strange decoration of holly wrapped around the hilt which inched up on the blade to entangle it. The power the servant radiated was impression but Teresa had a hard time figuring out just from his appearance and weaponry what knight he was suppose to be.

"I ask of thee," The figure started to ask, "are thou a worthy master?"

It was an unexpected question but Teresa had known that the unexpected could easily happen during a summoning so she was quick to respond.

"I must admit I am unsure, but I fully intend to prove myself worthy in the battles ahead! I can only ask for your cooperation on my quest." The figure reminded silent while his horse snorted for a moment and started to paw the ground with its hoof. She started to wonder if she had said something wrong but then the figure spoke up.

"A decent answer my master. I will look forward to testing your valor in the near future." The rider class servant descended off of his war horse, who gave one last snort before fading into a million small lights as it changed into spirit form. Teresa found herself having to look up at her servant which gave him an intimidating height advantage over her, of course as long as she had her command seals there would be no reason to fear the servant.
@mdk The ability to make decisions that you were not forced to make.


And with that statement you have just invalidated your whole argument. Just because I know someone is going to do something doesn't mean I force them to do it. Often times I can tell if one of my students is not going to do their homework based on personality, the type of work, etc. I can try all I want to give them every reason to do it, but in the end it is completely their choice to make.

No matter how much knowledge someone has does not change the fact that the person doing an action, chose to make that action.

Essentially your argument boils down to, because he made people and decided to give them the ability to make decisions in the first place, but because he knows everything, that somehow takes away the free will humanity was given in the first place? No that's a complete fallacy. Knowledge does not mean you made something happen, just that you can predict how things will happen. People choose their own path and God lets them do it because he gave humanity free will in the first place.
The situation was not exactly ideal, but that was to be expected. Teresa grumbled a bit to herself from where she sat but otherwise kept quiet. She ignored the provocative church agent and focused on the director's words. She found herself patting the bag containing her catalyst at the director's mention of them. If the legends were true, she was sure to have a very strong servant.

"I care not for who the Grey Family are if they are a menace balance of magecraft in this world. If they stand in the association's way then they will be dealt with. I am eager to get started director, no doubt the sooner we can prepare for this war the better." Teresa's eyes were hardened with determination at her proclamation. Once the summoning was done, things would change quite a bit for all involved.
But don't you know that praying for hurricane victims actually prevents future hurricanes? Thoughts and prayers is the most powerful thing in the world. Not donating money, or time, or any other form of actual aid.


Thoughts and prayers are more powerful than you think. That said, I think most people realize that a large majority of people who give their money, time, and medical aid are Christians and other religious folk who believe it is their duty to help out those in need. Many of the largest charities that do good work around the world were started by religious groups and a lot of those types still give to charities, help out in the community, etc.

Well just going to say also I'm a Sola Scriptura[Bible Only] type of person so even if @Andreyich doesn't consider me a Christian I certainly do, though I consider myself a follow of Christ first and foremost before any such grouping.

Well since I wanted to get in something more political now here we have an unashamed defending of Antifa by non-other than the good old Huffpost. Pretty much they seem to be trying to sneak in ANTIFA with all the various anti-fascists groups in order to defend their violent tendencies. Real classy.
@Andreyich Soooo...you basically believe in Purgatory then?

Muslims, the Bah'ai, and some Hindu off-shoot groups follow Christ. Doesn't make them Christian.


I don't really think you can use those as examples since, as far as I know, none of them believe Christ is the Son of God who sacrificed himself to save us all from our sins. Pretty sure they just consider him to be a very wise teacher. Though I could be wrong.
<Snipped quote>

That's weird cult shit, as is

Which part if I may ask? The part where I don't believe in a separate immortal soul or something else?

But I'd like to zoom in on the greatest anti-Christian part of this so called Christian doctrine

<Snipped quote>

God as we are clearly given witness will forgive but his divine salvation is provided regardless of anything that happens to someone, or their choices. All our actions are like rags and worthless to someone so grand and enlightened but by HIS mercy we receive eternal salvation and joy completely equally as we are told by the prophets since Abraham.


Wait, so are you trying to say here that God, has forgiven everybody and will therefore save everybody despite whatever choices or decisions they make? Even if they outright reject God and want nothing to do with him? So all of humanity has no choice in the matter but to be forced to follow God and live forever no matter what they do in the here and now? Way to make freedom of choice completely irrelevant and pointless, if that were the case then everyone is free to do whatever they want at whatever price with no consequences except for what happens to them on this Earth. That is a very dangerous claim to make.

it won't

that's not Christianity you're subscribing to m8


In your opinion. Though I will say my opinions are very different from the mainstream Christian to be sure, but I still consider myself a Christian because I follow Christ.
This is why Western Christianity is so flawed. This understanding of hell(or lack thereof) and the after-life is completely incompatible with the understanding of God being all-forgiving AND all-merciful AND all-compassionate/understanding and is simply wrong.


Funny thing here is I completely agree with you for the most part. The doctrine of hell itself is flawed and 'hell' only exists where sinful people make it. So essentially Earth in its current form is our 'hell'. Also there is no such thing as an 'after-life', there is only life and death, the spark of life or nothingness. There is a resurrection where the dead are brought back to life but it is not as separate entities called souls, but as a complete person. A 'living' soul is a flesh and blood person, not some formless thing trapped in our bodies.

God is so compassionate and understanding, that he is willing to look past anything people do if they truly want to accept and follow him and follow through on that promise. He is also compassionate enough to allow his creations to not choose him and go their own way, but as God himself is the source of all life, the natural consequence of that is death. If someone hates God so completely that living forever in his presence would be their own version of 'hell', God will not take their free will away but instead accept their decision and let them go.

God will not give people immortality if it would only bring them misery. Thankfully mortal life on this Earth will not continue forever and the terrible cycle will one day cease to be and those who are saved will be free to live out their eternal lives in the world as it was supposed to be before sin messed everything up. In the end, it's about about God allowing his creations to make the final decision for themselves.
@IceHeart

Am I correct in assuming you believe in a literal hell?


A good question to be sure. I actually do not believe in a literal hell as many other Christians do. No, you will not be burning forever in torment because you didn't accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior. What will actually happen is that you will just die. Cease to exist and become nothing, sort of like a forever, dreamless sleep, though of course with no chance of waking up.

It is eternal erasure that will happen to those who don't follow, not eternal torment.
I think we should retranslate it as:

Do what I say or my Dad (who is also me) is gonna mess you up!


Well that is certainly taking things wildly out of context.

No where is it implied that Jesus is going to go out of his way to punish people just because they aren't doing what He told them. People can choose not to be friends with God by deciding not to follow him but that doesn't mean he isn't waiting and yearning for them to change their minds, in his love her will wait for his creations to love him back. Jesus wants to be our best friend and savior but ultimately it is the people's choice to decide. The natural consequence of not choosing God is death. Despite knowing this, God acknowledges the person's decision to separate themselves from his love and power which is the only thing capable of giving us eternal life because he wants it to be our choice.

It is not God who messes you up, but your own decisions and life-choices that do so, since at the core of Christianity, is freedom of choice to choose who you want to be with, God or yourself. If you choose yourself the obvious end is death as we do not have the power to give ourselves eternal life.
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