Choices - determinants, constraints and consequences

[Compassionist]

We all make choices, but our choices are never free from determinants, constraints and consequences. I think that our choices are determined by our genes, environments, nutrients, and experiences.

Evidence shows that all living things are made of molecules. No one chooses to come into existence. No one chooses their genes, early environments, early nutrients and early experiences. When we are older, we have relatively greater control over our environments, nutrients and experiences compared to when we were babies, but we still remain biological organisms and all our choices as an older child and even as an adult depend on variables we did not choose. So, we do not deserve credit or blame for our choices. Wouldn't anyone else have made the same choices as Adolf Hitler if they had his genes, environments, nutrients and experiences? Wouldn't anyone else have made the same choices as Marie Curie if they had her genes, environments, nutrients and experiences? Most likely - I am not 100% certain about this because it is not possible for me to compare the choices of two individuals with 100% identical genes, environments, nutrients and experiences because no such identical beings exist, as far as I know.

Here are some things I have done, currently do or will do even though I don't want to do them:

1. Breathe
2. Eat
3. Drink
4. Sleep
5. Dream
7. Pee
8. Poo
9. Fart
10. Burp
11. Sneeze
12. Cough
13. Age
14. Get ill
15. Get injured
16. Sweat
17. Cry
18. Suffer
19. Snore
20. Think
21. Feel
22. Choose
23. Be conceived
24. Be born
25. Remember some events
26. Forget some events
27. Die

Here are some things I really want to do but I can't do:

1. Go back in time and prevent all suffering and death.
2. Make all living things forever happy.

So, I am constantly doing things I don't want to do and can't do what I really want to do. I am clearly not free. I clearly don't have free will. I am clearly constrained by forces outside my control. Yet, I am never free from the consequences of my choices. Just as I am never free from the consequences of other people's choices. What do you think about what I have said?

Here are two poems by me:

~ ~ Such Flows the River of Life (first version) ~ ~

I have reaped harvests I had not sown.
As have you. As have others.
I have reaped harvests of my own sowing.
As have you. As have others.

I will not reap all the harvests of all my sowing.
Neither will you. Nor will others.
We are all sowers.
We are all reapers.
We are one.

Causality binds us.
Causality frees us.
Causality rules us.
Causality obeys us.

Such flows the river of life.
Through the fabric of reality.

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~ ~ Such Flows the River of Life (second version) ~ ~

I've reaped the harvests I did not sow,
As have you, and others we know.
I've gathered the fruits from seeds I've sown,
As have you, and others have grown.

Not all harvests from our seeds we'll reap,
Nor will you, nor others we keep.
We sow, we reap, together as one,
Bound by causality, never undone.

Causality binds and sets us free,
It rules us all, yet obeys you and me.
Thus flows the river of life so grand,
Through the fabric of reality's strands.

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Which version of my poem do you prefer and why?

[A Freeman]

We are, in fact, SPIRITUAL-ENERGY-BEINGS OF LIGHT (Spiritual-Beings/Souls) that are only TEMPORARILY incarnated/incarcerated inside of the human animal bodies we see in the mirror.

All 27 of the items listed above pertain to the human. It is born on this planet, experiences life on this planet, and dies on this planet. It has to be fed, water and clothed, taken to the bathroom, and put to bed. A daily cycle of near constant maintenance, from birth to death.

Instead of realizing that we are NOT the human animal we see in the mirror, with its obscene bodily functions, most spend their time trying to entertain their human, giving it whatever it wants, or whatever can be afforded, instead of learning self-control and discipline. Self-control and discipline that would serve the greater good for everyone, to help eliminate ALL of the problems we currently experience.

Of course there are those who have risen to the top, as scum does, through fraud and theft, stealing that which rightfully belongs to others to serve their own greed and materialism.

James 5:1-8
5:1 Go to now, [ye] rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon [you].
5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness AGAINST you, and shall eat your flesh (cancer etc.) as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the Last Days.
5:4 Behold, the hire (pay) of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped [and not been justly paid] are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth/Hosts.
5:5 Ye [rich] have lived in pleasure on the Earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
5:6 Ye [rich] have condemned [and] murdered the just; [and] he [the poor labourer] doth not resist you.
5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

It is unbridled human desire that drives the greedy to seek temporary wealth at the expense of others, regardless of whatever pain and suffering it causes. And it is a spiritual-Being that is fast asleep in the human condition that allows such evil to transpire, choosing, of their own free will, selfishness, evil and DEATH over altruism, goodness and LIFE (Deut. 30:15-20).

The sleeper MUST awaken (Eph. 5:14)! For this war against freedom and justice shall NOT prevail. He that loves the human life of this world shall lose it; and he who hates the shallow, materialistic life of this world shall gain his REAL, eternal (spiritual) life (John 12:25). We rise through effort.

Do not say that the struggle gains nothing,
and that the labour and the wounds are in vain,
and that the enemy does not faint or fail, and
that as things have been, they remain;
for whilst the tired waves seem to be vainly
breaking and seem no painful inch to gain;
far back through creeks and inlets making,
comes silent flooding in the main.

From: "Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth" by English poet Arthur Hugh Clough

[Compassionist]

[Replying to A Freeman in post #2]

Thank you for your detailed reply. How do you know souls exist? How do you know that the verses you have quoted are true?

I know that Christians believe in souls and that souls go to heaven or hell, but I am not convinced that souls, heaven and hell exist. If you can prove to me that souls, heaven, and hell exist, please do.

I use evidence and reasoning to figure out what is true. The Bible does not provide us with any evidence for the claims it makes, e.g. God exists, Adam and Eve existed and ate from the forbidden tree, etc. I am almost 100% certain that the Biblical God does not exist. I am 100% certain, because of the way the Biblical God behaves, that he is evil. If anyone else behaved in such a manner, I would consider him or her evil, too. Please see: https://www.evilbible.com

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20will free will means:

1
: voluntary choice or decision
I do this of my own free will

2
: freedom of humans to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or by divine intervention

I agree that we make voluntary choices. For example, no one is coercing me to type these words.

When I say that we don't have free will, what I mean is that we do not have the freedom to make choices that are not determined by prior causes. We don't choose to come into existence and we don't choose our genes, our early environments, our early nutrients and our early experiences. These unchosen variables determine and constrain our choices. For example, if you behead a human, his or her head will not grow back, and he or she will die. However, Planarians https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planarian can regenerate an entire body - including a new head with a brain - from just a small body fragment. If beheaded, both the head and tail pieces can regenerate the missing parts. Neither humans, nor planarians, have free will. Both species make choices which are determined by their genes, environments, nutrients, and experiences. Have you read "Determined: Life Without Free Will" by Robert M Sapolsky? If not, I most highly recommend that you do.

While I can't compare two individuals with 100% identical genes, environments, nutrients, and experiences because such identical beings don't exist, I did examine the effects of genes, environments, nutrients, and experiences on decision making. That's how I came to the conclusion that if anyone else had the genes, environments, nutrients, and experiences of Adolf Hitler or Marie Curie, they would, most likely, make the same choices as Adolf Hitler or Marie Curie.

1. Heritability of Decision-Making Traits
Twin studies have demonstrated that decision-making traits such as impulsivity and delay discounting (the preference for immediate over delayed rewards) have a significant genetic component. For instance, a study on adolescent twins found that genetic factors accounted for approximately 40% of the variance in delay discounting at age 16, increasing to about 60% by age 18. Another study in middle childhood reported heritability estimates for delay discounting ranging from 30% to 50%.

2. Candidate Gene Associations
DRD4 (Dopamine Receptor D4): Variants of the DRD4 gene, particularly the 7-repeat allele (7R+), have been linked to increased financial risk-taking. Individuals with this variant tend to be more risk-seeking, possibly due to lower dopamine sensitivity, which leads them to seek greater stimulation to achieve typical dopaminergic activity.

COMT (Catechol-O-methyltransferase): The Val158Met polymorphism in the COMT gene affects dopamine metabolism in the prefrontal cortex. The Met allele is associated with reduced COMT activity, resulting in higher dopamine levels and influencing executive functions. Studies have linked the Met allele to increased impulsivity and altered decision-making processes.

5-HTTLPR (Serotonin Transporter Gene): Polymorphisms in the 5-HTTLPR gene affect serotonin transport and have been associated with decision-making under ambiguity and risk. For example, individuals with certain variants may exhibit different behaviors in tasks like the Iowa Gambling Task, reflecting variations in risk assessment and impulsivity.

3. Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS)
Large-scale GWAS have identified numerous genetic loci associated with decision-making-related traits:

A GWAS involving approximately 3 million individuals identified 3,952 genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with educational attainment, a proxy for future-oriented decision-making. The polygenic index derived from these SNPs explained 12–16% of the variance in educational attainment.

Another GWAS focusing on delay discounting identified 14 genome-wide significant loci, reinforcing the genetic basis of this decision-making trait.

4. Neurogenetics and Brain Imaging
Genetic variations influence the structure and function of brain regions involved in decision-making:

COMT Val158Met Polymorphism: This variant affects dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex, a region critical for executive functions. Functional MRI studies have shown that individuals with the Met allele exhibit different activation patterns in the prefrontal cortex during cognitive tasks, suggesting a genetic influence on brain activity related to decision-making.

5. Gene–Environment Interactions and Epigenetics
Genetic predispositions interact with environmental factors to shape decision-making behaviours:

Epigenetic Mechanisms: Environmental influences such as stress, diet, and exposure to toxins can lead to epigenetic modifications (e.g., DNA methylation) that alter gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. These changes can affect neural circuits involved in decision-making and may even be transmitted across generations.

Gene–Environment Interactions: For instance, the impact of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism on decision-making can be moderated by environmental stressors, highlighting the complex interplay between genes and the environment in shaping behaviour.

Both the physical environment and the social environment determine our neural pathways which in turn make choices.

For example, if you were placed in a 200 degrees Celsius environment without any protective gear, you would die.

1. Learning and Experience
Social learning (observing others' behaviour and outcomes) helps shape personal decision rules.

Past experiences condition reward and punishment associations, guiding future decisions (e.g., through operant and classical conditioning).

Cognitive schemas, formed from early life experiences, influence how situations are perceived and how options are weighed.

2. Social and Cultural Context
Norms, expectations, and values from families, communities, religions, and cultures strongly affect moral judgments and choices.

Cultures vary in individualism vs collectivism, risk tolerance, emphasis on long-term planning, and more.

Peer pressure and social conformity can override personal preferences, especially in adolescents.

3. Economic and Physical Environment
Scarcity and stress (e.g., poverty, food insecurity) can narrow decision-making to short-term survival and limit cognitive bandwidth (a concept known as the scarcity mindset).

Living in unsafe or chaotic environments can increase impulsivity and reduce perceived control.

Access to resources, education, and opportunities enables better-informed and more reflective decisions.

4. Parenting and Upbringing
Attachment styles, parenting consistency, emotional attunement, and discipline methods shape emotion regulation and delay of gratification.

Children in nurturing environments often develop better executive function, leading to more adaptive decision-making.

5. Trauma and Adversity
Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can disrupt brain development (especially the prefrontal cortex and amygdala), leading to:

Impulsivity

Hypervigilance

Poor risk assessment

Traumatised individuals may default to fight/flight/freeze responses rather than reflective decision-making.

6. Educational Environment
Quality of schooling influences cognitive development, critical thinking, and self-regulation.

Growth mindset education can improve persistence and resilience in decision-making.

Exposure to diverse perspectives expands cognitive flexibility and ethical reasoning.

7. Digital and Media Influence
Algorithms on social media, news cycles, and advertising can manipulate attention, emotions, and perceptions, steering decisions unconsciously.

Repeated exposure to misinformation or polarised content can affect belief systems and choices.

8. Situational Factors and Framing
Decisions are often context-sensitive:

How a choice is framed (gain vs. loss) can change the outcome (the framing effect).

Time pressure, fatigue, or distractions reduce deliberation and increase errors or biases.

Group dynamics (e.g., groupthink) can distort personal judgment.

Nutrients play a vital but often underappreciated role in decision-making by affecting brain development, neurotransmitter balance, energy metabolism, and cognitive functioning. Nutritional status directly impacts how we process information, regulate emotions, and make judgments — and its effects begin even before birth.

Here’s how nutrients influence decision-making across the lifespan:

1. Brain Development and Structure
Critical nutrients during pregnancy and early childhood (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids, iron, iodine, zinc, choline, B-vitamins) shape brain architecture, especially:

Prefrontal cortex (planning, inhibition, executive function)

Hippocampus (memory and learning)

Amygdala (emotional regulation)

Deficiencies can lead to permanent deficits in decision-making capacity due to altered neurodevelopment.

2. Neurotransmitter Synthesis and Regulation
Nutrients are precursors or cofactors for key brain chemicals involved in decision-making:

Tryptophan → Serotonin (mood, patience, impulse control)

Tyrosine → Dopamine (motivation, reward evaluation)

Choline → Acetylcholine (attention, memory)

Iron, zinc, magnesium, and B-vitamins support neurotransmitter function and neural signalling.

Deficiencies can cause:

Irritability

Poor impulse control

Cognitive fatigue

Reduced capacity for delayed gratification

3. Energy Supply and Glucose Regulation
The brain uses 20–25% of the body’s energy, mainly from glucose.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) impairs judgment, increases irritability, and leads to impulsive or short-sighted decisions.

Stable blood sugar (via balanced meals with fibre and protein) supports sustained attention and better decision quality.

4. Gut-Brain Axis
The gut microbiome, shaped by diet (especially fibre, fermented foods, and polyphenols), communicates with the brain through:

Immune signaling

Vagus nerve activity

Metabolites like short-chain fatty acids

Dysbiosis (microbial imbalance) can promote anxiety, brain fog, and poor decision-making.

Emerging studies show links between the microbiome and risk-taking, social behaviour, and reward processing.

5. Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Diets high in processed foods, sugar, and trans fats increase inflammation and oxidative stress, which impair brain function.

Chronic inflammation is linked to:

Reduced executive function

Depressive symptoms

Impaired impulse control

Anti-inflammatory diets (rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and omega-3s) support clearer, more rational thinking.

6. Mood and Emotional Regulation
Nutrients influence mood, which strongly biases decisions:

Low B12 and folate can contribute to depression.

Vitamin D deficiency is linked to low mood and cognitive decline.

Omega-3s support emotional resilience and reduce impulsivity.

When mood is dysregulated, people tend to make:

Emotion-driven, short-term decisions

Riskier or avoidant choices

Less consistent judgments

7. Cognitive Ageing
Long-term nutrition affects decision-making later in life.

Antioxidants, flavonoids, and omega-3s protect against cognitive decline and support wise decision-making in older adults.

Poor nutrition can accelerate cognitive rigidity and indecision.

Nutrients are not just fuel — they are foundational regulators of the cognitive and emotional processes that drive decision-making.

Experiences play a central and dynamic role in decision-making, as they are the foundation on which individuals build knowledge, expectations, emotional responses, and behavioural patterns. While genes, environment, and nutrients provide the structure and tools, it is through experience that these elements are activated, refined, or redirected.

Here’s a breakdown of how experiences influence decision-making:

1. Learning from Consequences

Operant conditioning (rewards and punishments) teaches us which actions are beneficial or harmful.

Positive outcomes encourage repetition.
Negative outcomes lead to avoidance.
These learning patterns create heuristics (mental shortcuts) that guide future decisions.

2. Formation of Habits and Biases

Repeated experiences form habitual responses (e.g., reaching for a snack when stressed).
Cognitive biases like confirmation bias, availability bias, and optimism bias develop from how past experiences are stored and recalled.

3. Emotional Conditioning and Memory

Emotionally intense experiences (e.g., trauma or joy) strongly influence future decisions:

Fear-based learning can lead to avoidance or hypervigilance.
Positive reinforcement enhances risk-taking or pro-social behaviour.
These are often stored in the amygdala and hippocampus, affecting rapid or unconscious choices.

4. Development of Values and Beliefs

Life experiences shape personal values, beliefs, and worldviews, which in turn filter how decisions are made.

For example, growing up in a cooperative community may foster pro-social decision-making.
Negative experiences with authority may lead to scepticism and resistance.

5. Social Modelling and Observation

Observational learning (e.g., watching parents, peers, media figures) teaches decision patterns without direct experience.

Role models can inspire ethical, rational, or aspirational decisions.
Witnessing others' failures or successes influences risk assessment and planning.

6. Executive Function and Cognitive Development

Early and ongoing cognitive stimulation (e.g., puzzles, conversations, exploration) builds decision-making capacity.

Experiences of autonomy help strengthen executive skills like planning, weighing options, and delaying gratification.
Conversely, neglect or deprivation can stunt these faculties.

7. Trauma and Adverse Experiences

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), abuse, or chronic stress impair decision-making by:

Damaging neural pathways in the prefrontal cortex (reasoning) and hippocampus (memory)
Overactivating the amygdala (fear response)
This leads to impulsivity, mistrust, indecisiveness, or learned helplessness.

8. Self-Efficacy and Confidence

Experiences of success, failure, and feedback shape a person’s confidence in their ability to make good decisions.

High self-efficacy leads to greater risk tolerance, perseverance, and reflective decision-making.
Low self-efficacy results in avoidance, indecision, or over-reliance on others.

9. Cultural and Life Milestones

Key experiences (e.g., immigration, grief, love, betrayal, education, activism) can dramatically reshape decision-making frameworks.

A person who once made selfish choices may become altruistic after a transformative experience. For example, I used to be a vegetarian. I met two vegans in August 2006 - I had never heard of veganism until they told me about it. I became a vegan based on this experience. If I had not met them, I would not have known about veganism and would not have gone vegan. We all make choices, but our choices are never free from determinants, constraints and consequences.

Genes, early environments, early nutrients, and early experiences play a foundational role in the lives of all living things. When my Dad's sperm fused with my Mum's egg, a zygote was formed. If I were to go back in time and replace the genes in that zygote with the genes of a planarian, you would be able to behead me, and I would just be able to grow a new head and brain. Genes, environments, nutrients, and experiences don't merely influence our choices. They determine our choices, and they constrain our choices. A planarian can't post my posts on this forum because he or she does not have my genes, my environments, my nutrients and my experiences. This is 100% certain. It is also 100% certain that no living thing chooses to come into existence, chooses their genes, early environments, early nutrients, and early experiences. We can't be blamed or credited for the foundational variables of our lives that we did not choose at all.

[A Freeman]

[Replying to A Freeman in post #2]

Thank you for your detailed reply. How do you know souls exist? How do you know that the verses you have quoted are true?

You're welcome. If you sit in a chair or lay down on a bed (someplace where you can be calm and at rest) and do your best to clear your mind of all thought, see how long it is before you "see" a thought jump into your mind. For most it's a probably within a few seconds, if not almost instantly. That should let you know that you (the real you, the spirit-Being/soul) are NOT in control of your(?) mind.

This will be something you will want to do frequently, until you are able to see the thoughts that enter your mind from "the mind's eye", sort of like watching a film screen within your own mind. "The mind's eye" view is a spiritual view of the thoughts, which can be likened to a third-party view of what goes through your mind.

There are two sources for every thought that enters the mind: either it is from Father (God, our Creator), or it is from Lucifer/Satan/Iblis (the devil). The thoughts from God are good (what's best for the greater, common-good), while the thoughts from the devil are evil/selfish (geared toward human desire).

With enough practice, you should be able to discern which thoughts are human (which almost always deal with what it wants) and which thoughts are not. The human will fill the mind up with random thoughts all day long, about the past or about the future, which it does to take your mind off of the present moment, which is the only moment that matters, as it's the only moment you can influence/control.

The thoughts which focus on that which benefits others, and how to implement The Law that our Creator gave us, are from Father, and thus are of a spiritual nature (selfless and focused on the greater, common-good). The rest of it is about serving the materialistic needs of the human.

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You may also wish to fast the human body, to bring it into submission. Most do not know this, because they've never considered it or because they lack the courage to do so, but a prolonged, water-only fast of 40+ days can bring about the subjection of the human, which opens up the line of communication with our Creator.

That's why all of the prophets fasted, including Jesus.

And with regard to your second question, through the process above, and putting into practice what it actually says in Scripture (which has absolutely NOTHING to do with any organized religion, including "Christianity"), I have received direct confirmation from our Creator. Not just once, but thousands upon thousands of times.

[Compassionist]

[Replying to A Freeman in post #2]

Thank you for your detailed reply. How do you know souls exist? How do you know that the verses you have quoted are true?

You're welcome. If you sit in a chair or lay down on a bed (someplace where you can be calm and at rest) and do your best to clear your mind of all thought, see how long it is before you "see" a thought jump into your mind. For most it's a probably within a few seconds, if not almost instantly. That should let you know that you (the real you, the spirit-Being/soul) are NOT in control of your(?) mind.

This will be something you will want to do frequently, until you are able to see the thoughts that enter your mind from "the mind's eye", sort of like watching a film screen within your own mind. "The mind's eye" view is a spiritual view of the thoughts, which can be likened to a third-party view of what goes through your mind.

There are two sources for every thought that enters the mind: either it is from Father (God, our Creator), or it is from Lucifer/Satan/Iblis (the devil). The thoughts from God are good (what's best for the greater, common-good), while the thoughts from the devil are evil/selfish (geared toward human desire).

With enough practice, you should be able to discern which thoughts are human (which almost always deal with what it wants) and which thoughts are not. The human will fill the mind up with random thoughts all day long, about the past or about the future, which it does to take your mind off of the present moment, which is the only moment that matters, as it's the only moment you can influence/control.

The thoughts which focus on that which benefits others, and how to implement The Law that our Creator gave us, are from Father, and thus are of a spiritual nature (selfless and focused on the greater, common-good). The rest of it is about serving the materialistic needs of the human.

-------

You may also wish to fast the human body, to bring it into submission. Most do not know this, because they've never considered it or because they lack the courage to do so, but a prolonged, water-only fast of 40+ days can bring about the subjection of the human, which opens up the line of communication with our Creator.

That's why all of the prophets fasted, including Jesus.

And with regard to your second question, through the process above, and putting into practice what it actually says in Scripture (which has absolutely NOTHING to do with any organized religion, including "Christianity"), I have received direct confirmation from our Creator. Not just once, but thousands upon thousands of times.

I am fascinated by what you said. I did water-only fasts several times. They ranged from 1 day to 3 days to 5 days to 7 days to 10 days. I wanted to fast longer, but my doctor said that would be harmful.

I agree that being selfish is wrong, but being selfless is also wrong. We should all be collectivists where every life matters equally. If I had free will, I would have made all living things all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Then there would be no suffering, injustice and death and we could all be forever happy. Since you said that you are in touch with our Creator, please ask the Creator to prevent all suffering, injustice and death and make all living things equally all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful so that we can all be forever happy.

[A Freeman]

[Replying to A Freeman in post #2]

Thank you for your detailed reply. How do you know souls exist? How do you know that the verses you have quoted are true?

You're welcome. If you sit in a chair or lay down on a bed (someplace where you can be calm and at rest) and do your best to clear your mind of all thought, see how long it is before you "see" a thought jump into your mind. For most it's a probably within a few seconds, if not almost instantly. That should let you know that you (the real you, the spirit-Being/soul) are NOT in control of your(?) mind.

This will be something you will want to do frequently, until you are able to see the thoughts that enter your mind from "the mind's eye", sort of like watching a film screen within your own mind. "The mind's eye" view is a spiritual view of the thoughts, which can be likened to a third-party view of what goes through your mind.

There are two sources for every thought that enters the mind: either it is from Father (God, our Creator), or it is from Lucifer/Satan/Iblis (the devil). The thoughts from God are good (what's best for the greater, common-good), while the thoughts from the devil are evil/selfish (geared toward human desire).

With enough practice, you should be able to discern which thoughts are human (which almost always deal with what it wants) and which thoughts are not. The human will fill the mind up with random thoughts all day long, about the past or about the future, which it does to take your mind off of the present moment, which is the only moment that matters, as it's the only moment you can influence/control.

The thoughts which focus on that which benefits others, and how to implement The Law that our Creator gave us, are from Father, and thus are of a spiritual nature (selfless and focused on the greater, common-good). The rest of it is about serving the materialistic needs of the human.

-------

You may also wish to fast the human body, to bring it into submission. Most do not know this, because they've never considered it or because they lack the courage to do so, but a prolonged, water-only fast of 40+ days can bring about the subjection of the human, which opens up the line of communication with our Creator.

That's why all of the prophets fasted, including Jesus.

And with regard to your second question, through the process above, and putting into practice what it actually says in Scripture (which has absolutely NOTHING to do with any organized religion, including "Christianity"), I have received direct confirmation from our Creator. Not just once, but thousands upon thousands of times.

I am fascinated by what you said. I did water-only fasts several times. They ranged from 1 day to 3 days to 5 days to 7 days to 10 days. I wanted to fast longer, but my doctor said that would be harmful.

It is not only possible but healthy to fast for a much longer period than 10 days. The toxins that the body stores are stored in its fat, so extended water-only fasting burns fat and detoxifies the body which, in turn helps clear the mind. And yes, 40+ days of water-only fasting is not only possible, but spiritually enlightening if it's done with the right attitude.

Water-only fasting is also a natural and very effective way to get over illness, e.g. a cold or the flu. It not only detoxifies, as previously mentioned, but it also allows the body's energy reserves to be used for temperature regulation and healing purposes, that would otherwise be used for digestion. And, of course it's free which, along with the fact their approach to healing is in obvious error, is one of the reasons why doctors wrongly advise against it.

I agree that being selfish is wrong, but being selfless is also wrong.

Selfishness is the driving force behind all of the evil that takes place on this planet. We should all be unselflishly working together toward the common-good, willing to give our time and effort to help one another not because we expect some sort of reward, but because it's the right and loving thing to do.

Why would you believe that being unselfish (selfless) is somehow wrong given all of the evil we see around us that's driven by selfishness, e.g. pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth, aka "the seven deadly sins"?

We should all be collectivists where every life matters equally. If I had free will, I would have made all living things all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Then there would be no suffering, injustice and death and we could all be forever happy. Since you said that you are in touch with our Creator, please ask the Creator to prevent all suffering, injustice and death and make all living things equally all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful so that we can all be forever happy.

Our Creator gave us the perfect set of tools in His Law to build the perfect, loving society, where there is true liberty, true justice, true peace, and true prosperity for ALL, with the true safety and security that only God can provide. A society where everyone has everything they need, thus eliminating both poverty and the crime poverty causes. And where there is no sickness resulting in death.

Unfortunately, we chose, of our own free-will, to disregard our Creator and His Law, instead choosing to "reinvent the wheel". And we've been suffering ever since. The result is the society that we see today, where a few, filthy rich individuals continually increase their wealth at the expense of everyone else, and where the masses are being poisoned for profit, as we march closer by the day to the final phase of this third world war.

The only way that our Creator could prevent these things -- which we have brought upon ourselves -- would be to infringe upon our free-will, which He has promised He will never do. That does not however mean that He doesn't reward obedience to Him, nor does it mean that He doesn't punish disobedience. In both cases we learn the lessons we need to learn, so we can leave this reform school and go back to our real home, out in the universe, where everyone loves one another and will live forever.

[Compassionist]

[Replying to A Freeman in post #2]

Thank you for your detailed reply. How do you know souls exist? How do you know that the verses you have quoted are true?

You're welcome. If you sit in a chair or lay down on a bed (someplace where you can be calm and at rest) and do your best to clear your mind of all thought, see how long it is before you "see" a thought jump into your mind. For most it's a probably within a few seconds, if not almost instantly. That should let you know that you (the real you, the spirit-Being/soul) are NOT in control of your(?) mind.

This will be something you will want to do frequently, until you are able to see the thoughts that enter your mind from "the mind's eye", sort of like watching a film screen within your own mind. "The mind's eye" view is a spiritual view of the thoughts, which can be likened to a third-party view of what goes through your mind.

There are two sources for every thought that enters the mind: either it is from Father (God, our Creator), or it is from Lucifer/Satan/Iblis (the devil). The thoughts from God are good (what's best for the greater, common-good), while the thoughts from the devil are evil/selfish (geared toward human desire).

With enough practice, you should be able to discern which thoughts are human (which almost always deal with what it wants) and which thoughts are not. The human will fill the mind up with random thoughts all day long, about the past or about the future, which it does to take your mind off of the present moment, which is the only moment that matters, as it's the only moment you can influence/control.

The thoughts which focus on that which benefits others, and how to implement The Law that our Creator gave us, are from Father, and thus are of a spiritual nature (selfless and focused on the greater, common-good). The rest of it is about serving the materialistic needs of the human.

-------

You may also wish to fast the human body, to bring it into submission. Most do not know this, because they've never considered it or because they lack the courage to do so, but a prolonged, water-only fast of 40+ days can bring about the subjection of the human, which opens up the line of communication with our Creator.

That's why all of the prophets fasted, including Jesus.

And with regard to your second question, through the process above, and putting into practice what it actually says in Scripture (which has absolutely NOTHING to do with any organized religion, including "Christianity"), I have received direct confirmation from our Creator. Not just once, but thousands upon thousands of times.

I am fascinated by what you said. I did water-only fasts several times. They ranged from 1 day to 3 days to 5 days to 7 days to 10 days. I wanted to fast longer, but my doctor said that would be harmful.

It is not only possible but healthy to fast for a much longer period than 10 days. The toxins that the body stores are stored in its fat, so extended water-only fasting burns fat and detoxifies the body which, in turn helps clear the mind. And yes, 40+ days of water-only fasting is not only possible, but spiritually enlightening if it's done with the right attitude.

Water-only fasting is also a natural and very effective way to get over illness, e.g. a cold or the flu. It not only detoxifies, as previously mentioned, but it also allows the body's energy reserves to be used for temperature regulation and healing purposes, that would otherwise be used for digestion. And, of course it's free which, along with the fact their approach to healing is in obvious error, is one of the reasons why doctors wrongly advise against it.

I agree that being selfish is wrong, but being selfless is also wrong.

Selfishness is the driving force behind all of the evil that takes place on this planet. We should all be unselflishly working together toward the common-good, willing to give our time and effort to help one another not because we expect some sort of reward, but because it's the right and loving thing to do.

Why would you believe that being unselfish (selfless) is somehow wrong given all of the evil we see around us that's driven by selfishness, e.g. pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth, aka "the seven deadly sins"?

We should all be collectivists where every life matters equally. If I had free will, I would have made all living things all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Then there would be no suffering, injustice and death and we could all be forever happy. Since you said that you are in touch with our Creator, please ask the Creator to prevent all suffering, injustice and death and make all living things equally all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful so that we can all be forever happy.

Our Creator gave us the perfect set of tools in His Law to build the perfect, loving society, where there is true liberty, true justice, true peace, and true prosperity for ALL, with the true safety and security that only God can provide. A society where everyone has everything they need, thus eliminating both poverty and the crime poverty causes. And where there is no sickness resulting in death.

Unfortunately, we chose, of our own free-will, to disregard our Creator and His Law, instead choosing to "reinvent the wheel". And we've been suffering ever since. The result is the society that we see today, where a few, filthy rich individuals continually increase their wealth at the expense of everyone else, and where the masses are being poisoned for profit, as we march closer by the day to the final phase of this third world war.

The only way that our Creator could prevent these things -- which we have brought upon ourselves -- would be to infringe upon our free-will, which He has promised He will never do. That does not however mean that He doesn't reward obedience to Him, nor does it mean that He doesn't punish disobedience. In both cases we learn the lessons we need to learn, so we can leave this reform school and go back to our real home, out in the universe, where everyone loves one another and will live forever.

I disagree with you. You keep making claims without proving your claims. Being selfish and selfless are both harmful. If I kill myself so that my organs can be used to save the lives of others - it is beneficial for the recipients but harmful for me. It would be better to grow synthetic organs and give them to those needing organ replacements. We should ensure that everyone's long-term interests are looked after equally by practising egalitarianism and compassionism.

[A Freeman]

[Replying to A Freeman in post #2]

Thank you for your detailed reply. How do you know souls exist? How do you know that the verses you have quoted are true?

You're welcome. If you sit in a chair or lay down on a bed (someplace where you can be calm and at rest) and do your best to clear your mind of all thought, see how long it is before you "see" a thought jump into your mind. For most it's a probably within a few seconds, if not almost instantly. That should let you know that you (the real you, the spirit-Being/soul) are NOT in control of your(?) mind.

This will be something you will want to do frequently, until you are able to see the thoughts that enter your mind from "the mind's eye", sort of like watching a film screen within your own mind. "The mind's eye" view is a spiritual view of the thoughts, which can be likened to a third-party view of what goes through your mind.

There are two sources for every thought that enters the mind: either it is from Father (God, our Creator), or it is from Lucifer/Satan/Iblis (the devil). The thoughts from God are good (what's best for the greater, common-good), while the thoughts from the devil are evil/selfish (geared toward human desire).

With enough practice, you should be able to discern which thoughts are human (which almost always deal with what it wants) and which thoughts are not. The human will fill the mind up with random thoughts all day long, about the past or about the future, which it does to take your mind off of the present moment, which is the only moment that matters, as it's the only moment you can influence/control.

The thoughts which focus on that which benefits others, and how to implement The Law that our Creator gave us, are from Father, and thus are of a spiritual nature (selfless and focused on the greater, common-good). The rest of it is about serving the materialistic needs of the human.

-------

You may also wish to fast the human body, to bring it into submission. Most do not know this, because they've never considered it or because they lack the courage to do so, but a prolonged, water-only fast of 40+ days can bring about the subjection of the human, which opens up the line of communication with our Creator.

That's why all of the prophets fasted, including Jesus.

And with regard to your second question, through the process above, and putting into practice what it actually says in Scripture (which has absolutely NOTHING to do with any organized religion, including "Christianity"), I have received direct confirmation from our Creator. Not just once, but thousands upon thousands of times.

I am fascinated by what you said. I did water-only fasts several times. They ranged from 1 day to 3 days to 5 days to 7 days to 10 days. I wanted to fast longer, but my doctor said that would be harmful.

It is not only possible but healthy to fast for a much longer period than 10 days. The toxins that the body stores are stored in its fat, so extended water-only fasting burns fat and detoxifies the body which, in turn helps clear the mind. And yes, 40+ days of water-only fasting is not only possible, but spiritually enlightening if it's done with the right attitude.

Water-only fasting is also a natural and very effective way to get over illness, e.g. a cold or the flu. It not only detoxifies, as previously mentioned, but it also allows the body's energy reserves to be used for temperature regulation and healing purposes, that would otherwise be used for digestion. And, of course it's free which, along with the fact their approach to healing is in obvious error, is one of the reasons why doctors wrongly advise against it.

I agree that being selfish is wrong, but being selfless is also wrong.

Selfishness is the driving force behind all of the evil that takes place on this planet. We should all be unselflishly working together toward the common-good, willing to give our time and effort to help one another not because we expect some sort of reward, but because it's the right and loving thing to do.

Why would you believe that being unselfish (selfless) is somehow wrong given all of the evil we see around us that's driven by selfishness, e.g. pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth, aka "the seven deadly sins"?

We should all be collectivists where every life matters equally. If I had free will, I would have made all living things all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Then there would be no suffering, injustice and death and we could all be forever happy. Since you said that you are in touch with our Creator, please ask the Creator to prevent all suffering, injustice and death and make all living things equally all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful so that we can all be forever happy.

Our Creator gave us the perfect set of tools in His Law to build the perfect, loving society, where there is true liberty, true justice, true peace, and true prosperity for ALL, with the true safety and security that only God can provide. A society where everyone has everything they need, thus eliminating both poverty and the crime poverty causes. And where there is no sickness resulting in death.

Unfortunately, we chose, of our own free-will, to disregard our Creator and His Law, instead choosing to "reinvent the wheel". And we've been suffering ever since. The result is the society that we see today, where a few, filthy rich individuals continually increase their wealth at the expense of everyone else, and where the masses are being poisoned for profit, as we march closer by the day to the final phase of this third world war.

The only way that our Creator could prevent these things -- which we have brought upon ourselves -- would be to infringe upon our free-will, which He has promised He will never do. That does not however mean that He doesn't reward obedience to Him, nor does it mean that He doesn't punish disobedience. In both cases we learn the lessons we need to learn, so we can leave this reform school and go back to our real home, out in the universe, where everyone loves one another and will live forever.

I disagree with you.

That is your free-will choice.

You keep making claims without proving your claims.

You've been provided with a personal testimony in a world that is absolutely filled with evidence of our Creator. You' ve been provided with references to His Perfect Law, which should not just read but studied. What more do you require?

Being selfish and selfless are both harmful. If I kill myself so that my organs can be used to save the lives of others - it is beneficial for the recipients but harmful for me. It would better to grow synthetic organs and give them to those needing organ replacements.

Being unselfish doesn't mean physically killing the human so that your organs can be harvested used. It means learning to crucify the "self"(ego) DAILY (Luke 9:23). No one is supposed to be giving or receiving organ transplants, or blood transfusions, nor taking any pharmaceutical drugs, nor growing synthetic organs, which is all in The Law for anyone who cares to read it, study it and put it into practice in their own lives.

Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the "I AM" thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His eyes, and wilt give ear to His Commandments, and keep all His Statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I [am] the "I AM" that healeth thee.

Logically, the ONLY Way that someone can see the truth in any doctrine is to put it into action in their own lives, to test it.

John 7:16-17
7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me.
7:17 If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.

We should ensure that everyone's long term interests are looked after equally by practising egalitarianism and compassionism.

John 13:34-35
13:34 A new COMMANDment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
13:35 By this shall all [men] KNOW that ye are my disciples, IF ye have love one to another.

[Compassionist]

You're welcome. If you sit in a chair or lay down on a bed (someplace where you can be calm and at rest) and do your best to clear your mind of all thought, see how long it is before you "see" a thought jump into your mind. For most it's a probably within a few seconds, if not almost instantly. That should let you know that you (the real you, the spirit-Being/soul) are NOT in control of your(?) mind.

This will be something you will want to do frequently, until you are able to see the thoughts that enter your mind from "the mind's eye", sort of like watching a film screen within your own mind. "The mind's eye" view is a spiritual view of the thoughts, which can be likened to a third-party view of what goes through your mind.

There are two sources for every thought that enters the mind: either it is from Father (God, our Creator), or it is from Lucifer/Satan/Iblis (the devil). The thoughts from God are good (what's best for the greater, common-good), while the thoughts from the devil are evil/selfish (geared toward human desire).

With enough practice, you should be able to discern which thoughts are human (which almost always deal with what it wants) and which thoughts are not. The human will fill the mind up with random thoughts all day long, about the past or about the future, which it does to take your mind off of the present moment, which is the only moment that matters, as it's the only moment you can influence/control.

The thoughts which focus on that which benefits others, and how to implement The Law that our Creator gave us, are from Father, and thus are of a spiritual nature (selfless and focused on the greater, common-good). The rest of it is about serving the materialistic needs of the human.

-------

You may also wish to fast the human body, to bring it into submission. Most do not know this, because they've never considered it or because they lack the courage to do so, but a prolonged, water-only fast of 40+ days can bring about the subjection of the human, which opens up the line of communication with our Creator.

That's why all of the prophets fasted, including Jesus.

And with regard to your second question, through the process above, and putting into practice what it actually says in Scripture (which has absolutely NOTHING to do with any organized religion, including "Christianity"), I have received direct confirmation from our Creator. Not just once, but thousands upon thousands of times.

I am fascinated by what you said. I did water-only fasts several times. They ranged from 1 day to 3 days to 5 days to 7 days to 10 days. I wanted to fast longer, but my doctor said that would be harmful.

It is not only possible but healthy to fast for a much longer period than 10 days. The toxins that the body stores are stored in its fat, so extended water-only fasting burns fat and detoxifies the body which, in turn helps clear the mind. And yes, 40+ days of water-only fasting is not only possible, but spiritually enlightening if it's done with the right attitude.

Water-only fasting is also a natural and very effective way to get over illness, e.g. a cold or the flu. It not only detoxifies, as previously mentioned, but it also allows the body's energy reserves to be used for temperature regulation and healing purposes, that would otherwise be used for digestion. And, of course it's free which, along with the fact their approach to healing is in obvious error, is one of the reasons why doctors wrongly advise against it.

I agree that being selfish is wrong, but being selfless is also wrong.

Selfishness is the driving force behind all of the evil that takes place on this planet. We should all be unselflishly working together toward the common-good, willing to give our time and effort to help one another not because we expect some sort of reward, but because it's the right and loving thing to do.

Why would you believe that being unselfish (selfless) is somehow wrong given all of the evil we see around us that's driven by selfishness, e.g. pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth, aka "the seven deadly sins"?

We should all be collectivists where every life matters equally. If I had free will, I would have made all living things all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Then there would be no suffering, injustice and death and we could all be forever happy. Since you said that you are in touch with our Creator, please ask the Creator to prevent all suffering, injustice and death and make all living things equally all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful so that we can all be forever happy.

Our Creator gave us the perfect set of tools in His Law to build the perfect, loving society, where there is true liberty, true justice, true peace, and true prosperity for ALL, with the true safety and security that only God can provide. A society where everyone has everything they need, thus eliminating both poverty and the crime poverty causes. And where there is no sickness resulting in death.

Unfortunately, we chose, of our own free-will, to disregard our Creator and His Law, instead choosing to "reinvent the wheel". And we've been suffering ever since. The result is the society that we see today, where a few, filthy rich individuals continually increase their wealth at the expense of everyone else, and where the masses are being poisoned for profit, as we march closer by the day to the final phase of this third world war.

The only way that our Creator could prevent these things -- which we have brought upon ourselves -- would be to infringe upon our free-will, which He has promised He will never do. That does not however mean that He doesn't reward obedience to Him, nor does it mean that He doesn't punish disobedience. In both cases we learn the lessons we need to learn, so we can leave this reform school and go back to our real home, out in the universe, where everyone loves one another and will live forever.

I disagree with you.

That is your free-will choice.

You keep making claims without proving your claims.

You've been provided with a personal testimony in a world that is absolutely filled with evidence of our Creator. You' ve been provided with references to His Perfect Law, which should not just read but studied. What more do you require?

Being selfish and selfless are both harmful. If I kill myself so that my organs can be used to save the lives of others - it is beneficial for the recipients but harmful for me. It would better to grow synthetic organs and give them to those needing organ replacements.

Being unselfish doesn't mean physically killing the human so that your organs can be harvested used. It means learning to crucify the "self"(ego) DAILY (Luke 9:23). No one is supposed to be giving or receiving organ transplants, or blood transfusions, nor taking any pharmaceutical drugs, nor growing synthetic organs, which is all in The Law for anyone who cares to read it, study it and put it into practice in their own lives.

Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the "I AM" thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His eyes, and wilt give ear to His Commandments, and keep all His Statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I [am] the "I AM" that healeth thee.

Logically, the ONLY Way that someone can see the truth in any doctrine is to put it into action in their own lives, to test it.

John 7:16-17
7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me.
7:17 If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.

We should ensure that everyone's long term interests are looked after equally by practising egalitarianism and compassionism.

John 13:34-35
13:34 A new COMMANDment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
13:35 By this shall all [men] KNOW that ye are my disciples, IF ye have love one to another.

No, I don't have free will. No living thing does. You should read this thread: viewtopic.php?t=42426 and this thread: viewtopic.php?t=42425

[A Freeman]

Deuteronomy 30:15-20
30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
30:16 In that I command thee this day to love the "I AM" thy God, to walk in His Ways, and to keep His Commandments and His Statutes and His Judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the "I AM" thy God shall bless thee in the land where thou goest to possess it.
30:17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
30:18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, [and that] ye shall not prolong [your] days upon the land, where thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
30:20 That thou mayest love the "I AM" thy God, [and] that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He [is] thy Life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the "I AM" sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob/Israel, to give them.