Light

Dear Readers,

What is light? It seems like something we should have an answer for, but in reality it seems like science has no actual idea what it is. It behaves like particles so they call these particles of light "photons".

Image Link NASA

Yet the particles also act like wavelengths, much like how sound passes through air and water. Nonetheless everything from gamma rays to radios waves are all the same particles just moving at different frequencies.

The most perplexing part is that they are considered "mass-less" (NASA emspectrum) particles because they can only be quantified while moving. They always travel at the speed of light. With their constant speed, it is just a matter of direction and wavelength. Without those photons don't seem to exist.

Even more interesting, we find that sunlight and any white light source contains all of the visible spectrum of light. The prism simply separates all of the wavelengths that normally blend together forming white. Therefore, white is full of light and black is, in reality, the absence of at least visible light.

When we paint, the pigments capture light. As with black paint, all of the visible light is absorbed thus creating the color of black. Now here is the question, if the light is absorbed, where does it go? The photons, for most scientific purposes seem to cease to exist. Nevertheless, we can perceive their effects.

Black objects get hotter because the energy from the light enters the object increasing its temperature and energy levels. This is why asphalt roads release so much heat that the air vibrates causing mirages. The air acts like the transparent prism and changes the direction of the photons slightly, but instead of separating the wavelengths, it just reflects them else where.

Hydrogen Atom

This leads me to a question I had, if photons are absorbed, where are they? Are they secretly protons or neutrons, even electrons? No, because all of those have a mass while being still and moving. So are they quarks or other building blocks of these particles, no for they too have mass. Instead of asking these questions that science has no answer for, lets look at what it does.

With photosynthesis scientists have observed that when light enters the plant cells, they activate organelles called chloroplast.

Now, inside the chloroplast are molecules called thylakoids that contain green pigments. The pigments appear green because they absorb the more energetic violet and blue wavelengths as well as the slower yellow and red wavelengths.

Thus reflecting only the green wavelengths. This optimizes the energy absorption. Yet, we already know that when photon stop they seem to stop to exist, so how does that transfer into energy?

The energy trapped by the pigments "excites" electrons making them jump from atom to atom. Being passed along the chain of atoms the electron slowly looses energy until it is trapped by creating the covalent bonds found in glucose and other fats and sugars. Some of the excited electrons help produce the energy needed for the plant to grow and live while others are stored in these bonds.

Carbohydrase is the enzyme that breaks down starch. 

For herbivores and omnivores, our protein based enzymes wedge and break apart the glucose bonds, releasing those energized electrons. The resulting sugars can also be broken down releasing even more energy that our cells can use.

Yet through all of that, the energy simply changes from the chemicals energy trapped in the bonds to the free electrons repeating back and forth until the energy is used up. So where are these photons?

When we burn wood for a fire, we introduce extreme energy that breaks downs the carbon bonds, and somehow that releases the photons we see in flames. Thus we know that somehow the photons are trapped in there.

Even with the atomic decay of different isotopes, they produce gamma rays and other radioactive rays. This is why another name for photons is electromagnetic radiation. Thus photons are experienced at the subatomic level with the decay and energized electrons. None the less, different molecule formations such as pigments, all made of nearly the same atomic structure, absorb different wavelengths of light.

This phenomenon leads us to consider how photons seem to react directly with atoms and yet are redirected or attracted at the molecular level.

edited from the Encyclopedia Britannica prism seen above. 

My personally theory on this is that the shapes of the molecules create densities or traps as the light passes through the membranes like a prism. Alas, I consign that I have not been able to research enough to have a definitive answer to that inquiry.

Wherefore, I have reached the limits of my scientific knowledge, thus I will now delve into my religious knowledge.

1 John 1:5 "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

As many of you have probably seen, a match ignited has the shadow of the stick itself, but the torch on the top has no shadow. There is no darkness in it.

Dark Crystal Urru

This is interestingly contrasted when compared to the movie Dark Crystal. In that movie the good Urru were combined with the evil Skeksis.

Dark Crystal Skeksis

This combination created an original former race called Urskek.

Dark Crystal Urskeks

Now, as my perception of how they were portrayed, they seemed to be beings of light and darkness fused together.

Another portrayal of the attempted fusions is with the light and dark attack by Lucemon in his Chaos Mode in the last episode of Digimon Frontier. His attack is depicted almost like an orb of symbols and data, almost as though the true combination of light and dark is that of knowledge or intelligence. It could also be interpreted as digital data which is the life essence of digimon.

Yet these combinations are not God, for there is no darkness in Him. Therefore He must be more like pure radiating light. However, this does not mean that He does not have a physical body, for we know that He does (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22).

For the chakra mode from Naruto Shippuden seems to illustrate how light and energy, being released from chakra, could make someone radiant and glorious. Indeed, having an appearance like fire (Revelation 10:1).

Nevertheless, Naruto's chakra from the Kyuubi (Nine tailed demon fox) had a limit, it could be extinguished and used up.

Then there is Saitama from One Punch Man. His power came from when he was younger and broke his limiter. During his fight with Boros (a one eyed alien capable of seeing energy), Boros remarked about the limitless energy that Saitama possessed. After contemplating what this all means, it seems less likely that Saitama is all that powerful in himself, and more like "the limiter" of his power is energy flowing through him. He expels countless energy like a vacuum, it passes through him, directed and modified by him, but it is all not his. The energy is all around, he is simply a conduit for controlling it. 

However, this still does not satisfy my concept of God. Though it might be false, I perceive a God that does not have to rely on the energy around Him, but actually produces His own light and energy ever rejuvenating, ever growing, and ever progressing.

Alas, I will yield to the scriptures:

Doctrine and Covenants 93

2 "And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world;"

8-14 "Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the messanger of salvation-- The light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth, who came into the world, because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men. The world were made by him; men were made by him; all things were made by him, and through him, and of him. And I, John, bear record that I beheld his glory, as the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, even the Spirit of truth, which came and dwelt in the flesh, and dwelt among us. And I, John, saw that he receive not of the fulness at the first, but receive grace for grace; And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness; And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first."

From that we can see that Jesus Christ, premortal as Jehovah, is the Spirit of truth and was full of light.

23-24 "Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth; And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;"

Not only is light, truth and spirit connected, but it is ultimate truth, not relative truth.

26-36 "The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth; And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments. He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things. Man was also in the beginning with God. intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence. Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light. And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation. For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy; And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy. The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, a man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple. The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth."

There is quite a bit in this one, so lets break it down. Like in my blog post about Intelligence, light and truth is this intelligence and they are different from the elements or physical matter. Yet the elements house them, like a tabernacle or building. Thus we see that it is likely that the photons might actually enter into the atomic particles themselves. The elements themselves being eternal, yet the radioactive decay is the loss of their light through Alpha, Beta and Gamma radiation. Also that without these intelligence, or this light, there is not existence, no self awareness, and without photons, no living life.

Doctrine and Covenants 88

7-17 "Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made; As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings; Which light proceedeth froth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space--the light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things. Now, verily I say unto you, that through the redemption which is made for you is brought to pass the resurrection from the dead. And the spirit and the body are the soul of man. And the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul. And the redemption of the soul is through him that quickeneth all things, in whose bosom it is decreed that the poor and the meek of the earth shall inherit it."

Here it appears that there is a direct comparison to the light of Christ and actual light. The light of the sun which then reflects upon the moon and shines upon the earth. The light of all of the stars in the sky and the reflected light upon their orbiting planets and other objects. We also have some insight as to light being the driving force of the organization of the universe. For it proceeds forth similar to the Higgs Field which I talked about in another post, and that field gives mass to the elemental or physical matter. Yet photons pass through it without having mass. They pierce through so much like x-rays and radiation. Indeed, even NASA admits that the universe itself is the biggest generator of gamma radiation, aka photons, aka light particles that fill the immensity of space. I also want to note that this light is the "law by which all things are governed". We could almost see how light enters an electron and then energizes it or gives it instructions as it gets passed along the atomic shells.

25-32 "And again, verily I say unto you, the earth abideth the law of the celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law--Wherefore it shall be sanctified; yea, notwithstanding it shall die, it shall be quickened again, and shall abide the power by which it is quickened, and the righteous shall inherit it. For not withstanding they die, they also shall rise again, a spiritual body. They who are of a celestial spirit shall receive the same body which was a natural body; even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are quickened. Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness. And they who are quickened by a portion of the terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness. And also they who are quickened by a portion of the telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness. And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received."

Now we see that the light and truth we let into our lives, run our lives and laws we live by actually leave an imprint, quickening us. Then, when we are resurrected and our spirits and bodies are inseparably connected, we will have a fulness of the glory that we are willing to receive and obey.

66-67 "Behold, that which you hear is as the voice of one crying in the wilderness--in the wilderness, because you cannot see him--my voice, because my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound. And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things."

Finally we see how, in our mortal stage, we can have the light in our eyes. How much light we let in and is then reflected out, because our inward light is full. This is incredibly like Christ's parable of light in Matthew 6:21-23.

Whether light is spirit or intelligences themselves I know not, but it does seem as though science thus far has no idea where it comes from or what it really is. Also, as far as I can tell, the scriptures revealed much truth about light that has since been proven long after Joseph Smith's day. Indeed, he was a Prophet of God. I leave you with these things in hopes that maybe you will discover more truth of "things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come" in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love,
Jacobugoth

Catholicism

Dear Readers,

Another delicate post, much like my post about Jehovah's Witnesses, I will talk about Catholic beliefs and why I am not Catholic. It is my sincere desire to not misrepresent the Catholic church or Catholicism. If there seems to be any misunderstandings on my part, please feel free to correct me. I am not above amending something that I have misconstrued. Unlike my post about the Jehovah's Witnesses, I could not find a direct website from them, thus Wikipedia was my main source of information. Therefore, I have all the more need for your comments to make sure that my understanding and information is correct.

Like with my other post, I will focus on the three questions of the soul:

Where did I come from?

Why am I here?

Where am I going?

The Catholic church, an umbrella term I am using to refer to Catholicism in general, is comprised of an organization based around priesthood authority. Claiming lineage of this authority primarily through Peter, and therefore Christ Himself, passing down to Linus (2 Timothy 4:21) as the first recorded Pope (arguably Peter, but since he is still referred to as Saint Peter it is Pope Linus as the first Pope), then to Anacletus, Clement, Evaristus, Alexander, Sixtus, Telephorus, Hyginus, Pius, et cetera.

Under the pope are Cardinals, Bishops, Priests and Deacons. This is based much after the organization depicted in 1 Timothy chapter 3 minus the Cardinals, who are basically superior Archbishops.

It is interesting to point out that in the same chapter where this organization is set forth, there are also stipulation that are unmet in the Catholic church today, including Bishops being the "husband of one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2) and Deacons as well (1 Timothy 3:12). This seems contrary to the current practice of celibacy required for the station of Bishops and other clergy. However, I must admit that though this seems to be a requirement, it does appear to be closely related to the "forbidding to marry" as warned about in the following chapter (1 Timothy 4:3).

Alas, this brings us to the doctrines taught. Though they teach from the Holy Bible, many of their practices and doctrines come from tradition and other liturgy written and formulated by former Popes and other leaders, including theological counsels.

Saint Birinus Catholic Church link

One of the most famous of these counsels was that of Nicaea. From the counsel was created the Nicene Creed which decrees the nature of God as the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, Spirit of God) all as one being in order to stand apart from the polytheistic (multiple god) religions of Greece and Rome.

Madonna (Virgin Mary) from All Saints Catholic Church St. Peters, Missouri

With this monotheistic (one god) extreme of combining the Trinity into one, other doctrines were set forth, including prayers, sacraments, and other forms of worship. One of the many forms of worship that other Christians often view as idol worship is prayers to Mary the mother of Jesus and various Saints. However, in the course of my research I have been able to discern why this isn't so, or at least, why Catholics do not view it that way.

Adam's Creation by Michelangelo Sistine Chapel Censored

God created the world ex nihilo (out of nothing) in 6 literal days. Though, Catholic consign that evolution may have been the means of creating the first human body (Adam), God is responsible for creating his soul.

After Satan's fall, he tempts Adam and Eve into mortal sin. Mortal sin being unpardonable after death while venial sin is more forgivable. Baptism washes away mortal sin, thus with the fall of the human species, children have to be baptized to remove this original sin. Yet, this does not remove their agency.

Infant Baptism

While children, through baptism, have been cleansed form the original sin, there is a second conversion at 13 in which an individual expresses a personal willingness to serve God and thus, essentially, renew their baptism.

Though mortal sin can only be forgiven in this life through confession, penance, and a priest conferring absolution, venial sin can be forgiven after. This, therefore, allows for death bed repentance and thus salvation. According to Catholicism, when we die we are taken to God for judgment where we are set into one of three states of being.

Catholic Heaven as depicted in Simpsons season 16 episode 21

There is heaven (Mark 14:62), where those who are free from sin are raised in a state of "unspeakable joy that lasts forever" (wiki).

Depiction of Dante's Infero

Then there is hell, a state of eternal misery burning in fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:10). Even though I find interesting the depiction of hell in Dante's Inferno, the description of nine circles is inaccurate according to Catholic theology. In this terrible state are all those who die with mortal sin remaining such as unbaptized babies, murderers, adulterers, et cetera.

Purgatory scene from 1999 The Haunting

Lastly, there is a temporary state of purgatory, where people who die with venial sins remain until they are purged by penance and prayers of others still living, on their behalf. Once they are cleansed, they are finally released to heaven or dragged down to hell. I like how this was depicted in the movie The Haunting, where an evil man clung onto children, thus holding them in purgatory with him until the demons finally dragged him down and released the children into heaven.

But what does this have to do with the "idolatry" of Saints? Because heaven is alive and well now, those who die and go there are currently alive and with God. Thus, prayers to Mary and other Saints are more like phone calls to someone not in the room. Also, with the doctrine of Jesus Christ, the Mediator, being one with God the Father, there is no mediator to plead for us in mortality other than the Saints. Wherefore, praying to Saints to ask God for blessings on our behalf is the only help we can receive beside from God directly.

With this knowledge, it also makes sense why Pope Francis recently talked about how having a personal relationship with Christ can be dangerous (youtube). It appears woven into their beliefs that without others you are alone. Without Saints pleading to God on your behalf, without friend and family at church praying for you after you die, or receive constant absolution from priests then your efforts by yourself, as an individual, could leave your soul in jeopardy.

Now that I have talked about their beliefs and even defended the Pope, lets answer the questions at hand.

Where did I come from? Our bodies are essentially those of an animal though in the likeness of God having a spirit uniquely created by God at our birth.

Why am I here? Our purpose is to not sin and worship God.

Where am I going? Depending on how well I did not sin and worshiped God, I either go to heaven or hell, everlasting bliss or misery respectively. There might be a brief stay in purgatory, but eventually it would be one of these two places.

Not having any memories before this life, personally, I could live with my mortal body being created at birth and God creating my spirit at that time, but mortality seems rather pointless, just scraping by to live and commit no grand sins in order to make it to heaven. Then in heaven, yes it is ultimate bliss, but what is the point?

It seems as though most of the incentive to keep from sinning comes from not burning in hell fire for eternity. As it stands, according to Catholicism, I would be damned to hell because I have not been baptized by their authority and thus being cleansed from the original mortal sin. It is interesting, however, to note some of that power and authority as laid out in the Holy Bible. Matthew 16:19 is Christ addressing Peter concerning the keys of authority He gives him, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

As anecdotal evidence, while on my mission I had an opportunity to talk to a Catholic who clearly had talked to missionaries before. He politely turned my companion and I away, but before closing the door he added that the "keys" to bind and loose are found in the Catholic church. I knew what he was referencing because as a missionary, we talk a bit about how the keys are restored and families can be bound or sealed together for all eternity. Thus his comment intrigued me. In all of my research of the Catholic church I have not found what they would use this authority for (if they indeed had it).

With confession and absolution it seems as though they openly exercised power to "loose" people from the binds of sin on earth and in heaven, but what do they bind? Catholic marriages are till death do they part, so they bind on earth, but NOT in heaven, where everyone is like an angel of God (Matthew 22:30) having no spouse or children but are all brothers and sisters or children of God. I truly do not know what they "bind" on earth and heaven and therefore it appears as though they do not in reality have this authority to which they profess and claim.

To sum up, though I do not think the Catholic church is God's church on the earth, I do find their desire to serve God by being proper Christians, and even their desire to pray and try to help those who have passed on to be admirable. Yet, their idea of the purpose of life leaves me much to be desired, including the results of the afterlife. It boggles my mind that God would create a spirit for a new born baby or infant only to damn it to everlasting fire and brimstone for simply not being born to a Catholic family. This philosophy portrays a God that performs much for pointless and futile reasons. Alas, with this viewpoint I recognize my bias and advise others to follow their own hearts and to pray, asking God, to learn and know truth for themselves.

Love,
Jacobugoth

Previous: Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses

Dear Readers,

As with some of my posts, this is a delicate one to type. Though I do not want to offend any Jehovah's Witnesses, I do want to express why I do not adhere to their religion. It is my desire to accurately depict their beliefs and their church, thus if any of my information or assertions is incorrect, please correct me in the comments. I am not above correcting my mistakes. The majority of the information I have obtained is from their own website: jw.org

This may reflect my own bias, but as a missionary I learned that as human beings we have three basic questions:

Where did I come from?

Why am I here?

Where am I going?

Before I address theses, I will talk a little about the Jehovah's Witness' church.

The church was originally organized by Charles Taze Russell in 1879, not as a church or religion, but as a society or a community dedicated to going back to what the Holy Bible actually teaches and then worship God accordingly. This original organization, called Zion's Watch Tower Society, was not meant to be a church, and therefore claims no authority, but simply a sincere desire to seek God's truth.

From this humble beginning developed the Jehovah's Witness' church as it stands today, organized with "Elders" under the direction of a group of "Mature Christians". None of whom claim actual authority to act in God's name or on His behalf. They simply lead the church according to the Bible and to the best of their human knowledge and reasoning.

Using this organization, they worship God through prayer (Philippians 4:6), reading the scriptures (Holy Bible), meditation and pondering upon the word (Psalms 1:2), helping those in need (James 2:14-20), and lastly preaching the "good news of the kingdom" of God (Matthew 24:14). All of which I have adhered to growing up in the LDS church, and is not much different than how other Christian churches worship.

Not only do they adhere to basic Christian worship, but also the requirements of salvation. Faith having works (James 2:22) such as baptism (John 3:5), the symbol of ending one's old life of sin and beginning a new one in Christ, and a knowledge of the scriptures and the significance of what is being performed (Acts 8:35-36) is what is required for Jehovah Witness salvation, or at least beginning to walk the path, needing to continue to worship God throughout our lives.

Because they do not claim any authority, anyone baptized in the name of God the Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost with a knowledge of what they are doing would be "saved" by these requirements, which includes all faithful Latter-day Saints. Thus, I can continue in my life, in the church I currently belong to, and still fully qualify for the salvation they preach.

Yet, this does not answer the questions of the soul. To answer the three questions above we need to ask, who is God and what is He like? Jehovah's Witnesses, as their their name depicts, believe in Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament. As to His nature, they believe He is a spirit. Where does that place Jesus, as His Son, the Savior and Redeemer of the world and the King of God's Kingdom. However, unlike many Christian religions, including Mormonism, Jesus Christ and God (in this case Jehovah) are separate beings. Thus it is proper to say that Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in the Trinity.

Now, this God, who is clearly benevolent wanting as many humans as will to be saved and worship Him, created the earth. Though, it was not necessarily created in 6 days, for the Old Testament portrays a planet before God started speaking His creation (Genesis 1:1-2).

As with the true understanding of the "soul" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:15) being the spirit and the body, God breathed into Adam the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). When humans were created, in the garden paradise, Satan, a fallen angel who rebelled against God, convinced them to join him and partake of the forbidden fruit, committing the first sin and plunging humanity into this terrible fallen world.

So, if our mortal life here is so terrible, what awaits after death? Oblivion. Psalms 146:4 "His breath goeth forth, he is returned to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." When the spirit leaves the body, that is it, non-existence. Now, while serving my mission, I had an opportunity to talk to a Jehovah's Witness who explained that the word "hell" in the New Testament is translated from "shoel" and "hades" which they translate as the "common grave". Thus, they only live in the mind of God, that is, until the resurrection.

image link

With the resurrection, there will be those who go to heaven, a spiritual plane of existence. These are limited to 144,000 in God's kingdom (Revelations 7:4) who will be kings and rulers over those resurrected as part of the "great multitude" (Revelations 7:9) with immortal human bodies (1 Corinthians 15:40) on a perfect earth. Here, on earth, there will a utopia where people will live their lives worshiping God in righteousness.

An Ancient from Stargate Atlantis

This reminds me surprisingly of the Stargate worlds, in how the Ancients aka energy beings which could be likened unto spirit beings are the superiors to beings with a body.

The Ori Adria taking human form from Stargate SG1

Particularly in the Ori galaxy where the Ori energy beings commanded that the physical being worship them continually, and that worship gave the Ori power.

Finally, to answer the questions:

Where did I come from? God created us from the dust using a blueprint (DNA) instilled with His spirit to create a soul (1 Corinthians 6:19). Thus we only enter existence when we are born and enter non-existence when we die.

Why am I here? I am here to worship God... that is it... either worship God or be erased forever when I die.

Where am I going? Oblivion first, then paradise where I will be in a utopia forever worshiping God, because the 144,000 chosen spirit beings have long since been selected. Never progressing, because God's great design was to see what flesh robot designs would obey and worship Him and which would not.

jw.org who goes to heaven?

Though my "flesh robot" might be a little outrageous, it reflects my feelings on this matter. I do believe that if the Holy Bible was the full word of God and the only word of God, then Jehovah's Witnesses would be the true religion. Yet, it removes the possibility of revelation, of a living God that continues to speak. Thu, ultimately, portraying a God that always wants us to be under His heel.

Thus, these answers do not satisfy my soul, and there is little incentive to change for by their criteria, I would be saved anyway. Not to mention, according to Mormonism, the Utopian state of  existence that the Jehovah's Witnesses aspire to, and if their doctrines are lived, qualify for would be the Terrestrial kingdom. Though the Terrestrial kingdom is part of God's kingdom, it is limited from progression, and therefore damned though not in misery.

Wherefore, I am left holding on to the Mormon beliefs which I have felt the Spirit of God testify to me are true. I do encourage everyone to seek truth for themselves by asking God. Who better to tell you pure truth than the Master of Truth, God Himself? If anyone can lead you to the true religion, He can!

Love,
Jacobugoth

Next: Catholicism

Mr. Nobody

Dear Readers,

This post is an interesting one. There is a 2009 movie called Mr. Nobody that, for a lack of a better term, is hard to keep up with. It is interesting how many ideas and concepts this movie goes through.

Angel of Oblivion sealing the children's mouths

Mr. Nobody talks about a pre-mortal life, when he was in heaven before being born. Though it is symbolism for the veil (ironically the veil being a symbol as well), it is describes as angels of oblivion touching the children's lips before they are born to keep them from remembering and talking about the pre-earth life. This is illustrated by the philtrum or medial cleft (the divot of the upper lip below the nose).

For me, this is the central key to the film. Because Nemo remembers his lessons in heaven, he is able to see the workings of God in his life, which is referred to as the butterfly effect. For those not familiar with this term, it is the theory that a butterfly flapping its wings can lead to a series of events that can drastically change history. In Mr. Nobody, this was illustrated by a butterfly flying away in Japan. It follow a breeze that picks up a leaf high into the sky. The leaf is carried into the atmosphere until it comes down in the US and Nemo's father slips on it, which causes Nemo's mother to come over to help him, and the couple meets.

Not only does the lack of the touch from the angels help Nemo see this butterfly effect, but also the future events. While on my mission, I talked to a member who seemed to be wise in the ways of ideas. In the church, we often say that God knows exactly what we are going to do because He knows us so well, like a parent can know when their child might be up to no good, stealing from the cookie jar etc. However, this never fully satisfied my mind on the subject. Thus, when that philosophical member talked to me about a kind of trial and error in our premortal lives, without consequences, I became rather intrigued.

He described this scenario: you are walking down a path in the forest, and suddenly get the feeling or prompting to go back. Unknown to you, there is a bear around the corner of the trail. Now, during your time as a spirit, as practice, you walked down the trail and saw that there was a bear. Yet, here in mortality, you don't have the memory of that, but the Holy Ghost can bring a feeling of remembrance and warn you, though you don't know what about.

Though this idea intrigued me, growth and full comprehension can only occur through mortality. Which is a big part of why we are here and why we shouted for joy at the opportunity to come down and receive a body (Job 38:7). Thus, for me, it was less of actually experiencing lesson in the spirit, but more of God explaining our lives to us. I feel as though He sat down with each and every one of us and talked to us about our mortal lives. He would calmly and lovingly tell us about different choices we will need to make. Of course, being there with God, we would say that we would make the right choice, but I imagine Him saying softly to us, but what would happen if you made this choice. I do not think that we would have our entire lives told to us at one time, so God might talk to others of His children for a while, and eventually come back to us and tell us what the repercussions of other people's choice might have on us. Therefore, during these early lessons we would make promises with each other, to help each other, as well as which choices we should make for ourselves.

Peter Bishop and September the Observer from Fringe

Like the wise man told me, when we feel that prompting, it is a reminder, either a reminder that we might be in danger, or a reminder that we have an obligation or opportunity to improve ourselves and/or help someone around us. Though I do not think that we experienced it quite like he explained, this does seem clearer to me now as to what our lessons were like. Yet, it should be mentioned that with my understanding of God's nature and how time works here in the physical plane (see my blog post about Gravity, Science, and the Spirit world) that time is set. We experience it fluidly because we are moving through time, moment by moment, but like an Observer from Fringe, God is able to see it as a solid whole. This is evident with the realization that in any given scenario, and opportunity to choose, we are limited by the knowledge we have, and thus must live with the choices we made. Even if we lived the same moment a hundred times, we would always make the same choice because we would always have the same knowledge, and same personality and desires.

Between knowing us as intimately as a family unit (knowing our personality and desires), and seeing exactly how we would live our lives before we even live them, I believe that God was perfectly able to know the end from the beginning (Abraham 2:8) and give us those first lessons to help us live the most honorable life we could. There may be some who ask, "If this is so, then why do we receive promptings from God that we will ignore? God knew that we would ignore it, then why send it?" My simple answer for this is that we must be accountable. In our ignorance of mortality, before this life, we probably pleaded with God to warn us of problems and to remind us to keep our promises to our brothers and sisters. Thus, being a perfect, honorable God, He always upholds His end of the bargain, even though He knows that we might not. This allows us to stand accountable for the choices that we made, for they were given to us, and many times, we probably even learn from those experiences. I know that in my own life I have had promptings that I wish I had heeded and that inspires me to heed the next ones more diligently.

Yet, many of you who have not seen the the movie Mr. Nobody might be wondering what this has to do with anything? Though we have these pretexts of pre-earth lessons and the butterfly effect, the majority of the movie consists of scattered scenes from several different timelines. Aside of setting each timeline on its own as its own movie, I found a video that helps depict the different timelines.

Sadly, this video is not complete to my standards, for it leaves out the timeline when Nemo rides his bike out in a rage and crashes, putting him into a coma. It also, for my own entertainment, had the space station destruction replaced with "Game Over". Thus leaving the "happy ending" as the timeline when Nemo was able to be with Anna and grow old to become Mr. Nobody, aka Mr. Craft (C.R.A.F.T. Can't Remember A [Freaking] Thing). 

Though I won't go over each and every timeline, I would like to point out some key insights from Mr. Craft. While telling the story of his life he would ramble on from one timeline to another, thus the cinematography of the movie jumping from scene to scene in great confusion. When the journalist asked him which timeline is real, he says that they are all real, and each one is worth living. Though most of us would like to find the woman or man of our dreams and grow old with them, sometimes our decisions lead us down other paths. The paths may include broken homes, unfulfilled lives, and premature death. However, these outcomes do not mean that these lives were not worth living. They are the reasons why we came down to receive our bodies. I believe that God explained the hardships, and the joys, all of the pros and cons, and yet we still chose these lives. 

Luckily, for everyone reading this post right now, you are still in a position to make choices that change your life for the better, or for the worse. I hope you gain confidence and strength in knowing that whatever choices you make, your life is one worth living. I hope you find the strength to accept the choices that you have made, and continue in life changing it as you see fit.

Jean, Elise, and Anna from Mr. Nobody

Mr. Nobody has a line when he talks about his child self, with the dilemma of choosing his father or his mother and thereby choosing which girl he will eventually marry. He remarks about how hard of a decision that is to make, especially for a child. Yet, knowing all of the possible outcomes, he makes the choice by sending the leaf up into the sky that will eventually bring Anna to him again. This brings him joy as in his final moments Anna's name is on his tongue. 

The Oracle from The Matrix

Because of the veil, we do not know every outcome of our choices due in part by the concept given to us by The Oracle from The Matrix movies, "No one can see past a choice that they don't understand." However, by aligning ourselves to God and His will, we can begin to see why we make our choices, because we love others, because we love God, and therefore we can see a brighter future ahead. 

Love,

Jacobugoth

BTVS: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Dear Readers,

This may be because I am a 90's child, but I have always liked the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Though, it should be noted, I actually preferred the Angel spin-off series. Being a young man growing up, I found the Angel character more relatable. Nonetheless, while watching both series I discovered some wonderful truths about the BTVS universe that I want to share. Before I begin, I should point out the obviousness that the true God of the BTVS universe is indeed the Christian God Jesus Christ.

BTVS Season 7 Episode 2 Spike embracing a cross

If the way crosses and holy water burn vampires didn't make that obvious to you, then I hope you take my word for it.

First up, in the beginning of the series Giles tries to paint a very dark, grim view of the world talking about how before humans, demons ruled the world. These demons were called The Old Ones, and were large monstrous creatures. Very little is mentioned about them in the series, yet we have some insight from the Mayor of Sunnydale's ascension.

BTVS Season 3 Episode 22 Mayor Richard Wilkins transforming

During the highschool graduation the Mayor ascended into a higher form, a "true" or "pure" demon. 

BTVS Season 3 Episode 22 Wilkins as the Olvikan demon

 This transformation turned him into an Olvikan demon that a volcanologist had discovered the remains of under a volcano. Easily mistaking the demon's corpse to be that of an undiscovered dinosaur, the scientist was unaware that he was being used by the Mayor to secured the transformation.

Maloker the Old One who created the first vampires

Now, especially with the comic, other Old Ones have been portrayed as simply enormous monstrous demons. Since the comic book series has been produced by the same director as the television series, I will admit this warrant's more investigation. However, my theory, for now, remains the same.

In Genesis, before talking about the creation of the world it says, "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:2)

This was mentioned in my Creation post where I mentioned that this "void" earth was likely made of at least partly by a planet that had been inhabited by dinosaurs. In that post, I also mention the pre-mortal life and how Lucifer and his one-third of the angels of God were cast down to the earth. It seems as though, at least in the BTVS universe that they were cast onto the "dinosaur" world, casting it in darkness.

Lucifer, having become Satan, the first to rebel against God and therefore he and those who followed him lost their first estate (their opportunity to receive bodies of their own). Yet, coming to this world with large creature, what would any angry disembodied spirit do? Posses the bodies for themselves.

However, and this is key in the BTVS universe, when these demons posses bodies they change them. Either genetic or cosmetic, the transformation is clear. Yet, the second half of that verse in Genesis adds depth. "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." God, the one true God, was casting them out, casting them away to make room for His children.

Though, clearly they were not cast out completely by the time humans came to take the earth, else how could Maloker have created the first vampire, or the rest of the demonic generations be formed? As I say this, my mind is concocting another theory as to how it could have still happened.

Possessed snake from the movie Noah

Theory one: most of the Old Ones were banished and cast into their own dimensional worlds becoming the demonic gods of their worlds, however, Satan and a few lingered. When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, Satan possessed a serpent and beguiled Eve. That would be when God cursed Satan beyond eve his followers saying, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15)

I think that it is this cursing that is the key difference between our world and the BTVS world. This would be where God would curse Satan that he could no longer truly possess a body, thus ever to remain incorporeal as The First. Yet in our world, God had enough foresight to take away nearly all of Satan's power. Though he could tempt us, we as beings with our own bodies will always have more power than he does. He may hurt us, but we can banish and destroy him.

Alas, because Adam and Eve partook of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were cast out of Eden into a world of pain and confusions. This created the perfect breeding ground for the remaining Old Ones to influence and transfigure groups of humans into demons after their likeness.

Theory two: all of the Old ones were banished to their own dimensions, but because The First had not yet possessed a body, he remained. Then, like the first theory, he beguiled Eve and was cursed. Yet he was able to influence humans in the days of wickedness before the flood to worship these false demonic gods. Using their powers, they made portals to their dimensions and interdimensional migration occurred allowing humans to go there, be transformed into the demonic versions and then return and vice versa.

BTVS Season 3 Episode 5 Kulak demon (Note the stegosaurus dinosaur traits)

For both theories, I would say the reason for the distinction and enmity or dislike between demons and vampires is that the demons were people that the Old Ones corrupted.

However, Maloker took it a step further and would banish the human spirit by killing them and replace it with one of his own follower spirits. Again we see a change in their bodies, the "bumpy" forehead and sharp teeth, however because the bodies are actually those of humans, they are able to revert back.

Angel Season 1 Episode 9 Lucas the Bracken demon

For vampires, it is more of human body, demonic face. Yet for the Bracken demons their human appearance is more of a camouflage.

Turok-Han

Though I think that the first vampires were like the current BTVS vampires, where does that place the uber vamps or Turok-Han?

The Master

There are clear similarities between the uber vamps and The Master vampire. However, The Master maintained his high thinking, while the Turok-Han are primal beasts. Giles said of them, "As Neanderthals are to human beings, the Turok-Han are to vampires. They're primordial, ferociously powerful killing machine, as single-minded as animals. They are the vampires that vampires fear."

Most of us would take that statement to say that vampires came from these Turok-Han, which could be true. Yet, I would purpose an alternate theory. With my ideas about neanderthals and how the relate to humans, being another race of humans rather than a separate species that we somehow emerged from, I think that the Turok-Han are the vampires that vampires fear because they are what becomes of a vampire that has been starved of blood for millennia. This could place them anciently as the first vampires that Maloker created in his dimension without a fresh source of blood their minds degenerated into the simple need to feed. The demonic influence in their bodies over the longer period of time makes them more bat-like just like Maloker, and how being ancient made The Master more bat-like as well. However, unlike the Turok-Han, The Master was able to feed continually in the BTVS world and thus retain his sanity. To reiterate, vampires fear the Turok-Han because that is what they will become when all that makes them sentient, or human is taken away by starvation.

This would also explain why the Turok-Han have so much more immunity to vampire traits. The "modern" vampire is susceptible to holy water and crosses because they are yet human bodies and atoning power of Christ's sacrifice on the cross and in the garden of Gethsemane tries to purify the evil from their bodies, as the atonement is there to free us from sin if we use it. Yet, being around so long and having that demonic spirit slowly change their bodies over time, the human flesh becomes less human, preventing the atonement of Christ to work as well as it did or could.

Angel as a demon in Pylea

Alas, it is important to note that when Angel went to a hell dimension called Pylea, he found that with the nature of the dimension, it made his human side human while his demonic side demon. As they explained that the demonic form he took was what the demon inside of him actually looks like. The reptilian nature hints that it is likely that Maloker does not have any actual demons of his own. The demons that posses the bodies are likely the spirit of other fallen demons that Maloker either gives a second chance to, or are only able to escape their hell dimensions by entering a human host and become a vampire.

Sadly, this about sums up my theory about the history of the nature of demons and vampires in the BTVS universe, however, there are yet points to mention.

As I brought up briefly with the second theory of the humans using the demon's powers to make portals for the dimensional migration, it should be noted what witch craft in the BTVS universe is.

Amy casting a love spell

Whether it is Amy praying to the goddess Diana.

Willow calling upon Osiris to raise Buffy back from the dead. 

Or Willow praying to Osiris, they are calling upon the powers of the demonic demi-gods. Their powers are not their own, only lent to them by demons seeking to corrupt them.

Charmed power of three Celtic knot. 

I should point out that this is also different from the witchcraft in Charmed, which is more spiritual and cosmic in nature. Much like the power Giles used to bind Dark Willow, it comes from the world itself, or even from a righteous higher plane. Like with Charmed, the power of three is a clear reference to the trinity and the power of God, which is why the Elder and White Lighters or heavenly beings were charged to watch over and help them.

BTVS Season 7 Episode 22 White Willow

This is why White Willow was created when Willow activated the potential slayers and released the power. Though the words of her prayer cannot be really heard with her muttering, it is not too far of a leap to say that she might have been praying to the one true God, or at very least performing His will.

The Shadow Men infusing the shadow spirit or "heart" of a demon into Buffy or the First Slayer

Though witchcraft appears to be generally evil in the BTVS universe, it was interesting how the Shadow Men tried to use that power to help humanity. By infusing the first demon's spirit into the First Slayer, they created a warrior to combat the evil, though they limited it to one warrior so that they and their followers the Watchers, could maintain a hold of the situation.

Thus we see the graphic battle over good and evil that would take place in a world where fallen angels or demons would be permitted to have a bit more influence over the bodies their possess. In our own lives, the devil's influence over may be lessened, but it is also subtler too. I testify that Satan is real, but so is Christ and His infinite mercy. There is real evil in this world and it is created by the absence of God and His influence.

Lastly, when Buffy died by jumping into Glory's portal, she said that she felt like she went to heaven. She described that place, "Wherever I was, I was happy. At peace. I knew that everyone I cared about was all right. I knew it. Time didn't mean anything, nothing had form, but I was still me, you know? And I was warm and I was loved and I was finished. Complete. I don't understand about theology or dimensions, or any of it really. But I think I was in heaven." (BTVS 6:3)

Tucson Temple

Though the notion of nothing had form made it seem more like the was in the spirit world, the paradise of spirit world, I had an interesting experience where I found myself participating in a form of the true method of prayer. It was the Hosanna shout (Doctrine and Covenants 109:79) of the Tucson temple dedication. The mingling of voice all in one accord made me feel like I was simply one of many, yet I was still myself. I think that is what Buffy was trying to describe, at least in part, billions upon billions of the children of God all shouting His praise, uniting themselves and their will to God. I think that was a taste of what pre-mortal life was like, living for an eternity as spirits with our Father in Heaven and then, when we will return to Him, praising Him again for the plan of salvation is complete. I never quite understood that before, the repeating of words simultaneously often seemed a bit like cultish chanting which I had dismissed with the notion that cults and even Satan himself had to get it from somewhere, even a pollution of true doctrine and practice.

As strange as it is to say, I don't think that I would have the appreciation or as ripe of an experience as I had with the Hosanna shout and prayers in the temple without having watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer and had that realization from pondering upon her words. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's true church on the earth today. I am thankful to be a member of it, and I am thankful that I live in a world where the only corruption Satan and his angels can reap upon our bodies are those temptations that we choose to give in to.

Love,
Jacobugoth