From: catatonicorchid	Date: August 1st, 2003 11:52 pm (UTC)		(Link)
Cheers Mate

Cheers Mate! Do you remember me? Its Catatonic from uk_goffs. I sent you an e-mail but since you haven't answered, I'll just be a fucking nag and get to you through LJ. How's everything? Lovely I hope, because things aren't going all that bloody good down here. For over six months or so, the lads down here at CR-Gothic (Costa Rica Gothic) had been planning and organizing and putting together what would be the first Gothic Art/Music/Literature Festival ever in this country. I was to take place at an abandoned Sanitarium up in the cold mountains of a region called "Whitelands of Prussia", translated of course. The activity was supposed to take place today, and it was going to last up till tomorrow afty. So happens that on wednesday the bishop from the local parrish informed the people of this rural community that a "Satanist Cult" was taking place near them and that their lives and souls where in danger (let me mention that the activity had no religious purpose at all, and much less had anything to do with satanism, paganism, wicca, or whatever else argument he could bring up). The community is mostly catholic and they all supported this man when he motioned them to protest against this "evil" thing that was infesting their peaceful community. The main organizer of the festival, a friend of mine, decided to cancel the event and lose the whole investment, because he felt that there might be some kind of violent intervention on behalf of the community while the event took place. We did not cancel because of a legal issue or anything of the matter, but simply because we feared that someone could get hurt if they tried to interrupt our festival (knowing how catholics tend to get a wee bit violent when they want something gone). Now, we are pissed right off our fucking bollocks, and we intend to sue this wanker and the Catholic Church in this country for taking action against something without previously consulting with the organizers of the activity, for labeling us as something we are not, lying to his people, and for making us lose a lot of money, time and sweat. Our first idea is that everyone who was going to the festival, sign a document to show their support for a legal action against the church and more specifically, the plank from that parrish.

Now, I know you know shite (I hope), and I was wondering if I could have your opinion on the whole situation, maybe even a scrap of advice. I know this is the kind of thing that you must just find to be right up your alley.

	From: footpad	Date: August 2nd, 2003 05:14 am (UTC)		(Link)

(1) and (2) are the same argument, with the same flaw: you implicitly assume that the absence of absolute good implies absolute evil. I kinda like (3) though.

From: catatonicorchid	Date: August 2nd, 2003 06:03 pm (UTC)		(Link)

hmmm, interesting...although I would incline more towards the idea that if there were a god (and I'm against the belief that there is) then it would be more a neutral, neither good nor evil. More of a laissez-faire bloke. I mean, sure there is a lot of pain, death, suffering, and an endless list of horrid things...but there is also and endless list of moments of joy and happiness, of warm lovely feelings. So, if there is a god, I don't think he/she would have any part whatsoever in evil or good, it just created things and let them happen. On the other hand, if he did have some sort of determination...he would be a bloody sadist, creating sides to war against eachother, and striking thoughts of pain, vengance and thirst for blood in people. But the existence of a conscious god is near impossible. Could a conscious person really allow all this? Now, seeing things from the natural point of view, in nature there is always a bigger fish eating a little fish. There is always something that will destroy another. And so it is in humans, because we are a part of nature. Because we developed dexterity and "reason", we have come to the point where we simply use this abilities to extend those natural carnal, animal instincts. I believe its just all a part of nature, no participation of a god whatsoever...but if there was one, he would either be a sadist, or a neutral

From: katminnaar	Date: August 6th, 2003 07:47 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Yet again, great essay! I can't say I'm strongly in favor of purely good/evil dualism, but I agree with your assessments on death and nature. Of course, I'm not a big *believer* in "god" either except in a more abstract sense, and maybe we create our OWN good and evil, but your writing is very thought-provoking.

How's the music project going?
When do you start your military stint?

:)

From: (Anonymous)	Date: September 13th, 2003 01:38 pm (UTC)		(Link)
Spiritual forces "do" exist.

"Saying one set of things to one group of people; appearing as a multitude of gods to others, and appearing not at all to many."

I believe that the so-called "spirits of Satan" are the lost souls of those evil ones who have perished. Every living thing on this planet has its own spirit/soul, and can attach itself positively or negatively to other spirits after death. How do you think the spirit of Jesus Christ lives on? It is a God spirit, that goes into the souls of those people who accept it, adding strength, vigor, and regeneration. Maybe the spirit of Jesus was embedded with an even stronger spirit when he was alive, and that is why he called him "His father", or our traditional "God". Satanic spirits, and God spirits alike, may show themselves visibly, but solely in the mind of the person who has them. That is why a group of people may see or witness something from the same spirit, but always differently than everyone else, and not from that spirit itself, but from that which has embedded itself with their spirits.

That's what I believe after examining your essays, and the personal experiences of myself and my wife here in Toronto, Canada. Death is still and always permanent, but the tiny spark that was created when you were born, and developed and changed throughout the course of your life never dies. And by one spirit connecting with those of others whose bodies are alive, similarly connects with their minds also. This can produce incredible surreal experiences for some individuals, and possibly even reality-based effects, though I have never witnessed this, and doubt its existence.

P.S. Your writings are very intellectually fullfilling. Keep up the great work!