Happy Light, happier LITE and topic of discussion

[hkellick]

Not a whole lot to report. I got the car back... the night I brought it home it stalled out twice. My mother suggested I try some dry gas. So I filled it up with the ultra l33t gas (the 92% Octane Stuff) (ha! listen folks.. just because the pump clicks off doesn't mean it's filled up with gas! Oh well :P ) and some dry gas and finally got around to getting that oil change I needed this month. I think it's running better. That is good. That helps make LITE happy.

Other things that make LITE happy is his Happy Light. Despite the childish title, the happy light actually exists. Around this time of year when the sun stops appearing and I see alot of cold and cloudy weather, it gets to me. I suffer from seasonal depression. The non-drug antidote to this is to get a full-spectrum light (the problem is the majority of lights are mostly yellow light. But what I need is pure white light.) It used to be I needed special fluorescent bulbs and something to hold it in near my desk downstairs (where the computer is) but GE just came out with some full-spectrum bulbs that fit into a normal incadescent plug. So I bought two.. one for the basement and one for my bedroom
I honestly feel the difference already. Before I got them, I was thoroughly miserable and grumpy and hated this wet nasty weather.
I still hate the wet nasty weather but I feel bouncier and more "LITE"ish.
*shrugs* I dunno either. I don't know why I need the full-spectrum light and what kind of effect (whether it's purely mental or physiological as well) it has on me, but it DOES Make a difference.

That said, going over the last couple posts and a fight between Stebe@ChaoticMUX and myself, I still think Stebe is being an ass.
Maybe Stebe needs a happy light too.

And now for the topic of discussion.
Are you ready?
Is Christianity outdated? Can Christianity hope to compete with 21st century morals?

The reason this came up is nissacrosseyed's last post in which she complains about being labeled as a christian. I don't think it's SIMPLY that she's christian. Alot of my people are. I think it might be more that she's devoutly christian.
I, personally, know of very few truly devout christians. Not only is stephanie christian, but she's a TRUE christian compared to these screwy right-wing extremists who are off trying to ban Harry Potter and Tinky-Winky. I define a REAL
christian as someone who lives by the tenets of Christ. (Instead of the tenets of the church. The two can be vastly different in certain respects.)
I respect real christians. I respect people who love thy neighbors, who abide by the golden rule, who attempt to do everything they can to make humanity a better race.
I don't respect the other so-called christians who are about small-minded hate, censorship. People who live petty, hate-lived lives.
That said, I also only respect REAL Jews, REAL Wiccans and REAL Buddhists instead of other people using their religious values to spread hate, censorship and pain.
Anyways... the topic of conversation stands.
IS Christianity outdated? Or, as joked about in movies such as "Dogma", does Christianity need a complete overhaul (a third coming of Christ or what not to remind people what Christianity is REALLY about.)
Please feel free to reply to that one.

Comments

[nissacrosseyed.livejournal.com]

On the topic of discussion,I do think that Christianity has become a little outdated and has lost it's course on what it's purpose really is. But at the same time many christians would argue that true Christianity can never really truly be a practiced true blue religion. (That Christ is really anti-religion... pro-faith.) The gospels are full of Jesus attacking other religiousity (Is that a word? :)). I dunno what I really think. I don't find it too hard, but at the same time not as easy as it should be, to find Jesus, to find the meaning of christianity in the church... But you have to search for it, you have to search for it knowing you'll find something. And should it have to be something you have to search for, especially considering that is what the church's goal should be and is declared to be? I dunno. That's my somewhat groggy opinion on it.

I don't find myself to very devouted, or devouted enough, but thank you for the compliment. :)

[lite.livejournal.com]

And this is precisely why I think you're devout.

You love Christ. REALLY love. And you seek the truth about Christ and what he meant and wanted. Maybe devout isn't the proper word. I dunno.

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

You can also buy those full-spectrum lights online at http://www.greenmarketplace.com. (I have the same problem. I also bought one of those lights that acts as an artificial dawn and dusk. (Sean also likes the white noise machine, but that's an entirely different matter.)
And I happen to agree with your views on religion, just as an aside, but I don't feel that I can comment on Christianity, except to say that in most cases it's so polluted by the interpretations of human beings (like most religions) that it's hard to see what used to be there in the first place.

[rhayden.livejournal.com]

I think Nissa said a very important thing. Christianity is not about religion, but about faith. There is a difference between the two. And, somewhere in the back of my brain, I have a definition of religion. But I can't seem to recall it. Maybe it's in my notes somewhere.

From some of the posts I've done, and some of our general discussion on Chaotic's beliefs channel, I've come to wonder. Do you see -me- as a devout Christian? Or do I appear to be something else?

[lite.livejournal.com]

Yes. I see you as a devout Christian. And another REAL Christian like Nissa.
As for Faith vs. Religion. I didn't know that.
In that case, why is christianity a RELIGION?
I think you'd agree it is a full blown religion more than simply Faith.

Re:

[rhayden.livejournal.com]

Christianity -is- a religion, in the sense of the definition. Christianity -isn't- a religion when you look at what a 'religion' really is. Again, this is scraped from the surface of those hiding memories. I really need to go look for my notes...

[packet.livejournal.com]

Full spectrum lights help your melatonin levels which help you to sleep better and when you sleep better you're less grumpy and feel better. Full spectrum lights also imitate the sun so you're feeling summer when it's really winter and that helps too :)

Yey happy light.. erm... LITE? heh, BOTH!

agape

Religion vs Faith

[chronus.livejournal.com]

Sure, Christianity is mostly about religion with most people. An organization. I just got back from my friends church. He isn''t christian anymore, but he still goes 'cause theirs a cool youth group I've been attending lately. But the service itself and to a lesser extent, the youth group itself was a huge social clud except for one or two devote people(Who I know are devout). Seee, religion is an organization, an instutition , a kind of goverment. Faith is belief. Its what religion should be. The faith in god and actual belief in his existing and being good and all-mighty and all that. Simpe, yeah? No. Most people have so little faith. The ones that do tend to follow modern religions which are easier to believe. I hate christianity for what its become, but devote chstians following their true faith are perfectly fine with me. They're nice, friendly, productive, yadda yadda. Its a good thing. I'm glad I know several of em. Odd, though, most of em are quakers.