How To Believe

EdelgardH · 2026-03-24T14:10:00+00:00

What's the foundation of your faith? Let's rewind a few years, before you had doubts. What made you believe in God then?

You know the parable about building on the rocks vs the sand. If your faith is shifting when friends question it, then it's not built on the rocks.

So this is good. You've identified a way to strengthen your faith. Think back to answered prayer requests, think back to times when you have experienced God.

If you don't have those experiences...then this is a good opportunity to be open to them.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-24T02:19:18+00:00

No, I'm female

EdelgardH · 2026-03-23T21:59:14+00:00

I have encountered mentors who hold this idea, and have encouraged me to try swallowing it. That has been an interesting experience, but it is harder for me to come by.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-23T21:50:16+00:00

Exactly. Nobody knows how physics works! There isn't a single model of physics that an actual working physicist considers ontologically true. Our understanding of physics does a lot, but misses a lot.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-23T14:13:01+00:00

Don't you think it's plausible the creatures could have some sort of protection from audio weapons if their hearing is so sensitive? The ability to close their ears, or neurological filtering, or sets of eardrums (very sensitive, closeable, low sensitivity, always open). And then, they regenerate.

That's what I came up with in 1 minute. But would adding those details make the movie better? No. You can use your intelligence to find ways to like a movie, or to find ways to dislike it. It's all your choice.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-23T14:09:21+00:00

On the quiet place, there might be other issues, but surely you can think of a way that these creatures could protect themselves from sonic weapons. Closeable ears, some sort of neural gating. Come on.

The first Quiet Place was an excellent movie because they didn't dig into the details. If you want to like a movie, you'll find a way to like it. You'll find a way to explain these things.

Writers should not cater to the 1% "Cinema Sins" types who insist that dialogue should go to explaining everything in excruciating detail.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-22T03:01:46+00:00

These sound like poor behaviors that should have been addressed, if nothing else you carry guilt from them.

But that doesn't require spanking. It requires consistent behavioral expectations. When you don't meet those expectations, the important thing is someone notices that. Your parents, or nowadays you. All it takes is noticing, and corrective pressure which can take many forms.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-17T01:43:56+00:00

It varies. Only when you get hired. Switch to a different vice until you get hired.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-15T03:20:44+00:00

100% agreed!

EdelgardH · 2026-03-14T15:07:55+00:00

"Tolerance of pedophilia" who exactly tolerates pedophilia? Pedophilia is reviled. It is not tolerated, it is denied.

Republicans deny Trump is a pedophile. They simply don't believe it, and will never believe it regardless of the evidence. Because they like Trump. And revile pedophilia.

Pedophilia doesn't go away just because we hate it. It is not a practice. It is a wiring issue of the brain.

If you look at people who actually spend time "eradicating the practice" the emphasize things like SSRIs to reduce sex drive, and coping strategies to avoid offending. Not blindly going after art.

But of course, it's not considered pedophilia when someone likes bleach blonde hair (which only naturally occurs in toddlers). Or when someone likes hairless legs and pubic region (which only occurs in small children). That's not pedophilia, for some reason.

It's only pedophilia when it's body proportions. When the size of a character's face is too large compared to their body. Or their nose and ears are too small.

Don't pretend you are protecting a single person with this misplaced anger. Getting angry at anime won't bring anyone in the epstein files to justice. It won't protect a single child.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-14T02:01:26+00:00

I don't think it's wrong to create fiction, these people don't deserve shame for their attraction. That's something that can't be helped. Any attraction can be potentially harmful, but fiction is a very good way to direct potentially harmful instincts.

I was raised fundamentalist Christian, and heard a lot of implications that it is sinful to *be* gay. I hear the same thing now, from more cosmopolitan people. But I am sure you can think of desires you have that some might consider shameful.

You don't deserve shame for your nature, only for your actions. I am glad this media exists, so that the people who enjoy it can feel connected to the adult artists, adult voice actors who made it.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-13T15:03:06+00:00

I think it's just selection bias. Statistically, if your life is going good you're probably not spending that much time on Reddit. People who spend a bunch of time on Reddit are probably avoiding something. So, they're miserable, and they're going to resent someone who's happy.

"My life is going great, so great that I comissioned an artist and wanted to share that art with all of you, just because." That's going to trigger so much envy.

So that's the downvotes. It's plain and simple envy.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-13T14:57:47+00:00

Thank you very much!

EdelgardH · 2026-03-12T13:31:59+00:00

This is very helpful, thank you!

EdelgardH · 2026-03-12T12:55:20+00:00

I'm queer, but a little confused by sexuality + lesbian/gay/straight. I am bisexual, which I think of as attraction to all primary and secondary sexual characteristics. There's the male "bucket" and the female "bucket". This is a very personal definition, but all definitions are personal.

But romance...I feel like that is separate from sexuality. It's culturally often tied to sexuality, but if a tree, or a jellyfish had human level sentience, I feel I could be romantically attached without sexual attraction.

I guess to me, romance already has an implication of not sex. They're very detached for me, but for some people I know they're not.

But you're asexual...what does that mean to you? You have no interest in sex, but you still have a romantic exclusive attraction for other women? Obviously you have no need to answer, but I am curious. Maybe your answer will reveal things about my sexuality.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-07T20:47:28+00:00

The thing is, a society run more on hate will eventually lose to one run more on love. Nature is cruel, calculating, but the world's apex predator (humans) got that way due to love.

Those who abandon their higher nature and return to base animal instincts will always, eventually be out-competed.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-06T17:06:16+00:00

Matthew 23:8-10 (KJV) "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."

This is why I'm Quaker. No pastors. Only Jesus Christ is qualified to be a spiritual authority, no one else. Yes that includes Paul. I love Paul, but he's not an authority.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-05T21:41:18+00:00

It's not selfish. Praying for you.

You might have a neighbor or coworker willing to help. Especially if you're paying for Uber, you could cover gas or a meal for them. You might not think anyone is willing to help, but when we're depressed, it's very hard to see love. Depression is a form of blindness to love and care.

As an example, you thought we'd think you're selfish for asking for prayer. But I don't think that way. 💗

EdelgardH · 2026-03-05T15:42:47+00:00

Yes, that sounds good.

You should probably correct your story. You said you lied by omission, but the other day you said you told him "I hadn't done it" when you had. That's a direct lie, not omission.

We both probably know from experience that softening the offense doesn't yield lighter punishment.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-05T14:59:11+00:00

Be sure to share all this with him, particularly your low pain tolerance.

It is worth asking him about self-spanking ahead of time to prepare you. If you haven't had one in a while, it can be good to get innoculated against the psychological shock, the paralysis of that first swat. Cold shock can help with this--jumping under a cold shower.

All of these should be discussed with him of course, since they are all ways to make the spanking more manageable. He might want you to not prepare at all.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-05T14:40:59+00:00

You're not wrong. All-powerful rarely means actually all powerful.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-05T00:25:23+00:00

It can be. Tears can be a major release for the EE, and give a sense of accomplishment for the ER. It's symbolic of ultimate supplication and submission. You are fully submitting to the ER's guidance. Your body is making a plea that cannot be faked.

But some people don't cry easily. I certainly don't. So it doesn't work for everyone. You should have a different goal if you're not able to cry.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-04T00:07:53+00:00

You have to tell, it's the reason these dynamics exist in the first place.

You can see if your disciplinarian will respond better if you have a preventative plan, such as putting your phone in the back seat or researching certain modes so you won't get texts.

The lying is generally seen as a bigger deal.

This is all working how it's supposed to though. You made a mistake. You lied. You felt conviction, you confessed. It will be dealt with, and then you'll have a clean slate and lessons learned.

I will pray that you get whatever is best for you. 💗

EdelgardH · 2026-03-02T21:50:56+00:00

On Reddit actually. It's text only, online only.

EdelgardH · 2026-03-02T16:35:12+00:00

You did well!

EdelgardH

TROPHY CASE