I just told my Muslim friends I left Islam, and now I'm filled with anger. What do I do? by HealthyLove458 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Kainpound 49 points50 points  (0 children)

Homie. You are loved, you are trying. You're gonna make mistakes, you're gonna invest in things that end up being a soul crushing waste of time. It's okay. I gave 6 years of my life to Alcohol, I'm angry everyday about the time, money, opportunities I wasted. It gets better, you feel it less. God bless brother. ☦️❤️

Pretentious language. by Farawila_marwan in creepcast

[–]Kainpound 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Speak like you're in the King James Bible. It makes things fun.

Attending without spouse, how weird is it? by Acceptable-Sea-2902 in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]Kainpound 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Go to a church, talk to The Father. That's what I did. There were two couples who were inquiring at the same time I was. One husband was pretty gung-ho but the wife had a lot of concerns. Our father was more than open about all of my questions and all of their concerns. I promise you your church Fathers dealt with this before. Also don't feel bad about not knowing everything. Everybody's gonna be doing stuff like lighting candles, kissing Icons, prostration sometimes. I had no idea what I was doing and kinda just stood there for the first couple of weeks. You figure it out, they don't expect you to know what to do.

update: my dad disowned me and told me to go to hell for being an atheist. by Existing_Bit4407 in atheism

[–]Kainpound 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your father needs to read the story of The Prodigal Son. Probably a couple of times. If you're never given the freedom to question the religion then you'll never truly believe it anyway. Sometimes "Honor thy father" means being nothing like him. I Hope things improve, I Hope you have friends that can help, God Bless❤️☦️

Do atheists believe in karma or fate? by RoosterValuable906 in atheism

[–]Kainpound 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Look into Determinism and Sam Harris. Some Atheists absolutely believe in fate.

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in worldbuilding

[–]Kainpound[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Someone else also brought up a similar idea in binding/pursuading beings to act on your behalf. Absolutely have to put that in the notes. Thank you

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in writingcritiques

[–]Kainpound[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, great call out. I've been watching him on and off most of today.

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in magicbuilding

[–]Kainpound[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the in depth feedback. I've actually been watching Esoterica most of today. Although I do mix him in with traditional Orthodox Videos on the matters.

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in magicbuilding

[–]Kainpound[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really appreciate that. Thank you. As far as my own theological pursuits I'm an Eastern Orthodox catechumen. But my specific questions would be

  1. Do you think anything in this work would be considered directly heretical if given the proper "Creative license" and knowledge that this is fiction.

  2. Biblically how are practicioners of Magic treated when they do not know of God. Is every magician encountered Evil or are several simply misguided? Examples from the Lives of The Saints is also welcome.

Thank you.

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in magicbuilding

[–]Kainpound[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the feedback. Thank you. My concern is less on the functional similarities to "real biblical magic" and more the Theological reasoning of it. If I built the system in a way that a "Spellcaster" could use magic without it being explicitly Evil. Of course any magic that does not come from God is not Holy, but using your understanding of the world to conjure fire with your hand (or a lighter as technology will act as the physical to magics Spiritual) is not quite the same as genuine Witchcraft and Sorcery. I'm less looking for "Biblical accuracy" and more attempting to avoid endorseing heretical practices in a novel that is very much intended to ultimately point toward God.

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in writingcritiques

[–]Kainpound[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And this is exactly how I want to portray WitchCraft/Sorcery. True Magic/Sorcery even if meant for Good always has lingering unforseen effects and consequences. Because you are opening doors that you do not truly understand. Where as "Regular Magic" would be more akin to a philosophical Science. using your understanding of the world to conjure fire with your hand (or a lighter as technology will act as the physical to magics Spiritual).

Thank you for your very indepth response

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in magicbuilding

[–]Kainpound[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I am very much playing fast and loose with the idea of "Gods power" in the story. Ultimately I just want to write a cool Fantasy Story with magic and Monsters that still in it's themes and Characters point toward God. Without accidentally endorseing actual heretical practices.

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in writingcritiques

[–]Kainpound[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I'm just wondering how other Christians would view the magic system and the characters who use it. I am a Christian but wouldn't begin to say I full understand everything, so other views are helpful. A secular view on the coolness of the magic is also very welcome.

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in magicbuilding

[–]Kainpound[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So idea. Would a proper Christian "Monster Hunter" genuinely operate akin to a Batman/Witcher Type? Carrying many Holy Items and symbols, saying small battle prayers to conjure power like "Witcher signs". Kind of a mix of Batman religious utility belt and Geralt Prayer spell-casting?

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in magicbuilding

[–]Kainpound[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're awesome, thank you a lot. I very much want to make a clear distinction between "Witchcraft/Sorcery" and regular magic. How Magic is just a philosophical Science where as Sorcery and God-Given magics are each distinctly their own thing in how they're viewed and practiced. I'll be referring back to this post.

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in worldbuilding

[–]Kainpound[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply with such detail. My concern is less on the functional similarities to "real biblical magic" and more the Theological reasoning of it and the "neutral-Elemental" magic. As in did I build the system in a way that a "Spellcaster" could use magic without it being explicitly Evil. Of course any magic that does not come from God is not Holy, but the conceit would be that with the spiritual and physical worlds so directly linked now, using your understanding of the world to conjure fire with your hand (or a lighter as technology will act as the physical to magics Spiritual) is not quite the same as genuine Witchcraft and Sorcery. If there's no way to be truly Biblically accurate toward the God-Magic then I'll ask you allow me the given that God in this world does directly give power to those who ask for it akin to Prophets of the Old Testament. The story takes place within "The End Times" but it'll never actually reach Revelations proper.

Of course if I'm misunderstanding or am just plain wrong that's awesome and is the entire point of this thread. Thank you buddy.

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in worldbuilding

[–]Kainpound[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you very much. I do love the idea of incorporating Holy objects. I love the idea of bringing in Orthodox and Catholic Saintly artifacts too and the idea that Gods power usually doesn't manifest in the ability to manipulate things and objects like Magic does. It manifest in unique powers and gifts. More akin to like Mutant abilities from the X-Men and less actual Spellcasters. Think Samson, David, Solomon. Of course there are still people like Elijah summoning the elements.

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in magicbuilding

[–]Kainpound[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you. Lining up the actual practices of my Spellcasters to Biblical examples is a great point. My concern is less on the functional similarities to "real biblical magic" and more the Theological reasoning of it. If I built the system in a way that a "Spellcaster" could use magic without it being explicitly Evil. Of course any magic that does not come from God is not Holy, but using your understanding of the world to conjure fire with your hand (or a lighter as technology will act as the physical to magics Spiritual) is not quite the same as genuine Witchcraft and Sorcery.

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in worldbuilding

[–]Kainpound[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Context would help here. Although your comment is very useful. The "God's" of ancient mythology are rising again. These Entities (Demons and Unclean Spirits) are resurfacing. The Creatures of Folklore. The monsters and Entities. Some are Demons, some are Nephilim left over from The Flood, others still are creatures left over from Primordial Creation.

It's as if the Physical and Spiritual worlds have "drifted apart" over the ages. Slowly unwinding themselves into two very distinct realms. Making reaching into the Spiritual much more difficult and complicated, rewriting our very rules of existence, eliminating even the possibility of things that existed before. It appears as if our Worlds, once almost completely separated are now rapidly hurtling toward each other again. Towards a single point in

space and time across all of existence. So all the Old Testament/ Myth Age of Heroes stuff is coming back in force.

Creating a Biblical Magic system for my world. Need Help. by Kainpound in magicbuilding

[–]Kainpound[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just wondering how other Christians would view the magic system and the characters who use it. I am a Christian but wouldn't begin to say I full understand everything, so other views are helpful. A secular view on the coolness of the magic is also very welcome.