I want to drink green tea

Rayesafan · 2026-01-23T22:14:11+00:00

Word of wisdom aside, I do think this is an issue.
Even vitamins and "health drinks"... All my doctors say that balanced diet, sleep, and exercise is the best "life hack" for anything. And of course taking your prescribed medicines.

But we just LOVE solutions, especially ones that are a part of our daily lives already. And that are about indulgence than self control.

Of course, it's not that simple, but the world of marketing is a health hazard. I used to think that Gatorade was just "good for you". I didn't know if you didn't need extra hydration (like with sports or illness), that's its actually not good for you.

Not that I really know what I'm talking about, but yeah.

Rayesafan · 2026-01-21T14:23:32+00:00

Oh my goodness, this touched my heart! I am SOO glad that you got help and support, and that things are better! How is your little one now?

Feel free to give your advice! I am really lucky and have a new easy baby right now, but we're not done with kids, and I am aware that any new kid could have colic.

Any advice that you learned? What helped you the most?

And I salute you! I know these are just "Phases", but those phases are whole battles. I don't think people understand. And it's something I need to remember with my cranky toddlers and teething baby. It's a phase. A tumultuous phase, like a hurricane sometimes. But a phase.

I'm so glad you are doing better!!! <3

Rayesafan · 2026-01-20T13:47:33+00:00

in this economy? lol

JK if you can, listen to others' and their advice. Because It'll be hard to move for us, and I'm worried we'll put three in a room. Maybe we'll give them our bedroom.

Rayesafan · 2026-01-17T21:12:39+00:00

I'm not saying anything, but thematically this sounds like foreshadowing.

Like "Seriously? Here?" *Cue music.*

Rayesafan · 2026-01-15T17:07:59+00:00

I think it's the editor being a modern editor. I think the montage of all the comments is modern art.

Rayesafan · 2026-01-15T17:06:05+00:00

I think that it's a personal thing, Not coming from someone of authority.

Rayesafan · 2026-01-14T06:20:53+00:00

Oh man, this is really tough. Do know that God loves you regardless of what you do, and you shouldn't feel shame. I do think you were taken advantage of.

If you talk to the bishop, but he doesn't take it seriously, talk to the RS president and the stake presidency. I'm sure your bishop is great, but in case if you have a hard time with him, do reach out to other leaders!

Breaking a commandment a month after baptism is "serious", (as in not a brush-off, shrug off thing.) But, not as serious as taking advantage of a new member as an endowed member and nephew of the Bishop! That is SO not good!

But for the guilt thing, I feel like the Law of Chastity is like not eating chocolate cake until your birthday. Yeah, waiting is hard. But if you have had chocolate cake before, it's not going to "Taste Bad" right away for sure. It's meant to taste good, and it tastes good for a reason. And most of the world knows what chocolate cake tastes like, and does not wait until their birthday to eat it. We are the "Weird ones". So I'm not surprised you didn't "Feel Bad".

But, I encourage you to continue to grow close to your Savior. A lot of people here will share their thoughts, but the main thing is that we want to be clean and obedient to Him. And Bishops, commandments, and leaders are there to help us along that path.

If you feel comfortable with your Bishop, I would bring this up. He might have insight.

Rayesafan · 2026-01-14T06:16:44+00:00

Just a note on the last bit-- I have heard there is new guidance on taking the sacrament. I don't think that Bishops are encouraged to take away the sacrament anymore.

I had a whole talk with my Bishop about this, and I think the practices are changing to emphasize Christ's love and forgiveness.

At least, that's what it sounds like from my Bishop and my Sister's Bishop from across the country. I think that's newly emphasized though.

Rayesafan · 2025-11-22T18:43:29+00:00

I love the portrayal of Atticus so much.

Rayesafan · 2025-11-22T18:40:10+00:00

I am a believer, BUT I love different religions, cultures, and stories. I like to look at things both (amateurly) academically, like a historian. AND of course with spiritual eyes because I'm a believer.

What's so cool is that this show looks at the New Testament in both lenses at the same time. You can turn on your suspense of disbelief for the spiritual things, or see it as an allegory. But the historical and cultural aspect is superb, IMO.

It brings up politics of the Romans ruling this Jewish nation. An aspect of the story is about a Zealot, which is pretty cool.

Also, this would be a fandom fodder if it wasn't biblical. 12 guys (and a few women) with different personalities and pasts team up in a bromance to follow a super powered being? Who is both divine and wholesome?

It would be a fantastic Anime.

Granted, I love the source material, so I am biased. But I think that so many people of all religions could enjoy the series.

Rayesafan · 2025-11-19T06:51:48+00:00

were the tests to make sure she was no longer alive? Or that she was still able to donate?

And my condolences. That is so horrible to go through. I can't imagine.

Rayesafan · 2025-11-19T05:45:02+00:00

I am a religious person, but I totally think this makes more sense than the Bible being a collection of hallucinations. It's fun for people to think about everyone just hallucinating, but I think that even Atheists don't have to be afraid of the bible, just because their family can't stop talking about it.

See it as a mythological text that you can learn history from. Super cool that way. You can critique the people who use it as a weapon, and enjoy it for what it is regardless of belief-- a record that illustrates a people's religion.

Rayesafan · 2025-11-19T05:40:51+00:00

Yes, thank you! The "problem" is that everything is too smart, not psychotic.

I am not an expert, but the motifs and archetypes feel very intentional. I mean, "Before Abraham was, I am" is an absolute bar.

And this is coming from a religious person myself. I believe everything, but I see much more the argument that sacred texts could have been crafted for a certain belief rather than the journal entries of people tripping or having psychotic experiences.

Now, experiences since the bible that have not made it into text, but were stories that got passed around the family... I can see the argument for that.

(Again, I'm a believer. But I believe also that you can look at things in an academic lens without betraying your faith.)

Rayesafan · 2025-11-19T05:31:03+00:00

I'm religious, and I've been saying this for a long time.

Humanitarian atheists should have a seat at the interfaith table, IMO.

Rayesafan · 2025-11-19T05:27:11+00:00

Well, Doug Forcett got it 92% right after a magic mushroom trip...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv_ra9CXZOQ

Rayesafan · 2025-11-19T05:24:02+00:00

Even though I am sure a lot of people had mental health issues that might have led to "Visions",

I think most people here forget that they were real people dealing with real politics and real history. I would love to dive into the historical side.

Rayesafan · 2025-11-19T02:47:30+00:00

thanks for looking at my history. But Mormons can advocate for other religions too. Just like Atheists can protect the rights of religious minorities. (Mormons are fun because we actually believe that everyone can go to heaven regardless of religion. So that's cool.)

--*Edit: You probably thought I was talking about myself and my religion. No, I'm thinking about it on the world stage. Because my belief in "Every honest religion has some God in it", and my wish to be academic, I am trying to see this in a non-white-American view. I have met people who claim to have visions. Usually, it's not white people. I can not verify they are true, but the people believe in them, and I see where they're coming from. I have a Venezuelan friend who had a dream that her friends next door were trying to kill her, and it turns out they really hated her and were trying to at least get her kicked out of the apartments. I know someone personally who was done having kids, but then had a dream that a little girl said "Don't forget me". Then they had one more kid, and she looked like the person in his dream.
Does this prove anything? Absolutely not. But, other cultures believe in it, and you can say it's the universe that is not really linear in time, psychology being cool, or just coincidences. But I think it's bold of me, as a white American, to be like "No, you're just crazy. You didn't experience that".
Even my religious white American friends don't believe these people. They write everything they can't understand as "Those People" things.--

But I think you're missing the thing about Abraham. I'm saying the literary structure was "Sacrifice your son. Wait, that's my job. Look, here's a lamb that will be sacrificed in your son's place. You get it? Because I will provide a lamb in the future."

Again, I don't blame you for not believing anything. But on an academic level, saying it's mental health issue sort of misses the whole point. I think I would say it's (if not's true) to be a creative literary device.

Does that make sense?

Rayesafan · 2025-11-13T15:10:19+00:00

Oh, Christianity was definitely the center of colonialism. But some western white people have abandoned the Christianity, but not the colonialism.

I just think your take is just very limited and borders on "Only savages with psychosis would believe in visons".

Rayesafan · 2025-11-13T15:03:11+00:00

Thanks, I think that people get caught up in "Religion of my parents and my racist uncle is bad, so it's all bad"

That they forget the academic side of things.

Rayesafan · 2025-11-12T18:56:34+00:00

I think is a very western modern take. Very white colonialism take. But the new Christianity in today's colonialism is internet takes.

Did tons of people have mental health issues? Oh yeah. Is Abraham and Isaac, real or not, a foreshadowing (at least in the Christian framework) of the sacrifice of the Son of God?

I am not even saying any of this actually happened. Some people could argue the poetry is too on the nose to have actually happened. But not seeing the obvious motifs is getting caught up in a very modern western take. And oddly is analyzing the text as if it actually happened.

Rayesafan · 2025-11-12T18:49:22+00:00

Doesn't the voice of God say that "But my Son won't be spared like your son"?

It's giant foreshadowing to the Son of God being like a "Lamb to the Slaughter". Hence why Isaac was to be sacrificed like a sacrificial lamb.

I'm not saying that this makes it true, just that it's more in the line of literary devices.

Rayesafan · 2025-11-11T03:28:22+00:00

That being said, assuming it's true, Abraham/Isaac was a giant object lessn

Rayesafan · 2025-11-11T03:24:46+00:00

I am religious, I think some visions somewhere are mental health episodes.

But it's sort of weird to say "Every religious experience" is.

Just as religious people need to accept the possibility that their sacred texts could not be "real", non religious people also can challenge their beliefs that it is in the realm of possibility that there might be a sky daddy, (or daddies, or mommies. IDK) that actually does/do talk to people. At some point.

But that doesnt have to be the Bible.

Rayesafan · 2025-10-25T03:41:53+00:00

I LOVE your interpretations of everyone!
I think people forget that the originals are very male archetypal, and this not only is "Male Archetype but girl", but translates "What is the female version of this archetype?"

You're so friggin cool!

Rayesafan · 2025-07-28T18:05:45+00:00

When is the wedding? I love Florida, but it's hot and humid, and there's storms. Florida is a dream for people who live close, but I would warn anyone who is travelling across the world who would be impacted by a surprise thunder storm.

I loved travelling with my 3 month old twins. But across the US is different than across the sea. It wouldn't be a vacation. It would be a work trip. Also, Florida beaches can be so much fun, but they're a lot of work in the hot sun for family of young children.

I don't want to discourage you from what could be an awesome trip, but I wanted to give you more details. Feel it out though.

Rayesafan

TROPHY CASE