RESTORED 9/20/24
TAGS: GenY, Millennials, Technology, Evolution, Simulation Theory, Matrix, Binge Watching, Texting, Conversation, Smartphones, Social Media, Updates, Hashtags, Photo Posts, Fake News, Propaganda, Manipulation, Twisting Truth, Reality, Mask, Deception, Perversion, Nebuchadnezzar, Pride, Depression, Suicide, Evidence, Research, facts, REAL, Jesus Christ
You may find it hard to believe, but I grew up in a house that had no Television and No Telephone most of my early years. My father never liked the telephone, something about it repulsed him. I found that very hard to understand until recently. Telephones and Televisions were high tech for his generation, like cellphones and computers were for mine. I can see why the elite rulers are anxious to get rid of everyone over 60. We lived through the development of modern technology and we have seen its aftermath. Young people today don’t know any different. they have been under the techno-mind control system all of their life. They have lived with the modern “conveniences” of fast grocery stores, 7-11s, fast food, and entertainment at your fingertips. To them, it is “normal”. The break down of moral values and ethics are attributable to our modern “education” system and programming through media.
They have grown up in a system that has no use for GOD, no use for rules, for respect, for manners, for polite society. They see no value in the Word of GOD, and find their parents to be out of touch and out of date. They believe that they are so much smarter than everyone and get most of their information/education from the internet. Mind you, not through research but by inquiry of their network or quick searches of google. They don’t have the patients to read so the prefer to get their news in small bytes on TV or the internet.
NO ONE wants to have conversations anymore. They prefer to communicate via text. Text is so impersonal and I find it a bit rude. They may be in the middle of exchanging text messages and just stop, or they may see your text and not respond, or they may text you and not respond when you do.
Families don’t communicate anymore. They do not sit together and have a meal over which they share their thoughts and experiences. If they sit together at all, the TV is running. Mostly they eat in their own rooms, at the computers, when they feel like eating. If they go to a restaurant with family or friends, you will see them all there on their cell phones, texting or watching a video, or exchanging photos, or posting updates to their followers, as to where they are, what they are doing, what they are eating…etc. If they are attending an event, they spend their time on the their cellphone making a video of the event or posting photos. They miss the experience of the event all together. It is tragic!!
Technology has already dehumanized society. People have no respect for their bodies as the Temple of the Lord. They feel free to do whatever they want with their body. They puncture, cut, re-arrange, re-construct, re-design themselves with indifference and without restraint. They defile themselves and others in all manner of perversions. They don’t even like to think of themselves as human. They want to be Barbie Dolls, Puppy Dogs, Wolves, Aliens, Snakes, Anime Characters, Vampires, Micky Mouse…anything but human. They want to decide for themselves whether they are male or female…or something else altogether.
If you ask men today if they it matters to them whether a woman’s breast are real or not as long as they look good. They will tell you they prefer fake. Men and women alike are running to the plastic surgeons for lip enhancements, botox to remove the wrinkles tummy tucks, liposuction, nose jobs, breast reductions or breast enlargements, hair transplants, fake nails, dyed hair, false eyelashes, anything to cover, conceal, mask, the truth about their appearance. Unwilling to face reality, now they have so many options to create their own version.
Our children have been taught that there is no difference between men and women, and that sexuality is just a choice that you make. That there is an ever increasing range of options for sexual identity. They are told that they can’t even determine their sexuality until they experiment with all the options.
Truly, without cosmetics and fashion, there is no way a male could pass for a female. Now with all the surgeries, you can change anything. DNA takes it even further. Add Technology and no ILLUSION/DECEPTION is impossible.
When there seems to be no absolutes left in your world, how can you be anything but confused, disoriented and disconnected.
This is really all a matter of rebellion. Defiance of GOD. Because they do not KNOW HIM, they reject him out of hand. Rebellion is the sin of WITCHCRAFT.
Are Millennial’s the Disconnected Generation?
Chris J. “Mohawk” Reed 🍻 Zurich 🇨🇭
The World No.1 Personal Branding & LinkedIn Marketing Entrepreneur with an unprecedented 1,900 LinkedIn Recommendations & “The Only CEO with a…
Are Millennial’s the most disconnected generation socially despite being the most connected generation technologically?
The infamous Gen Y’s, also known as Millennial’s – The impatient, entitled and narcissistic #selfie generation.
The ultimate idlers who are at the same time big dreamers. The ones who live their lives on a Facebook or Instagram page. The ones who let food go cold and everyone else on the dinner table go famished so they can upload a picture of their #foodporn.
I live in renowned food haven Singapore where #cafehopping tops the weekend activity list for Gen Y here. Food here is the equivalent of alcohol in the West, known to bring people together.
Except one thing. It doesn’t, not in reality. More often than not, you will see a group of five or more teenagers/twenty somethings gathered together on a round table in a cafe or restaurant only to find them more engaged on their mobile handsets than the person sitting next to them.
Food seems to bring people together now in the form of ‘Eh, can you like my picture on Instagram?’ After a while you think they would love to engage in real conversation than just ask ‘can you like the post i just took of the food we’re just about to eat” which they communicate by facebook or instagram rather than actually talking to the person next to them. Sad.
Why they don’t put the phone down and actually talk to people? The bigger question is can they? Have all social skills like asking questions and genuinely being interested in someone gone? Did they stop at Gen X, my generation?
A more disturbing recent study showed that watching TV series consecutively was adding to this disconnection and lack of actual interaction. Again to be replaced by a screen interaction, just a different kind.
New research in January 2015 suggests Millennial’s who binge watch TV shows on any device are more likely to be depressed.
Researchers said binge watching or marathon viewing is watching between two and six episodes of the same show in one sitting. Breaking Bad, Walking Dead, House Of Cards – easy to watch 5,6, 7 episodes in a row yes?
The study cited interviews with hundreds of Millennial’s, those between 18 and 29, about their TV habits. Research suggests a link between binge watching and depression — noting those who feel depressed tend to use binge watching as an escape. Easy to escape into a screen and fantasy than engage with real people and talk about your concerns, dreams, ambitions.
The new study also indicated binge watching among Millennial’s is connected to social interaction. But in an ironic way. Millennial’s the study showed were more likely to also bring friends over, not to talk to or cook for but to watch episode upon episode of TV series.
According to the study, 92 percent of participants are using services such as Netflix and Hulu to indulge their cravings for the next episode.
Participants admitted they watched more television on weekends, with 20 percent surveyed saying they watched four or more hours during the weekend. Only about 10 percent said they watched less than two hours on those same days.
Is this binge TV watching also responsible for Millennial’s lack of social engagement abilities and even desire to engage socially?
Are these situation’s exclusive to the Millennials? In a recent study conducted in the UK it may have started with the generation above too:
- 34% of Brits admitted they have Facebook friends they’d go out of their way ignore in real life
- Just 10% of an average person’s friends list are considered actual friends
- Over half said they are friends with people they don’t like just so they could still see their photos and statuses, and to find out what they are up to
Additionally;
- A fifth of participants admitted to having arguments on Facebook
- With 28% claiming the rows were caused by ambiguous or vague statuses they thought had been aimed at themselves
Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer, as the saying goes. Despite all that on-screen connectivity, instant messaging capabilities and quick access to information, we are unfortunately only more connected virtually and less personally.
The worse thing is that these online profiles are no more than self-fabricated facades to create the impression that one is perhaps happier, richer or better off than others.
I mean – how will people know I am rich and happy I am if I don’t post it online? All the time, every day? How many sad pictures do you see on facebook?
Today’s over-emphasis on social sharing and gratification has caused people to miss the point about living in the moment and truly enjoying life. Could something intended to help us also turn out to adversely hinder us?
How many ‘online friends’ do you have?
How many ‘real friends’ do you have?
Is Wi-fi now more important than the food or a room? When booking a hotel or checking into a cafe, the first request is now no longer the menu but rather, ‘Do you have wifi?’
Technology is great. I love technology. In fact, I have built my business, Black Marketing, globally on technology and inter-connectivity.
I, infamously to those who know me, do not have and have never had a facebook account. If I want to talk and engage with someone personally I’ll text, whatsapp, wechat them to meet them for a drink, dinner, lunch, tea/coffee.
What about LinkedIn you say?
I see LinkedIn not as a mean’s to an end but a catalyst to meet people in real life. I love it when I visit a city like Sydney, Hong Kong or Shanghai and send messages on my LinkedIn to connections and non-connections about meeting up. I use it as a medium to engage in reality not the only way I wish to meet people.
I have 8-10 meetings a day in Singapore and most are arranged through LinkedIn. It’s a means to an end not the end itself. I use LinkedIn to market events where I actually meet the people I am marketing to. It’s all about social and personal interaction ultimately.
While technology has made it easier we must not forget that genuine, lasting, engaging relationships of all kinds, (work and personal), go beyond being connected on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.
It is definitely the in-person connection that counts. Millennial’s or not, let’s all disconnect to connect.
spacer
WHY YOU FEEL SO DISCONNECTED IN A CONNECTED WORLD
Disconnected. Detached. Separated. Disengaged. Isolated. Divorced. Cut off. Do you feel the power of those words cutting deep into your heart and soul, almost physically separating you from the world?
I realize that even as we try to connect here AT THE CROSSROADS, many of you are feeling the pain and loneliness of disconnection. And the irony of being able to communicate through this blog, social media, and all that the internet provides is that it is often a poor substitute for authentic connection. That is why we can feel so disconnected even in our “connected” world. But I don’t think that should keep us from trying! Consider this observation from Julia Cameron:
We need to bridge our sense of loneliness and disconnection with a sense of community and continuity even if we must manufacture it from our time on the Web…We must “log on” somewhere, and if it is only in cyberspace, that is still far better than nowhere at all.”
God is No Laughing Matter
So with this thought in mind, I welcome you here on this Mindful Monday, hoping that this will be a safe place for those of you who are seeking authentic and meaningful connections.
MY HEART FOR CONNECTION
If you have visited AT THE CROSSROADS more than once, you may have noticed that CONNECTION is not only one of my passions but also the heart and soul of my ministry and my speaking, writing, and teaching.
I have shared openly about my need for community and my lifelong journey toward:
- Connecting faith and life.
- Connecting passion and purpose.
- Connecting people of like minds and hearts with each other.
I believe that something deep in our souls, whether we choose to admit it or not, longs for meaningful and authentic relationships with others. And no matter how we are wired—whether we call ourselves extroverts or introverts, socially savvy or socially awkward, energized by people or drained by people—we are all created by God for connection and community.
WHY WE FEEL DISCONNECTED
We live in a world where we can connect to people, places, information, and ideas in mere seconds. Through the power of text messages, emails, phone calls, tweets, Instagram posts, and FaceTime, we can reach out to anyone at any time. So, why then do we feel so disconnected? Shouldn’t more connectedness make us feel better?
Janine Garner asks this crucial question: “Has the Technology that Was Supposed to Connect Us Made Us More Disconnected than Ever Before?” and concludes:
“The increase in ‘connection’ seems to be resulting in a parallel increase in ‘disconnection.’”
Janine Garner
What?!?! How can more connections lead to more disconnection? It seems counterintuitive and illogical, right?
I do not think we need to look further than our own experiences to realize she makes a valid point. Think about it this way:
How does the breadth (quantity) of your connections compare with the depth (quality) of your connections?
When we define the strength of our connections by numbers instead of names, we end up exhausted and empty. Garner refers to these as “transactional” connections that are shallow and superficial. She uses the term “transformational” to describe the meaningful and deep relationships that require communication and collaboration with real people.
HOW TECHNOLOGY DISCONNECTS US
Replying with a smiley face emoji is not the same as being there to clap and cheer for a friend’s success.
Holding someone’s hand as they grieve over a loss can never be replaced by a text message as heartfelt and sincere as it may be.
And sending an email response to a colleague who needs help does not compare to showing up and talking and walking them through the process.
Don’t get me wrong…technology has its place and is useful, helpful, and even necessary in so many of our interactions. But if we are wondering why we are feeling so disconnected in a world that is so connected, we need realistically assess the limits of technology in building transformative, authentic, and deep connections.
WHY WE EXPERIENCE DISCONNECTION BUT LONG FOR CONNECTION
One of the ways we measure our happiness and fulfillment is by the strength of our connections, so when we feel disconnected, we can experience discontentment, anxiety, and depression.
Because we long to know others and be known by them, contrived communication in the form of status updates, hashtags, and photo posts will not satisfy the deep longings of our souls.
Authentic and meaningful connection desires and demands more from us.
Are you up for the challenge?
A CALL TO BE CONNECTED PEOPLE
We cannot let the false sense of “connectedness” that offers only transactional interactions keep us from seeking transformative relationships. We can choose authentic connection over comfort, convenience, and casual interaction.
This blog series on CONNECTION begins with a call for CONNECTORS. People who are willing to invest in:
- Meaningful conversation
- Authentic collaboration
- Mutual consideration
I encourage you to begin by evaluating the connections in your life. If you are feeling disconnected in any way, I want you to take the challenge and commit to becoming a CONNECTOR!
The best way to do this is to join me and other CONNECTORS by becoming an email subscriber. You will receive all the posts in this CONNECTION blog series, free faith resources, opportunities to meet and collaborate, and my free e-book, “THE POWER OF CONNECTION.”
Don’t waste another moment feeling disconnected. LE
spacer
Another factor in the breakdown of reality is perpetrated by the rulers through media. Media today is bsically PROPAGANDA. Fake NEWS created to bring society in line with the vision and designs of the ruling class. This has been going on for a long time and has very successfully changed the way that people perceive their world. It has promoted the idea that there are no absolutes. That TRUTH is RELATIVE and always in FLUX. That reality is subject to interpretation.
spacer
A common area of scientific wondering is the idea of simulation theory: that we are all living in an artificial, created world and that nothing we see is ‘real’. While it may not quite be the case that we are living in the Matrix, on some level in the intelligence and political spheres there are valid concerns over the divide between the real and fake. Are we now living in a world where ‘alternative facts’ and outright lies can be accepted into everyday discourse – and what can be done?
The dark side of technology has long been established but perhaps nowhere better (or worse) than to exploit its capacity to interfere with communication. It is now possible to not only create an untruth, or deliberate misrepresentation of the facts, but see it propagate across every viral form of media. It is possible to build a special algorithm which highlights on feeds, newspages and so on what the creator wants to be highlighted, even at the expense of more rigorous and well-researched stories, or to systematically wipe the facts and present your own. This essentially allows propaganda to masquerade as real news, even when it is nothing of the sort.
Neither is the problem just confined to social media – it is found across online newspapers, official sites of record, whereby stories are rewritten or created to a specific brief, either to attempt to sway political discussion to a particular side, or to give the strong impression that an individual, company or situation (delete as appropriate) is of no concern to anyone and that there is nothing to see here. And, to be more precise, where the details are not found. Wiping of anything of a potentially negative or harmful nature by parties wishing to show the best possible face to the world is not uncommon. There then remains a void between what is and what is believed.
But the principle is the same. Not only does the tidal wave of fake stories, facts and figures create blockades whereby the ‘real news’ finds it difficult to gain traction, it also leaves those who do not care to verify (or do not know the need to) further away from what they need to know. Is this the start of something? Human beings have an innate propensity to trust, but to do so without appropriate caution is just as bad as trusting nobody at all.
Eventually there is a risk that this becomes ‘normalised’: social media pushing stories and views that are just accepted without question and the whole narrative is changed. This is thought contagion of the highest order and the social and corporate communities as a whole need to break it to meet the standards that they should be setting for themselves, much less those imposed upon them by others.
So what can be done? For a start, and justifiably, pressure is being put on the corporate tech giants to have far stricter rules about the content posted on their platforms, and the speed and degree to which they will be expected to challenge and remove anything inappropriate (for instance the ‘Pizzagate’ lies that almost certainly lost Hilary Clinton votes, entirely unjustifiably). But this is not enough: there must be pro-activity across the board for companies, legal firms, banks and so on with regards to understanding the divide between real and fake, and ensuring that only the former feeds into their decision-making. For instance, never taking anything at face value and conducting a dig down into every issue no matter how small. Being pro-active here, at any level, is absolutely vital. Companies must adopt a ‘get up and fight’ mentality of healthy scepticism and questioning on what they are told and what they see, considering the biases that may come into play, motivation for twisting the truth, and the consequences if something is not quite what it first seems.
The world may not be a simulated reality on an alien’s hard drive, but there is still enough artificiality around to make us worried.
spacer
Human evolution – Wikipedia
Perhaps what distinguishes humans from the rest of the animal kingdom is our distinct efficiency at wiping out life on Earth as we know it. A headline from a recent study published in Science Advances reads “Accelerated modern human-induced species losses: Entering the sixth mass extinction.”
What’s the difference between humans and animals? Of course, humans are animals, but there must be one or two characteristics that distinguish us as unique from the rest of the animal kingdom: a part of ourselves that we can claim as our own and say, “Yes, that’s what it means to be human.”
Maybe you’ve searched this question in Google and found a top ten list of supposed unique characteristics such as language, free moral agency or, as George Carlin pointed out, our ability to make plastic. Maybe you studied Aristotle, and he convinced you that it’s our ability to think and act rationally.
Or maybe you’re on the other side of the argument. You think that the trivial differences between humans and animals don’t overshadow the tremendous underlying “oneness” of all living things.
If you’re like me, you’re not satisfied with any of the above answers. Animals seem to share at least some form of speech and free will. And to say that we’re all one big family seems to disregard the fact that humans live very differently from Earth’s other animals.
Let’s consider two possibilities.
I know it seems unlikely that there is just one definitive characteristic which distinguishes us, so let’s entertain two possibilities: one general possibility and another pretty specific one.
First, we’ll say that what separates us from animals is our ability to manipulate the world around us. Second, we’ll say that what separates us from animals is our unfortunate ability to … well, we’ll get there in a minute.
When you’re a nonhuman …
Imagine that you’re an animal living in the wild. You eat what you can find. You sleep outdoors, of course. Perhaps you frolic in a meadow or swing from vine to vine in a jungle. And, oh yeah, you are naked.
However, you do notice that your food supply is becoming more scarce each year. The animals or plants you eat no longer thrive where they have for generations. Perhaps you and your herd migrate to wherever you can find food and shelter.
Searching for basic survival, you’re in unfamiliar territory. Your herd is dying off, and you haven’t seen another animal like yourself for as long as you can remember. You may not have the cognitive processing of a human, but you still somehow know: you must be the last of your kind.
You’re frustrated. You want to scream and shout, you want to speak up to defend yourself, but you can’t.
Perhaps this is the greatest difference between a human and a nonhuman animal: our ability to voice our opinion and create change in the world. If you need to be convinced that humans have created change, take a quick look at a city landscape or just consider whatever technological device you’re using to read this essay: in more ways than any other animal, humans have brought about change on Earth.
Is our ability to shape the world around us what separates us from our animal brethren? It seems to be a good answer, but it’s vague. “Manipulation” and “change” beat around the bush, and don’t get to the heart of what humans have really been doing on Earth.
This brings us to the second, more specific, answer to the question: What makes humans different from animals?
Our ability to destroy
Consider the possibility that humans are unique, but not for any of the noble reasons we typically brag about: wisdom or opposable thumbs. Perhaps what distinguishes humans from the rest of the animal kingdom is our distinct efficiency at wiping out life on Earth as we know it.
A headline from a recent study published in Science Advances reads “Accelerated modern human-induced species losses: Entering the sixth mass extinction.“
Maybe the term “mass extinction” rings a bell for you. The most recent one occurred about 65 million years ago. It was the fifth mass extinction, and that’s why there are no dinosaurs walking the earth today.
You don’t need to read the study to consider the horrifying scope of its conclusion, although I recommend taking a look at it. The message is all there in the title. It’s the same message I’ve heard since I was old enough to read these types of studies: life as we know it is being destroyed by humans.
Is destruction our defining characteristic within the animal kingdom?
Consider a third possibility: our imagination.
I don’t believe humans are the praiseworthy creatures we’ve always said we are – that is, I don’t feel rational, wise or compassionate. We seem to have fallen from these ideals. If humans acted in such a noble way, then how did we end up in this catastrophe: caught between a recent global industrialization and the not-so-distant apocalyptic future?
Here’s the light at the end of the tunnel. We didn’t industrialize to destroy. We industrialized because we had a vision of what our lives could be. We innovated and cultivated our visions of seemingly impossible goals into fantastical realities.
At our core, humans are dreamers. It is this characteristic which allowed us to shape the world. We lacked foresight – we could’ve used a hell of a lot more foresight – but we never lacked imagination.
This human characteristic may lead us to our own destruction, but it also may be our only hope for saving ourselves and the diverse life on Earth.
We define ourselves.
If we wanted, we could be defined by our destruction. We could follow in the footsteps of our immediate ancestors, selfishly ravaging the world’s resources as if we, ourselves, weren’t susceptible to the destruction we cause. However, if we wanted, we could choose a different path.
Let’s all take a moment before we go to sleep tonight to remember that we have the capacity to reflect upon what it means to be human and to choose our legacy.
By accepting the harsh realities of our world today, we receive an opportunity to define our species by changing our course of action and save what we will otherwise destroy. As this study and others have noted, there’s still time to change our ways and save ourselves.
If there was ever a time when humans were called upon to feel compassion, to think in new ways and to solve problems that have never been solved before, it is today. Turning things around will require the best parts of our humanity.
Hopefully, we can search within ourselves for a way to save life on Earth, including humans. And perhaps in the process, we could discover a part of ourselves that is not only honorable and legendary, but also beautiful and distinctly human.
For those of you who read this article all the way to the bottom and those of you who scrolled here without reading the words above, you deserve some inspiration for the day. Please enjoy the following song by M83.
Modern Science has convinced our children that humans are nothing more than animals. Because they believe that, they feel justified to behave like animals. They see no reason not to follow any urge that might rise up within in them, with no remorse. Just as an animal.
Modern Science has convinced our children Not only that they are animals, but that they are the animals most responsible for the destruction of earth. Worse than that, they have convinced these young folks that they determine their own destiny and that they are the saviors if there is any. In other words, THEY ARE GOD.
BUT, GOD’s WORD tells us that though we are made of the same elements from which everything else on earth was created, he placed inside us, that which makes us unique. HE created MAN in HIS OWN IMAGE and breathed into MAN his SPIRIT. GOD created the entire WORLD/Universe. He designed every single thing perfectly and to work perfectly together!! Nothing on EARTH evolved on its own from the mud. Mud, which by the way GOD CREATED!
GOD has the ability to change a man into an animal which we see in the WORD of GOD. This is clearly demonstrated in Daniel 4:16.
“Let his mind be changed from that of a man
And let a beast’s mind be given to him,
And let seven periods of time pass over him.
In fact, you would do well to read the entire story of King Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel 4 -King James Version
4: 1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
16 Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
spacer
Creation or Evolution: Which Does the Evidence Support?
The Bible teaches that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26,27). The unproved theory of evolution claims instead that man gradually evolved from lower animals. Which is true?
According to evolution, an accident occurred millions of years ago, producing the first simple living thing. Then it gradually developed into all the present kinds of plants and animals: fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, and finally man. So life is just an accident and man is just an advanced animal. Please consider some questions.
1) Where did the first living thing come from? It is a proven scientific fact that life comes only from life. Every living thing comes from a previous living thing. Science has thoroughly disproved the ancient theory of spontaneous generation. How, then, did that first living thing spontaneously generate, as evolution claims?
2) Where is the proof that all current kinds of living things have developed from previous kinds? Science confirms that living things reproduce after their own kind, just as our everyday experience indicates, and just as the Bible states (Genesis 1:11,21,24,25). Dogs produce other dogs, not monkeys or men. For years scientists have searched for the fossil remains of “missing links” — organisms half-way between modern plants and animals. If evolution is true, there should be thousands of such intermediate fossils. Instead, there are none. Why?
3) Why are humans so unique compared to animals? Among animals there are many minute differences in intelligence, but a vast gulf exists between men and animals. Why do animals never read, write, or solve math problems? Why do they not invent new machines, train animals, use fire, or record their discoveries for posterity? Why does only man create new works of art, music, and poetry? If man is just an animal, evolved from lower animals, why don’t other animals do these almost as well as we do?
The only honest explanation for the scientific evidence is the one given all along in the Bible. Man did not evolve. We were created in the image of God, and that is why we ought to serve Him.
For further study I encourage the reader to go to /creation/ and study our online articles about creation and evolution. We discuss the problems involved in evolution and evidence that the days in Genesis 1 are literal days.
Although throughout history, rulers and the elite inspired by demonic forces have worked very hard to pollute the truth, erase history and bury the evidence, they have never succeeded in proving that ANY PART of the WORD OF GOD is not TRUE. Even though it predicts future events all throughout, which have proven to be fulfilled. ONLY GOD knows the end from the beginning and He tells us ahead of time what is coming so that when those things come to pass, WE WILL KNOW that HE IS GOD.
So, we see that this generation is disconnected, confused, isolated. They are unsure of anything. They no longer have faith in God or the Bible, they are unable to discern what is real and what is imagined and they are told that we live in a simulation or on one dimensional level among many alternatives. They are told that they are noting more than animals with no one to answer to but themselves, and they believe it. Is there any wonder that they are overwhelmed, bewildered?
You know the Old Saying: “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.”? When you have nothing to stand on, how can you stand. You cannot be rooted and grounded in uncertainty. You are left flailing around in the darkness, desperately trying to grab a hold of anything that keeps you from feeling helpless.
spacer
People of all ages are lost and confused, they have lost touch with reality. Most especially the Millennials. Their minds and hearts have been blinded to the truth and they have lost hope. They are killing themselves in heartbreaking numbers.
Why Suicide Rates Among Millennials Are Rising – The Atlantic
Report: Drug ODs, Suicides Soar Among Millennials
More Millennials Are Dying ‘Deaths of Despair,’ Report …
Mad Scientists insist that the world we live in is at best a computer simulation created by “Aliens of Higher Intelligence”, at worst just one of an unknown alternate realities in an unknown number of dimensions. In other words, once again, there is no TRUTH and NO REALITY.
There is some truth to their outrageous theories. The only “aliens” that exist are the Spiritual Beings. They exist in heavenly realms above the earth. They do not come from distant “planets”. They are of higher intelligence, (temporarily) because right now, humanity is only using a small part of their brain. When we move into the realm of the spirit into God’s Kingdom, we will be above the Angels. The Fallen Angels have convinced mankind that there are “alternate realities existing in alternate dimensions. NO, the only dimensions that exist are the ones GOD created. There is the Realm of the Spirit and the Natural World – EARTH. There is no “OUTER SPACE” inhabited by alien beings. Outside of our Earth realm, which is covered by an impenetrable Firmament, is HEAVEN where GOD lives. Where Angels live. It is the realm of the SPIRIT. It is ETERNITY. EARTH is a created place, that has an expiration date. It is created by GOD, and so GOD has the right to make the RULES!
Romans 8:5
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.Romans 8:6
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,Romans 8:7
because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,Romans 1:28
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
pacer
DOUG BONDERUD
Jul 14th 2020
The Simulation Argument
Also called the simulation hypothesis, the argument here is simple: All reality is actually an artificial simulation, most likely one run by an advanced supercomputer.
In just a few short decades, innovators have developed devices with the capacity to learn and mimic many basic characteristics of human intelligence. If computing power continues to increase along its existing trajectory, it’s possible future humans (or other intelligent life) could easily create a universe simulation.
Support for Simulation Theory
Several well-known scientists and pioneers have expressed their support for simulation theory. As noted by Scientific American, during the 2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate, scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson said the odds of our universe as simulated reality were 50-50. He pointed to the large intelligence gap between chimpanzees and humans despite our 98 percent DNA overlap, arguing that a creature many times our intelligence could both exist and potentially run simulations.
Other arguments for simulation theory come from philosopher Nick Bostrum and theoretical physicist James Gates. In 2003, Bostrum suggested that advanced civilizations with massive computing power might decide to run simulations of their ancestors — us — and, given the sophistication of the technology, we wouldn’t know that we’re nothing more than computer programs. Gates, meanwhile, found “error-correcting codes” — similar in principle to those used in Web browsers — while studying equations about electrons and quarks, said Scientific American. Even more concerning if you’re worried about a universe simulation? It’s almost impossible to prove we’re in a real universe because any “evidence” could be part of the program.
Evidence of a “Real” Existence?
Despite solid philosophical and theoretical arguments, a team from Oxford University has found reasonably solid evidence that our universe is more than a mobile application. The proof? Attempting to model specific quantum phenomena such as the Hall effect quickly gets out of hand — according to Cosmos, modeling just a few hundred electrons using the quantum Monte Carlo technique requires more atoms than exist in the universe. As noted by Fast Company, storing just 20 spins of one particle using this model would require one terabyte of RAM.
The Nature of Reality
So what happens if we’re living in a simulation? Some experts theorize that as the program continues to run, problems will emerge — glitches in the matrix, so to speak. Consider the 2017 Oscars gaffe, when old-Hollywood musical “La La Land” was mistakenly given the award for best picture. Cast and crew arrived on stage to deliver their speeches while chaos ensued behind the scenes, culminating in a mea culpa that announced the real winner: “Moonlight.”
What does this say about simulation theory? According to The New Yorker, some philosophers — such as David Chalmers of NYU — suggest that increasingly bizarre events in the “real” world may be evidence that our universe is someone else’s simulation. Beyond universe simulation, these events may represent divergent “points” in reality; in another universe the mix-up didn’t happen. In another reality, “La La Land” actually won.
Every choice, no matter how minuscule, could create its own universe. Another option is multiverse theory, where our universe is just one of many with its own set of physical laws and properties. And what’s more simulation-like than running multiple instances of something to see which one works best?
Mind Over Matter
From the standpoint of human existence and the quest for a greater understanding of the universe, this simulation debate is largely academic.We’re still seemingly gifted with free will, have the power to investigate our own reality and discover what (if any) fundamental scientific truths emerge. If we’re nothing but a simulation, the outcome of our efforts may change but this doesn’t lessen their impact.
Is This Real Life? Is This Just Fantasy?
Maybe Queen asked the right question in “Bohemian Rhapsody” — is life just fantasy? While strange happenings and the oddly ordered nature of fundamental mathematics points to the possibility of a computer-generated existence, recent quantum research suggests a universe too complex for simulation.
When the young people are bombarded with all these things that make them question their identity, their reality are added to the financial situation, the climate change fears, the fact that most of them will probably never own land or a home of their own, the break down of the family, the racial tensions, the plandemic and the isolation due to mandates. Is it any wonder they feel helpless and hopeless??
All of these problems stem from the fact that they have turned away from GOD. Aak anyone who KNOWS GOD, and they will tell you, they are not confused, disconnected, unsure of their past or their future. They are not full of fear, but of love for their fellowman and hope for the soon return of Jesus Christ! WE KNOW WHAT IS REAL!!
spacer
The ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS THE TRUTH!! Don’t allow your enemy to lead you astray. Do not fill your mind with fantasy. Do not scramble your thinking by altering your consciousness. Keep your eyes on what is REAL and TRUE! No matter how hard you work to create your own world, this is GOD’s WORLD! He created it, he created you! That is the TRUTH and the TRUTH NEVER CHANGES! The UNCHANGEABLE, IRREVOCABLE, SOLID AND EVERLASTING TRUTH is the ONLY SOLID GROUND on which we can stand.
1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Job 38:36
Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?
John 17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
spacer
spacer
FOR MORE INSIGHT ON THIS TOPIC, CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING POSTS:
Gifts from the Fallen – Part 9 – AND THE WORLD BECAME ALTERED.
Do You Believe In Magick? Part 24 – YOU Shall Become GODS
Image- Probably the most important word in your life! Part 1 – How Photography Changed Our World;
Image – Probably the most important word in your life! Part 2 – What Do You Imagine?
IMAGE – Probably the most Important word in your life! Part 3 – THE BATTLE FOR YOUR MIND
spacer