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Exegesis is a fancy-pants term for reading a text, usually a religious text, and attempting to critically interpret the meaning of the work. It’s “Bible study” but what is studied about the Bible is its literary and rhetorical composition. It’s not taking for granted the truth of the accounts, but the meaning the author is attempting to convey through the use of relevant cultural references, language, and literary techniques. Essentially, it involves the analysis of the stories and texts through the eyes of the literary critic or folklorist examining any other piece of ancient mythology.

Before I go on, I do want to take a moment to discuss what I mean when I say that something is a myth. There ar...

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First and foremost I want to thank the staff for the opportunity for allowing me to help raise awareness of Emotional abuse, the members and other guests taking the time to read this as well and hopefully help spread the awareness, in helping other people like me find the strength to break the cycle of abuse.




This...

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[floatleft][img width=250 padding=5]https://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/172/1720905/3549616-review_imperatorrome.jpg[/img][/floatleft]The Roman Republic is a fascinating subject of study for the student of history. One of the biggest things you’ll learn if you trace the rise and fall of the Republic is just how virulently anti-monarchical the Romans were. From legend, this is a repudiation of the idea of absolute power in the hands of a single person after the Rape of Lucretia, which probably never happened any more than George Washington and his Cherry Tree, but as founding myths go, it does a wonderful job of telling the allegory of Roman hatred of monarchy. Even centuries later, the rumor that Tiberius Gracchus had ask...

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A troubling conversation spurned between a peer of mine and myself concerning abuse and a victim's choice to forgive them. This sparked from thoughts regarding human redemption that has been a reoccurring theme in my talks, lately.

As a disclaimer, I will say that if you suffered any serious abusive tribulation... you have a choice on how you deal with it (or don't). I am not one to judge you for that choice, as it belongs to you. You do you. Just as what I write here and say are by my own choice. I choose to forgive my abuser. Now, I will begin with the points used against me in this decision:

"But you can't/shouldn't really forgive monsters like this. It sets a bad example for our society."

No, it doesn't. This is a misrepresentation of equating a victim's choice to heal as being the same as enabling the abuse. These are not the same. In my case this is a choice to shed a to...

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It was in a waking dream this morning. This was what it took for me to realize what matters to me. What drives me to act as I do. What compels me to utter the words I say. Those among the many that I cherish deeply even while I only feel valued by the few. What seems to be untouched depths of the heart. That which was unclear before, now a kindling fire of what motivates the 'human spirit'. Is that to belong to fate or myself? Is the dream only a dream? A naive sentiment for an uncharted destination? Am I the sentry, the kind soul that weathers the vehement storm? Am I truly the architect of my own destiny?

Could this dream manifest in reality?

Footsteps, we continue to walk... until we find answers on our own. Sometimes, we cannot afford to simply kneel.

Heh. I still got it... even though I was too worried about rhyme. Way more that usual, but the effect seems to work as desired. I am keeping it. 

-Dall

Inspirations include both Niemöller...

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In the wake of some conversations i have had recently with family and others, I thought to bring this up again. I actually care about social consequences and the dangerous precedents they may set for the future. I have said this before, but I have never made necessary distinctions. Perhaps, I should finally do so...


This corrosive speech troubles me because it carries the danger of robbing another of choices. It is more than stating opinion or shaming; it is making the choice for them and possibly places a wall to block their path in life. Note, there is a difference between creating a barrier to protect yourself and completely removing one's potential to change. In this, one creates the monster and denies them the capacity to "rejoin the human race" or change their ways...

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I had this conversation with my step-mom a couple of weeks ago on the notion of Good and Evil. A peeve of mine is sometimes turning things "black-and-white" when it blurs the root of a given ordeal.

In my experience, few things in life are as simple as good and evil. What makes me laugh, is that I can't seem to escape this mentality in writing stories... even knowing full well that human problems are more complicated and not easy put into a box.

A "good" thing, for example, is to be a good Samaritan. One, however, might avoid helping one in need for many reasons. And it isn't necessarily "evil".

One could fear danger in falling in a trap; a false situation designed to prey on good natured people. A simplistic view couod brand them a coward, but whether this is true or not in the situation... it isn't actually "evil". The same person might not get involved because they may not have time or resources to help the one in need. They could also have selfish...

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To fight oneself is to fight a protracted war that cannot truly be won. Even if you somehow won, you technically defeat yourself. The winner is you, and the loser is still you. Maybe it persists and renews in order to gain some measure of control.

"But why fight yourself?" You might be wondering. Hmmm. Why, indeed. See, it is easy to look at something you might dislike or hate because it goes against your 'convictions'... or some self-image of collective benevolence or virtue. The challenge, really, is to mediate yourself between maintaining this sense of honor and being so critical of every word you speak, or perhaps every action you take. It is a slippery slope, a mistep could lead you falling into ego or self-loathing.

The way I see it? If you don't look at yourself with honest eyes, you end up creating something within you built on lies. Compelled speech is one example of how the "false self" might save face with others, even if it goes against a genui...

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