Shroud of Turin Latest News and pictures

[Prorootect]

Shroud of Turin Latest News and pictures - Prorootect topic here:

There is no chance, coincidence does not exist, there is no 'mother nature' - everything is consciously developed and led to good by God.
'We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him, whom he has called according to his plan.' - Romans 8:28.
Leia mais em: http://www.bibliacatolica.com.br/21/52/8...z27CNHV5Yp

'Always be joyful; pray constantly; and for all things give thanks; this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.' - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
- in The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB): http://www.catholic.org/bible/book.php?id=59

'giving thanks to God the Father in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, always and for everything.' - Ephesians 5:20.
Leia mais em: http://www.bibliacatolica.com.br/21/56/5...z27ZMRpZnS

'Everything created by God is good, and all food is lawful; nothing is to be rejected ..' - 1 Timothy 4:4.
Leia mais em: http://www.bibliacatolica.com.br/21/61/4...z27ZZONsbq

'Everything God has created is good, and no food is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving:' - 1 Timothy 4:4.
- in The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB): http://www.catholic.org/bible/book.php?id=61

The thought of God is in all things. All creation comes from God - will of God is in everything, the whole creation of God has a reason and a purpose.
Christ our God wanted to come and live as a man in time chosen by him among the nation chosen .. He chose His Mother, his apostles, his sufferings and death on the cross to save us all. His resurrection was not a coincidence, far from it. Everything, everything is the Will of God.
His tortured body imprint on the Shroud was also consciously developed by him. And all other images truly 'not made ​​by human hands' - were gifts from him to us, very nice .. Gifts consciously made ​​by him - for all of us.

'The images of a living Christ, the Image of Edessa, the Veil of Veronica, and the image brought to Constantinople in 574, provided evidence that Christ wanted to have images of himself, something the iconoclasts denied.'
- quote from the Charles Freeman comment #19, on: 'Quote for Today: Hans Belting and commentary' Must Read post by Dan Porter, on his Shroud of Turin Blog: http://shroudstory.com/2012/09/06/quote-...ommentary/

Other memorable quotes:

daveb of wellington nz - comment #5:
'It is interesting that Belting makes the point that many such images were made in the sixth century. Various features are frequently repeated, slavishly, even when they seem to make little artistic sense. It is a no-brainer that there must have been an original template which became standard. And then others more geographically remote would use copies of the standard template (We are.not talking modern photography here).
What was the template commonly used? Was it the “Christ Pantocrator”, the “Image of Eddessa”, the “Mandylion” or something else? From the Byzantine chronicle, to the extent it might be believed, we can infer that there were at least three such claiming to be the original, the Orthodox, the Monophysite, and the Nestorian. Very likely there were others. Perhaps one such copy became the “Veronica” or the “Holy Face of Manopello”. Not only the multiplicity of images, but also different names for what may have been the same object, contribute to our modern confusion. It is significant that the various copies made all radiate out from Edessa, as Belting asserts, all claiming to be copies or likenesses of the “Image of Edessa”, possibly subsequently modified by local artistic conventions.
Let us now turn to the Turin Shroud. I do not accept the following circular reasoning, which seems to be frequently promoted. “Byzantine art was loth to represent a dead Christ and blood stains. Icons show a live and triumphant Christ without blood stains. The modern negative photo we have of the image of the Shroud show a very dead Christ with blood stains. Therefore notwithstanding any common features between the Shroud image and the icons, the image on the Shroud could not have been used as the original template.” ..
.. All of the 15 Vignon features appear on the Turin Shroud.
So we are left with two possibilities. Either a medieval forger anticipated Vignon and included the various features he had discovered from icons onto his work. Or else the Shroud itself was the 6th century source for the original template. Some of the Vignon markings only make sense in terms of folds or creases in the cloth. How credible is it that a 6th century Edessan forger could make such an artifact with all the properties that only our modern era has discovered? And remember, Belting himself has said that the icons emanated from Edessa!'

daveb of wellington nz - comment #18:
'Here are a few historic references, which you may or may not be well aware of concerning the cloth(s) held in Constantinople (Byzantium):
(a) Guscin’s translation of 12th C.Latin manuscript Tarrogonensis 55: said to be originally written by a pilgrim who spent a long time in Constantinople in 1090. The pilgrim refers to a linen cloth with the face of the Lord Jesus made by direct contact, held with greater reverence than other relics in the emperor’s palace, kept locked away in a golden case Only the emperor is permitted to see it. The case used to be open once, but the city was hit by great earthquakes. As a result of a heavenly vision, the relic was hidden away from human eyes and kept locked up, and the earthquakes stopped.
Now it seems that Constantinople is not at all prone to such earthquakes, but we know that Edessa was. So it seems very likely that this is the Image of Edessa, but no-one gets to see it around this time, except the emperor.
(b) Around 1130, high ranking western visitors are shown the emperor’s collection of relics. Normandy-based monk Orderic Vitalis reports that the Jesus-imprinted Edessa cloth, besides Jesus’ facial imprint displays ‘the form and size of the Lord’s body to all who look upon it’, [Ord Vit, Historia Ecclesia, Pt II, Book IX, 8]. This might seem to be a second-hand report, but it seems that Gervase of Tilbury makes a similar observation [Gerv of Til, Otia Imperiala III] .
© Dobschutz Christusbilder Beilage III, p. 134: Refers to Latin Abgar Legend,.where
Christ spreads out his whole body on a linen cloth, … majestic form of his whole body … divinely transferred … kept in Syria Mesopotamia at the city of Edessa in a great cathedral.'

daveb of wellington nz - comment #26:
'There are a number of indirect 4th century references to the Shroud or burial cloths:
In AD 325, Pope Sylvester established – “that Mass be celebrated on an altar covered with a cloth of linen consecrated by the Bishop, as if it were the clean Shroud of Christ.”
Theodore of Mopsuestia (350-428) describes the role of deacons: “When they bring up (the oblation at the offertory) they place it on the altar for the completed representation of the passion so that we may think of Him on the altar as if He were placed in the sepulchre after having received the passion … the deacons who spread the linens on the altar represent the figure of the linen cloths at the burial….”
Saint Nino of Georgia (4th C): “Now they did not find the sudurium, but it is said to have been found by Peter, who took it and kept it, but we know not if it has ever been discovered.”
Ishodad of Merv writes:” …the (sudura= sudarium) … remained with him [Peter] … head. And whenever he made an ordination, he arranged it on his *head … just as even … bishops of the Church arrange the turbans that are on their heads… in place of that sudarium” [Shroud is obviously too large - it may refer to the head cloth]
The 6th C Mozarabic rite reveals that: “Peter ran with John to the tomb and saw the recent
imprints of the dead and risen man on the linens.”
I can provide the citations for these if Charles wishes to pursue them further.
I think that it is evident that there was rather more interest in the burial cloths in the early church than many seem to have been prepared to concede.'

- a must-read post with comments ..



Christ Benefactor (Face) fresco, Boyana church, Bulgaria ..DenoisedCoSh crop scaled 9Mk67.jpg 500x500, then The Holy Mandylion - contact print copy of the Image of Edessa - Sacrestia Pontificia - Matilda chapel in the Vatican - DenoisedSh j8SAV.jpg 390x589


Holy Face of Manoppello Veil - Sh GYzJ2.jpg 650x867 Hmm, compare with image Post #22 Page3 ..

PS.
Christ's Creation
"The heavens declare the glory of God." Psalm 19:1
CCD Imaging Chronicles.. by Brian Lula: http://www.heavensgloryobservatory.com/newimages.htm - images from the heavens!..
Christian Teens: Bible Verses About Protecting the Environment: http://christianteens.about.com/od/under...onment.htm
God's Creation Bible Verses: http://www.wholesomewords.org/resources/creatvs.html
Bible Verses on Creation Care: http://www.earthcareonline.org/bibleverses.html
Daniel Jepsen on The Meaning of Genesis 1: http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/dani...-genesis-1

All Creation Sings! : http://www.theocentric.com/theology/crea...sings.html
YouTube: Hillsong United - God Of All Creation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla...pIOz7jVi9I
God Of All Creation lyrics: on elyrics.net: http://www.elyrics.net/read/h/hillsong-u...yrics.html .. and too on stlyrics.com: http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/a/australi...98484.html
Australia Hillsongs: Father of creation Lyrics:
http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/a/australi...92835.html
Australia Hillsongs: Everything I Do I Do It For You (Guy) Lyrics by Australia Hillsongs: http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/a/australi...00538.html - yeah, all this is gorgeous ..
Hillsong United all lyrics: http://www.elyrics.net/song/h/hillsong-u...yrics.html


M82 Visible Hubble Sh1ColSat250 Vibr3Denoised2Sh jNE5g.jpg 948x500


Monreale Cathedral, Sicily, God The Creator mosaic crop res. Denoised V3jpD.jpg 790x1080, right: it's Not the red button .. 110x110
Source: http://www.classicalmosaics.com/images/mon25.jpg
The cathedral and cloisters at Monreale, near Palermo, Sicily: http://www.thejoyofshards.co.uk/visits/sicily/monreale/


Detail from a fresco of the Creation, from St. Paraskevi Shrine, Greenlawn, NY - AutoFixVibrSh Denoised iaYXQ.jpg 750x819 - source: http://stparaskevi.org/dome_animals1.jpg AND here: http://stparaskevi.org/dome7.html


Christ creating - Fresco detail, Suchevitsa Monastery, Romania - resized AutoFixSh Denoised o9stC.jpg 600x899


HELP the animals!: Fukushima kitty original web photo gEI2a.jpg 639x351, then my last Prorootect's avatar: Fukushima kitty 100x100, and right:
HELP the humans!: little baby bXlIy.jpg 160x160 - Here we kills the rats by 'medicated way' also. We offer them a poison, and they have the freedom to take it or not. And how this is happening in your country, please?..

PS. If you suspect that your pet may have ingested Rat poison please call your Vet as soon as possible .. Common House Hold Poisons for PETS: http://www.edmblast.com.au/email/p/viewe...eid=151390

[Prorootect]

The most up-to-date scientific information and theories explored on EWTN Series on the Shroud of Turin: on Women of Grace blog videos - The Women of Grace® television episodes, too relayed on EWTN (Watch Women of Grace® TV Daily on EWTN at 11:00 a.m. / Encore 11:30 p.m. EST) : so WomenOfGrace.com videos:

Revelation of the Road: The Shroud's Journey: http://www.womenofgrace.com/en-us/media/...spx?id=377
Episode details: 'One of the most fascinating and most investigated relics is the Shroud of Turin. And, as technology continues to make advances, so do the scientists who use all it has to offer to unlock its secrets. In this Women of Grace series, Dr. J. Wayne Phillips will be our guest as he explores with us what many believe is the burial cloth of Jesus.'

The Shroud of Turin Research Project, Pt 1: http://www.womenofgrace.com/en-us/media/...spx?id=378
Episode details: 'In May, 2010, Pope Benedict the XVII made pilgrimage to Turin, Italy for the first exposition of the Shroud of Turin in a decade. Following his veneration of the Shroud, the Holy Father said that the Shroud is the icon of the mystery of Holy Saturday, and that it at once presents us with God's own radical solidarity with us through Jesus Christ. The power of the Shroud, he said, is that in the "heart of death there now beats life, inasmuch as love lives there." And for those who study the Shroud, seeking to unlock the secrets it holds, the realm of scientific investigation crosses over into the mystery of faith.'

Carbon Dating and Image Form.: Science and the Shroud, P. 2: http://www.womenofgrace.com/en-us/media/...spx?id=379
Episode details: 'Occasionally in the pursuit of scientific investigation, contradictory findings can seem to render hundreds of hours and years of research invalid. Such was the case with the Shroud of Turin when, in 1988, further study on this fascinating relic nearly came to a complete stop. It is yet another amazing story that eventually helped to uncover even more of the Shroud's secrets. Join us today as guest, Dr. J. Wayne Phillips takes us into this moment of its thrilling history.'

New Discoveries, New Theories: Science and the Shroud, P. 3: http://www.womenofgrace.com/en-us/media/...spx?id=380
Episode details: 'Science and reason are not antithetical to belief and faith. In fact, they often are the means by which faith grows and develops. And such is the case with the study and scientific research that undergirds investigation of the Shroud of Turin. As technology burgeons so, too, does its usefulness in helping to uncover the secrets this marvelous relic holds. Here to talk with us today about the new discoveries science has now made possible and what they reveal about the Shroud is Dr. J. Wayne Phillips.'

Dynamic Duo: The Sudarium and the Shroud: http://www.womenofgrace.com/en-us/media/...spx?id=381
Episode details: 'Conduct just about any kind of an investigation and nothing is more welcome than what is often called, "corroborating evidence." What might be the best corroborating evidence to prove the Shroud's authenticity? Another relic that is congruent with what the Shroud's data reveals. And, my friends, that is exactly what we have in the cloth or napkin that covered the face of Jesus, that very piece of fabric mentioned in John 20 verse 7. Here to tell us about the Sudarium and what it tells us about the Shroud is our guest, Dr. J. Wayne Phillips.'

Post: EWTN Series on the Shroud of Turin: http://shroudstory.com/2012/09/12/ewtn-s...-of-turin/

On ADAMS' ALE blog clevelandpriest.blogspot.fr : http://clevelandpriest.blogspot.fr/2012/...clxxi.html - and clevelandpriest.blogspot.fr home link: http://clevelandpriest.blogspot.fr/

EWTN home link: http://www.ewtn.com/ EWTN search (type eg. Turin shroud ..): http://www.ewtn.com/search.asp

ALL TV episodes on WomenOfGrace.com : http://www.womenofgrace.com/en-us/media/tv/default.aspx

[Prorootect]

The Jesus Christ little Child's facial expression - on icons, frescoes, mosaics .. the best Family photos, really


Interior of the Panagia Church of Lindos, Greece - PixlrContrShColSat - 1yrcl.jpg crop resized 890x486
The Panagia Church of Lindos : on suite101.com : http://suite101.com/article/the_church_o...hia_-a6677


Virgin - Child - Decani, Flight into Egypt - VibrContrSh scaled PyXYK.jpg 900x676 - yeah .. these are difficult times .. but much more difficult times are coming .. Image source: on iconreader.wordpress.com : http://iconreader.wordpress.com/2012/08/...us-images/


Giuseppe Maria Crespi, The Holy Family, Pinacoteca Vaticana, PixlrShColSatDenoised5 H35nJ.jpg 400x555 http://www.christusrex.org/


Byzantine icon Our Lady of the Sign - The Virgin Orans in Prayer - cropped Enhanced Denoised Subtle Sanna 2lMpT.jpg 745x950


Detail of the Virgin as The Dwelling-place of the Uncontainable, with the bust of Christ within a roundel, The Church of the Holy Savior of Chora, Turkey - Sh+ShColSatSubtleDen 3aaVL.jpg crop resized 800x800 - here: http://guidesofistanbul.com/eng/chora.htm


Virgin of Tenderness, Ukraine or Eastern Europe - ContrShVibr2 pYach.jpg 900x1159 source on templegallery.com : http://www.templegallery.com/main.php?mo...r2012&p2=6 - very nice!..


The Blessed Virgin Mary Lady of Czestochowa, Poland - VibrSh yY1Xv.jpg 900x1360 - Image source in Google English: http://translate.google.bs/translate?sl=...cji-1.html Good read about Matki Bożej Częstochowskiej : on campus.udayton.edu : http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/olczest.html Visage detail: http://spotkaniabiblijne.blogspot.fr/201...panny.html


Virgin Theotokos and Christ-Child mosaic, Hagia Sophia (Constantinople), 867 - crop VibrShContr Denoised ICnPA.jpg 899x1169


Virgin and Child, Greece or Asia Minor, 16th c. - Contr100 EMacc.jpg 870x950 - source on templegallery.com : http://www.templegallery.com/main.php?mode=3&p1=1283


The Bath of the Christ Child - Roma, A.D. 706 (mosaic fragment, Reverenda Fabbrica di San Pietro, Vaticano - fiDho.jpg 550x781
- look on The Fabbrica of Saint Peter's : on ChristusRex.org : http://www.christusrex.org/www1/vaticano...brica.html


Christ Emmanuel in the Mother of God's Monastery, Manastir Sv.Bogorodice, Svod Sicevo, Serbia - Denoised2 VNTPY.jpg 300x300, source: on ni.rs : http://www.ni.rs/byzantium/manastiri_i_c...GORGE.html then Boyana church, Sofia, Young Jesus in the Temple - ContrVibrDenoised 500x782 source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyana_Church

[Prorootect]

Good Morning America, Good Morning Texas!
How do you find the denoised images from the prev page 8 and this one? .. Surely this improvement leads us away from the sad reality, but it's so much prettier, I think .. What do you think so? ..

[Prorootect]

Tell me - I hope you are very careful looking images on the web? Do NOT download images from unknown links, such as those of Eastern Europe (!), but not only .. In Google Images - Many links are infected, I'm not telling you anything new ..
Use the safe links I posted in two posts here: Post #50 (on Page 5), and Post #73 (on Page 8), please.
.. Run Internet Explorer with NO add-ons, click on System Tools / Accessories folder.

Check Properties / image URL with the online tools like these in the topics:
Free Online On-demand URL Security Scanners : http://malwaretips.com/Thread-Free-Onlin...y-Scanners
Malware Analysis Online Services : http://malwaretips.com/Thread-Malware-An...e-Services

Look too on our topics:
The Most Secure and Private Search Engines : http://malwaretips.com/Thread-The-Most-S...ch-Engines
List of Best Search Engines on the Web : http://malwaretips.com/Thread-List-of-Be...on-the-Web
Best Free Sandbox Virtualization Software : http://malwaretips.com/Thread-Best-Free-...n-Software

.. and online tools like:
View HTTP Request and Response Header with web-sniffer.net : http://web-sniffer.net/
HTML Sniffer : http://www.htmlsniffer.com/
Free HTTP Sniffer 1.1 - download: http://www.cleanersoft.com/sniffer/free_...niffer.htm
WebSiteSniffer v1.26 : http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/web_site_sniffer.html

[Prorootect]

Christ Emmanuel, which means God is with us (Isaiah 7 14; Matthew 1 23)

..............................................
Cameo with Christ Emmanuel - God is with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23) Byzantine 1200-1400 - ContrSh 6tUso.jpg 355x500
Cameo : http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1987.23 and http://www.artbible.net/3JC/-Mat-02,11-M...ndex2.html


The Cathedral of the Archangel Michael icon. The representation of the seven archangels. Michael at the center, the almond of Christ, Gabriel and Raphael, Jehudiel, Selaphiel, Uriel, Baraquiel - Crop ShContr 4kSvq.jpg 870x1080


Christ Emmanuel. 1697 (Simon Ushakov) - ContrShHueLightSubtle aUrLJ.jpg 840x948


Christ Emmanuel from Yaroslavl icon of Theotokos Great Panagia, 12 c. - varvar.ru - Crop ContrShSubtle skACX.jpg 890x890
- on varvar.ru : http://www.varvar.ru/en/ikona/yaroslavl/index.html

[Prorootect]

.. and don't forget to look on the new series of impressive 3D color images of the Shroud of Turin, by Thierry CASTEX ..

In French here: Vues 3D de la face dorsale du Linceul de Turin - 3D Dorsal Views of the Front Side of the Shroud of Turin : http://thierrycastex.blogspot.fr/2012/09...nceul.html

In Google English here: 3D views of the dorsal surface of the Shroud of Turin : http://translate.google.bs/translate?sl=...nceul.html


NEW 3D Dorsal View of the Head on Front Side - by Thierry CASTEX (August 2012) - I enhanced: Vibr2Sh+100Denoised1 cropped XlCmw.jpg 735x735 - '.. with 3D vision, you can see the thickness of the hair consists of a long ponytail that goes down to the middle of the back .. Hair color seem to be between the brown and red ..'

.. and from Thierry Castex site banner, this NEW 3D Turin Shroud color Face image I cropped, scaled & enhanced:
..
visage3D-couleur-6.jpg - now gJ9wP.jpg - I cropped, scaled, enhanced, 200x200, then with emboss .. jNzXm.jpg 200x200

Look too on Post #17 Page 2, about Thierry Castex another Impressive 3D Color Images, please.

EDIT:
Another great 3D image of the face of Christ on the Turin Shroud - you have on Post #100, Page 10, please ..

[Prorootect]

Here you've the image of bloodstains on the neck and shoulders of Christ on the Shroud of Turin :
(source: the cropped image of Thierry Castex from precedent post, I inversed the colors and adjusted temperature only ..)


3D Dorsal View of the Head on Front Side - Vibr2Sh+100ContrDenoised1ColTemp Negative cropped KiqBo.jpg 657x600

How much horrible torture .. pain ..
Compare with the neck images in Post #10 Page 1, please ..

[Prorootect]

Jesus Christ - The Teacher


Christ The Teacher, Basilica di Santa Constanza, Roma, 350 AutoFixShContr Denoised1 vES3A.jpg 935x1239 - source: http://05varvara.wordpress.com/2011/09/1...italy-350/


Jesus Christ The Teacher among the apostles, Catacombs of Domitilla, 300 - crop AFixContrShVibr1 Denoised2 cnpEC.jpg 900x849.jpg
source: http://faculty.etsu.edu/kortumr/11earlyc...christ.htm


Mosaic detail in St. Pudenziana, Rome, early 5th c., Christ teaching the apostles - crop resized ContrLightDenoisedSh yWN7J.jpg 948x1110


Detail from the icon of the Mystical Supper from Vatopedi, St. John reclining on Christ's breast - crop Enhanced ODkJc.jpg 825x930 - source: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot....ogian.html


Decani Monastery Fresco of Christ preaching at the Synagogue in Nazareth - crop AutoFixShContrVibr jO7MI.jpg 900x800 - source: http://www.srpskoblago.org/Archives/Deca...056_l.html

According to Holy Tradition, Christ entered the synagogue on September 1 to announce His mission to mankind (Luke 4:16-22). Quoting Isaiah 61:1-2), the Savior proclaimed, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me; because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to proclaim release to captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord…" - on ocafs.oca.org : http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.a...1&FSID=501

[Gnosis]

The following may be a little out of sync with the current flow of this thread, but it must be shared, I feel:

Ultimately a discussion on this current topic leads to pondering about religion vs. Truth. About our Creator and Savior. Religious tyrant vs. humble servant. Religion is necessary in our chaotic, fallen world, but it is a vessel, not the Truth itself; the Truth of the Gospel. So do we want religion, or do we want the Truth to set us free?
The movie "Book of Eli" presents it where any novice can grasp that concept. You should watch it if you have not.
Many people are sour at the Godhead because of centuries of feudalist systems (religio-political oligarchies) and millenia of dictators and Caesers tainting religion with power grabs and capital punishment schemes; not that I am opposed to capital punishment, but I am against using The Bible as a oppressive government handbook, so to speak. That is why I am a big admirer of Jefferson---because he knew the importance of separation of church and state; of religious freedoms as to avoid religious tyranny and preserve the opportunity for an individual to find and accept the Godhead. When religion is forced, it is an ugly thing. When it is used as a vessel to get the Truth out to the masses, it can be glorious as the Father of Lights would have it. Jesus Christ granted us FREEWILL to have a choice to accept him or not--to know our hearts and minds--not for governments to hand down punishment, or give perks to "vassals". Thomas Jefferson understood this crucial aspect of human existence in all its errors pertaining to religion and oppressive governments of the past (AND THERE WERE MANY).


ALSO: rituals and symbolism vs. substance (WHOLE TRUTH). Not that rituals and symbolism are "bad", but that if they are allowed to obstruct the sharing of the Truth of the Gospel, it is all for not.

THE GIST: a little bit of religion, symbolism and ritual mixed with a lot of Truth of Jesus Christ is good. In this world, the church will always have some traces of paganism in symbols and rituals, and there will always be some religion and politics when a church is organized and functioning, but it does not mean that all churches are corrupt. Some still have sound doctrines and don't let symbolism, religion, politics and superstition stand in the way of God's gift of Eternity through Salvation. It has to be an eclectic collection of worship with the TRUTH standing firm and held up over all else.

Keep in mind that MAN has tainted itself (ourselves) with excess religion, politics and pagan symbolism of old that still hangs around in the churches. MAN is responsible for all the religious tyrants and feudalist oligarchies of the past (and many there have been). The same humans wants to blame God for all of mankind's short comings in that way. It was never God's idea to burn scientists and researchers at the stake while their books smolder right next to their scorched bodies. That was MAN. FALLEN MAN. FALLEN WORLD. FALLEN ANGLES. Satan in the garden is very similar to religion, superstition, and politics being allowed obstruct the TRUTH of the 3 in 1; THE GODHEAD. It is important that we do not get our Creator and Savior confused with darkness, chaos and the sinful nature of this dimension; 21st century earth, or any century man has been running things ultimately. It goes back as far as the Tower of Babel. It consumes all synagogues, churches and mosques, some much more than others. It is the "spirit of Babylon" or the "spirit of confusion" that Satan loves because it blinds us to the Truth. Satan is the god of this world and he wants us blinded with lies as well as a little truth to make it subtle enough to be manifest. Every bad thing that happens in this world is a result of man's sin, fallen angels and Satan-------NOT THE GODHEAD. We have, and we have had a choice. Jefferson might have called it "the pursuit of happiness". Freewill can be used as a form of "pursuit of happiness". Jesus Christ would have it no other way. So you have to ask yourself, "What is happiness in the form of Truth?" The Truth, the Light, will set you free. Knowledge alone cannot save you like the Gnostics believed. It is a combination of the Holy Spirit and relative facts that show you an eternal path if you are willing to be meek and take it, thus inheriting the Earth. You have to seek it out and break the chains of man and his failed systems that are not eternally enduring--man's fallen kingdoms, one right after the other. It is Intelligent Design vs. destruction in all its formless chaotic darkness.

Religion and symbolism and fellowship should be to help advance the Truth of our Creator and Savior, not to hide it or distort it.