Forums
In one of the other topics, one of the folks seemed not to be so sure of the reception he'd get for saying he was a youth minister at his church.
In my experience, Deadheads span the full spectrum from Agnostic to Zoroastrian. I've met atheist Deadheads, Muslim Deadheads, Buddhist Deadheads, Catholic Deadheads, Jewish Deadheads, and Wiccan Deadheads. My Deadhead friends are all over the map on this stuff, and as far as I'm concerned one of the real richnesses of the scene is the ability to see how things look to other folks and, sometimes, experience it from their world.
Believe it if you need it, if you don't, just pass it on. But talk about it here, and please maintain a safe respectful place to do so.
this must be heaven
Excellent composition CCJ not sure if you researched all that but my hats off to you for sharing it for the masses
Peace on the Increase
Mark
CCj on heaven and god
That's lots of food for thought or nonthought if I put my Zen hat on.
If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.
William Blake
Heads In The Deadnet
thanks to CCj for the inspiration, to Robert Hunter for the tune and all of you folks hereSung to the tune of Boys in The Barroom
Heads In The Deadnet
Does God look down on the heads in the Deadnet
Mainly forsaken all slightly deranged?
Dead, Pigpen, Ace, their ears in the vines
In music to free our minds
From Tapers Section, Vault, Roadtrips and box sets
Dick’s Picks and studio the songs that we love
Many’s the day spent on tour and listening
Searching for the Sound of bliss and The Other One
Jerry’s sweet guitar to Phil’s shaking bombs
Who loves this music, loves it to the bone
I love this bands tunes like some love who knows what
One thing we wonder sometimes
Does God look down on the heads in the Deadnet
Mainly forsaken all slightly deranged?
From Chatroom to Dark Star, Dead Hour, Forums, Truckin’
In music to free our minds
here
here:
http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/intro.htm
again, kudos and muchas gracias to those folks who put that site together!!
Sirius Gospel
Sirius radio Bluegrass channel 65 plays 6 hours of good bluegrass gospel music every Sunday morning .
wherefore art thou?
Not much going on here lately. If ,like littlebri, folks would write their thoughts in a respectful and loving manner we like reading them. Even those of us who have searched everywhere and know there is only one thing we CAN believe in. We who believe in Jesus are told by him that we will be hated. Maybe we should be put in our own little box,say, "The Promised Land: A Christian Forum". We're all in this together. Peace.
so peakin...
are you asking for a topic for Deadhead Christians?
Not saying yes or no, just making sure that's what you want before I make inquiries. Thanks!
answer to marye
hi marye, that's what I was thinking about. Just thought I'd see if the idea had any support before I'd ask you. Whatever is decided is fine with me. Thanks for all the work you've done for this website.
find your light
Sometimes the light's all shinin on meOther times I can barely see
Lately it occurs to me
What a long, strange trip it's been
peakin
I'm not opposed to the idea; after all, the Wharf Rats topic is a particular branch of the spirituality tree as far as I'm concerned, and other branches could function in a similar manner.
What I'm a bit worried about, aside from addressing any legal endorsement-of-a-particular-religion issues (which may or may not exist), is drawing energy away from a topic of diverse perspectives and the insight that entails into more or less enclaves of believers (or unbelievers, as I'm sure the agnostics, atheists, anti-theists, etc., would perfectly reasonably want THEIR topic too). I don't think the two are necessarily incompatible; think of all the different parts of our lives that run concurrently, as it were. But in practice, people only have so much energy and some discussions thrive at the expense of others.
All of which is, I admit, pretty meta. But let's brainstorm this a bit if we want to pursue it, in the full understanding that any principles that evolve will also apply to topics for Wicca, tribal religion, divergent strains of Buddhism, etc.
Do we want to do this, and if so, how? (Assume for the moment that the system is what it is and works the way it works now.)
Might some of this need, for example, be addressed by formally scheduled chats? E.g. Christian Deadhead chats Tuesday 7 p.m.? (We've done a little experimenting with special-event chats, so this might be doable without disrupting the main chat room.)
Anyway, thoughts welcome; no fast moves contemplated.
some thoughts
Surely the unifying factor here is and should be a love for the Grateful Dead! I like the mix up here with so many beliefs in the same space linked by the dead family, maybe like the crowd at a show. We had a bit of a bumpy start to this forum but now its found a considerate and interested level. No disrespect intended but I find it a bit sad if the Christians (or any other group) feel they really really need their own space separate from everyone else.If that's what you really want and need then that's OK with me I suppose, but please think first; what is that saying to everyone else? There must be lots of websites where Christians or other groups can have some exclusive space if they need that.
i have 2 agree
i think CB is correct in thinking that one space fits us all. do we really want to splinter apart, like the GREAT nations of the world, i would cross the border of differing thoughts, would i be welcome?
world without borders
I like the diversity
and free flowing exchange of ideas in this topic as it exists right now in this time and space. I want to hear about other peoples thoughts on sprituality even though they may differ from mine in ways, we also have common ground and that is fun to explore and grow with.
If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.
William Blake
come together
I would like to keep us all together too. I enjoy hearing other people's views too. It just seems there's always someone who has to come out and trash the Bible or Christianity in a very negative and hostile way. You don't see that kind of anger about other religions. After the last exchange nobody came here for a month. It would be nice if someone who isn't a Christian but sees someone attacking us here would post a comment saying "Hey, I'm not a Christian, but we don't put up with that kind of shit on this website, learn to love or take a hike." Let's all get along.
hey peakin
Christianity wasn't the only religion that was having negative comments made about it here; there were also some about Buddhism and the Dalai Lama. I don't mind having my belief system questioned, it was just kind of relentless, like someone was on a campaign and wouldn't stop even after he had made his point.
But that hasn't happened for awhile.
If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.
William Blake
as to that, peakin
I couldn't agree more.
As mod, I generally don't like to come in and start smacking people around except as a really last and desperate resort. I come from the world of CC's Old School, though as a relative latecomer. Or maybe the Patrick Swayze Roadhouse School, depending on the moment. However, the aforementioned screeds were over the top, and they're also a pretty classic example of stuff that happens every now and then, and how community standards develop.
If, as I would fondly hope, we're going to have this kind and congenial and welcoming outpost out here, it takes community members standing up and saying "we don't put up with that kind of shit on this website," rather than just me putting on the mod hat.
This time it's about religion-bashing, but next time maybe it's Obama. Or Cuba. Or Israel. Or child-rearing philosophy. Or corporate employers.
There is never going to be any shortage of things we disagree about. One of the remarkable things about the whole GD thing is that for several decades it brought together millions of people who would otherwise never have crossed paths, in this seriously intense and life-changing experience, and exposed them to adventures and viewpoints they never would have had otherwise. And by all accounts from the tours of the individual bandmembers' bands of late, it still goes on.
I would hate to blow this rare gift by getting bogged down in the things that divide us, and I think finding the balance between feeling free and safe in speaking one's mind and exercising the necessary restraint so one's fellow conversationalists feel likewise--that's essential. It's also real hard to do, and I appreciate the fact.
Zen Nothingness
here visiting in the land of Zen nothingness... enjoying the sights and sounds of places visited long ago; memories have faded, but beauty and tranquility remain eternal.
the fountain of life, the water of love...
may it wash over all of us as we bathe together in our love of grateful philosophy, no matter what 'name' religion may have, I am quite certain that somewhere, someplace, Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Vishnu, et al are all hanging around together listening to some shows.
marye,
dare I ask?
The Patrick Swayze Roadhouse School??!
A Swayze with any other hairstyle would smell as ____________
(please fill in the blank)
yuk yuk yuk...
( -;
There is INDEED, plenty of room for diversity here. Diversity in Swayze's hairstyles notwithstanding...
love and peace.
may it wash over all of us as we bathe together in our love of grateful philosophy, no matter what 'name' religion may have, I am quite certain that somewhere, someplace, Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Vishnu, et al are all hanging around together listening to some shows.
marye,
dare I ask?
The Patrick Swayze Roadhouse School??!
A Swayze with any other hairstyle would smell as ____________
(please fill in the blank)
yuk yuk yuk...
( -;
There is INDEED, plenty of room for diversity here. Diversity in Swayze's hairstyles notwithstanding...
love and peace.Yeah Joe!
Am curious too about the Patrick Swayze Roadhouse School! ;-) Tell us more about this please marye.
My two cents about a Christian thread is am torn. We have threads for all kinds of things, so theoretically such a thread should fit and be welcome, as well as what Hal said about being able to read people's different views. But is also a potential hotbed, as someone's religious beliefs are a highly private and personal thing. Guess I tend to think that THIS thread, for speaking generally about religion and spirituality is just perfect for this forum, and should suffice.
**********************************
Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you will still exist, but you have ceased to live.
Samuel Clemens
roundhouse
didn't see that coming,marye:) though i'd more perfer the sam elliott doctrine:)
Roadhouse
is what could safely be termed a genre movie, set in one of those bars (probably in Texas) where the band plays behinds a chain-link backstop because of all the flying bottles and the general culture is one of drunken head-bashing. Swayze, as the new boss, training the bouncers in the new regime: "Be nice. Until it's time to not be nice."
Roadhouse Dirty Dancing...
and there I was thinking the Roadhouse thing had something to do with Dirty Dancing, the authority figure, the 'repressed' youths brought up in strict up-bringings... finally getting to cut loose. man, was I way off base. next time I'm in the world, I'll look for that Swayze film in the 'straight to video' video shop. ( -;
though I do dig that line, 'be nice until it's time to not be nice'
peace.
Excellent perspective
Well said marye. July 12 post. Again showing a very well thought out perspective. A welcome change on issue's these days. Well worth reading,maybe bookmarking. Proud you are the mod :) peace and love,pk
more ramblings
... if every group offended by a certain previous correspondent got their own forum, poor Marye would be busy for month setting them up! And even if they did there's nothing stopping mean people posting there too.
I would venture to suggest that there has been quite a lot of peer moderation here, but not necessarily in the form of telling people how they should behave. As I see it, the site is pretty tolerant of anyone having a bit of a rant and pushing the limits from time to time so long as they don't go on and on; by and large we have managed to calm down by ourselves ;-). Now and then people have been gently asked to take it easy and more often than not have apologised. A common response to emerging nastiness and fights has been to flood the forum with humour and weirdness, which has often done the trick. Only occasionally has Marye had to intervene and then in a way that has been polite, firm and whenever possible constructive. I'd say we were doing quite well really.
Me too Badger
Let's give ourselves collective pat on the back :) Thanks for all of your patience & coolness Marye ~
PEACE
"christian" deadheads
Blessed to see there are others out there. May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
Jesus Loves You The Best!
greateststoryevertold.org
A wonderous oasis!
Yes, welcome gset-ben! And also yes,Marye you are way cool ( and indelibly patient) .Thanks for your efforts here. They are greatly appreciated. peace,pk
amazing grace
Good to see you gset-ben. Nice website. Had time to check out the gospel of the grateful dead,nice. Will have to go back for more.
Other religions too?
I'm not particularily religious but I do love to learn, think and philosophize. It could be a safe area for everyone to be vocal about their beliefs and a great tool for folks like me who just want to know more. I believe there are practices from each religion that we can all learn from and appreciate in order to better understand ourselves and others just a 'lil better!
Hugs,
~littlebri
hey now!
hey now!
greetings folks, just want to pop in and say hey now!
I took a quick peek at this website, and will look at it in more detail in a few days when I will have about 5 hours to kill in an airport in a far away land... I am not a religious person, but from what I saw here, it looks pretty cool regardless of what someone believes or not. it certainly contains plenty of 'grateful' philosophy that I try to live my life by.
thanks for sharing, Ben.
greateststoryevertold.org
if anyone knows of a similar site that combines Buddhism or Islam or Judaism or Hinduism or whatever with 'grateful' philosophy, please post it up, too.
love and peace,
cc
faith?
my question is what is faith and where does it really come from? there are two main definitions. the first is that it is our trust and confidence in something, and the second is that faith is the belief in god or the teachings of a religion. so does faith come from our hearts (trust) or is it in our head (teachings). anyone that has the will to believe really has to look inside of themselves and determine first what faith is to them, and there they will find the answer. In the end, any decisions you make come from your values and virtues not your faith. I believe that this life is part of a series of lives and we ultimitely have to be able to look at ourselves in the mirror at the end of the day and determine what it is that we cherish, what we value and what we can vision. To do this, is a combination of both trust in something (ourselves, religion) and our teachings.
~littlebri
gotta have it
Very nice observation littlebri, for me faith is a grounding force that comes from those things which speak true to my heart and help me keep on keepin on.
and
I have also spent "a lot" of time in the wilderness and have seen things in the sky a few times that I know were "not of this world". I have no doubt that humans are not the "sharpest tools in the shed". There is only one "Book" I know of that has given me a reasonable explanation of what these things might be. Boy, I'll bet everyone thinks I'm nuts now! Bless you all.
faith in the dead
faith in yourself is probably the most important kind of faith. it has the ability to make the most significant difference in your life, sometimes you just have to trust yourself. essentially, if someone has the power to believe, then that person also has faith. i think it's safe to say that we all put our faith in the Grateful Dead and can come by that honestly. in a way, it's kinda like putting faith in yourself. the music and lyrics all have a significant meaning to each individual that believes in the dead. i wouldn't call myself a very religious person, but i do listen and learn religiously, a lot of times through music.
love and hugs to all
~littlebri
Sunday nights
a good friend of mine always said, "Sunday night witht the Grateful Dead is a religious experience".........we had alot of fun........Gypsy Cowgirl
hi peakin..
i know the fact that the GD have used many religious in lyrics in their songs but i also believe that this was not a kind of missionary thing.believe it if you need it,if you dont just pass it on....well i made the mistake of takin a look at "greateststoryevertold.org"man i have to say that i am not too happy about the fact that i cannot get this page out from my screen anymore,and i also wonder who gave you the right to use SYF with across instead of the bolt.i do not like missionaries because they have been the reason of indigenous people being wiped out,were forbidden to talk their language(because it came from satan),and i would be happy to get this page out of my comp. again.i am sure you can help me.............................
"don't dominate the rap, Jack"
Hey Frankly-I totally agree with you on the missionary thing-it was the reason indigenous people were wiped out & still are oppressed. Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota is the poorest place in the USA.........don't know what else about the "greateststoryevertold.org" but I'll be sure & not go there-think I saw his writings on here somewhere........thanks for the tip!Gypsy Cowgirl
my missionary position
In my travels I have met, worked with and heard about missionaries and transparently Christian organisations who work hard to help poor people and to defend the rights and traditions of indigenous groups without trying to persuade or induce people to convert. The approach appears to be to do good works because that is a Christian thing to do. Of course folks who want to convert are welcomed but that does not seem to be the agenda of those involved. These are good people.
In contrast to these worthy groups and individuals are the hordes of evangelical missionaries sweeping though Asia with their fierce conviction, intense zeal and stunning ignorance and insensitivity. Their methods are not quite those of the conquistadors but not far off. Much of what they do is in my view not only unethical, it is also against the interests of the people concerned. These missionaries are so convinced they are right they do not take the trouble to learn or understand what people need or want, they wade in with their cash and their crosses and do far more harm than good. Hundreds of years ago missionaries burnt almost all the written records of the Mayan people and today they continue to desecrate cultures more ancient than theirs and far more complex and sophisticated than they know or can be bothered to find out.
But as I said, they are not all like that..... in the end being a righteous person is not about what we believe but how we behave.
that's my missionary position anyway ;-)
Hi badger...
i do agree with you.there are people who want to help and there are people who want to conquer.so i get a catch on your sentence about desecrating cultures.i know that the cultural movement that is represented by the Grateful Dead is young,but i also know that it is for sure incredibly complex and sophisticated,as it leaves to anybody the possibility to interpret freely the lyrics and to place them on whatever place in each persons spiritual context.the greatest thing is that the SYF is something like a secret symbol that shows that you are part of a BIG community which does not judge you about your believes,philosophies of life etc.but includes you because we are jerrys kids.seeing this symbol with the cross,shows me clearly that these group sees itself as something special..which gives me the idea that they might be part of the second kind of missionaries.peace:-)(-:Frankly
well...
I understand your point and tend to share your view of missionaries, but, c'mon. Given the cheerful abandon with which the stealie has been adapted for personal artwork of all stripes, and some of it even becoming part of the official offerings (e.g. Space Your Face), I'm not exactly surprised if Deadhead Christians fuse their two most important symbols. I'm sure, for example, I've seen Star of David stealies over the years. (Disclaimer: I do not speak for Grateful Dead Productions here...)
And let him who has never dragged a reluctant friend or family member to a Dead show cast the first stone, re missionary zeal.
The whole One True Path thing is a big trouble vector, whoever's preaching it.
also, just in passing
"the greatest story ever told" was used as a Bible/Jesus term long, long before the song Hunter insists is actually called "Moses" was written, and indeed that's part of the song's resonance.
mary,i am not stupid..
for example the line "ashes ,ashes all fall down"is a recitation of the revelation of st.john also known as the apocalypse...and i am aware of the tons of recitations of this kind appearing in the lyrics.but thats what i am trying to say,everybody is free to place this words in his/her model of believe.the side i saw appeared to me like fishing for new customers..thats only my opinion and i think i have the freedom to share it on this site.likewise everybody else has the freedom to agree with me or not.thats all!!!:-)(-:Peace anyway..Frankly
Jesus said:
Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying I (Jesus) am Christ; and shall deceive many.