#paul sect

[wofworld]

yeah so sorry your boyfriend and i fused into a whole new person. yes it was consensual and it represents our agency as characters who refuse to be doomed by the narrative any longer. yes we picked a new name. what is it? uhh

[mayasaura]

Since we now know the new Nona short story is about Palamedes, and the only pair of characters including Palamedes in Tor's poll was Palamedes and Ianthe... I'm also betting it's their battle at the center of the mind. The one that made Palamedes respect her. And maybe it'll even give us some context for this:

[theclasharchives]

paul and joe with paul smith of subway sect before their show on september 20th 1976

[a-god-in-ruins-rises]

are there any or has there ever been any sects/denominations of christianity that were skeptical of or opposed to pauline christianity?

just the more i read about it the more hilarious/insane it is.

like...you have jesus. and you have his followers. then jesus dies. and his followers are left to preach his word and whatnot. then after years and years of doing all this work and building this jewish christian community.

then comes this dude named paul. not just any dude. but a pharisee who openly admits to having zealously and violently persecuted christians. and he's like "hey we should preach to the gentiles."

and you and all your bros (who literally knew jesus personally in the flesh and travelled with him and stuff) are like "no you have to be a jew to be a christian, sorry."

and then paul is like "actually no. i saw jesus in a vision. i think i know better. we're going to preach to the gentiles." and then he goes off and just starts sharing your little cult with all of these foreigners but a really strange version whose theology is quite different from what you understood and he writes these letters where he just says shit and people treat those letters literally like the word of god.

it just blows my mind. how did/do people buy that? he's just some nobody and all of his authority rests on his "i had a vision". and people ate that shit up. lmao.

[bionikgeek]

Unpopular Truth Time!

Christianity is NOT the religion OF Jesus Christ. Christianity is Paul’s doctrine/religion ABOUT Jesus Christ.

[dustedmagazine]

Listed: Violin Sect

Photo credit: Steve Jinks

Formed in 1980 and disbanded in 1981, the obscure Welsh post-punk band Violin Sect left behind just one seven-inch, “Highdays and Holidays/Rivals,” documenting their brief existence. In fact, they’ve flown so low on the radar since then that they were even overlooked for the Messthetics compilations, the CD series that brought the sounds of the many forgotten and amusingly-named UK DIY bands of their time and ilk to a (relatively) wider audience. This started to change in 2019, however, when Sect bassist Steve Walker posted a couple of previously unreleased songs that he’d dug up to Soundcloud, where Minimum Stacks label head Joe Piccirillo heard them as his label was just getting off the ground. Fast forward to 2023 and we have the Vile Insect 12-inch, featuring all four songs from the band’s short life transferred from the original ¼" tapes. The result, to Andrew Forrell of Dusted’s ears, is a mix of “dubby rhythms, scratchy post-punk guitar, whimsy and skepticism,” able to stand with Scritti Politti’s “Skank Bloc Bologna” and Swell Maps “Read About Seymour.” And thanks to this release, it’s finally in a position to reach the audience it deserves.

Although Walker’s bandmates — Steve Jinks (guitar), Phil Rimmell (drums) and Hywel Pontin (percussion and backing vocals) — were unavailable to take part, Walker has assembled a list of some of his favorite music, art and literature from his 67 years on earth for Dusted. “A snapshot within a snapshot,” if you will.

The Raincoats

I was lucky enough to catch a London gig by the Raincoats in 1979 around the time they released their first single. This year Gina Birch (bass/vocals), also 67, has released her first solo album, I Play My Bass Loud, and it’s been worth the wait. Here’s an early one from the first Raincoats LP, though.

Mica Levi — “Lips”

I got the same sort of excitement when I first heard Mica Levi, together with their bandmates in Micachu and the Shapes. Their work has continued to grow and encompasses other genres such as film soundtracks (e.g., Jackie).

Sufjan Stevens — “Video Game”

I first became aware of Sufjan Stevens with the release of Illinois and caught him at the end of his UK tour promoting it at King’s College London with a pared-down (although still with those wondrous wings) extra gig. In later years he was in Bristol on the Carrie & Lowell tour. Sublime. Here’s a later track with fabulous dancing.

Saul Leiter — In No Great Hurry: 13 Lessons in Life

I’ve spent a lifetime as a specialist nurse supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities to maintain and develop their independence together with practicing as a part time psychotherapist for the general public, within the UK’s National Health Service. During this time, I’ve drawn, painted, made music but mainly taken photos (since I was a kid with a darkroom). Maybe there’ll be an exhibition of my own one day but, like Saul Leiter, I’m used to “postponing things and seeing no reason to be in a rush.” For me, his exhibitions and photobooks have a magical quality that validate and inspire all at the same time.

Ivor Cutler

Ivor Cutler always had my heart but here’s an epic that didn’t feature on his own albums.

Angeline Morrison — The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience

In 2022 Angeline Morrison released an astonishing album… I’m afraid that I can’t stop myself recommending it to people! If you get a chance…

Paul Wright — Arcadia

Arcadia is a short film that explores Britain’s relationship with the earth, its secret pasts, hidden histories and collective amnesia using old film and TV footage in an exhilarating fashion.

Wet Leg — “Chaise Longue,” live at the BRIT Awards, 2023

A performance from the here and now, incorporating the past with the present in a truly WTF moment at the Brits!

Gretchen Gerzina — Black England

Books… so many books! So, here’s what I’m currently reading.

Anthony Gormley — Another Place

Finally… if ever in Liverpool, visit Crosby Beach and experience Antony Gormley’s sculpture. It consists of 100 cast iron figures facing towards the sea, (gradually becoming encrusted with barnacles, etc.) all modeled on Gormley’s own naked body.

[spilladabalia]

Subway Sect - Nobody's Scared

[shakir2]

Critical analysis of Christianity and Islam 

Food for Thought. Shakir Mumtaz. A fallacy believed by Christians and Muslims alike is that Jesus died on the cross in AD 30-33; Christians believe that Jesus had resurrected, but Muslims believe that he will return before the end of time. None of these

[Distortions in Christianity and Islam]  Hanifism, Sabianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are developmental or evolutionary stages of monotheism. Before Islam, prophet Muhammad, Qura’an, all the religions, Prophets, and scriptures were provisional for a specific people. Qura’an testifies that these religions and their scriptures changed, and except for Holy Qura’an no scripture is extant in…

[scripture-pictures]

[faithingodministries]

God See And Know Us

9 What then? Are we worse off than they? In no way: because we have before made it clear that Jews as well as Greeks are all under the power of sin; 10 As it is said in the holy writings, there is not one who does righteousness; 11 Not one who has the knowledge of what is right, not one who is a searcher after God; 12 They have all gone out of the way, there is no profit in any of them; there is…

[woeworld]

You have yourself said: the early Christians would not have thought it proper to contact pagan gods or the spirits of the dead. Every Christian who held to the creeds throughout history would agree. No specific sect do I reference here, but the whole Christian body. You may say, "we have found evidence of charms as traditional to this Christian culture", but since when are the deeds of men the dictators of the laws of God? Shall we similarly say that, because Christians (if they may be called such) in some places practiced adultery, adultery is permissible? Certainly not!

It may be true (I only say "may be" because I am not knowledgeable enough in greek or greek culture to confirm one way or the other) that the apostles cast lots as a divinatory practice. But that does not mean necessarily that it is permissible. You will notice, this passage occurs before Pentecost. Christ is no longer with them, but neither has the Holy Spirit arrived to instruct them. Their state, in terms of Divine Communication, was similar to the Hebrews in the Old Testament.

For the Hebrews, lots were apparently permissible, and the same here. But the descent of the Holy Spirit is a distinct theological division. As it may be true that they were permitted lots in Acts 1, so might it be true that we are no longer permitted (perhaps because of the more intimate connection to the Spirit found within us)

Ideas about witchcraft and sorcery surely have developed as the theology of the church has developed, but opposition to it (whatever "it" is) is pretty universal. But here is the rub: christian Witches are not practicing some nebulous things that sometimes are considered magic and sometimes aren't. They are practicing Witchcraft, as they themselves label it. They have decided to rebel against the Church as a whole, by purposefully choosing the title of Witches.

To return to the adultery example, perhaps a heterodox group decides to do polygamy. Is this acceptable? maybe, maybe not. But then they decide to style themselves "Christian Adulterers". It is a different matter! They have set themselves against the Church, because whatever the Church believes on polygamy, it cannot approve of adultery!

It is the same way with christian Witches. Perhaps you believe in casting lots or tarot, or compelling the Spirit by use of incantation. I'd think you're wrong to believe in that (very wrong, in fact), but maybe I am wrong. But to call yourself christian Witches is a knowing act of rebellion.

A big, huge, honkin' problem with saying "Christianity forbids witchcraft!" as if that's a statement that actually means anything is- 1. How are you defining "Christianity"? 2. How are you defining "witchcraft"? Most people who state that "Christianity forbids witchcraft" are probably imagining their own sect of Christianity, which they probably assume is valid because they have an extremely skewed comprehension of its history, and of Christian history in general. The thing is, if you think it's "obvious" that any specific sect of Christianity is the One True Christianity, or even the Most Valid Christianity, you don't know the history of Christianity. You've been taught propaganda. People who state this also aren't aware that the words translated as "witch," "witchcraft," "sorcery," etc. don't always refer to the same things we picture today. They could have much broader or more narrow definitions than the ones we're using, and trying to impose our modern notions onto these texts will only distort and obscure whatever the writers were actually trying to say. You cannot possibly claim to definitively know what an author meant unless you find the original word used in the original text and find out how that word was used in the specific time and place the author lived. It's as simple as that. Many modern people will immediately class a spirit board as witchcraft - and yet, we cannot assume that early Christians would have done the same. While it's a safe bet that they wouldn't have thought it proper to contact pagan gods or the spirits of the dead, it's entirely possible that they could've seen it as a perfectly fine way to communicate with the Holy Spirit. According to The Acts of the Apostles, lots were cast to decide who would replace Judas as one of the twelve. That's right - the author of Luke records that the apostles used divination to determine God's will in a pretty serious matter. Again - if you think you know what the Bible's referring to when you see words like "witch," "witchcraft," "sorcery," and so forth - unless you've studied the languages and cultures of the authors, you don't.

[nerdygaymormon]

In response to the August 2024 updates to General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Executive Committee of Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families & Friends released the following statement:

We mourn with our transgender siblings as we wrestle with the painful impact of recent policy changes and guidelines released by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With over 45 years of providing support to LGBTQIA+ individuals who are current and former members of the Church, we know first-hand the pain that policies like this cause. We stand with our transgender siblings.

Rather than seek to better understand, include, and affirm transgender individuals who are also Latter-day Saints, leaders of the Church have opted to further restrict these members’ ability to participate. While these changes specifically impact individuals who have socially or medically transitioned, all are affected by the messages conveyed in these policies, which reject authentic experience and identity.

Prior to these updates, transgender members of the Church could expect their gender identities to be respected through the use of their chosen names, to participate in church meetings aligning with their gender identities, and to have some opportunities to be called to serve within the Church. The recent updates reduce the hope that the gender identities of transgender members will be respected, prohibit transgender members from church meetings aligning with their gender identities, restrict access to restrooms, and explicitly prohibit transgender members from serving in the Church as teachers or working with children.

Further, church policy now includes language that encourages detransitioning as the only pathway to reinstate full membership within the Church.

The Ninth Article of Faith of the Church states that “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.” Modern revelation is a foundational belief of the Church. The claim of prophecy received today from the Lord’s anointed sets the Church apart from most Christian sects. However, in our view, the treatment of transgender individuals by those who claim the mantle of prophecy indicates that they, like Paul of old, “see through a glass, darkly” in this area. In that lack of clarity, leaders of the Church are co-opting ideologies of the world in promoting views of gender being restricted to that assigned at birth and in encouraging detransitioning.

We hope that God will yet reveal better for our transgender siblings.

Until then, Affirmation: LGBTQ Mormons, Families & Friends remains committed to creating worldwide communities of safety, love, and hope, fully inclusive and affirming of all sexual orientations, gender identities, beliefs, and relationships with the Church. We love you. We are here for you.

Fred Bowers, President Joel McDonald, Senior Vice President David Doyle, Vice President

[mayasaura]

what if john didn't actually wipe the pre-ressurection memories of his friends, and he just made them inaccessible, and through lyctor shenanigans, pyrha was somehow able to find gi1deons?

this is brought on by me seeing a post a while back about how childhood amnesia is kind of like ur brain updating and then the childhood memory files not updating with it, so the brain computer can't use them.

but the pre-ressurection memories are adult memories, so a human brain, a.k.a g1deon's, would have to be damaged in a particular way to be unable to access the entirety of his life.

fast forward to his ascension. pyrrha, as his cav, is going to have her muscle memories superimposed over his, and so she is effectively going 'where remembrance lives in the brain'. the superhealing granted by lyctorhood mingles with the incoming pyrrha™️ juice and either that's what disrupts some of whatever work john did, and the botched process gives pyrrha access to gi1deon's pre-res memories, or the botched process specifically that does it. either way, pyrrha now knows Some Things. Some Things she'll sit on for a while, but Things none the less.

this brings me to cassy. she was working on the grand lysis with anastasia originally, something pal and cam perfected centuries later. consequently, paul tells us two very important things:

1) when you combine two souls, the resultant souls have both the memories, but may find it hard to sort through and distinguish memories of the same event

2) it is possible to reach grand lysis after a standard lysis.

could it be, then, that cassy was privately trying to achieve grand lysis too? if she was, it's obvious she didn't succeed/fully follow through, as the og lyctor gang don't mention any change in her behaviour. but i like to think that she tried, and just like gi1deon unintentionally undid some of John's work. but what Cass-and-Nigella (Nancy?) saw and remembered caused them to panic and 'look back', which could have permanently stopped Cass from trying to undergo grand lysis again (there's not enough evidence for that, it's just the only reason i can think of why she wouldn't dive deeper; truth over solace in lies and all that)

whatever happened, it's some extra sauce on for the cass betrayal <3

So true, you make some great points about Pyrrha and GtF. If John wiped them by suppressing that memory in her brain, well, once she was a soul without her own brain..... all bets are off.

I'm not sure how you're drawing the conclusion for the second point, about grand lysis being possible after completing standard lysis. If Paul is the result of Cassiopeia and Anastasia's joint research, or at least if Cassie and Anastasia were driving toward the same goal, I'm not sure it follows that Cassie thought she could still achieve grand lysis with Nigella. Sixth is for truth over solace in lies, right? Could be the truth Cassie was seeking wasn't that she could still be reborn with Nigella, but rather the much harder truth of finding out for sure that Nigella's death was unnecessary.

I think you're right, tho. It is very suggestive that Cassiopeia and Anastasia's research was in composite and melange souls. And that is some delicious sauce to stir into the theories about Cassiopeia's betrayal.

[punkrockhistory]

48 years ago

Paul Simonon and Joe Strummer of The Clash with Paul Smith of the Subway Sect at The 100 Club Punk Festival, London, September 20th & 21st, 1976

[sethshead]

Annual reminder that Jesus was not Palestinian and that Palestine as legally defined region did not exist at that time, nor did the Palestinian nation. This is empirically documented fact. Jesus was born a Jew and died a Jew in Roman Judea. If “Palestine” was used in some Greek texts to describe the region it was because of the Philistines (who aren’t Arab in origin) having lived here once. I’m now hearing people saying Christianity is Palestinian in origin. This is also sheer idiocy. Even if we allow for the fact that Jesus isn’t the progenitor of Christianity (again he died a Jew, his followers were all Jewish and they defined themselves as a sect of Judaism, not a new religion) and attribute the foundation to Paul and people of his generation, which I would say is true. Paul was born a Jew in Roman Judea and died 70 years before the region was renamed Palestine. Jesus and the founding of Christianity has everything to do with the Jews and zero to do with Palestine and Palestinians. And it goes without saying they have nothing to do with Arabs and Islam, except insofar as Islam tells it story with Jesus (and for that matter Judaism) being part of its origin story, which did not happen until the 600s. I will also point out that those western activists (historically clueless) who are making this claim are actually doing a great disservice to the Palestinian people. Why? Because they are inventing ancient Palestinian history that is easily refutable by fact, as I have just done. Given how easy it is to undermine such claims, when people who don’t know much about the region (but joined the river to the sea crowd because that’s what the cool kids do) learn the truth they will become skeptical about other claims made by Palestinians, some of which are true, some of which deserve acknowledgment. But the American left doesn’t care. They don’t actually care about the Palestinians. They are driven by Jew-hatred, and Zionism is the most convenient demon in their social justice arsenal. They will never help free Palestine. But what they will continue to do is endanger diaspora Jewry, which is their goal, or at least a means to their end. Such was also the case with the Arab regimes who opposed a Jewish state from the very beginning. They weren’t advocating for Palestinians, they were advocating for non Jewish state anywhere min the region. The left has constructed a binary opposition that undergirds their theology that pits the evil oppressive (((Zionists))) against the eternally oppressed Palestinians. Their construct is false, an eschatological theology and nothing else, with both “Zionists” and “Palestinians” being little more than constructs they have thrown together to advance their revolutionary (and profoundly anti-Western) agenda. But if they want to claim Palestinians as the progenitors of Christianity then, well, let me point out, that “Christianity” persecuted the Jews severely at least until the early modern era and in some parts of Europe far beyond that time, culminating in The Holocaust. So sure, you want to claim Jesus for Palestine, then you also acquire all the baggage that comes with him.

-- Jarrod Tanny

It’s all just another form of supersession.

[furordinaricvs]

Church of St Peter and Paul on outskirts of Novi Pazar, Serbia.

Oldest church in Serbia with original parts dating to 4th century and additional parts of church from 6th, 7th and 9th century. During medieval times it served as baptismal church of Serbian Nemanjić dynasty.

Architectural style resembles that of early churches in Armenia, Georgia and Italy. Some important events connected with this church is baptism of Stefan Nemanja (Serbia's Grand Prince), Council against the Bogomils (Christian sect) and transfer of his rule to his son, Stefan Nemanjić.