It’s funny you say this. After I became an apostate and left my faith, as I learned and grew behind that… I came to the conclusion that I knew what true salvation was now. Or at least perhaps one kind of salvation.

Salvation lies within ones ability to embrace different perspectives.

So much pain, struggling, and strife can be resolved by a change in perspective.

Honestly, the fiction that exists today has the capability of teaching incredibly valuable lessons with thousands of years of progress incorporated into it. I often find myself feeling all the warm and fuzzies when a fiction book of today touches important ethics amidst a simple sci-fi or fantasy story. 💜

There are certainly some good things to learn from ancient morality, like the Golden Rule, but it really cannot beat modern ethics. Many philosophies of long ago are still potent today, but many more (should) have become deprecated with the advent of modern science and ethics.

This is kind of why I’ve been gravitating towards Humanism. It’s much of the goodness of religion, but without God.

I second the no thanks on “the god of the gaps.” Very very important.

I’ve become a healthier and happier person after embracing my ignorance. Always learn. Always seek to know more. When the the data isn’t there, it’s okay. One needn’t full the void.

Someday, we will have an answer. Or, perhaps not. We need to sit with that as it is.

Many forms of satanism, perhaps most?, aren’t religious and do not believe in a literal Satan or in Christianity. Satan is used as a symbol of individualism, skepticism, and resistance to religious authority. For many satanists, it’s less about worship and more about expressing values like personal autonomy and separation of church and state.

I have a lot of Satanist friends. I’m all for individualism, skepticism, and resistance to religious authorities, but I personally prefer to do it without all the satanic imagery. Just to tease, I occasionally remind them that their beliefs are too Christian for me. Haha. 😈

I was very, very devout. After a long long while, I finally gathered enough courage to embrace apostasy (at no small cost). I’m much happier and healthier now.

Oh wow.

Everyone knows that it’s ducks who wants grapes.

The Duck Song (Got any Grapes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFPf7wrLWxg

It’s already used for everything. Haha.

Good grief that’s a gorgeous bird!

😍

Such an interesting bird.

Excellent shots!

I started watching Slow Horses, a British Spy thriller about MI5 rejects. 3 episodes in and finding it pretty interesting.

Season 1 Trailer https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cuRT1kgTdMQ

Have you ever seen a purple finch? Especially deep colored house finches have fooled me before. I’d really like to see a purple finch.

Yay! That’s been my struggle too! Good for you!

I’ve only ever seen a kinglet’s crown once, about 15 min car ride from home. At the lovely park, I got to see him for a while. A lovely bird. 🙃

Now I finally recognize the less royal variety. 🤪

Someday, when I grow up, I’ll be a real birder and this will be so much easier. 💜

Unfortunately, not this camera. It relies on lens-based stabilization (if one has lenses that do that). And the telephoto lense I was using is from a much, much older camera that I bought an adapter for. Someday, when the gods bestow upon me wealth, I’ll be able afford the nice things. Until then, I just have to be really really still. 😁

I had hoped, but I suffered a series of unfortunate events and could not get my camera to connect to the app on my phone. It’s really hard to get a good shot with a telephoto lens when you have to touch the camera. I’m surprised this kinglet came out as well as it did. But now that I know what I’m looking at and the app is theoretically reconnected, I should be able to get some better photos in the future.

There were so many birds in the group today. Bluebirds, junco, kinglet, cardinal, titmice, downy woodpecker, carolina wren, yellow rump warbler, and white throated sparrow.

I think that I saw a black and white warbler, but it really shouldn’t be here right now. So more likely a downy. Wish I had my binos to get a good look.

So I found this post of yours rather indirectly. I love how forthright you are in looking for friends. There’s a gentle and good quality to that which I like. I have mixed feelings about doing that myself.

[distracted by chores]

… so I got busy and stepped away from my phone. Now that I’m back, i was curious about what community this was before I said anything more. Ha! You were being forthright because that’s the whole point of this community! 🤦🏽 Interesting that such a thing exists and I hope it works well (and safely) for people.

I wasn’t really going to respond at all because, I don’t know, things and such. but then I clicked that link of yours and fell in love with the verdant colors and your excellent tastes in books!

Your area is gorgeous. The tortoises are delightful. Do they live with you? Here’s a tortoise I met on a hike when I lived in desert once upon a time. It took a good half hour for my friend’s tortoise to let me get this close.

I’m really curious what you thought of Children of Time and if you read the following books.

What about A Psalm for the Wild Built? I absolutely loved it. There’s another book after it as well. Both relatively short. Did you get to them? What did you think?

Anyway, I’ve said entirely more than I intended. I don’t think our demographics match what your looking for. I’m older with kids–different phase of life and such. But, like you, I enjoy watching things. Slowing down and paying attention is when I feel at my best. Sometimes I even try to capture the moments, like these autumnal trees by a lake and this butterfly.

Btw, there is another federated platform like this one for photos which you might consider sharing on. It’s called PixelFed. I think you might like sharing some of your photos and your art. Could be a nice way to interact with folks.

Time to end what may be my lengthiest post here ever.

I wish you the best in your quest to meet people and in your goals for this year!

Oh, I really like that sketch. You captured his smile so well. My eyes were also drawn to the beard detail and overall excellent shading. You have a gift. Don’t stop.

Stay warm this weekend!

The stick on the other side of the head makes it look like this heron is a pterodactyl!

That’s pretty neat that the sexes would look so similar. I don’t see that often.