Sara

[size=1]By the time anything reaches the 'obsession' level, I'd say it's already gone too far. I suppose my passions for reading and writing qualify. I get a bit depressed after finishing a book [and you don't want to be around me when I've reached the end of a series,] and I tend to get a bit too 'involved' with my writing.[/size]

[size=1]Okay, [i]here's[/i] a question. Using symbols to bypass the censors is forbidden, yes? I was simply wondering.. Becuse if it is a rule, it seems to be the least-enforced rule here.[/size]

[B][color=#507AAC]This is an interesting problem. Do we take the Bible at face value or do we take the position that the scripture's words have deeper meanings?[/color][/b] [size=1]Heh.. Parables. I've been looking into this, actually, since Roxie brought it up. Again.. It makes sense, but since when is 'religion' supposed to make sense?[/size] [color=#507AAC][b]Anyway, bleh...that turned out longer than I thought it'd be. But I thought you'd find it interesting. ~_^[/color] [/B] [SIZE=1]Always do. ;)[/SIZE]

[B][color=#9933ff]Are you a prodestant and a bapist because your parents are of the two different religions and then, in turn, when you were born, you were born into both religions?[/b][/color] [size=1]I believe 'Baptist' is a Protestant denomination--Protestant is used to refer to the churches with broke away from the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation. Thus, Methodists, Baptists, and Lutherans are all Protestants.[/size] [b][color=#9933ff]Actually, the majority of the bible is totally false.The bible wasn't meant to be taken literally at all. It was there to show principles and beliefs. [/color] [/B] [size=1]I have heard people who believe that, although I don't. It makes sense... But since when does any religion make sense? I think, where I stand on a theological scale, I need to take the Bible at face value. If one part of it is false, there is no guarantee the rest of it is true. However, my beliefs include that which Scripture is inspired by God, and "Scripture interprets Scripture." If you can show me something in the Bible that proves the rest is false, I would belive you..but then, if the rest was false, so would that verse be, and it means that the rest is true. :whoops: Don't you love paradoxes? "A God who let us prove his existence would be an idol." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer [/size]

[SIZE=1][b]My Name[/b]: Sara Jean [b]Character Name:[/b] Xii [pronounced 'shee'] Endelin [b]Email Address:[/b] [email]cynic42@gmx.net[/email] [b]AIM[/b]: omega reh [b]Physical Appearance[/b]: See attachment. It's an unfinished picture, but it turned out nice. In most cases, she will wear a brown tunic, long pants, and moccasins, all are trimmed with a similar design. [b]Info:[/b] [b]Race:[/b] "Endelin." Xii is one of a race of people which have always lived in the forest, and are sometimes rumored to have unnatural abilities where woods anf nature are concerned. Legend has it that the first Endelin was born from a union of man and dryad. Human in appearance [and perhaps completely human,] they are rarely seen outside the forest--or in it, for that matter. [b]Home[/b]: Xii's clan lives deep in Erienthe forest, some miles from the afflicted village. The forest itself borders the town wall. [b]Family:[/b] As hinted above, the Endelin live in clans, rather than tightly-knit biological families. Xii's is composed of roughly 40 people. [b]History[/b]: Xii isn't sure who her immediate family is, and doesn't care: she's quite happy with her life. In fact, she was 'adopted' from another clan, but such cases, while infrequent, do happen among the Endelin of Erienthe, and no one thinks much of them. She is well-liked by everyone she knows, and has a slight crush on her long-time best friend. [b]Personality[/b]: Xii is a naturally friendly person. Having gotten along well with everyone she knew at home, she is somewhat hurt when she meets people who refuse to be friendly, and wonders if the problem may lie with herself. She's more quiet than bouncy, and has a sweet and caring disposition. She is not easily swayed from her beliefs, but will often go with 'majority rule' to avoid open conflict, and although she will be bitter for a little while, it is not her nature to hold a grudge. [b]Strengths and Weaknesses:[/b] Because of who she is and where she has lived all her life, Xii is completely home in the forest, able to live, eat, and hide without difficulty. She does not have healing magic, but knows the basics of healing, and is familiar with forest plants. She has a sling which she can hunt with, and a well-worn wooden staff she carries as a walkin stick/personal defense. She is not a fighter, however, and would have no idea what to do with--or when confronted with--any other weapon. She tolerates camp and cooking fires, but is uncomfortable around them, and would panic if threatened with fire, even in jest. She loves the forest, and cannot tolerate destruction of any kind; she can be unreasonable where this is concerned. She longs for the forest when she is not in it, and may become very homesick. She is also very trusting and open, and her greatest fault is perhaps that she is so naive. [b]Other Quirks[/b]: A tree is planted at the birth of each Endelin child, in a custom laced with a kind of 'magic.' The tree will keep pace with the child's growth, reaching maturity at the same time. Certain children may form a strong bond with their tree; Xii has. Her staff was made from a fallen branch, and she carries a leaf with her at all times. She may believe herself to sense certain things--weather, and the like--taking place around it. ["It's raining back home..."] Maybe she's a little crazy, but hey--who isn't a [i]little[/i] crazy?[/SIZE]

[size=1]Desert Shadow used to say he wanted his post count set eternally at '72.' Heh..[/size]

[size=1]This really isn't directed at you, XeEmO, but it was built off of your post. That does not make sense to me. "I'm a Christian but I don't want to be"? If you don't want to be a Christian, that implies--and it is an assumption, but I think it's a pretty good one--that you do not agree with the basic principles. If you do not agree with the principles of a religion, how can you believe that they are right? If you do not believe that they are right, you do not believe in them. By that chain of logic...which I think is pretty reasonable, as far as theological ideas go...you are not a Christian. Why would you claim to be a part of a religion you have no interest in remaining a part of? It seems as though you are only using that as a safeguard while you are looking around for something else to claim for yourself, which does not fit with what I perceive religion--any kind of religion--to be. Your religion should be something that...for lack of a better word...embodies what you believe about "life, the universe, and everything." If you do not 'want' to be a Christian, and have a legitimate reason for that, you are not a Christian. There may be something else out there that rings true for you, and there may not be. But I have never been able to comprehend those people who say that they wish to 'change' their religion, or ask 'what do I have to believe/do to be [u][insert religion here: Wiccan/Buddhist/etc][/u]?' It seems to me that they have decided "Oh, [i]that[/i] religion looks like fun, I'll try that for a while!" And perhaps that is was some of them do.. But I find that very troublesome. Religion can be a very controversial subject. People have fought and died over what is right, and others have died because they would not give up what they believed in. It cheapens any religion to have rebel teens suddenly announce they've become Wiccan, simply because it seemed like a good idea at the time. Shaping beliefs to fit your chosen religion compromises you, it compromises your new religion, and it compromises those who deeply believe that that religion is what embodies their beliefs. There should be no need to change what you believe and do to change your religion. You should only adopt a religion that already makes sense to you and how you live. Religion should not be a matter of picking and choosing beliefs and ideals to fit with your denomination/faith. It should be finding a faith that embodies all your beliefs and ideals. I wonder if I'm making sense to anyone but myself. There's probably a good lesson for me somewhere in there. Or else you're just playing the part of a rebel teen, there's always that.[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by wrist cutter [/i] [B]Because I'm such a loser conformist with religious rhetoric pounded in to me with a hammer since birth, I'm Christian. Did I mention you're all going to hell? I think I'm supposed to. [/B][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]That's about as close as I can get. I don't know if I believe in anything.[/SIZE]

[size=1]Brilliant? Of course he is, silly. It never occured to me that SW and Middle Earth might be competing. *looks amused* Actually, I was furious when I first heard they were going to do the movies. I was terrifed they were going to mess everything up. Granted, they were making a movie for a fifty-plus year fanbase, and somebody was going to be lynched if they messed anything up too horribly...[/size]

[size=1]Flash.....and what is your work, exactly? Anyway.. Loved the book. Loved the movie. Of course, now I have to read the book again. Heh. [/size]

[SIZE=1].... Okay. That made me laugh. This is another thing I was messing with...trying to make a Hobbes smiley. Everyone I talk to seems to have a different opinion of which is the best out of three...[/SIZE]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by James [/i] [B][color=#507AAC]A couple of points here. First, some people are newbies even though they have the "No Life" title. Perhaps Sara is the best member to go over the ins and outs of status being more a state of mind than text on a screen. Ahem. ^_^;; [/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]I'm trying to figure out exactly how you meant that, and I'm hoping it was intended in the least insulting way I've come up with.... :p Anyway...yeah. Quality over quantity and all that rot. Although it [i]is[/i] annoying to be a 'newbie,' you'll find that the intelligent people here don't care how many posts you have. And as for the rest.. Well, we ignore them. Wheeee, that post was just [i]dripping[/i] with superiority...[/SIZE]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Final Flash [/i] [B]Which is happening in the next twenty minutes. Be thankful. [/B][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Oh, I am. Cyko, I can brief you on what happened last year, if you'd like... Safer posted a thread, there were a bunch of categories. Best female member, best Zelda member, most likely to become a mod, best signature, etc. People went through and 'voted' someone for each category. Gin and I tallied the results, Kuja later did the same. The winners received....recognition, I guess. One of the problems was people voting for multiple people in the same category. A typical post would be: Best female member: Babygirl, Anna, Ginny, Cera, Lady Mac, Queen Asuka, Lotus. Best staff member: TN, Kuja, Adam, James, Babygirl So people ended up getting fractions of a vote...it was messy. I know kuja's results thread is still around....along with some other dark history of GD, heh...[/SIZE]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by PiroMunkie [/i] [B][color=indigo]You have no idea how much that has appalled me. o-O Sara, brilliant. :) I love it. Blurred text is awesome. Background is nice. Well done. I guess some people just do not understand genious. :p[/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Piro! Thank you, thank you, thank you! ^_^ Heh, thanks t' all you rest, too, but Piro's my fellow Hobbes lover here. ^_^ [strike]Cloud[/strike] Tasis, congratualations. You have made it onto my ever-growing 'List of People Who Annoy me for the Sheer Heck of It.' Heh. [You're in good company. :p][/SIZE]

[SIZE=1]You've never heard of Hobbes? Or the psycho cat quote? [Please say the quote...] I liked the blurred text...Hmm.. My tastes don't seem to match with any of yours. :p[/SIZE]

[size=1]No Hobbes fans here, mm? The text is from Calvin and Hobbes, thus the tiger-y background. I've been playing with some scans and random stuff to make myself a Hobbes banner.[/size]

[size=1]Just something I was messing with in photoshop. I liked the way it turned out... Questions, comments, criticisms... Asinine decimal ratings shall be ignored, as always.[/size]

[size=1]I got the Care Bears Movie. *starts singing* Care-a-Lot...Care-a-Lot...[/size]

[size=1]*cough* Didn't [i]you[/i] run it last year, Safer? I asked James about it a whie back, he said probably when the OBBII thing was finally over.[/size]

[size=1]Your name always makes me think of Mnementh....[/size]

[size=1]Y'all have to admit, my Pointless PM List was awesome.[/size]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Mitch [/i] [B][color=red] I abstain from doing a New Year's Resolution. It's meaningless. People choose mostly things which are either selfish to take at, or things that they are uprightly addicted to to try and grow away from. Either of those things ever turn out good, and it's just all pointless in the end.[/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]So you're saying it's better to have no goals in life. Because either they are selfish, or impossible, and you'll never reach them anyway. I can't say that I have any specific 'new year' resolutions of yet [those won't come around till sometime after Christmas, and maybe after New Year's.] But I do have vague things I'd like to do..."someday." This is copy-and-paste, some of you may have seen it before. -Learn Latin -Write a book -Publish a book -See the ocean -Meet Shy -Read [i]Sword of Truth[/i] series. I don't know if there is even such a thing. It popped into my head. Is this the one Robb's been bugging me to read? -Fall hopelessly in love -Possibly get married to person from the previous -Work for Dreamworks or Pixar -Spend a semester in Germany -Share a secret with someone special -Keep a secret. Forever. -Watch Neon Genesis Evangelion. ^_^ -Meet Ginny -Work as in intern at a residential care facility or teens -Write for National Geographic -Take a photography course -Adopt a child -Spend a day at a bookstore with a friend -Learn to enjoy life for what it is. -Get lost in a big school -Date someone. Just for fun. -Be a voice actor for an animated musical production. This would be so cool. -Participate in a snowball fight with all my friends. -Stop watching life from the wings. Take a chance, go onstage. -Learn to play at least one really cool song on piano.[/SIZE]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Mitch [/i] [B][color=red] I thought it means something along the lines of God comes from the Machine...or something. Oh well, it could be a multiple meaning.[/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [SIZE=1]Literally, yes. But the phrase also has a meaning. And James: Either these threads are incredibily common, or some peope have just been around too long.[/SIZE]

[size=1]Heh, thank you. I think that's it. [b]Nobody should feel that they'll get in trouble for bringing up a complaint or something. [/b] You'll notice the great lack of 'Even though I'll probably get banned for this...' in my posts. :p heh. That always made me laugh, when people added that.. -Sara[/size]

[size=1]Again, I feel like I've lost control of what I originally meant... Yes, I completely see where you are coming from on the 'Fate or Destiny' thread, now. I was reluctant to bring it up, as I was really quite satisfied with the answers provided previous to my second post, but, I was asked for an example... I looked at the other threads I had been wondering about, and they each, individually, belong closed. It was the combination of several at once that brought up my questions. Thank you again for clearing that up, James. -Sara[/size]