"The ancient Indian (Hindu) myth maintains we are living in the age of Kalyug, which presages the end of the world. Kalyug is characterized by speed. Speed, being the enemy of reflection, will spread fantasy with such velocity that humans, in their pursuit of escape, will ultimately destroy themselves."

- Gita Mehta

-- Count Vronsky (vronsky@anna.com), September 15, 1999

Answers

IT,S THE END OF THE AGE,OK.VIOLENCE WILL INCREASE.IT,S A SET-UP. SATAN IS ON A RAMPAGE.--THE FINAL BATTLE OF THE AGES.SEEK THE 1 TRUE GOD.& HIS SON JESUS.--OR--BE TAKEN AT WILL BY SATAN.

-- don,t worship COW,S. (dogs@zianet.com), September 16, 1999.

Actually the Kali Yuga is over, but its lag effects are still pronounced in habit-entrenched human dullards.

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), September 16, 1999.

Watch "The Omega Man". Therein lies the truth.

-- Mr. T (treader@dawn.net), September 16, 1999.

JESUS SAID, in book of revelation.s.> I AM =ALPHA-&-OMEGA. the BEGGINING & the END. seeing that he is the END, check-out what HE say,s about=last-day,s.

-- I GET-IT. (dogs@zianet.com), September 16, 1999.

As I understand it, Indian tradition says that the Cosmos was created by Brahma, and is sustained for a period of 4,320,000,00 years (that's a 'day in the life of Bramha'). Then, the Cosnmos is destroyed, and is re-created again. Endlessly. From Whoa to go {of a day} is called a 'Kalpa', and each of these is divided into epochs or 'yugas'. (Satyuga, Tretayuga, Dwaparayuga and Kaliyuga. That's Gold, Silver, Bronze & Iron)

Many say the Iron Age (Kaliyuga) in which we live, began with the the Great Flood, ( and the destruction of the previous epoch) as recorded by most religions and civilisations as happening around 5,000 years ago. Whilst I can't recall the exact length of this Yuga, I think it's the longest, many millions of year of 'our' time long. And we're only about 5,000 years into it.....So, the 'best' is yet to come, friends...And it's all down hill, being the Iron Age - the age without reason. There is, however, a rope ladder out of the swamp.

Notwithstanding the accuracy or otherwise of the above, I happen to believe that each of us, individually and collectively, is responsible for our actions, and that we get EXACTLY what we deserve. As we all know the bad guy, who does nothing but evil and seems to live a charmed life, it brings up questions of life time(s), but we won't go into that now.

So if Y2K does turn out to be a calamity, at least you know it's all your fault and your just desserts. Feel better now?

By the way, I had a vision last night (this is serious, right) and it was that Indonesia would declare war on Australia before the end of the year. I hope the USA comes to our assistance. These Aussies are getting really up themselves.

-- Thinking Seriously (Seriously@ think about it.com), September 16, 1999.

The Omega Man is a totally rotten film version of I Am Legend by Richard Mathesen (sp?), which is actually pretty fair. Skip the movie, read the book.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), September 16, 1999.

>> I happen to believe that each of us, individually and collectively, is responsible for our actions... <<

That seems right.

>> ... and that we get EXACTLY what we deserve. <<

The world isn't that tidy. For example, in what way did I deserve to be the child of my parents? In this case, they are wonderful people. In other cases, not so. But there is no way I can connect my good fortune in being born to them with what I deserve.

To take another example, my daughter (also born to wonderful parents!) was exposed to a virus in the womb. She cannot walk or talk or feed herself. She has frequent and severe seizures. She copes with these handicaps as best she can, but I have a lot of trouble with the idea that she in any way deserves them.

I could go on. The only way to believe in our getting "exactly" what we deserve is to believe in what the last century called special providence. This concept is at odds with the observation that "the rain falls upon the just and the unjust alike". We live in an imperfect world. Only a perfect world could deliver "exactly" what each of us deserves, unfailingly.

However, I do believe that our thoughts and actions have a profound effect on our destiny -- they just don't account for all of it, that's all.

Just had to comment, even though it is far off topic.

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), September 16, 1999.

Didn't it say somewhere in the bible that its easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven ???

Was that bit true too or is that a "misinterpretation" (meaning a bit you dont like).

In other words, Al, have you given all that $11M away to good causes by now ? Cuz if not, I wouldnt mind some.

RSVP

-- Id rather worship a cow (Than@be.a.camel), September 16, 1999.

....The End is near. Sounds scary huh? Your soul is eternal, so let the adventure continue....If memory serves the "camel" through the needle is a linguistic mistake and should read "rope" through the needle. Camels and ropes not withstanding, I believe the parable means you cannot worship 2 gods and expect to enter the "state" (my bias) of heaven. Also, when you are destitute, God is your only choice sometimes. I know, my remission has turned into disability just in time for Y2K.....As I said, let the adventure continue, the valley of the "shadow" of death scares me not.....TJ

-- Tim Johnson (timca@webtv.net), September 16, 1999.

Watch "The Big Lebowski". Therein lies the truth.

-- mil (millenium@yahoo.com), September 17, 1999.

Brian,

Thanks for your considered, and calm response. One would certainly understand if, in your particular circumstances, you had "flamed away". My sympathy and thoughts are with you.

You'll appreciate that my post was what many millions of people believe - and probably as many again regard as complete rubbish. I happen to be in the first camp.

I think the world is in fact "tidy" but we don't see the full picture. Rather like looking at the underside of a beautifully hand woven 16th century tapestry, a mess of tangled thread on that side, sheer beauty on the other. Or looking down on city traffic from a tall building. The direction and (eventual) order is apparent. Not so if you're at ground level.

It's also said (by" my" camp) that in fact we choose not only our parents, but the time, place and circumstances of our birth, according to what we need in this particular life time. This assumes the concept of re-birth - that we (our soul, essence, whatever you want to call it) is on a journey. We started at One with our Creator (the Golden Age) and decide to go on a journey (that of the Prodigal Son in the Bible) away from Truth and end up, we have ended up, in the Iron Age.

So where we are is where we deserve to be. Our present circumstances are exactly appropriate for our past actions. But the Grace is that we have choice, in each moment, to decide how we will act in that moment, and so determine our future circumstances.

So our past actions create our present situation. Our actions NOW create our future circumstances. Trouble is, actions can have their effect in future, as well as present, life times, so things seem chaotic, unfair, totally cruel.

Having looked at most religions and belief systems, it's the only one that makes any kind of sense to me, in explaining the apparent injustice in the world. Otherwise, there is no God, or at best, that God in uncaring. But I believe that God gives us total free will, and total responsibility for our words, thoughts and deeds.

And to bring this in line with Y2K, my earlier comment was not flippant. Anyone over 40 (or less) can see the drop in standards, morality, everything in our modern, 'smart' world. If we get a sharp, painful reminder that we're off track, it's not chance, or a vengeful god, it's just the result of previous actions.

Brian, this probably won't help you one bit, but at least it's what some of us believe. Another point of view. Good luck, and may love surround you.

-- Thinking Seriously (Seriously@think about it.com), September 18, 1999.

Thinking, very well put, those are my views too... :)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), September 18, 1999.