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Author | Topic: Tell Him Jesus Sent You | |||||||||||||||||||||||
ringo Member (Idle past 443 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined: |
Phat writes: Choosing the right Deity could be viewed as important by some.... And yet the ones who think it is important often have the most lame-brained "reasons" for their choice. We see it here all the time: somebody who "knows" that the Judeo-Christian god is the right choice but displays the most abject ignorance of any other viewpoint. Some fundies are particularly militant in their ignorance of Islam, for example. What if you make your decision for Yahweh and then find yourself standing before a God who's wearing a turban and saying, "You can call me Al"? Help scientific research in your spare time. No cost. No obligation. Join the World Community Grid with Team EvC
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Phat Member Posts: 18354 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
I guess I would say... err...Shalmom, Al?
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jar Member (Idle past 425 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: |
Some believe that to accept God is to surrender ones brain and mind and bow to superior intelligence. HuH????????? An intelligence superior to someone who has surrendered their brain is not really saying all that much.
Others believe that IF God exists, God gave us a brain to use and keep as our inheritance and birthright...and that it does not matter whether or not we accept or even understand God. Well if God exists and if we are created, looks like God gave us a brain. If not to use, exactly what is the purpose of the most expensive organ? How ever so far the only definition you have given for "accepting God" seems to be becoming brain dead. I'm not sure that is what you really mean. People throw stuff like "accepting God" around constantly as though that has any meaning. Wouldn't be a good idea though to pause and try to figure out just what it does mean? We have no way of ever knowing that God is speaking to us. We may well believe that is the cause, but if we are honest, we must admit that it is possible we are wrong. You said:
Personally, I believe that God desires that we make an attempt to acknowledge that we ourselves individually and collectively do not know everything nor will we ever and that it is ok to be humble and in awe. The question is, should someone stop at that point? Should we say "Okay, I can't know everything and so I won't try to know everything"? Why would GOD want us to admit we cannot know everything? Wouldn't GOD rather we said "I don't know everything yet!" Aslan is not a Tame Lion
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riVeRraT Member (Idle past 447 days) Posts: 5788 From: NY USA Joined: |
I used to be an evangelical that believed that it was our collective responsibility (being the enlightened ones, of course) to educate the poor unenlightened masses who were blinded by deception. NOW, of course, I believe that God draws people unto Himself How were you enlightened?
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Phat Member Posts: 18354 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
I was saved. One day it just hit me like an epiphany. I cant explain it...but I also believe that God gave me a brain...so i question much of the evangelical reality that I used to embrace. While I could say that I am one of the peculiar people, I don't see myself as exclusive as I used to.
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Doddy Member (Idle past 5940 days) Posts: 563 From: Brisbane, Australia Joined: |
We're digressing a bit, but I just have to say that this is almost exactly what happened to me, only with one major difference.
After my epiphany, I ended up believing that my brain gave me God. "Der Mensch kann was er will; er kann aber nicht wollen was er will." (Man can do what he wills but he cannot will what he wills.) - Arthur Schopenhauer "If there are any gods whose chief concern is man, they can't be very important gods." - Arthur C. Clarke
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riVeRraT Member (Idle past 447 days) Posts: 5788 From: NY USA Joined: |
I guess my point is, ( and a constant question) is that I struggle with the same thought. Did I find God, or did God find me?
If it is an exclusive thought that God found me, and I or anything else in this life had nothing to do with it, then I do not need to preach the gospel, becayse regardless of what I do, God already has His "chosen people" (BTW, I hate that expression). But on the other hand, the only way you even know anything about God, was from your surroundings. Myself included. But even knowing about God, I did not know, or understand what the Holy Spirit is. People say that in a room full of people, who are Spirit filled, you too can feel it. But there are some who don't feel a thing (I was one of them). I guess I am confusing too many thoughts here, and I don't have the time to write them out today, but do you think we should preach the gospel? (not asking how). Or is it a waste of time? Do we even need the bible? Because the bible seems to be a big point of confusion. Not that the bible itself is confusing, but the people interpreting it are confused about it.
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riVeRraT Member (Idle past 447 days) Posts: 5788 From: NY USA Joined: |
After my epiphany, I ended up believing that my brain gave me God. Psych! What if your wrong?Do you still get the same feeling from time to time?
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nator Member (Idle past 2200 days) Posts: 12961 From: Ann Arbor Joined: |
quote: Well? What did you reply?
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nator Member (Idle past 2200 days) Posts: 12961 From: Ann Arbor Joined: |
quote: "Comfortable." I'm not sure that that is the right word to describe the agnostic's feelings. There is really very little comfort to be derived from not having enough information to make a determination.
quote: On the contrary, all of humanity is extremely willing and capable, by nature, of accepting the supernatural.
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Archer Opteryx Member (Idle past 3628 days) Posts: 1811 From: East Asia Joined: |
quote: nator: Well? What did you reply?
Message 17 is the best I can remember. Today I would likely say this: 'Because we'd enjoy each other's company and you know I'd appreciate it.' What would you say? ___ Edited by Archer Opterix, : html. Archer All species are transitional.
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Phat Member Posts: 18354 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
Nator writes: Yes, as long as we feel in control in that we can define it, measure it, and define it. When the idea of a God who is neither able to be controlled, defined, measured or manipulated comes up, however, many people do not feel comfortable with such an idea. The idea that we owe allegiance or at least respect to such a Being rubs many people the wrong way.
On the contrary, all of humanity is extremely willing and capable, by nature, of accepting the supernatural.
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nator Member (Idle past 2200 days) Posts: 12961 From: Ann Arbor Joined: |
quote: Of course, that's only true if the diety is the type that "controls" things. The correct god might be the sort that set everything in motion and then let it fly with no further influence.
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Phat Member Posts: 18354 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 1.0 |
Before Copernicus, everyone thought that the cosmos spun around us. Before Christ, we as humans usually view ourselves as the center of attention. Its hard to accept that the best laid plans of mice and men are dependent upon an active Deity. (I'm not a Deist)
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nator Member (Idle past 2200 days) Posts: 12961 From: Ann Arbor Joined: |
I'd say, "God, you should let me into heaven because I've always hated Anne Geddes' work, which shows that I deserve a reward for my good taste."
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