When you make life choices they are a process of guess work?
Really.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
I am much more trusting of historical records when they deal with ordinary events -- elections, bank robberies, marriages, deaths, treaties, etc. -- than supernatural.
This is what I always find funny on how this culture is turning. There was a time they would believe everything in their religion through blind faith. Now, teachers, doctors, and talking heads on the news are the new priesthood. The devout atheist who bangs the drum being the town crier of intellectual freedom, bow before the holy halls of science, history, modern medicine, and the priesthood of the mainstream media. Funny how most atheists were once preaching some religious dogma go to preaching some statist doctrine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timmy
If you believe reports of God speaking, which reports do you believe? You can't know. You cannot. You do think you know, and you have made guesses, but that's the best you can do: guess. You have reasons for choosing the Bible over, say, the Quran. Muslims have their reasons, too.
Timmy how much do you know about Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, or even the history of Christianity? How much study have you applied to the teachings of these other religions? When Richard Alpert a.k.a Ram Dass, met Neem Karoli Baba, Alpert was an unbelieving scientist, but after that one meeting he ended up abandoning his life in America to be "literally" at the feet of that guru. Richard Alpert went to India and found religious devotees who were in a state of worship which he only found on LSD. A family from England traveled all the way from Waco Texas to be part of a church called the Branch Davidians. Were they on the right path? I don't believe so, because we shouldn't just rely on personal experience, but on much more. In the Rig Veda, the stories of the many different avatars of Vishnu teach ethics very different from the Bible. They teach that man must be bond to his fate, no matter what, if he was the son of a king, he must become a king, if he was born the son of a priest then he must become a priest. If a man is born the son of an untouchable he must stay an untouchable. The teachings of Christ and the Bible overcome all that, but also teaches that whatever state you are in be content. In everything give thanks, not just trying to ascend suffering through harsh punishments to the body.
With all that said, Biblical spiritual truth still cannot penetrate the mind of the insincere, because they just don't care. Through intellectualism and philosophy they search for a god to suit their own needs, but became disappointed. Jesus said the way is narrow and the door has a very small opening, few were the number who enter in. If you don't care, it just isn't for you. The pearl of great price had a cost, but man has a problem where he wants to remain an immature child, and therefore he forfeits the prize of spiritual maturity. If we go to any sacred book of any religion with the mind to disprove it, then we aren't reading it, nor can we understand what the writer is trying to say to his audience. The Quran is contradicted by the Hadiths, but still the Quran teaches that Christians believe in a Trinity. The Vedic texts teach that who you were in a past life must effect who you are in this life, you are bond, and cannot escape the crimes of all your past lives. In this life you must try to atone. My father and grandfather were atheists, and I found no solace in their teachings of "nothing out there but us."
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
When you make life choices they are a process of guess work?
Really.
They are exactly that, when it comes to anything supernatural. Yes. You have decided that the Bible is the right choice, from among the contenders. You have no reason to think that any of them (the Bible, Quran, Book of Mormon, whatever) were actually what they claimed to be, but for some reason, you did. And you picked one.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
This is what I always find funny on how this culture is turning. There was a time they would believe everything in their religion through blind faith. Now, teachers, doctors, and talking heads on the news are the new priesthood. The devout atheist who bangs the drum being the town crier of intellectual freedom, bow before the holy halls of science, history, modern medicine, and the priesthood of the mainstream media. Funny how most atheists were once preaching some religious dogma go to preaching some statist doctrine.
Timmy how much do you know about Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, or even the history of Christianity? How much study have you applied to the teachings of these other religions? When Richard Alpert a.k.a Ram Dass, met Neem Karoli Baba, Alpert was an unbelieving scientist, but after that one meeting he ended up abandoning his life in America to be "literally" at the feet of that guru. Richard Alpert went to India and found religious devotees who were in a state of worship which he only found on LSD. A family from England traveled all the way from Waco Texas to be part of a church called the Branch Davidians. Were they on the right path? I don't believe so, because we shouldn't just rely on personal experience, but on much more. In the Rig Veda, the stories of the many different avatars of Vishnu teach ethics very different from the Bible. They teach that man must be bond to his fate, no matter what, if he was the son of a king, he must become a king, if he was born the son of a priest then he must become a priest. If a man is born the son of an untouchable he must stay an untouchable. The teachings of Christ and the Bible overcome all that, but also teaches that whatever state you are in be content. In everything give thanks, not just trying to ascend suffering through harsh punishments to the body.
With all that said, Biblical spiritual truth still cannot penetrate the mind of the insincere, because they just don't care. Through intellectualism and philosophy they search for a god to suit their own needs, but became disappointed. Jesus said the way is narrow and the door has a very small opening, few were the number who enter in. If you don't care, it just isn't for you. The pearl of great price had a cost, but man has a problem where he wants to remain an immature child, and therefore he forfeits the prize of spiritual maturity. If we go to any sacred book of any religion with the mind to disprove it, then we aren't reading it, nor can we understand what the writer is trying to say to his audience. The Quran is contradicted by the Hadiths, but still the Quran teaches that Christians believe in a Trinity. The Vedic texts teach that who you were in a past life must effect who you are in this life, you are bond, and cannot escape the crimes of all your past lives. In this life you must try to atone. My father and grandfather were atheists, and I found no solace in their teachings of "nothing out there but us."
So you chose the one that was the most appealing to you. Somehow, you seem to think that means it is the true one. But I think what it really means is that it "works" for you, in some sense. That's fine. It didn't work for me.
Finding solace is a good thing, no doubt about it. You have hope of seeing your loved ones again -- certain loved ones, anyway. Others, well, I guess knowing they will suffer forever doesn't hurt your solace? They deserve it, after all.
Now, having chosen the Bible to believe, that's just the beginning, of course. You have to decide how to believe it. Which things are to be taken literally, how to follow its instructions, which instructions apply to you, etc. Not to mention, which Bible to follow. There are something like 8 different canons in use by modern Christians.
But I suppose none of these decisions need any guesswork? What, is it a matter of asking the Holy Spirit to make them for you? Is that what you did? Is that what Crakjak did? The Pope? Joseph Smith?
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
So you chose the one that was the most appealing to you. Somehow, you seem to think that means it is the true one. But I think what it really means is that it "works" for you, in some sense. That's fine. It didn't work for me.
Simon had Jesus come to his home, then Jesus points out a number of things which were customary for their culture. One was foot washing, another was a greeting with a kiss, then for a special guest the oil for the head. Jesus points those things out to Simon right after Jesus reads Simon's thoughts on how Simon believed that he had found the proof that Jesus was a charlatan a false prophet. Because no real truth teller could possibly allow a prostitute to wash His feet. You see, Simon didn't ask Jesus to come to his home because he wanted truth, but because he was waiting for Jesus to do or say something to prove that it was all a lie. Like I said the search for truth ain't for everybody.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timmy
Finding solace is a good thing, no doubt about it. You have hope of seeing your loved ones again -- certain loved ones, anyway. Others, well, I guess knowing they will suffer forever doesn't hurt your solace? They deserve it, after all.
You see Timmy, that's how YOU believed (might still do) how there are those who "deserve it."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timmy
Now, having chosen the Bible to believe, that's just the beginning, of course. You have to decide how to believe it. Which things are to be taken literally, how to follow its instructions, which instructions apply to you, etc. Not to mention, which Bible to follow. There are something like 8 different canons in use by modern Christians.
Do you read Greek Timmy?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timmy
But I suppose none of these decisions need any guesswork? What, is it a matter of asking the Holy Spirit to make them for you? Is that what you did? Is that what Crakjak did? The Pope? Joseph Smith?
The Spirit of Truth will guide you into all truth.
I believe I posted this before? If I didn't I will post it now, the study of the Bible or any sacred book, isn't one of intellectualism, or a philosophical endeavor, but one where you have a sincere heart, who is being led by a real God. Abraham coming out of a pagan culture to follow the one true living God.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
They are exactly that, when it comes to anything supernatural. Yes. You have decided that the Bible is the right choice, from among the contenders. You have no reason to think that any of them (the Bible, Quran, Book of Mormon, whatever) were actually what they claimed to be, but for some reason, you did. And you picked one.
For some reason? I know people who have chosen the Bible, over the Vedas, over the Quran, over the Book of Mormon, the D&C, over the Watchtower, over the Talmud, over Eastern Orthodox faith, and over their past life of atheism.
For some reason? The reason is that they wanted the truth, and the God of that truth obliged them.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
People are consuming WAY TOO much carbohydrates around here.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
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