But there is a fundamental difference between believing in the inspiration and infallibility of the Bible vs the Moon landing. The former can cause serious problems for people, and the latter is very unlikely to do so. Case in point: believing and obeying James 5:14-15 can and does get people killed.
(If one answers "yeah but we are also to use common sense", that's fine, but there are people who took that scripture very literally, which clearly states what to do for sick people, and what will happen. Who can blame them?)
Dying is not the end of us, it's coming into the presence of the Lord. I'm looking forward to my homecoming and my change.
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His banner over me is LOVE.... My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
To be a servant of God, it will cost us our total commitment to God, and God alone. His burden must be our burden... Sis Alvear
To me, what defies logic is believing that there is a God, but believing that he's not interested in us. What's the point? Create a huge, involved, intricate creation.... and then ignore it? None of us would do that. It's not natural.
No, if there is a God, he has to be interested in us. Nothing else makes the least bit of sense. It's illogical.
To me, what defies logic is believing that there is a God, but believing that he's not interested in us. What's the point? Create a huge, involved, intricate creation.... and then ignore it? None of us would do that. It's not natural.
No, if there is a God, he has to be interested in us. Nothing else makes the least bit of sense. It's illogical.
Logic?!
OK, but you do have a point. Never mind that you're doing what I've been told not to do: compare God with us (bolded above). God is way smarter than we are, you see, so He can do anything He wants, for His own reasons, without explaining everything to us, without doing everything we think He should do, etc. etc., which is why killing babies isn't evil (when God does it). But yes, you do have a point.
But really, what's so strange about creating a universe, setting it in motion with certain laws of physics in place, and seeing what happens? I haven't said (that I recall) that He is not interested. He may very well be watching. He may even have opinions on whether certain things we humans do are good or bad. Dunno.
What I do know for a fact is that we are here. We live, think, act. There are some things that we should be doing, about which there is almost universal agreement (I think): love and respect each other. Live at peace with each other, to the extent possible (OK, not everyone agrees on this!). Raise our families (if we have families). Learn. Invent. Enjoy life!
And for all I know, you guys could be right. There could very well be a Truth. The Truth that all religions strive to find. And for all I know, your religion could be the lucky one that got it right, and everyone that guesses that that's the one could be rewarded, and the ones who guessed wrong could very well be punished forever. Hard to believe that God considers "luck" to be equal to "justice", though!
Yes, yes, I know, luck has nothing to do with it. You have proof, of some kind (you feel it in your spirit, or some such). Or you have faith without proof. (John 20:29, after all.) Well, not everyone is lucky enough to have heard the message and believed it, via this proof or blind faith, so yes, luck has everything to do with it!
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
OK, but you do have a point. Never mind that you're doing what I've been told not to do: compare God with us (bolded above). God is way smarter than we are, you see, so He can do anything He wants, for His own reasons, without explaining everything to us, without doing everything we think He should do, etc. etc., which is why killing babies isn't evil (when God does it). But yes, you do have a point.
But really, what's so strange about creating a universe, setting it in motion with certain laws of physics in place, and seeing what happens? I haven't said (that I recall) that He is not interested. He may very well be watching. He may even have opinions on whether certain things we humans do are good or bad. Dunno.
What I do know for a fact is that we are here. We live, think, act. There are some things that we should be doing, about which there is almost universal agreement (I think): love and respect each other. Live at peace with each other, to the extent possible (OK, not everyone agrees on this!). Raise our families (if we have families). Learn. Invent. Enjoy life!
And for all I know, you guys could be right. There could very well be a Truth. The Truth that all religions strive to find. And for all I know, your religion could be the lucky one that got it right, and everyone that guesses that that's the one could be rewarded, and the ones who guessed wrong could very well be punished forever. Hard to believe that God considers "luck" to be equal to "justice", though!
Yes, yes, I know, luck has nothing to do with it. You have proof, of some kind (you feel it in your spirit, or some such). Or you have faith without proof. (John 20:29, after all.) Well, not everyone is lucky enough to have heard the message and believed it, via this proof or blind faith, so yes, luck has everything to do with it!
If He's interested, then it's not a major step of faith to say He would involve Himself. Timmy, thinking is a powerful tool, but can also be a woeful inhibitor. It's easy to ask questions and doubt, but much harder to step up to the answers. We cannot wallow our whole life under the shade tree called doubt, thinking it will screen us, and except us from God.
Timmy, God loves you! You... specifically you! That's the message of all eternity right there!
If He's interested, then it's not a major step of faith to say He would involve Himself. Timmy, thinking is a powerful tool, but can also be a woeful inhibitor. It's easy to ask questions and doubt, but much harder to step up to the answers. We cannot wallow our whole life under the shade tree called doubt, thinking it will screen us, and except us from God.
Timmy, God loves you! You... specifically you! That's the message of all eternity right there!
Oh I agree that there are certain things that one cannot believe unless one stops thinking!
Look, all I'm doing is figuring out what to believe, based on the information available to me. We are all doing that, I think. And yes, it is reasonable to think that God, if interested in us, may intervene in our world, at times. But it is also reasonable to think that, if He does that, He would be consistent about it. The stories and claims of such intervention demonstrate an dire lack of consistency. And there is always a handy explanation. I'm half-way through the book "Is God To Blame", which is an attempt at an explanation. So far, it makes a bit more sense than most other attempts I've heard, but it falls short. (So far!)
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Oh I agree that there are certain things that one cannot believe unless one stops thinking!
Look, all I'm doing is figuring out what to believe, based on the information available to me. We are all doing that, I think. And yes, it is reasonable to think that God, if interested in us, may intervene in our world, at times. But it is also reasonable to think that, if He does that, He would be consistent about it. The stories and claims of such intervention demonstrate an dire lack of consistency. And there is always a handy explanation. I'm half-way through the book "Is God To Blame", which is an attempt at an explanation. So far, it makes a bit more sense than most other attempts I've heard, but it falls short. (So far!)
If you think your case is strongest enough for the courts of eternity, then so be it... remember, there will never come a time when doubt is sealed away, there is always an opportunity to rationalize this whole things and throw it away. I'm sure Noah felt the same way. But it doesn't change reality. Reason comes from God. The idea that we can reason, making sense of seeming chaos, is a function of divine.
I respect your journey and seeking of answers. I may also recommend a few books to you through PM on an apologetic level.
Update on my sis-in-law: she's getting better. Talking in short sentence (vs single words), asking about work, etc. This is a good thing: there was concern about regaining cognitive abilities etc., earlier. Getting physical therapy. Walked 100 ft yesterday. Woohoo!
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. 
Hybrid Mode
