tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post3032476733594374314..comments2023-12-01T18:05:24.875-05:00Comments on Debunking Christianity: Why does God give up on nonbelievers?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-5352174979982416302009-09-15T14:36:28.096-04:002009-09-15T14:36:28.096-04:00Hysterically funny post for someone who claims to ...Hysterically funny post for someone who claims to understand logic and reasoning. <br /><br />Your whole argument is built on conclusions that you have manufactured to win your argument, how boring. <br /><br />Your first paragraph states...<br /><br />God does not provide a way for anyone to believe in him<br /><br />God does not provide any hope for redemption. <br /><br />I am not sure what Bible you are reading, but it's not the same one I read from.<br /><br />Straw man arguments manufactured to make yourself feel better. <br /><br />Not very honest, not very useful, what a waste of your time.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09237888215508637166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-40416802900763251862009-07-27T19:09:43.727-04:002009-07-27T19:09:43.727-04:00rich386
Why is it bull?
It's because no one ...rich386<br /><br /><i>Why is it bull?</i><br /><br />It's because no one has any credible knowledge of god's will or god's character, supported with objective evidence. It's nothing but unsubstantiated interpretive claims based on spurious scripture, bloated rationalizations and stunted imaginings.<br /> <br />It's because this imaginary, supposed personal, christian god, only resides in the confines of a delusional mind.<br /><br />A god very well could exist but as of yet, I have not been presented ANY objective evidence for its existence.<br /><br />If there is some sort of ultimate reality (a god for lack of a better term) then I would conclude it would have to be something beyond our fallible limited imaginations -- at least something equaling the magnitude of the universe.<br /> <br />In any case, if such a being existed -- THE CREATOR OF THE INFINITE UNIVERSE -- I would contend our understanding or definition or claims of it's will and/or character would be wholly inferior. That is why religion and christianity in particular come up so short. Their definition; there construct (interpretation of spurious scripture and doctrine) of god mirrors humanity with all it's faults. This is why christianity has no credibility or authority over me. They use god's <b><i>supposed</i></b> voice -- as their own -- to give it a bogus sense of authority and credibility where there is none. <br /><br />--S.sconnorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17473671062467783406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-2386157337638294592009-07-27T17:11:36.258-04:002009-07-27T17:11:36.258-04:00Why is it bull?Why is it bull?Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16765388575104085690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-72898681770353118812009-07-26T01:48:12.022-04:002009-07-26T01:48:12.022-04:00Bull.Bull.Nightmarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00981755003761501997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-75652921629638549772009-07-25T16:11:56.346-04:002009-07-25T16:11:56.346-04:00For me the third option is the hardest to deal wit...For me the third option is the hardest to deal with. Why does it seem that God pursues some people harder than others? Why did God create some people to be able to respond to a whisper, and others need a booming voice from heaven before they notice God’s call? I do know this. An atheist has no moral law to hold God accountable to, and a Christian cannot use God’s own law to condemn Him:<br /><br />The Christian worldview holds that ethical law is a reflection of the nature of an unchanging God. This means that when God gave the ten commandments and said that stealing is wrong, it is because God does not steal, and since God will never change, and so will never steal, stealing shall always be wrong. Likewise for standards of justice, mercy, and love we must look to God. God cannot break the ethical law to which the universe is held accountable, since He is not under the law, but is the law. The law is a reflection of his divine and unchanging nature. Therefore, for a Christian or a non-Christian borrowing the Christian framework of ethics to call God unjust, unmerciful or unloving is irrational. If God’s actions or words appear this way to us, then it is not God’s actions which should be questioned, but our understanding of justice, mercy, and love. We must recalibrate. <br /><br />We must remember not to judge God’s actions as if He were a man. When John kills Jim it is murder and wrong. This is because Jim’s life was not John’s to take. Furthermore John cannot raise Jim back to life, cannot assure Jim’s wife and children of any future happiness or material security without Jim in their life, nor can John complete whatever work Jim left unfinished on earth. However if God chooses to take Jim’s life, God is not in the wrong, nor has He murdered, because God created Jim’s body and spirit (thus he owns Jim’s life) and can do all the things I previously mentioned John cannot do. The most that can be said of God’s actions in taking Jim’s life is that we do not understand why, and we wish that He hadn’t. However, by definition God cannot do wrong nor act evilly. We have no right to judge anyone or condemn anyone to Hell. But God does.I see your pointhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339231154196925171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-10490151714061880832009-07-25T16:10:47.317-04:002009-07-25T16:10:47.317-04:00So I take it your personal preference is that if a...So I take it your personal preference is that if a society were to invent a great myth about an almighty being who created man and gave him laws to live by, and furthermore gave man a free will to choose to obey the laws so that their obedience was real, that this fabricated being would at least have the decency to either (1) act unjustly and unrighteous by not punishing evil (that is transgressions of the law), which is equivalent to throwing out the law altogether, or (2) satisfy justice and righteousness by extracting a punishment for committing evil, but dispense universal mercy by paying the price demanded by justice and righteousness out of His own pocket (i.e. punishing himself) and according to you for this God to be really and truly merciful He would pay the debts for even those who do not regret their sins, have no intention of ceasing to sin, despise the law, refuse to even acknowledge their own maker, and scoff at the great gift God gives by denying that it is a gift, but claiming they deserve for God to pay their debt, since God made them capable to sinning, or (3) just like the second option, except God will only dispense mercy to men who acknowledge their debt, acknowledge God’s mercy, and respond to God’s love by loving God back and trying as best they can to please God. However since God did create all men, and then went and gave them a free will, God feels responsible for the those who have chosen to hate him, despise his law, and accrue the punishment justice and righteousness demand, because after all, they wouldn’t be in this awkward position if God hadn’t created them in the first place. So God proceeds to woo, seduce, bribe, argue, coheres, harass, and harangue all God-haters into loving him. If one road-to-Damascus isn’t enough, they’ll get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th until they repent. If 10 miracles aren’t enough, they’ll get more miracles and bigger miracles until there is not left one man who can deny that God does indeed exist and is loving, and is in fact too awesome and perfect that it is impossible not to love God back. This is a bit like a mature and crafty womanizer approaching a girl-child just blossoming into naive womanhood. When she falls and falls hard, you hardly say it was her fault, after all what chance did she have? If God decides to pursue you, what chance do you have? So…this is in the end the absence of free will. At what point did the last man standing against God decide to love God, and at what point did he just have no chance against God’s unrelenting pursuit?I see your pointhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10339231154196925171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-11467055650827248802009-07-24T18:34:40.868-04:002009-07-24T18:34:40.868-04:00Hi Harvey,
I just now saw your post. I just went ...Hi Harvey,<br /><br />I just now saw your post. I just went to your web site to straighten out your theology about Hell. :-)<br /><br />ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-36217227009839175952009-07-24T08:50:44.031-04:002009-07-24T08:50:44.031-04:00Why thank you :DWhy thank you :DNightmarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00981755003761501997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-18964578624529451542009-07-24T07:30:39.661-04:002009-07-24T07:30:39.661-04:00Nightmare said..."think I've rambled enou...Nightmare said..."think I've rambled enough for the moment"<br /><br />Pleased you did though.And i can agree with most everything you were saying.Gandolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02624178234332819107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-17353895623806435162009-07-23T02:16:41.861-04:002009-07-23T02:16:41.861-04:00Addendum - I see why the invite now. Confusion cl...Addendum - I see why the invite now. Confusion cleared lol.Nightmarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00981755003761501997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-45311737193138390082009-07-23T01:27:35.680-04:002009-07-23T01:27:35.680-04:00District Supt. Harvey Burnett said...
"Nightm...District Supt. Harvey Burnett said...<br />"Nightmare you too! Please..."<br /><br />(Nightmare blinks in confusion) Okaaay, but...why? I'm so confused (I didn't think I was involved in the hell discussion).<br /><br />District Supt. Harvey Burnett said...<br /><br />"the worldview of naturalism is totally blind to these things and there is no accounting for the "betterment" of humanity under naturalistic or evolutionary structures."<br /><br />Actually naturalistic betterment is evident by simply looking at the state of the world prior to oh say the Industrial Revolution and the state of the world now. I would say that's an excellent example of betterment of the species via naturalistic processes (ie our own capacity for innovation and tool use). Now, one must admit this is a slow process, and a theoretical supernatural betterment of the species could - again theoretically - bring about improvement at a far faster rate. However, despite theory we must face the facts that we have never seen a supernatural betterment of the species, nor the slightest evidence of such. Regrettably IMO.Nightmarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00981755003761501997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-13386833816113031992009-07-22T14:20:38.174-04:002009-07-22T14:20:38.174-04:00Russ,
you said: "We observe these behavioral...Russ,<br /><br />you said: <i>"We observe these behavioral reflections of values in all human communities the world over because they are human beings, not because something supernatural is telling them similar things"</i><br /><br />False again Russ, the worldview of naturalism is totally blind to these things and there is no accounting for the "betterment" of humanity under naturalistic or evolutionary structures. You do what you do for humanity in effort to duplicate God values that are transcendent and abosolute. That what happens and that's what humanity does.<br /><br />You said: <i>"Indeed, we know that no supernatural thing is communicating these values because these values vary significantly from community to community, and often from person to person in a given community."</i><br /><br />So values are culturally commensurate right? How much do they vary? Is it not honorable to marry o every region of the known world? Is killing sanctioned in ANY region of the known world? Is family and service to family an insignificant thing in any part of the known world? What about baby killing? Is there any culture that any of us are aware of that sanctions the killing of their young? (With the exception of the United states who don't think they are real persons until they are born) how much do these things vary Russ? It's funny how that even the most uncivilized ciommunity shares many of these values why? Because they are static and morally objective and IF that's the case somebody had to give it to them...who was that? It's wasn't Darwin, it wasn't natural selection (by EVERY scientific accounting) Who was it...If we thought it up then it's all a mere illusion...and then IF it's all an illusion then even YOU are deluded to believe something that isn't real...How does that make you feel Russ? That's the only possible way it can be if you reject objective moral values as you do.<br /><br />You also said: <i>"There are no moral absolutes for you, me or anyone else."</i><br /><br />Then there is NOTHING that we can do, no matter what it is that can be said to be immoral, right?<br /><br />So killing as you brought up, is a morally defensible act under whatever circumstance we choose?<br /><br />Do you see how ridiculously crazy that sounds and is? Does anybody see any problems with that line of reasoning...That's why atheism WILL NEVER achieve it's goals of dominating the world becaise people are not that DUMB to fall for garbage like that. In the atheistic world everyting is moral and there is no bad or good. You can't even perceive evil at all because evil is good to the atheist...<br /><br />Man, that's why the wrote the book, "I don't have enough faith to be an atheist" and I see why.District Supt. Harvey Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15315686602819371111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-76199259557853887692009-07-22T14:01:16.364-04:002009-07-22T14:01:16.364-04:00Savedbygrace,
I've finished an article on HEL...Savedbygrace,<br /><br />I've finished an article on <a href="http://bethelburnett.blogspot.com/2009/07/does-bible-teach-literal-hell.html" rel="nofollow">HELL</a> Come over here and make your bogus arguments. <br /><br />I'll be more than glad to address ANY objection to TRUTH that you have.<br /><br />Nightmare you too! Please...District Supt. Harvey Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15315686602819371111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-48134630380543552942009-07-22T02:23:00.745-04:002009-07-22T02:23:00.745-04:00Gandolf said...
Yeah thank goodness our thoughts a...<b>Gandolf said...</b><br /><i>Yeah thank goodness our thoughts and decisions really are often of the relative kind huh....Because if we stuck to the idea of absolute thoughts etc, maybe absolutely no faith believers would be thought acceptable.Things become thought so black and white with straight absolute type thinking,that it cannot really allow for much tolerance to happen.</i><br /><br />Black and white thinking can ultimately only lead to one place, and that is the reeducation/concentration camp (when a faction that thinks like that gains enough power). As tempting as a black/white, us/them mentality can be - and believe me it is very tempting at times - it must be remembered what history shows us. Regardless of who comes into power, if that group has a black/white mentality it will inflict it's worldview on all other groups, one way or the other.<br /><br />That said, IMO we must view the matter of how to deal with faith with some measure of practicality. If a faithful individual's beliefs are of a non-aggressive, non-toxic nature then it actually becomes a waste of time, resources, and good will to try to dissuade said individual when other, more insidious, individuals are in sight. <br /><br />A quick aside to explain the good will bit. Atheism if fighting an up hill battle for acceptance in the US. If people view atheists as puppy kicking monsters, the will not listen to them, and if they don't listen it becomes even easier to marginalize and demonize them. This is why xians will often try to (or parrot the notions of others who have) demonize atheists to begin with. Thus, as much as I love Dawkins and the new atheist crowd, some measure of public good will is necessary.<br /><br />That itself feeds into the larger goal (spoken or not) of not only atheism but several fringe religious movements - combating the negative effects of Christianity. Which also happens to be the purpose of this blog. Thusly, as a matter of strategy, I am of the opinion that some distinction between harmless and harmful religious beliefs should be made.<br /><br />In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I am not an atheist myself (like one cannot easily find that out by checking out my blog, infrequently updated as it is). I prefer to refer to myself as a spiritual anarchist, meaning that while I believe in the existence of a number of deities I see no reason why an individual should have to worship or even pay attention to them if the individual doesn't wish to.<br /><br />I think I've rambled enough for the moment XDNightmarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00981755003761501997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-91207242254600707792009-07-21T22:34:48.439-04:002009-07-21T22:34:48.439-04:00Nightmare said ...."That is, allowed to go it...Nightmare said ...."That is, allowed to go it's merry way relatively unmolested."<br /><br />Yeah thank goodness our thoughts and decisions really are often of the relative kind huh....Because if we stuck to the idea of absolute thoughts etc, maybe absolutely no faith believers would be thought acceptable.Things become thought so black and white with straight absolute type thinking,that it cannot really allow for much tolerance to happen.Gandolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02624178234332819107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-32961623324117040182009-07-21T10:50:33.610-04:002009-07-21T10:50:33.610-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-62602626437959652372009-07-21T10:45:19.298-04:002009-07-21T10:45:19.298-04:00Harvey,
We are human beings first. Humanity is t...Harvey,<br /><br />We are human beings first. Humanity is the wellspring of any values we share. There exist certain behaviors, behaviors being the only real measure of values, that people observe which make us better suited to live in communities, and there exist behaviors people observe which make us less well suited to community life. We observe these behavioral reflections of values in all human communities the world over because they are human beings, not because something supernatural is telling them similar things.<br /><br />Indeed, we know that no supernatural thing is communicating these values because these values vary significantly from community to community, and often from person to person in a given community. Values are local, parochial and personal. They are not universal. They are not objective. They are not static.<br /><br />We are human animals, Harvey. Our social structures, organizations, groups, families and their associated behaviors reflect the ways we go about satisfying our human animal needs.<br /><br />On your blog, you frequently point to context as an important interpretive consideration. Well, even those who preach "love thy neighbor" or "thou shalt not kill" or "thou shalt not commit adultery" continually make exceptions based on context. The Biblical notion of "an eye for an eye" is an explicit endorsement of moral relativism.<br /><br />There are no moral absolutes for you, me or anyone else. If your child was being attacked, I'm certain you would not let the attacker have his way due to some perceived moral absolute. It would, in fact, be morally wrong not to defend your child.<br /><br />I'll respond in more depth to your comment later.<br /><br />Here's a short article that might interest you. It was originally in the Christian Science Monitor.<br /><br />http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=8111485Russhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15316459700934662467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-17819693324323649172009-07-21T10:35:25.926-04:002009-07-21T10:35:25.926-04:00What's the matter there Harvey, can't you ...What's the matter there Harvey, can't you defend your own faith? Where are YOUR gonads to go and learn the original languages and find the truth instead of relying on your man made English translations and revisions. I am preaching the EXACT word of God and YOU are the one who os apostate and heretical with your bogus translations of the Bible. Now please go do some study, learn the truth, and quit being such a baby.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-35412319335517242902009-07-21T00:40:53.194-04:002009-07-21T00:40:53.194-04:00Savedbygrace,
Get off the dogone pot man! You’re ...Savedbygrace,<br /><br />Get off the dogone pot man! You’re stinkin’ up the air, I really don’t wanna deal with your lame arguments here in front of the opposing team but you’re so jacked up you can’t see the door or the floor…what the heck??? You must have graduated from that new theology school of the Apostate Brethern…I know you did with twisted and unfounded interpretations like that. Heretic College! Totally backwards!District Supt. Harvey Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15315686602819371111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-19324086923749631982009-07-21T00:38:28.931-04:002009-07-21T00:38:28.931-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.District Supt. Harvey Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15315686602819371111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-18521491572024623932009-07-21T00:36:59.293-04:002009-07-21T00:36:59.293-04:00Russ,
You said: “I'm not sinful, Harvey, just...Russ,<br /><br />You said: <i>“I'm not sinful, Harvey, just as you are not and just as no other person is, or ever has been. We're all human. We don't have perfect understanding or knowledge, so we learn by doing, and, all too often, by doing so incorrectly.”</i><br /><br />I know it’s hurtful but you should know just like I know that the first step to any recovery is admitting there’s a problem. Say this with me…I AM A SINNER…You are. Secondly, that’s why we’re imperfect and guess what, while we were yet SINNERS Christ died for us…so he made the remedy…one more thing…IF you’re not a sinner, then why do you have guilt feelings? The difference between us, is that I know what to do with my guilt, you don’t because you’re STILL GUILTY.<br /><br />You said: <i>“Today, we know that they are all-natural and 100 percent supernatural-free since we can turn them on and off in the lab, most of the time even in persons who are not religious at all.”</i><br /><br />Yea right, like somebody turned off your brain to even write that…get real! You know for a fact that there’s more to life than naturalism. All kinds of immaterial things that invade our material world that we strive for everyday…you just can’t see it…’cause your SIN blinds you to what’s evident even within you…so bad, so sad.<br /><br />You said: <i>“So, Harvey, I feel what you feel, but I don't call it religious and I don't associate it with otherworldliness.”</i><br /><br />NO you DON’T feel what I feel as the Holy Spirit is not imparted within SINNERS. So the attempt to make us all the same and in one big inclusive boat fails. Nice try, I wish you could “feel” it but you must receive ‘it” from God for yourself…sorry, I can’t give it to ya. <br /><br />You said: <i>“I become permanently and completely unconscious and my component atoms and molecules go back into the ecosystem, and eventually the stars. That's reality. Wishing it to be different, won't make it so”</i><br /><br />I KNEWED IT, I KNEWED IT, I JUST KNEWED IT…a PANTHEISTIC ATHEIST! Momma told me I’d run into one a dem if I’s keepin’ hangin round dees parts…I J UST KNEWED IT! What makes that so bad is that you don’t see any religious connotations to what you just described do ya???<br /><br />Been nice Russ…C-ya!District Supt. Harvey Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15315686602819371111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-86434807697605234362009-07-21T00:35:31.256-04:002009-07-21T00:35:31.256-04:00Russ,
You said: There is no core set of Christian...Russ,<br /><br />You said: <i>There is no core set of Christian beliefs common to all Christianities, including gods, saviors, sins, hells, etc.</i><br /><br />Patently FALSE and you certainly don’t know what you’re talking about I even wrote about this subject you <a href="http://dunamis2.wordpress.com/christianities-just-an-atheist-skeptic-wet-dream-pt1/" rel="nofollow">WET DREAMER 1</a> and <a href="http://dunamis2.wordpress.com/christianities-just-the-atheist-skeptics-wet-dream-pt2/" rel="nofollow">WET DREAMER 2</a> and my research bears out. Your’s, Bauer’s, and Ehrman’s, never left the garage and is only CONJECTURE.<br /><br />You said:<i>“Such an assessment, carried out with honesty, can lead to only one conclusion: Christianity does none of those things you claim for it. Christianity does not change lives for the better. It is human community, love and mutual support that does that.”</i><br /><br />That’s another INNACCURATE comment, mostly ALL the worlds greatest humanitarian causes were started by Christians and religious folk in general. Atheists have started very few of the world’s humanitarian efforts and they have always mimmicked Christian efforts. Further, in real life when cities are in trouble who do they reach out to? Not the ATHEIST community…They all reach out to the Christian community…You must live in La-la Land of the make believe cause you know not what you’re talking about.<br /><br />You said: <i>“changed for the better when persons who have abandoned their religious belief, discover community.”</i><br /><br />FALSE for reasons listed above and then some. I have statistical data from my neck of the woods that puts your, lame and tired suggestions to rest. The Christian community has been responsible in my area for lowering the murder and crime rates at various levels over the last 2 years and I was one that spearheaded the projects. YOU are a LAZY, BACK SEAT DRIVING, wanna b, trying to assert an answer that you know nothing about. Stick with what you know, not what you guess or think, only real men and women can swim in these waters!<br /><br />You said:<i>“One reason atheism is the fastest-growing religious self-identification is that, now, people can give up religion and still find a nurturing, caring, supportive community.”</i><br /><br />FALSE. You’re batting .1000 at least! Atheism exists because people like you reject God and some are only causual bible readers such as yourself. Atheism exists because Jesus said over 2000 years ago that the “love of many would wax cold” and it is. Atheism exists for a number of reasons none of which is because of the inadequacy of the bible or Christianity. It’s because of the weakness that may exist in the church and certainly the weakness that exists within frail humanity. None of that has to do with your assertion. Go get nurtured by 1 General ATHEIST hospital…ooh I forgot there is no such thing as an atheist hospital…darn where did all that humanitarianism go???<br /><br />You said: <i>“The Christianities do not hold exclusive claim to building social structures that better the rest of mankind.”</i><br /><br />RED HERRING, that’s not a claim that’s been made. One thing we can observe is that societies built on Christian principles tend to be lasting and far more impacting than ones unattended and untouched by Christianity. Even Russia has undergone a resurgence and the country has been made better.<br /><br />You said: <i>“All moral notions, for instance, claimed to be original with early Christianities, existed in human communities the world over for thousands of years before even the Old Testament was fabricated.”</i><br /><br />No Duh! Let’s just step back a bit and assume that you’re right. What does that say? It says that there is such a thing as Objective moral values that have existed through time in every nation from time to time. Guess what that can’t happen without a moral law giver…Guess what? God IS that moral law giver. So thanks for giving yet another steppingstone to what Christians that know their bibles say anyway. <br /><br />Not finished yet:District Supt. Harvey Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15315686602819371111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-85837845085530790702009-07-20T22:43:01.122-04:002009-07-20T22:43:01.122-04:00Harvey,
The Greek word for punishment in Matt 25:...Harvey,<br /><br />The Greek word for punishment in Matt 25:46 is KOLASIS - which means corrective discipline. TIMORIA is the Greek word for vindictive punishment. I suggest you look into the original lanuages and study this subject more closely.<br /><br />Gehenna is not Hell, Sheol and Hades are not Hell, and the Lake of Fire is not Hell. And no, I am not an annihilationist or a JW.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-92075939155545509382009-07-20T22:37:12.207-04:002009-07-20T22:37:12.207-04:00You said,
You wake in the night confused, becaus...You said, <br /><b><br />You wake in the night confused, because of thoughts of death and what you don't know.<br /></b><br />You're right. Sometimes, I do wake up confused and puzzled about things I don't know. Death is not one of those things, however, since I know what happens after death: I become permanently and completely unconscious and my component atoms and molecules go back into the ecosystem, and eventually the stars. That's reality. Wishing it to be different, won't make it so.<br /><br />You also said, <br /><b><br />With all of what you pride yourself to be able to cope with nothing can wash away those guilt feelings of your uncontrollable sins and thoughts that if your companions knew, they would kick you out of their elitist clubs...<br /></b><br />Don't know exactly where you're going with this, seems incoherent, but I have no guilt feelings about the sins I don't have, and I'm not sure who my elitist companions would be.<br /><br />You said, <br /><b><br />You're shocked because you can't cope with the fact that the poor fella on the street that you arrogantly pass by knows more about God and lives more contently that you ever could in a million lifetimes simply because he knows, trusts and believes God for his life. He makes minimum wage and feels more freedom that your six figure salary, can purchase and God supplies his needs, while you are ever wanting covering up yourself in materialism trying to make yourself feel better, driving your Lex or Benz in utter confusion, and after all those degrees of excellence among men, you're still yet pondering the meaning of things that the humble take for granted and groping for assistance in broad daylight because of the dark blindness of your soul.<br /></b><br />Well, OK then.<br /><br />Harvey, you stated,<br /><b><br />By the way, Christian diversity ISN'T a problem, it NOVICES like you that don't know what the heck you're talking about that is...<br /></b><br />Again, if the theology invented by a particular Christianity, yours, for instance, guarantees an eternity of heavenly bliss, while the distinct theology invented by some other Christianity, say Mormons, can only lead to Hell, Fire, and Brimstone, then the diversity among the Christianities is a very big problem. Considering that you think of the Bible as the inerrant centerpiece of your theology and accepting it is required for salvation, while most other Christianities reject some or all of it, the diversity among the Christianities is, again, a very big problem.<br /><br />All the best Harvey,<br /><br />RussRusshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15316459700934662467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21219785.post-3468711700257757912009-07-20T22:36:43.088-04:002009-07-20T22:36:43.088-04:00You said,
...I forgot that Christian values are ...You said, <br /><b><br />...I forgot that Christian values are the one that PUDS like you try to emulate[(LOL) had to laugh at that one]...and are so delusional fixed and blinded by your SINS that (you were born with and into) that you can't stand the very sight of a bible...<br /></b><br />Again, Harvey, you appear to want to claim all good human characteristics as exclusive to the Christianities, but they're not. My values are similar to many of what you would call "Christian values," but there is nothing Christian about them. All moral notions, for instance, claimed to be original with early Christianities, existed in human communities the world over for thousands of years before even the Old Testament was fabricated.<br /><br />I'm not sinful, Harvey, just as you are not and just as no other person is, or ever has been. We're all human. We don't have perfect understanding or knowledge, so we learn by doing, and, all too often, by doing so incorrectly. That's a human trait, too. We're all error-prone, flawed, imperfect, and, oh, so very precious. But, we're, none of us, inherently sinful as some Christianities contend is depicted in the Bible.<br /><br />By the way, I have several Bibles and I don't find looking at them at all objectionable.<br /><br />Harvey, you went on saying, <br /><b><br />You are gangrenous, loathsome, in your abaris, toward what you can't place on a slide rule or comprehensively figure out no matter how many books you read you still can't perceive your creator.<br /></b><br />I had my wife, who thinks I'm kinda cute, check me over, Harvey, and she says I'm not gangrenous or loathesome, but none of us could figure out what "abaris" means. Typo.<br /><br />If "what you can't place on a slide rule or comprehensively figure out" is supposed to refer what you would call the spiritual, Harvey, I want you to know that I, too, experience all those wonderful neurological responses of awe, wonder, puzzlement, sometimes the sense of another presence, a sense of oneness with the universe. These universally human neurological traits are called the "religious impulse" by some. But, we know they are not unique to practitioners of religion, even though, the religious have commandeered these all-natural feelings and emotions for their own purposes.<br /><br />Today, we know that they are all-natural and 100 percent supernatural-free since we can turn them on and off in the lab, most of the time even in persons who are not religious at all. A bit of magnetic flux or specific drugs and the religious sense takes flight. Also, we know that particular brain defects, temporal lobe epilepsy, for example, are often associated with intense religious feelings and that those religious feelings can be turned off by drugs that control the seizures or epileptic episodes. For these people the religious sense results from a physiological problem.<br /><br />So, Harvey, I feel what you feel, but I don't call it religious and I don't associate it with otherworldliness. I experience these feelings often and I enjoy them. I don't queue them up for an overwhelming once-a-week release in a particular building with others looking on. I do not publicly display these emotions to gain other's approval or to convince other's that I'm experiencing a divine presence. They are mine to experience. They tell me when I've witnessed something special, meaningful or completely inscrutable. They do not tell me that some god is whispering to me, or that I'm being filled with a holy spirit. They're mine; they're yours; and, they are very human and very natural.Russhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15316459700934662467noreply@blogger.com