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blamin
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Radwaste wrote:
blamin wrote:
Your insinuation that Christians, or other religious peoples, do less or care less about the causes of violence and hatred, than atheist is unsupportable.

Let’s agree that there are far too many of any group that is tuned out from the world and tuned into themselves.

Now, if you really care so much about the “core causes” of violence and hatred you’d do a little research and stop this insipid, ridiculous, time wasting attack on all things religious.

The greatest cause – by far, I repeat, by far, – of death and misery in this world is totalitarian or absolutist governments, which are not only deadlier than wars, but many times the cause of war. These types of governments killed hundreds of millions of people in the last century - not counting war!

The more freedom people have, the less likely they are killed by their government and the less likely their government will kill others by initiating war. The more economic freedom a people have the more prosperous they are, while totalitarian tends to lead its citizens to poverty, and many times starvation.

So – the people who care most about others, and are blessed with knowledge and facts about violence, are the people that fight against over-powerful, centralized government, and promote civil liberties, political rights, and economic freedom.


That's funny. You just described the European nations with the least religious fervor.


That's debatable.
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charlie marlow
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Searcher, Radwaste, Sargbaby, Trio and others. How's it been going?

Anyway, I've read the bible several times. I've been called Satan or satanic several times. Therefore, Satan reads the bible. :)

Why don't the gods stop tragedy?

    They don't exist

    They exist, but tragedy is part of a plan beyond human comprehension

    They exist, but, being gods and all that, are so far removed from humanity that human tragedy and suffering are not even considered by them


Allow me a moment to discuss that last option. Let's assume the ants in my yard are worshiping me right now as a god. In their nests, they have monuments to my greatness. They get together to listen to sermons about my justice and power. Their are ants who've devoted their lives to pleasing me.

Unfortunately, they are ants. Their ant monuments appear to me to be nothing more than piles of dirt. Their prayers to me are unheard as I don't speak pheromones. Their attempts to please me risk putting me in the hospital because I am allergic to their venom, so, I really don't think twice about the ant religions when I toss ant bait into the yard.

Imagine beings that can walk among the stars. Beings that may have the power to create world and life. Beings that can do anything.

Imagine what we are to them.[/list]
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Sargbaby
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Searcher wrote:
This is my take on the subject of good and evil. Of course it may be wrong, but it is my current understanding. Feel free to correct me if you feel like it.

Good and evil are simply a perspective. They are not physical “forces.” That’s a mistake we made many thousands of years ago. Had we known from the beginning that “good” and “evil” were merely mental perspectives, we would not have needed to invent a god in order to harness its power and then needlessly philosophize and kill over it for thousands of years.

We define good and evil through an understanding derived from our senses over millions of years of evolution. Death and decay has a “bad” smell because it carries disease and organisms that can do us bodily harm. We learned through the senses to avoid it. The rain smells “good” because it is necessary for our survival. It quenches our thirst. We “thirst” because the body evolved a signal that water is needed for bodily functions. That "signal" facilitated longer survival and thus the production of more offspring resulting in a natural "selection" of that trait. “Good” perpetuates and complements life for any given individual. “Evil” hampers life and individual desires. Sh*t happens. I cry when I step in it but the dung beetle shouts “hallelujah…praise God!”


But if you MUST believe in God…that she Wink is good and loving…but can’t reconcile that evil can exist in her presence then perhaps it might help to IMAGINE that God doesn’t act in our lives because she loves all life and if she acts in one life, she will invariably cause harm in another’s as a result. She loves all life so she stays out of the picture. She cries when a plant is plucked from the ground to feed you yet she rejoices in your pleasure at the taste and nourishment the plant provided you.

We evolved reason and empathy and hopefully it will save all life from our "evils." We need to make choices which cause the least amount of misery for all other life. We are capable of doing so much more than we are currently doing. Our greed is overwhelming our efforts.

Well, I disagree to some extent! Good and evil are more than “perspectives,” and their results are evident 24/7, 365 days a year. We did not invent God. This is typical of non-believers to support this perspective, but you have to keep in that the majority of the world’s population doesn’t believe the way you believe.

The nature of mankind has always had the desire to survive, and make a place of comfort and power we can dominate. It is a natural occurrence to
Want more and better things than your neighbor. Fighting and killing has been around since Adam and Eve.

We define good and evil through knowledge we have attained, from taking part in life, an evolution of the first kind. We learn by doing, and by repetition, discarding what doesn’t work, and retaining what does work.

I hate evil too, my friend, but I have yet to hear a dung beetle utter a peep!
I also cry at the evils infesting our world, but what can one do to stop it?

I was wondering how long it would be before you made the common feminists mistake of calling God a woman, but I assume you were joking, so I won’t bother explaining why He is not a female.

Evil existed in God’s presence, and has since the beginning, yet His followers still seek Him, and His return. God doesn’t act in our lives because He loves all life, and God does not cause harm in anyone’s life. Evil, and we are the progenitors of everything harmful in our world. God does not interfere with what we, or evil does to our world. God rejoices when a plant is taken for nourishment because He gave it to us to renew our bodies, which are made in His image.

Searcher says; “We need to make choices which cause the least amount of misery for all other life. We are capable of doing so much more than we are currently doing. Our greed is overwhelming our efforts.”

I totally agree, and the rules and guides for advancing to our highest and best abilities are already in place. Differences between who believes in God, or not, have not stopped our world from working to overcome the deficiencies on our planet. Believers and non-believers both fear evil and try to correct and avoid it. We just do it differently!

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Searcher
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

charlie marlow wrote:
Hi Searcher, Radwaste, Sargbaby, Trio and others. How's it been going?

Anyway, I've read the bible several times. I've been called Satan or satanic several times. Therefore, Satan reads the bible. :)

Why don't the gods stop tragedy?

    They don't exist

    They exist, but tragedy is part of a plan beyond human comprehension

    They exist, but, being gods and all that, are so far removed from humanity that human tragedy and suffering are not even considered by them


Allow me a moment to discuss that last option. Let's assume the ants in my yard are worshiping me right now as a god. In their nests, they have monuments to my greatness. They get together to listen to sermons about my justice and power. Their are ants who've devoted their lives to pleasing me.

Unfortunately, they are ants. Their ant monuments appear to me to be nothing more than piles of dirt. Their prayers to me are unheard as I don't speak pheromones. Their attempts to please me risk putting me in the hospital because I am allergic to their venom, so, I really don't think twice about the ant religions when I toss ant bait into the yard.

Imagine beings that can walk among the stars. Beings that may have the power to create world and life. Beings that can do anything.

Imagine what we are to them.[/list]


Hi Charlie!! It's good to see you here again. I was just thinking a day or so ago that you hadn't been here for a long time. You used to add much insight and humor to these discussions and I see you haven't lost your touch.

I'll add one more possibility to your list and I've brought it up in the past.....God passed gas and walked away and doesn't even know what he created. Wink
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charlie marlow
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sargbaby wrote:

I was wondering how long it would be before you made the common feminists mistake of calling God a woman, but I assume you were joking, so I won’t bother explaining why He is not a female.

[/color][/b]


I'd like to read that. Please include a discussion of the Holy Ghost as well.

Thanks.
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peanut
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey Charlie!! Good to see you on here!

I'm not here for the discussion....don't bother anymore...just wanted to tell Charlie Hi! Carry on! Very Happy
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Searcher
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sargbaby wrote:
Well, I disagree to some extent! Good and evil are more than “perspectives,” and their results are evident 24/7, 365 days a year. We did not invent God. This is typical of non-believers to support this perspective, but you have to keep in that the majority of the world’s population doesn’t believe the way you believe.

And the majority of the world doesn't believe in your particular brand of religion and the majority of people thought the earth was flat at one time and that the sun revolved around the earth. The majority of the world is not intelligent or learned enough to accomplish putting a man on the moon. The majority of the world are followers in need of an authoritative voice to guide them and do their thinking for them.

Quote:
The nature of mankind has always had the desire to survive, and make a place of comfort and power we can dominate. It is a natural occurrence to Want more and better things than your neighbor. Fighting and killing has been around since Adam and Eve.


And how misguided to imagine a god who rewards those who follow him with "more and better" things than your neighbors. And sad when excuses are made to avoid the teachings of your religion of caring for your neighbors when caring for them will take away from your over abundance of "more and better things." I'm not so sure whether religion helps or hinders humanity more these days.

I'm reminded of a conversation I overheard once while shopping. One woman was commenting to another that God was looking out for her and her husband when hurricane Katrina came through because they had moved to New Orleans but were unable to sell their home here. When most had no place to go to escape except a motel or wherever they could find and those who couldn't leave were helpless....she had the sense that god had "blessed" them because they still had the second home to go to.

A close relative of mine commented that god was looking out for them when they changed their house plans to alter the appearance of the front of the house and it turned out to be pleasing to the eye. This relative is a good Christian and a very caring person otherwise but sees the fix for society's problems is to pray more. She doesn't entertain the fact that the sexual orientation of gays resulted from some physical cause. But she has so much goodness and empathy in her that if she would study up on the latest research and findings through science, I don't doubt that she would change her perspective. But she is a good Christian and follows the Bible FIRST. Anything to the contrary of the Bible is pushed aside.


Quote:
We define good and evil through knowledge we have attained, from taking part in life, an evolution of the first kind. We learn by doing, and by repetition, discarding what doesn’t work, and retaining what does work.


I agree there. The Bible doesn't though. Evil according to the Bible is the result of an outside force....Satan, "knowledge" handed to you but not exactly what I would call "learned." Imagination is a result of evolution yes, but not always dependable.


Quote:
I hate evil too, my friend, but I have yet to hear a dung beetle utter a peep!
I also cry at the evils infesting our world, but what can one do to stop it?


One can learn what makes us tick physically and psychologically. Keep up with the latest studies. Educate ourselves to the possible physical causes of the acts of "evil" we see more and more of lately. Don't hamper scientific advances and education with such dishonest tactics as this Ray Comfort has done with his mutilation of Darwin's Origin book in order to lure students to the Christian fold.


Quote:
I was wondering how long it would be before you made the common feminists mistake of calling God a woman, but I assume you were joking, so I won’t bother explaining why He is not a female.


Then maybe you could explain to me what he does with his masculinity?? What female does he procreate with?

Quote:
Evil existed in God’s presence, and has since the beginning, yet His followers still seek Him, and His return.


God created evil. It says so in your bible.

Quote:
God doesn’t act in our lives because He loves all life, and God does not cause harm in anyone’s life.


So you bought my proposal I see. But according to the Bible, he will cause great harm to many in the future and he certainly has in the past according to the old testament.


Quote:
Evil, and we are the progenitors of everything harmful in our world.


Everything evil or harmful is not caused by us. Some is of natural or biological consequence, some is from greed, some is from lack of empathy, mental disease, emotional desperation, etc. We have neurons in our brains called mirror neurons which give us the ability to feel what another human or animal must be feeling. We know that in people with autism, the mirror neuron system in the brain does not function properly. What causes a serial killer to kill....a serial rapists to rape? Are there any biological causes that would be helpful to know about in order to correct the error some day when science advances to that point? How many prospective students of evolutionary biology could Ray Comfort lure away with his attempt to falsely shed doubt on current science that is moving us toward cures for these things and for cancer and other diseases? How many might he convince that prayer and allegiance to god is the only answer to our problems?

Quote:
God does not interfere with what we, or evil does to our world. God rejoices when a plant is taken for nourishment because He gave it to us to renew our bodies, which are made in His image.


If he doesn't interfere with evil then it is pointless to pray for an abducted child being abused by a sexual pervert and serial killer.
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Sargbaby
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

charlie marlow wrote:
Sargbaby wrote:

I was wondering how long it would be before you made the common feminists mistake of calling God a woman, but I assume you were joking, so I won’t bother explaining why He is not a female.

[/color][/b]


I'd like to read that. Please include a discussion of the Holy Ghost as well.

Thanks.

Hi Charlie, long time no see! First, I have to ask how much have you read of the Bible, or have you ever done any Bible study?
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sargbaby wrote:
charlie marlow wrote:
Sargbaby wrote:

I was wondering how long it would be before you made the common feminists mistake of calling God a woman, but I assume you were joking, so I won’t bother explaining why He is not a female.

[/color][/b]


I'd like to read that. Please include a discussion of the Holy Ghost as well.

Thanks.

Hi Charlie, long time no see! First, I have to ask how much have you read of the Bible, or have you ever done any Bible study?


He said in his first post that he has read the bible several times.
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Sargbaby
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Searcher wrote:
If he doesn't interfere with evil then it is pointless to pray for an abducted child being abused by a sexual pervert and serial killer.

Your comments will take some time to counter, or accept. Between illness from chemo, and our son-in-law on his death bed, and our daughter, who is also ill right now, I'm running short of time. I will reply to your final comment, though, as you have forgotten one very important thing. First, not every abducted child being abused by a kidnapper is killed. Second, even non-believing professional healthcare providers admit that prayer doesn't hurt, and in some cases, improves patients outlook and health.

I never asserted that prayer always works, nor that I know the will of God, but I can tell you, prayer has worked for me in the past, and for many others, including non-believers reaching out to God in times of crisis. It's comments like the one above that make me feel like you are angry at God. The problem here is, if you are angry at Him, that would mean you believe He exists. Don't bother replying to that remark, I already know what you're going to state! Wink

For Charlie; Throughout the Bible, God is referred to as the Father, or Holy Father. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to God as His Father and prays to Him as His Father. The Holy Ghost is the spirit of Jesus, after He arose from being crusified. He appeared several times to His deciples and others in His spirit form. But here is the "clinker," Charlie, if God can appear in the form of a burning bush, couldn't He also appear as a woman? Smile

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bigmammal
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Radwaste wrote:
Sargbaby wrote:
As usual,...


...you're merely going to cry, "context", so that the deity you insist upon, who decided to kill everybody to rid the Earth of evil - and failed - can be represented in the light you want.

I don't blame you for that, but to misrepresent what you're doing is simply dishonest, intentional or not.

Well, here's your challenge. Take this phrase and explain it away - that it doesn't mean what it says:

Isaiah 45:7: "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."

One at a time: explain how, in your religion, the Lord:

1) Does NOT form the light;
2) Does NOT form the darkness:
3) Does NOT make peace;
4) Does NOT create evil;
5) Does NOT do all these things.

In the process, tell me how you are supporting:
a) The existence of God™ as the - the only - "Creator";
b) Any approach to the idea that this deity is "omnipotent".

Now, if you want to say that Isaiah is wrong, go ahead. I have no problem with that, because there are a bunch of things in the Bible that are.

But if you've spent your entire life explaining away things or turning your head and saying "I believe!" when an uncomfortable thought occurs, it could be a real problem for you.

It is my experience that religious people have huge problems with definitions. For instance, OpenMinded wrote, in the thread, The Golden Compass- Killing God:
"For ever means a very long time. It doesn't always mean the exact amount of time wherever it is used. It sometimes refers to eternity and at other times refers to a temporary but long period of time."

This essentially means that OM means what he wants things to mean, no more, no less. I use definitions which stay put, so they can be tested, and I urge you to do the same. Otherwise, we'll all be over there with Bill Clinton debating the meaning of "is" - and not explaining a damned thing - while the religious look more and more like used-car salesmen.


This pretty well says it all.
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Sargbaby
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

charlie marlow wrote:
Hi Searcher, Radwaste, Sargbaby, Trio and others. How's it been going?

Anyway, I've read the bible several times. I've been called Satan or satanic several times. Therefore, Satan reads the bible. :)

Why don't the gods stop tragedy?

    They don't exist

    They exist, but tragedy is part of a plan beyond human comprehension

    They exist, but, being gods and all that, are so far removed from humanity that human tragedy and suffering are not even considered by them


Allow me a moment to discuss that last option. Let's assume the ants in my yard are worshiping me right now as a god. In their nests, they have monuments to my greatness. They get together to listen to sermons about my justice and power. Their are ants who've devoted their lives to pleasing me.

Unfortunately, they are ants. Their ant monuments appear to me to be nothing more than piles of dirt. Their prayers to me are unheard as I don't speak pheromones. Their attempts to please me risk putting me in the hospital because I am allergic to their venom, so, I really don't think twice about the ant religions when I toss ant bait into the yard.

Imagine beings that can walk among the stars. Beings that may have the power to create world and life. Beings that can do anything.

Imagine what we are to them.[/list]

Sorry I missed this earlier, Charlie, I've got so much going on anymore, I hit the forum like a rock skipping over water. I like the ant analogy, and it's a cute story, but ants weren't created in God's image, we were! I understand your ideas, but they are typical of intelligent folk who are not believers. As I mentioned in one of my earlier comments, it is difficult to believe in something you can't see, feel, or hear. Christianity is faith based, and individuals make up their own minds to choose whether or not to believe.

It's not hard to imaging God walking among the stars, but I rather imagine He is busy closing the accounts of earth. (That's a hint, Charlie! Wink ) Everyone has choices! They are the plotted courses of our lives. We all make choices and I chose to accept the teachings of Jesus. Just me, I didn't choose Him for anyone else, not even my family, just me! Now, I have questions the same as you and Searcher, but my questions do not vary my faith.

Why God allows bad things to happen to good people, is beyond my comprehenshion. Other than to say that evil is just as alive as Almighty God, I cannot answer why He allows such pain to exist, other than to state it is His will to make a test of people's faith.

You did mention one thing close to accuracy, Charlie; "They exist, but tragedy is part of a plan beyond human comprehension;" "part of a plan," is spot on! God has a plan, and if you studied your Bible well, you should know that it is in place, and working according to schedule.

Last, what we are to God, are His creation, and everything He has done, good and bad, is for the love He has for all of us. What we get ourselves into, is of our own making. How we come out of the darkness of evil, is by our own choices. Good to see you, Charlie!

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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sargbaby wrote:
But here is the "clinker," Charlie, if God can appear in the form of a burning bush, couldn't He also appear as a woman? Smile [/color][/b]
NO! Of course not. You must be an idiot.

God would NEVER portray himself as the weaker vessel and since the Bible is written from the perspective of patriarchal society, He would NEVER pretend to be a matriarch because women by His perspective are owned human beings by their husbands.

Your statement clanged to the floor as the clinker rang true.

Here. Let me turn that around so that you understand it fully. The "clinker" was your statement to Charlie and when that "clinker" fell and hit the floor it "clanked" loudly a loud flat sound that proved its worth. It rang out its worth flatly sounding.

That was the sound of your voice.
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Sargbaby
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Searcher wrote:
Sargbaby wrote:
Well, I disagree to some extent! Good and evil are more than “perspectives,” and their results are evident 24/7, 365 days a year. We did not invent God. This is typical of non-believers to support this perspective, but you have to keep in that the majority of the world’s population doesn’t believe the way you believe.

And the majority of the world doesn't believe in your particular brand of religion and the majority of people thought the earth was flat at one time and that the sun revolved around the earth. The majority of the world is not intelligent or learned enough to accomplish putting a man on the moon. The majority of the world are followers in need of an authoritative voice to guide them and do their thinking for them.

Quote:
The nature of mankind has always had the desire to survive, and make a place of comfort and power we can dominate. It is a natural occurrence to Want more and better things than your neighbor. Fighting and killing has been around since Adam and Eve.


And how misguided to imagine a god who rewards those who follow him with "more and better" things than your neighbors. And sad when excuses are made to avoid the teachings of your religion of caring for your neighbors when caring for them will take away from your over abundance of "more and better things." I'm not so sure whether religion helps or hinders humanity more these days.

I'm reminded of a conversation I overheard once while shopping. One woman was commenting to another that God was looking out for her and her husband when hurricane Katrina came through because they had moved to New Orleans but were unable to sell their home here. When most had no place to go to escape except a motel or wherever they could find and those who couldn't leave were helpless....she had the sense that god had "blessed" them because they still had the second home to go to.

A close relative of mine commented that god was looking out for them when they changed their house plans to alter the appearance of the front of the house and it turned out to be pleasing to the eye. This relative is a good Christian and a very caring person otherwise but sees the fix for society's problems is to pray more. She doesn't entertain the fact that the sexual orientation of gays resulted from some physical cause. But she has so much goodness and empathy in her that if she would study up on the latest research and findings through science, I don't doubt that she would change her perspective. But she is a good Christian and follows the Bible FIRST. Anything to the contrary of the Bible is pushed aside.


Quote:
We define good and evil through knowledge we have attained, from taking part in life, an evolution of the first kind. We learn by doing, and by repetition, discarding what doesn’t work, and retaining what does work.


I agree there. The Bible doesn't though. Evil according to the Bible is the result of an outside force....Satan, "knowledge" handed to you but not exactly what I would call "learned." Imagination is a result of evolution yes, but not always dependable.


Quote:
I hate evil too, my friend, but I have yet to hear a dung beetle utter a peep!
I also cry at the evils infesting our world, but what can one do to stop it?


One can learn what makes us tick physically and psychologically. Keep up with the latest studies. Educate ourselves to the possible physical causes of the acts of "evil" we see more and more of lately. Don't hamper scientific advances and education with such dishonest tactics as this Ray Comfort has done with his mutilation of Darwin's Origin book in order to lure students to the Christian fold.


Quote:
I was wondering how long it would be before you made the common feminists mistake of calling God a woman, but I assume you were joking, so I won’t bother explaining why He is not a female.


Then maybe you could explain to me what he does with his masculinity?? What female does he procreate with?

Quote:
Evil existed in God’s presence, and has since the beginning, yet His followers still seek Him, and His return.


God created evil. It says so in your bible.

Quote:
God doesn’t act in our lives because He loves all life, and God does not cause harm in anyone’s life.


So you bought my proposal I see. But according to the Bible, he will cause great harm to many in the future and he certainly has in the past according to the old testament.


Quote:
Evil, and we are the progenitors of everything harmful in our world.


Everything evil or harmful is not caused by us. Some is of natural or biological consequence, some is from greed, some is from lack of empathy, mental disease, emotional desperation, etc. We have neurons in our brains called mirror neurons which give us the ability to feel what another human or animal must be feeling. We know that in people with autism, the mirror neuron system in the brain does not function properly. What causes a serial killer to kill....a serial rapists to rape? Are there any biological causes that would be helpful to know about in order to correct the error some day when science advances to that point? How many prospective students of evolutionary biology could Ray Comfort lure away with his attempt to falsely shed doubt on current science that is moving us toward cures for these things and for cancer and other diseases? How many might he convince that prayer and allegiance to god is the only answer to our problems?

Quote:
God does not interfere with what we, or evil does to our world. God rejoices when a plant is taken for nourishment because He gave it to us to renew our bodies, which are made in His image.


If he doesn't interfere with evil then it is pointless to pray for an abducted child being abused by a sexual pervert and serial killer.

Carefully notice, I did not label my particular brand, and the “flat earth” society apparently chooses to take whatever voice compels them with the most fear, or benefits.

Benevolence is in the heart of the giver, and true benevolence is not only forthcoming out of Religion, but by the naturally good people of earth, everywhere. A person who avoids the teachings of any Religion to hoard their “more and better things,” is a hypocrite! I think it depends on the Religion as to whether they help or hinder humanity. Truth in most Religions is lacking due to the interference by man.
Mohammad is a perfect example. He chose to entwine his own beliefs with that of the Jews and God. The evidence of the outcome of that, is painfully clear.


I couldn’t say that God was looking out for her and her husband when hurricane Katrina hit, because He sure didn’t look out for N.O.. God may have blessed them, but they are the ones who chose to build, or have more than one home. They may be blessed by having the ability to do what is necessary, but God did not build their second home, they did.

There is a certain continuity of thought that tells us all good things come from God. Bad things come from Him as well, because He is our Creator of all things. Evil comes out of human nature, as sure as the serpent came out of the fruit tree. I disagree, evil is learned. A complete idiot learns that it is easier to steal than to work. Imagination is the result of creative thinking, and it works about as well as evolution. So, what is dependable? What you see? What you read? What you prove through science? Nothing is completely dependable.

The Ray Comfort problem has been cured. It’s in the news. Students are able to make decisions rather than be lured away from Darwin. Let them decide for themselves, you did!

Why do you worry about God’s masculinity? You don’t believe in Him, so what difference does it make what He does? He has no need to procreate the way I see it. All He has to do is create! Whoo hooo, wouldn’t we love to know how He does that!

Yes, God created satan, thus He created evil. If you want to get a good idea how God will harm many in the future, read the story of Lott. This is an excellent example of how God will treat the earth’s inhabitants when He decides the time has come.

Read what you just stated; “Some is of natural or biological consequence, some is from greed, some is from lack of empathy, mental disease, emotional desperation, etc. We have neurons in our brains called mirror neurons which give us the ability to feel what another human or animal must be feeling. We know that in people with autism, the mirror neuron system in the brain does not function properly. What causes a serial killer to kill....a serial rapists to rape?” Isn’t this the “we, or us causing all this?”

Everything boils down to choices, Searcher. Does it hurt to pray? What if you pray in earnest, and your prayer is answered immediately, or even before the prayer is finished? How do we know that God answered this prayer, or if it was just consequence? I have my answer to this question, but it is based on my choice to believe, and accept what I believe.

Ray Comfort is not going to make a dent in evil, anymore than God has made a dent in you. So, stop worrying that knowledge will cease because of him. It’s never pointless to pray for anyone, or anything. You should learn about prayer and why most prayers are not answered. For me, I’m banking on the ones that were answered for me, under bizarre circumstances. I know why the ones I don’t get answered, are not heard. That’s cool for me. BTW, I pray for you and many here, daily. Now, don’t you just feel better all over? Very Happy

_________________
""A man does what he must – in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures – and that is the basis of all human morality." W.C.
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Sargbaby
El Presidente de Nascar


Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 13281

PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mac wrote:
Sargbaby wrote:
But here is the "clinker," Charlie, if God can appear in the form of a burning bush, couldn't He also appear as a woman? Smile [/color][/b]
NO! Of course not. You must be an idiot.

God would NEVER portray himself as the weaker vessel and since the Bible is written from the perspective of patriarchal society, He would NEVER pretend to be a matriarch because women by His perspective are owned human beings by their husbands.

Your statement clanged to the floor as the clinker rang true.

Here. Let me turn that around so that you understand it fully. The "clinker" was your statement to Charlie and when that "clinker" fell and hit the floor it "clanked" loudly a loud flat sound that proved its worth. It rang out its worth flatly sounding.

That was the sound of your voice.

Glad you can speak for God, Mac! Now, who is the idiot? Not me! Guess it must be you! Shocked Shocked Shocked
_________________
""A man does what he must – in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures – and that is the basis of all human morality." W.C.


Last edited by Sargbaby on Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:27 pm; edited 1 time in total
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