The good you do in your short life is all that really counts. Believing in an invisible guy in the sky (or wherever you believe he is) isn't important at all and doesn't make you a better person.
It looks like you finished this thread.
I hope so! I wish all religious posts were banned on this forum.
Banned, huh? I find it amazingly hypocritical how many non-believers also claiming to be conservatives, say that. Banning is something totalitarians do. Do you want to be associated with that? And if so, what are you afraid of and why not just move on and ignore the thread? And BTW, none of your questions are difficult, even though many would only be speculations.
We may know the time Ben Carson lied, but does anyone know the time Hillary Clinton told the truth?
Immersing oneself in progressive lieberalism is no different than bathing in the sewage of Hell.
The idea of an intelligent, universe-creating god "just existing" is far more difficult to explain than the universe itself "just existing".
Only to those who believe God should be them. Most everyone else throughout history has understood, and quite easily, that there is a God because there has to be. As He revealed Himself, specifics become clearer. With the leading of the Holy Spirit, beyond clear to amazing.
You're just a very unfortunate and ill-advised individual who has misspent his time intently learning not to believe in the obvious, to your eternal detriment. You can turn that around, if you choose to, just as you chose the path you are on now. Sometimes "to thine ownself be true" is simply being true to a lie.
I starting going to church at a very young age and remember thinking how bizarre it was. None of it made sense to me but I figured that maybe it would make sense at some point. After studying the Bible for years and listening to preachers explain what the verses in the Bible really meant the exact opposite happened. The more I learned about religion the more bizarre it became. I have a few questions for you all knowing Bible thumpers that might help me be enlightened like yourselves:
1) If your God is all knowing and all powerful why does he let other religions exist? 2) How many people do you personally know that went to Heaven? 3) How many people do you personally know who went to Hell? 4) Why do people pray out loud when God knows what they're thinking? 5) Why do you believe that just because you don't understand how something came to exist that your God created it from nothing? 6) Why do you believe that only religious people can have morals? 7) Why do you believe that you are superior and more moral than people who don't believe what you believe? 8) If you do go to your Heaven when you die do you revert to an earlier age when you were healthy? 9) How can a baby or young child be saved from going to your Hell when they can't possibly understand your religion? 10) Do you really believe that EVERYBODY that doesn't believe what you believe is going to burn in your Hell for eternity? 11) Are there animals in your Heaven? They're your God's creatures too.
I could go on and on but it would just fall on deaf ears. The good you do in your short life is all that really counts. Believing in an invisible guy in the sky (or wherever you believe he is) isn't important at all and doesn't make you a better person.
Are you honestly interested in the answers to your questions, or do you just post them as points of contention, having a mind already decided?
I would be mildly interested in any answers you can come up with that don't involve references to the Bible or your interpretation of those references. If the Bible is the word of an all knowing all powerful God why wasn't it written in all languages so people like yourself wouldn't still be arguing about the meaning? God should know all languages past and present. But just so you won't waste your time I made up my mind a long time ago that all religions are scams.
1) If your God is all knowing and all powerful why does he let other religions exist? Religion is man made, not God made. People have the free will to do whatever they want and believe whatever they want.
2) How many people do you personally know that went to Heaven? I won't know that until I personally get to heaven, but I'd bet I know quite a few that are there, based on their beliefs that I knew about while they were living here on earth.
3) How many people do you personally know who went to Hell? Not sure about that either, but I believe I have known a few, once again based on their beliefs while alive. I'm not the eternal judge...God is.
4) Why do people pray out loud when God knows what they're thinking? It is a sign of obedience, reverence, and worship. However, we are warned not to pray " on the street corner" with the intention of bringing attention to ourselves and not about God.
5) Why do you believe that just because you don't understand how something came to exist that your God created it from nothing? God created everything from nothing, I believe, because it says so in Genesis.
6) Why do you believe that only religious people can have morals? I do not believe that at all.
7) Why do you believe that you are superior and more moral than people who don't believe what you believe? I do not believe that at all either. What I am though, is forgiven, saved by grace. Something a non believer cannot say.
8) If you do go to your Heaven when you die do you revert to an earlier age when you were healthy? I have no idea, but the Bible says we get a new body that is perfect, so I will go with that.
9) How can a baby or young child be saved from going to your Hell when they can't possibly understand your religion? I believe that God is fair and just. If a young child hasn't reached the age of reason and accountability (varies for each person) then God will extend grace and mercy to that individual.
10) Do you really believe that EVERYBODY that doesn't believe what you believe is going to burn in your Hell for eternity? Yes I do. The rules are explained in the Holy Bible, and I believe every word.
11) Are there animals in your Heaven? They're your God's creatures too. There is no mention in the Bible of animals being in heaven, so I can't say. It really doesn't matter though, does it?
It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.
I hope God has his lawyer with him when all the Atheists hold Him to account.Otherwise, He won't have a chance with the likes of Antelope Sniper and victorio sitting as judges,
1) If your God is all knowing and all powerful why does he let other religions exist? Religion is man made, not God made. People have the free will to do whatever they want and believe whatever they want.
2) How many people do you personally know that went to Heaven? I won't know that until I personally get to heaven, but I'd bet I know quite a few that are there, based on their beliefs that I knew about while they were living here on earth.
3) How many people do you personally know who went to Hell? Not sure about that either, but I believe I have known a few, once again based on their beliefs while alive. I'm not the eternal judge...God is.
4) Why do people pray out loud when God knows what they're thinking? It is a sign of obedience, reverence, and worship. However, we are warned not to pray " on the street corner" with the intention of bringing attention to ourselves and not about God.
5) Why do you believe that just because you don't understand how something came to exist that your God created it from nothing? God created everything from nothing, I believe, because it says so in Genesis.
6) Why do you believe that only religious people can have morals? I do not believe that at all.
7) Why do you believe that you are superior and more moral than people who don't believe what you believe? I do not believe that at all either. What I am though, is forgiven, saved by grace. Something a non believer cannot say.
8) If you do go to your Heaven when you die do you revert to an earlier age when you were healthy? I have no idea, but the Bible says we get a new body that is perfect, so I will go with that.
9) How can a baby or young child be saved from going to your Hell when they can't possibly understand your religion? I believe that God is fair and just. If a young child hasn't reached the age of reason and accountability (varies for each person) then God will extend grace and mercy to that individual.
10) Do you really believe that EVERYBODY that doesn't believe what you believe is going to burn in your Hell for eternity? Yes I do. The rules are explained in the Holy Bible, and I believe every word.
11) Are there animals in your Heaven? They're your God's creatures too. There is no mention in the Bible of animals being in heaven, so I can't say. It really doesn't matter though, does it?
Excellent! That is exactly what I would have answered, too. On #4, I might have also mentioned silent prayer is often what I do most. He does know. Often several times an hour or more, just like talking to my best friend. That's what He is. If I'm praying out loud that might be for a meal or occasion when others are around so they know what I am praying. At my house if I pray for a meal or a need with others present, I wait when I am finished for others to add something, too, then the Amen. I would have also mentioned that when I read the Bible, that's when I do so out loud, even though no one is usually around. Faith comes by hearing and it pisses the devils off.
We may know the time Ben Carson lied, but does anyone know the time Hillary Clinton told the truth?
Immersing oneself in progressive lieberalism is no different than bathing in the sewage of Hell.
I could go on and on but it would just fall on deaf ears. The good you do in your short life is all that really counts. Believing in an invisible guy in the sky (or wherever you believe he is) isn't important at all and doesn't make you a better person.
I don't have answers for your questions and don't completely disagree with what you say above but I will say this.
A) a person's religious convictions (and we ALL have em) are not the determining factor for whether I would care to share a campfire with them; I've met professing Christians I don't care to get to know any better than I do, and I've met avowed non-believers who I trust and care for a great deal
B) I have found there is much more peace in accepting that there are many higher powers than me in this universe and I will live out my days in submission to them/"it" or die miserable, defeated, and bitter
Note first person in B. I've met non-believers who are content to simply shrug it off but not many. Most are "kicking against the goads". Either is a legit personal decision made by individuals with the right to do so, but I feel a lot more comfortable on my knees than waving my fist at the sky these days.
1) If your God is all knowing and all powerful why does he let other religions exist? Religion is man made, not God made. People have the free will to do whatever they want and believe whatever they want.
2) How many people do you personally know that went to Heaven? I won't know that until I personally get to heaven, but I'd bet I know quite a few that are there, based on their beliefs that I knew about while they were living here on earth.
3) How many people do you personally know who went to Hell? Not sure about that either, but I believe I have known a few, once again based on their beliefs while alive. I'm not the eternal judge...God is.
4) Why do people pray out loud when God knows what they're thinking? It is a sign of obedience, reverence, and worship. However, we are warned not to pray " on the street corner" with the intention of bringing attention to ourselves and not about God.
5) Why do you believe that just because you don't understand how something came to exist that your God created it from nothing? God created everything from nothing, I believe, because it says so in Genesis.
6) Why do you believe that only religious people can have morals? I do not believe that at all.
7) Why do you believe that you are superior and more moral than people who don't believe what you believe? I do not believe that at all either. What I am though, is forgiven, saved by grace. Something a non believer cannot say.
8) If you do go to your Heaven when you die do you revert to an earlier age when you were healthy? I have no idea, but the Bible says we get a new body that is perfect, so I will go with that.
9) How can a baby or young child be saved from going to your Hell when they can't possibly understand your religion? I believe that God is fair and just. If a young child hasn't reached the age of reason and accountability (varies for each person) then God will extend grace and mercy to that individual.
10) Do you really believe that EVERYBODY that doesn't believe what you believe is going to burn in your Hell for eternity? Yes I do. The rules are explained in the Holy Bible, and I believe every word.
11) Are there animals in your Heaven? They're your God's creatures too. There is no mention in the Bible of animals being in heaven, so I can't say. It really doesn't matter though, does it?
I pretty much agree but I would like to say it's important for men to pray out loud because God still works through men. It's up to men to declare God's will on earth and to see that it's done with his help.
Too often men pray God do this or God do that. The scripture says that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God expecting until his enemies be made his footstool.Who do you think Jesus is expecting to accomplish that? Instead of praying God do such and such a thing, we should be praying."God what do you want me to do!"
No, I'm not preaching to destroy God's enemies.That's the tactics Satan is using pretending to be God.What I'm saying is that Godly men and women can't sit back and do nothing while praying for God to fix things.We have to stand and give voice to what is right and what is wrong. We have to use the authority and ability God gave us. Part of that is not being ashamed to stand up and pray out loud.
I hope God has his lawyer with him when all the Atheists hold Him to account.Otherwise, He won't have a chance with the likes of Antelope Sniper and victorio sitting as judges,
When we meet our maker, nobody will be doing any talking except The Man.
It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.
For what it's worth, by far the most religious president that we have ever had, according to church attendance and the mentioning of God or the Bible in speeches and statements was Bill Clinton. Second, but not even close was Jimmy Carter. I didn't like either one of them. Probably the most blasphemous thing that I ever heard said by a politician was Michel Bachmann when she said that "God made hurricanes and earthquakes to get the attention of politicians," I can't imagine a serious Christian hearing that quote and saying, "Right on!". It is opportunistic, solipsistic and cynical. to an atheist, it was burlesque. I kind of liked her before that remark.
The thing that allows these politicians to pull this stuff off is one magic word that was not used before the 1960s is "Christian". The word Christian doesn't even appear in history in the way that we use it now before the anti-abortion act of the 1960s (kind of odd that the people using it the most since then have been for the most part Democrats). Before that we were Catholics, Baptists, Evangelists, Mormons, Lutherans, etc. If we were still divided up among sects like this Atheists would be the largest at around 28% then Catholics around 22% Then everybody else split vastly with only a couple of percent to the other larger groups each at the most.
So some smart people got together and decided that there could be a way to pull all of these different religious groups together and get them under one tent, and coined the use of the word "Christian" to encompass large groups of people with very different philosophies together and Jimmy Carter helped a lot since his Sect, Born Again Christian, had the word right in it. But in reality, Catholics, Mormons, Baptists, and Born Again Christians, have more contrasting views than those they have in common.
Before the 1960s politicians didn't speak much of what sect of Christianity the were from, because it would have put all the others further against them. Kennedy had a time with this being a Catholic, even though he hardly ever tried to bring it up, and that was the beginning of the 60s, before that it was best to keep it at home and at church if you had a mind to be involved in politics.
What I would do if I were a politician and interested in movements (I'm not -- I am against them) and not a free thinker, would be to enlarge the tent some and replace the word Christian with Theist, that way I could include the Jewish, the Wickens, and the Muslims in my group too. We could have Theist vs Athiest, then you would win hands down. You certainly wouldn't have to stretch the "rules of the tent that much more than they already have been stretched to have so many different ideals in there already.
Imagine if you will, a court room right in the middle of the bible belt, with a Born Again judge who believes every word of the bible is literally true. He believes in talking snakes, virgin births and that God told Abraham to kill his son. Not only that but all the jurors believe the same thing, and the prosecuting and defense attorneys as well, even the people in the gallery all believe that. They even all know each other from church, but the lady in the witness chair says that she killed her three children in cold blood because God told her to. The people in the jury have two choices, guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity, will anybody there stand up and say, "Maybe God really did tell her to"? No? Why not? It's less weird than a talking snake and easier to believe than a virgin birth. If this country is founded on "Christian Values why isn't there more options than; not guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity, and guilty? Why isn't not guilty 'cause God said, one of the options?
1) If your God is all knowing and all powerful why does he let other religions exist? Religion is man made, not God made. People have the free will to do whatever they want and believe whatever they want.
2) How many people do you personally know that went to Heaven? I won't know that until I personally get to heaven, but I'd bet I know quite a few that are there, based on their beliefs that I knew about while they were living here on earth.
3) How many people do you personally know who went to Hell? Not sure about that either, but I believe I have known a few, once again based on their beliefs while alive. I'm not the eternal judge...God is.
4) Why do people pray out loud when God knows what they're thinking? It is a sign of obedience, reverence, and worship. However, we are warned not to pray " on the street corner" with the intention of bringing attention to ourselves and not about God.
5) Why do you believe that just because you don't understand how something came to exist that your God created it from nothing? God created everything from nothing, I believe, because it says so in Genesis.
6) Why do you believe that only religious people can have morals? I do not believe that at all.
7) Why do you believe that you are superior and more moral than people who don't believe what you believe? I do not believe that at all either. What I am though, is forgiven, saved by grace. Something a non believer cannot say.
8) If you do go to your Heaven when you die do you revert to an earlier age when you were healthy? I have no idea, but the Bible says we get a new body that is perfect, so I will go with that.
9) How can a baby or young child be saved from going to your Hell when they can't possibly understand your religion? I believe that God is fair and just. If a young child hasn't reached the age of reason and accountability (varies for each person) then God will extend grace and mercy to that individual.
10) Do you really believe that EVERYBODY that doesn't believe what you believe is going to burn in your Hell for eternity? Yes I do. The rules are explained in the Holy Bible, and I believe every word.
11) Are there animals in your Heaven? They're your God's creatures too. There is no mention in the Bible of animals being in heaven, so I can't say. It really doesn't matter though, does it?
I pretty much agree but I would like to say it's important for men to pray out loud because God still works through men. It's up to men to declare God's will on earth and to see that it's done with his help.
Too often men pray God do this or God do that. The scripture says that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God expecting until his enemies be made his footstool.Who do you think Jesus is expecting to accomplish that? Instead of praying God do such and such a thing, we should be praying."God what do you want me to do!"
No, I'm not preaching to destroy God's enemies.That's the tactics Satan is using pretending to be God.What I'm saying is that Godly men and women can't sit back and do nothing while praying for God to fix things.We have to stand and give voice to what is right and what is wrong. We have to use the authority and ability God gave us. Part of that is not being ashamed to stand up and pray out loud.
what i hope we can move a way from is the idea or concept of a superstitious or Majical God. that is, we give thanks for God saving our wife, spouse, neighbor, friend, from dying of cancer, car wreck, etc., while just down the hall in the hospital a small child, older adult, etc. etc. meets the dust. death happens. why would god save one over another for heaven's sakes. we all got to die, at some point. i'm trying to convey the thought that we do not report to nor worship a majiccal god. that's too easy for the charlatans to exploit and take advantage of. you know what of i speak, i'm certain. god allows it to rain on the just and unjust alike. likewise people get healed no matter their background, condition, or future outcomes. others die tragic deaths, and it wasn't their fault nor anyone elses. bottom line is that the worship of god is Not a majiccal experience in reality. but for many folks, it is.
1) If your God is all knowing and all powerful why does he let other religions exist? Religion is man made, not God made. People have the free will to do whatever they want and believe whatever they want.
2) How many people do you personally know that went to Heaven? I won't know that until I personally get to heaven, but I'd bet I know quite a few that are there, based on their beliefs that I knew about while they were living here on earth.
3) How many people do you personally know who went to Hell? Not sure about that either, but I believe I have known a few, once again based on their beliefs while alive. I'm not the eternal judge...God is.
4) Why do people pray out loud when God knows what they're thinking? It is a sign of obedience, reverence, and worship. However, we are warned not to pray " on the street corner" with the intention of bringing attention to ourselves and not about God.
5) Why do you believe that just because you don't understand how something came to exist that your God created it from nothing? God created everything from nothing, I believe, because it says so in Genesis.
6) Why do you believe that only religious people can have morals? I do not believe that at all.
7) Why do you believe that you are superior and more moral than people who don't believe what you believe? I do not believe that at all either. What I am though, is forgiven, saved by grace. Something a non believer cannot say.
8) If you do go to your Heaven when you die do you revert to an earlier age when you were healthy? I have no idea, but the Bible says we get a new body that is perfect, so I will go with that.
9) How can a baby or young child be saved from going to your Hell when they can't possibly understand your religion? I believe that God is fair and just. If a young child hasn't reached the age of reason and accountability (varies for each person) then God will extend grace and mercy to that individual.
10) Do you really believe that EVERYBODY that doesn't believe what you believe is going to burn in your Hell for eternity? Yes I do. The rules are explained in the Holy Bible, and I believe every word.
11) Are there animals in your Heaven? They're your God's creatures too. There is no mention in the Bible of animals being in heaven, so I can't say. It really doesn't matter though, does it?
I pretty much agree but I would like to say it's important for men to pray out loud because God still works through men. It's up to men to declare God's will on earth and to see that it's done with his help.
Too often men pray God do this or God do that. The scripture says that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God expecting until his enemies be made his footstool.Who do you think Jesus is expecting to accomplish that? Instead of praying God do such and such a thing, we should be praying."God what do you want me to do!"
No, I'm not preaching to destroy God's enemies.That's the tactics Satan is using pretending to be God.What I'm saying is that Godly men and women can't sit back and do nothing while praying for God to fix things.We have to stand and give voice to what is right and what is wrong. We have to use the authority and ability God gave us. Part of that is not being ashamed to stand up and pray out loud.
what i hope we can move a way from is the idea or concept of a superstitious or Majical God. that is, we give thanks for God saving our wife, spouse, neighbor, friend, from dying of cancer, car wreck, etc., while just down the hall in the hospital a small child, older adult, etc. etc. meets the dust. death happens. why would god save one over another for heaven's sakes. we all got to die, at some point. i'm trying to convey the thought that we do not report to nor worship a majiccal god. that's too easy for the charlatans to exploit and take advantage of. you know what of i speak, i'm certain. god allows it to rain on the just and unjust alike. likewise people get healed no matter their background, condition, or future outcomes. others die tragic deaths, and it wasn't their fault nor anyone elses. bottom line is that the worship of god is Not a majiccal experience in reality. but for many folks, it is.
Gus That's a whole can of worms right there. For now I will just say that God isn't causing bad things to happen to people to test them. God also isn't withholding healing from one but giving it to another like some heavenly lottery.Bad things happen to good people because we live in an imperfect world fallen into sin.
That does not however mean that healing isn't possible or available. It doesn't come however by praying to change God's mind and get him to heal you.As far as God is concerned he had already done all that is necessary.It's now up to you to believe it.
I'm fairly sure we are about as far apart as East and West theologically. I will say however that God allows what we allow.Much of the evil in our lives is our own fault or is brought about by others following an evil path.God gets in agreement with us when we get in agreement with him.Faith is simply believing what God said about any situation,no matter what your 5 physical senses tell you. That kind of faith will cause circumstances to change.
i'm just suggesting that we might be better off if we could dig our way out of the majical thinking mythology that so many believers use in describing god.
to pray for one to be healed, while next door one is dying, or near so, is selfish in my estimation. but, as always, i could be wrong, or not.
let's continue to chip at the stone wall. maybe sunlight will flow through someday.
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