Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire The fall (and failure) of religion....

Carbon12,

You surprise me. Your response contributes.

So, Joe steals Bob's car. But since Bob had much, Joe thinks Bob should let him lightly since Bob is so rich. But Joe has perpetrated a wrong and is not sure how,to right the wrong or how to set things right with Bob. Bob is very powerful and might prosecute Joe and Joe is fearful of that.

Joe has a couple of choices. He might stay away from Bob out of the embarrassment of his own crime. He might react by cursing Bob for leaving the keys in it in the first place. After all, it really is Bob!s fault in the first place, right? Or not.

Bob might see Joe's dilemma and communicate to Joe what must,be done to make things right, Joe can admit his wrongdoing and get right with Bob or he can refuse to admit his wrong and simply curse Bob and never accept responsibility for his crime.

So simple.

Anyway, the point has been made.

I am gone on another trip. Pls play on.


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I guess you missed the part (point) where Bob (God) made Joe (you) with an absolute thieving (sinful) nature. When you inevitably stole (failed at not sinning), you were only fulfilling Bob's perfect plan.





Nope, didn't miss it. But I will finish the Joe/Bob story.

So Joe stole the car and wrecked it. He did it, he did it knowingly and he is guilty. But he has pride and he cannot bring himself to confess to Bob and does not have the courage to ask for forgiveness. But Joe is angry with himself so he tells himself and others that Joe is really at fault for leaving the keys in it and so on and so forth.

Well, Bob hears about this and decides to just wait to see if Joe ever comes around. Joe avoids Bob and Bob sees that Joe does not want to address this crime that prevents Joe and Bob from being friends. Joe does not want a relationship with Bob and Bob just lets him go his merry way.

But, Bob is not going to invite Joe to the Party either for he knows Joe really does not want to be there.


Simple, if Joe does not want a relationship with Bob, Bob won't force it but Joe should not expect a party invitation. Bob will let him go the way he desires.

Now, why is it that so many "atheists" have a problem with this?

You don't want a relationship with God. God allows that. Go the way you choose to.

Oh, btw, there will be no excuses, for Joe really did steal the car and he really did avoid God and these were his choices.

Flip Wilson used to say "The devil made me do it." Funny but still a flimsy excuse. Won't hold up in court.

Ah, but you atheists should not feel threatened in any way.

There is no god that you are obligated to.

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AS posted:

In our story, Joe could go see Bob, shake his hand, and even see his name on the title of the car he wrecked. So in your story Bob is actually a real person, vs. the god claims in this life which are of fictions beings. [/quote]



You keep bringing God into this. Forget God for the sake of this exchange.

Three questions:

First: “If you do someone wrong, are they obligated to forgive you?”

Second: “If YOU wrong someone, can you dictate the rule about how, why and should they etc, forgive YOU?”

Third: Can one demand forgiveness from he has wronged?

You've been bobbing and weaving and avoiding for a couple of pages.

What are your answers?

TF

not to belabor the point, yes could well be some version of English as the last (first?) standing universal language. a dark horse like madarin chinese might come stalking up to overcome it though.

we all know that IF there's one true god, that god represents all of humanity and not just a fraction or portion of it. just working out the details now is about all that's left to be done.

A lot of people might be 'losing their religion', but that doesn't mean that their faith is waning.

A lot of people are no longer interested in being part of an organized religion. They may have been let down by a church, or disappointed by a church, and there's some baggage there for whatever reason.

Religion focuses on outward behavior. A relationship with our Creator is an inward transformation. Religion focuses on what we do, while a relationship focuses on what our Creator did...and does. Religion is about us. A relationship is about Him.

Churches likely need to change some things in order to reach this current generation, and the generations to come. Not change the message...but change the way the message is presented.

Even though religious affiliation is on the decline, there is much interest among individuals in a spiritual life. Instead of seeing these research trends as a threat...churches should likely see them as an opportunity.

A good post, Danny. People crave fellowship with like minded believers but not at the expense of the Gospel.