steveorino

You have got to be kidding me!!! We (Texans) usually referred to OU as University of Texas at Norman. Where did these OU legends come from ... Mildred, Wiley, Sims ... ? steveOrino

Part of what you say is true. Many taboos are cultural. In the USA we have many cultures. In those cultures it may be acceptable to do certain things, however in the culture at large it is not. For instance in many cultures it may be okay to have little boys and girls be the acceptable resolution to someone's sexual appetite. In the American culture at large it is not. IMHO, the culture at large does (and most often should win out) Who among us here would say, "Aw, it is okay if we allow prostitution of a 10 year old boy, after all in some counties we allow the prostitution of 18 year olds." If the culture at large is wrong, change it. We did for women in the turn of the century and for blacks in 60s (1860s & 1960s) But don't say it is wrong to judge a man's actions because it was within his cultural norm. if we do that we are opening a whole new can of worms. steveOrino

One Walmart and one distribution Center steveOrino

I was never a Marine. I was SF though. Granted Army BCT is pretty lame compared to Marine boot, but I'd wager my SF training was one up on most. One thing I don't get is why a DI would have to hit anyone to either get his point across or the intimidating factor in? Compensation for a small one maybe? My SF instructors barely raised their voices at me, and when I put guys through prephase (old school SFAS) I never yelled or struck anyone, but believe me I was not known as a "nice guy" I don't get the reason for it ... steveOrino

I was reveiwing the recent "GOD" thread and noticed your post. I didn't want to bring something up from page 1, but I wonder why you challenge her as a christian about recycling and other stuff .. or as you put it... why are others allowed to destroy the livelihoods of others, why do christians pollute the earth? Do you recycle, do you refrain from buying products that are unecessarily packaged in plastic, do you drive a vehicle that is overpowered...? I find any skydiver who slams others about their cars, etc. then uses fossil fuel in an airplane to simply jump out of it as being very hypocritical. Then to direct it at someone's belief system is ridiculous IMHO steveOrino

touche! steveOrino

Not to mention that the creator of this universe might not be something you'd "recognize" as God. I wouldn't look for an old man in a beard. John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth steveOrino

Dang, Jack! A great post! I don't remember who made the statement, Lately it has been me debating you, the other Jack, Phil, brok3n and beowolf. You guys respond to my response to the other posters so it easily gets confusing. {I looked it up it was brok3n who made the original assertion. I believe others backed him up, but I haven't searched that much} I'm not sure what you mean by God is a positive assertion and it needs to be backed up with evidence. Is love not a positive assertion? What evidence will you present for it? Don't say flowers, because my wife won't buy that. steveOrino

You are dodging this comparison with your opinion, but what else is new. It is a valid comparison. You assert God isn't real because it cannot be scientifically verified. I stated there are very real things that also cannot ve scientifically verified. Not everything can be measured with science. You are trying to dodge this comparison, by comparing the relevance of my love for my wife versus the relevance of my faith in God. Different issue all together and is simply a sidetrack to my statement. I assume that is all you got? steveOrino

What evidence can I produce? Can I produce evidence that Santa Claus doesn't exist? What about the Loch Ness Monster or Big Foot? It's an easy escape for you to say "prove it" whenever someone says god doesn't exist because you and I both know that it's quite impossible. You do know that it's impossible? All I can do is to show you the flaws in the evidence you use to prove god does exist. People do that in threads like these ad nauseum and theists always dodge and weasle their way out eventually falling back to that impenetrable barrier of delusion called faith. As long as theists take faith over rationalism, even discussing it is a complete waste of time. This is where it gets hilarious to me. You guys keep making (or backing up) the statement science will prove there is no God. When I ask for such proof you return to your circular argument, "You can't prove a negative." Okay, make up your atheistic minds. If God is a negative, then quit stating science will disprove Him. ROFLOL! steveOrino

You and your Rabbis IMHO make a very important mistake. YOu assume the Bible was written to everyone by it's original authors. Basic orthodox Christian exegesis states the biblical writer writes to HIS generation about a current situation using terms and idioms of the writer's own generation. The principles of truth are eternal, but the action of the passage are usually local and apply to that time and place. Your Rabbis may not make that distinction. Every Christian doesn't either. All my professors didn't. I do. Am I right? It makes sense to me. We will see. steveOrino

You don't understand theological debate. Apart from a few whackos those who disagree, such as Calvin vs Arminius did not argue authority, they argued substance. steveOrino

Again, I think you are wrong, but that is what you are betting on. steveOrino

As I tried to say, "I" would not make that same assumption. But let's say I thought you were right in your assumption. What does that matter? NOTHING. The part about God being fair and merciful is based on HIS perfect understanding of what knowledge and experiences you had, not based on what experiences and knowledge either you or I thought you had. EDITED TO ADD A VERSE: Romans 1: 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. steveOrino

You're asking me to answer a question only God can answer. steveOrino

I never said you would. What I did say if you had the exegetical knowledge of a Bible College freshman you most likely wouldn't take Isaiah's proclamation to Cyrus out of context to make an exclusive statement about God. I'm not a scholar, I'm a pastor. I have a Bachelor's degree in Bible and Pastoral Ministries from Mid America Christian Univ. I have Masters in Theology from Southern Nazarene Univ. I'm within one month of finishing my second Masters in Family Therapy. I took Koine Greek and Hebrew, but I do not speak either language conversationally (hard to do since Koine Greek is a "dead" language). I can read a Greek NT and I have a better understanding of the depth that the original language of the Bible has over translations. steveOrino

That is what you are betting on. And you said you weren't betting on anything. It was a retorical question.. so do you agree its a fair statement? "I" wouldn't bet "my" eternal life on it. steveOrino

That is what you are betting on. And you said you weren't betting on anything. steveOrino

Yes, but did I ever say faith in God is a science? My love for my wife and kids cannot be measured accurately with science. Does it not exist? steveOrino

Does that mean the arguments of scientist who disagree on the cause of global warming fall apart? steveOrino

That doesn't work for me. This does though ... John 20:27 - 29 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." [empahsis mine] steveOrino

A good biblical student will always read his bible with a different light through the years. Sometimes that light comes from experience, education, teachers/pastors, friends or circumstances. steveOrino

I threw you a slow easy pitch. Why should I invest so much time into answering you? You've already indicated you don't respect my education and knowledge. You missed the point I was trying to make. Some people's biblical interpretation comes from "folk theology" Either it is what they heard as a child in Sunday School, or from a preacher on TV, from an atheist internet website that gives you "key verses to argue against Christians" or they developed it along the way. The one's i personally respect are thge ones that went to colleges & unviversities to gather greater insight. In therapy. some do use folk theology or better described as "pop psychology" I didn't say it was "the" list nor did I say it was an all inclusive list. Personally I tend to use CBT, but I'm also influenced by Milanic Family Therapy and even some analytic therapies such as Carl Jung's. Would my point been any better if I said some use folk theology (pop psychology), psychoanalysis, alderian therapy, existential therapy, person-centered therapy, gestalt therapy, behavior therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, reality therapy, feminist therapy, family therapy, constructivists and intergrative therapy, along with the many sub categories of said theories, and others I may have forgotten? steveOrino

Does that go for the existence of god too? I do have a core belief that I am wonderfully made by a creator that loves me. Dang if everything I see in this world isn't through that lens. ~ Steveorino As a true seeker, surely you can't be afraid of discovering that you might actually be wrong? Sure, I could be wrong, but what evidence will you present to make me change my mind? steveOrino

Any theologian who has stopped learning is not a truth seeker. they are afraid of discovering they may have been wrong about a given subject. Be vary ware of anyone who states they have all the answers, and are infallable. I have never claimed that. If when I point out some basic errors in exegesis that it comes across as I alone have the answers, that was not my intent. steveOrino