maadmax

The 100% guarantee only applies when God's reality is the framework of one's life. Those who claim to know God but do evil are not of God. Actions speak louder than words. The guarantee is that all things work together for good in the lives of those who love God. ...

Wow, since you said it on the Internet, it has to be the truth. Hey, I got my sources: http://www.skepdic.com/placebo.html Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose ...

Medical fact: placebo effect still works on many people even when they are told. I suspect the religious are like this. True, the placebo effect can produce an impressive 20-30% response. Kind of demonstrates how we are hard wired to believe in something outside of ourselves. Nice thing about belief in God, He is 100%. ...

Since souls don't exist you can't really walk through them to get wet feet to begin with. Besides, religion usually isn't very deep. It's often induced by fear of dying combined with good old greed, which leads to fantasies about eternal life in lala-land. It's even more selfish and shallow than wishing you'd win the lottery. Of course, someone with slightly more imagination inevitable come to the conclusion that eternity up in haven, unlike winning the lottery, is a truly horrible fate for sentient mortal beings like us. Lastly, one really doesn't need to adapt the nonsense of religion to utilize the parts of it that are beneficial, in other words, the good and fuzzy feelings. The funny thing with placebo's is that they still work if you know it's a placebo and choose to believe in the placebo-effect. So I experience all the benefits of spirituality without the need to shut my brain down. Got me convinced. I think you really believe what you said. Now if its "faith" that frees us from our plight, you'll be fine. The only thing I wonder about is if the object of your faith can deliver the goods. ...

it must be nice to live in such a simplified world. I just have trouble shutting my eyes and plugging my ears that tightly. You make the classic mistake of thinking that non-believers never ever have taken the time to study religion. The fact that we reject it, doesn't mean we are ignorant about it or don't understand it. There is a great gulf that exists between us. I have no use for religion, in no way will ever try to defend it, and will be the first to say that it has to be one of the most heinous evils to befall mankind. My focus is on the purpose of our creation, unification with God. Our true destiny lies in that realization.

And what about the people who's good intentions it has turned to evil? Well then pilgrim, I guess they built their house on the sand instead of the rock.

The usual gibberish, coming and going. It must be nice to live in such a simplified world. I just have trouble shutting my eyes and plugging my ears that tightly.

What Jesus did or did not do, and did or did not say, has very little - if anything - to do with what is written about the subject. The record is garbled, contradictory and entirely suspect, and the various authors all had massive conflicts of interest. It may appear that way to some, but the real message of the Bible is best read from the lives it has transformed from evil into a force for good. All else is just a bunch of words on a page. ...

So says our current knowledge of biochemistry and physics. It seems pretty sketchy to base your entire reality on what little is known about physical phenomenon. The recent discovery of the Higgs boson should make you wonder a little about what else is out there. ...

But the transformations it has produced in countless souls screams of its validity. Evil people will use any means to hide their intent. That in no way diminishes the good God intends for us through His Word. ...

The issue of greatest significance is eternity and your part in it. Knowing what my part in eternity is (what does that even mean?) is for the most part an academic issue. It offers me a perspective of how insignificant I am, but it has not really any practical applications. Quite the contrary, you are immensely significant. Your existence has impacted and will always be a part of eternal events. God has given us the ability to create our own spiritual reality. We can either create one that seems right to us or we can accept the best which God has already put in place. ...

I understand a lot of things of significance. I understand what the difference between parsley and hemlock is, I understand why I shouldn't drink drain cleaner and I understand why I shouldn't put my dick in a food processor. And the list of significant things I understand goes on and on so your statement is clearly wrong, but please enlighten me of the things of significant you understand and I do not. The issue of greatest significance is eternity and your part in it. ...

In the real world statistics show that atheists and agnostics have a keener understanding Well the original post that started this string of replies was in response to Quade's half-baked gnome that the only reason christians don't kill themselves is due to a lack of faith...ya, very keen. You often boast in your knowledge of christianity, yet overlook the fact that he who imagines he knows something doesn't know as he ought to. You say you are more qualified than most christians to lead a church simply because of your knowledge...that statement alone nullifies your ability to lead as it displays a blatant disregard for the qualifications of such a position. Quote +1 "atheists and agnostics have a keener understanding" is a monumental statement of ignorance. You have blinded yourselves and understand nothing of significance. ...

And what is really funny is that the gay rights crowd gets sooo ophended when their base value system is not taken seriously. If it is your goal to make those who oppose your view point more entrenched, you have succeeded. ...

Sounds like the LBGT attempts to impose their values on American free speech by economic strangulation backfired. Looks like they will need to re-think their strategy next time. CFA's food is unhealthy for the most part and I wouldn't eat there regardless of the owners beliefs. ...

So, are you in a hurry to meet your maker? If the afterlife is so wonderful, then why don't more Christians self-deport themselves there immediately? Sounds to me like there's still just a little belief it might not be quite as perfect as their obviously-pathetic-by-comparison life here. No hurry, I am here until my purpose is complete. Until then I cherish every moment and love life. I try to do everything I can so others can have a richer life experience. ...

Looks like god has made his stance on the issue pretty clear! http://news.yahoo.com/chick-fil-vice-president-public-relations-dies-heart-192201763--abc-news-politics.html Yep very clear. For those who love God, death is not a curse. It is an inevitable conclusion to one phase of existence and joyous beginning to the next.

Since we're on the subject of "sophism," I've always found it interesting many here seem to have adopted this tactic. If you familiarize yourself to the modern usage of the term, a few people here should immediately come to mind, particularly in this thread and others like it. Absolutely. Ron and Max are masters of it. OK, you have spiked my interest. In your opinion which definition most closely describes my posts? Number 1, number 2, number 3, or all of the above? 1.Seemingly well-reasoned or factual, but actually fallacious or insincere; strongly held but false, however good it may sound. 2.Having an attractive appearance intended to generate a favorable response; deceptively attractive. 3.Anyone with the audacity to disagree with JAKEE. ...

The strange thing I have noticed is that, for some, education creates a sense of inflated self importance instead of reverence and humility Learning more about the world around you is rarely a detrimental or damaging thing. Religious institutions tell you it's a bad thing because it leads to more understanding and knowledge, which usually leads one away from religion and superstition. Religious schools skip over the more 'dangerous' ideas so their students' carefully cultivated religious minds won't be corrupted by critical thinking. I'd rather have the chance to make up my own mind, wouldn't you? Religious folks should try occasionally reading a book not written by someone who works for a church or hosts a radio show. Try challenging your conceptions about reality instead of just propping up your fantasy world. I am with you all the way on that view!! ...

Dude, if you really want to understand this stuff then start studying particle physics. Billvon cannot explain this all to you. You are currently using a computer or a smart phone to use the Internet and you don't understand every aspect of how that technology works but it undeniably works. Just because the universe is not simple enough for you to understand does not mean that a god automatically is the answer. Is it not a strange confidence that the number of religious people in a given country or state is exactly anti proportional to the level of education.... Ha ha, funny. Seeking God and understanding the universe are two totally different things. One can be done totally independent of the other. Problems occur when one tries to overlap the two without adequate understanding. The strange thing I have noticed is that, for some, education creates a sense of inflated self importance instead of reverence and humility. ...

What type of force does the Higgs boson exert? It gives other particles mass and thus allows gravity to act on them. >And what part did it play in the creation of the universe? That's a really interesting question. Early on in the formation of the universe, all the forces (weak, strong, gravity, EM) were unified; they were indistinguishable from each other. Thus the question of mass was moot; the universe was essentially undifferentiated energy. After the strong nuclear force separated out, several discrete particles become possible, including the W and Z bosons and Higgs bosons. That's important because at that point things in the universe were able to have mass, and thus gravity could begin to exert its influence on the very early universe. >You know, I have a hard time believing that these "scientist" have as much figured out as they claim. They certainly don't know everything - but nowadays we do know a great deal. I agree 100% with your answer, but it really doesn't answer anything. So what force does the Higgs utilize to give matter its mass and create gravity? Is it the weak/strong or EM . Maybe it is some new force. Does the Higg boson interact with other possible dimensions? Yes scientists know more than they did, but "a great deal" is a bit of a stretch. ...

Uh, OK. I've never met such people. Most scientists I know think that forces we understand (gravity, electromagnetism, the strong and weak forces) caused the universe to take the form it has, rather than "some mysterious force." Indeed, the only such people I have ever met who believe such things are religious creationists. What type of force does the Higgs boson exert? And what part did it play in the creation of the universe? You know, I have a hard time believing that these "scientist" have as much figured out as they claim. ...

That is a matter of semantics, and in no way implies that the property of matter you call "God" has any supernatural properties, interest in humanity, listens to prayers, or intercedes in our lives in any way. That is a very relevant topic that deserves discussion. But is entirely premature with people who are struggling with the concept that God even exists. ...

No. As the name implies, "God of the gaps" is a view of God. It basically states that wherever we can't explain something by science, that's where God resides. Assuming we will, in the future, be able to explain it by extensions to science is the opposite of what's known as "God of the gaps." Yes you are correct, evolution of the gap" is the same thing. A lot of people are putting their faith in the fantasy that some mysterious force organized the universe spontaneously by means of evolution or self organization. The reality they create for themselves uses this belief as a major underpinning for their philosophical framework. ,,,

No there isn't. Prove it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-organization There are plenty of theories for self organization. Thats what this is about a postulate of how random energy and matter can form complex systems. We are obviously here and something obviously organized matter and energy to get us here. But saying self organization is science and was an inherent part of the primordial soup 13.7 billion years ago is no different that saying "God did it" ...