maadmax

Communism started with the individual first coming to grips with the desperate condition of their life - which, unlike soul, was real and evident to anyone. And, like Christianity, the idea was great if you don't go into details (like who's gonna do septic tank cleaning). Unfortunately, no implementation of Communism ever worked. Seems like it's the same with Christianity.*** I would like to consider you comparison, but you lost me. Could you please elaborate a little bit more, and connect a few of the loose ends in your statement. ______________________________________

Im still having trouble finding my soul, can you tell me where it is located? once i've located it then how do i determin if its condition is "desperate". So is there evidence to support the "soul" theory? (please no bible quotes *yawn*)... real evidence, peer reviewed and all.*** I know you can pick youself out of a group photo. The soul, or what ever you wish to call it, consists of self consciousness, volition, emotion, spiritual self awareness( for some), etc. I believe it is a spiritual entity housed in a physical body. A body without a soul is dead, a soul without a functioning brain is limited in its physical expression. If all your brain needed was electrical energy and a few connecting neurons to function, then when you died we could stick a couple of electrodes into your brain and you would be right as rain. ________________________________________

Thank you for CONFIRMING my point*** I am always glad to be of help. But just so I understand how I have been helpful, what point did I confirm for you? _____________________________________

The problem with Christians like you is that you start with the conclusion you want, and then rationalize everything to fit it. That is absolutely the wrong way to discover the truth.*** There you go again, making grandiose assumptions about things you don't understand. Christianity starts with the individual first coming to grips with the desperate condition of their soul, before they even know the answer God has supplied through His Son. After that, Spiritual growth is a long arduous journey. I for one had no idea where it would lead me. _______________________________________

Instead of "amusing", I suggest you find it "compelling". Maybe as a result of the "serious academic" studies" they found insight that you missed.*** If you weren't so quick to assume you know what I am trying to say there might be a little more actual discussion instead of these broadsides. You obviously agree with my statement that textual critics offer valuable insights into Biblical history. When all is said and done most textual critics that I have read agree that a man fitting the description of Jesus of Nazareth lived in Israel approximately 4 BCE to 28 CE. The man at the center of the Christian experience, was a real man. _____________________________________

Now just so we are on the same page, my definition of real is "existing or occurring as fact; actual rather than imaginary", and for it to be fact there needs to be evidence, do you have it.*** You keep asking this question while ignoring the answers based on historical sources. What is up with that? There is no argument from any serious academic textual critic of the Bible that Jesus was a real person who lived on the face of the earth. As I am sure you know "textual critics" treat the Bible as literature and most of them are atheists/agnostics, which I have always found amusing. WWW.BIBLICALARCHAEOLOGY.ORG is such a organization if you have any interest in checking them out. They do produce good historical research with out all of the clutter that Christians can sometimes introduce into the texts. As far as if Jesus is what He says He is, that is obviously for everyone to work out for themselves. ______________________________________

I don't hold your faith against you. Believe whatever you like. I do tend to have a problem when you (or anyone) claims their path to the Truth is the only path. You seem self assured that your interpretation of the Gospels is not only correct, but the only correct one, and if anyone believes them to mean something else, they are wrong. Christ never taught such arrogance. Now, If you would please explain to us why you are not one of those people you speak of. What, specifically, makes you different.*** I think this is an excellent question, and it is the mirror that I use constantly to examine myself. I believe the seeming paradox of spiritual growth requires this question to keep oneself on track. Study, prayer , meditation, trust in God, and constant evaluation of the productive state of my life, will hopefully keep me on the True Path. ______________________________________

George Burns appears and tells Gracie to say goodnight.*** That is a relief, I am glad to hear that George and Gracie will be there to.

If you Scuba Dive, Cocos Island is one of the top dive destinations on the planet. I was there last year and can't wait to go back. The opening scene of Jurassic Park was filmed there.

the family in question was deceived. Same could happen to you - you think you accepted Jesus, while in fact you might be accepting Satan, who made you believe you accepted Jesus. Therefore you are not saved. Ever thought about it.*** If deception occurred, the deceived is responsible for their deception as in all other areas of life. If your are indeed trying to have a meaningful discussion, you have an odd way about it. If you are still confused about the way of salvation, pray about it. If you are sincere and not just trying to be provocative, God will reveal it to you. Otherwise, if you know something we don't, please tell us.

So basically by this you are saying that your beliefs are not different from theirs, and although you think you follow true teachings of Jesus, you acknowledge you might be just deceived, and will end up in Hell because of that. Thus there is no real reason even to try to follow any teachings of Jesus - the chance you're deceived is too high, and not worth it.*** Not Exactly. I know you are more interested in provoking than having a meaningful discussion but you just might be closer than you think to uncovering the Truth. Hell is not an issue since we are saved by faith in Christ and not of our own works. Once you have received Gods gift you will always have it. As far as uncovering the mysteries of Gods Word, Yes I always question myself and am ready at an instant to replace a mistaken concept with one that might be closer to what God has in mind. Similar to information science continually uncovers. I have replaced believed concepts in both arenas many times. _______________________________________

Same cop out as always when a Christian does something evil. Heard it about the Crusades, the Inquisition, about burnings at the stake in Tudor times, about the Pope and the Jews in WWII, priests and little boys, etc, etc, etc, etc. When a pattern emerges, maybe, just maybe, it's the religion at fault.*** And maybe you may someday understand the difference. Religion is an organized man made attempt to improve on Gods Word. Religion will always be faulty. The production of such organizations speak for themselves. Spirituality, underpinned by a lucid understanding of the Word of God, is something all together different. It is everything we long for: belonging, freedom form hate, love, power, purpose and destiny to name just a few of its characteristics. And when a Christian sins, which we all do, we acknowledge it, confess it, repent , and move on. If we have caused harm, we make restitution. We are far from perfect, but we are scrubbed clean and forgiven, free to start over again, as many times as it takes. _______________________________________

How is the object of their faith false? They believed in Jesus, didn't they? Please explain how their beliefs are any different than yours.*** Please understand that I can only guess why another person faith may go amiss. Jesus Himself said many will call on my Name and I will say I knew you not. The conclusions they drew from their faith were horribly flawed, and I think they should be charged by our courts for the crime they committed. Faith in God carries a responsibility to be true to the teachings of God and not mold them to suit some personal agenda. There are some passages in the Bible that can be misunderstood with out extensive prayer, study and meditation. Anyone to lazy to put forth the effort should be held accountable if their misinterpretation causes harm to another. __________________________________________

It'd be nice if you could use your own words. But again, why does whether or not a religion's words make people want to be nice to each other have any bearing on whether or not that religion's god actually exists, and therefore whether that religion is true? If a god did exist I don't see why it should be any more likely to be nice to us and want to tell us what to do than be apathetic or evil to us.*** I am not sure I understand exactly what you are saying. I have no use for religion, religious rituals, or holidays. Spirituality and Spiritual growth focuses on removing the obstacles between man and God. Its purpose is to return man to his true state of innocence so he/she can commune with God. _____________________________________

Did you even read that link? That poor girl died for the sole reason that her parents thought just the way you do. Go ahead, explain to us how they did the right thing. Show us how what they did was an expression of "love".*** Tragic story, easy explanation. The object of their faith was false. Therefore their faith became worthless and led them to a horrible conclusion. Faith is nothing by its self, it is just a bridge connecting to a higher state of consciousness. When the bridge is connected to something that is True and good, faith produces its desired goal. ________________________________________

If you define 'true faith' as faith which produces good works of great value then of course 'true faith' will always produce good works of great value. Problem is, you're deliberately ignoring all the people out there who believe as devoutly as you do in the same book as you do who are still tossers/criminals/depressed etc.*** Your are right for once or maybe twice. All I can say is thank God it is not my job to judge them. _______________________________________

Are you sure? Then you should be able to take Billvon's challenge - jump from a plane (or tall building) without a chute, and let your God save you. Make it public, invite a lot of scientists, press and whatever - it will make obvious for any of those damn atheists that the God exists. Since it never failed you, you should be pretty comfortable with this. So where and when could we see it.*** You may be interested in knowing the same offer was made to someone much more important than myself. I will use His answer. " You shall not tempt the Lord your God". _______________________________________

So are you saying truth is of no relevance? That may be ok for those that asses each prophets words on their own merit, but most religious people dont do that.*** Truth is absolute whether we ever find it or not. I do not and never will speak for or defend religion. ________________________________________

So, it doesn't matter if you think any deity exists or not, you'll believe in it if you think it has something nice to say. Please speak, I can judge your words by the fruit they produce. _______________________________________

Well, what does YOUR god have to say for himself (which excludes the Bible, since that, with all its contradictions, was written by men). The evidence that Thor exists is exactly the same as the evidence your god exists - zero *** [email] I could tell you some things my friend, but I think we both know that at you current state of God consciousness it would fall on deaf ears. Sorry. ________________________________________

You realize that black holes have an extremely high level (some say maximum level) of entropy, right? And you know that black holes are likely the most analogous phenomena to the singularity of the known universe, right? Your conclusion is not logical*** This statement is messed up. The degree of entropy in a black hole is extremely low ( highest degree of order). As plasma is extruded form the bipolar jets, the entropy of matter in those jets increases ( becomes less ordered), and so will continue, as the rest of the universe, until it reaches its highest state of entropy(disorder). ______________________________________

You sound like a prophet - a lot of words, but nothing specific. What you just wrote could be interpreted in a many different ways. Could you please explain it being more specific?*** For better or worse, Spiritual discovery is acquired by faith perception. If the object of ones faith is true it will produce good works of great value, over and over again & for every one who places their faith in those objects. Christian teaching as an object of faith will never fail the believer. They have never failed me. ______________________________________

Have a look here and here.*** Interesting reading, but if that were true where is the left over permeating electromagnetic radiation from such an event like the microwave background radiation of the big bang mapped by NASAs Wilkinsons Microwave Anistopy Probe? Last I heard, the anti-gravity repulsive forces of dark matter was suppose to keep the universe expanding forever at an exponential rate. How do you explain the gravitational forces overcoming those of dark matter? ______________________________________

It is wise to keep an open heart with regards to God, while you dont know his existance, you dont know his non-existance either. " I wonder how you would feel if someone said : "It is wise to keep an open heart with regards to Thor, while you dont know his existance, you dont know his non-existance either." *** I am all ears. What does Thor have to say for himself, or any deity for that matter. If there is any wisdom out there that will enable me to live a fuller life and better understand reality please convey it. The validity of any deity or philosophical theory is in the wisdom of their words. _______________________________________

If they say that they see a flower as evidence of God, then that is accurate according to the dictionary definition of "evidence." ("A thing or things helpful in forming a conclusion or judgment." or "Something indicative; an outward sign." But then I can say that seeing a flower as evidence of NO God is also accurate according to dictionary definition of "evidence." To me, it might not be evidence of God, but to them it is, because it helped them come to the conclusion that there is a God. That's why not all evidence is considered acceptable .*** Humanity is unique from the rest of the animal kingdom in that we gather up tangible and intangible facts to create a reality used to order our lives and societies. Tangible facts can come from places like scientific discovery. Intangible facts require faith in a value system. If the value system is true it will produce predictable favorable results. The evidence that the object of ones faith is true is in those reproducible favorable outcomes. Our evidence that faith in God is true is the results it produces in the believers life. _______________________________________