I'm sure, but life would be far less interesting if everyone agreed all the time.
That is very true.
I'm gonna set aside the Mormon comment, since I'm not one. Instead, I'll talk about the other part. Looking at the "poor little manin India who never heard of Christ/God"...this is where another fascet of God comes into play. In Christian theology, God is more then just love. He is also just. Since God does know your innermost thoughts/motiviations, He is in a unique place to be a just Judge. If that little old man honestly never heard of Jesus, God is just. He will make the right call.
Either way, it is kind of a neither here nor there argument. When people get caught up on this point of theology, I'm more apt to point out that let that "little old man" and God deal with that situation. I'll be concerned for my situation and where I stand with God.
I agree with LL. If I had to claim ONE thing I believe absolutely, it's what you said above. I very much feel that each person is responsible for his or her own spiritual choices. And that it's ultimately between us and God.
It was more then the woman (Eve) who ate the fruit. Let's remember that man (Adam) also sinned. Where as Eve was deceived, Adam did what he did knowingly defying God. (Interesting study by the way) To swing us back around to the initial comment between us, notice the story of Adam & Eve and their situation and free will.
They were living in the Garden of Eden. It was *literally* perfect. They walked in the garden with God. Spoke with Him. Had a personally relationship with Him. And they chose to disobey Him. Notice that God didn't set their free will aside. He could have said "No, that's going to lead to a path of destruction for you and everyone after you. I'm not going to give you the choice. You will love me. I won't give you the option not to." But He didn't do that, did he.
That whole free will thing is a big deal
Definitely still the same raw deal, imo. Doesn't matter who got us booted from Eden. Anyway, we knew we weren't going to agree on everything , and, yes, it was a demonstration of free will.
Thank you?
I'm honestly (and without a snarky whatever) saying good post and thank you. We're having a good discussion. And (as far as I can tell), there aren't wierd/hard/hurtful feelings involved. We're just talking. About our beliefs, viewpoints, and whatever. Not with the point of conversion, but with the point of potential understanding.
As far as things go, that's a good thing.
Well, I really appreciate your replies. Really. I don't think I would have said we had much common ground in our beliefs, but it appears that part of the core is exactly the same. It's nice to see that.
~J
Do you know the best way to anger an atheist?
28/02/2012 07:10:57 PM
- 1858 Views
Or, you could baptize one of them, posthumously.
28/02/2012 07:32:48 PM
- 1190 Views
I can't think of any reason for an atheist to be annoyed by that.
28/02/2012 11:08:44 PM
- 947 Views
Well, for starters, it's really effing rude.
28/02/2012 11:31:36 PM
- 986 Views
It is an act of love.
29/02/2012 12:34:03 AM
- 1010 Views
Everyone does it for that reason? (edits for clarity)
29/02/2012 10:27:02 AM
- 899 Views
I have some disturbing news for you...
29/02/2012 06:42:41 PM
- 947 Views
For anyone reading this: the guy above is wrong, and I am admitting that to you on his behalf, so
29/02/2012 07:15:38 PM
- 958 Views
Maybe without realizing it, you have articulated....
29/02/2012 07:24:13 PM
- 813 Views
I actually find that conversation quite interesting.
29/02/2012 08:18:35 PM
- 935 Views
Re: I actually find that conversation quite interesting.
29/02/2012 09:07:06 PM
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I cannot possibly agree more with these two paragraphs of yours...
29/02/2012 09:28:09 PM
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I'm surprised to see some of this.
01/03/2012 12:11:31 PM
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I find the Fall perhaps the most interesting part.
02/03/2012 09:05:29 AM
- 1331 Views
Re: I find the Fall perhaps the most interesting part.
02/03/2012 06:26:06 PM
- 1110 Views
There are 3 critical distinctions: 1) Ability to sin, 2) Awareness of sin and 3) Appreciation of sin
05/03/2012 04:08:36 AM
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It is not an act of love to defy the beliefs of a loved one.
29/02/2012 02:32:45 PM
- 1055 Views
Rape? That is ridiculous.
29/02/2012 05:26:13 PM
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It's a bit of hyperbole, but not too far from it, imo
29/02/2012 05:45:39 PM
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"Spiritual rape" might be going a bit far, but otherwise that sounds about right.
02/03/2012 08:06:48 AM
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Isn't religion different than faith, though?
28/02/2012 07:44:07 PM
- 1015 Views
Yeah that's pretty much what I said
28/02/2012 08:21:56 PM
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that won't work on Buddists
28/02/2012 09:21:48 PM
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For some reason I always imagine Buddhists as the monk class on RPG games... *NM*
28/02/2012 10:13:27 PM
- 473 Views
That's always been my view of the issue. Half-assed non-religious types are just as obnoxious too.
28/02/2012 10:34:12 PM
- 1168 Views
Seems a got both a pat on the back and a scathing rebuke. I call that a good day
28/02/2012 11:57:45 PM
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Best way to anger an atheist, by declaring all atheists are the same. *NM*
28/02/2012 10:38:51 PM
- 616 Views
Common error number 1: "Atheism isn't a lack of belief, but rather a belief that God doesn't exist."
28/02/2012 11:18:23 PM
- 1098 Views
Curiously, anger at statements of simple obvious facts is a hallmark of religious fundamentalism.
29/02/2012 10:27:29 AM
- 1038 Views
What you're doing there is defining "atheist" and "agnostic" in a way that suits you, but...
29/02/2012 11:50:27 AM
- 836 Views
What I am doing is using the terms as they were universally used until about the time I was born.
05/03/2012 01:11:21 AM
- 973 Views
So what do you call this position?:
05/03/2012 08:43:20 AM
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I call them both agnostic, but the former leans toward atheism while the latter has no lean.
05/03/2012 10:53:02 AM
- 984 Views
See, there you go again, defining atheism in such a way as to make it sound ridiculous.
05/03/2012 11:21:17 AM
- 807 Views
Well, is unswerving belief a good thing, or not?
05/03/2012 11:57:05 AM
- 1034 Views
What's happening
05/03/2012 02:24:41 PM
- 1017 Views
Conversationally, DKs use of "atheism" at the start of this convo is the only practical definition.
07/03/2012 03:10:18 AM
- 1323 Views
Oh really? The guy who was doing it to annoy people?
07/03/2012 09:53:38 PM
- 922 Views
The guy who was doing it to annoy atheists based on the terms technical and popular meaning, yes.
11/03/2012 04:04:36 AM
- 797 Views
Whatever.
12/03/2012 12:39:24 AM
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I understand that as "I completely agree."
13/03/2012 12:11:18 AM
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I have known very few people who "believe" their religion from rearing and actually understand it.
29/02/2012 12:08:01 PM
- 1165 Views
I thought that was "best way to make an atheist roll his/her eyes at you"? *NM*
29/02/2012 11:05:21 PM
- 566 Views