Originally posted by Jwilker
The internal dialoge with myself is probably pretty similar to what you do in prayer. Weigh actions, evaluate choices, review the choices made, prepare for choices on the horizon.
Probably not. Because your internal dialog relies upon you. My internal dialog relies upon a higher power for guidance. As far as I can tell, that's two different things.
As I've said. If you need a God to hope for the future go for it. My hope for the future is in mankind.
I mean no insult... but from what I've seen of history and the situation of our world today... that's a pretty groundless hope.
OR we can sit around and do nothing waiting for the promised goodness to come. To each his own.
You misunderstand that we do nothing but sit around and wait for God. Incorrect assumption. I work in a volunteer ministry. Whenever possible, I help myself and others to improve the future. To enrich myself, I enjoy oil painting, reading, I write poetry and music and attend cultural events whenever possible.
However, what I do not trust in is man. Man has a history of fouling things up. I trust in God, whose counsel, support and laws are sound and valid and have stood the test of time.
Ah so I'm young, not THAT young, so I must be stupid. Uneducated? Misinformed.
That's wasn't what I said. "You yourself have said it". (Sorry, couldn't resist).
There is nothing at all stupid about being young. Misinformed, I may have stated that-- I don't remember. That's no insult, it's an observation. We're all misinformed about something. Being misinformed can be easily corrected by learning the truth. Staying misinformed is a problem.
Uneducated... it depends upon what you call education. I would say you're educated in some areas, uneducated in others, as are we all.
Stupidity only enters the picture when we begin to think so much of our personal opinions, experiences and observations that we fail to recognize that we ARE young, misinformed, uneducated in many ways.
You already know about the "teenage syndrome". We all go through it... a time in our lives when we have just enough information to be dangerous. It's a common knowledge joke-- teenagers think they know everything, even more than adults... when in actuality they are quite stupid. We all were. We eventually grow out of that stupidity as we grow older and wiser and finally learn that well, we didn't know everything after all.
That's how it is with all men, regardless of age. Even a man of 80 years... only has 80 measly years of experience. What is that? He's limited to his own perception, five very limited senses. Why, if you'd have told men 200 years ago about infrared and microwaves... they'd have thought you were crazy, because they couldn't SEE them or perceive them.
So the point I was making was that anyone who believes that he knows enough about the universe to discount the concept of God... well, is stupid. Hmmm... I guess you're right. :p
No... seriously... it seems to me that a thinking, reasoning individual should be able to perceive that it is
very likely that there is a life form both more intelligent and vastly more educated and powerful than we are. I mean, even if you don't believe in the God of the Bible, I don't see why anyone would accept the idea of evolution over the idea of an intelligent life form starting life on earth. Since scientific evidence has been presented that states evolution is an impossiblity, then that life form could not have itself evolved; it must be on a level beyond our current experience and perception, ie, "spiritual". It's just common sense.
To fail to acknowledge the possibility and even liklihood of an intelligent designer is to me... (trying to put this mildly), overly self-confident. Surely man isn't the most intelligent thing in the universe. If we are... the universe is in big, big trouble.
You're not showing me much by insulting my intelligence and ability to reason based on my age.
You misunderstood. As I explained above, that was not what I said. Sorry if it came across like that. If you were older and more experienced, you'd understand that.
OUCH! OUCH! STOP!! OUCH!
<-- wayfinder
You have no idea what my limited years have held. That's arrogant and presumptuous.
What your years have held, no matter how extensive or varied, doesn't hold a drop in relation to the universe itself and its billions and billions of years of existence. Your personal experience is, like mine, so limited as to be a moot point. I do not hold my personal experience of account except in what it means to me in my relationship to God. I'm just trying to get you to understand the same thing. The bottom line question is: how can you disregard the possiblity of God based on your few years and limited observations?
You don't observe. You insult. Almost every post is insulting to everyone who doesn't agree with you. We all seem to be unable to think for ourselves, we're young and stupid, we're misinformed and closed minded. That's pretty insulting to me.
I think your statement here is unfactual. I have encouraged people to think for themselves. When they have refused to do so, I have pointed that out. When they have acted toward me in a stupid and closed-minded manner, I have informed them they were doing so. That's a whole different thing.
For example, when someone continues to claim, over and over again, that we've presented no hard evidence that evolution is wrong, despite the very observable reality that we HAVE done so, over and over and over, then that is a stupid and closed minded attitude. In responding that this is the case we don't insult the person-- we expose the attitude. Even then, I try to keep an even hand
unless that person was insulting and disrespectful in the first place, which I think is obvious has been the case each and every time.
"All things shall be exposed". When someone exhibits an insulting attitude toward God based on blatant stubbornness and willful ignoring of presented information... then that attitude deserves to be exposed. If he doesn't want it exposed... then show a little more respect in the first place.
In other words-- you can't show disrespect to God and those who believe in him, and then gripe when that attitude brings you disrespect in return.
So you're god's enforcer? Executing vengeance and wrath on his behalf?
No, that's His job. I, as is the case with all Christians, am a "watchman", whose job it is to warn of impending danger.
If I decided to take it upon myself to destroy you for what I perceived to be your wickedness, that would be executing wrath and vengeance... and it would be wrong. There's nothing wrong in telling someone he's going to be hit by a train if he keeps following his present course. If he chooses not to believe that-- that's his choice.
Not to insult HN and bulldog and the other religious members who have been very respectful of everyone here.
The way they deal with people is their choice. I offer respect to those deserving of it. Even to those not deserving of it. Never to the disrespectful.
This is kind of like me telling you to show respect for my belief in evolution. Since my belief is so idiotic, misinformed, uneducated, and so on. What do you think my response is? :)
There is no harm in disrespecting evolution. It's not a person. It's not a principle. It is a philosophy of men, one which billions of people find to be ludicrous and without scientific foundation. Since that theory is force-fed people's children-- against their will-- it deserves to be attacked, and openly, in the most vehement manner.
When I disrespect evolution, I don't disrespect you... I fully respect your right to believe whatever you wish. But I will expose evolutionary teachings, nevertheless.
It is not the same with God. Regardless of what you believe, God is a person. He is real. When you insult God, you're not insulting a philosophical concept-- you're insulting an individual.
Whether you believe in God or not is immaterial. The ones you're talking to believe in God. So when you insult God... you insult not only Him, but them as well.
Example: If I insult your dog as being a barker, I'm not insulting you (except perhaps, in your failure to control your dog).
If you insulted my father, that's a whole different level.
Another example: I have no problem in exposing evolution, even insulting the concept if the evolutionists exhibit the kind of irrational statements I've seen in this thread.
However, I'd never insult the god of another person, even though I do not believe in that god... because that's getting personal.
Do you perceive the difference?
However, if say, a worshipper of Buddha began openly reviling Yahweh/Jehovah/El Shaddai/God, then he should have every reason to expect attacks upon his god and beliefs in return. That is exactly what has happend on this thread with evolutionist arguments. You folks didn't stick to facts, opinions and observations; you began vehmently attacking God and creationist teachings.
I'll respectfully discuss anything. When others become disrespectful- especially of God- then they have no reason to expect courteous response. I still try to keep it courteous as much as possible, but one can only get so far out of line before stepping on someone else's toes. When that happens, and ya keep stepping on their toes intentionally, over and over- do you have reason to complain when someone finally knocks you on your tail?
In this case all I've done is step back on some toes a couple of times in an effort to get folks to understand that such conduct isn't desirable. Since you're now objecting perhaps the point has been sufficiently made.
Follow Us
RSS Feed
Follow on Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
Uber Member
Addicted Member
Uber Member
