Nakosis

Can I play? I would say no. However, since I said no that means I don't have to explain why right?

John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Jesus said otherwise: And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Mat 28:18-20) Only the willing. Why is that? Because of Christians

2 - As to why study the Bible is to gain confidence in our understanding. IMO Christianity shouldn't be trying to covert anyone. They should provide a support system for those who have had a spiritual experience. Not everyone is ready to accept Jesus. However once they've had the necessary revelation they still need guidance. Of course a person could just rely on faith that this revelation will take place and do advanced study so they will be prepared. However that really depends on how much trust they place in those who speak about Jesus. So you study to help others prepare if they have the willingness and to be able to properly guide those who have had this revelation. When these experiences happen, it's like diving into cold water for the first time. You don't know what to expect. Not sure exactly what is happening or how to convey the experience. It's a shock. That is what the Apostles were for, to prepare the faithful and provide guidance for the "newly reborn". What I suspect is a number of the faithful that weren't actually reborn gained political power and authority and created a religious theology from their own wisdom. While they had faith in either the Apostles or the Bible they had no experience from which to relate their faith. From that assumption of authority they caused a lot of confusion even among those who had/have been born again. A lot of issues you have with the credibility of Christianity is probably a result of that confusion. If one is not born again and is not willingly faithful I don't know that the Bible can necessarily be beneficial to them. For example you and UF use it to attack the credibility of Christianity. There is reason to question Christianity's credibility. However you can't touch the credibility of the Holy Spirit, not for someone who has experienced the Holy Spirit. Probably why little headway is made trying to save those "born again" from their "God Delusion".

Which is fine? In that I think we are in agreement on this point. Of course, if God does exist, I expect you'll find out in the course of time. Then I'll say I told you so... Just kidding. IDK maybe 100%, maybe less then 1%. I suspect every soul has the same chance. Maybe up to them. Up to you. Not now but when you know/understand the choice you make. It depends on the quality of your spirit. I think we know what is asked. Love, compassion, charity, forgiveness. I don't know the answers to those questions. Not until we get there. I suspect what will happen we be according to the choices you make except you will know the truth. Up to you what you decide to do with with that knowledge. If you end up in some concept of hell or non-existence it because that is what you wanted. Right now you learn. You can choose sin would require you to give up that knowledge. It will require you to give up Eden again, like Adam. You'll have to go through this all over again. Who knows, maybe you'll find you liked it the last time around. God cares enough to give people what they want, even if they want sin. However sin separates you from God. Separates you from the truth. May end up leaving you in hell, but if that is what you want. You see the tragedy of material loss. Nothing is lost. Everything will be reclaimed.

Sorry, but what you say is morally questionable, at least according to my atheistic morality. You might find it a good idea to accept children death so that they have a safe eternal life, but I hope I do not offend anyone by disagreeing. I actually prefer to see children getting older, silly me. If you want to optimize salvation rate, according to your logic, it would be better to kill all children before they get old enough to risk their eternal life, don't you think so? Ciao - viole I don't think you'll find a standard among the various individuals/groups for morality in the sense of right and wrong actions. I suspect God has little concern for our individual concepts of morality. I kind of know what is right for me, I don't know what is right for you and I'm not going to pretend to know what is right for God. I suspect you may find to necessary at some point to forgive God for his actions towards man. I suspect God's purpose is for the overall benefit of man. Not necessarily for the benefit of any one individual. Whether you believe or not, I think this is clearly shown by the Bible. I don't think you can separate the bad from the good and claim God had no hand in it.

Actually Dawkins uses the title to sell the book. He is not even a physicist, he studies animal behavior. Certainly not an authority on anything else. However he uses the perception of being a scientist and inference to support really his opinion. He stirs up the Christians and gets a lot of free publicity. Nakosis, Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist and an atheist. He doesn't need to use any perception of being a scientist, he is a scientist. However, when he talks about god/s existing or not, he is not talking about science. Regards, UndecidedFrog His training was Anthropology, zoology specifically. I didn't say he wasn't a scientist. However being a scientist provides a perception of speaking on behalf of science when he writes his books. I've heard him be very honest about this in his interviews.

Actually Dawkins uses the title to sell the book. He is not even a physicist, he studies animal behavior. Certainly not an authority on anything else. However he uses the perception of being a scientist and inference to support really his opinion. He stirs up the Christians and gets a lot of free publicity.

I think wrongly so, but it sales books. You want to make money, write and promote a controversial book.

Just a question, is it the marriage and legalization parts or the same sex, sex part. I tend to think most people have issues with sex. Homosexuality being one among many. No particular reason to focus on it more then any other. If it were your problem that's different. You'd have to deal with it in the manner you thought appropriate. If you sought help to deal with it our any sexual issue that would be according to you to decide, not me or someone else. I'm not trying to attack you or anything, I'm just hoping to understand your reasoning better.

Should be fun as they would probably consider you a cult as well. Love to get it on YouTube.

Actually I don't find the Holy Spirit intuitive at all. Though it is easy to mistake ones own intuition for the Holy Spirit. However yes the standards are the standards. The Holy Spirits meets the standards of Jesus and Jesus meets the standards of the Holy Spirit. They are cut from the same cloth.

I don't know, there is just a lot of propheteering among some believers with regard to this moment of silence and the beginning of the end. The OP was a bit cryptic so I was just trying to figure out(guessing) the reference. Unfortunately I see they haven't returned to clarify any thing yet.

Ok I'll bite, what did God do new that the church didn't tell you about? And please reference this newness with scriptures, because God says He does nothing unless He first tells us about it through His prophets. shalom, Mizz Hi Mizz, Have I made you mad at me yet? Sorry if I did. I think I made a few upset with my initial posts... Umm.. Anyway I was under the impression that even Prophets weren't constantly in contact with God. Just wonder what you thought. Seems a little strange to think anyone would be in such constant contact they'd know God was silent for two weeks. Even stranger to think they would think this as being common knowledge. Hmm I suspect maybe... Revelation 8 1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. An end of the world message? Someone figured out there's a time difference between Heaven and earth. So half an hour in Heaven equal 2 weeks earth time? I don't know. I can not understand Revelations. I read it and read lot of theories about it. None of it makes sense. I suppose we don't know this is a Revelation reference warning post yet, so I'll just shut up for now.

I kind of doubt her intent was a political stance on abortion. It's sad, really, really sad and hard to deal with emotionally but what about forgiveness? People make really, really bad mistakes. Punishment does not fix anything. She needs help and counseling. She will have to live with her actions for the rest of her life. That's pretty punishing. According to some if she is or becomes Christians her sin will be forgiven. However many want her punished out of a sense of personal justice? Worse for her she is to be used as a political pawn to forward an anti-abortion agenda. While I'm personally against abortion, it's also sad to see people using each other like this. Who's willing to be forgiving...