Cyoder

Lighting cars on fire and throwing bricks at cop cars doesn't sound very "peaceful" to me. They need to be peacefully beaten unconscious.

I think I misunderstood what you were saying initially. I know his take on it is if humans don't augment themselves with some kind of computer interface, that AI will take over and destroy us. He's thinking of it as a way for humans to compete with AI. I don't want any part of that. We are realistically less than ten years away from being able to create something like the Matrix. Imagine how addicting it would be to just put on a helmet or special goggles or even an implanted chip that could put you in a world where you are a god. Anything you ever could imagine, could be a false reality. It would be real to you in your mind. Feel, taste, touch every emotion. You could be a rock star one minute and an astronaut the next. I think it would be the destruction of humanity. Nobody would want to live in the real world. People would sin, millions of times and think there was no real person or victim since it was "fake".

Imagine being paralyzed from the neck down your entire life. Then you find someone that tells you they can try some experimental treatment to help you walk again. Would you do it? Is that an "atrocity"? Comparing this to what Mengela and the Japanese did during WWII seems a little outrageous.

I love Elon Musk. I think he single handedly saved freedom of speech on the internet by purchasing Twitter. I also believe he was the driving force behind Trump winning the election. Is he a gift from God? Absolutely. You only see genius like his a few times in generations. His and Trump's biggest flaws are both having the largest egos on Earth. If they could both humble themselves, the world would be a better place.

I had those thoughts myself my first time through the Bible. Was his contribution needed? Jesus said everything he needed to say. He made things very clear, then Paul was all about the church which is corrupted by man. The church that has veered away from what the Bible originally taught. What I keep going back to is I don't believe God would allow that deception in the Bible. He couldn't possibly allow people to trust in Paul if he was going against God. Then there were all of the sacrifices Paul made to spread the Gospel. Being beaten, jailed, shipwrecked. I don't doubt it anymore.

Some news I've seen lately that is promising: Around 2,000 people were baptized in Jacksonville in the Atlantic Ocean the other week. There is also a 22% increase in the sale of Bibles since October of 2024. Many are younger first-time buyers. I also notice so many more famous and powerful people talking about being Christian. Even Joe Rogan has made some recent comments about Jesus. He used to be more of a higher power kind of guy. Things have changed quite a bit since January, and I think towards God. At least in the USA.

Your sobriety is the most important thing in your life. Don't risk it for anything. Explain this to your friend, she will understand.

Organized religion was the biggest reason I stayed away from God my entire adult life. I grew up seeing all the shady preachers begging for our cash on tv. Jim Baker comes to mind. Then what the Catholic church did was an abomination. I don't know how anyone could be Catholic after seeing how the church protected thousands of pedophiles. How many are still preaching to this day and never served a day in prison? I can't imagine how they will suffer in hell for what they did. I guess you have to separate the word from the people. People will always be flawed, but the word is what matters. When I finally started going to church recently, I wanted to be part of a fellowship, and I wanted to learn the scripture. I went to a few local churches and then I found a Cavalry Chapel Church. The pastor is a retired NYC police officer. All he does is teach the Bible. We go through it line by line and he explains it. He refers to other parts of the Bible and shows how it all ties together. It was exactly what I was looking for. They never ask for donations. They have different Bible studies and do a men's breakfast once a month. I enjoy going there.

There are several other Biblical quotes that suggest works are at least part of the equation. "Faith without works is dead" comes to mind. There are so many Christians that think they can do whatever they want, live like a heathen and be saved just for "believing". I put believing in quotes because I don't think that people acting like this truly believe. I think if belief was the only key, Jesus wouldn't have spent so much time telling us how to live properly and warning us of hell so much. I doubt myself as I think everyone should, I don't doubt the promise Jesus made. Questions I ask myself, how do I know I believe completely? That I believe enough? His own disciples didn't believe until they saw Jesus standing in front of them, risen from the dead. Nobody knows for sure that they are saved, that's up to God. All we can do is try our best. Learn, develop our relationship with God, repent and most of all believe as much as we are able.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. It's been helpful to me.

I wondered what Halal meant. I kind of figured it was similar to Kosher for the Muslims.

I don't know anything about that. I'm just talking about a standard meat packing plant. I went to work with my dad for about a week when I was 12. Three generations of my family were all butchers. Blood was just blood. We didn't think anything of it. I've always known you shouldn't drink it and that was somehow evil from the tiny knowledge I had of the Bible when I was young. There is no conspiracy to put blood into things other than to save money and utilize the animal completely as far as I know.

I think I doubt myself so much that it makes me question everything. I am constantly worried do I believe in Jesus enough? Some people are so sure they are saved, I desperately want that feeling. I think you are right, that I need to trust in him completely. I still think I need to do something. I need to let that go and just spend more time learning and praying. What's confusing is you do have to work at being a better person. God will give us the power to conquer any sin, but we also have to do our part. For example, God helped me quit drinking. He made it something I could handle. I still have to not buy it or turn it down when someone offers. Together, I haven't drank since 2014.

Ever been to a meat packing plant? I have. I can assure you they are not in league with satan. They aren't thinking about scripture, only profit. They use every part of the animal possible. I also think the Bible is talking about deliberately drinking blood. The biggest plants kill around 20k animals a day. Where are you burying all of that blood? there would be thousands of gallons. It might be wrong or disturbing, but I don't believe it's satanic.

I'm in the I hope I'm saved category. I almost think it shows some level of arrogance to know you are going to heaven. I have confidence that God is just, and I also know I deserve death. I just hope my belief is strong enough and I have repented enough. Nobody actually knows.