Eadweard

It's coming from someone who used to up until about a year and a half ago. I'm not so closed-minded, though, that I've completely made up my mind about Christianity's truth so I will consider new evidence when it comes along.

Sorry, I should've clarified. What I'm looking for is evidence that points to the Bible being the word of God.

That's not very convincing to someone who isn't a Christian, though. Why is it that you never feel the presence of Krishna whereas a Hindu does? If you were to ask a Hindu how they know Krishna exists and they told you "Because Krishna told me" you wouldn't be too apt to believe them. It's all subjective based on what the person already believes and, therefore, it's not very substantial evidence.

Hey, Eadweard again. I know I haven't posted in a while but I haven't been able to think of anything good to ask. I do have a question now though, so here it is: How do you know that the Bible is the word of God? One note before anyone answers: please don't quote any bible verses in your answer since that's circular reasoning. Everyone here probably already knows this, but for those who don't, basically, you're saying "God exists because the Bible says so and the Bible is true because God says so." In other words, "God, therefore the Bible, therefore God", so you're presupposing the conclusion when you start the argument. Thanks!

I care. I'd rather not lose my free will, even if I am continually in the presense of God. If we do lose our free will then what does that say about God? That he doesn't want robots on earth but doesn't care in heaven? Just FYI, I'm in college and I'll be going home this weekend away from my precious high-speed internet connection so I probably won't be able to reply to anything on here until sunday.

Ah, my apologies then for the misunderstanding.

Okay, I've gone back and reread it. Here's Matthew 5:22 As I understand it, Jesus is saying several things: 1. If a person is angry with someone else without a reason is in danger of the judgement. 2. If that person says to that someone else 'Raca', is in danger of the council. 3. Whoever says 'Thou fool' to anyone is in danger of hell fire. I looked at the preceding and following verses and Jesus doesn't clarify who saying 'thou fool' to will put you in danger of hell fire. Thus, I must conclude that he means that saying it to anyone puts you in said danger. Now Luke 11:40 Again, looking at the preceding and following verses it's clear that Jesus is very annoyed or mad at the people he's speaking to. However, the fact that he's reprimanding these people doesn't nullify the 'thou fool' commandment since in my understanding it means that you shouldn't say it to anyone. Thus, since Jesus said it, he's now in danger of hell fire. Jesus also calls people fools in Matthew 23:17 and 19, still reprimanding, yet still saying 'thou fool'.

I don't think I'm smarter than God. I merely doubt his existence. It's kinda hard to think you're smarter than someone if you don't believe they exist. But that still doesn't answer my question. Do we have free will in heaven or not? Can we sin in heaven or not? I don't think I'm a fool for not believing in God. I believed in him for eighteen years until I started doubting and was unable to find good answers. That's why I don't believe, not cuz I've chosen Satan (which I haven't). If I'm able to find good answers I'll readily return to the faith.

By Jesus's own words in those verses calling someone 'Thou fool' was a sin. Jesus called someone 'Thou fool', therefore he sinned.

Please read my original question. Being sinless in heaven would destroy our free will. Besides, being in God's presence didn't stop Adam and Eve from sinning.

So, going back to my original question how can we have free will in heaven and not sin? Even if we have so-called 'glorified bodies' what will happen when we are faced with the decision of whether or not to sin? Will we simply be able to choose not to every time? If so, then why didn't God make us that way in the Garden of Eden? We'd still have complete free will and wouldn't be robots yet there wouldn't be sin or evil.

I was always taught that sin is a product of free will, not evil. Free will produces sin and sin produces evil, not the other way around.

Jesus wasn't sinless. He was supposed to be fully man and fully God at the same time and if he didn't sin then he wasn't fully man. Besides, Matthew 5:22 says "Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." and in Luke 11:40 Jesus says "Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?" thus making him in danger of hellfire. Definitely a sin. Of course, continually being in the presence of Jesus didn't prevent the disciples from sinning. It's not 'evil' itself that tempts us to do evil, it's simply the desire to do it. Let's say you and your family dies in a car accident and you all go to heaven. While in heaven you sin against your brother (let's say you hit him) and your mom asks if you did it. Not being in the presence of evil isn't going to destroy your sinful habits that you gained while living and you might lie to your mom. huh? I just meant that the presence of evil doesn't make a person evil. It's that person's desire to sin that makes them so.

Of course, continually being in the presence of Jesus didn't prevent the disciples from sinning. It's not 'evil' itself that tempts us to do evil, it's simply the desire to do it. Let's say you and your family dies in a car accident and you all go to heaven. While in heaven you sin against your brother (let's say you hit him) and your mom asks if you did it. Not being in the presence of evil isn't going to destroy your sinful habits that you gained while living and you might lie to your mom.

God doesn't let people who repent in hell into heaven. Why would he send someone in heaven to hell? After all, it is eternal punishment or reward.