Popularity and Usefulness

[Uber Genius]

On 1/29/2021 at 10:20 PM, johnthebaptist said:

If one wants to be popular, one can get in the habit of telling people what they want to hear. On the other hand, if one wants to be useful, one can get in the habit of telling people what they need to hear.

So I agree that most in my culture err to the side of trying to be popular. 

Secondly, intellectual apathy predominates my culture (here in the US), despite having the richest educational opportunities for common citizens in history. 

Thirdly, all humans seemed to Intractably maintain their beliefs once held, rather than examining those beliefs for truth value from time to time (Seems human).

Given P1 -3 above what can be done to hold more true beliefs this coming year than last year?

What are the sources of false beliefs in our culture, how can bypass those sources of false beliefs and create/maintain true beliefs?

 

[johnthebaptist]

14 minutes ago, Uber Genius said:

So I agree that most in my culture err to the side of trying to be popular. 

Secondly, intellectual apathy predominates my culture (here in the US), despite having the richest educational opportunities for common citizens in history. 

Thirdly, all humans seemed to Intractably maintain their beliefs once held, rather than examining those beliefs for truth value from time to time (Seems human).

Given P1 -3 above what can be done to hold more true beliefs this coming year than last year?

What are the sources of false beliefs in our culture, how can bypass those sources of false beliefs and create/maintain true beliefs?

 

I think pride is the source of many false beliefs. By reading the Bible we can hear the words of God and Jesus and know the true path.

[Uber Genius]

15 minutes ago, johnthebaptist said:

I think pride is the source of many false beliefs. By reading the Bible we can hear the words of God and Jesus and know the true path.

While we certainly see this attribute leading to stubbornness, and if one is prideful in their attitude towards approaching God they will not achieve a relationship, but I might word it differently. I don't think the issue is that they don't know the path but rather refuse to want to bow the knee.

james 2 "The demons believe and they shudder," leads us to believe that trust in God is the path. I'm confident that every demon and other created beings living with God at one time in the past, are 100% accurate in their knowledge of the true path to God test! But not one will be in a relationship due to free will. (This view is only held by a portion of Christians, e.g. Calvinist would not hold to agents having free will). 

So I think you probably hold the same view that trust (faith) is the measure. 

Further, the HS does teach us, and lead us into truth in terms of emotional maturity and spiritual maturity. These truths would not be accessible to the number non-Christian, I don't think. 

But, we have other knowledge areas where Christians must have false beliefs.

My thinking is that by careful study we can eliminate some false beliefs, others we may have reason to loosen our grip a little but still affirm something like, "The scriptures seem to only suggest that x is true, beyond that I currently loosely hold to y, but could be convinced of holding another view if evidence or argument were to defeat y."

[johnthebaptist]

2 minutes ago, Uber Genius said:

While we certainly see this attribute leading to stubbornness, and if one is prideful in their attitude towards approaching God they will not achieving a relationship, but I might word it differently. I don't think the issue is that they don't know the path but rather refuse to want to bow the knee.

james 2 "The demons believe and they shudder," leads us to believe that trust in God is the path. I'm confident that every demon and other created beings living with God at one time in the past, are 100% accurate in their knowledge of the true path to God test! But not one will be in a relationship due to free will. (This view is only held by a portion of Christians, e.g. Calvinist would not hold to agents having free will). 

So I think you probably hold the same view that trust (faith) is the measure. 

Further, the HS doesn't teach us.

But, we have other knowledge areas where Christians must have false beliefs.

My thinking is that by careful study we can eliminate some false beliefs, others we may have reason to loosen our grip a little but still affirm something like, "The scriptures seem to only suggest that x is true, beyond that I currently loosely hold to y, but could be convinced of holding another view if evidence or argument were to defeat y."

I don't understand your statement: "Further, the HS doesn't teach us." (HS=Holy Spirit?) I believe we should be in constant prayer, as Paul taught (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and always listening to what the Lord (Holy Spirit) says.

[Uber Genius]

17 minutes ago, johnthebaptist said:

I don't understand your statement: "Further, the HS doesn't teach us." (HS=Holy Spirit?) I believe we should be in constant prayer, as Paul taught (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and always listening to what the Lord (Holy Spirit) says.

It is a typo that I corrected within one minute of posting. My iPad has an autocorrect malfunction that autocorrects "is" to "isn't" and "does" to "doesn't!"

I don't use this iPad often but have to be eternally vigilant to catch some of these autocorrect APLLE CORPORATION GENRERATED HERESIES!

[johnthebaptist]

4 minutes ago, Uber Genius said:

It is a typo that I corrected within one minute of posting. My iPad has an autocorrect malfunction that autocorrects "is" to "isn't" and "does" to "doesn't!"

I don't use this iPad often but have to be eternally vigilant to catch some of these autocorrect APLLE CORPORATION GENRERATED HERESIES!

I thought maybe that's what happened.

[johnthebaptist]

23 hours ago, Alive said:

Well meaning and honest believers can have different views on what particular scripture teaches and this is true for many reasons. What the forum allows is 'discussion' of those differences and hopefully using well rendered scripture to make points. That process can be very profitable. Iron sharpens iron.

The thing required is to have an attitude that allows oneself to be wrong as well as correct--in essence to have a strong desire to learn what is so and what isn't. Most of us have 'strong towers' of one sort or another. Being aware of that is helpful.

Each of us needs to examine ourselves in this regard....to be self-transparent.

And then to do our best to debate the topic and not the person, so that things don't go awry and we maintain a good witness of the Christ that is in us.

There is fabulous opportunity for growth at this forum. If you think about it--it really is remarkable.

True. However, don't forget Satan is out there trying to lead us astray, and he's especially pleased, I would think, when he can lead religious leaders astray.