You don't believe any religion has concepts that are the essence of humanity? Buddhism? Christianity? Islam? Anything?

Originally posted by:paradelights

Originally posted by:crunkmoose

Originally posted by:paradelights

Originally posted by:crunkmoose

Originally posted by:paradelights

this week I've been reading several books just because of school, "jim and casper go to church" "the new testament world" "God came near" and "transforming church"

But then again that's just because of my major. I think when I get done with the semester I'll be able to read books on other subjects.

Why would the end of this semester be any different than the your life up to now in that regard?

Also... I'm not really interested in reading about christianity. I find it boring and tedious. And keep in mind that this is coming from someone whose current job requires inspecting old newspapers for wrinkles and tears and then fixing them sot he papers can be photographed.

that's sad. what in your life made you believe Christianity is boring? Ever live in the bible belt? Those states kill me.

I lived in arkansas for 20 something years.

What made me find it boring was around the same number of years actually going to church.

I lived in Oklahoma for a year. Yeah, if I went to those kinds of churches my whole life, I'd probably be bored too. But hey, those people like it (I think). Either that or they don't know how to find life.

Or maybe not everyone is just like you.

yeah I just said that....

Originally posted by:paradelights

You don't believe any religion has concepts that are the essence of humanity? Buddhism? Christianity? Islam? Anything?

The essence of humanity? What, exactly, do you mean by that? You use these very vague terms in so many of your arguments... which is part of why I am always asking you to define what you mean.

While I do believe we all have buddha-nature, I don't think that is really the kind of thing you are talking about.

I'd also like to point out (as though it does not need pointing out) Matt's ever-awesome "aren't chickens mammals?" moment of sheer brilliance--followed by the assumption that everybody else was this much of a dullard.

When assessing credibility gaps, you have to look at who has been most incorrect most often. Given the above examples, plus others (e.g., the mistaken belief that newly-elected Congresspeople take their office immediately after an election), I think it's fair to assume that one of the posters here has a significantly large credibility gap when it comes to things outside Scripture. You're welcome to guess who that is.

Originally posted by:crunkmoose

Originally posted by:paradelights

You don't believe any religion has concepts that are the essence of humanity? Buddhism? Christianity? Islam? Anything?

The essence of humanity? What, exactly, do you mean by that? You use these very vague terms in so many of your arguments... which is part of why I am always asking you to define what you mean.

While I do believe we all have buddha-nature, I don't think that is really the kind of thing you are talking about.

There are needs and certain characteristics intrinsic to all of humanity. By these truths we can all operate on the same sense of morality.

Originally posted by:paradelights

You don't believe any religion has concepts that are the essence of humanity? Buddhism? Christianity? Islam? Anything?

Yeah...but the same can be said about Shakespeare.

boom, roasted.

Originally posted by:LordLuvKnuckle

Originally posted by: paradelights

You don't believe any religion has concepts that are the essence of humanity? Buddhism? Christianity? Islam? Anything?

Yes. They do. And the reason they do Is because these ARE Concepts of being human. So if anything the reason Religions recognize these is because they need to connect with the follower. So what better way than to connect in a human sense. This is not fucking Rocket Science. To have anyone follow you or take interest in your cause you need to connect with them. Connecting with Life is as about as easy as it gets.

Problem is each religion attaches it's own spin/stories/DOGMA, and everybody starts to get all offended.
" my god is better than your god!" Oh yeah? Says who?

Kill your Gods. Religions manipulate a person against themselves. Make a person feel like they have a purpose because we all have the same questions. That is not based on what religion you are and what your religions explanation of life is. . .that's part of LIFE.

Religions just play to a persons curiosity, and if they like the bullshit story behind it, BANG. . .there is another follower.

These days religion is established for the weakminded.

The reason I follow Jesus Christ and the "stories" put out by the bible is not simply because it's there, but in actuality because many of them are proven historical facts.

Nelson Glueckclick here for link a renowned Jewish archeologist who discovered over 1,500 ancient sites in his life said
"It may be stated categorically that no archeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference."

That is a bold statement from a man who has discovered 1,500 ancient sites before his death. It's not just a book. If the bible is true, and Jesus is the Christ prophesied 2,000 years before he was even born, his teachings are truth and life and they are worthy to be followed with all our passion. They would also be those intrinsic truths in humanity. There is evidence to show that they are, but that requires many many hours of study.

Originally posted by:paradelights

Originally posted by:crunkmoose

Originally posted by:paradelights

You don't believe any religion has concepts that are the essence of humanity? Buddhism? Christianity? Islam? Anything?

The essence of humanity? What, exactly, do you mean by that? You use these very vague terms in so many of your arguments... which is part of why I am always asking you to define what you mean.

While I do believe we all have buddha-nature, I don't think that is really the kind of thing you are talking about.

There are needs and certain characteristics intrinsic to all of humanity. By these truths we can all operate on the same sense of morality.

But... we don't. Perhaps if we had consensus on religion or even on what those needs and characteristics actually are.. but we don't, we never have had, and we never will have.

how could archeological evidence possibly show that jesus is somehow both God and man? no fucking rock is going to reveal that the trinity is one ousia in three personae. the bible could end up being the most historically accurate book known to man, and yet one would have to come to believe the tenants of the FAITH by....wait for it...FAITH!!! Matt drives me up a fucking wall.

Yes, but the point is they exist. The difference between me and you is I believe there are intrinsic characteristics that exist outside of our "consensus" just like the laws of the universe will operate without us agreeing on them.

To give you an example:

Fact:
all humans need to eat food. All humans will continue to function if they eat certain foods and they will not be able to live on the same foods as some many animals.

Evaluation:
By this intrinsic human value and the need for food, we can derive the moral truth that stealing those needed foods would kill a human (assume humans should not be killed without a just cause). We can conclude that stealing from another is wrong by extension.


Make sense? This is how morality is derived. Luckly the bible did the quick work and already worked this stuff out because God knows and understands us perfectly. Through his infinite wisdom we see deeper truths without having to study for centuries the human.

Originally posted by:Liam ODonnell M.Div.

how could archeological evidence possibly show that jesus is somehow both God and man? no fucking rock is going to reveal that the trinity is one ousia in three personae. the bible could end up being the most historically accurate book known to man, and yet one would have to come to believe the tenants of the FAITH by....wait for it...FAITH!!! Matt drives me up a fucking wall.

You should read into the statement. Out of what we have found (which is alot), it has never controverted a biblical reference.

As for faith Liam, if we know for absolute certain that the bible is true, we can believe the tenants of the bible and there for those "unprovable" aspects to be absolutely true. The question is, what is one way to know for absolutely certain that the bible is true? When we know what is true, we can trust the promises of God with confidence.

As for the New Testament, Paul preached the gospel with confidence because he say the risen Christ with his own eyes. He went from killing Christians to preaching in Christ's name with power. All of the apostles did not believe Jesus was alive out of "faith," They preached Him alive BECAUSE they had all seen Him and couldn't deny it, even to death.

Originally posted by: paradelights

Originally posted by:Liam ODonnell M.Div.

how could archeological evidence possibly show that jesus is somehow both God and man? no fucking rock is going to reveal that the trinity is one ousia in three personae. the bible could end up being the most historically accurate book known to man, and yet one would have to come to believe the tenants of the FAITH by....wait for it...FAITH!!! Matt drives me up a fucking wall.

You should read into the statement. Out of what we have found (which is alot), it has never controverted a biblical reference.

and that proves God's eternal justice how? my history text book may be historically accurate, but if it claims that america is the land of the free and home of the brave, it's historical accuracy does not prove that statement.
get it?

Originally posted by:Liam ODonnell M.Div.

Originally posted by: paradelights

Originally posted by:Liam ODonnell M.Div.

how could archeological evidence possibly show that jesus is somehow both God and man? no fucking rock is going to reveal that the trinity is one ousia in three personae. the bible could end up being the most historically accurate book known to man, and yet one would have to come to believe the tenants of the FAITH by....wait for it...FAITH!!! Matt drives me up a fucking wall.

You should read into the statement. Out of what we have found (which is alot), it has never controverted a biblical reference.

and that proves God's eternal justice how? my history text book may be historically accurate, but if it claims that america is the land of the free and home of the brave, it's historical accuracy does not prove that statement.
get it?

Yeah I get it, but if the bible says it is the word of God and then proves it in some undeniable way that nothing else could prove it (apart from archeology) do you think you could trust the spiritual aspects of those words?