Quote (Stu @ April 07 2008,07:07)The other point is that the universe is far more spectacular and beautiful without prefacing everything with the ugly words ‘god’s creation’.Is “God's creation” ugly to you because humans have made religion so unappealing?  What if God had nothing to do with some of what humans have made of things – a mess!I have t…[Read more]

OK….. Can I know what is being said about me in German?

Quote (kejonn @ April 06 2008,18:37)All we get is an old book and possibly some goose bumps.This answers my question.Kevin, quit clinging to the flaws of the dried ink and look up!  God can and does work though his creation to communicate his truth to us; to communicate his love towards us.History is only a looking glass into the past.  People l…[Read more]

James tells us that our faith without deeds is dead, likewise I believe that if we just “believe” (even the demons believe), that we will be missing the deeper lesson which is to prove all things – make sure it is right like the Bereans did! Yes, Irene, I'm with you – prove all things!

Quote (Stu @ April 06 2008,22:13)Quote (Not3in1 @ April 06 2008,14:22)Hi Stu,Quote You cannot know for absolute certain that your experience of god is really what it seems.  That is exactly why faith is required, otherwise you wouldn't call it faith.  So where is the justice in a god that makes himself mysteriously incomprehensible then asks for o…[Read more]

Wow, Irene, this sounds like you are swearing at Stu! But I know what you are trying to do and I appreciate your concern and prayers.Thanks, sis.Mandy

Hi Irene,Yes, I believe all these scriptures as it is what the Bible teaches. But there are folks, for instance, who live in remote places who have never EVER seen a Bible and they worship God! What do you think of that, I'm curious?

Quote (kejonn @ April 05 2008,21:35)Sadly, he doesn't give anyone else the luxury of a personal experience. I guess it was OK for him to appear to doubters in the 1st century but he doesn't seem to care about anyone else. He'd rather we just believe a book written about him.Kevin, have you never had an “experience” with Jesus? Never?He appeared…[Read more]

Quote (kejonn @ April 05 2008,21:54)Quote (Not3in1 @ April 04 2008,23:13)Quote (kejonn @ April 04 2008,22:41)Quote  I don't know, I agree with a lot of what you are saying but I also think that the Bible and it's many stories have endured for a reason.  Look at the Dead Sea Scrolls – there is proof that at least some of the Bible is ancient.  …[Read more]

Hi Stu,Quote You cannot know for absolute certain that your experience of god is really what it seems. That is exactly why faith is required, otherwise you wouldn't call it faith. So where is the justice in a god that makes himself mysteriously incomprehensible then asks for obedience, with all the guess work that you need to achieve that. If…[Read more]

Quote (Stu @ April 05 2008,17:18)No, my beliefs are anti-paranoia.No, I know you are not paranoid Stu – I was jesting that I was the paranoid one. Trying to be funny…

Hope and evidence seem like oxymorons when you see them side-by-side, huh? Opposites. If you have evidence there is no need for hope.

Quote Proverbs 14:12There is a way which seems right to a man,But its end is the way of death.Proverbs 16:25There is a way which seems right to a man,But its end is the way of death. How do you know that the Proverbial writer wasn't referring to something other-than various reiligions? In other words, maybe he meant that man thinks eating bacon…[Read more]

Quote (Nick Hassan @ April 05 2008,16:23)Hi not3, Yes that is a very popular path. Attempting to unite all religions under one banner is what the god of this world wants us to do.How do you know that is what the god of this worlds wants?

Quote (kejonn @ April 04 2008,22:41)Quote I don't know, I agree with a lot of what you are saying but I also think that the Bible and it's many stories have endured for a reason. Look at the Dead Sea Scrolls – there is proof that at least some of the Bible is ancient. I'm sure the majority of it is flawed, don't get me wrong, shoot, even I…[Read more]

Quote (Cato @ April 04 2008,23:47)(Funny, my computer just started playing REM's “losing my religion” talk about coincidence.) As a teenager I shifted first to agnostic then deist, then a Jesus following deist as I contemplated God, the universe and life alone in my room at night.When I started dating my husband in 1991 – REM was at the top of the…[Read more]

Quote (Stu @ April 04 2008,20:19)Hi MandyWhat do you think?  Do you trust the brain god gave you?StuartHi Stuart,Yes, I trust my brain (most of the time). Why? Do you know something that I don't? Am I supposed to know something that you know? Is there something wrong with my brain?Is there a smiley face for paranoid?

I was surpised to see this thread had 40 hits but only three responses. Then, I was even more surprised to see that the three responses were from the same person who started the thread – Nick!Quote Secular humanism has appeal to atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, empiricists, rationalists, skeptics and materialists, as well as to some Unitarians,…[Read more]

Hey Tim,I confess that my belief system has been a bit fickle over the last 6 months to a year.  I'm still searching, but I've decided that my searching isn't necessarily a declaration against anything.  I'm just checking stuff out.  Thanks for welcoming me back (you, too, Irene), I really appreciate you guys!     Love you too bro,MandyPS:  Nic…[Read more]

Martain,I enjoy your posts tremendously. It takes a lot of thought and time to contribute what you do – thank you.Mandy