Hello, Miia,

your experience is quite typical.  Our anxieties and defensiveness are a major factor here.  Our conscious awareness in only the tip if the ice berg, as the old cliché goes. Hence, we miss much of reality, which we more directly encounter via unconscious affective experience.  We can feel more deeply than we can think or sense…[Read more]

Kerwin, that kind of argument is not relevant here.  What I am talking about is the flaming going on here. The examples you are talking about are light years from the situation here.

Hello, t8,

First of all, let’s get clear on what I am saying.  Nobody comes to Scripture, with a blank mind.  Everyone reads Scripture through a lens.    Many look at Scripture through the lens provided by fundamentalaistic ideology.  Accordingly, Scripture is inerrant.  Everything in the Bible happened exactly, and to  the letter, the way the…[Read more]

Hello, Andrew,

Look, you are getting into a personal attack on me here, which is inappropriate in any serious discussion.  I mentioned about my educational  background, so that you could see where I am coming from.  Am I proud of it?  You bet.  Why shouldn’t I be?  Do I think I know the material better than other members here?  I know I do.  T…[Read more]

Hi again, Andrew,

There is a great deal of truth to that concept.  Too often, faith has been allowed to collapse into intellectual ascent to doctrine.   God really isn’t  that  interested in how you  live, just in what doctrines you profess. This has led to what is sometimes called Christian Imperialism, the notion that only Bible-believing Chris…[Read more]

HI, Andrew,

I don’t think you quite get the picture.  I’ll try and be clearer.  Modalism is a major way of explicating the Trinity. As far as I and many other Trinitarians are concerned, it is The way. And yes, there  are other Trinitarians who  object to modalism.  But I am prepared to deal with that.

Sorry, t8.  It was Kerwin who said it was objectionable.

Hello, t8,

Well, when you are willing to sell you daughter into slavery and refuse to eat ham, then I will assume you are living Scripture to the letter, no cherry picking. But then again, both Christ and Paul seem to have done some real cherry picking on these laws.  Paul dropped all the dietary laws, and eventually Peter as well.

Getting back…[Read more]

Hello, Andrew,

My response to your post is a big “Huh?”  I’m not at all uptight abut being labeled a modalist. Never was. More than one major contemporary theologian  is a modalist.  Granted, some contemporary Trinitarians will get up in arms about this and   shout “heresy.”  Let’em. FYI:  I am a member of four different churches.  Quite honestly…[Read more]

Hello, Kerwin,

I don’t think you quite get the picture.  Let me try and be clearer. In modern-day theology, the emphasis in on mutual respect and understanding, not condemnation.  You can disagree all you want with someone.  In fact, that is encouraged.  However, you need to focus on the arguments, not take cheap shots are your opponent’s cha…[Read more]

Hello, t8,

Well, then the question becomes: Why find them so objectionable? Also,  are you saying you have deep-seated homosexual impulses you are continually struggling to keep repressed? If so , better see a therapist.  Bad for your psychical economy to have to expend  so much energy in your defense system.  Also, if you don’t mind me askin…[Read more]

Hi, Kerwin,

If you are not really familiar with biblical languages, then I suggest you don’t try and get into  setting up some kind of argument based on the Greek text.  Going online and grabbing up something quick from some online site is no way near adequate.  The minute I see something like that, I know some amateur has jumped in way over his…[Read more]

Hi, T8,

I don’t think you quite understand what I meant when I was talking bout the trinity.  What I was saying is that the Trinity is  rooted in Scripture.  The question about homosexuality’s a different kind of question.  Here, the issue isn’t whether it’s in Scripture , but whether one agrees with what Scripture has to say.

Hello, t8,

The genetic component fits into sexuality in that it creates a drive.  But that’s  it.  It’s unspecified as to objects. Sexual preferences are culturally determined, which is why they can vary significantly from culture to culture.  The society teaches what objects and occasions are or are not appropriate for sex. Persons coming from t…[Read more]

Thanks for reminding me, Ed.  Now what?  Where do you want to go with this?  Why are you bringing it up?

Hello, t8,

Your post here is exactly what I have been complaining about.  No, those holding with the Trinity are not possessed by the Anti-Christ.  Attacking the character of others has no place in a theological discussion.  You should focus on your opponents arguments and offer solid, rational rebuttals.  When people result to flaming an nam…[Read more]

Thanks for the suggestion, t8, but I’m already familiar with that literature and then some.

Hello again, t8,

From the evidence I’ve seen, homosexuality, as are all other sexual preferences, are not genetically determined.  they are a result of cultural conditioning and vary widely from culture to culture.  One of the reasons why homosexuality is forbidden in the  Bible is that this would clearly mark off, give an identity to the anc…[Read more]

Hello, t8,

Your post here is a prime example of what I am trying to avoid and encourage others to avoid.  Largely, you have come on with a personal attack against me.  Let’s stick with t Trinity for the present. Yes, I hold teh Trinity is a biblically based doctrine.  I am very sure of myself here, because I have carefully examined both Sc…[Read more]

Hello again, t8,

Organized religion is probably the worst form of religion, until you consider the alternative.  Many people need the support  of religious organizations in order to better understand their connection to God.  As much as religion can stand in the way, it can really help. As I said in earlier posts, there is too much cowboy th…[Read more]