I used to be an Atheist and then for whatever reason I changed and became a Theist. I cant explain why, if anyone could offer a rational explanation (by rational I mean non personal experience, and based on empirical evidence) everyone would be theists.
I'm surprised just because you have a 'personal god' which you're not defining withing any denomination, you defend alternatives to evolution being taught in schools. Banal coincidence interpreted as divine mediation on your part does not warrant the indoctrination of children with improbable and unprovable heresay alternatives to a globally accepted scientific theory with mounds of evidence to back it up. The Texas school board is the laughing stock of the secular world.
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Originally posted by Lebezniatnikov
Ditto for me.
Belief isn't supposed to be perfect - it's why in Islam the cornerstone of faith is jihad, or "struggle".
How embarrassing I thought it was public stonings.
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Originally posted by Alex
My priest told me once that a good Christian doubts, and I've held to that ever since.
Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
you're ed
DJ Damerchi
i saw pascals wager was brought up, PKC touched on the points of feigning beleif and piety, here is a great hitchens clip(volume is low)
Alex
quote:
Originally posted by D-res
I'm surprised just because you have a 'personal god' which you're not defining withing any denomination, you defend alternatives to evolution being taught in schools. Banal coincidence interpreted as divine mediation on your part does not warrant the indoctrination of children with improbable and unprovable heresay alternatives to a globally accepted scientific theory with mounds of evidence to back it up. The Texas school board is the laughing stock of the secular world.
How embarrassing I thought it was public stonings.
Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
you're ed
Oh my, you haven't read much of the thread have you?
Also, your use of google to try and "own" me with a Bible passage is humorous in nature as you picked a passage that is completely out of context for what I was talking about.
Doubt doesn't mean doubting the existence of God, I don't doubt that, I do doubt some of the other things though that I think merit doubt. Paul does not say that doubting Protestantism is wrong nor does he say doubting false doctrine masqueraded as truth is wrong.
Moral Hazard
quote:
Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
but how do you go about making yourself believe something?
You can't, only an individual can make themselves believe (anything).
I have a similar story to Alex... I was agnostic, raised in no particular religion, and actually had a strong hatred for organized religion (Roman Catholic in particular). My journey to faith was actually born from a decade long quest on my part which started as an attempt to satisfy myself that there was indeed no god(s). Strangely, the more I learned about the great faiths and other non-theistic philosophies the more similarities I found between them all and the more truth I found in those things that were consistent across them, which ultimately resulted in a rather deep and profound faith. That said, I still continue to actively challenge my faith.
Moral Hazard
quote:
Originally posted by Alex
My priest told me once that a good Christian doubts, and I've held to that ever since.
A rabbi I spent considerable time with many years ago wonce said something similar to me... "faith is like principles; it doesn't mean anything if it isn't challenged."
Moral Hazard
Getting back to the original topic.... I really do believe that every topic taught in school should be open to scrutiny (although I expect that the scrutiny on evolution would be very very thin); however, there is absolutely no circumstance I can see that would ever make it acceptable to even discuss creationism or intelligent design (in' joke that it is) in a science class.
Lebezniatnikov
quote:
Originally posted by D-res
I'm surprised just because you have a 'personal god' which you're not defining withing any denomination, you defend alternatives to evolution being taught in schools. Banal coincidence interpreted as divine mediation on your part does not warrant the indoctrination of children with improbable and unprovable heresay alternatives to a globally accepted scientific theory with mounds of evidence to back it up. The Texas school board is the laughing stock of the secular world.
I thought we were all in agreement on that. The argument started when you and Cap tried to paint all Christiandom as out of touch with reality and akin to the Texas creationists.
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How embarrassing I thought it was public stonings.
"He said jihad! Time for an intolerant Islam joke!"
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Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
That quote is about doubting God himself, not doubting the individual components of Biblical stories (as is discussed in this thread).
Halcyon+On+On
Well hasn't this just turned into a gigantic Jesus circle-jerk?
What a ing waste.
Moral Hazard
quote:
Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
Well hasn't this just turned into a gigantic Jesus circle-jerk?
What a ing waste.
Hey, I tried to bring it back.
Capitalizt
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Originally posted by Lebezniatnikov
That quote is about doubting God himself, not doubting the individual components of Biblical stories (as is discussed in this thread).
But the Bible is the WORD of God is it not?
Alex
quote:
Originally posted by Capitalizt
But the Bible is the WORD of God is it not?
Some of it.
Moral Hazard
quote:
Originally posted by Capitalizt
But the Bible is the WORD of God is it not?
Odd, I cannot think of a single book of the Bible which is attributed directly to God.
