Does 'Goddidit' constitute an explanation?

[Doveaman]

If you had knowledge you wouldn't need faith.

To have faith is to believe and act according to that which is believed.

There must be knowledge of something or someONE to believe and act according to. Christian faith is not blind, as some seem to think.

what message?

The message of Buddhism from Buddha. Are you not a Buddhist? Isn't Buddhism a faith. Doesn't your profile say "Faith:Buddhist"?

 

[Nathan Poe]

The message of Buddhism. Are you not a Buddhist?

I wasn't aware that Buddhism promises a message delievered personally -- probably because it doesn't.

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and common sense." -- Buddha.

 

[MoonLancer]

To have faith is to believe and act according to that which is believed.

I prefer knowledge rather then filling the gap of ignorance with faith.

Christian faith is not blind

I have been to lots of churches both catholic and protestation and those in between. The common message i have found is to believe without question using faith.

The message of Buddhism. Are you not a Buddhist?

Buddhists have not knocked on my door telling me to I am going to hell. If God or Jesus has an important message for me, they know where to find me. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Thus the claims in the bible require something more then someone on the internet or someone at my door with claims that sound all to similar to other religions of today and long since past.

Do i believe Buddha exists? not really sure. However i don't have to believe Buddha exists. I can however judge if the wrings of Buddha are sound or logical or moral and in most cases i think they are.

However in the bible there is too much depravity, violence and just really sick stuff in the bible that i would have to accept before being a christian.

many independent Christians strip this out of the bible, simply attaching themselves to the idea that God is love. I have no quarrel with them as long as they don't vote for religious reasons. A loving God wouldn't care if i believed he existed. Only a religion that is addicted too power would claim that he does.

 

[Doveaman]

I wasn't aware that Buddhism promises a message delievered personally -- probably because it doesn't.

Exactly my point. It doesn't have to be delivered in person to be valid.

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and common sense." -- Buddha.

Are these supposed to be words of wisdom?

Why call it Buddhism? Why not call it Me-ism since it must agree with my own reason and common sense?

 

[Nathan Poe]

Exactly my point. It doesn't have to be delivered in person to be valid.

Then perhaps Christianity should stop touting itself as being based on divine revelation.

Are these supposed to be words of wisdom?

Why call it Buddhism? Why not call it Me-ism since it must agree with my own reason and common sense?

Are you in the habit of believing what you're told when it doesn't agree with your own reason and common sense?

 

[Doveaman]

Then perhaps Christianity should stop touting itself as being based on divine revelation.

I think we were referring to the human person of Jesus in the flesh and blood and bones. He never appeared to me personally that way, but to others, He did.

To me He appeared personally by divine revelation, so no need to stop touting.

Are you in the habit of believing what you're told when it doesn't agree with your own reason and common sense?

When it comes to divine revelation, yes.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? ...Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes" - Jer 17:9, Prov 3:5-7.

 

[Nathan Poe]

I think we were referring to the human person of Jesus in the flesh and blood and bones. He never appeared to me personally that way, but to others, He did.

To me He appeared personally by divine revelation, so no need to stop touting.

Whatever you say...

When it comes to divine revelation, yes.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? ...Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes" - Jer 17:9, Prov 3:5-7.

Why should the heart accept what the mind rejects?

 

[3sigma]

Christian faith is not blind, as some seem to think.

Belief in a God that is [post=53824235]unseen and undetectable[/post] sounds like blind faith to me.

 

[AV1611VET]

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and common sense." -- Buddha.

That would be my suggestion too, if I had walked out on my wife and newly-born son.

Here in America, we call them 'deadbeat dads'.

Had Guatama lived in America today, he would either be facing jail time, owing for child support, or both.

But in India, where they worship cows that urinate in the Ganges in front of those who are down at the Ganges to worship the Ganges --- he's "the enlightened one".

That's why we send aid to India.

Thanks to people like Ghandi and Guatama, people starve to death while cows and chickens roam the streets.

Next to Jesus Christ, India needs Colonel Sanders and Bob Evans.

 

[Cabal]

Mixing up Hinduism and Buddhism there, AV.

Does your ignorance extend beyond your lack of understanding of science?

 

[sandwiches]

But in India, where they worship cows that urinate in the Ganges in front of those who are down at the Ganges to worship the Ganges --- he's "the enlightened one".

Those are some pretty weird beliefs, right along with worshiping an executed criminal who was a cult leader and carrying the method of his execution around the neck as a talisman. Don't get me started on virgin birth, parting of a sea, burning bushes, or man being made out of dirt.

 

[Skaloop]

<staff edit>

Here in America, we call them 'deadbeat dads'.

No, deadbeat dads leave their kids without offering any support. Guatama was a prince, and his family was well taken care of.

Had Guatama lived in America today, he would either be facing jail time, owing for child support, or both.

Or neither. Does a soldier who goes to Iraq for 18 months face either of those things? If a man leaves his wife and children in the care of his wealthy parents while he, say, sails solo around the world, does he face either of those things?

Thanks to people like Ghandi and Guatama, people starve to death while cows and chickens roam the streets.

And people in America starve while cats and dogs roam the streets. Clearly what America needs is some Kim Jong-il influence.

 

[sandwiches]

Mixing up Hinduism and Buddhism there, AV.

Does your ignorance extend beyond your lack of understanding of science?

They're all brownish people. So, they probably all look the same to him.

 

[Doveaman]

I prefer knowledge rather then filling the gap of ignorance with faith.

Call it what you like, there is still faith involved.

I have been to lots of churches both catholic and protestation and those in between. The common message i have found is to believe without question using faith.

Have you ever been to a Christian church? You must try it some time. There's lots of knowledge there, and faith.

Buddhists have not knocked on my door telling me to I am going to hell.

Someone did that to you? That&#8217;s unfortunate. I&#8217;m really sorry.

If God or Jesus has an important message for me, they know where to find me. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

I think that&#8217;s the reason Jesus died and rose again. Have you ever seen that before?

Do i believe Buddha exists? not really sure. However i don't have to believe Buddha exists. I can however judge if the wrings of Buddha are sound or logical or moral and in most cases i think they are.

Yeah, well, these are sound, logical, and moral writings too:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." - Prov 3:5-7.

However in the bible there is too much depravity, violence and just really sick stuff in the bible that i would have to accept before being a christian.

That&#8217;s because the bible is based on reality, it's in the habit of keeping it real. It&#8217;s not for the faint hearted, but for the faith hearted. A faith that is based on correct knowledge.

many independent Christians strip this out of the bible, simply attaching themselves to the idea that God is love.

Do you consider imprisoning a man or woman for life for a crime they committed to be an act of love on the part of the judge and jury?

What about the death penalty, is that love? If not, what is it?

I have no quarrel with them as long as they don't vote for religious reasons.

Do you vote contrary to your Buddhist beliefs? Aren&#8217;t you influenced by your Buddhist beliefs when you vote?

A loving God wouldn't care if i believed he existed.

A loving God would be sad if you didn&#8217;t. Would your mother or father care if you believed they didn&#8217;t exist? Or would anyone care if their children believed they didn't exist? Now you know how God feel.

Only a religion that is addicted too power would claim that he does.

Or a religion who recognizes God as a loving Father and respects Him as such.

 

[sandwiches]

I think that’s the reason Jesus died and rose again. Have you ever seen that before?

Nope. Have you? Can you show me Jesus dying and rising for me?

 

[sandwiches]

A loving God would be sad if you didn’t. Would your mother or father care if you believed they didn’t exist? Or would anyone care if their children believed they didn't exist? Now you know how God feel.

And just like a loving mother or father, if you don't love them, they send you to an eternity of pain and torment. Yep. Sounds about right.

 

[3sigma]

Or a religion who recognizes God as a loving Father and respects Him as such.

This is the same religion that praises a God that allegedly slaughtered every single baby, toddler and child on the face of the Earth then later slaughtered more and commanded its followers to do the same.

 

[sandwiches]

This is the same religion that praises a God that allegedly slaughtered every single baby, toddler and child on the face of the Earth then later slaughtered more and commanded its followers to do the same.

He was justified in doing because he's God and whatever he does is righteous.

Killing babies? Righteous.
Killing people for touching a box? Righteous.
Telling a man to kill his own son just to see if he would? Righteous.
Turning a woman into a pile of sand for looking back as her home was being destroyed? Righteous.
Telling you that it's OK to hit your slaves as long as they can still walk and see? Righteous
Blaming all of humanity for the mistake of a couple and damning them to eternal torment unless they worship him? Righteous
Et cetera et cetera et cetera. It's all righteous.

 

[Meshach]

Belief in a God that is [post=53824235]unseen and undetectable[/post] sounds like blind faith to me.

Awesome God isn't He. Jesus taught that as you use what you have, God will give you more. (Luke 16:10; Matthew 25:21) If there was nothing, if it was absolutely empty, if when I applied God's Word to my life and nothing came about as He says it would then there wouldn't be any reason to continue serving and obeying Him. I would of went about my life as those did in the days of Noah. But there is no denying the peace that comes from serving my Lord, just as His Word says. Was it a magic writing instrument that penned the words of the Bible? Why such a joy and contentment when obeying God's Word? SO many things in my life have come about just like God said they would that the word "coincidence" is no longer in my vocabulary, and I doubt it should be a word at all. Then there are the COUNTLESS testimonies of all the others over the years that have experienced God as well. Some serving Him from five to twenty to thirty and forty plus years. If it was empty, if there was nothing. If it was meaningless, purposeless, hopless or useless then why is there power in the Word's written in the Bible? Power to transform lives. Happy lives, content lives, purposeful lives, peaceful and meaningful lives.
I know what it is like to live my life without God. And my life is without a doubt fullfilled now living it for my Lord. I dont need to look any further. For like His Word says "The truth shall set you free". I dont need to see God or detect Him to know He is there. Faith in Him is ALL I need, and it works. Just like His Word says it will.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

[Doveaman]

Why should the heart accept what the mind rejects?

Because both are one and the same biblically speaking.