Negative Scientists Fear Aliens and Want us to evacuate Earth

[PsychoSarah]

Not purely.


Religion has little to do with it. Read the first half dozen lines of psalm 19. You don't have to have religion to be saved.

Depends on which verses you read. Most Christians I talk to on here think that belief is a prerequisite for a good afterlife. I have read the bible, and given that more verses suggest as much than contradict it, I view it as the most valid perspective for a Christian to have in regards to biblical interpretation.

Done be rash. If you believe you are free to infringe on others rights, you will be punished.
All justice systems engage beliefs as motive.

since when have I expressed a desire to infringe upon rights? In case you are playing with semantics, I am speaking of religious-like belief when using the word belief. Also, beliefs are only relevant in court if they could be a source of motive. The fact that I am an atheist would not be considered relevant to mention if I was on trial for theft.

Don't worry about it. It isn't as important what the mind is able to articulate as it is to love your neighbor as yourself. That is the second greatest commandment. If you can do that well, I am sure you can be forgiven for breaking the first of those two: love God. [\QUOTE]

Pretty sure the whole point of Christianity is forgiveness... through faith and, if you are Catholic, works. Not many denominations of Christianity actually state works as necessary to go to heaven, but most say belief is. The bible does too, but it contradicts itself several times on the topic.

Give yourself a little slack. Don't let perfect become the enemy of good. Look how you are here and how hard you are trying. I am impressed and confident you are further along than you realize. [\QUOTE]

Or I could be even more of a failure than my previous statements would imply. You don't know my life XD. Your attempt to make me feel better is mildly appreciated, moderately amusing, and entirely futile.

My sympathies.
I don't believe belief is a choice at all.
Intellectual confidence is not the same as spiritual conviction.
So I agree it is mostly an unconscious conviction that works it way to the surface in behavior.


My four years older brother committed suicide a few years after graduating from Harvard with a degree in Psychology. Not sure what he really believed, but no reason to ruin what life I have left by being anxious.
I'm trying to endure to the end. Life is a character building experience and we learn to temper our e expectations. Sometimes it feels like a test to see how much abuse you can take without becoming abusive. [\QUOTE]

No reason some people should be tested so much harsher than others. Also, what is the point of so many that die as infants from SIDS or known medical conditions? Most people respond as them being a test for their parents, but I think a good deity would find a way to test people without forcing another life to suffer and die as a lesson to another.

well, we really don't have much to go on as far as what death really is besides the cessation of life in the flesh. But if it is the end, then I am grateful for what of it I have had, and relieved that the bad parts are done and over with.

Good for you. However, I would argue that even a negative experience is better than none at all. I would rather go to hell, than cease to exist.

 

[TLK Valentine]

That was after the point of no return for Pharaoh. God was going to roll right over him, time was up for pussyfooting around the slaves would be freed come hell or high water!

After the point of no return, God was making it worse?

And doesn't the very existence of a "point of no return" render the entire concept of forgiveness meaningless?

 

[PsychoSarah]

No. There comes a time when after much patience and pleading that some folks are left to what they demand and want.

Except for me. My lack of belief is involuntary.

 

[Rick Otto]

QUOTE="PsychoSarah, post: 69241550, member: 345531"]Depends on which verses you read. Most Christians I talk to on here think that belief is a prerequisite for a good afterlife. I have read the bible, and given that more verses suggest as much than contradict it, I view it as the most valid perspective for a Christian to have in regards to biblical interpretation.

Fair enough. It also depends on how you read them.

since when have I expressed a desire to infringe upon rights?

Never that I know of. It wasn't an accusation, I should have used another pronoun. I did not mean to accuse. Please forgive my poor wording. I'm not just saying that to be polite. I would really appreciate your forgiveness. I don't get much of it in my life, and I sincerely did not mean to accuse you.

In case you are playing with semantics, I am speaking of religious-like belief when using the word belief. Also, beliefs are only relevant in court if they could be a source of motive. The fact that I am an atheist would not be considered relevant to mention if I was on trial for theft.

Ok. I'm not interested in bullying you.

 

[dad]

After the point of no return, God was making it worse?E]

For who? Once we flush it gets better for all in the area. The slaves had it better they were free. God had it better, one less stinker. Win/win.

And doesn't the very existence of a "point of no return" render the entire concept of forgiveness meaningless?

No. There was forgiveness available in spades for the years before that. There does come a point of no return though. Choose well. Fear God and live.

 

[dad]

Except for me. My lack of belief is involuntary.

Hopefully you have not reached the point of no return. He helps unbelief if we want and ask Him to.

 

[Extraneous]

You can never go too far that God wont forgive. The key is seeking forgiveness.

 

[PsychoSarah]

You can never go too far that God wont forgive. The key is seeking forgiveness.

Seeking forgiveness is different from seeking belief. I can ask for forgiveness without believing something exists.

 

[Extraneous]

Seeking forgiveness is different from seeking belief. I can ask for forgiveness without believing something exists.

Only God can show the Love we need.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Only God can show the Love we need.

How would you know that for sure? Plenty of the atheists I have spoken to that were former believers do not suffer from any mental anguish for not having faith anymore.

If you have never been without faith yourself, you have no reference for knowing how much you need it, or if you do at all.

Also, I would be happy if god showed me some emotion, even a negative one. some sign of being present would be nice.

 

[PsychoSarah]

True, and will move in to live here forever one day. There are also untold numbers of angels and spirits He created. Any ugly green big headed aliens would likely be fallen angels...and they will only have a short term temporary visa here!

-_- is it so inconceivable that the deity you worship could have put life on other planets, and felt that it wasn't relevant to mention in the holy book?

 

[Extraneous]

How would you know that for sure? Plenty of the atheists I have spoken to that were former believers do not suffer from any mental anguish for not having faith anymore.

If you have never been without faith yourself, you have no reference for knowing how much you need it, or if you do at all.

Also, I would be happy if god showed me some emotion, even a negative one. some sign of being present would be nice.

Seek and you wil find. You must seek for those things though. Don't expect to hear Gods voice praise or rebuke you. Look in the heart, that's where he speaks. This isnt a pretty way of talking about faith. Its actually a journey into our soul, its often not pretty at all.

I have been at the bottom, waiting for God and nothing happens. I also have seen it happen. I have seen Gods love, i know its real. I refer to seeing it because feelings come and go, but this leaves a lasting impression. You see it through experiencing it. Its an experience, not an emotion.

Gods strength is found in our weakness. Faith takes us through many different situations. This is to prove faith. Its not the watered down gospel we may hear about and follow, but its the real deal. Its not for half hearted seekers, but is reserved for the pure heart. Only serious seekers need apply. That's the purpose of faith, to purify our heart. In the end faith proves itself, if you are willing to experience growing pains.

 

[The Cadet]

Ex 8: 32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.

Yes continue to show you miss the point and don't care. The point is...for lurkers who can pay attention...that God allows us to chose. Then after many wrong choices and hardening our hearts He may get to the next stage with some of us. That stage is sealing the deal, and taking away further choices. He did not do that first or for no reason. Pharaoh hardened his own heart first and probably many many times over many years.

But God hardens pharaoh's heart multiple times both before and after this reference in 8:32.

 

[TLK Valentine]

For who? Once we flush it gets better for all in the area. The slaves had it better they were free. God had it better, one less stinker. Win/win.
No. There was forgiveness available in spades for the years before that. There does come a point of no return though. Choose well. Fear God and live.

God has limits. Got it.

 

[dad]

-_- is it so inconceivable that the deity you worship could have put life on other planets, and felt that it wasn't relevant to mention in the holy book?

Yes. The so called planets around stars out there will not exist soon anymore. They are all going bye bye. Why would God create life there? I would think that this is a deception and belief based look at the universe from science and their philosophy and world outlook which goes something like this 'there is no God, no creation, no intelligent order and design, and we are a meaningless little speck in the universe'

The reality is that we were here before the stars and sun, and that God Almighty is moving here to this earth that will be remade forever.

 

[dad]

God has limits. Got it.

For wicked men who think they can do anything they want without limit...yes.

 

[dad]

But God hardens pharaoh's heart multiple times both before and after this reference in 8:32.

Same principle. All we have a a little slice of the big picture, and the principles God uses are found in Scripture for such wicked men. When men over time refuse the love of the truth, and persist in their wicked ways, God lowers the boom. He lets them go into strong delusion, which can be called hardening their hearts. That is not until they have chosen freely...usually over and over. This is a big world with others, besides those real wicked men in it. The slaves were no doubt happy God finally lowered the boom on evil Pharaoh. Their big question was probably why did it take so long!?

 

[dad]

How would you know that for sure? Plenty of the atheists I have spoken to that were former believers do not suffer from any mental anguish for not having faith anymore..

The problem is that God wants us to have real faith. People who played church for some years and later decided to get real did not necessarily have faith in a real Jesus. If they did, He knows and is working on them...here, and I guess in the next life. Love is real, not a game.

 

[The Cadet]

The slaves were no doubt happy God finally lowered the boom on evil Pharaoh.

I kinda doubt it. Context, dad. God didn't "lower the boom" on Pharaoh in the sense that he immediately put a stop to Pharaoh's evil, he prevented Pharaoh from letting them go. Even if Pharaoh had hardened his own heart, God had no business ensuring that it kept happening. That didn't help anyone. Not the slaves, not the egyptians, not Pharaoh. :/

 

[TLK Valentine]

For wicked men who think they can do anything they want without limit...yes.

So God doesn't forgive all His children... a select few get forgiveness "seventy times seven" times... but it's one strike and we're out for the rest of us.