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I disagree with your approach, Heissonear. You strongly imply that the only saved persons are those who think the way you do. That's arrogant. In solid theological discussions, you should work to fault your opponents position by providing solid rational rebuttals, and definitely not by casting dispersion on their character as lost souls, unsaved, etc .
Unfortunately, for too many people, that's the appeal of religion in the first place -- the chance to divide people into "us" and "them," with whatever rationale it takes to consider "them" inferior, thus justifying the sort of behaviors the ones in the "us" group wanted to do anyway.
I can understand you thinking that way, but that's not the case with the Gospel. The Gospel teaches that all people are guilty and no one has a right to think highly of themselves. It promotes humility not pride. It also promotes love for all people, not just its own kind. Sure, we have a lot of hypocrites but we are no different than others in that way, even atheists have hypocrites, except we are a work in progress and we grow in time to see our own hypocrisy and selfishness. Im telling you the truth, when Christ gets into a persons heart it changes them for the better.
As opposed to all of us being "animals" -- right?Unfortunately, for too many people, that's the appeal of religion in the first place -- the chance to divide people into "us" and "them," with whatever rationale it takes to consider "them" inferior, thus justifying the sort of behaviors the ones in the "us" group wanted to do anyway.
As opposed to all of us being "animals" -- right?
That's all well and adorable, but there are plenty of people on this board and elsewhere -- including the OP himself -- who have used the Gospel for precisely that purpose. So this isn't just my thinking, it's my experience.
A tool (such as the Gospel) is morally neutral; no better nor worse than the person who wields it -- and what they wield it for.
That is true of religion, and non religion as well, i agree. a person can misuse or misapply the Gospel, or anything else. However, in my experience its more than just a tool for people who use it correctly. Its the real word/spirit of the one true God and creator of mankind. I know you don't believe that and that's ok, but i had to share my personal experience just as you did yours
I can't argue that.Well, we're certainly not plants or fungi, amirite?
I can't argue that.
You mean like having a soul and a spirit -- making us a gestalt?If you want to discuss what differentiates us from other animals, we'd have to get more specific.
You mean like having a soul and a spirit -- making us a gestalt?
Not without documentation I can't.Well, if that's what makes us different, you'd first have to show that no other creature has a soul or spirit...
Not without documentation I can't.
Like mankind having a body, soul and spirit; but not animals?Then you have a problem... any clod can write "documentation," but the trick is documenting something based on what can be shown, demonstrated, and/or proven.
I personally think that if people have those things, chances are animals do too.Like mankind having a body, soul and spirit; but not animals?
I'm not willing to take that chance.I personally think that if people have those things, chances are animals do too.
Like mankind having a body, soul and spirit; but not animals?
It just makes logical sense to me, that if people do, animals would as well. Especially ones with brains. Since any viable view of the soul I consider relates it to the physical mind in some way, it seems practical that the nature of animal souls would be different from humans, in the sense of how well they function or perhaps even how long they last, but that there would be similarities. Basically, the higher your brain function, the higher the soul function.I'm not willing to take that chance.
I think using the argument: "You can't prove animals don't have a soul and spirit" is nothing more than an armchair attempt to refute the argument that man and animals differ because man is a tripartite being.
TLK Valentine said: ↑
Unfortunately, for too many people, that's the appeal of religion in the first place -- the chance to divide people into "us" and "them," with whatever rationale it takes to consider "them" inferior, thus justifying the sort of behaviors the ones in the "us" group wanted to do anyway.
As opposed to all of us being "animals" -- right?
Well, we're certainly not plants or fungi, amirite?
I can't argue that.
And I think we can agree that we're not bacteria, so at least on a "kingdom" level of classification, we are, indeed, animals.
If you want to discuss what differentiates us from other animals, we'd have to get more specific.
You mean like having a soul and a spirit -- making us a gestalt?
Well, if that's what makes us different, you'd first have to show that no other creature has a soul or spirit... best of luck with that.
Not without documentation I can't.
Then you have a problem... any clod can write "documentation," but the trick is documenting something based on what can be shown, demonstrated, and/or proven.
Isn't spirit essentially the same as "breath"?Like mankind having a body, soul and spirit; but not animals?
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