For the sake of argument, let's say God exists

[Doveaman]

I see. All-loving God means a god that loves everything. In this case it means He loves "poverty".

Now it makes sense to me. Why we have evil? Because God is all-loving. He loves evil.

Do you even know what "evil" is, can you define it?

If you can, please explain!

 

[CaliforniaSun]

Do you even know what "evil" is, can you define it?

If you can, please explain!

As a Christian, you should have a fundamental understanding of Biblical evil, at the least.

For starters:

YouTube - XTC-Dear God

 

[Hespera]

Ya know, you might be ignorantly on to something here.

"I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." - Isa 45:7.

Without evil and people rushing to God in desperation our brains will just burn out from the stresses of life.

Thank God for evil.

Wow you make christians sound like they are people with fragile minds!

My brain aint about to burn out, and Im not desperate.

For what its worth, a person who didnt brow up in Hong Kong may not actually know what stress is!

As for "thank god for evil". that is an even bigger wow.

 

[Doveaman]

If you're going to resort to courtroom tactics, then you should be aware that the entire Bible would be rejected in court as hearsay, since not a single author was actually a witness to the things they wrote about.

You mean like you are not a witness to the things you are writing about?

 

[Inan3]

Yes.

Let me see them I shall not believe unless I see them in my hands and with my own eyes.

 

[Inan3]

Wow you make christians sound like they are people with fragile minds!

My brain aint about to burn out, and Im not desperate.

For what its worth, a person who didnt brow up in Hong Kong may not actually know what stress is!

As for "thank god for evil". that is an even bigger wow.

Christians are some of the strongest people there are. I've heard many Chinese Christian testimonies of people who did "brow" up in Hong Kong who had more stress than you ever did. You were desperate enough to leave Hong Kong though weren't you? Why didn't you stay there and "tough" it out if you're so strong. Hespera you really have an overly high opinion of yourself. You are all talk, though.

 

[Doveaman]

As for science books, throw out whatever you want. Science makes no spiritual or supernatural claims.

But the claims made are based on "facts", are they not?

Science eventually converges on the most likely conclusion.

Oh, yeah, I forgot, science never really know for sure, even though they are staring directly at the "facts" with their eyes wide open.

 

[Inan3]

I think you might need to do a little more research. But it's nice to see the first chinks of doubt about the veracity of authorship creeping in. And given that those chinks come from hardcore christian websites you can imagine what more objective research will do. But you've made the first step towards a more critical approach to the bible, which is the main thing. (You're in for quite a few surprises... edit:and it looks like californiasun has started springing some of those surprises)

Tomatoman, You have no idea what you are talking about. Typical atheistic rhetoric, though, right out of the manual. On one side you accuse Christians of never admitting they are wrong and then on the other side when they do you almost pee your pants thinking they are coming over to the dark side. I make mistakes all the time and it isnt' because I have doubts that I admit them.

 

[Inan3]

As they say regarding seminary, 'no one comes through with their faith intact.'

CS, oh please I have been up against bigger and better atheists since I have been on this forum than you and Tomato boy and it hasn't staggered my faith one bit. It has only confirmed and strengthened it. I think you have spent too much time in the California Sun.

 

[Hespera]

Christians are some of the strongest people there are. I've heard many Chinese Christian testimonies of people who did "brow" up in Hong Kong who had more stress than you ever did. You were desperate enough to leave Hong Kong though weren't you? Why didn't you stay there and "tough" it out if you're so strong. Hespera you really have an overly high opinion of yourself. You are all talk, though.

First off, that post was not addressed to you but to the person who made it sound as if people have to seek god because they cant handle life.

i suppose some are that feeble, but sure, some christians are strong people, and i never implied otherwise.

"brow". cool, you find a typo! never pass one up.

As for why Im not in HK it wasnt my choice to leave, i wasnt an age to make that choice. And i didnt say "Im so strong". You just put that in to be snarky.

Speaking of all talk, why did you say you wanted to be friends if you are going to turn around and look for excuses to be nasty?

You are the uneducated one, so you are projecting that I am the one who is all talk.

 

[Upisoft]

Do you even know what "evil" is, can you define it?

If you can, please explain!

Evil is what is not good by someone's moral rules. Thus it is relative. There is no absolute definition of "evil".

 

[Hespera]

But the claims made are based on "facts", are they not?
Oh, yeah, I forgot, science never really know for sure, even though they are staring directly at the "facts" with their eyes wide open.

you can stare at the fact that there never was a flood, with your eyes wide shut and never see a thing. And take pride in it.

 

[Tomatoman]

Tomatoman, You have no idea what you are talking about. Typical atheistic rhetoric, though, right out of the manual. On one side you accuse Christians of never admitting they are wrong and then on the other side when they do you almost pee your pants thinking they are coming over to the dark side. I make mistakes all the time and it isnt' because I have doubts that I admit them.

Was this addressed to me? It just seems to be random babble. (I accuse? What?...Dark side? What?)

I can't quite see what your post has to do with my encouraging your first tentative steps towards learning something about the history of the gospels, but now that you've got whatever it was that you wanted say off your chest, I hope you look into the history a little more deeply. It's interesting stuff.

 

[Doveaman]

not a single author was actually a witness to the things they wrote about.

Anyone who reads the Bible and comes to that conclusion are just as the very same Bible predicts: callous-hearted.

"Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand...For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes." - Matt 13:13-15.

How can anyone in their right mind ignore such a book that makes such accurate predictions all the time?

 

[Doveaman]

Does anyone really think the One True God /Faith would lead people away form understanding the physical reality of their world?

That is what the god of he creationists does for them.

How does that apply to me?

I believe the universe is old and I believe in evolution, but I'm a proud creationist.

 

[Doveaman]

Evil is what is not good by someone's moral rules. Thus it is relative. There is no absolute definition of "evil".

So why are you bothered if God loves evil, His definition may be different to yours?

 

[Hespera]

How does that apply to me?

I believe the universe is old and I believe in evolution, but I'm a proud creationist.

i have noticed there are as many versions of creationism as there are creationists.

You'd have to explain how you can be a creationist and recognize an old universe, and the reality of evolution.

Does anyone really think the One True God /Faith would lead people away form understanding the physical reality of their world.

l

It applies if whatever you worship acts to blind you to understanding what is around you.

 

[Doveaman]

As a Christian, you should have a fundamental understanding of Biblical evil, at the least.

I do. Do you?

For starters:

*snip*

That's your definition, not the Bible's. Try again.

 

[Doveaman]

i have noticed there are as many versions of creationism as there are creationists.

Then you should stop lumping us all together.

You'd have to explain how you can be a creationist and recognize an old universe, and the reality of evolution.

I believe God "created" that old universe and He also "created" the reality of evolution, therefore I am a creationist.

It applies if whatever you worship acts to blind you to understanding what is around you.

Well then it does not apply to me.

 

[Hespera]

Then you should stop lumping us all together.
I believe God "created" that old universe and He also "created" the reality of evolution, therefore I am a creationist.
Well then it does not apply to me.

i dont know that I "lump" other than to use the umbrella term "creationist' but if I do, i will try to avoid it.

i think its as possible as the next thing, that there is a god who set things going.

is this somehow a convergence of views?

say something i can argue with!