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As I said: "like any other religion". The behaviour is quite common, though Christianity is the only group that I am aware of that deliberately tries to conceal it.Interesting view. Do you think this is a necessary result of being Christian, or just a common one?
As I understand, you have met a group of "missionaries" who converse with you about your and their faith, explain their view, give you their answers to your questions... "educate" you.Sorry, this question doesn't make sense to me, but I will take am stab at it. If you are asking whether I should have expected any different than what I have, then no, I see my understanding of the words in these materials to be totally the result of what those words have been used to mean to me, as consistent patterns in my past. If you are asking if I am able to break that understanding and apply new meanings to the same words and phrases I an misunderstanding, yes I do think that is possible, but I will need educating accordingly. I expect these missionaries have used these words because they appeal naturally to those who accept substitutionary atonement doctrines. Most Christians are of that persuasion.
I fear we will not be able to do that. It is part of the basic difference between our two positions.OK, let's come back to that once we have agreed to a definition of sin.
See, here we are already in the midst of the disagreement. What is "a problem"? When does you desire (of fruit) cause a problem? What are the relevant rules?I do not agree with this. The reason I do not agree with it, is because sin is not a constant problem, but it is only a problem that occurs at times. Just as desiring fruit. If for some reason you found that desiring fruit was a problem, and sometimes you desired fruit, then your desire for fruit is a problem. You might not desire fruit right now, but you have in the past, and there is no real guarantee that you will not again desire fruit.
Well... yes. You do have a point here: there are people lying about their behaviour. These people, even in my understanding, "sin".Not necessarily. It sure is a common tactic for some people. In fact, I believe everyone does this to some extent sometimes. Eg, speeding when they know a police is not watching, yet when they see police, they will be honest about their speed. Because people calculate that the truth can be concealed, if the truth is not convenient to them, they can conveniently choose to conceal the truth, knowing they cannot be proven to be lying. I know it happens, so it definitely is not a cop-out. It is a serious possibility to be investigated.
So let's investigate!You have added a judgment to this that is not necessary, and it seems to indicate this probably is what you feel could be the right idea to investigate.
I disagree. You still assert that you can evaluate the efficiency of the test based on the outcome, nothing else. Your example does not show that, for the reasons I provided. You could be starting with the wrong testobject. You could be using the wrong test procedure.You have not shown that it is a false example. You have shown that you are not following instructions properly, by using faulty equipment in your test.
You have already discarded "reasonable doubt" at the very beginning of your test. Any result you will get will meet your expectations... because you have set your expectations accordingly.Yes. But it would produce proof beyond reasonable doubt, which you might have not had before performing the test.
As Christianity is designed to placate the unruly masses?No, you need to stop using fallacies and use convincing arguments. IPU is designed to be a straw man.
“He who turns away his ear from hearing the divine law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.”
You rely on quotes a lot.
Have any evidence to actually support this?
"The unselfish glories of Paradise are not possible of reception by a thoroughly selfish creature of the realms of time and space. Even the infinite love of God cannot force the salvation of eternal survival upon any mortal creature who does not choose to survive. Mercy has great latitude of bestowal, but, after all, there are mandates of justice which even love combined with mercy cannot effectively abrogate. Again Jesus quoted from the Hebrew scriptures: “I have called and you refused to hear; I stretched out my hand, but no man regarded. You have set at naught all my counsel, and you have rejected my reproof, and because of this rebellious attitude it becomes inevitable that you shall call upon me and fail to receive an answer. Having rejected the way of life, you may seek me diligently in your times of suffering, but you will not find me.”
He means that belief is not a deliberate choice. We don't choose to be convinced or not convinced; we either are or we aren't. We can choose to investigate. We can choose to examine the evidence or we can even choose to ignore it. But we cannot choose to be convinced of something that we aren't convinced of.
Can you choose to believe right now that there is a pink unicorn in your bedroom?Oh I do disagree about the matter of "choice." I think any/all beliefs (whether christian or not) are a matter of choice. I do agree we must research, study and investigate. That process should be for any issue.
Oh I do disagree about the matter of "choice." I think any/all beliefs (whether christian or not) are a matter of choice. I do agree we must research, study and investigate. That process should be for any issue.
Can you choose to believe right now that there is a pink unicorn in your bedroom?
I don't know what your favorite color is, but could you make a choice today, to disregard your favorite color and pick another one and now have this be your "true" favorite color?
If a person grows up in a certain city and is an ardent sports fan of that cities teams, could they today simply choose to become a true fan of their arch rival cities team and have that be an honest choice?
You see, such things as belief in God and our overall philosophies, are deeply routed in our personal psyche and there are many variables that come into play in how they are formed. Many of those variables are not conscious choices and we simply can not change them on a dime by choice, without playing mind games with ourself.
Are you able to choose, at any given moment, to sincerely believe that there is a pink unicorn in your bedroom? Are you able to choose to believe this even after going into your bedroom and finding that there is no unicorn there?I have a choice which can be followed up with my visual acuity and my brain as to whether or not there is a pink unicorn in my bedroom. Actually, I'd love to see one. lol
So you could, at this very moment, choose to believe in a different god or no god at all? Your beliefs are totally at the mercy of your will?Like I said choice is a matter after one researches, studies, and then makes a conscience decision. I love the color of blue but then again, if I were to subjected to another color that "dazzles" me, I can make another "choice." The belief in God is a choice. Yes, how we are brought up and our environment may be a strong influence but all of us reach a certain age/time in our lives where we use all the resources within our reach to make a choice.
Naw, you are just a common troll, a thread pest, not a serious person.
I'm making an assertive claim that there is no evidence supporting the God you preach exists. If you consider that an active "lack of belief," ok then.
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