God is "an evil, capricious, monstrous maniac"
#152
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As a Christian I've come to reason that God is sovereign and as such He will judge who will and who will not join Him in The Kingdom. I accept that there are bad Christians and good non-Christians and I further accept that this presents an ethical question: where's the justice? James says this:
2:14-26
"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
So James says that one's works are of co-import if not in conflict with the doctrine of sola fide (faith alone). I've yet to resolve my position on this. What isn't in dispute (Biblically) is that the atheist, irrespective of his or her works, will not enter the Kingdom. The unbeliever will go to hell. Again, what hell is can be discussed and discussed.
2:14-26
"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
So James says that one's works are of co-import if not in conflict with the doctrine of sola fide (faith alone). I've yet to resolve my position on this. What isn't in dispute (Biblically) is that the atheist, irrespective of his or her works, will not enter the Kingdom. The unbeliever will go to hell. Again, what hell is can be discussed and discussed.
As for the atheist going to hell, surely that discussion is purely academic as the atheist doesn't believe in the mechanations of the Devine creator.
#153
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"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God."
This clearly indicates and implies that faith alone is sufficient for salvation.
I think that James is saying that although we're saved initially through faith alone, the subsequent demonstration of that faith and salvation and justification will be through works. Note, James isn't talking about religiosity here or legalism, but, simply put, doing good stuff.
Yes, it's an interesting one. I stated earlier that hell could be considered as an eternal separation from God. That works for me as I believe that God is love and that it necessarily and logically follows that a person who's devoid of faith will be devoid of love after they've perished.
Last edited by JTaylor; 06 February 2015 at 08:10 PM.
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It does seem clear cut, doesn't it? I've struggled with that passage for some time! There are other passages such as Luke 18:10-14:
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God."
This clearly indicates and implies that faith alone is sufficient for salvation.
I think that James is saying that although we're saved initially through faith alone, the subsequent demonstration of that faith and salvation and justification will be through works. Note, James isn't talking about religiosity here or legalism, but, simply put, doing good stuff.
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God."
This clearly indicates and implies that faith alone is sufficient for salvation.
I think that James is saying that although we're saved initially through faith alone, the subsequent demonstration of that faith and salvation and justification will be through works. Note, James isn't talking about religiosity here or legalism, but, simply put, doing good stuff.
Yes, it's an interesting one. I stated earlier that hell could be considered as an eternal separation from God. That works for me as I believe that God is love and that it necessarily and logically follows that a person who's devoid of faith will be devoid of love after they've perished.
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Works are external, faith is internal. Faith first and the works will follow. Works without faith is insufficient for salvation, but faith without works is dead.
i have to say I've drawn an interesting parallel with this thought. To the best of my knowledge when I die, that's the end of my conscious existence. My body will ultimately return to nature and that will be that. I will how ever live on in the hearts and minds of those that I have known and influenced throughout my life. So to say I will be devoid of love after death is unjust (I hope) as those who held me dear in life will continue to hold me dear in death.
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Sure, I held that 'afterlife' notion for some time. Indeed, at my atheist father's funeral (and I was an atheist at the time) I talked about his 'spirit' living on in those whose lives he'd touched. Of course unless we are indelibly marked in the history books, that 'spirit' fades as the generations pass. Now I have faith that I will live on as part of the body of Christ (His church) and that that body will prove eternal.
#158
Surprises me that any one with more than a couple of brain cells to rub together can believe in any made up gods. Man has created God in his own image and not the other way around.
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Sure, I held that 'afterlife' notion for some time. Indeed, at my atheist father's funeral (and I was an atheist at the time) I talked about his 'spirit' living on in those whose lives he'd touched. Of course unless we are indelibly marked in the history books, that 'spirit' fades as the generations pass. Now I have faith that I will live on as part of the body of Christ (His church) and that that body will prove eternal.
Now you accept evolution, so I expect you also accept pretty much all the other science, but somehow try to reconcile this with an almighty being, but that said, what's your opinion on this?
If God exists, he is bound by laws, as we are. Whereas some powers would appear as magic, they are still only powers within the boundaries of his existence. Saying he exists out of our realms isn't enough, it just moves the awkward questions back a step further.
Might I ask what made you go from atheism?
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Surprises me that anyone with more than a couple of brain cells to rub together feels the need to attack believers in such a manner. Such is life eh.
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These posts are always long about this sort of subject. I havnt read it all, But God [love and intelligence] must be there by default otherwise how did the universe create its self? The big bang theory falls down for many reasons, how and why? for a start. I submit that the universe has been around for ever, as in, time started when the universe was created and not before because time is relative and if there is nothing then there can be no time. Therefore time is finite. And 'nothing' is the only 'thing' that can go on to infinity, it has no size, and is neither small nor large. God is, if we are to believe the bible spirit, spirit of love essence if you like? and spirits can exist without causality.
So i think of the finite universe floating in nothing, and it only has size relative to itself. The universe must have been created by an intelligence, it didnt appear by chance out of nothing, any reasonable person must concede that? God made us in his own image, but not in the way we look, but in free will and the ability to love and know right from wrong.
Lol, here endeth the lesson, according to Nick James.!
So i think of the finite universe floating in nothing, and it only has size relative to itself. The universe must have been created by an intelligence, it didnt appear by chance out of nothing, any reasonable person must concede that? God made us in his own image, but not in the way we look, but in free will and the ability to love and know right from wrong.
Lol, here endeth the lesson, according to Nick James.!
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First, apologies for dicing this up so finely. I felt that there was some straw that needed plucking out.
Ok.
Must be? I think we must first define what a 'soul' is.
Straw. Sorry.
Correct.
Incorrect. He's unbounded.
See above.
It doesn't.
Of course. In work at the moment so I'll post a bit later on it.
Must be? I think we must first define what a 'soul' is.
Straw. Sorry.
Incorrect. He's unbounded.
Of course. In work at the moment so I'll post a bit later on it.
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These posts are always long about this sort of subject. I havnt read it all, But God [love and intelligence] must be there by default otherwise how did the universe create its self? The big bang theory falls down for many reasons, how and why? for a start. I submit that the universe has been around for ever, as in, time started when the universe was created and not before because time is relative and if there is nothing then there can be no time. Therefore time is finite. And 'nothing' is the only 'thing' that can go on to infinity, it has no size, and is neither small nor large. God is, if we are to believe the bible spirit, spirit of love essence if you like? and spirits can exist without causality.
So i think of the finite universe floating in nothing, and it only has size relative to itself. The universe must have been created by an intelligence, it didnt appear by chance out of nothing, any reasonable person must concede that? God made us in his own image, but not in the way we look, but in free will and the ability to love and know right from wrong.
Lol, here endeth the lesson, according to Nick James.!
So i think of the finite universe floating in nothing, and it only has size relative to itself. The universe must have been created by an intelligence, it didnt appear by chance out of nothing, any reasonable person must concede that? God made us in his own image, but not in the way we look, but in free will and the ability to love and know right from wrong.
Lol, here endeth the lesson, according to Nick James.!
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Not sure if your serious? Then where did the aliens come from? What ever people believe you always get back to a beginning, once we understand that [if ever] then we can build on it. Because if you think about it, what we believe about our creation changes the whole way we think about every thing. Ultimately there can only be one truth!
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And just a point on Nicks comments, iirc the existance of 'nothing' is basically rendered impossible by quantum physics.
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I think the quantum physics your talking about refers to space in the universe not out side of it. Ultimately 'nothing' is the only 'thing' that can be infinite. But hey! its all just theory, when we get to discussing this sort of thing our logic is very flawed, because we dont have enough info to always ask the correct questions.
#169
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These posts are always long about this sort of subject. I havnt read it all, But God [love and intelligence] must be there by default otherwise how did the universe create its self? The big bang theory falls down for many reasons, how and why? for a start. I submit that the universe has been around for ever, as in, time started when the universe was created and not before because time is relative and if there is nothing then there can be no time. Therefore time is finite. And 'nothing' is the only 'thing' that can go on to infinity, it has no size, and is neither small nor large. God is, if we are to believe the bible spirit, spirit of love essence if you like? and spirits can exist without causality.
So i think of the finite universe floating in nothing, and it only has size relative to itself. The universe must have been created by an intelligence, it didnt appear by chance out of nothing, any reasonable person must concede that? God made us in his own image, but not in the way we look, but in free will and the ability to love and know right from wrong.
Lol, here endeth the lesson, according to Nick James.!
So i think of the finite universe floating in nothing, and it only has size relative to itself. The universe must have been created by an intelligence, it didnt appear by chance out of nothing, any reasonable person must concede that? God made us in his own image, but not in the way we look, but in free will and the ability to love and know right from wrong.
Lol, here endeth the lesson, according to Nick James.!
My theory is much simpler, condensation, night and day, cold and heat, the same way living organisms are created today, then those organisms evolved over millenia. simples.
#170
God is ever-present, ever-living, never was born and never will die. He came from nowhere, and he goes nowhere. He's present everywhere. All you have to do is look carefully. But you don't have to do that, if you don't want to. Free country.
Last edited by Turbohot; 07 February 2015 at 07:20 PM.
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I was brought-up in a household that was nominally Christian. As I said earlier, my father, who was an intelligent man, was a strong atheist although he was ethically and morally Christian. My mother was and is a Christian. She has a believer's heart, but struggles with some of the deeper ideas - the Big Bang, infinite regress, vicarious redemption and so forth are alien to her. Her faith is simple and childlike.
I didn't attend a faith based primary school, but we did say the Lord's Prayer everyday and we acted out the nativity and I can distinctly remember being told that God created the world when I started asking the big questions. With that as a backdrop, as well as attending cubs, Sunday school and living in a very white, middle-class and culturally Christian area, it's fair to say that I was socialised into Christianity of sorts.
This all changed as I entered adolescence. I distinctly recall being sat in the physics classroom at an all-boy grammar school in Plymouth. We were being taught the truth: the universe is 13.8 billion years old; the earth is 4.5 billion years old. Then in to biology: Darwinism; humans have been around for 100-200 thousand years. In to R.E. and a plethora of other faiths were explored which brought with it the crushing realisation that culture and belief is relative. I stopped saying the Lord's Prayer in assembly and thought that believers were ignorant. School didn't teach theistic evolution - one was either a young earth creationist or an atheist. This of course proved to be a false dichotomy.
About a decade of general debauchery ensued. I led an amoral life centred around me, money, sex, drugs, cars and rock and roll. But it wasn't enough. No amount of coke, track-days and all night sessions could sate my appetite - there was a massive void that I just couldn't fill. I went back to uni' to study for a politics and sociology degree thinking that the answer lay there. It didn't. I turned to Buddhism for a fleeting moment, but it proved unsatisfactory. I adopted various philosophies: nihilism and Stoicism and integral theory...I wanted structure and was looking for a antidote to the gross materialism that surrounded me.
I eventually met my current partner and she calmed me down significantly. I was offered a job in Wales and took the opportunity. A succession of promotions came my way and the money was rolling in. By this time I was in to visualisation and the law of attraction. I became interested in the ancient mystery religions and even became a Freemason. All the boxes were ticked and yet there was still this sehnsucht.
By this time I had developed a theistic outlook of sorts. Technically, it's known as deism. I'd been struggling with the notion of infinite regress for some time, no amount of Dawkins, Hawking, Hitchens or Harris could resolve the issue. Additionally, I couldn't know the impersonal God of deism. Pandeism, then? Surely knowing God through nature was the answer. It wasn't. Eventually I looked inward and didn't like what I saw! Some posters will recall the thread on altruism and it was around that time I began to despair at what I saw as a selfish world full of greed and materialism.
I needed somebody I could trust and call a brother, somebody who was selfless. I asked the NSR crowd who their role models were. I was still searching.
When I was 35 I went to South Africa and had a deeply numinous experience as I looked-up at the Southern Cross and saw two shooting stars flash across the sky. I'd just witnessed the most awesome sunset and saw beautiful creatures in their own spectacular setting. I was on my knees, confronted by the overwhelming sense that I was home.
Within a month I'd stepped down from a senior management position and moved in to a much more relaxed job. I also enrolled at Cardiff Uni' on a philosophy course. It was here that I realised I was now a full blown theist. I'd also come to realise that the only way to truly know God was through Jesus Christ. I went home one evening around Christmas, got down on my knees and asked Christ to come in to my life. After a period of contrition and deep repentance I began to attend my local baptist church. The first conversation I had with the pastor (who's since become a good friend) was "Hitchens was wrong". That was nearly four years ago now and I genuinely haven't looked back.
I didn't attend a faith based primary school, but we did say the Lord's Prayer everyday and we acted out the nativity and I can distinctly remember being told that God created the world when I started asking the big questions. With that as a backdrop, as well as attending cubs, Sunday school and living in a very white, middle-class and culturally Christian area, it's fair to say that I was socialised into Christianity of sorts.
This all changed as I entered adolescence. I distinctly recall being sat in the physics classroom at an all-boy grammar school in Plymouth. We were being taught the truth: the universe is 13.8 billion years old; the earth is 4.5 billion years old. Then in to biology: Darwinism; humans have been around for 100-200 thousand years. In to R.E. and a plethora of other faiths were explored which brought with it the crushing realisation that culture and belief is relative. I stopped saying the Lord's Prayer in assembly and thought that believers were ignorant. School didn't teach theistic evolution - one was either a young earth creationist or an atheist. This of course proved to be a false dichotomy.
About a decade of general debauchery ensued. I led an amoral life centred around me, money, sex, drugs, cars and rock and roll. But it wasn't enough. No amount of coke, track-days and all night sessions could sate my appetite - there was a massive void that I just couldn't fill. I went back to uni' to study for a politics and sociology degree thinking that the answer lay there. It didn't. I turned to Buddhism for a fleeting moment, but it proved unsatisfactory. I adopted various philosophies: nihilism and Stoicism and integral theory...I wanted structure and was looking for a antidote to the gross materialism that surrounded me.
I eventually met my current partner and she calmed me down significantly. I was offered a job in Wales and took the opportunity. A succession of promotions came my way and the money was rolling in. By this time I was in to visualisation and the law of attraction. I became interested in the ancient mystery religions and even became a Freemason. All the boxes were ticked and yet there was still this sehnsucht.
By this time I had developed a theistic outlook of sorts. Technically, it's known as deism. I'd been struggling with the notion of infinite regress for some time, no amount of Dawkins, Hawking, Hitchens or Harris could resolve the issue. Additionally, I couldn't know the impersonal God of deism. Pandeism, then? Surely knowing God through nature was the answer. It wasn't. Eventually I looked inward and didn't like what I saw! Some posters will recall the thread on altruism and it was around that time I began to despair at what I saw as a selfish world full of greed and materialism.
I needed somebody I could trust and call a brother, somebody who was selfless. I asked the NSR crowd who their role models were. I was still searching.
When I was 35 I went to South Africa and had a deeply numinous experience as I looked-up at the Southern Cross and saw two shooting stars flash across the sky. I'd just witnessed the most awesome sunset and saw beautiful creatures in their own spectacular setting. I was on my knees, confronted by the overwhelming sense that I was home.
Within a month I'd stepped down from a senior management position and moved in to a much more relaxed job. I also enrolled at Cardiff Uni' on a philosophy course. It was here that I realised I was now a full blown theist. I'd also come to realise that the only way to truly know God was through Jesus Christ. I went home one evening around Christmas, got down on my knees and asked Christ to come in to my life. After a period of contrition and deep repentance I began to attend my local baptist church. The first conversation I had with the pastor (who's since become a good friend) was "Hitchens was wrong". That was nearly four years ago now and I genuinely haven't looked back.
Last edited by JTaylor; 08 February 2015 at 01:17 PM.
#176
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I was brought-up in a household that was nominally Christian. As I said earlier, my father, who was an intelligent man, was a strong atheist although he was ethically and morally Christian. My mother was and is a Christian. She has a believer's heart, but struggles with some of the deeper ideas - the Big Bang, infinite regress, vicarious redemption and so forth are alien to her. Her faith is simple and childlike.
I didn't attend a faith based primary school, but we did say the Lord's Prayer everyday and we acted out the nativity and I can distinctly remember being told that God created the world when I started asking the big questions. With that as a backdrop, as well as attending cubs, Sunday school and living in a very white, middle-class and culturally Christian area, it's fair to say that I was socialised into Christianity of sorts.
This all changed as I entered adolescence. I distinctly recall being sat in the physics classroom at an all-boy grammar school in Plymouth. We were being taught the truth: the universe is 13.8 billion years old; the earth is 4.5 billion years old. Then in to biology: Darwinism; humans have been around for 100-200 thousand years. In to R.E. and a plethora of other faiths were explored which brought with it the crushing realisation that culture and belief is relative. I stopped saying the Lord's Prayer in assembly and thought that believers were ignorant. School didn't teach theistic evolution - one was either a young earth creationist or an atheist. This of course proved to be a false dichotomy.
About a decade of general debauchery ensued. I led an amoral life centred around me, money, sex, drugs, cars and rock and roll. But it wasn't enough. No amount of coke, track-days and all night sessions could sate my appetite - there was a massive void that I just couldn't fill. I went back to uni' to study for a politics and sociology degree thinking that the answer lay there. It didn't. I turned to Buddhism for a fleeting moment, but it proved unsatisfactory. I adopted various philosophies: nihilism and Stoicism and integral theory...I wanted structure and was looking for a antidote to the gross materialism that surrounded me.
I eventually met my current partner and she calmed me down significantly. I was offered a job in Wales and took the opportunity. A succession of promotions came my way and the money was rolling in. By this time I was in to visualisation and the law of attraction. I became interested in the ancient mystery religions and even became a Freemason. All the boxes were ticked and yet there was still this sehnsucht.
By this time I had developed a theistic outlook of sorts. Technically, it's know as deism. I'd been struggling with the notion of infinite regress for some time, no amount of Dawkins, Hawkins, Hitchens or Harris could resolve the issue. Additionally, I couldn't know the impersonal God of deism. Pandeism, then? Surely knowing God through nature was the answer. It wasn't. Eventually I looked inward and didn't like what I saw! Some posters will recall the thread on altruism and it was around that time I began to despair at what I saw as a selfish world full of greed and materialism.
I needed somebody I could trust and call a brother, somebody who was selfless. I asked the NSR crowd who their role models were. I was still searching.
When I was 35 I went to South Africa and had a deeply numinous experience as I looked-up at the Southern Cross. I'd just witnessed the most awesome sunset and saw beautiful creatures in their own spectacular setting. I was on my knees, confronted by the I overwhelming sense that I was home.
Within a month I'd stepped down from a senior management position and moved in to a much more relaxed job. I also enrolled at Cardiff Uni' on a philosophy course. It was here that I realised I was now a full blown theist. I'd also come to realise that the only way to truly know God was through Jesus Christ. I went home one evening around Christmas, got down on my knees and asked Christ to come in to my life. After a period of contrition and deep repentance I began to attend my local baptist church. The first conversation I had with the pastor (who's since become a good friend) was "Hitchens was wrong". That was nearly four years ago now and I genuinely haven't looked back.
Anyway, this is the longest post I've written and I'm terrified it'll disappear. I'll probably edit it and modify it a bit as I read it back through. I know there are large chunks that I've missed and may well add these in a bit later.
I didn't attend a faith based primary school, but we did say the Lord's Prayer everyday and we acted out the nativity and I can distinctly remember being told that God created the world when I started asking the big questions. With that as a backdrop, as well as attending cubs, Sunday school and living in a very white, middle-class and culturally Christian area, it's fair to say that I was socialised into Christianity of sorts.
This all changed as I entered adolescence. I distinctly recall being sat in the physics classroom at an all-boy grammar school in Plymouth. We were being taught the truth: the universe is 13.8 billion years old; the earth is 4.5 billion years old. Then in to biology: Darwinism; humans have been around for 100-200 thousand years. In to R.E. and a plethora of other faiths were explored which brought with it the crushing realisation that culture and belief is relative. I stopped saying the Lord's Prayer in assembly and thought that believers were ignorant. School didn't teach theistic evolution - one was either a young earth creationist or an atheist. This of course proved to be a false dichotomy.
About a decade of general debauchery ensued. I led an amoral life centred around me, money, sex, drugs, cars and rock and roll. But it wasn't enough. No amount of coke, track-days and all night sessions could sate my appetite - there was a massive void that I just couldn't fill. I went back to uni' to study for a politics and sociology degree thinking that the answer lay there. It didn't. I turned to Buddhism for a fleeting moment, but it proved unsatisfactory. I adopted various philosophies: nihilism and Stoicism and integral theory...I wanted structure and was looking for a antidote to the gross materialism that surrounded me.
I eventually met my current partner and she calmed me down significantly. I was offered a job in Wales and took the opportunity. A succession of promotions came my way and the money was rolling in. By this time I was in to visualisation and the law of attraction. I became interested in the ancient mystery religions and even became a Freemason. All the boxes were ticked and yet there was still this sehnsucht.
By this time I had developed a theistic outlook of sorts. Technically, it's know as deism. I'd been struggling with the notion of infinite regress for some time, no amount of Dawkins, Hawkins, Hitchens or Harris could resolve the issue. Additionally, I couldn't know the impersonal God of deism. Pandeism, then? Surely knowing God through nature was the answer. It wasn't. Eventually I looked inward and didn't like what I saw! Some posters will recall the thread on altruism and it was around that time I began to despair at what I saw as a selfish world full of greed and materialism.
I needed somebody I could trust and call a brother, somebody who was selfless. I asked the NSR crowd who their role models were. I was still searching.
When I was 35 I went to South Africa and had a deeply numinous experience as I looked-up at the Southern Cross. I'd just witnessed the most awesome sunset and saw beautiful creatures in their own spectacular setting. I was on my knees, confronted by the I overwhelming sense that I was home.
Within a month I'd stepped down from a senior management position and moved in to a much more relaxed job. I also enrolled at Cardiff Uni' on a philosophy course. It was here that I realised I was now a full blown theist. I'd also come to realise that the only way to truly know God was through Jesus Christ. I went home one evening around Christmas, got down on my knees and asked Christ to come in to my life. After a period of contrition and deep repentance I began to attend my local baptist church. The first conversation I had with the pastor (who's since become a good friend) was "Hitchens was wrong". That was nearly four years ago now and I genuinely haven't looked back.
Anyway, this is the longest post I've written and I'm terrified it'll disappear. I'll probably edit it and modify it a bit as I read it back through. I know there are large chunks that I've missed and may well add these in a bit later.
I was right though when I suspected you were always looking for an answer that wasn't forthcoming.
#178
Scooby Regular
Some journey James, some journey. I've been present in parts in this journey and although I've often been dismissive of some of your positions, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested.
I was right though when I suspected you were always looking for an answer that wasn't forthcoming.
I was right though when I suspected you were always looking for an answer that wasn't forthcoming.
(not that that is a problem tbh - jtaylor exits after all)
#179
Correct me if you think I am wrong.
My perception is that you are either preaching (not my gut feeling in this case) or that you are looking for reinforcement.
There are a severely limited number of people on here with either the intellect or inclination to help you in this respect. I certainly fall into the latter (I would say agnostic, but mostly because certain atheism is narrow-minded) and no doubt a few would argue the former.
My perception is that you are either preaching (not my gut feeling in this case) or that you are looking for reinforcement.
There are a severely limited number of people on here with either the intellect or inclination to help you in this respect. I certainly fall into the latter (I would say agnostic, but mostly because certain atheism is narrow-minded) and no doubt a few would argue the former.
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Some journey James, some journey. I've been present in parts in this journey and although I've often been dismissive of some of your positions, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested.
I was right though when I suspected you were always looking for an answer that wasn't forthcoming.
I was right though when I suspected you were always looking for an answer that wasn't forthcoming.
Last edited by JTaylor; 07 February 2015 at 09:28 PM.