Can ANY christians answers these questions ????

[yossarian]

Originally Posted by Liminal Chris

I think the truth can be more accurately expressed than the Bible offers. The whole idea of pointing at the truth makes it seem external. Which is why christianity is traditionally known as an externally focused religion in contrast to buddhism and hinduism.


I mean you think people take the bible too literally, but you actually believe their was a God-man walking the earth doing fantastically impossible things like raising the dead, etc?

If he could do the impossible, why didn't he just make people understand beyond the impossibility of the way language can?

The whole idea of Jesus as the son of man seems like anthropomorphic mythology to me, which is nothing but a distraction from the real goals of Christianity or any other religions.

Truth is a pathless land. When I read the words of Jesus, and ignore the modern commentary that is made by modern sects such as the Catholics or Protestants, I read Oneness.

Is there a better way to express truth than the Bible and Jesus' word? That's a personal decision that goes beyond the scope of this thread.

Does the Bible, and especially the words of Jesus, testify that God is within and everywhere, that God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, that He is here now and has never left? I would say yes. This thread is supposed to be a question for Christians and so I feel qualified to answer

As far as the thing about omnipotence, Jesus would not violate the free will of those who choose to not see God. It is a choice. We have chosen free will for ourselves, and some choose to use this free will to become separated from God and ignorant of Him so that they can "seek" him and in the process grow.

You could ask a similar question of Jesus on the Cross. "Father, why have you forsake me!?" Jesus was a God-realized man, he could have instantly freed himself and destroyed his captors. But this would be cruelty to them because they have chosen a certain way and to violate their choice would be violence. Jesus did not want to violate the right that his persecutors had to persecute him. It was their free will choice and Jesus refused to take that away from them, though he certainly could have.

Just my own personal interpretation

[Liminal Chris]

Originally Posted by yossarian

We have chosen free will for ourselves

this makes me laugh


Again, maybe its just my determinist side coming through. If you act in a certain way, there are specific reasons for that action. You might not have been able to (or coudln't) act any other way, despite that you recognize that there were alternatives. The recognition of those alternatives is the illusion of free will.

[yossarian]

Originally Posted by Liminal Chris

this makes me laugh


Again, maybe its just my determinist side coming through. If you act in a certain way, there are specific reasons for that action. You might not have been able to (or coudln't) act any other way, despite that you recognize that there were alternatives. The recognition of those alternatives is the illusion of free will.

Determinism is certainly popular these days. But I don't buy it. And to me the nature of God is paradoxical which is why I can say "we choose to choose" with a straight face.

It's not a logical issue IMO, it's one of those things that requires first hand experience. You can't memorize a textbook and then know what to do, or know how things are.

[Liminal Chris]

no, I totally undestand that.

There are just so many times in my life where I don't know why someone did something. Later on, I learn the context surrounding that decision, and its clear why they made that specific decision, as if they couldn't have any other decision.


Context is usually impossibly complex though. But I think if you did understand it, you would see that there is only one option.

To each his own i suppose.

[infinitethoughts]

Originally Posted by yossarian

God is within and everywhere, that God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, that He is here now and has never left? I would say yes.

I see you said yes to that......It then begs the question.

--What are you?

[NightSpirit]

Originally Posted by Liminal Chris

Can someone explain to me the need to speak about God in an anthropomorphic manner?

Christians, most Christians, believe that Jesus is God and lives in Heaven in His bodily form, although glorified, so it is natural for us to speak about Him that way.

Originally Posted by Liminal Chris

Why are people so attached to it? Why are so many people Apologists, when they could simply drop the bible and still believe?

We consider the Bible to be Holy because we have had similar experiences to those described in the Bible, especially in the New Testament. We don't want to drop it because we believe it is the truth.

Questions call for answers and create Apologists. Very few people ask to understand. Some people want to helps us see our need to drop it but also may end up understanding.

Originally Posted by Liminal Chris

Talking about Heaven and Hell and giving yourself over to god for salvation, all the anthropomorphism and loaded words, it just doesn't do the ideas behind them any justice I think.

The red flowers with thorns that smell good, the most widely used natural symbol of romantic gifting and also a source of agricultural income to some developing countries...is still a rose. And if we are saying we believe Heaven and Hell exist, there's no point in using more words, unless to avoid someone's hot button.

If the word Christian is used up front, people here assume they know what you believe and criticize without first asking. If the word is not used, people here will never find out what you believe, which is in Christ.

There is a resistance in man to the naming God, like you say, a loaded term. Is it because He has no name or no name could do Him justice? I guess you know Christians believe there is a force trying to hide His name, to prevent us from worshipping Him.

Originally Posted by Liminal Chris

Like to me this was a whole lot of nothing, except a lot of anthropomorphism and an extremely poor explanation. I just feel like they are almost talking in tongues on purpose, in order to confuse people, when it would be so easy to clean up the language and make it more straightforward and not open to misinterpretation.

There are other versions of the Bible, if you want to read that in simpler terms. A whole lot of nothing is not unique to Christians on this board. For example, how many times do you use the term anthropomorphism in general conversation?

[dali]

I think it was God breathed into Adams nostrils not the other way around so we dont give our souls to something that is infinite. .it gives them to us. We Breathe in at that point.

There is no linear time in Spirit. When we refuse to return to Source we are in a hell state. Thats pretty obvious really if you just think about your own life so when we dont return the breath as it were we hold it in. try holding your breath ad infinitum HE£LLISH.

[Shen]

You know, I've done a little perusal of the forums here, and, before I lay it all out, why do you want to know?

[NightSpirit]

Originally Posted by Shen

You know, I've done a little perusal of the forums here, and, before I lay it all out, why do you want to know?

Hi, I've been around here a little while and I can save you some trouble if you think the original poster is really interested in finding the answer to these questions.

The questions are more of a thinly veiled criticism of Christian beliefs, questions meant to make Christians think, the implication being that we don't think and have fell for a belief system out of fear where we are not allowed to think.

Any belief system with any conditions, such as submission and humility or one that makes room for any punishment for working against God has to be a false one, that's the general attitude. I think we are considered more to be trolls and our beliefs mostly seem to be fodder for ridicule.

Go ahead and answer if you like. Your answers may help enlighten those who would really seek to understand.

[dali]

I have to admit two words sprung to mind yesterday when I thought i saw a stone heading in my direction from one of the guys. The first word was Pearls.... quickly followed by Swine.I tried to unsubscribe to the thread but it didnt work.Today is the feast of John the Baptist. I wonder if faced with him our chum would be so brave? I think not.It takes more courage to believe in God among smart people is the impression I am getting.Still I dont think God minds too much being called the universe even though there are several of them all of which he made. Maybe its a friendly sort of diminutive like Jojo or meggin.Jesus did call him abba which translates into daddy and no big clouds appeared giving him into trouble.Ah the Bible the Bible...it gets such a lot of stick.I can understand, there has been such a lot of damage done by its adherents for a very long time and none more so than now with all this frightening fundementalism sadly especially in America and thats got to be a major factor in peoples reactions.As smart people though are we not supposed to look at our reactions and turn them into responses? making us responsible for how we connect with other people> just a thought. Maybe not profound enough for the smart dick with the bis bag of stones at the ready though.