Where is God?

[vraiblonde]

Was I a millionaire simply by having the money or did it also "require" (for lack of better word) the knowledge that I had the money? I couldn't spend it if I didn't know I had it, right?

You were still a millionare, whether you knew you were or not. If you're blind and can't see your hair color, are you still a brunette?

Spending the money has nothing to do with whether you are or are not a millionaire. And, frankly, if you spend it, you're not a millionaire anymore anyway - you're a former millionaire. So it doesn't really matter.

What's wrong with asking questions? :shrug:

 

[2ndAmendment]

Yeah, and the outcome will likely be the same.


Six months from now, I'm going to make a sarcastic response, and you are going to get offended, and I'll throw my hands up and say "hey - just kidding".




And then six months after that...

I maintain that sarcasm does not work well in text.

 

[Fruitcake Lady]

I maintain that sarcasm does not work well in text.

It sure doesn't



Oh wait...it just did.

 

[Daddy_O]

everyone will have there own belief. I am not disagreeing with how anyone here feels, but to me God is everywhere watching and allowing us to either choose to follow him, or to make a decision that will ultimatly effect us.
Free will is a choice, to follow his teachings or to go in another direction.
You might not be able to lift the rock on your own, but you can either ask for help or walk around, the choice is up to the person.

 

[2ndAmendment]

It sure doesn't



Oh wait...it just did.

How so? I see no sarcasm. Oh, this is the last reply to an MPD. At least have the decency to use a real ID.

 

[Ms. Othmar]

Your tone and the types of responses you are supplying are often the tone and types of responses issued from people who already have their minds made up...

I don't have my mind made up! That's the whole point of my post. I apologize if I have come across argumentative.

As a matter of fact, I am already a Christian. I grew up Catholic. After going to college and being exposed to other cultures, religions and directions of thought, I saw the RCC as steeped in religious bigotry (NOTE: This is my perception and do not mean to offend anyone.). Even though the RCC is one branch of Christianity, I was brought up to believe that only Catholics go to Heaven.

The more I thought about it, the more it rubbed me the wrong way.

I am still a Christian and am still active in my new church.

However, I realize that, if I had been born in Iraq and had been taught Islam as a child and grew up in that culture, I would be a Muslim.

If you had been born where they were born and taught what they were taught, you would believe what they believe.
-- from a sign in a church in Northen Ireland, to teach tolerance

For the sake of argum-- um, discussion, let's say a Christian minister, a Rabbi and an Imam -- all equally devout and strong in their beliefs, each a morally strong person who lived a gentle life -- all died at the same time.
I can't see a just and loving God accepting the minister and sending the other two to gnash and wail, simply because they believed what they were brought up to believe.

What's wrong with asking questions?

Nothing!! The answers, on the other hand, can be a problem...

 

[2ndAmendment]

For the sake of argum-- um, discussion, let's say a Christian minister, a Rabbi and an Imam -- all equally devout and strong in their beliefs, each a morally strong person who lived a gentle life -- all died at the same time.
I can't see a just and loving God accepting the minister and sending the other two to gnash and wail, simply because they believed what they were brought up to believe.

This has been discussed ad nauseam in another thread. Do a search.

 

[2ndAmendment]

Try here http://forums.somd.com/showthread.php?t=41544 and here http://forums.somd.com/showthread.php?t=39893

 

[vraiblonde]

For the sake of argum-- um, discussion, let's say a Christian minister, a Rabbi and an Imam -- all equally devout and strong in their beliefs, each a morally strong person who lived a gentle life -- all died at the same time.
I can't see a just and loving God accepting the minister and sending the other two to gnash and wail, simply because they believed what they were brought up to believe.

Well, if the New Testament is the be-all-end-all source for who goes to Heaven and who doesn't, the Rabbi and Imam are gonna burn because they didn't take Jesus as their savior. This is why Christians send out ministries to various parts of the world - because they don't want the unknowing to burn in hell simply because they were ignorant of what could get them into Heaven.

Take it up with God - I didn't make the rules. :shrug:

 

[vraiblonde]

This has been discussed ad nauseam in another thread. Do a search.

2A, if the discussion is upsetting you, why don't you do something else instead? I'm not trying to be smart with you - it's just that she can't get answers unless she asks the questions.

 

[2ndAmendment]

Fruitcake Lady didn't like my reply. Gave me red.

 

[2ndAmendment]

2A, if the discussion is upsetting you, why don't you do something else instead? I'm not trying to be smart with you - it's just that she can't get answers unless she asks the questions.

I just read what I posted and it did sound short. Did not mean to be that way. I just don't like rehashing the same stuff over and over. I gave two links that discuss what she wants to know. All she has to do is read.

 

[Ms. Othmar]

Try here http://forums.somd.com/showthread.php?t=41544 and here http://forums.somd.com/showthread.php?t=39893

Thanks for the links; I'll check 'em out. I was going to ask you but didn't want to upset you.

 

[dems4me]

Well, if the New Testament is the be-all-end-all source for who goes to Heaven and who doesn't, the Rabbi and Imam are gonna burn because they didn't take Jesus as their savior. This is why Christians send out ministries to various parts of the world - because they don't want the unknowing to burn in hell simply because they were ignorant of what could get them into Heaven.

Take it up with God - I didn't make the rules. :shrug:

I think I see where 2A is coming from though...alot of folks on here ask questions in the form of setting up a straw man :shrug: I think 2A just tries to avert this from happening, maybe. :shrug:

 

[vraiblonde]

I think I see where 2A is coming from though...alot of folks on here ask questions in the form of setting up a straw man :shrug: I think 2A just tries to avert this from happening, maybe. :shrug:

I don't see what the big deal is. If you believe something (or even if you don't, in my case) just answer the question. If the other person wants to be antagonistic, oh well.

At the end of the day, the answer is "If you believe, you believe. If you don't, you don't." Just as you can't talk someone into believing in God, nor can you talk someone out of it. So why not just have a discussion and not get defensive about it?

 

[dems4me]

I don't see what the big deal is. If you believe something (or even if you don't, in my case) just answer the question. If the other person wants to be antagonistic, oh well.

At the end of the day, the answer is "If you believe, you believe. If you don't, you don't." Just as you can't talk someone into believing in God, nor can you talk someone out of it. So why not just have a discussion and not get defensive about it?

I agree but in topics of religion it is common practice to set up a straw man and there by try to debate and monopolize the conversation from that point forward after opponent gives elecited and prescribed response... it's a common tactic. I study theology here and there and it's very, very common in witnessing to others or when folks are trying to dispell their disbelief to set up straw men :shrug: Did that make sense? In no other topic have I see this approach used more (except for law). It is a common form of debate. :shrug:

 

[vraiblonde]

Did that make sense?

Sure. But I didn't see anyone being disrespectful - just asking questions.

Religion is interesting and what people believe is interesting too. :shrug:

 

[2ndAmendment]

I don't see what the big deal is. If you believe something (or even if you don't, in my case) just answer the question. If the other person wants to be antagonistic, oh well.

At the end of the day, the answer is "If you believe, you believe. If you don't, you don't." Just as you can't talk someone into believing in God, nor can you talk someone out of it. So why not just have a discussion and not get defensive about it?

It is not a big deal, but I would only be posting almost exactly the same answers that were posted in the other two threads. If there are other questions, I'll answer them, but I do have work to do. I prefer to do God's work first, but I am being paid to do other stuff, so for expediency, I provided the links.

I hope that makes sense and does not provoke.

 

[dems4me]

Sure. But I didn't see anyone being disrespectful - just asking questions.

Religion is interesting and what people believe is interesting too. :shrug:

I agree... with a subject soo close to your heart, it's hard not being a little defensive... kind of like someone that posts in order to make fun of your kids or something... you are a little hypersuggestable is all. Religion is no different... :shrug:

I think by the question being "where is God" some of us took that to mean this person does not believe in God and wanted a debate of sorts :shrug:

 

[vraiblonde]

kind of like someone that posts in order to make fun of your kids or something...

There's a big difference between someone saying your kids are stupid and simply asking how your kids are doing.

I don't have any problem with liberals who come on wanting to question my beliefs. In fact, I like it because it gives me the opportunity to spout my views some more.