So my position that the Universe was not 'created' for the exclusive use of a select group of dead humans on one unremarkable planet supports your pastor's speculation that it was? Maybe I should try a career in the church. I take back any condescension directed at your pastor friend; from what you describe, he seems at least willing to entertain new ideas. Besides, anyone who enjoys Carl Sagan, even watered down versions of his work, can't be all bad.
I don't remember postulating that pondering the implications of 'sin' - a horrible brand name for a faith system I don't share - causes the reader to engage in the practise themselves. What I meant was that in an environment where 'sin' is nonexistent, there will be no lust, blasphemy, killing etc that is the meat and drink of drama. For instance, one of the most ancient of storytelling forms is the Hero's Journey, popularised by the Star Wars franchise (interesting how many of these discussions come back to Star Wars at some point). Without the desire to explore, literally or spiritually, to seek better horizons and improve oneself, or to learn why one doesn't need to, there can be no journey; hence no story. No conflict, no resolution, no drama. The best that can be pondered is the memory of such things.
As for the the last point in my previous, you've really not seen that before? Not even:
followed by selected scripture to justify the points? Yes, it's only one opinion by one xtian, which clearly wouldn't apply to all believers, but that's not my problem. I'm in the position of an outsider trying to make sense of sorts of all the loose and contradictory threads.
I don't remember postulating that pondering the implications of 'sin' - a horrible brand name for a faith system I don't share - causes the reader to engage in the practise themselves. What I meant was that in an environment where 'sin' is nonexistent, there will be no lust, blasphemy, killing etc that is the meat and drink of drama. For instance, one of the most ancient of storytelling forms is the Hero's Journey, popularised by the Star Wars franchise (interesting how many of these discussions come back to Star Wars at some point). Without the desire to explore, literally or spiritually, to seek better horizons and improve oneself, or to learn why one doesn't need to, there can be no journey; hence no story. No conflict, no resolution, no drama. The best that can be pondered is the memory of such things.
As for the the last point in my previous, you've really not seen that before? Not even:
(November 7, 2012 at 7:41 am)Reasonable_Jeff Wrote: Christianity believes that Jesus will return and restore the Earth to what it was like before sin.
God will essentially bring heaven down to Earth and we will live our lives to his glory without sin. It will be like life now, businesses running, sports, entertainment.....but there will be no more sin or suffering and everyone will love the LORD and do all things to his glory. We will be able to worship God in his very near presence and do as He's created us to do for all eternity.
Interestingly there will no longer be marriages, we will be more like you would imagine angels to be....completely content in our singleness.
followed by selected scripture to justify the points? Yes, it's only one opinion by one xtian, which clearly wouldn't apply to all believers, but that's not my problem. I'm in the position of an outsider trying to make sense of sorts of all the loose and contradictory threads.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
