Or, there's another possibility: it's amusing.

(May 13, 2016 at 4:35 pm)Jörmungandr Wrote: You don't teach 'biblically based' Christianity, you teach Drich based self-idolatry.  You are so in love with your own vision of things that you can't possibly imagine yourself being wrong.  That's love of self, not love of God.

I've been wrong most of my life. I know what wrong is, and I know that even now I know I do not know everything. However for me like anyone else there is grace to fill in the gaps.
We don't have to be 100% right to find this grace, we need only to know and follow Christ. The only think I am trying to communicate above and beyond anyother salvation message is a direct line between those who need 'proof' and God. In that 'proof' via the Holy Spirit is possible, but only if we humble ourselves and approach on his terms.

Not saying this has to be done in front of me a church nor anyone else. This is a measure that can be doone simply between you and God right now.

If that to you is wrong, then I am glad to be wrong.

Quote:The bible has as many meanings as there are interpreters.  The emphasis being that the meaning takes on the coloring of the interpreter's willing.  You don't read the bible, you read your own personal version of it, and you idolize that version!  You have the naivety of a school boy who thinks the meaning is all in the words and not in the reader reading them.  This is the view of a simpleton without the skills to appreciate what the text might be saying.  All you see in the bible is stuff that you in your ignorance put into your reading.  Again, that's self love, not love of God.  You talk about humility before God, yet everyone can see that you know nothing of humility.

-Or perhaps you do not understand what it means to be humble before God and yet boldly exclaim his message, His truth. We have been tasked to do this very thing. Did Jesus follow your version of Humility when he challenged the religious leaders of His day? Was He your version of Humble when He called them Snakes, vipers, fools, Hypocrits? Was He 'humbled' when he chased out the money changers with a cord of whips? Did He show humility when he taught the religious leaders as a Child on the temple steps?
Was He humble to your standard in his ministry or do you simply not fully understand what "Humble" means? Or perhaps you don't know that we are to walk in His foot steps?

Now, if Christ approached the Religious leaders who showed contempt towards Him, how then do you think He would approach you or profane Him and His Father?

(With the Very same measure you approach Him)

(May 12, 2016 at 2:30 pm)Drich Wrote: Are you really this simple?  You sold yourself on your own personal vision without reservation, and now what you're selling is your own obsession with that vision.

If they/you have your own telling experience, was it me who convinced you or was it the experience?

Quote:The reason you didn't soften your approach is because you're a jerk.

seriously, define Jerk... How does my 'jerkieness' add or detract from the truth? Truth is truth no matter the source.

Quote:  Quit trying to depersonalize the situation.  No wonder you can love yourself so much, if you never own up to any of the bad.  I've seen you rationalize away the arrogance of your behavior countless times.  You have even compared yourself to Paul in attempting to excuse your lack of humility.

Now Jesus. Point being there is strong biblical precedent to the way I work, even if it flys in the face of conventional traditional 'Christian' stereotypes. Which if those conventional methods worked with you guys none of us would be here, would we?

Quote:You can't offer what you don't have.

And in turn I can if I do.

Quote: All you have is a twisted misunderstanding of the bible and a bunch of confirmation bias, accompanied by a heaping helping of self idolatry.

Can you demonstrate this, or have you been reduced to empty name calling?

Quote:  You're the last person that someone should turn to for answers.  

Why? because I don't fit your mold? Your specific idea of how answers should be given? If I did that then wouldn't you have topical counters to everything I did and said? Or is this what your pipping up here is all about?
You can't topically destroy my answers.. So you are trying to kill the messenger with all your empty 'self idolotry talk?'
You are a venom-less snake if you can't support your charges. Lets see some book chapter and verse that countermands what I've said about god or how I choose to bring you His message.

Quote:You have a child's understanding of the bible

Which is EXACTLY what God said is needed. Thank you for your observance.

Quote:and a complete ignorance of how your own psychology contributes to your beliefs.  

IDK I seem to be swabbing the deck with the one making those charges.

Quote:As I said, you cannot offer what you do not have, and what you have isn't truth

Says what??? Your personal confirmation bias? What have you done to disprove or vet what I have said? Wish it weren't so?
Are you so foolish that you do not know you swing a double edged sword here? That everything you claim against me in my belief I can counter claim against you in your disbelief? Or is that what this is a red herring designed to take me off topic?

Quote: -- it's just the self-obsessed ramblings of someone with too much energy and not enough personal insight.  You're a self-deluded jerk and everyone can see that from the most casual of encounters with you.

None of this of course will have the slightest impact on you, your head is as hard as a rock.

It does not have an impact because I know it's your job, and I anticipate push back from those who don't want me walking down this path.

(May 16, 2016 at 11:15 am)Drich Wrote: We don't have to be 100% right to find this grace, we need only to know and follow Christ. The only think I am trying to communicate above and beyond anyother salvation message is a direct line between those who need 'proof' and God. In that 'proof' via the Holy Spirit is possible, but only if we humble ourselves and approach on his terms.

Which differes from denomination to denomination, not to speak of individuals inside said denominations, making up their own versions. Even before I left faith, I pretty much gave up on listening to people telling me what to believe and what to do. They all contradicted themselves and mixed up their very own potion of makebelief.

Yes, indeed. I've not heard one religious theist ever tell a straight story, even if I all I do is ask questions and don't ask for evidence.

The only time I've ever heard a theist tell a consistent story is when they are a straightforward deist.

I fairness, I've heard -plenty- of christians tell a straight story.  I know it can be done, which is why I'm lost when clearly motivated people can't manage.

(May 16, 2016 at 9:44 am)pocaracas Wrote:

(May 16, 2016 at 9:03 am)Drich Wrote: Ah, I wrongly assumed all people who claim they want proof of God, do and are willing to search for it.

You don't mind God comming to you, you are not willing to go to God.

Does that sum things up?

How do you search for something that doesn't exist?
How do you search for an idea?
How do you search for dragons? and faeries? and wizards?

How do you search for a god? Assume such a thing exists and then voilá, you're convinced it does. perfect reasoning, huh?
I'm sure psychology is beyond your pay grade, but I'd invest in learning some about it.

When you find the shit you will be able to find the creature.  So far no one has been able to find God's shit.

(May 16, 2016 at 12:08 pm)Rhythm Wrote: I fairness, I've heard -plenty- of christians tell a straight story.  I know it can be done, which is why I'm lost when clearly motivated people can't manage.

You have? Wow! I'll have to add it to my bucket list.

(May 16, 2016 at 9:16 am)Rhythm Wrote:

(May 16, 2016 at 9:09 am)Drich Wrote: No???
They why answer the questions?

To help you form a set of coherent statements regarding your beliefs...on a board that caters to discussion of peoples beliefs?  

Quote:When I truly have no interest in a survey or a questionnaire I don't take the time to answer them. Yet you did. Why then say no? Do you want proof of God? If no then why discuss anything theological at all ever?

See above.  

Quote:You put a lot of time in dispelling theist arguments. That is not the actions of a disinterested third party. those are the actions of someone desperately looking to be 'proved' wrong.

Sorry sport me thinks thou doeth protest too much.

B-mine.

I'm interested in competently formed arguments.  More than that, I'm interested in the various ways that human beings (like yourself..ostensibly......) have come up with to conceptualize the world around them and their place in it.  IOW, shit that's -vastly- more important and relevant than any fairy you might believe in, on it's own.  I've been disappointed repeatedly, in both regards, in your threads.  If you're only now realizing what I have told you countless times about myself....I can;t help but think that this is related to your failures in those other areas.

One might imagine that an evangelist would welcome any and all help with arriving at a coherent statement of beliefs, a compelling argument for their gods.  I suppose though, that one would have to assume that said evangelist was a rational actor making intelligent decisions....but perhaps those two things can't coexist with god-belief or evangelism.  Or maybe they just don't exist in you, in which case I'll still be waiting here, for that person...just like I was before you arrived.

So you DO want to be privy or witness, God angels Heaven Hell and the like... How else can you fathom what keeps us obstinately in the 'belief of God realm?'

You just don't want to admit to anything or participate. You want to simply universaly observe or better yet have some organization do the observing for you and tell you what to think of it.

How else could yoou possible be so detached and yet have intimate knowledge of what you claim to seek?

(May 16, 2016 at 9:18 am)LastPoet Wrote:

(May 16, 2016 at 9:11 am)Drich Wrote: No I get it... why else do you think I don't take the time to argue with you?

To be fair, you never argued with anybody. Your post history is a monologue of you reassuring yourself. Many of us gave rebuttals, yes, only to receive more of the same monologue. It's all good, but forgive me for not paying much attention.

I mean, if anything the mighty god you believe in should help you with your own lack of faith.

That's absolute untrue. I take the time to address point by point and completely break down an argument from one of you and then show you how and why you are wrong cite many different sources and reconstruct my argument out line the contrast between what you specifically believe and what I contend to be the truth.

(May 16, 2016 at 2:49 pm)Drich Wrote: So you DO want to be privy or witness,

...to you forming a coherent explanation or argument for your beliefs....yes.

Quote:God angels Heaven Hell and the like...

-not so much, no, sorry. 

Quote:How else can you fathom what keeps us obstinately in the 'belief of God realm?'

I can fathom a great many reasons that people such as yourself remain in the "belief of god realm" - none of which have anything to do with a god. 

Quote:You just don't want to admit to anything or participate. You want to simply universaly observe or better yet have some organization do the observing for you and tell you what to think of it.  How else could yoou possible be so detached and yet have intimate knowledge of what you claim to seek?

I'm pretty sure I participate far in excess of what your comments deserve, and I'm not sure what it is I'm supposed to be admitting to?

I can't see god, as I keep telling you, so someone who -can- see god will -have- to do the observing for me.  Makes sense, huh? More than this, they will need to be able to communicate what they observe in a coherent manner, or it hardly matters whether or not they can see something. You're no such person.