(February 17, 2017 at 9:40 am)Fake Messiah Wrote: One really wonders how long this can go on. Will there come a day when Christianity revises this claim, or will it simply let it go? Will they be eagerly awaiting him in the year 3000? If so, what about five thousand years from now? Ten thousand years?

Inherent in your question is that the claims of Christianity are false. If they are true (or believe them to be true), why wouldn't they apply at any time in the future? There is no doctrine which is time-sensitive, so there is no argument that weakens with age. Additionally, since there are more people alive today that believe these claims than ever before, it is clear that time passing has only been positive for Christianity.

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(February 19, 2017 at 5:43 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote:

(February 19, 2017 at 5:33 pm)Kernel Sohcahtoa Wrote: Hello, sir.  I recall a quote from the movie Inherit The Wind (1960):"religion is supposed to comfort people, not frighten them to death." Bertram Cates.

Now, with all do respect to you, sir, would you say that your post is reflective of your deity's love?  Or, is it a reflection of your feelings toward certain people who choose to mock your beliefs or are disrespectful toward you in other ways? Or, do you have another explanation, sir?  Thanks and live long and prosper, sir.

But threats and scare tactics have kept people in the church for centuries.

I hear this line of reasoning a lot. 

The words 'threats' and 'scare tactics' carry in their meaning intent. I don't think the doctrine of Hell in the Bible is correctly understood as a lever to get you to do something. The logical conclusion of not choosing God and living the life he has called you to live (which is the sole goal of Christianity) is eternal separation from God. Simply describing the logical outcome of this choice cannot be characterized as a 'threat' or a 'scare tactic' no matter how frightening it is. To say it another way, avoiding Hell is not the goal being preached, avoiding Hell is one of the benefits from doing the right thing (choosing God and living as proscribed). 

If a church or a person uses Hell as a threat or scare tactic, then that is on them and not the intent of NT Christianity. 

I'm interested in other opinions.

(February 17, 2017 at 9:40 am)Fake Messiah Wrote: One really wonders how long this can go on. Will there come a day when Christianity revises this claim, or will it simply let it go? Will they be eagerly awaiting him in the year 3000? If so, what about five thousand years from now? Ten thousand years?

Jesus asked, When the Son of Man returns, will he find faith on the earth? This seems to be a rhetorical question indicating that he won't find much faith on the earth. So, I don't know how long, but not forever. In the end, Islam will be in charge, Christianity will be minor and then raptured, then Israel becomes the focus again.

(February 18, 2017 at 12:08 pm)Nihilist Virus Wrote:

(February 17, 2017 at 7:15 pm)Lek Wrote: I know I'm probably giving you guys ammunition, but actually to get the best understanding you would need to learn ancient Greek and then interpret it directly from the language in which it was written.

Find me any two ancient manuscripts that are complete and have zero discrepancies, and you're on.

I conceded that I was wrong about the "this generation" thing but I retract that. Matthew 16:28 says,

“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

It's ok. You lost, that's all. You bet on the wrong guy. No biggie. Always room for one more in the atheist community.

(February 22, 2017 at 6:09 pm)Nihilist Virus Wrote:

(February 18, 2017 at 12:08 pm)Nihilist Virus Wrote: Find me any two ancient manuscripts that are complete and have zero discrepancies, and you're on.

I conceded that I was wrong about the "this generation" thing but I retract that.  Matthew 16:28 says,

“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

It's ok.  You lost, that's all. You bet on the wrong guy.  No biggie. Always room for one more in the atheist community.

Or the prophecy was about the destruction of Jerusalem and more importantly the temple. Since the temple had been the way to communicate with God, it was no longer needed. The new paradigm was the spiritual kingdom of God that anyone had access to. 

I think I will stay here thank you. 

(February 20, 2017 at 1:56 pm)Lek Wrote:

(February 19, 2017 at 5:27 am)downbeatplumb Wrote: But the language of Jesus and his band of men would have been Aramaic which DID have a written form. So the very first writtings would have lost something in translation and there are NO written accounts in the original tongue. A bit like taking the google translate to Chinese and then into english account of something as your holy book. When you get it, it has been translated at least three times.

There were a number of different languages spoken within the Roman Empire at the time, but Greek was the most widely spoken and understood.  The new testament was written to Gentiles as well as Jews.

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(February 19, 2017 at 11:27 am)Kernel Sohcahtoa Wrote: Thank you for your thoughtful reply, sir.  In your opinion, are humans, or at least those people who choose to think about reality in a religious/theistic manner,  fully capable of objectively distinguishing between worshiping a true God and not some God that was formed/created in their minds? How would practitioners of religion/theism be able to honestly differentiate between the two? Is this ultimately where faith comes in?

In my case, I was raised in the catholic faith and believed devoutly well into my adult life.  At a certain point I began to re-evaluate my beliefs and determined that I couldn't accept much of the doctrine of the catholic church.  So based on that, I left the catholic church and started attending a protestant church.  This shows that I'm capable of evaluating a belief that I was raised with and making a definite decision as to whether or not to continue in it.  At a later point, though I never doubted the existence of God, I began to seriously doubt the validity of the christian faith.  I took the matter directly to God in prayer and because of signs I received and one event in particular, along with continuing insights into scripture, my christian faith was re-enforced.  Additionally, I did make a step of faith because I had no unquestionable scientific or historical proof that the writings of the bible are true, but I do have re-enforcement from God himself that I made the right choice.  So people can become confused over distinguishing between different beliefs and images of God, but I believe that if one goes to God with a true heart, he or she will be led to God.

Thanks for you thoughtful answer, Lek.  Out of curiosity, how do you know that you are properly interpreting what your deity is saying to you?  Thanks.

(February 22, 2017 at 1:12 am)Godschild Wrote: God cares about you but, if you think mocking Him in someway hurts Him you,re wrong.

GC

No I don't think I can hurt a figment of your imagination, I think it might hurt believers a bit though. I've also heard the Easter bunny isn't bothered when I call him big ears either.

(February 22, 2017 at 7:11 pm)HairyCyclist Wrote:

(February 22, 2017 at 1:12 am)Godschild Wrote: God cares about you but, if you think mocking Him in someway hurts Him you,re wrong.

GC

No I don't think I can hurt a figment of your imagination, I think it might hurt believers a bit though. I've also heard the Easter bunny isn't bothered when I call him big ears either.

Ah, another one who is here to mock and dialog in disrespect. What does it say about a person who has that as an actual goal?

(February 22, 2017 at 7:11 pm)HairyCyclist Wrote:

(February 22, 2017 at 1:12 am)Godschild Wrote: God cares about you but, if you think mocking Him in someway hurts Him you,re wrong.

GC

No I don't think I can hurt a figment of your imagination, I think it might hurt believers a bit though. I've also heard the Easter bunny isn't bothered when I call him big ears either.

Jesus told us not to worry about what others say, it is toward Me that they mock. I trust him more than I would ever trust you.

GC

(February 22, 2017 at 8:23 pm)SteveII Wrote:

(February 22, 2017 at 7:11 pm)HairyCyclist Wrote: No I don't think I can hurt a figment of your imagination, I think it might hurt believers a bit though. I've also heard the Easter bunny isn't bothered when I call him big ears either.

Ah, another one who is here to mock and dialog in disrespect. What does it say about a person who has that as an actual goal?

That they don't take your beliefs as seriously as you do.

Just as many people of faith mock others of faith, their beliefs, their deities.  Or how they mock non believers.