Quote:There is absolutely contradiction in Gaud's character, and pretty much the only way for you to ignore that is through ignorance of the text and sheer mental gymnastics.this is an assertion not an explanation.
Quote:The body of scientific evidence I'm drawing on is much older than I am. Sure, there may be things we don't know, but the few things we DO know about the Universe are consistent with complete lack of governing influence or divine intervention. Simply put, the Universe shows no evidence of its requiring a god to exist or create it. Nothing about the known Universe warrants or demands such an explanation.In order to know that God's character is not consistent with the Universe you must posses all knowledge and beyond, or know someone who does, because there are things about God in which we on this side cannot know.
Quote:If he actually wants me to believe in him, then yes, he does.No, He doesn't it is for your benefit that you believe (trust) not for His. You are the one dead in your sins and He is sinless, holy, and perfect. He lacks nothing and it is only through His mercy that He reaches out to you for your salvation. He is above you and will judge you. So, you may hide behind your lies and supposed lack of evidence. This again will not save you. You will be condemned and already stand condemned without the blood of Christ for the remission of your sins.
Quote:But that's what you're doing. You're accepting all the things about him being good and loving and ignoring all the abuse and atrocity that his own book blames him for. You can't just focus on one portion of the Bible, and yet you focus on all the fluffy crap and simply excuse all the horror as being "part of his perfect plan." I hate to break this to you, but if Gaud's plan couldn't prevent sin or suffering, then it wasn't perfect.This is another assertion without evidence. Suffering is a part of God's plan.
Quote:Is a robber being kind and gracious because he offered me a chance to just hand the money over quietly before blowing my brains out? No?Propaganda. God is not a robber trying to kill you. You are the one who is in the wrong. You are the one who is robbing God of His rightful glory with your lies. He owes you nothing but justice yet through His mercy He will forgive you and seeks to bless you greatly. He paid the penalty for your God hating rejecting, lying, glory stealing sin on the cross. Mock Him and lie to yourself all you wish it will not save you. Only the blood of Christ.
Then neither is Gaud.
Quote:Actually, we've been over this, and my standard is the Golden Rule. While still subjective to the situation, it functions on empathy and has been the most consistent staple of human morality since the beginning. Gaud wouldn't want us to send him to Hell, but he supposedly does it to us anyway, so he doesn't follow the Golden Rule, which makes him an asshole.It is still subjective not matter what you base it on. When you attempt to put God on your level you show how much you lack in understanding who He is. God came down and suffered as a human. He died on the cross and took our eternal punishment. You can pretend that God arbitrarily sends people to Hell, but you are lying to yourself. God sends those to hell who refuse Him. Your rejection of His holiness and goodness to hold onto your sin and evil means that God will justly and rightfully send you to Hell. If you choose, you can see that He does follow the golden rule by fulfilling the punishment for our sin. He had complete and full understanding of the pain of Hell because He took our punishment. Your smug pretension of trying to place yourself above God and His holiness and goodness will not save you. You are not more moral or loving than He.
Quote:Golden. Fucking. Rule. Society is usually remarkably consistent on the whole "murder" thing, until religion gets involved. Then it's lynchings and witch-burning everywhere, not to mention a healthy helping of kill-a-whole-race-for-disbelieving-your-gods.Propaganda and it won't save you
Quote:Show me where I asserted that as the truth. I never said matter was the only thing around at the beginning of the Universe. It might have been nothing, it might have been energy, it might have been matter, it might have been some mix of those things, or it might have been none of those things. Scientists don't know yet, and neither do you.You keep back peddling about what you didn't say. Why don't you just admit that you don't know the truth about how the universe is made and that you are just grasping at what sounds good to you today so that you can reject God.
Quote:Rock layers, bitch. Rock layers like these.Insults won't save you.
Quote:Neither do you.Don't believe everything you think. God is good
Quote:Seriously, though, you're once again misplacing the burden of proof, which is another thing I'm sure we've covered already. You're essentially asking me to prove that something doesn't exist, to which my response would be "prove that invisible, pink Unicorns don't exist.In other words you don't know. Don't stake your soul on such a flimsy belief system.
Quote:Right...and my basis for those choices used to be a book of myths, and I behaved differently in those days than I do now, and my current mode of behavior is more conducive to healthy, lasting relationships than my old one. I wonder why that is...I don't know probably modified behavior which isn't the same as knowing God and having the Holy Spirit indwell in you. Moralism doesn't save, modified behavior doesn't save, being nicer doesn't save, having lasting relationships don't save, having your best life now doesn't save.
