(March 23, 2016 at 6:52 pm)Won2blv Wrote: So the first thing is that you would have to be a christian that accepts Pascals Wager as a valid reason to believe in god.
Correct. I'm classifying this as a response to the wager.
Quote:I never really have been one. But regardless, its not necessarily faith that gains you salvation (I use that word instead of heaven because JW's don't believe we go to heaven) and its not necessarily works. And you can't buy your way to salvation either. I could give all my money to poor people, but if I'm absolutely immoral in every aspect of life, it wouldn't help me much
You are dodging the point entirely. I'm saying that giving all you have to the poor will not lower your chances of salvation but can possibly help them, therefore by the logic of the wager it is compulsory.
Quote:As to the 2nd point, Jesus was a teacher not a rule maker. He was teaching his apostles constantly. There aren't underwriters in heaven that have a check list and stipulations like its a mortgage loan. There isn't always an absolute right way and an absolute wrong way in every situation. I personally don't think Jesus was saying, "hey, I'm awesome so its ok for her to splurge on me" I believe that he was appreciative of the fact that she went to great lengths to show her respect for Jesus.
I cannot discern the point you are trying to make.
Quote:Your 3rd point, I'm sure if i get what you're saying 100% but again, I don't believe Jesus left us a checklist and said if we don't do these specific things then we're screwed. Jesus own words were that he set an example and Peter himself later wrote that Jesus an example for us. This shows that we should learn from Jesus discernment and conduct.
I am not sure how this is relevant to the discussion. Again, if a certain action does not lower your chances of winning but might increase them, then performing the action is a required part of any optimal strategy.
Quote:And finally, it still has major logical implications. If I have a tv, then according to you, I have an ability to help a poor person.
According to me? Do you contest that point?
Quote:But if i give everything I have, to either a single poor person, or spread out among many, then they have more than I do.
Correct.
Quote:Unless they were not christian, I am hindering their salvation if I have this singular thinking.
No you aren't. If they're Christian, they can give it away to other people.
Quote:Jesus did say that we shouldn't be anxious over what we will eat, drink, wear, etc. However, this is an issue I take with atheist. You read a scripture and draw absolute rules from them. This just isn't an accurate or reasonable way to read the scriptures.
So what should I do then, just ignore the parts I don't like and impose the parts that I do like on other people?
Jesus is like Pinocchio. He's the bastard son of a carpenter. And a liar. And he wishes he was real.