What beliefs would we consider reasonable for a self proclaimed Christian to hold?

[Drich]

I'm sympathetic to your inclination to reject the authority of churchly officialdom.  Viva la protestant revolution.  

actually I had no knowledge of martian Luther (outside of MLK) My 'rebellion was to question the protestant church, and all of the creeds and conventions. Threw most of that away.

So why can't others 'see him?"

Well, what is there to "see" after all?

 Honestly. I know most of you want to call me a liar for this but may God take me Home from you all So as not to pollute or damage any of you, If I did not witness these things as I described them to you all originally. 1) I looked Christ in the eyes at my judgement felt the warmth and experienced boundless love, and for a moment understood it all, including my sin, then was taken from that and cast into Hell. had a direct back and fourth discussion with an 'angel' Who told me things I never thought could come true and here I sit 20 years later with nearly everything he told came true. Not to mention daily interaction with the Holy Spirit offering direction strength and knowledge when I need it.

This is the God of the bible. This is the God I went in search for this is the God I question why the church can not communicate with. This is the God I found independently of what i thought a God should be.

Most believers I know hold that God is undetectable by our senses, leastwise without a generous amount of inference.

 That is heart breaking. I am truly sadden of the thought of one living in that much darkness./serving a God they never known.

Isn't it really a matter of introspection and deduction?

 I'm the idiot of the board remember.. I simply asked questions and sought the truth and followed where ever it lead me.

Why would we expect to find agreement based on that?  You look inside and find something different than the usual.  I look inside and wonder why we should call that God.  Fine with me if you do, but that's not what I see.

That is because you are the decider you are at the center of the equation. You are trying to make fit an idea of God that plays or fits into your own world narrative. So of course God does not fit.

Imagine taking the position of a blank slate and ask God to imprint or draw a pic of Himself on your slate. Now vet that drawing with the bible and if that pic is Good you know it do not come from you, as it probably is polar opposite of what you think God is. Meaning introspection will only take you away from God.

We must approach Him as the children approached Jesus. They wanted Him/to be told taught.. not to take or fit him into a role.

 

What are they looking for? What if what they are looking for is not the picture of God found in the bible would they recognize Him? The obvious answer is no. Otherwise most of you would acknowledged God. Which is what I think you've backed yourself into by saying you should follow what the bible says or what we can accurately translate from it.

Not sure if I follow.  

I'm saying NO one has a 100% accurate pic of God. Now let's say if your pic of God is derogated more than 50% there is no hope with what you pic provides for you to identify God in any way shape or form. So if you look at the world or the things Christians tell you to do or look at and compare it to your bad pic, you will not be able to see the same things they do hence "Why call that god?"

Are you saying atheists here insist that God must be understood as the biblically branded version?  Some might but I leave the door wide open.  For my money it is a complete mystery what has held so many people enthralled all this time.  

What I am saying is most atheist have a pic of God and believe all versions must comply with what they understand. That is why so many argue with me about the nature of God. They believe that God is AC3 when in fact God is ABC. Now because they grew up with AC3 ad they tested AC3 and because AC3 let them down so many times they believe all versions of God must meet this AC3 criteria that they have. AC3 could be vengeful God of the Old testament or AC3 cold be a wish grantor God, granting wishes for Good deeds. The point is that that version of God has been tested and found wanting. Now just because that version can be identified as a dead or false God it does not mean all understanding of God are bad.

I go on to point out that it is a very small mind who tests one variable and declares the whole control group nonviable.

But I'm a naturalist.  I assume that whatever a god may be will have a natural explanation since I define "natural" as everything that actually exists.  Either gods exist and arise in our consciousness for natural reasons, or they don't exist at all.  Pretty sure we'll just have to agree to disagree on that.

I have said that fro the beginning when people try and define God as supernatural only.

I ask why would the natural God who made nature and everythig in it create such a place where He can only accomplish His work/will supernaturally???

How stupid would God be if he created a place that He would have to break the rules He set into place each and everytime He wanted to make something happen.

In a more syfi angle I point out that by definition God in a transdimensional being, and He and the rest of the heavenly body are indeed alien...

The version of God I created in childhood was completely uninformed by any bible learning.  While I think that version had some good selling points, I stopped buying.  I have no interest in finding any God and I think a reasonable believer has to accept that.

What if God were to 'find' you? would you be open to that?

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My answer to dirch is the same answer i gave banning . If god existed you would know who is he is . There is no way you could not .

unless you choose not to.

I choose not to know anything about bonno
I choose not to know anything about Rachel 'mad cow' on CSNBC

Yet like you and God I am aware of them.