@John 6IX Breezy
1. Fair enough. Any discussion I might have in regards to belief or faith or deity is only interesting to me in the subjective. I don't care to get off into the weeds of philosophy and higher mind contemplating in a purely objective argument. I care about the discussion as it relates to the utility in people's lives, in MY life. In that way, the "debate" on the issues may have already proven fruitless before we started. But I prefer this as a group of folks at a barbecue rather than Greek philosophers arguing the nature of thought and existence at the capital steps. So, biased? Yes, I'll take it.
2. Again, as far as utility and an Abrahamic God perspective, THAT God exists for worship. If we get into the philosophical at the expense of utility and actual day to day use, I'll step out of that particular discussion because it's boring. I am a 30 year old man with a dog and a country farm, with family that I would do anything for. And I don't find worship or faith in imagination compelling. That's where we're at.
3. I'd need you to define your terms better, please. In regards to the Trinity. Because every branch of Christianity likes to put its own spin on that conundrum. In Mormonism, where I came from, they are pantheist because they believe Jesus Christ is a totally separate being than God, that he's the actual born son of God and that they were always separate in this way. After my shelf broke, I looked into Christianity but the further I looked the more dissatisfied I became with the answers to these questions. I stopped believing that Jesus even existed as I researched the Bible and found that the things that were written about him were not first hand accounts by the book's titled authors.
Have you ever seen Jesus Christ? Have you physically had a conversation with him? Can you allow me to experience these things? I will not accept "feelings". In Mormonism, that is the basis of your testimony, did you know? The Holy Ghost is that "still small voice" inside your head. it is how you talk to God and Christ, through these inner feelings. It is how you are monitored to keep even your thoughts pure so you remain worthy. Spirituality now feels like an attack to me, trying to turn my inner voice, my intuition, and my own thoughts into agents and tools for God. I will not accept this "personal Christ" who would try to superimpose himself upon my inner world, possessing me and puppeteering my own inner feelings for his use. So. Have you physically touched Christ and how can I also do so?
In the end, even if you gave me a step by step to touching Christ physically and meeting with him, I would not be able to see him as anything other than another man, a physical being. Even if he showed examples of his powers. Sooo...an alien? Which I will not accept as a "God" nor will I worship.
1. Fair enough. Any discussion I might have in regards to belief or faith or deity is only interesting to me in the subjective. I don't care to get off into the weeds of philosophy and higher mind contemplating in a purely objective argument. I care about the discussion as it relates to the utility in people's lives, in MY life. In that way, the "debate" on the issues may have already proven fruitless before we started. But I prefer this as a group of folks at a barbecue rather than Greek philosophers arguing the nature of thought and existence at the capital steps. So, biased? Yes, I'll take it.
2. Again, as far as utility and an Abrahamic God perspective, THAT God exists for worship. If we get into the philosophical at the expense of utility and actual day to day use, I'll step out of that particular discussion because it's boring. I am a 30 year old man with a dog and a country farm, with family that I would do anything for. And I don't find worship or faith in imagination compelling. That's where we're at.
3. I'd need you to define your terms better, please. In regards to the Trinity. Because every branch of Christianity likes to put its own spin on that conundrum. In Mormonism, where I came from, they are pantheist because they believe Jesus Christ is a totally separate being than God, that he's the actual born son of God and that they were always separate in this way. After my shelf broke, I looked into Christianity but the further I looked the more dissatisfied I became with the answers to these questions. I stopped believing that Jesus even existed as I researched the Bible and found that the things that were written about him were not first hand accounts by the book's titled authors.
Have you ever seen Jesus Christ? Have you physically had a conversation with him? Can you allow me to experience these things? I will not accept "feelings". In Mormonism, that is the basis of your testimony, did you know? The Holy Ghost is that "still small voice" inside your head. it is how you talk to God and Christ, through these inner feelings. It is how you are monitored to keep even your thoughts pure so you remain worthy. Spirituality now feels like an attack to me, trying to turn my inner voice, my intuition, and my own thoughts into agents and tools for God. I will not accept this "personal Christ" who would try to superimpose himself upon my inner world, possessing me and puppeteering my own inner feelings for his use. So. Have you physically touched Christ and how can I also do so?
In the end, even if you gave me a step by step to touching Christ physically and meeting with him, I would not be able to see him as anything other than another man, a physical being. Even if he showed examples of his powers. Sooo...an alien? Which I will not accept as a "God" nor will I worship.
