Book of Acts: Pure Fantasy

[brotherlylove]

[So how come BarJesus and other heretics could work magic?

You might have missed this from my orignal reply:

Also, in the Christian worldview, we accept the supernatural claims of other religions. What we reject is their explanation for these events. What scripture says is that Satan also has supernatural power, and as the bible indicates, he can disguise himself as an angel of light, and his ministers, ministers of righteousness. He has the supernatural power to create what the bible calls "lying signs and wonders". He can back up belief in a false god with supernatural evidence.

So, it is the same principle. Not a power from man, but a power from Satan through man.

Because there's no evidence to back up their claim. I can tell you I met God today who told me to tell you to put down the Bible and use only science and reason to understand your world. Do you believe me?

I'd believe it if He confirmed it to me.

I've said it before. Heal Stephen Hawking. Make him walk and talk again. I'll be on my knees a second later.

You should investigate the life of Smith Wigglesworth sometime.

Because my beliefs don't contradict what we know of how the universe works.

According to every atheist and atheistic scientist I've ever heard of, they do. However you want to chop up your "mysterious mind", you are posulating intelligent design and special creation. Those words make atheists ears bleed.

It could. So, let's move beyond the hypothetical. Show me.

I have prayed for you to receive a sign, and faith.

It depends on how you define "the supernatural". I think if we had infinite knowledge, we'd know the nature, properties and limitations of God. Would God still be supernatural, then?

You mean to say that if you were to become omniscient you would understand how God is not omniscient? Doesn't seem like you can get around it. Anything which transcends this material reality is technically supernatural.

How/why do you think God is limited?

This is probably my "favorite" apologetic argument (by which I mean the most laughably f-ed up).

You have to have the Holy Spirit to understand the Bible.

You get the Holy Spirit by believing the Bible.

But you have to understand something before you can say you sincerely believe it.

So you have to believe the Bible before you can understand it and you have to understand it in order to believe it.

Catch 22 anyone?

Romans 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith comes by hearing the gospel, that is why God ordered us to preach it.

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My advice to brotherly love, from very personal experience, Christianity will eventually disappoint you. It is attractive to you because you are a spiritual person. You seek happiness and joy but it will not be found in a European/Middle Eastern religion. It is too corrupt and it's theology is warped. You already sense this. I would advise someone like you to check out Buddhism. You will be much more at home in it. Unfortunately, you may face social isolation and greater uniqueness in following the Middle Way of the Buddha, but over time, it will be revealed as the greatest truth one could embody and enjoy! Life is a journey not a destination!

Nice to meet you BGood. I appreciate your advice but I do have happiness and joy. What is your experience with Christianity?

Before I had faith in Jesus Christ, I had practiced some aspects of zen buddhism. I seeked to empty myself of self, and I believed in karma/maya conceptions. I have found that buddhism is right in that the self is the issue, but getting rid of it isn't the solution, and that you couldn't even if you wanted to. The self is one part body one part soul and one part spirit. And it isn't simply a matter of conditioning your heart and mind to excise what is corrupt, because the heart is endlessly corrupt and the mind simply justifies everything it wants and does.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

The solution is to receive a new heart and spirit to replace the corrupt ones we are born with.

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."

We receive these things from the only perfect man to ever walk the Earth, and that is Jesus Christ. He defeated death and sin and made the way for us. I know buddhism believes in reincarnation but scripture says it is appointed for man to die once and then the judgement. So, we don't have any do overs.