MindForgedManacle Wrote:You interpret them to be specific and clearly fulfilled, yet that is not the case. Quote which ones you think to be the case in your next response to me, and I'll demonstrate that is the case.Let's start with the ones on Page 12.
The Reality Salesman Wrote:Yes, but what you've described is indistinguishable from you listening to yourself telling you about yourself.Of course it is. I'm describing something that happens in my own heart and mind and you're asking me to prove it to you. The only way I could prove it to you conclusively is if you could read minds.
Your description of it combined with your circular defense of it is what make it seem indistinguishable.
But I'm afraid you have a misconception of exactly what this relationship is:
9) Christianity comes from yourself.
One of the greatest reasons that Christianity cannot come from yourself is that it is counterintuitive to myself.
Let me explain:
It is in human nature to be proud and think highly of yourself, and a lot of things go along with that. One of them is not to accept that something is real unless you yourself (not YOU, but people in general) can see it. This is the reason for countless advertisers, debaters, and public speakers having to make their issue seem real and relevant to the audience, no matter how little it has to do with them. Otherwise, they will get no support for their cause.
Another effect of people's pride is not to accept what you don't fully understand. Now I'm not saying you should just believe in God without knowing what exactly it is you believe; then you wouldn't really be believing it. But I too have come across things, both in the Bible and in my life, that I don't understand what their purpose is. But these things do not make God's existence or even His benevolence impossible, if He is real then He would know better than us what needs to happen in the world to bring about a greater good in the future. Even things that appall and disgust any sound-minded person just might have a reason behind them.
So in short, my faith drives me to look beyond myself in ways it is not natural to do.