(December 20, 2011 at 1:26 am)Rhythm Wrote:I wasn't attempting to be dismissive at all. I could comment a lot more, but I'm not I'll just ask your questions as I'm not really in the mood to quibble, I'll just leave it as I'm not dismissing you but I feel it's disingenuous.
1. What I'm asking you is whether or not your thoughts and beliefs are based in reality or fantasy? My beliefs are based on my understanding of reality (as a substance dualist), but as I've personally never died, up to now it's all theory for me.
2. Perhaps explain how such a thing as hell or a soul is even possible? Imposssible to explain to a substance monist or a srict materialist, without your making concessions, which you've made well clear you won't.
3. Does hell exist? as a material physical place, then no. I've never expereinced it, nor had any personal revelations about it, or visions or NDEs. Nothing in my experience gives me any insight on Hell. I believe that no one has yet to expereince it either as the traditional connotation of Hell is defined. I have theories on it's existence, and require no tangible proof of it's "realitY" to prudently have it in my worldview.
4. What reasons do you have for whatever answer you give? Biblical exegesis
5. Do you feel that these reasons, whatever they are, are good reasons, and could you elaborate upon them? For me they are good reasons. Is the Bible a good reason for an unbeliever to believe; probably not as they usually don't believe it.
hope I answered them all
-Dave
"There ought to be a term that would designate those who actually follow the teachings of Jesus, since the word 'Christian' has been largely divorced from those teachings, and so polluted by fundamentalists that it has come to connote their polar opposite: intolerance, vindictive hatred, and bigotry." -- Philip Stater, Huffington Post
always working on cleaning my windows- me regarding Johari
always working on cleaning my windows- me regarding Johari