False religion versus the gospel of Jesus Christ

Originally posted by Fetchmyjunk
So if you had to use one word to describe your beliefs would it be theist, agnostic, or FMFinism? I assume atheist is off the table.

What's "FMFinism"? You ought to realize by now that facetiousness of the kind you offer is water off a duck's back to me. 😉

The word "theist" is OK by me. I don't see why it should be hijacked by people who subscribe to off-the-shelf religions with creeds and codes. 'Deist' is another word that's OK by me.

Why are you hung up on labels?

Originally posted by Suzianne
Well, did this God that we cannot know create us humans? Why? Or is this *all* 'unknowable' in some 'zen' sort of way?

Like I already said, Suzianne, I don't think God has revealed Himself to any of us. And by "us" I am also referring to me. I have already described to you what my 'intuition' tells me. I have no revelation to report to you.

Originally posted by FMF
What do you mean by "what is the point"? Just because you subscribe to a retail religion and have a plethora of "points" pertaining to your theories and dogma, doesn't mean everyone - especially a non-religious person - has to offer you something similar in return. Give me an example of the kind of "point" you imagine I could make, based on what you know, in response to your question "what is the point?"

I'm just trying to get down to the answer that all of us humans have asked since the dawn of time. "Why?" "Who?" "How?" "Were we created?" and if so, for what purpose? And if not, then is this God just tolerating our presence in his world? This is what I am getting at with my question "what is the point?"

Originally posted by FMF
Like I already said, Suzianne, I don't think God has revealed Himself to any of us. And by "us" I am also referring to me. I have already described to you what my 'intuition' tells me. I have no revelation to report to you.

So it's all unknowable. See, this seems to beg the question: "what is the point?" "Why are we here?" It seems to me that, with an unknowable God, then we are just as adrift as with no God.

Originally posted by Suzianne
So it's all unknowable. See, this seems to beg the question: "what is the point?" "Why are we here?" It seems to me that, with an unknowable God, then we are just as adrift as with no God.

I am not adrift at all, Suzianne. When have I ever claimed to be adrift?

Originally posted by Suzianne
I'm just trying to get down to the answer that all of us humans have asked since the dawn of time. "Why?" "Who?" "How?" "Were we created?" and if so, for what purpose?

My answer to this is that neither you nor I have the answers to these questions. I realize you believe you have, but you've never demonstrated to me that you do.

Originally posted by FMF
Like I already said, Suzianne, I don't think God has revealed Himself to any of us. And by "us" I am also referring to me. I have already described to you what my 'intuition' tells me. I have no revelation to report to you.

Why don't you think God has revealed himself to any of us? I could maybe understand if you said God hasn't revealed himself to you. How can you claim to know for everyone?

Originally posted by FMF
I am not adrift at all, Suzianne. When have I ever claimed to be adrift?

So you are not adrift? Then you have answers? Then, please, share with us.

Or are you saying that you simply do not 'question' any of it?

Originally posted by FMF
My answer to this is that neither you nor I have the answers to these questions. I realize you believe you have, but you've never demonstrated to me that you do.

See, there is my point. With no answers, then we are all still adrift. We have questions, but no answers. That leaves us all adrift.

Originally posted by Suzianne
So you are not adrift? Then you have answers? Then, please, share with us.

Or are you saying that you simply do not 'question' any of it?

I have been reading about things like religion and philosophy all my life. It's very interesting. The human condition is like an endless field of study. "Why?" "Who?" "How?" "Were we created?" are all fascinating things to ponder, but I don't see why the fact that no one knows the answers should make me feel "adrift". As I have said many times before, if your religious affiliation assuages any feelings of being "adrift" in you, then good for you.

Originally posted by Suzianne
See, there is my point. With no answers, then we are all still adrift. We have questions, but no answers. That leaves us all adrift.

I am not adrift. You should speak for yourself.

Originally posted by Fetchmyjunk
Why don't you think God has revealed himself to any of us? I could maybe understand if you said God hasn't revealed himself to you. How can you claim to know for everyone?

I am of course talking about what has been shown to me by people who claim that God has Himself to them. Take Islam for example. I've lived here among Muslims for a long time, and while their religion is just as interesting as any other, I see no convincing reason to believe my Muslim friends' assertions that God has revealed Himself to them. Same goes for you. You seem pretty certain that God has revealed Himself to you. But I see no reason to think He has.

Originally posted by FMF
I have been reading about things like religion and philosophy all my life. It's very interesting.

Originally posted by Suzianne
See, there is my point. With no answers, then we are all still adrift. We have questions, but no answers. That leaves us all adrift.

I would describe myself as curious, fascinated, still learning, happy, at ease with myself and my family and my work etc., and - for the time being - at ease with the prospect of dying one day. So I certainly would not characterize myself as "adrift". Far from it.

Originally posted by FMF
I am of course talking about what has been shown to me by people who claim that God has Himself to them. Take Islam for example. I've lived here among Muslims for a long time, and while their religion is just as interesting as any other, I see no convincing reason to believe my Muslim friends' assertions that God has revealed Himself to them. Same goes for you. ...[text shortened]... u seem pretty certain that God has revealed Himself to you. But I see no reason to think He has.

So what would qualify as sufficient evidence in your eyes?

Originally posted by Fetchmyjunk
So what would qualify as sufficient evidence in your eyes?

The idea that God has revealed Himself to humanity by way of ancient Hebrew mythology strikes me as utterly preposterous (or more to the point, mundane and parochial). Maybe the "gut feeling"/intuitive/hard wiring thing is all the "revelation" that we're going to get. Other "evidence" will be weighed when it emerges. I am open minded.