Originally posted by FMF
As far as I can tell, I think sonship was just trying to score some kind of point.

Originally posted by Suzianne
The quote suggests that Hemingway's point was that All men have a commonality in life and in death. It's only the details that make them unique.

This seems rather obvious to me, but what can you do?

Originally posted by Suzianne
No. Most Christians, contrary to the seeming belief of most atheists, do not, at least in my experience, suffer from your #2, "increasing trepidation about the finality of death".

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
I agree with your "It's only the details that make them unique." ... and of those details the most crucial is the decision whether to be for or opposed to Christ.

Originally posted by FMF
And having made the decision to believe in Christ do you now believe that your physical death is going to be followed by an after life? Yes, you do. This is a merely a coping strategy on your part. Personally, constructing or subscribing to these speculative or superstitious self-assurances seem to be a poor use of one's human capacities during this finite time during which we live.

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
No worries.

All who die having rejected Christ will one day be in the awesome presence of God at The Great White Throne Judgment.

No exceptions.

Originally posted by FMF
And you use up *how much* of your life ruminating on this speculation/superstition?

And another question: would your family life and raising your children, for example, all have been somehow meaningless to you if you hadn't been reassuring yourself in the face of the finality of death all along?

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
It appears you're projecting from a mid life crisis. For me it began as curiosity: 'If there is a God and you're up there somewhere, I'd like to know you'. Over the decades I've learned who He is and am grateful His Plan included me.

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
It appears you're projecting from a mid life crisis. For me it began as curiosity: 'If there is a God and you're up there somewhere, I'd like to know you'. Over the decades I've learned who He is and am grateful His Plan included me.

Originally posted by FMF
No I am not projecting from a "mid life crisis" ~ but I have seen attempts like this to poison the well [from which 'relaxed friendly conversation draws'] several times before on this forum. I am going to commandeer some of SwissGambit's words [with modifications] because he put it very well:

I feel more in touch with reality now that I have discarded Christi ...[text shortened]... It is a great relief that nothing is 'holy' - I can doubt anyone. Any statement I want. Openly.

Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
Glad you're happy. Whom do you think SG is trying to convince with a biographical counterpoint? If it's authentic, just live it.

Life.

The real life cannot be killed and cannot be destroyed.
Any life that can be killed or destroyed is like a shadow of the real life.

The real life is a perfect life.
Any life that is imperfect is not the ultimate life but kind of a shadow of it.

Every life we know naturally mysteriously had a beginning in some birth or germination in nature. How life begins we don't really understand. But so far we see that there had to be BE life preceeding for life to be born or be germinated afterwards.

The Ultimate life had no beginning and is eternal. That ultimate source of everything is a life that always was.

Our brains at this point reel. How could there be a life that always was ???

The real life, the ultimate life was manifested on the earth in history. Some followers touched it, heard it, saw it, handled it, and testified to it. That ultimate divine life of God became flesh and they 12 first disciples witnessed Him.

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the word of life (And the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and report to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us);

That which we have seen and heard we report also to you that you may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write that our joy may be made full." (1 John 1:1-4)

The Ultimate Life the ultimate Person is experiencial and enjoyable. Yet this Person is also astounding and perplexing.

That is why the Trinity is astounding and perplexing. Is God one or three ?
He is three - one.

But what is that? It is a boggle to the mind and a scandelous mystery that Christians have to bear. People ask hard questions and we have to gloriously bear the embarrassment of being unable to explain the impossible.


God, the eternal life is a life beyond expected limitations as we know them. He is Father and Son and Holy Spirit. The word Triune is not in the Bible. But it is useful. Neither is the word "Trinity" in the Bible. But it is useful to describe a great mystery.

This is a mystery of the eternal life which we cannot explain. BUT ... we can enjoy and experience this three-one God who is the uncreated Divine Life.

Originally posted by sonship

Originally posted by FMF
[b]Life.

The real life cannot be killed and cannot be destroyed.
Any life that can be killed or destroyed is like a shadow of the real life.

The real life is a perfect life.
Any life that is imperfect is not the ultimate life but kind of a shadow of it.

Every life we know naturally mysteriously had a beginning in some birth or germination in nat ...[text shortened]... if THAT is your "life" ~ then good for you. If it gives your life a sense of purpose, then good.

I do understand where you are coming from with this. I've been there, remember. But isn't all this stuff [above] simply good for a long dinner party chat or a thought-provoking self-help book or a hobby idea that you carry around with you?