1. Joined
    29 Dec '08
    Moves
    6788
    18 Oct '14 15:52
    Originally posted by moonbus
    "Narada seeks enlightenment.
    Vishnu steps in.
    They travel.
    Vishnu asks Narada to do something simple.
    Narada gets distracted by complications.
    His happiness is transient.
    Then he is enlightened. "

    Yes, the process matters.

    "Nothing you do will be of any importance, but it is very important that you do it." --Gandhi
    "The situation is desperate, but not serious." ("old Viennese Saying' -Wikipedia)
  2. Standard memberCalJust
    It is what it is
    Pretoria
    Joined
    20 Apr '04
    Moves
    66659
    18 Oct '14 16:35
    Originally posted by moonbus
    For me the first crucial insight was that people are different and have different spiritual needs.

    The logical conclusion of Absolute Truth is that saving peoples' eternal souls at the cost of their temporal bodies is not only acceptable, it is an Imperative.
    Thanks, moonbus - good post.

    One fallacy of the Eternal Punishment group (of any persuasion) is that if there is ANY possibility that your child will not be "saved" one should kill it before the age of responsibility. Or not have children at all, lest they just become fuel for hellfire.

    The Christian precept of "Do unto others..." is actually another way of saying "live and let live". Would that we all followed it!
  3. Joined
    29 Dec '08
    Moves
    6788
    18 Oct '14 16:40
    Originally posted by moonbus
    "Narada seeks enlightenment.
    Vishnu steps in.
    They travel.
    Vishnu asks Narada to do something simple.
    Narada gets distracted by complications.
    His happiness is transient.
    Then he is enlightened. "

    Yes, the process matters.

    "Nothing you do will be of any importance, but it is very important that you do it." --Gandhi
    Also,

    The story as I found it does not say whether Narada is enlightened or whether the encounter has that intention. I like the uncertainty.
  4. Standard membermenace71
    Can't win a game of
    38N Lat X 121W Lon
    Joined
    03 Apr '03
    Moves
    154843
    21 Oct '14 19:25
    I just can't accept that the universe did not have a designer at this point it's based on what I see as proofs but that's for me personally and of course someone else will see the exact opposite

    Manny

    PS good stuff
  5. Joined
    10 Apr '12
    Moves
    320
    23 Oct '14 18:31
    Originally posted by wolfgang59
    I have no "faith" so I cannot answer.
    My wife says it's just a gut-feeling she cannot explain.
    Some say it's the Bible/Koran/LordoftheRings

    What is your personal basis for your faith?

    NOTE: Please NO DISCUSSION or PUT DOWNS or ARGUING.
    All honest answers are correct.
    Hebrews 11:1, "Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen."
    Abraham was known for his faith in God and came to be called God's friend.
    He obeyed God.
    James 2:19, "You believe that there is one God, do you? You are doing quite well. And yet the demons believe and shudder."
    They shudder because they are doing wrong and they have faith it is evident that they will be destroyed.
  6. Standard memberwolfgang59
    Quiz Master
    RHP Arms
    Joined
    09 Jun '07
    Moves
    48793
    23 Oct '14 21:06
    Originally posted by roigam
    Hebrews 11:1, "Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen."
    Abraham was known for his faith in God and came to be called God's friend.
    He obeyed God.
    James 2:19, "You believe that there is one God, do you? You are doing quite well. And yet the demons believe and shudder."
    They shudder because they are doing wrong and they have faith it is evident that they will be destroyed.
    So what is your basis for your own faith?
    Those bits from the bible or something else?
  7. Subscribermoonbus
    Über-Nerd
    Joined
    31 May '12
    Moves
    8210
    25 Oct '14 06:48
    "I just can't accept that the universe did not have a designer ..."

    And I can't see why it matters. Maybe there was a Clockmaker. That does not mean he's still around. Even if there WAS a Grand Designer, he might have gotten bored and gone away to design some other universe, having abandoned this one.

    Under every leaf in the garden, some creature is dismembering and devouring its prey alive; that does not look like a Grand Design to me, not one created by a benevolent Clockmaker anyway.
  8. Standard memberRJHinds
    The Near Genius
    Fort Gordon
    Joined
    24 Jan '11
    Moves
    13644
    26 Oct '14 06:19
    Originally posted by wolfgang59
    I have no "faith" so I cannot answer.
    My wife says it's just a gut-feeling she cannot explain.
    Some say it's the Bible/Koran/LordoftheRings

    What is your personal basis for your faith?

    NOTE: Please NO DISCUSSION or PUT DOWNS or ARGUING.
    All honest answers are correct.
    I base my faith on what I believe is the truth.
  9. Subscribermoonbus
    Über-Nerd
    Joined
    31 May '12
    Moves
    8210
    27 Oct '14 04:09
    Originally posted by RJHinds
    I base my faith on what I believe is the truth.
    Allow me to recommend a book to you: Faith & Belief, by Wilfred Cantwell Smith.

    http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Belief-Difference-Between-Them/dp/1851681655/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414382768&sr=1-4&keywords=wilfred+cantwell+smith

    I promise, it's nothing to do with evolution or old Earth or any other premise which you would consider contrary to Scripture. It really is just what it says on the tin.
  10. Standard membermenace71
    Can't win a game of
    38N Lat X 121W Lon
    Joined
    03 Apr '03
    Moves
    154843
    27 Oct '14 05:18
    Originally posted by moonbus
    "I just can't accept that the universe did not have a designer ..."

    And I can't see why it matters. Maybe there was a Clockmaker. That does not mean he's still around. Even if there WAS a Grand Designer, he might have gotten bored and gone away to design some other universe, having abandoned this one.

    Under every leaf in the garden, some creature is di ...[text shortened]... that does not look like a Grand Design to me, not one created by a benevolent Clockmaker anyway.
    And as I said others will see it different no argument there


    Manny
  11. Standard memberwolfgang59
    Quiz Master
    RHP Arms
    Joined
    09 Jun '07
    Moves
    48793
    27 Oct '14 07:39
    Originally posted by RJHinds
    I base my faith on what I believe is the truth.
    So your faith is based on your belief.

    I guess your belief is based on your faith.
  12. Standard memberRJHinds
    The Near Genius
    Fort Gordon
    Joined
    24 Jan '11
    Moves
    13644
    27 Oct '14 07:52
    Originally posted by wolfgang59
    So your faith is based on your belief.

    I guess your belief is based on your faith.
    No. My belief is based on the truth.
  13. Standard memberwolfgang59
    Quiz Master
    RHP Arms
    Joined
    09 Jun '07
    Moves
    48793
    27 Oct '14 08:46
    Originally posted by RJHinds
    No. My belief is based on the truth.
    So your faith is based on your belief.

    Your belief is based on the "truth".

    What do you base your "truth" on?
  14. Standard memberRJHinds
    The Near Genius
    Fort Gordon
    Joined
    24 Jan '11
    Moves
    13644
    27 Oct '14 17:43
    Originally posted by wolfgang59
    So your faith is based on your belief.

    Your belief is based on the "truth".

    What do you base your "truth" on?
    I base truth on reality that I determine through knowledge, logic, and reason.
  15. Joined
    10 Apr '12
    Moves
    320
    27 Oct '14 18:00
    Originally posted by wolfgang59
    So what is your basis for your own faith?
    Those bits from the bible or something else?
    I would say that my own faith is based on the evidence or facts even as Abraham's faith and the demons faith was. It starts with a study of the Bible and it builds as the facts are proven out. The result is not only personal faith but faith that God cares and intends to do something about the miserable state mankind is in. The problem is that we have free will and many do not want to accept God's rightful rulership over us as His creation. They do not study and see how loving and kind He is and how many the lies told about Him by Satan the Devil. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, "..among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of unbelievers..".
    To study and build faith is an option but difficult.
    It's like swimming upstream.
Back to Top

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.I Agree