Religious debate (split from main board)

#2,351
#2,351
g8terh8ter_eric said:
Let me ask you something then...

Do you feel like it has gotten more complicated as you have gotten older, or more simple as you have believed longer?? It's gotten much easier for me, mainly because I stopped complicating it by trying to understand everything in the Bible, because you just can't understand every little detail that the Bible teaches, because it can change 4 times if you read it 4 times. That's mainly because the Bible gives you what you need out of it each time you read it. I've stopped trying to discern everything, just makes it easier on my spirit. Sometimes a Christian tries to learn too much at once, ya know??
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Aspects have become easier, but not all of them. I still weigh heavily a lot of things....when I stop long enough to sit still with them. I'm an analyzer...it sucks in a lot of ways, but has some other benefits. I kind of like staying in a sort of unevenness. I have a hard time moving out of multiplicity/relativism ... that's my biggest struggle, yet I think that I have to at some point to really get to where I should be (but don't want to be...because I often revert back to the "many roads" ways of thought).
 
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#2,355
#2,355
:)

So, to address the three that I mentioned...

I'm called to see good and inter-connectedness in a lot of religions/spiritual pathways, but they conflict, and separating the wheat from the chaff is murky water.

My brain jumps up and objects to things that I am generally called toward or generally compelled to believe.

I have a hard time accepting that there is one way, or arguing that my way is better than your way, etc. With this comes an inability to commit to one's ideas and belief structures as fully as they might otherwise be able to. I convinced myself when I was about 16 that the pinnacle of thought was to be accepting of every idea, being open-minded, and believing that what is good for me is not necessarily good for you. While there is value in some of that, I no longer believe that is the pinnacle of thought...the problem is that I can't shake it...
 
#2,356
#2,356
TennTradition said:
:)

So, to address the three that I mentioned...

I'm called to see good and inter-connectedness in a lot of religions/spiritual pathways, but they conflict, and separating the wheat from the chaff is murky water.

My brain jumps up and objects to things that I am generally called toward or generally compelled to believe.

I have a hard time accepting that there is one way, or arguing that my way is better than your way, etc. With this comes an inability to commit to one's ideas and belief structures as fully as they might otherwise be able to. I convinced myself when I was about 16 that the pinnacle of thought was to be accepting of every idea, being open-minded, and believing that what is good for me is not necessarily good for you. While there is value in some of that, I no longer believe that is the pinnacle of thought...the problem is that I can't shake it...
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So, you have a tendency to over-analyze things, don't you??
 
#2,358
#2,358
TennTradition said:
I do. It's a strength in some ways, a weakness in others. It is what it is.

It's not always over-analysis, either. Sometimes it just thinking...and an over-bearing desire to be intellectually honest and fair.
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Sometimes faith is easier than anything else we seek answers for. Because at the end of the day, we believe for reasons we don't know or understand, and it may not be right for us to understand it when we are searching for it. It is comforting though that God reveals it to us when we are ready.
 
#2,359
#2,359
Oldvol75 said:
When a non-believer looks at the Bible, I have found in my experience thats its more in line to disprove the Bible. There are exceptions, for example when someone is at the end of their rope, so to speak. But I also feel that during this time,(end of their rope), that it is the Holy Spirit that is leading them to God's word. For His purpose.

But for a non-believer (someone that is reading the Bible just for the sake of reading it) to claim understanding of the word and what it truly means, is not possible. The Holy Spirit is required for understanding.

Yes a Christian is to plant a seed, but as has been said here, there is preperation that is involved before that seed takes hold. Prayer being the main one followed by effective witnessing. But with that said, we must also allow God to cause the seed to grow. As Paul said, paraphrase here, I have planted, Apolos watered, but God gives the increase.

I pray for those on here every night that a seed may be planted.
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One of the staunches defenders of the bible was a non believer who read the bible in order to disprove every thing and God showed him the path to salvation.

Not to mention he found several answers wrong on the Mensa examination.
 
#2,361
#2,361
Two things I find interesting:

1) What are your views on the Ark, God's throne on Earth as described in the Bible or something more?

2) The Book of Ezekiel, bad acid trip? What in the hell do you think he was describing?
 
#2,362
#2,362
KB5252 said:
Two things I find interesting:

1) What are your views on the Ark, God's throne on Earth as described in the Bible or something more?

2) The Book of Ezekiel, bad acid trip? What in the hell do you think he was describing?
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I don't know, but I saw an interesting show on the history channel last night that said Ezekiel was really describing an alien encounter. It sounded absurd at first, but it really got me thinking. If you take into account the limited way they would have had to describe such events, the interpretation can make sense.
 
#2,363
#2,363
rjd970 said:
I don't know, but I saw an interesting show on the history channel last night that said Ezekiel was really describing an alien encounter. It sounded absurd at first, but it really got me thinking. If you take into account the limited way they would have had to describe such events, the interpretation can make sense.
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I know the program you are talking about, the Dutch author of "Chariots of the God's", he has some pretty far out theories but I must admit that even before I ever heard of him I had considered some of the same things. In fact I am open to the possibility, as I have said before my beliefs are different than most Christians and view things with an open mind.
 
#2,364
#2,364
KB5252 said:
I know the program you are talking about, the Dutch author of "Chariots of the God's", he has some pretty far out theories but I must admit that even before I ever heard of him I had considered some of the same things. In fact I am open to the possibility, as I have said before my beliefs are different than most Christians and view things with an open mind.
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The part I found most interesting was how his belief in ancient alien encounters is entirely consistent with his belief in God, and the Bible provides detailed descriptions that it happened. I don't know, just goes to show a belief in God can be inserted anywhere and scriptural interpretation can fit any purview.
 
#2,365
#2,365
rjd970 said:
The part I found most interesting was how his belief in ancient alien encounters is entirely consistent with his belief in God, and the Bible provides detailed descriptions that it happened. I don't know, just goes to show a belief in God can be inserted anywhere and scriptural interpretation can fit any purview.
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If you take into account the angels and "chariots of fire" mentioned in the Bible it does seem to mesh fairly well with alien encounters.

I watched a show on Stephen Hawking last night and his quest to explain everything. Interesting stuff. I'm already fairly familiar with the views of the guy you are talking about already
 
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