Poll for NotReady

[NotReady]

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Is the moral that even if a Christian's cross becomes too burdensome to bear, he can still find the Lord?


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The burden is the individual's belief that he must be perfect accompanied by the guilt produced by his inability to meet that standard. The burden, yoke or cross of Christ is the loss of all the trivialities of this world for the glory that is to be revealed to us.

The loss of the classics in education has a heavy cost.

The availability of google ought to cure some of that loss.

[Hopey]

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The burden is the individual's belief that he must be perfect accompanied by the guilt produced by his inability to meet that standard.

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I do not believe that I need to be perfect. Consequently, I feel very little guilt.

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The availability of google ought to cure some of that loss.

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What if I only use Google to search for porn?

[numchuck norris]

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There is actually little difference between Muslims and Christians. They both believe that there is an omnipotent designer that pays particular attention to humans and will sometimes let them remain conscious after their death.

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Doesn't anyone else think this is a bit of an overstatement? Let's say Joe believes in a god who fits these requirements, and I say I believe in god....but he believes in a god who occasionally swoops down and eats babies, but I'm pretty sure god doesn't do that...are we talking about the same god? Yeah, it's a weak analogy, but my point is that some details are inconsequential, but some define who we're talking about.

[vhawk01]

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There is actually little difference between Muslims and Christians. They both believe that there is an omnipotent designer that pays particular attention to humans and will sometimes let them remain conscious after their death.

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Doesn't anyone else think this is a bit of an overstatement? Let's say Joe believes in a god who fits these requirements, and I say I believe in god....but he believes in a god who occasionally swoops down and eats babies, but I'm pretty sure god doesn't do that...are we talking about the same god? Yeah, it's a weak analogy, but my point is that some details are inconsequential, but some define who we're talking about.

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The central point of his post was that, even if your gods are slightly (or even significantly) different, most theists would still prefer to learn that the other guys God absolutely, 100% exists, because its close enough for comfort. It makes sense. No intelligent Christian would claim he has a 100% accurate view of God, so if he found out he was wrong on a few choice details, so what?

The objection will be that all Christians (and perhaps Jews and Muslims?) would actually prefer NOT to know, because that eliminates faith, which is crucial. Many theists might claim this, but I'm skeptical. I think most would find it a relief.

[PairTheBoard]

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After death, all people, Christians and non-Christians, simply merge with the Deity in a loving embrace.

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that's a load off my mind

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Think how many man-hours, billions of dollars, and 'human suffering units' PTB's revelation would have on mankind. I don't mean that as an insult to PTB, it really would be great if everyone accepted that...I just don't think its very likely.

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Actually, that's Sullivan's viewpoint. However, I think you might be suprised at how many Religious or Spiritually Inclined people basically agree with it.

PairTheBoard

[vhawk01]

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After death, all people, Christians and non-Christians, simply merge with the Deity in a loving embrace.

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that's a load off my mind

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Think how many man-hours, billions of dollars, and 'human suffering units' PTB's revelation would have on mankind. I don't mean that as an insult to PTB, it really would be great if everyone accepted that...I just don't think its very likely.

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Actually, that's Sullivan's viewpoint. However, I think you might be suprised at how many Religious or Spiritually Inclined people basically agree with it.

PairTheBoard

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I wonder. One of us would certainly be surprised. I hope you are correct, and I am well aware that my sample is biased, but it seems to be that a major positive in choosing to live your life according to some strict code is that you get the benefit and other people don't. Of course, 'strict code' might be an exaggeration for the majority of theists, but they might not see it that way. Anyhow, it seems to me that the type of theists would would agree with your statement, even if they are much greater in number than I'd expect, aren't the ones with the power or the voice or the ones causing the problems.

[arahant]

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What are you so caught up with this 'troll' business? I never called you a troll.

I just wanted an answer to the question from the other thread, which you wouldn't answer for some reason. It seemed like a straightforward question to me.

Fortunately, somebody went and dug up an answer you'd given 8 months ago. It wasn't a totally clear answer, but it did get close to the question.

Why make us guess what your stance is on these issues? You could have just said what you thought instead of telling us to read Romans.

FWIW, It's this kind of avoidance that makes other posters (again, not me) call you a troll.

I am genuinely curious why you refuse to answer some questions. Is it because you think ahead a step or two about the implications of your beliefs and find that the conclusions are indefensible? Or are you just being difficult?

[PairTheBoard]

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After death, all people, Christians and non-Christians, simply merge with the Deity in a loving embrace.

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that's a load off my mind

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Think how many man-hours, billions of dollars, and 'human suffering units' PTB's revelation would have on mankind. I don't mean that as an insult to PTB, it really would be great if everyone accepted that...I just don't think its very likely.

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Actually, that's Sullivan's viewpoint. However, I think you might be suprised at how many Religious or Spiritually Inclined people basically agree with it.

PairTheBoard

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I wonder. One of us would certainly be surprised. I hope you are correct, and I am well aware that my sample is biased, but it seems to be that a major positive in choosing to live your life according to some strict code is that you get the benefit and other people don't. Of course, 'strict code' might be an exaggeration for the majority of theists, but they might not see it that way. Anyhow, it seems to me that the type of theists would would agree with your statement, even if they are much greater in number than I'd expect, aren't the ones with the power or the voice or the ones causing the problems.

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Maybe. But like Bob Dylan once said, "The times they are a changin".

PairTheBoard

[vhawk01]

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After death, all people, Christians and non-Christians, simply merge with the Deity in a loving embrace.

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that's a load off my mind

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Think how many man-hours, billions of dollars, and 'human suffering units' PTB's revelation would have on mankind. I don't mean that as an insult to PTB, it really would be great if everyone accepted that...I just don't think its very likely.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, that's Sullivan's viewpoint. However, I think you might be suprised at how many Religious or Spiritually Inclined people basically agree with it.

PairTheBoard

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I wonder. One of us would certainly be surprised. I hope you are correct, and I am well aware that my sample is biased, but it seems to be that a major positive in choosing to live your life according to some strict code is that you get the benefit and other people don't. Of course, 'strict code' might be an exaggeration for the majority of theists, but they might not see it that way. Anyhow, it seems to me that the type of theists would would agree with your statement, even if they are much greater in number than I'd expect, aren't the ones with the power or the voice or the ones causing the problems.

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Maybe. But like Bob Dylan once said, "The times they are a changin".

PairTheBoard

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I guess we disagree there as well! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] They are a'changin', but it sure doesn't seem like they are changing in the right direction.

[revots33]

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Actually, that's Sullivan's viewpoint. However, I think you might be suprised at how many Religious or Spiritually Inclined people basically agree with it.

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I dunno, it sounds nice and all - but it seems a little new-agey. It also sounds a lot like people inventing their own religion whenever they find things they don't like about the original one.

Don't get me wrong, I like yours (and Sullivan's) better... but it bears little similarity to what's in the bible. I'm not sure Christians are allowed to rewrite the fundamental rules as they see fit and still call themsleves Christians.