An interesting question and thoughtful subquestions. I believe that God created the heavens and the Earth as the bible says. There is of course where the trouble lies. People who hold that science holds all the answers are opposed to people who take the bible literally. I like both. To suggest that God is a multidementional being could be right or wrong. I guess that would depend on whether or not that kind of existence would be in the form of some star trek imagination or in some other tangible reality, either way, we could not discover that, though physics teaches us that such dementions exist, at least theoretically. But the question remains in the reality perception. If God did create time then he does exist and as we cannot see him then he exists outside of time so that time is of no consequence to him. That would explain much. Prophecy in the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament in the life of his son Jesus Christ. That then means that we have to tug at the thread of the plurality of God (Elohim), God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. God created Man in his own image and we have the same triune nature, body, soul, and spirit in the image of God. The problem then is sin. Rebellion from God. Original sin. That changed the very nature of God's created perfection, the earth and man, and also the nature of our relationship with him. God made succedeing covenants with different men that leads ultimately to Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross for the redemption of our sin. God's plan also involves the restoration of creation back to its original perfection. I will leave that there for now, and hope I get honest discussion on the topic. I wanted to address what you thought without trying to prove you wrong which would not be useful as I percieve that you are makeing an honest inquirey.
If you search without finding anything, is your search in vain? Have you defined your threshold of acceptence? or does it stay just short so that rejection without absolute proof? Just asking, not hostile.
a form of reality. no teacher ever had the final absolute truth on the first pass. WE are learning it. The spirit of christ is within all who sustain honor over belief. WE are it learning of itself, in this dimension; NOW!
Why does it have to be a paradox, or unsolvable puzzle? God is total utility in that we can know him and his purpose through Jesus his son. No technology will ever reveal a God that can only be known with existential knowledge by accepting the sacrifice of his Son and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That is the clear path that God has set before us. It involves conscious choice.
Awesome question. I'm in my 40's now and what I have discovered is that I will never stop wondering and searching. I would love nothing more than to find the peace-of-mind many religious people have with their genuine faith, but "the spirit" has yet to take hold, so I keep looking and asking questions. Maybe I'm not asking the right questions. I sincerely adore many very religious people. I have no hostility toward most religions, but I have my prejudices too, I won't lie. I'm also not anti organized religion as I believe it has its place in the world. Honestly, I am just a seeker.
You are right, we are here and now, and for us there will not be more. But God, who is infinate, is knowable and he has provided a way to know him.
My two favorite books in the Bible are the gospel of John, and the book of Romans, and from those two books the whole of the Bible opens up wide. I have read both many times and I learn something new every time. I too was a seeker, but I came to a point that I realized truth is Jesus and that we frail humans have the strength through the power of the Holy Spirit to over come our fallen natures. I have never been more free...or sure.
The drunk guy on the horse is highly saturated with buzz words and pretty angels and fairies that give milk and honey, since he's forgiven by a guy who supposedly died for his sins, but didnt stay dead. Some kid pointed that out to me. anyway, ever seeking is evolving within the body of nature (all mass, all time, all energy). You so happen to awaken each period of day to learn, contribute and exist longer. The pinnacle is when each can understand their purpose as early in age as possible. i liken it to contributing to the book of life (an owners manuel). I have simple sights, but what war unfolds
Its easy peasy. As you know the lord, live the lord. One day at a time. God wants us to know him, and if we want to know him he will be found. That has been my experience...finally. - - - Updated - - - OK. Can you clarify that (those) thought(s)?
I just don't accept that fact that Jesus was God Incarnate... that goes against my belief system. Now sure- we need prophets to guide us but I can't swallow that pill that Jesus was God. - - - Updated - - - My concepts of heaven and the afterlife and God are not those principles followed by any faith, which is troubling.
If Jesus was not God, then who else could he be? Just a man? He said that "I AM" the way, the truth, and the life and no man comes to the father except through me. And he said "I AM" the door. Those are two of Jesus' I AM statements in the book of John, he is saying that he is God, the pharacees understood that he was saying that he was God and they wanted to stone him for it. Plus there are many other proofs that Jesus is God in the Bible, Isaiah says the he would be God with us in his prophecies. If you are following your own path of faith in what or who you do not know, not to put too fine a point on it, I think its possible that you may be disappointed in the result.
I simply do not believe that Jesus was God. Who was he? I don't know- did he actually exist? A lot of many people's religious faith comes from their upbringing like me, raised a RC and was an altar boy. I just don't buy the whole ball of wax. I believe there is a Universal religion followed by people from countless planets across the Universe that believes in God and little else matters. When you look at religion from a Universal point of view, Jesus becomes a detail.
I already stated that I'm not, but I'll humour you as it may be a difference in what we consider nihilism. What do you consider nihilism to be? I note that you're still attacking the medium rather than the message. Not that i have an issue with that, but you seemed to be implying that you wanted to discuss the issue rather than my personality. Perhaps I misunderstood.
the majority dont good bet be honest first belief is just an opinion how the universe works, is only ONE way
and after all that talk of being a god. he didnt do a damn thing to stop the liar. IF he was killed, then walked back up, showed the marks, slapped the leaders like punks and showed the world that what was promised (understanding) is now, then you would have a good case. but ub stead, each of the gospels tell a different story. He said, watch for the signs because some prick it coming and be certain he aint nothing like i am John 14:30
What if the truth is not Jesus ? or rather, do you ever think that the Bible may not represent God very well.
that should be a thread on each belief. let people honor the good of each and smash the holohoax of each
My concept is similar to Scientology or LDS in concept... I believe there is a God that is worshipped on countless planets. This one God, maker of the whole Universe, is universally worshipped. Who is this God? In the simplest form, He exists and He created the Universe, so there could be sentient life throughout the Universe. I see a future where we meet sentient beings from other planets one day and I bet you that they have this sort of "Universal approach" concept of God that I believe. I think Jesus just gets in the way because people end up praying and worshipping Jesus, not God. And I bet you every planet has it's own Jesus or Mohammed... but they all worship the same one God. Is this enough to start a belief system? I think it is. As far as the New Testament, I'll stick with the "Jefferson Bible".
Stop reading comic books, watching action adventure movies and playing violent video games. Find a nice quiet place to go with friend. Talk about family, friends, life over a burger, or beer, or salad. Laugh a bit and breathe in the fresh air, look at a green tree in a forest and hear the wind whisper in the leaves. Dance, sing, laugh. After a few years of that reread your original post and see how it sounds.
Did my best to wade through that...The Gospels tell the same story with a different focus, audience, and purpose. - - - Updated - - - Jesus is the truth. The Bible represents God perfectly.
If God created the universe what did he use for its raw material? The universe is a very large place. Is God larger or smaller than the universe? If God had a son does he have any daughters? The Bible says that God eats and drinks. What did he do for food before creation? Since the universe didn't fall into chaos when God died why is he necessary now?
