Reading The Bible Properly Can Improve One's Reasoning Skills.

Please know that by Christian theology, U are property of God and not the other way around. In any case, anyone with a high school certificate should be wise enough to read the old testament in context: it was written for possibly bronze or maybe iron age men (or something like that): my advice to you about application of the bible is to first start with a social need/concern that U think u can fulfill//contribute (homelessness, hunger etc) then be encouraged by Jesus in new testament for His actions and teachings towards helping the poor (good Samaritan story, sheep vs goats parable etc) and only use the old testament for reference use only/ for deeper study: otherwise U are just wasting your time and confusing yourself and find yourself worse off at the end of the day.

The bible must be read with pure heart/ good intentions (help others/ the poor): if U read it for selfish intentions, I think that harm will befall you.

 

Speculating again I see ("I think") .... uncertainty abounds in your comments.

 

One would think. But just browse thru the tough questions thread. It will be crystal clear that isn't the case.

From your last sentence. One doesn't need be christian to help others/poor.
What is the harm you speak of?

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Are you denying change a posters quotes.

Prove this is speculation.
http://www.politicalforum.com/showthread.php?t=381938&p=1064567350#post1064567350

 

For the avoidance of doubt, I agree that the first 5 senses should generally take PRECEEDENCE over the 6th as the 6th is based upon intangible fact(s).

Unfortunately, we often have to use our 6th sense when deciding where our faith lies (faith in business partner, choice of university course, choice of spouse etc) because individually, none of the 5 basic senses are conclusive enough.

 

Were the words which I quoted NOT a part of what you stated? My select quotation was to place emphasis on your choice of words. The two words "equally valid" can be used to express many things to include such a statement as "one thing can be equally valid with respect to another thing".

 

I am not denying intuition. It just needs to be done with caution. Many bad things occurred because of intuition. As well as good things.
And if there is one who's job is to deceive, intuition would be ripe for using. See heaven's gate, jim jones, changing quotes of one's posts, etc.

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Exactly, and your changing of the original posters quotes means you tried to show what the original posters intent was. But it only shows the dishonesty, while trying to get one's own version to be the intent.

 

Wrong again.... another presumption on your part. Presuming to know what my intent was. Now show PROOF of that 'intent' that you think I had.

 

God creates reality although because that also includes 'free will', people can choose to disobey etc.

Jesus was just sharing His enlightened thoughts. Christians believe that Jesus, a memby of the holy Trinity, is (/the equivalent of) = God.

Just as free will is ubiquitous, so is enlightenment to those who seek it through Jesus Christ. Just as the sun is comforting on a cold winters day, likewise does enlightenment give enduring warmth and susteinance to those faithful to His ways...

 

They weren't my words or my quotes. You, nor I, know the real intent of the original quotes. So changing them to something different, is with intent to change the original quote.
Had you just commented without adding your own 'quote', is one thing, but to represent it as the orginial quote, by using the quote function is dishonest.

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http://www.politicalforum.com/showthread.php?t=381938&p=1064567350#post1064567350
Here, for your pleasure 1 more time.

When you cut out the orginal quote and replace with your own version of the quote. The intent is crystal clear. Else you wouldn't use the quote ' '.

 

'eternal paradise with God' could also be a metaphor for 'enlightenment': biblical details are scanty compared to the robustness of conventional theology, much of which I have thus far concluded was just personal embellishment by greedy preachers and pseudo-theologens. Whilst just a self-study bible reader, I personally believe that enlightenment is the highest reward of Christian (bible) study: belief afterall requires faith: unenlightened faith I believe is no more than blind faith: the same type of faith that the invertebrate gambler places in the public lottery bet that he bought with his last penny.

 

There is such a thing as 'blind faith,' which I dont participate in.

Scripture says that 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God." Verbal was the only way of relaying the Gospel in those days, so today could also be said of 'reading the Word of God."

The Word of God is described as

Hebrews 4:12 "For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

It is alive and accomplishes the things mentioned in the verse. Faith is a product as well as judgment to those who dont receive it......

 

Your more recent words were:
"Exactly, and your changing of the original posters quotes means you tried to show what the original posters intent was."

Keeping in context to your entire statement above.... You made a declaration stating what you believe I tried to do. That is the equivalent of attempting to show what my intent was. Are you a mind reader? No? Then you have no idea of what was in my mind at the time that I made the partial quote (other than what I stated previously... to place emphasis on the choice of words). Outside of that you have shown your own attempt to fix my comment to have the meaning that you want it to have. Hello pot.

BTW: The link you provided is defective.
Also.. My apologies for stating that it was your choice of words that I quoted.

 

I speak from personal experience.

Believing in Jesus Christ is no perquisite to help others although Jesus Christ is a good example to follow.

I have previously suggested that the bible is like nuclear technology: very powerful and useful only in the right hands (disciplined, professional, incorruptible and committed people): otherwise, its use will backfire just like Fukushima nuclear disaster where the public board of enquiry declared the disaster a largely avoidable mishap due to negligent cooling system power generator position/ design (too low to avoid anticipated tsunami damage caused).

 

'eternal paradise with God' can mean anything anyone wants it to be.
But we are talking what christians mean it to be. That is a place in God's kingdom. And if not in God's kingdom, then in a place of eternal torment. That is the christian version.
Now if you want an off shoot of that meaning, then christianity as we know it, isn't the religion you should be using.

And to achieve that enlightened faith you speak of, means living it whole. What is to become of those that follow the 99% of mainstream christianity? Does everyone need this enlightened version of your christianity?

 

The link should now work.
Yes, I used the words, you tried to show. Because the original quotes are still active. And your version of the original quotes are different. You did use the quote function and changed the original quote. Instead of giving your personal interpretation of what you thought was the original quotes intent. See the difference? You changed the quote when you requoted.

 

Another analogy is that the Word of God is described as a "2-edged sword.'

A cutting implement can kill as well as 'heal' if used as a scalpel in the hands of a skilled surgeon...

 

Thus my previous caveat that intentions must be pure to begin with otherwise all facts obtained by 5senses will be flawed and likewise conclusion based upon 6th sense (faith) will in consequence be flawed.

That doesn't mean that ALL faith is flawed, it just means that the devil is in the details and it could be all well if only the intentions to begin with were at first instance (and thereafter also) = pure.

 

It is what actually exists.
It is also jealous of Fantasy Worlds that people invent and believe in.

 

In my original handy work, I used the quote function and then highlighted three words of text to place emphasis on those three words. That is not considered altering a quote. When I used the quotation marks later in that same posting, I was explaining my rationale behind challenging those words. So try again.

 

Do you not thing the majority of cult leaders don't think their intent was pure at the beginning? Pure is subjective.
And the devil is in the details, means the devil could make one think their intentions are pure, how is the person to know? Not that I believe there is a devil.

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No need. It is there for all to see.
Your original 'handy work'?

 

Reality is what exists.
Reality gives birth to Truth as it unfolds.
Truth is the son-of-Reality and is formed in the same image as Reality.

Reality is the one power which demands we adapt to it,or we become extinct.
Reality is the all powerful God of the Bible, and "His" son is Truth.

 

What actually exists? "is" = "be" = "exists". Therefore, to say that "God is....." makes a declaration that 'God exists'.

Now you are proclaiming that an 'it' has human emotions. What is the "it" that you reference?

 

God makes the final decision, human statistics on %population baptised, %self-declared Christian etc etc won't count one dime...

I have faith in my personal effort to study/ debate the bible well. Admittedly, it is still work in progress, however, I am old enough to not take people at face value. The more established a religion is, the more counterfeit preachers there are. I can only say that enlightenment is bestowed on those who honestly seek: for the rest, there is such a thing as self-delusion: like a dog chasing its own tail, basically a waste of one's life pursuing what is BOTH stupid and unattainable too...

IIRC, beatitudes did say first will be last and vice versa correct?... Guess the 99% will have to answer to that...

 

You're right... it is there for all to see. For all to see that you have been spinning your wheels on a false claim.

 

Doesn't bode well for the 99% plus christians who belong to one of the 1000s of christian relgions. Not to mention the other 67% of the world that aren't christian.