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AlexB23 · 2024-05-17T21:58:56-0500

Chrystal-J said:
President Biden is a Catholic in name only.

Hey, while we both may disagree with Biden, as he mocked our faith, using the term CINO is against forum rules, according to @FreeinChrist . We can instead say some politicians in general, especially ones with religious beliefs, but who do not keep to the Bible represent the warning from 2 Timothy 4:3: A Warning from 2 Timothy 4:3 - The Gospel is not a Cafeteria

iluvatar5150 · 2024-05-17T21:58:55-0500

Hans Blaster said:
And I thought drinking that way was a bad idea...

After reading that, some of my righteous indignation was, ironically, deflated.

RDKirk · 2024-05-17T21:58:05-0500

durangodawood said:
Proposing that positive action would have to be the sole responsibility of this or that racial group is just a trick played by those whod see nothing happen at all. Its repulsive, and they know it.

A national situation like this is a collective problem, meaning: any improvement involves all of us, as a nation and not any particular identity group. Thats who.

No, frankly, white people can be rightly accused of causing our problem, but white people cannot do anything to solve our problem.

Hammster · 2024-05-17T21:54:52-0500

bling said:
Job failed showing a huge need for God's help, so did that bring "glory" to God, better than Him succeeding.

God was glorified. That was the purpose.

Bradskii · 2024-05-17T21:54:33-0500

Halbhh said:
Ah, here you're helpfully laying out a basic concept of (one way of saying) what is determinism.

As regards what I mentioned above re libertarianism (free will in an indeterminate world), here's a few comments from Rob Kane, a leading libertarian. They are from here: https://iweb.langara.ca/rjohns/files/2016/10/KANE_fw_1.pdf

'We often act from a will already formed. But it is “our own free will” by virtue of the fact that we formed it by other self-forming choices or actions in the past (SFAs) for which we could have done otherwise.

If agents must be responsible to some degree for anything that is a sufficient cause or motive for their actions, an impossible infinite regress of past actions would be required unless some actions in the life histories of the agent (namely, SFAs) did not have either sufficient causes or motives.'

The requirement that agents be responsible by virtue of past voluntary actions for anything that is a sufficient ground or reason for their actions in the sense of a sufficient cause. Reflecting on this regress leads to the conclusion that some actions in the life histories of agents, if the agents are to be ultimately responsible, must be undetermined (must lack sufficient causes).'

Let's hold it there for a moment. He is saying that to be held responsible for any given decision, we must have made a choice in the past (which helped form our character which determined future choices) that didn't have a sufficient cause. If you had to read that a couple of times to make sure you had it right then I don't blame you. Some time in the past you made decisions for no good reasons and those choices helped form your character which then dictates your decisions. Hence free will.

Does that make any sense to you? Apart from suggesting that random decisions are somehow associated with free will, how could this possibly work? Well, he makes an attempt at explaining what he thinks could happen:

'...there is a kind of “stirring up of chaos” in the brain that makes it sensitive to micro-indeterminacies at the neuronal level. The uncertainty and inner tension we feel at such soul-searching moments of self-formation would thus be reflected in the indeterminacy of our neural processes themselves, so that what is experienced internally as uncertainty would correspond physically to the opening of a window of opportunity that temporarily screens off complete determination by influences of the past.'

You'll note that part of that statement was quoted earlier in a mention of quantum indeterminacy. I can only ask if it makes any sense to you, because it doesn't to me. And there is no explanation as to how this happens. No evidence for it at all. Which isn't surprising as he's a philosopher not a neurologist. But if you can find anyone expert in neurology or quantum mechanics who could back up his prospective 'stirring up of chaos' causing 'micro indeterminacies of our neural processes' then let's examine it. Otherwise I'm putting this down as woo.

And bear in mind, he's one of the leading lights in libertarianism. Unless you want to discuss this type of...philosophising then I suggest we stick to compatibilism or incompatibilism and accept a determinate world.

Hammster · 2024-05-17T21:53:52-0500

bling said:
you asked us not to set up some straw man argument. I did not say humans could not control their own thoughts with the help of the Holy Spirit and Godly type Love.

Again, "things we do", does not have to include things we think.

God can stop people from thinking stuff, but sin is not the problem.

No man's objective. God's totally unselfish objective is doing or allowing anything that will help humans fulfill their objective.

Sin can help someone in fulfilling their earthly objective and God does only the very best thing.

The point is that He can either intervene or not intervene. Either one will go towards fulfilling His plan without making us puppets.

Mercy Shown · 2024-05-17T21:53:31-0500

Gary K said:
So even when God Himself says the Sabbath is a sign that He sanctifies us you're going to insist He means imputed righteousness. Sounds an awful lot like rebellion to me when you directly contradict God's own words.

just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

What is it in the above passage that you are having a conflict with? Is the part where it says apart from works?

Does having God’s righteousness imputed to you bother you? Would you rather do it yourself? I am trying to clarify where you stand.

Ana the Ist · 2024-05-17T21:52:37-0500

JosephZ said:
The majority of the senior Taliban leadership fled Afghanistan. The rank-and-file fighters remained in the country and went underground until the resurgence.

The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians isn't about religion. It's about land rights and decades of injustices that have been committed against the Palestinian people. If radical Islam was the root cause of the conflict, how do you explain Arab Christians being at the forefront of the Palestinian nationalist movement? How do you explain secular terrorist groups like the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, two of which were founded by Christians, and all at some point being led by Christians? Each of these groups have both Muslims and Christians among their ranks and have been fighting against Israel and launching terrorist attacks against them for decades and continue to do so today.

Israel respecting a Palestinian state and improving the lives of the Palestinian people should have been done long before the October 7th terrorist attack against Israel and is long overdue. If a Palestinian state is established at some point in the future, it won't be because of Hamas; it will be because it's the correct action to take.

Once again, Hamas is a symptom, and the root cause of the conflict revolves around land rights and decades of injustices that have been committed against the Palestinian people.

ISIS still has a presence in Iraq and Syria and has remained the world’s deadliest terrorist group each year for the past nine years, with tens of thousands of members globally. ISIS and its affiliates haven't gone anywhere, and they have no problems recruiting new members.

Here's something you might find interesting Joseph....

Sens. Cruz, Cornyn Send Letter Demanding DHS Immediately Address the Influx of ‘Special Interest Aliens’ | U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), members of the Senate...

www.cruz.senate.gov

Now as a member of the federal government...I can assure you, despite who is in office....whether it be Democratic Party or Republican Party....nothing changes about the nation's we regard as potentially dangerous and hostile due to threats of terrorism.

Are there some primarily Christian nations like Russia? Absolutely. Are there more secular nations like China or N Korea? You bet.

However, the overwhelming majority nations we watch, and people who we are wary of have 1 main feature in common.

They are overwhelmingly Muslim. They might be African Muslims, they might be Asian Muslims, they might be middle east Arab Muslims. The vast majority....they're all Muslims.

Now you can sit and pretend like that's not true, or it's unfair, and it's wrong....but thankfully, people who actually care aren't squeamish about the truth. Radical Islam is the problem here.

HopeSings · 2024-05-17T21:52:14-0500

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Mercy Shown · 2024-05-17T21:51:02-0500

Gary K said:
The unbeliever already sets his own standards for behavior so what is the increased danger? Self righteousness always kills.

The danger is pride. When we think we keep the law, who told us we did. Jesus preached the sermon on the mount to a group of people who are sure that they kept the law.

HopeSings · 2024-05-17T21:50:33-0500

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hislegacy · 2024-05-17T21:49:20-0500

stevil said:
Trump's Easter message this year
"HAPPY EASTER TO ALL, INCLUDING THOSE THAT DREAM ENDLESSLY OF DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF DREAMING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE, THOSE THAT ARE SO INCOMPETENT THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT HAVING A BORDER AND POWERFUL WALL IS A GOOD THING, & HAVING VOTER I.D., ALL PAPER BALLOTS, & SAME DAY VOTING WILL QUICKLY END MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD, & TO ALL OF THOSE WEAK & PATHETIC RINOS, RADICAL LEFT DEMOCRATS, SOCIALISTS MARXISTS, & COMMUNISTS WHO ARE KILLING OUR NATION, REMEMBER, WE WILL BE BACK!"

Biden's Easter message this year
"Jill and I send our warmest wishes to Christians around the world celebrating Easter Sunday. Easter reminds us of the power of hope and the promise of Christ’s Resurrection.

As we gather with loved ones, we remember Jesus’ sacrifice. We pray for one another and cherish the blessing of the dawn of new possibilities. And with wars and conflict taking a toll on innocent lives around the world, we renew our commitment to work for peace, security, and dignity for all people.

From our family to yours, happy Easter and may God bless you."

Key words you completely ignored - during his time in office

Like this on Easter of 2019

"At this holy time our nation is engaged in a battle like never before, the invisible enemy. Our brave doctors, nurses and responders ... are fighting to save lives," Trump said. "Our workers are racing to deliver critical medical supplies. Our best scientists are working around the clock to develop lifesaving therapeutics."

Or this one on Easter of 2018

Donald J. Trump

Well, thank you very much. On this Good Friday, Christians from all around the world remember the suffering and death upon the cross of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. At Easter Sunday, we will celebrate his glorious resurrection.

Donald J. Trump

Though we will not be able to gather together with one another as we normally would on Easter, we can use this sacred time to focus on prayer, reflection, and growing in our personal relationship with God. So important.

Donald J. Trump

Almost 3,000 years ago, the Prophet Isaiah wrote these words: "Darkness covers the Earth…but the Lord rises upon you, and His glory appears over you…For the Lord will be your everlasting light."

A Season of Great Hope': President Trump's powerful Message about Easter

"This Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of salvation," he said. "It is a holy day of reverence and worship. It is a sacred time that fills the spirit of our nation with the faith of our people. America is a nation of believers."

He noted that American is a great nation because people have the ability to worship freely.

"That is a promise the first settlers saw in our vast continent and it is a promise that our bravest warriors have protected for all of our citizens in centuries since a long time ago," he added.

See what happens when you look at what I was talking about.

HopeSings · 2024-05-17T21:48:22-0500

Heart hooks.

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HopeSings · 2024-05-17T21:42:51-0500

Sure i have problems but I'm blessed. I have a roof overhead, food, and a hobby to give me something normal to think about. Me and Jesus hang out and forge things, and fabricate tools for the work, and we listen to gospel music. It's much better than where I was not long ago. I needed something to help me and God gave it to me.

Philip_B · 2024-05-17T21:42:20-0500

ralliann said:
Certainly, supporting them won't do....

He who has ears, let him hear

daq · 2024-05-17T21:40:56-0500

be(t)et lamed resh said:
I'm with the Temple of 1

Wonderful, however, that appears to be entirely irrelevant to the topic.

Philip_B · 2024-05-17T21:40:19-0500

rjs330 said:
The root problems are the Palestinians.

Many think this is an oversimplification. I suggest you watch (rewatch) Lawrence of Arabia, as a movie it is almost timeless, and whilst it may represent historical fiction from 50 years ago, it has enough of the historical facts in order to ask of us some biting questions rather that simply come to this conclusion.

Wolseley · 2024-05-17T21:38:19-0500

(sigh) I get soooo tired of this guy.

Frank, a conservative is somebody who wants to conserve something that is worthwhile, not somebody who is "closed up in a box".

And there is more than one way to commit suicide, too---like if you're so open to change that you gradually bleed all your convictions away, and you're left with nothing. "The One, Indifferent, New Age, Liberal, and Apathetic Church."

RileyG · 2024-05-17T21:37:14-0500

GoldenBoy89 said:
They can be. Nobody is immune to ignorance. The person from the article I quoted is certainly embracing their bigotry (homophobia, anti-trans and racist) and trying to paint it as a good thing.

I don’t think that person is really representative of most Christians. This article is pulled from a right wing website though. This does represent at least part of the right’s position on these things.

Fair enough.

Philip_B · 2024-05-17T21:36:08-0500

Ana the Ist said:
Terrorism is strictly tied to Islam though.

Not entirely true, and possibly an oversimplification.

Mari17 · 2024-05-17T21:33:48-0500

Dillon2009 said:
So, I have been 'saved' three times, but I realized that I didn't mean it any of those times.

The first time I was 'saved,' I was little, so of course, I didn't mean it.
The second time, I didn't mean it either.
The third time, I just said it because I was scared of going to hell. If I tell my parents or any of my family members, they'll get upset with me. I know they will.

(By the way, sorry if this is a bit confusing. I have OCD, so...)

Obsessing about salvation is quite common with OCD. Do you have any help for dealing with your OCD?

You may find these resources helpful:
https://www.youtube.com/@marktdejesus
Blog - Scrupulosity.com
Mental Health - ACCFS
Breaking Free of OCD: My Battle With Mental Pain and How God Rescued Me by Jeff Wells
Strivings Within - The OCD Christian: Overcoming Doubt in the Storm of Anxiety by Mitzi VanCleve
Christianity and Anxiety Disorders (private Facebook support group)