BCP1928 said:

Only one side sees things that way. The other side just doesn't want to be told what to do by a religious faction of dubious moral credibility.

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I assume the side that complains about being told what to do by religion are the secular progressives or those who are not religious or believe in God.

I wasn't necessarily meaning just religion as opposed to non religion. The divide and polarisation where each side sees the other as a threat and bad for society can also happen in politics and there can be more than two opposing sides like Left and Right or Conservative and Progressives.

There can be a number of groups like tribes where each thinks the other is wrong. Like at the culture wars where we have different identity and ideological groups pitted against each other.

Its interesting that you keep targeting certain groups as the only bad ones like men and religion. Its never other identity groups like women, non religion or political ideology groups like Marxist, Communists, Feminists, Humanist, Wokist ect.

Why is it only these groups you single out as the bad one. I thought all were sinners. It sounds like this is acting more like the Pharisees wanting to throw stones at certain groups. When they have a beam in their own eyes.

BCP1928 said:

Because what is really at risk is not society but merely anglo-Protestant culture.

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Most progressives are not even religious.

BCP1928 said:

That why we don't do it that way

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Do it what way. I am talking about how under a pluralistic society we have to allow all beliefs and political views even if they conflict. Its the only way under a free society.

BCP1928 said:

and why the laws of a secular state are not considered, in themselves, to be moral precepts.

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Well in reality they are and I think everyone knows that and acts like they are moral precepts. A State cannot detach itself from the moral aspects of the policies and the laws they implement.

Why do you think people protest and get angry and lobby the State. Why do you think all these social groups have rising like Me Too and BLM or the Environmental activists or proests against Isreal and rallying for Palestine. Of course its all based on morals.

When the State chnages Marriage laws, abortion law, alcohol and gambling laws, family laws, welfare policies, workplace laws re descrimination, Identity policy and law protections, policies on what is taught in education ect ect ect.

Look at all the chaos over immigration policy and laws. People are willing to use violence to stop what they think is unjust and immoral laws.

BCP1928 said:

You need to think that over. ".Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." --Abraham Lincoln.

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What does this mean for Christians living within a sinful world. The bible says they cannot be of this world and live by its ideology. We have to live Gods will on earth as it is in heaven. Which often contradicts with the world.

Yes we must be on Gods side but what does that entail. That we live Gods will and not sin. Christ forgave the adulterous women but said sin no more. So we try to live like Christ. Help the poor and disadvantaged and proclaiming the gospel.

Christ said the world will hate Christians for standing with Him. So if we are truely living as Christ then Christ church will be hated by the world. But it will also be a light in the darkness for those searching and open to God.

BCP1928 said:

I see you have completely embraced the heresy of Manichaeism.

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It doesn't matter. My point was there is a significant polarisation and culture war going on. Which is primarily divided along Left and Right, and Conservate/Christian and Progressive/secular.

In fact there are a number of divides. On the world scale its become more polarised between democratic and free nations as opposed to the rising anti democratic powers.

But this anti democratic influence is infiltrating western nations to compound the already growing polarisations between Left and Right. Hense we see the rising of socialist and Marxist leaning politicians like OAC and now a socialist Mayor.

Its a mess.

Postvieww said:

There is no truth in that statement. You have absolutely no evidence she was trying to assassinate anyone.

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She was leading the crowd which was, according to audio, intent upon assassination.

Barraco said:

Something to consider is the tabernacle layout during the Exodus and Wandering. There were four camps of Israelites around the tabernacle, a camp for each direction. Judah, whose symbol was a Lion, was the east camp. Dan, the eagle, to the north. Ephraim the calf to the west. Reuben the man to the south. The sealed scroll of Revelation 5 is essentially the tabernacle of God being spread out across the whole earth. Notice in Revelation 6 that the four horsemen proceed when the four creatures say, "Come!" These were all ways the gospel was spread across the earth. The fifth seal sees blood of saints under the altar of burnt sacrifice, which was in the outer court. This indicates that martyrdom would be another way to bear witness. Finally, the sixth seal shows signs that strike fear into the hearts of God's adversaries. This is akin to the Spirt of God entering the Temple, as in the days of Solomon's Temple. The 144,000 are represented in the tabernacle as 12 loaves of bread. The multitude of martyrs are represented by the Levites. Finally, the incense offering of the seventh seal occurs in the Holy Place. All of these serve the purpose spreading the gospel to the whole world, building up Christ's Church.

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Very Interesting! I'll have to look more into this. Incidentally, where did you find that the camps around the Tabernacle had those particular symbols, ie lion, eagle, man, etc.? I'm not sure if you're saying that the symbol of Reuben is an ox or calf? That would tie the camps of Israel around the Tabernacle to the cherubim, I should think?

lismore said:

I think in Ancient Athens and Rome slave-women would be compelled, through threat of extreme violence, to act as prostitutes. 'Slaves obey your Masters' (Ephesians 6:5). Did slaves who had no choice sin in this regard? Kind Regards.

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Good point/question - this was common in both Greek and Roman society. Church Father Clement of Alexandria (+/- 190-200 AD) states a slave woman who is ordered by her master to prostitute herself commits no sin if she obeys, because she has no power to refuse. The guilt belongs entirely to the owner.

Historical accounts show efforts by Christians to buy these female slaves free to relieve them from this horrible situation.

NxNW said:

Marital rape was legal for a long time.

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Can one flesh rape itself?

NxNW said:

Not gonna happen.

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Not with that attitude!

Hentenza said:

I have explained this in many of my posts. You are obviously having problems understanding what I have posted. I would suggest that you go back and read my posts again.

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You could have just replied with a "Yes, that was my answer to your question."

I would have replied with a thanks, and we can finally move on.

BasedLutheran said:

The same applies there. The mentally ill in particular are unlikely to know the laws at all or if they do, believe they apply to them

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I wonder if we as a culture should reconsider allowing mentally ill folk such easy access to deadly weapons.

I'm not a 7th Day Baptist myself, but I am sympathetic to it and also considering conversion.

I'm actually undecided about the Saturday vs Sunday debate, and see good arguments for both sides.

Reluctant Theologian said:

The Bible condemns laziness and leeching off others; so whenever a society cares for the poor, sick, orphans, widows, etc. sensible provisions have be put in place abuse is minimised. Diligence, hard work and initiative should be rewarded, but the genuinely sick or poor should be cared for.

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hello! Acts 4:34-35 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

This passage in Acts seems to suggest a voluntary contribution, those with means and the desire to help the poor did. 'Anyone who had need'. The bible also says: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The number of persons physically able to work but not working in this country is now in the millions.

The government taking up to 50% of a person's earnings through tax by compulsion, is entirely different than a voluntary contribution? Income tax was initially introduced in Britain during the Napoleonic wars, under the temporary pretext of fighting the French, but was proved to be a sham in that it was kept after the war was over. Perhaps one of the reasons income tax and welfare was increased is that the church wasn't as vigorous as it could have been in providing for the poor. Sometimes, under Tel-Evangelists for example, the church has been accused of preying on the poor.

God Bless

BasedLutheran said:

Well, that plaque is not part of the Statue of Liberty. It was added to the pedestal later, by a literal socialist. So yeah, that never applied, as we are not and never will be a socialist nation.

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Yeah, but helping out the impoverished... showing hospitality... I think I've read about that somewhere before. Oh, well. Not important.

BCP1928 said:

All knowledge is acquired in that way. Science acquires knowledge through observation and experiment with nature. Craftsmen acquire their skills by trial and error, working directly with the natural materials. They all actually experience what they discover and utilize.

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Yes but the scientific method does not use those experiences to measure and know that reality. The scientists has to step back and detached themselves from the experiences to then measure things objectively. All feelings and experiences have to be cast aside.

Like the experience of colors such as a golden sunset or a fire red sports car. Science can measure the brain activity related to vision and the light wave spectrum to know all the technical data.

But the actual experience cannot be measured in quantities. Its a experience that can only be measured, known and verified directly by the experiencer.

CoreyD said:

John. Can I make a suggestion...
I know you are intelligent, and it doesn't matter how young you are, I know you can think.
I'm sure you can do better than Copilot, so would you mind leaving Copilot out of something that requires an intelligent mind using thinking faculties, and just use your brain for this?
Copilot can only give you what people feed it.

You can do better John.
Besides, I'm asking what you think. Not what other people believe.
You don't have to be correct, and you don't have to be incorrect. You just have to look at it, and say what it looks like.
I would prefer that because it's coming from a mind that's 'clean' - no indoctrination, or bias.

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Well I didn't understand what it was saying. I think people would sometimes refer to a Bible commentary. I don't think it is a passage that has an obvious meaning. I liked how the AI explained that two of the passages are basically saying opposite things. I never would have realised that. Also I don't enjoy trying to make sense of hard to understand passages for myself.
I disagree that I can do better than Copilot. It can summarise all of the theological content on the internet and also clarify anything if I want it to. It can tell me the for and against arguments for anything theological.

CoreyD said:

Take a look at each text.
So that you can see it in its almost original form, I put it kind of raw. I hope it's not confusing. Let me know if it is.
Pay attention more so to what it is saying, without trying to interpret it.

Matthew 12:41
Men of Nineveh will anistémi: To raise, to rise, to stand up, to resurrect en: in, on, at, by, with, among the judgment meta: with, after, among this generation
Matthew 12:42
basilissa: Queen of [the] south egeiró: To raise, to awaken, to arouse en: in, on, at, by, with, among the judgment meta: with, after, among this generation

Luke 10:14
It will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon en: in, on, at, by, with, among the judgment than for you.

There is also Matthew 10:15, which I forgot to add.
Truly I say to you, on the day of judgment, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and of Gomorrah than for that city.

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Is it saying that those in the Old Testament will be raised at the end times and all be judged by Jesus? (based on a couple of the words)

Bob8102 said:

I have been struggling with OCD and struggling with the gospel for decades. I ask the question because of what I read in a book on Christians with OCD. The book is called Strivings Within by Mitsy VanCleeve. The author talks about how the author of Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan, centuries ago, apparently had OCD. I have read about him and how he kept doubting his salvation and having other struggles. VanCLeeve said that he eventually gave up trying to seek assurance. He decided that come heaven, come hell, he was for ‘venturing all for the name of Christ.’ She said that only by making this decision was he able to continue ‘serving His Lord.’ This jives with other advice I’ve read which says that OCD people must learn to live with the OCD and its uncertainty.

If all of the above is true, then OCD people can never get assurance of salvation, right?. Yet one author I read said that your spiritual life will never really take off until you have assurance.

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No one needs absolute assurance, with or without OCD, hyperscrupulosity, perfectionism, et al. Related to this, we don't need to be perfectly sinless. We only need to know that God is infinitely trustworthy, true, merciful, and good and has our best and highest interest at heart and that to the extent that we remain in Him with faith, hope, and love we have the Holy Spirit, by and through whom we're able to live out His will. Good fruit will be in evidence-and that faith, hope, and love will grow even stronger yet.

Gene2memE said:

????

Kangaroos (and Wallabies) survive fine in Australia's snowfields, both in southern NSW/northern Victoria and in the highlands/tundra areas of Tasmania. There's an identifiable Eastern Grey sub-species in Tasmania that has adaptations for the cold.

Kangaroos have also survived in Australia for the last 10-15 million years. That period has included glacial climactic eras where the average temperature was up to 8 degrees Celsius cooler than the modern average.

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I was just trying to work out why Kangaroos are only restricted to certain areas like other animals. Like Australia is similar to Africa in places but does not have elephants for example. Britain does not have koalas.

2PhiloVoid said:

I don't think 'moderate' is really the term you're looking for in relation to being reasonable about your faith. I only use moderate when referring to politics.

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Well, I would say I am conservative in the sense strive to uphold basic Nicene orthodoxy and the plain teaching of Scripture, but I also want to maintain an open and see nuance on secondary matters.

Xeno.of.athens said:

The cloud and the sea are water.

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And CHRIST. will always on. a CLOUL. and the SEA REPRERSENTS MAN. !!

DAN P

Maria Billingsley said:

Ok... well... I am not Catholic and it seems if these people were called to be apostles and have accomplished what you said they accomplished ( like plant 32,000 churches) they would be very well known. So be it.
Thanks for sharing.

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They are very well known in the countries they are called to. They just are not celebrity status or flashy

Neostarwcc said:

He just passed away. My wife might take tomorrow off of work and we might head to church to meet with our pastor.

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I’m so sorry. I just prayed.

CLEEB said:

Isn’t repentance needed . Unless we repent we will likewise perish, Jesus came preaching the gospel saying repent and believe the gospel. Immersion in water , as I understand is to be washed from our sins, to symbolically be buried with Christ and coming up out of the water as a living sacrifice looking forward to the resurrection, but the Holy Spirit is given by the laying on of hands. GOD is the one who grants repentance. GODLY sorrow produces repentance. Peter said to the crowd on Pentecost, repent and be baptized or have sins washed away, then by the laying on of hands receive the holy spirit . Seems to be a process; GODLY sorrow, repentance, baptism, Holy Spirit. From what I have read and studied this process was always used with only one exception, Cornelius and his household. What do you think ?

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If you look at Acts 2, the 120 had the same thing happen that happened to Cornelius's household, they were born again then immediately filled with The Spirit. Cornelius's house was water immersed afterwards.

The process in scripture is as follows: repentance, immersion into The Holy Spirit where He applies the blood of Jesus to be born anew spiritually, water immersion in the name of Jesus, the filing of The Holy Spirit, and then one that many never reach for, the Spiritual anointing upon our head, ie the crown of life from The Father.

Thank you Mari17. I have listened to him some. I do things on this journey that is textbook scrupulosity. I try to say the opposite of my thought, I research constantly, I seek reassurance, I pretty much stay away from triggers but every once in a while I will approach them to see if I have the same response. “Do I still feel this anger and cynicism toward God”? I know all of that is foolish but I am desperate. I read passages like Hebrews 10:26-29 And I just know it’s talking about me. I am ashamed of all my willful sin. I wish I could back 40+ years and do the right things this time. I am angry at the person I have become because of it. I am learning more about myself though. Turns out I am a narcissist. I sought peoples approval and praise because of growing up so poor. I always wanted to be known as intelligent and good at what I do. I never saw how selfish I was. Well, that’s enough of that. Sorry for the long reply.

Bob Crowley said:

I've used Redhat Fedora Linux for some years, and this was typed on a Linux computer.

I'm just a user, with no formal training and until I saw your post i had no idea what GNU HURD was. I'd heard of GNU, but the idea of a computer HURD which may or may not stampede over the finish line before Elijah returns is something I'll have to leave to far more educated IT people like the Liturgist.

If Elijah comes first, GNU HURD will be the least of our worries. Meanwhile what is the Liturgist going to do all day with no computers in heaven?

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And no one to debate with!!!

keras said:

Conventional teaching is that the sun and stars obtain their energy by nuclear reaction, that is: atoms splitting to become less complex elements, thereby releasing energy.

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No, just the opposite. Stars are powered by nuclear fusion, where hydrogen atoms ared fused together. Here's the drill:

• In the first stage two protons combine and one of them converts into a neutron to form a nucleus of the heavy isotope of hydrogen known as deuterium.
• Next, the deuterium nucleus combines with another proton to form the light helium isotope known as helium-3.
• Finally, two helium-3 nuclei combine to form helium-4, releasing two protons.

Tada!

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