Taking Questions on Embedded Age Creation

[AV1611VET]

Which leads to the question I often raise but never get an answer to: How do you determine if a particular part of the Bible is meant to be taken literally or not?

As we're fond of saying: context, context, context.

 

[AV1611VET]

Why is it that Christians so often believe that atheists are just determined to not believe in God.

1. Because the Bible calls them "fools," and sincere people, who really seek after God, find Him.

2. Because God is going to hold them accountable for not believing in Him. That means He isn't going to buy into their "I looked for You, but You weren't there" excuse.

3. Because certain principles and warnings apply to those who spend their lives in pursuit of endeavors that lead away from God, and refuse to listen to those who warn them they're spending too much time (and treasure) elsewhere.

 

[AveChristusRex]

2. Because God is going to hold them accountable for not believing in Him. That means He isn't going to buy into their "I looked for You, but You weren't there" excuse.

Here here! Citation in such regard is Romans 1:20: "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

 

[AV1611VET]

I am an atheist in that I lack a belief in God.

Serious question:

If God exists, and you stand before Him on Judgement Day, what would you attribute your lack of belief to?

Would you blame Him, or yourself?

The only reason that it seems to you that I never talk about anything other than the existence of God is because you only see me when I am here, and I talk about these things why I am here. You have a view of me that gives you an incorrect idea of how much I talk about this.

And you make a good point.

One I've made here before about me.

You only see me railing against that part of science that is used against the Bible.

"Off camera," it's different.

True story:

The first time I sat on the porch swing with my wife -- (before we got married) -- all I did was point to the sky and show her the different constellations.

At Thanksgiving, I ask her if she's planning to have galliforms for dinner, and she knows right well what I'm talking about (turkey).

So I know exactly where you're coming from in this respect.

 

[AV1611VET]

Here here! Citation in such regard is Romans 1:20: "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

Yes, indeed!

 

[BCP1928]

Serious question:

If God exists, and you stand before Him on Judgement Day, what would you attribute your lack of belief to?

Would you blame Him, or yourself?

I would say, "Lord, it seemed like once I admitted to your existence I would be required to believe that the Earth was created 6000 years ago and I would have to be a supporter of Donald Trump, and I just couldn't bring myself to do it."

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Serious question:

If God exists, and you stand before Him on Judgement Day, what would you attribute your lack of belief to?

Would you blame Him, or yourself?

I think you're leaving out at least one personage among many who are also to blame for contributing to any one person's "lack of belief."

So, the only thing we can nudge Kylie to be accountable for here and now is her willingness to learn rather than castigating her (or shaming her) for her present state of belief about Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

 

[AveChristusRex]

I think you're leaving out at least one personage among many who are also to blame for contributing to any one person's "lack of belief."

So, the only thing we can nudge Kylie to be accountable for here and now is her willingness to learn rather than castigating her (or shaming her) for her present state of belief about Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Noone, necessarily, can be blamed for ignorance (except by God), but one can be blamed for obstinance in ignorance.

 

[AveChristusRex]

400th message!

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Noone, necessarily, can be blamed for ignorance (except by God), but one can be blamed for obstinance in ignorance.

Right. That's what I said, and I said what I said after taking Epistemology, World History, History of Religions, and the findings of the Modern Sciences into account.

In other words: some people today actually DO have a personal and valid explanation as to "why" they don't see what Paul asserts everyone on earth should see. Moreover, I don't think Paul intended for his statements in Romans 1:18-20 to be used as a cudgel with which to whack other people over the head who are having difficulty believing.

And no one who is Christian should think those verses can simply be quoted all by themselves and that that speech act somehow irreducibly and absolutely ends all further discussion and disabuses any person of the justification of his/her perceptual stance.

But yes, people can be faulted for any unjustified anti-intellectual obstinacy and insolence.

 

[AveChristusRex]

In other words: some people today actually DO have a personal and valid explanation as to "why" they don't see what Paul asserts everyone on earth should see. Moreover, I don't think Paul intended for his statements in Romans 1:18-20 to be used as a cudgel with which to whack other people over the head who are having difficulty believing.

Much of the reasoning I think is emotional and based much less on the spirit and more on the people they have experienced. Everyone has a path to the faith, but we should recognize that all truth is God's truth, and to follow the truth is to eventually lead to God, and [excuse me for being opinionated] following God is to eventually lead to the One True Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church with many of our great saints like St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John of the Cross, St. Gregory Palamas, St. Theresa of Avila, and others awaiting you at the end of the path!

 

[AV1611VET]

So, the only thing we can nudge Kylie to be accountable for here and now is her willingness to learn ...

No comment.

 

[AV1611VET]

400th message!

Congrats! That's a milestone!

 

[AveChristusRex]

Congrats! That's a milestone!

You're a blessing from God, AV!

 

[AV1611VET]

In other words: some people today actually DO have a personal and valid explanation as to "why" they don't see what Paul asserts everyone on earth should see.

Those are mental blocks.

And although I don't expect an unregenerate person to understand what Paul is saying in regards to the things of deep theology, I fault them for not taking first things first.

To wit, getting saved.

 

[AV1611VET]

You're a blessing from God, AV!

Thank you, my friend!

 

[Hans Blaster]

This is a statement, and "insults are arguements employed by those who are wrong" (Rousseau)

The geocentric model (what I think you are claiming when you dismiss Copernicus) is FALSE. Disagreeing with that is to reject reality. Running to agreement with the court jester isn't backing your position.

 

[AV1611VET]

The geocentric model (what I think you are claiming when you dismiss Copernicus) is FALSE.

Wasn't it arrived at scientifically?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Those are mental blocks.

That comment doesn't have any explanatory power and tells us basically nothing about aspects of human psychology or epistemic structures in that affect a person's neurological structures and their response to .......... the Holy Spirit.

And although I don't expect an unregenerate person to understand what Paul is saying in regards to the things of deep theology, I fault them for not taking first things first.

To wit, getting saved.

I think you're getting the cart before the horse there, AV. Remember the Parable of the Sower, or the account of the Garden of Eden for that matter?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Much of the reasoning I think is emotional and based much less on the spirit and more on the people they have experienced. Everyone has a path to the faith, but we should recognize that all truth is God's truth, and to follow the truth is to eventually lead to God, and [excuse me for being opinionated] following God is to eventually lead to the One True Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church with many of our great saints like St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John of the Cross, St. Gregory Palamas, St. Theresa of Avila, and others awaiting you at the end of the path!

Excuse me if I don't completely agree with you on "the Plan of Faith." But carry on.