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Ignatius the Kiwi · 2025-07-18T20:07:36-0500

timothyu said:
Nothing wrong with the NCreed. It's the religious instructions of man that were and are the problem. Same problem Jesus had

The Nicene Creed was literally written by a group of three hundred or so Bishops for the sake of religious instruction regarding who Christ is and his relation to the Church. Isn't this the sort of thing you hate? Also it was organized by Constantine a man you've said claimed to be a god (with no proof).

You are just being inconsistent. Why don't you condemn the Nicene Creed and repudiate it?

Hentenza · 2025-07-18T20:07:16-0500

Fervent said:
If you only read Protestant theology, maybe.

Corporately, not particularly. And where particular, in Christ.

Sure, but my contentions about the position only find assertions as counters. Calvinism turns God into the author of sin, not only designing it but glorying in it.

I'm not sure that's true, exactly. Though my view of free will is that we know it from exercising it. I believe in it because I make decisions, so whatever is true it must at the very least accomodate that belief. Whereas deterministic philosophical systems involve long chains of reasoning which may or may not be built on flawed premises. So to me, whatever understanding of God's sovereignty I come to it must line up with my basic experience which inclines me to believe in free will almost as strongly as I believe that I exist.

I understand. I grew up Catholic so I understand your limitations.

BTW- do you deny that God knows all of your decisions even before you make them?

Hentenza · 2025-07-18T20:03:00-0500

Guojing said:
But not because the Bible commands you, would you agree?

The Bible talks about a remnant that God will save in the end of times (Roman 9 and Rev. 12). No one knows where that remnant is. It could be within present Israel or it might not. I support Israel primarily from a secular perspective but I leave my biblical options open.

Paidiske · 2025-07-18T20:02:00-0500

I would also suggest finding out if there is an army chaplain who could discuss these things with you in person, and give you advice that fits your personal situation better.

eclipsenow · 2025-07-18T20:01:57-0500

Kathleen30 said:
Eclipse when thinking upon President Trump and the experts. Well he keeps on defying the experts and proving them wrong. Their economy is booming and inflation be no more. You may call him narcissistic or a king if you so choose. But the reality seems to me that he be doing everything the American people voted for him to do.

With what evidence do you make these bizarre assertions? Manufacturing industry in green tech was FLOODING in under Biden's IRA - a big carrot enticing manufacturing back? EG: By 2030 America would have been manufacturing so many batteries that they could have (hypothetically) powered every new car as a 100% EV bought in the USA!

These batteries will however be split through different sectors - also - businesses don't know WHAT to invest in or do from day to day because of Trump's chaotic and ever changing tariffs.

I'm not sure what you are asking about? We are an interdependent country like most in the modern world. Human beings are social creates - and being a mature adult is not about independence like some lone wolf - but appropriate empowered interdependence. Adam Smith explained trade in similar terms - that we all get richer when we trade.

SURE - if there's even a hint of geopolitical concerns about trusting the supply lines - I say subsidise or even NATIONALISE the thing!
But generally speaking, democracies get along - and trade according to the WTO - and we all get a bit wealthier under this system. I'm a greenie and would LOVE to see faster action on climate, less trading of fossil fuels, etc. But generally - although not perfect - although often corrupted by this or that lobby group or agenda - generally speaking the system sort of works.

Until Trump.

Kathleen30 said:
Maybe if little ambassador Kevin would have kept his mouth shut on what he thought of president Trump whilst he was out of office.

Nope. I'm with Malcolm Turnbull. One has to stand up to a bully. Trump sees himself as the 'big daddy' of the world - and is using tariffs to make sure every world leader flies over to 'kiss the ring'. They're really just giving him "Narcissistic Supply" - feeding his psychological disorder. He doesn't have friends - he has what psychiatrists call "Flying Monkey's" - those who serve the wicked witch! That's his team of "yes" men and women gathering around and applauding everything he says.

Even if Trump suddenly dies of a heart attack - the fact that America elected him repeatedly - and knowingly - means they have changed. Until such time as there is a profound cultural shift that disses crazy tinfoil hat stuff and respects the REALITY of climate change, Covid, long-term security arrangements, etc, Australia should trade with more reliable partners. And that also includes mutual defence pacts.

And after thinking about it deeply - I'm not sure we should join America if they defend Taiwan. I hate that China wants Taiwan. I hate that a democracy could fall! But unlike Putin - who has repeatedly stated he dreams of restoring the old USSR - China might actually stop with Taiwan. And with Trump being so 'America first' and 'no more overseas wars' - I wonder if China will mistake that for a green light to GO on Taiwan?

I certainly don't want a war with China - but feel we should continue to support Ukraine against the march across Europe.

Lukaris · 2025-07-18T19:49:44-0500

There have been various spins on what Trump is doing between cutting off medical and nutritional humanitarian aid. The general conclusions indicate millions of deaths; it seems this happens almost instantly.

Concerns were raised over possible cuts to the US foreign assistance for AIDS with the “Pepfar” program. This program was thankfully exempted from cuts at the last minute. There is much discussion on the remaining $9 billion cuts that will take effect. This figure includes cuts to government funded media outlets like NPR etc. Whatever one’s opinion is on these cuts, cutting funding for NPR has nothing to do with humanitarian aid.

Republicans Scrap Cuts to PEPFAR Anti-AIDS Program

The celebrated program is still being targeted by the Trump Administration

time.com

There are other issues regarding the “humanitarian” USAID program beyond funding transgender puppet shows or whatever. Issues like USAID involvement in contracts shipping virus samples to the Wuhan lab in China. Why was this agency involved in this?

State Department, USAID endorsed novel virus project with China despite national security risks

The State Dept. and USAID backed a controversial research project with China into novel viruses in 2019 even though it created new biosecurity risks.

usrtk.org

USAID Shipped Thousands of Viruses to Chinese Lab With Military Links

USAID shipped thousands of virus samples to the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic without biosecurity agreements and government oversight.

www.dailysignal.com

It seems there is more to this picture than meets the eye than the big bad wolf Trump & his yacht sailing buddies indulging themselves.

BCP1928 · 2025-07-18T19:44:33-0500

Hentenza said:
I’m going to continue to “rag” on her. Glad the cops finally did something or wait it was not the cops but the feds. Do you think she called them? Maybe she is getting smarter.

She has frequently been accused of antisemitism. You could always go back to that.. She pretty much follows the line of her church on Israel, so you would get a twofer.

Tyler52 · 2025-07-18T19:42:58-0500

My wife and I are struggling to maintain any form of relationship with God right now just because of all that we have to do now that we have our child. What can we do to seek God more? It’s especially going to be hard if I get put on 10s at work and am getting up at 3 in the morning. I’m not really sure what to do other than have a rigid schedule, does anyone else have advice?

Tyler52 · 2025-07-18T19:38:04-0500

matt84 said:
I need some help or advice, I initially made this post on reddit a little bit ago when I was in a worse place, but I'm a bit better now so there is no need to worry about me.

I just don't know what to do any more. I'm 40 years old, gay, Christian, diagnosed with autism, and my depression has been getting worse and worse. I have been taking care of my mom since she had her hip and knee replaced, and still needs another hip replacement. She is a fall risk, and has now has had more memory problems as of late. I have no friends, no relationships, all I have is her, and I refuse to tell her how I'm feeling. My mom worked 3-4 jobs to take care of me and my siblings and did a good job. Out of my 40 years on this earth, I have had 2 friendships, each lasting only about year. I have had 1 relationship when I converted to atheism, but he just wanted my money, and didn't care for me at all. I had always been somewhat suicidal since I was in my late teens, but I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't do that to my mom. But the older I get, the harder it's becoming.

It's gotten progressively worse since hitting 40. I see guys with their wives and kids and I desperately want that. I want a family so much but I'll never have one. I have prayed and prayed begging for God to take the gay away and take the autism away so I can be normal, so I'm not alone; but it never happens. It's not like it matters though, even if a gay relationship wasn't considered a sin, if I can't even form friendships then an actual relationship is a stretch. And even if I decided I just wanted to adopt a child, nobody is going to give a child to a 40 year old single gay autistic guy with no support system or friends. I would mess that kid up worse than I am.

And it's not like I don't try to make friends. I have held a job pretty much non-stop since I was 16. I have gone to quite a few churches, I have gone to 3 different colleges for 3 different degrees. I tried to socialize with coworkers and other students, none of them ever evolved into a friendship. It's obvious the problem lies with me, but nobody ever yells me what I'm doing wrong, why they dislike me. When I had my friend around 19 years old, I had a job and other than bills most of my money went to doing stuff with him (hanging out, movie tickets, games, food, etc.). I was plenty generous and tried to be nice.

I became a Christian when I was about 18 and went to a church every Sunday and youth group every Wednesday night. Nobody really talked to me during Sunday service, and it took almost a year to make a friend in the youth group. And that wasn't until one night after another youth group of having nobody to talk to, I talked to the youth pastor, I literally went to him crying after everyone had left asking how to make friends. I still remember his answer "Just talk to people, you'll make friends easy." And I've been told that by many people, but it never held true for me. The next Sunday morning, two of the more popular kids who were twin brothers in youth group came up and started talking to me and asking if I wanted to play basketball. We talked for a bit and played basketball and they left after church, and to hang out with them some more and try to make friends I did some stuff that would be considered creepy looking back.

During that year I still went to youth group, tried to make other friends, but it never happened. And even with the 2 brothers, if I wanted to do anything with them I almost had to invite myself as I was never invited. When they left and moved away, I left that church and shortly after I became an atheist. I hated God for what he made me and I was angry. I still didn't manage to make any friends at work or outside work. Last year I don't know why but God or something brough me back to Christianity, and I was hopeful this time would be different. But sadly its no different and no better. Every time I see a kid with their father in a tv show, YouTube, or movie now, I can't stop but tear up.

I tried every local church I had that looked decent. I went a couple of days to weeks in each one. And never had more than a few words, and that was with the deacons greeting people. So right now I am struggling with that as well. People say God can be your friend, Jesus can be your friend, but I just feel like I'm talking to myself. I never get any type of reply, sign, feeling, nothing. It just feels like any other one-sided conversation I am having in my head.

I just don't know what is wrong with me and why God won't help me. I've heard of God having people live in celebacy, but they weren't alone, they had friends. Am I just supposed to live whatever left of my life completely alone?

What do you like to do? You can also learn how normal people act by reading about how to have conversations and learning about how to read body language. One thing that helped me was this book called how to make friends in 90 seconds (I think that’s the title). Also, maybe try a small church? Remember to make sure it’s Bible believing.

The Liturgist · 2025-07-18T19:35:06-0500

DragonFox91 said:
It's fun to speculate, but I would think this is Gnostic-type teaching, that says physical is bad & he somehow wasn't physical, or denies his humanity

Technically its called Docetism, and not all Docetics were Gnostic, but most if not all Gnostics were Docetic, and also Marcionitic.

dlamberth · 2025-07-18T19:35:03-0500

AV1611VET said:
Planetary evolution?

Plant life evolution related to the start and end of coal production.

eclipsenow · 2025-07-18T19:29:50-0500

Maria Billingsley said:
Elon Musk? Don't forget they were once besties

"Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!"

True - but Elon's so odd himself that I'm not sure what I make of that.

Jeff Saunders · 2025-07-18T19:28:06-0500

Clare73 said:
You'll have to take that up with God. . .it's above my pay grade.

Or maybe your tradition has it wrong.

JohnClay · 2025-07-18T19:28:05-0500

CoreyD said:
JohnClay said:

Is there any evidence at all that Jesus has been ruling as king since about 1914 besides war, famine, and pestilence?

Click to expand...

Yes, but that's between Jesus and his followers.

So those other things have overwhelming evidence but the most important part has no obvious evidence? BTW in all other instances kings have a power over the world. It seems your saying that in this instance there is nothing happening that non-believers could detect. I mean actions besides war, famine, and pestilence - unless Jesus the king is responsible for that.

CoreyD said:
Please see John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:13. There is a prophecy in the Bible which is connected to Jesus' presence.

I thought that was about the Holy Spirit... not about Jesus ruling as king.

CoreyD said:
Jesus also directs the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom, and the evidence for that can be seen. Matthew 24:14

I don't see a need to involve the supernatural to explain the conversion of people - people get converted to all types of religions and cults and this can be explained with secular psychology.

CoreyD said:
Jesus didn't perform miracles to be recognized.
...
Recall that he told persons, "tell no one". Matthew 8:4
The purpose of those miracles was due to Christ's compassion... he being “moved with pity“. Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:41

I think a lot of people see his miracles as evidence that he is God. There was also the miracle of Jesus making the fig tree wither. I'm not sure all of his miracles are because of compassion.

CoreyD said:
Even so, his miracles did demonstrate that he was God's son. John 20:30, 31

Yes that's what I mean.

CoreyD said:
This however, did not move those who were deniers. John 4:48; John 12:36-43
From what we are seeing here, they wouldn't have moved you, John. Isn't that so?

It would be different if I was an eye witness to a miracle - like many people in the gospel stories. And like I said I believe the upside-down Bible and Connect 4 events were miracles.

CoreyD said:
Jesus said...
“Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.” John 4:48

It says "see" i.e. be an eye witness - not hear about them third or fourth hand, etc. Well I guess that is ambiguous.

CoreyD said:
My time has come John, Is there another question you wanted to ask... on something else, that is?

No that's all for now.

Jeff Saunders · 2025-07-18T19:26:09-0500

Hentenza said:
Jeff we’ve been through this before. Let’s look at the verses in context.

“so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Philippians 2:10-13 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Fat | New American Standard Bible

so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Fat

bible.com

Why would we have to work OUR SALVATION, here and in the present time, with fear and trembling if we will be saved no matter what? Once again you are grasping at straws.

John 16:1 " I have said all these things so you will not fall away"
2 Peter 2:20 " For if, after they escaped from the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first."
You can walk away from being part of the kingdom, and lose your inheritance and your place in the kingdom, and become a subject of the kingdom instead, that is why it says to work out your salvation, its not heaven or hell as western tradition teaches.
So do you not believe what the verse says that every knee will bow and every tongue will gladly confess Jesus is Lord?
I lean towards the Orthodox view that you are not saved till death anyway.

zoidar · 2025-07-18T19:19:29-0500

friend of said:
Why wouldn't it though? Rom 9 specifically names two individuals, Jacob and Esau

Because Romans 9 isn’t about individual salvation. it’s about God's covenant, how His promises haven’t failed, and His sovereign right to choose any nation or people, along with the terms by which His covenant would be fulfilled.

The LORD said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb;
And two peoples will be separated from your body;
And one people shall be stronger than the other;
And the older shall serve the younger.”
When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them.
— Genesis 25:23-26

reddogs · 2025-07-18T19:02:09-0500

BobRyan said:
Both Babylon and Persia had pagan kings who acted in accordance with God's will for Israel, even though they were not born-again Christians.

In the complex events of Earth -- Satan would like to use all sides - but he has an agenda that is hard to miss. For example Hitler during WWII -- not a good guy, and he had bad plans. But if we look at the Allied powers not all in charge were born-again saints.

Still that does not mean that God was neutral, that the side of good was too hard to see.

Same is true in the civil war where the North had some very flawed actors in leadership and mixed motives - but the greater-good of abolishing slavery was "easy to see" none-the-less.

Does that mean that nothing bad was done by America after that? Certainly not but we take the wins that come along in answer to prayer - all the same

The thing is that this President if you remember claims to have been 'sent on a mission by God' after the assassination attempt, and has set himself up with a cabinet that is mostly the Popes minions and has much the same at the Supreme Court. So there is nothing standing in his way of opposition, much like the leaders of Nazism and Communism who led the world into a world war which morphed into a cold war and now we see the makings of a third world war, so the Hegelian Dialectic has been used by what can only be the prince of this world to bring about his purposes, the chaos and terror to do his work of destruction and sweep aside the things of God.

Unqualified · 2025-07-18T18:56:29-0500

That is love. You do love yourself you’re just not calling it that. All those ways of putting others first, that is love. You are humble. The Bible says don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought’ . Following that is love of God and love of others. You’re loving others while calling it thinking little of yourself. God loves you just the way you are. Be yourself. But don’t take this liberty as an opportunity for the flesh. Don’t be hard on yourself, don’t be angry and mistreat others. Be thankful you belong to God are loved so love one another. Put the scriptures into play. Kindness is love. You’ll win more friends by being kind than you will being grumpy.

fhansen · 2025-07-18T18:51:32-0500

enoob57 said:
View attachment 367554
I just thought everyone should see this ha ha… I rest my case… as you are without reason giving yes and no in the same instance… I really can’t reply to anything of this because it’s unreasonable!

God, in His wisdom, can reconcile the fact of His soveriegnty with the ability to make man a morally accountable being. So it's not either/or but both/and, with man's participation required. The church came to the understanding that God, existing in eternity and in His omniscience, knows our choices beforehand and uses them for His purposes, without predetermining them. He certainly predestines none to hell.

linux.poet · 2025-07-18T18:50:01-0500

Skipper80 said:
For example, if my car broke down as I was going to the coffee shop to get coffee, am I right in saying it was God's will for the car to break down?

Yes.

Isaiah 45:5-7
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
besides me there is no god.
I arm you, though you do not know me, so that they may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is no one besides me;
I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness,
I make weal and create woe;
I the Lord do all these things.

And, the end of the Book of Job also says that God is in control of creation and events, and that we do not, as humans, have the right to question his control or blame other humans for God’s sovereign decisions.

lifepsyop · 2025-07-18T18:48:31-0500

AaronClaricus said:
There's absolute dating and relative dating. Absolute dating is based on physics.

Okay, so you believe that with this methodology you are gaining absolute knowledge about the age of the Earth. Good for you! :oldthumbsup:

ThatRobGuy · 2025-07-18T18:43:57-0500

Fantine said:
Unbelievably, 48% of Hispanic voters supported Trump in the 2024 election.

It's actually quite believable when you consider that they're overwhelmingly Catholic, and have views on some of the social issues that are not inline with the Democratic party.

Fantine said:
Months later, only 35% approve of him. While I am sorry that this dawning of awareness did not happen earlier, I understand it completely.

Approval ratings and "who would you vote for if given these two choices" are two totally different things.

For instance, there are plenty of times when both candidates have approval ratings that are well below 50%, but in a two person race, somebody's gotta win...

Fantine said:
And what about the Cubans? They know what it was like to be a refugee fleeing communism. I wonder what they think about Trump's lies about the Haitian refugees--"they're eating the dogs!" I wonder what they think about refugee status being cancelled--when the refugees have no home to return to?

Hispanic/Latino voters come from very different familial backgrounds, that will heavily influence how they feel about certain terms and economic ideas.

For instance, people whose families came from Central America or Chile probably are much more receptive left-leaning economic ideas and terms like "democratic socialism" due to having bad experiences with capitalism. However, immigrants from places like Cuba likely see the s-word (socialism -- in any context) as toxic due to their past experiences. 20-something White kids may associate the term with Denmark, but you ask a 50-something Cuban dude about that term, expect an earful lol.

Also, I'm not sure how many Americans you interact with from Mexican heritage... but in my experience, there's a special kind of resentment that exists among some of them who "did it through the proper channels" aimed at people who "skipped the line"

I've heard Mexican Americans make statements that were, for lack of a better term, the Mexican equivalent of the Chris Rock stand-up bit about ""<slur> vs. Black People.""

Tuur · 2025-07-18T18:35:14-0500

An AI story. Problem is, there are three different ways to do the first half, and I'm not happy with any of them.

prodromos · 2025-07-18T18:28:54-0500

Apple Sky said:
I'm not out to impress anyone, I just tell it as it is.

The vape video did it for me.

Witsit Vapes It - The Final Experiment Fakery Exposed!

Witsit Vapes It - The Final Experiment Fakery Exposed!

153news.net

That was trivially debunked, but you don't watch the videos that debunk your sources, do you?

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