30 Oct 11
Originally posted by Phlabibitif you feel the need to believe anything beyond this life, then you have already failed life.
Yes, I know I've been an ass-hat here or there but this is an honest question for EVERYONE.
I don't care about your faith (meaning this is open to all and I hope to hear from many different people with different beliefs).
If you wanted someone to believe in anything beyond just living and ending up dead with nothing more, keeping any religious script ...[text shortened]... you die.
What books would be good to read, what story does it tell... etc.
Thanks.
you will find no credible evidence from any source, not even personal experience.
if you want something good to read, try to find the stories of nasreddin hoja
Reaching enlightenment
Nasreddin was walking in the bazaar with a large group of followers. Whatever Nasreddin did, his followers immediately copied. Every few steps Nasreddin would stop and shake his hands in the air, touch his feet and jump up yelling "Hu Hu Hu!". So his followers would also stop and do exactly the same thing.
One of the merchants, who knew Nasreddin, quietly asked him: "What are you doing my old friend? Why are these people imitating you?"
"I have become a Sufi Sheikh," replied Nasreddin. "These are my Murids (spiritual seekers); I am helping them reach enlightenment!"
"How do you know when they reach enlightenment?"
"That’s the easy part! Every morning I count them. The ones who have left – have reached enlightenment!"
30 Oct 11
Originally posted by UllrNot to mention appealing to the feeble-minded, eh?
I mean no disrespect by suggesting this but I do think that salvation religions tend to attract those that have lost their way, feel powerless, have lost their connection to their community or tribe (if you want to go back in history), are suffering from anomie, etc. I believe this is the story of Christianity's rise from a very small, fringe religion to a glo ...[text shortened]... eally gained a large/majority footprint despite a massive and long standing missionary effort?
Yes, we've all heard this argument before, that we must be Christians due to some personal failing in our own lives.
The more realistic reason is that, like all humans, we're sinners. Unlike some humans, however, we acknowledge that we're sinners and therefore fall short of the glory of God, and therefore gratefully accept Christ's sacrifice at Calvary.
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30 Oct 11
Originally posted by SuzianneDoes your god forgive people who enter fantasy football leagues who don't take the 2 minutes each week necessary to log in, make a couple of team changes and log off again? I'm not sure if i would risk it...
The more realistic reason is that, like all humans, we're sinners. Unlike some humans, however, we acknowledge that we're sinners and therefore fall short of the glory of God, and therefore gratefully accept Christ's sacrifice at Calvary.
30 Oct 11
Originally posted by VoidSpiritI look forward to the time when two JWs on this site become as enlightened.
if you feel the need to believe anything beyond this life, then you have already failed life.
you will find no credible evidence from any source, not even personal experience.
if you want something good to read, try to find the stories of nasreddin hoja
Reaching enlightenment
Nasreddin was walking in the bazaar with a large group of f ...[text shortened]... morning I count them. The ones who have left – have reached enlightenment!"
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30 Oct 11
Originally posted by SuzianneI disagree, 6 teams from 12 in the playoffs, it just takes one nice winning streak. @2-5 with 6th @ 4-3, you've still got a shot. Plus even if you didn't make the playoffs you could affect who does... you've got a nice match-up this week, why not make it 3-5 and see what happens? You've actually got a decent team.
My season was over at week three.
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30 Oct 11
2 of the next 5 weeks are against guys who have only 1 win, the other 3 against people who are 4-3. 4 wins which is completely possible if you change your team a bit, get rid of the couple of injured players, change your dud TE and you've got one of the best defenses in the NFL on the bench each week and you'd probably be in one of the playoff spots with 6-6 with one week remaining.
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30 Oct 11
Originally posted by SuzianneSuzianne I think you are missing my point and so I will clarify. I am not at all trying to say that I think everyone that becomes a Christian does so because they are weak minded, vulnerable, fools. I do think this is often the case and incidentally I don't think there is anything at all wrong with that or wrong with saying that.
Not to mention appealing to the feeble-minded, eh?
Yes, we've all heard this argument before, that we must be Christians due to some personal failing in our own lives.
The more realistic reason is that, like all humans, we're sinners. Unlike some humans, however, we acknowledge that we're sinners and therefore fall short of the glory of God, and therefore gratefully accept Christ's sacrifice at Calvary.
However, my comments have really been more addressed, as food for thought, regarding the larger question as to why Christianity spread successfully in certain place and cultures yet failed in others or even more interesting had to evolve to accomodate yet others. I think Thomas O'Dea (Sociologist of religion; Ph.D., Harvard University) provides an interesting explanation:
"People suffering from extreme deprivation and people suffering from anomie (some groups may be experiencing both) display a considerable responsiveness to religions which preach a message of salvation - that is, which present the world as a place of toil and suffering, and offer some means of deliverance from it. Christianity is a religion of this kind. It offers the beleiver salvation through participation in Christ's victory over evil and death."
30 Oct 11
Originally posted by UllrI wonder if Mr. Thomas O'Dea (Sociologist of religion; Ph.D., Harvard University), has a theory for why people develop theories which make no sense, and another theory for why people believe those theories which have no empirical support. Mind you Im not saying that those who develop those theories or those who believe those theories are weak minded, vulnerable, fools ... 😀
Suzianne I think you are missing my point and so I will clarify. I am not at all trying to say that I think everyone that becomes a Christian does so because they are weak minded, vulnerable, fools. I do think this is often the case and incidentally I don't think there is anything at all wrong with that or wrong with saying that.
However, my comments hav ...[text shortened]... fers the beleiver salvation through participation in Christ's victory over evil and death."
30 Oct 11
Originally posted by RJHindsI look forward to the time when all the sects of christianity, all the sects of islam, all the sects of judaism all become enlightened and decide they don't have to kill in the name of their respective religions.
I look forward to the time when two JWs on this site become as enlightened.
No god would be content to let things go as they are, christians killing other so-called christians and muslims and jews for 2000 years, muslims killing other muslims, christians and jews for 1300 years. This fact alone proves all three of those sects are not made by a god but just talented snake oil salesmen bent on controlling other people and subjugating women.
30 Oct 11
Originally posted by sonhouseDid you ever hear of a Buddhist war?
I look forward to the time when all the sects of christianity, all the sects of islam, all the sects of judaism all become enlightened and decide they don't have to kill in the name of their respective religions.
No god would be content to let things go as they are, christians killing other so-called christians and muslims and jews for 2000 years, musli ...[text shortened]... od but just talented snake oil salesmen bent on controlling other people and subjugating women.
Just a question. 😉
your fiend. (arrrgh) 🙂
-m.