AndyBaker

Reply to The Bible in Religion JoeUser Forums

Thanks AD, no probs. It's nice to hear from you

Reply to Does God Exist? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Foxy, as long as you exclusively come from the level of the head (intellect), you'll conclude that belief in God is the same as belief in pink unicorns and Santa Claus. It's a case of searching deeper and coming from the level of the heart. But if your consciousness hasn't yet risen to higher wavelengths of spiritual awareness, then you'll have to remain in the land of unicorns, and our words will be like clanging cymbals. (In other words, you'll think I'm speaking bollox.)

The Bible in Religion JoeUser Forums

I’m not sure if anyone is interested in this. But it might be good fodder for Biblical scholars. I’ve just been round my parents’ house, and I found a photocopied article on a table. I thought it was good stuff, so I typed some of it up. (My parents are fundies, so don't worry, it's traditional stuff.) The article seems to imply that personal interpretation of Scripture is actually endorsed by Scripture itself, and is consonant with Christian faith.<br

Reply to Does God Exist? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Fundamentalists, can you help me out with this one? You ask us to consider the Bible as the answer to our life. And this is a significant aspect that's being considered. What kind of God are we being asked to believe in? (that was an edit that might have been missed. No tounge in cheek or condescension going on here. This is important to me, in t

Reply to Does God Exist? in Religion JoeUser Forums

it's God who predestines. It's not about our will....it's all about his will be done. Paul writes about this in Eph 1 & 2 especially but it's seen throughout scripture. Jesus said...."You did not choose me but it is I that chose you." <TD class="mb-Body

Reply to A God of Hate or Love? in Religion JoeUser Forums

There is no point in talking 'about' God, either to other Christians or to non-believers, because no one has anything to say that's more nearly true than what anyone else has to say. It’s healthy to have a hearty discussion about God though. No harm in expressing a few views. I agree with you that ther

Reply to Does God Exist? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Glad to fill you in Andy but can only do so by touching lightly on the subject. Like I said, this is a huge issue and one that's been debated for many years and you and I are not going to solve this here on JU. I've only just seen your reply KFC. You must have typed it up a few minutes before mine. <BR

Reply to Does God Exist? in Religion JoeUser Forums

The Bible, and the concept of a Christian God, just won't line up for me. That's why we have to find our own path. It's all a question of personal taste and preference at the end of the day, as Dharma has said. If it doesn’t make sense to us, or if it’s not aligned with what’s in our heart, then how can

Reply to Does God Exist? in Religion JoeUser Forums

We've been down this road before, Andy, and there's probably little of benefit in opening it all up again. However, I would try and illustrate my problem with this. We cannot each invent 'science' in our own image and to fit what we want to get out of it. Science is a formal method of investigation, and by definition objective, observable and repeatable. To talk about it b

Reply to Does God Exist? in Religion JoeUser Forums

I’m sure that another person’s views cannot make any difference to our own, at a heart level. But doesn't this imply that you think all preaching, missionary work, charity, theological investigation is inherently futile?

Reply to Does God Exist? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Yes Andy I'm saying it's all God and not man. This is a very deep issue and one debated within the fundamentalists as well. I have looked at predestination at length and believe it's God who predestines. It's not about our will....it's all about his will be done. Paul writes about this in Eph 1 & 2 especially but it's seen throug

Reply to Does God Exist? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Someday we will all find out one way or the other and all our questions will be answered. Amen to that KFC, I did nothing to have recognized God in my life. I was a dead person before he breathed spiritual life i

Reply to Does God Exist? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Yes, I agree. It can only be proved for oneself, when we're ready. We are spiritual beings, and "God is Spirit", (a Biblical teaching - John 4.24, Geneses 1.27), which means that it's all a question of Spirit. This in turn means that by definition, it's all 'subjective stuff'.

Reply to Does God Exist? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Now, to answer your initial questions: 'Does God Exist? Can We Be Sure?' If God exists - yes, and yes, but only after we die. If God doesn't exist - no, and no I think we can be sure. It's no longer "faith" for me. I know that God exists. Some people might interpret that as arrogance, but it's my

Reply to Does God Exist? in Religion JoeUser Forums

There are many, many faces to God (or at least the deity I know, anyway). Everyone has to choose their own path. Absolutely. That's the way it is,

Reply to A God of Hate or Love? in Religion JoeUser Forums

(I wouldn't mind hearing more views from fundamentalists about where other religious folk fit in? It's true that most other religionists stick with their religion all throughout their life, and most have as much passion for God as Christians)

Reply to A God of Hate or Love? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Well you did say you didn't mind hearing my views. I love you too, all of ya!

Reply to A God of Hate or Love? in Religion JoeUser Forums

That's an HC hug *g* We want to walk arm and arm with you to the other side of eternity. Thanks so much for that. That’s very sweet of you. Big hugs to you back!! <TABLE cellpadding=8 wi

Reply to A God of Hate or Love? in Religion JoeUser Forums

I surrender! I admit that I've been walked all over. You've got good substance and a clear model of the world, and I do love that. God bless you guys,

Reply to A God of Hate or Love? in Religion JoeUser Forums

I can see that silence would have been better than those last 2 posts of mine. It's all too condescending and I'm just churning out the same old stuff. But we're all in the same boat down here on earth, and there's room for growth for us all I'd still love to hear others views on this topic though

Reply to A God of Hate or Love? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Apologies if I sounded condescending, HC. I'm sure I ought to just remain quiet, or leave, at times. But I enjoy chatting about it, and I find KFC very endearing to be honest (there I go again!) But hey, I'm just telling it the way it is from my own point of view. I promise there's no ego playing around here. When God says there is one way, He means that there is

Reply to A God of Hate or Love? in Religion JoeUser Forums

I don’t believe that the Bible is infallible. But I have great respect for people who believe that it is, I'd like to ask.....why don't you believe this? Some of the ugly and negative verses in

Reply to A God of Hate or Love? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Quite simply, God is unknowable to mortal man. We do not have the capacity to know him as we know our parents or children. Having said that, we attempt to assign human qualities to him so we can then bring some understanding. And we fail. The Bible is one such instrument. God did not write it, and even if one accepts it was devinely inspired, we are still left with assigni

Reply to A God of Hate or Love? in Religion JoeUser Forums

True wisdom, sponsored by the soul, would agree with verses like the following ... Just wanted to add that I think that 1 Corinthians 2.6-16 is one of the most profound passages in the Bible. It also expresses that there's a difference between worldly wisdom and spiritual wisdom. This passage

Reply to A God of Hate or Love? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Hi KFC, thanks for your reply. It’s interesting to hear your views about this topic. I think it's a significant one. He is consistent with His holy nature and jealousy for his people. I think that we belittle God if we believe that God is a jealous type. Jealousy, like insecurity, is a human weakness, which is overcome by cultivating a