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As the beliefs we hold that bring us comfort, will die with us, we may as well embrace and enjoy them.
To get the best of both worlds, just keep a logical and focused view of the corporal world, while enjoying entertaining the possibility of a boundless and eternal universe that may have plans for us.
And our other choice is?
estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.
that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.
still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.
AGuest, I am touched by your post. Peace to you also.
there is a german word: gestalt which means that.......... something is more than the sum of its parts.. .
a diamond seems to be an excellent example of this principle, doesn't it?.
carbon (as in: carbon dioxide) is everywhere and it is "cheap".. but, diamonds are prized as very valuable and expensive.. a diamond, however, consists of almost entirely of : carbon.. .
Terry "I guess the most significant event in my life was discovering I was not living in the same world as everybody else!
In effect, the Watchtower had hijacked the world and left me with a fake one.
I lived inside the fake one for almost 20 years."
This is a touching reflection on your life which I can empathise with. The difficulty is that there is no one real world, most of them are fake, that is man-made. The natural world is real but as humans we have a huge choice as to which human constructed world we will live in. A business man or a film star lives on the same earth as a tramp but does not live in the same world.
The choices we make in life will determine which world we live in. Leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses was a good move but the game goes on until we are no more.
estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.
that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.
still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.
Having followed this most interesting debate, it seems that non-believers are not able to accept that decent Christian people can believe in a personal God of love who is prepared to allow suffering. Their conclusion is that God either does not exist or is an impersonal being who takes no responsibility for the state of the world.
For non-believers this a hypothetical debate whereas believers have a vested interest in defending a personal God of love who allows suffering. The Christians have explained how they are able to reconcile a God of love allowing suffering. Their answers have not satisfied those without faith. The debate has moved to a point where Christians are now being blamed for the suffering because they endorse this God. It is for this reason that the debate has become personal.
I do not believe in a personal God but accept that decent loving people can believe in a personal God who allows suffering. Although the logic of a personal God does not add up for me, it would be a mistake to become angry with loving people who view the big picture and still find room for belief in a personal God. Many of us once accepted the idea of Armageddon and showed our love by going from door-to-door warning others. We are still the same people.
Who knows how our views may change in the years ahead? The experience of those who have walked a path before us should not be seized upon as belief, or a shortcut to understanding. At the same time it would be unwise to disregard their sincere testimony or judge them because we have not arrived at the same place.
noah is not said to have carried plants in his ark.
supposedly the flood was severe enough to cover "even the tallest mountains", which would mean that mount everest was covered.
and this for forty days.
Noah carefully collected samples of every plant on earth and stored them in the ark along with the animals and a sample of every insect on earth. The worldwide flood also caused fresh and salt-water to mix making life impossible for fish so he collected a sample of every fish, both male and female he collected them and stored them in tanks in the ark.
He also stored enough fresh water and food for his Zoo. And he saw that it was good. God couldn’t help as it was his day of rest but he did seal the door for Noah. Its all in the Bible so it must be true.
estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.
that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.
still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.
PSacramento We are all driven by emotion and sometimes act out of stress but you are being too hard on yourself. I read your comments last Friday and thought they were spot on. Everyone else has been expressing their opinion and you have the right to as well - though your humility is touching.
Hope you are having a better week now.
last week i had a visit from two sisters from the old hall i used to attend.
and i showed them acts 1:8 where jesus tells the apostles to be witnesses of him (jesus).
they showed me isaiah 43:10 where isaiah qoutes jehovah saying "you are my witnesses".
" WHY I'M GLAD..."
Sorry but my names Glad -You have chosen to called Wasblind
this is an illustration that best describes in human terms what i believe eve did.. picture the litle pieces of paper that contain an alcohol prep swab.. sometimes i come accross one that is old*, and it's been hanging around for a while.. so what comes to mind is; "i wonder if it is still damp?".
i could open it to check (that is what our mother did).. or i could throw it away (that is what god did not do).. or i could leave it alone.. if i open it, then i will either pretend i need it and use it, then throw it away.. or i should throw it away.
.
N.drew Yeah but to hate the Lord I would have to believe in him first. So I pass the test.
Your friends are trying to help me but I'm a slow learner - I eat too many swabs when my bottle runs dry!
this is an illustration that best describes in human terms what i believe eve did.. picture the litle pieces of paper that contain an alcohol prep swab.. sometimes i come accross one that is old*, and it's been hanging around for a while.. so what comes to mind is; "i wonder if it is still damp?".
i could open it to check (that is what our mother did).. or i could throw it away (that is what god did not do).. or i could leave it alone.. if i open it, then i will either pretend i need it and use it, then throw it away.. or i should throw it away.
.
N.drew "Do not open the paper, the alcohol is there for an emergency (when needed) Do I have to say tree of life?"
I keep alcohol in a bottle for an emergency - those swaps make me thirsty.
As for this Eve thing, she was bound to come unstuck cos her only friend was the devil.
andy rooney just died.
i liked him.
he was a crotchety old dude.
High Hopes Next time you're found, with your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned, so look around
Just what makes that little old elder
Think he'll move that generation
Anyone knows an elder, can't
Move a generation
But he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes
So any time you're gettin' low
'stead of lettin' go
Just remember that elder
Oops there goes another generation
When troubles call, and your back's to the wall
There a lot to be learned, that wall could fall
Once there was a silly old elder
Thought he'd punch a hole in a date
No one could make that elder, scram
He kept buttin' that date
but he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes
