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  1. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    The same is true of the passage of scripture you mentioned: "In him we live and move and have our being." The words are ambiguous, for there are differing and contrary possible meanings. They might be taken literally, and so mean God is the universe in which we live. They might be taken...
  2. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    The possible meaning of the words, "the power to back them up is what is to be feared" are many. I don't see how I can know what meaning your pour into them unless you explain what you mean. For I cannot read your mind. Hence my taking a guess.
  3. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    You mean your own trust in your ideas is based more on intuition or a subjective feeling of confidence than in logic and empirical evidence?
  4. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    You seem sane enough to me. Please tell me, unless you fear the opinions of others. "You must think me mad," said the Hatter. "Don't worry about that," replied Alice. "All the best people are."
  5. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    Yes, but I still think Aupmanyav's idea is worthy of full consideration. I mean, if it is possible to make us with the constraint, prudence and humanity to always freely choose good instead of evil, then why are we not so? Think about it: Isn't it the goal of most religions to become what we...
  6. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    Perhaps, but I'm speaking of events that are too obvious to be ignored. In my case it is repeated occurrences of noticeable experiences too frequent to be mere coincidence. For others, I suppose different experiences get their attention. We're all coded differently, but the differences--though...
  7. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    Actually, yes I do know. I've had too many experiences like this to logically call them mere coincidence. Though it has been awhile since I've had such an experience.
  8. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    And I cracked up when Fox got angry at the Jinni and shouted, "I wanted peace on earth and good will toward men!" to which she replied, "You never mentioned good will toward men." * * * But getting back to your idea, Aupmanyav: Would you say beings who have no freedom of will are morally...
  9. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    Perhaps you are right. So I find it fascinating that I've been watching old episodes of the X-Files on Netflix, and an episode I watched last night is so applicable to our discussion this morning. The TV show is about FBI agents who are assigned cases dealing with the paranormal. In this...
  10. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    Yes, that's logical. Hatred and all of its effects are a great evil. If the choice to love must be sacrificed to eradicate hate, then that's a sacrifice one may reasonably make. So we are left with human beings who have no freedom to choose to love, since they have no freedom to choose to...
  11. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    Indeed, how wonderful that would be to see! No one could choose to hate, for there would be no hate to choose! But please tell me: Would love exist if you made us so?
  12. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    OK. But let's suspend disbelief, if only for a moment. Maybe consider the question this way: If you were God, how would you make people differently than the way they are?
  13. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    Yes, I'm interested. Please continue.
  14. Spockrates

    Wondering About Different Religions

    Yes, I think it's fair to blame God, whoever or whatever God is, if God exists. But let's say for the sake of argument God does exist. Is there a better alternative to the human condition than the way it is now?
  15. Spockrates

    Wondering About Forgiveness

    Hi Thief. Please explain.
  16. Spockrates

    Wondering About Forgiveness

    Yes, that's what some Christians tell me: There are no external acts of forgiveness. Nothing I say or do to benefit another is forgiving, though it is compassionate. So should you and I say forgiveness is merely an emotion and never exists outside the mind or networked minds called Maara?
  17. Spockrates

    Wondering About Forgiveness

    Agreed, the emotion appears to be essential. But I was thinking doing something more--something that has a real impact on the one forgiven, like trusting the person and not ending the relationship.
  18. Spockrates

    Wondering About Forgiveness

    Then I'm glad to see I was mistaken, and you never were offended. [emoji4]
  19. Spockrates

    Wondering About Forgiveness

    I think, though you must be correct. But I wonder if how one feels is only half of what forgiving is. I wonder if what one decides to do is the other half.
  20. Spockrates

    Wondering About Forgiveness

    Thank you. I hope, though you don't get the wrong idea. Jesus' statement compared to other biblical texts seems a paradox to Christians. For they believe God to be incapable of hatred and resentment. So I ask them, "If we are to forgive the same way God forgives, and since God never feels hatred...
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