Have you read any of Richard Taylor's defense(s) of libertarianism? They might enlighten you to some of the main weaknesses of both hard and soft determinism.
Thanks for the greeting. I'm not new at all, but I've enjoyed an extended hiatus. I spend most of my time on a different forum, so I sorta left this one behind. I just check in every once in a blue moon to see what's new and exciting.
Where is that in Scripture?
Where is that in Scripture? Do you realize that the Pharisees, according to Scripture, foresaw an attempt to steal Christ's body and specifically made arrangements to prevent it?
One has already been provided. For another, see Revelation 6:9-10.
So we have eternal life now, and we'll have eternal life once we get to heaven after the Second Coming, but we don't have eternal life "in between?" :areyoucra
What Biblical picture are you referring to? No Biblical picture of...
You want a chapter and verse for the fact that all spiritual benefits reaped through godly individuals are ultimately from God as the source of all grace and mercy? I'm really shocked that you deny that.
That's odd...I thought that people in heaven were alive. They have been granted eternal...
But again, you are only stating the facts that make your case look good. When you say "Islam is third" it makes it sound as though Islam represents some huge chunk of the American nation. I'm sorry, it doesn't. You ignore the fact that "third," in real world numbers, means less than 1%...
Of course it's to obtain spiritual benefit. That doesn't mean it's replacing God...ultimately a saint's ability to help us is by God's grace given to that saint.
Scripture no where affirms that there are spiritual and/or earthly benefits for us when others pray for us? Methinks you need to...
Not to mention the parts where the Gospel writers explicitly STATE that He was resurrected (John 2:19-22). When the text explicitly states it it's hard to get around that...but apparently some still try. :shrug:
You make that sound as though it's impressive. To be honest, in America, it isn't. Christianity composes a good 3/4 of the population as the largest religion here....even the second place finisher doesn't hold a candle to that, and you're sounding off about Islam taking third? Do you remember...
There's an odd notion among many Protestants/non-Catholics that praying "to" saints is somehow a replacement for praying to God, or that Catholics/those who pray to the saints don't feel worthy or able to pray to God Himself. Just so you know, that is the farthest thing from the truth.
Without evidence, such ideas "make sense" only hypothetically at best...if you're concerned with your views having any corroboration with reality, I'd recommend another solution.
Hi James,
I think the problem here is that you seem to be contradicting yourself. In one post you said you do not believe in absolute morality/right and wrong, yet in the next post you seem to say that you believe murder (however it's defined), slavery, and possibly other things are...
The most recent statistic in that article (2007) places the American Muslim population at 2.4 million....less than 1% of the national population. The largest number, from 2001, places the population only at 6-7 million. Go figure...I was being generous.
I'm talking probably since 2004. Are you claiming that the percentage of American citizens who identify as Muslims has significantly increased since that time?
Well, I'm back...at least off and on I'll check in. It's been several months so I just want to check in with all the Christians that are hanging around RF. If you are Christian, say hi to me! If you're not....well, you can still say hi to me, just not in this thread! :p
Also, for the...
Of course you can. :yes: The question is whether your Protestant brethren will agree with your decision to do so. I know that certain Protestants like Lutherans tend to be more friendly to the idea, though.