Secret Chief
Very strong language
Yes that's how it starts...I got curious whoops
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
Yes that's how it starts...I got curious whoops
Oh crapYes that's how it starts...
Do you not see that want/desire is a problem as to ascertaining truth - rather than an impartial assessment of any evidence? Such that many have sought for evidence and found it lacking.1. Because not everyone wants to believe in God
2. Because not everyone uses the capacity they have to make an effort to believe in God.
Do you assume all atheists want to believe in God?
Do you want to believe in God?
Do unto others the Golden Rule?
The "Golden Rule" was quoted by Jesus of Nazareth during his Sermon on the Mount and described by him as the second great commandment. The common English phrasing is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
Golden Rule - Wikipedia
Yes, I can see how that could be a problem but the flip side of that is if you don't want to believe in God you won't do what it takes to search for evidence for God. You won't even bother. I mean since I don't want a new car I am never going shopping for a new car.Do you not see that want/desire is a problem as to ascertaining truth - rather than an impartial assessment of any evidence? Such that many have sought for evidence and found it lacking.
That's true, but Christians will claim it for Jesus anyway, just as they claim everything is because of Jesus.Confucius had such in the 6th or 7th century BC. Think he dreamed this up? It was most likely in existence long before then as well. So who should claim it?
Hello, I'm new to online forums. I chose this one specifically because I think it is very thought provoking. I love understanding and questioning different religious beliefs. I hope to have a debate that is robust, intriguing, and intellectually honest. I'm happy to debate anyone from any religious discipline and educational background. I currently do not have anyone to debate. I'll edit my title post, if possible, once the affirmative position has been occupied. Thanks in advance to anyone who will agree to debate. I'm ready to be convinced. Are you?
Thanks for sharing that. I'm happy to have discourse with anyone from any background because I like to learn about the many different beliefs and/or doctrines people hold. Pretty wild to assume I only want to hear myself speak without having even engaged in a dialogue with me. Of course, your not the first person to levy this accusation against me. I'm not sure what drives some people to assume I have an ulterior motive outside my initial statement? I've thought about changing the title of the thread but this thread has been going for a while and a lot of people are having debates independent of me on it. I'm not sure what changing the title would do, if anything. I can only assume as well that you would still levy the accusation against me because, based on my experience with you so far, your only interest is to make accusations and would do so regardless of the title of the thread. If you want to start over I'm actually a pretty laid back guy who doesn't take this overly serious (most of the time) and doesn't hold grudges. If you want to debate or have a discussion I'd be happy to oblige. A little applicable background about myself. I was on the debate team in high school and college and have 2 undergraduate degrees in religion and philosophy, a bachelors in theology, and am currently studying law. I also work full time under contract and am the senior consultant for a national health insurance provider. My life is rad and I think I'm pretty rad so why come at me unnecessarily? I am as stated always interested in meeting new people and finding out more about their beliefs. Why not tell me about your beliefs and any background you feel is relevant and we can go from there. If not, no worries. There are lots of people from many different backgrounds on this thread that love to debate.The fact that you are simply looking to debate anyone about any religion proves you are not really here to debate. You are only here to try and be right and and "hear" (type) yourself speak, which is not the point of a debate
With all due respect, I do not think that infrabenji started this thread to debate and win, even though he said he was looking for a debate in the OP. From what I have seen he is just a sincere seeker looking to learn from religious believers.The fact that you are simply looking to debate anyone about any religion proves you are not really here to debate. You are only here to try and be right and and "hear" (type) yourself speak, which is not the point of a debate
With all due respect, I do not think that infrabenji started this thread to debate and win, even though he said he was looking for a debate in the OP. From what I have seen he is just a sincere seeker looking to learn from religious believers.
Have you read all the posts he posted on this thread? It is a very long thread. People can and do change their original intentions during a long discussion.A person looking to learn would have said something along the lines of "hey I have all these questions please answer so I can learn" not, looking to debate to see if I am convinced. And the title says" Atheist" not sincere seeker.
Why can't an atheist be a sincere seeker?And the title says" Atheist" not sincere seeker.
Before I proceed, I would like to clarify something very important. When I said "There are a lot of "Additional Truths" in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism and other religions." I was thinking of teachings in those religions, not spiritual truths. Every new Messenger of God brings new teachings, teachings that were not taught in the previous religions. However, the first part of the Religion of God which refers to spiritual truth is the same in every religion. In the following passage, the Law of God refers to the divinely revealed religion of God. The spiritual message (spiritual virtues and divine qualities) are the same in all the great world religions:First, shall we spell out your statement?
"There are a lot of "Additional Truths" in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism and other religions."
Will you please provide one or two 'additional truths' ...
1. In your religion.
2. In Christianity.
Thanks.
Same here, so I guess you and I are on the same page.I want to believe in the truth.
If the evidence showed that "God exists" was the truth, then yes, I would believe.
That depends upon what claims D, E and F are.
What is the difference between Jesus became God and God became Jesus? Think about it. If God became Jesus then Jesus became God.
No, NOT according to the Bible. Absolutely NOT. God did not become Jesus according to the Bible, only according to Christianity's misinterpretation of the Bible and the ensuing false doctrines of the Church.
That's what I said. Jesus was a Manifestation of God so God manifested Himself in Jesus.
So, not all Christians believe that the physical body of Jesus literally rose from the dead.
How does that what Baha'is believe about Jesus being a Manifestation of God support MY Baha'i beliefs?
This is straight out of the Bible and it says that Jesus was a Manifestation of God.
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world,
received up into glory.
NOWHERE in the Bible does it say that God became Jesus. NOWHERE. Besides that, nowhere did Jesus EVER claim to be God.
If you care to know the truth, I suggest you watch this video because the interviewee was a Christian minister before he became a Muslim. This has nothing to do with the Baha'i Faith.
No, I did not read through 53 pages of replies lol. I replied to the original post. Yes, they can change their mind over te course of 53 pagesHave you read all the posts he posted on this thread? It is a very long thread. People can and do change their original intentions during a long discussion.
Because if he was a sincere seeker he would not be an atheist. An agnostic or non theist would fit that description.Why can't an atheist be a sincere seeker?
That's true if you are thinking of a hard atheist, but many atheists are agnostic atheists who say they would believe in God if there was evidence for God's existence.Because if he was a sincere seeker he would not be an atheist. An agnostic or non theist would fit that description.
@Earthtank give it up. You clearly have no position other than misrepresenting mine. I love debating. It's been a passion of mine since my school days. I am definitionally an atheist. You've made no attempt to know me. I have 50 pages of discourse and half a dozen other threads that have shown people who I am and what I'm about. All you can do that we've seen is talk trash on someone else's thread. I've already explained why I haven't changed the title. Why complain about it to someone else? You think you're going to convince people who know me I'm something other than what I say I am? Either man up and debate or quit whining and go home. I have a feeling it's just going to be easier to put you on ignore.No, I did not read through 53 pages of replies lol. I replied to the original post. Yes, they can change their mind over te course of 53 pages
Because if he was a sincere seeker he would not be an atheist. An agnostic or non theist would fit that description.
You formerly said: But you have reached the conclusion, "If A, B and C are correct, then claims D, E and F are also correct, even though there's no way to demonstrate that those are facts."Claims that are not verifiable.
Claims A, B and C are claims like "Mr B really existed."
Claims D, E and F are claims like, "He was a messenger from God."
Okay fair enough, but God did not become Jesus, God manifested Himself in the man Jesus.What is the difference between "The wine became vinegar" and "the vinegar became wine"?
A becomes B is a different thing to B becomes A. Different start point and a different end point.
And what you believe to the contrary is only YOUR opinion.No, that is according to your opinion.
Sorry, you lost me with your analogy.Two different things.
There was a time when David Bowie and Tilda Swinton went out dressed as each other. David appeared as Tilda, and that was very different to Tilda appearing as David.
To say that the fact that the vast majority of Christians DISAGREE with me means that Jesus actually rose from the dead is the fallacy of argumentum ad populum.So what? You think that bolsters your point? It does not. If you are going to claim that the fact there are other people who agree with you makes your point more likely, then the fact that the vast majority of Christians DISAGREE with you renders it invalid. And if you are going to accuse me of using the argument from popularity, then I'll point out you were the one who thought it was valid enough to claim that your point was supported by having other people agreeing with you in the first place.
I asked HOW does that what Baha'is believe about Jesus being a Manifestation of God support Baha'i beliefs?Because it supports Bahai beliefs.
No, it absolutely does NOT mean that.To say that A manifests as B literally means A becomes B.
You have no evidence at all that your interpretation is any more valid than mine so why are we still discussing it?I have pointed out where Jesus did. All you can do is claim that in your opinion that verse doesn't count and present your alternative interpretation. But you have no evidence at all that your interpretation is any more valid than mine.
Did you even watch the video before you said that? The video proves -- with logic and scripture -- that Jesus cannot be God. There was no cherry picking, but you would never know that unless you watched the video. Instead, you committed the fallacy of jumping to conclusions. Obviously, you have no interest in knowing the Truth about God.Oh look, someone cherry picking the bits of the Bible they can use to support their claim...
You have to be human first to observe all human man science quotations.You formerly said: But you have reached the conclusion, "If A, B and C are correct, then claims D, E and F are also correct, even though there's no way to demonstrate that those are facts."
Your conclusion about D, E and F is unjustified.
So you are saying that the claim "He was a messenger from God" is unjustified, but I am not the one who made that claim so I am not the one who needs to justify the claim. Baha'u'llah made the claim so He is the one who need to justify it. I just believe the claim He made and I have reasons to believe that I only need to justify to myself.
Okay fair enough, but God did not become Jesus, God manifested Himself as Jesus.
And what you believe to the contrary is only YOUR opinion.
Sorry, you lost me with your analogy.
Le me rephrase that: When God was manifest in Jesus, Jesus became a Manifestation of God.
To say that the fact that the vast majority of Christians DISAGREE with me means that Jesus actually rose from the dead is the fallacy of argumentum ad populum.
In argumentation theory, an argumentum ad populum (Latin for "appeal to the people") is a fallacious argument that concludes that a proposition is true because many or most people believe it: "If many believe so, it is so." Argumentum ad populum - Wikipedia
All I was doing was pointing out that not all Christian believe that Jesus rose from the dead.
The point is that how may people believe something has no bearing as to whether it is true or not.
I asked HOW does that what Baha'is believe about Jesus being a Manifestation of God support Baha'i beliefs?
You did not answer. So in what way would that support Baha'i beliefs?
No, absolutely NOT.
Manifest meaning
To show or demonstrate plainly; reveal.
Clearly apparent to the sight or understanding; obvious.
To enter in a ship's manifest.
Evident to the senses, especially to the sight; apparent; distinctly perceived.
Manifest is defined as to prove or make something clear.
An example of manifest is showing someone the facts about something.
Apparent to the senses, esp. that of sight, or to the mind; evident; obvious; clear; plain.
An itemized list of a ship's cargo, to be shown to customs officials.
To make clear or evident; show plainly; reveal; evince.
To prove; be evidence of.
To appear to the senses; show itself.
A list of the passengers and cargo on an airplane.
Obvious to the understanding; apparent to the mind; easily apprehensible; plain; not obscure or hidden.
(rare, used with "of") Detected; convicted.
A list or invoice of the passengers or goods being carried by a commercial vehicle or ship.
(computing) A file containing metadata describing other files.
To show plainly; to make to appear distinctly, usually to the mind; to put beyond question or doubt; to display; to exhibit.
His courage manifested itself via the look on his face.
To exhibit the manifests or prepared invoices of; to declare at the customhouse.
The definition of manifest is something that is clear to see or understand.
An example of manifest is someone knowing that something is true.
To become manifest; be revealed.
Depression can manifest as irritability.
A list of cargo or passengers carried on a ship or plane.
A list of railroad cars according to owner and location.
An invoice of goods carried on a truck or train.
Manifest Meaning | Best 22 Definitions of Manifest
You have no evidence at all that your interpretation is any more valid than mine so why are we still discussing it?
Did you even watch the video before you said that? The video proves -- with logic and scripture -- that Jesus cannot be God.
Of course you won't watch it because then you might have to concede to the truth -- Jesus is not God.
The hundred dollar question is why you don't become a Christian if you actually believe that Jesus is God? Your search for God would then be over!
Unless you believe that Jesus is God you are really being dishonest and doing this just to try to prove that my Baha'i beliefs about Jesus are wrong. I consider that pretty childish and a waste of time.