Is the Concept of God Necessary To Explain Anything?

[fantome profane]

An understanding of the the metaphors.

Do you understand the metaphors? How can you be sure that your understanding of these metaphors is full and complete? When do you know that your understanding is sufficient to determine that the “Bible is true”? Are all metaphors "true"?

 

[emiliano]

Do you understand the metaphors? How can you be sure that your understanding of these metaphors is full and complete? When do you know that your understanding is sufficient to determine that the “Bible is true”? Are all metaphors "true"?

No one is capable of fully understanding these metaphors unless they are divinely assisted , therefore God is necessary (essential) to explain spiritual issues and inquiries.:shout

 

[rojse]

Do you understand the metaphors? How can you be sure that your understanding of these metaphors is full and complete? When do you know that your understanding is sufficient to determine that the “Bible is true”? Are all metaphors "true"?

Would the meaning of these metaphors have changed over the last two thousand years?

 

[fantome profane]

Would the meaning of these metaphors have changed over the last two thousand years?

The intended meaning would not have changed, whatever that was/is. We may create new interpretations, and those new interpretation may have great value. But I think there is a danger in assuming that whatever interpretation we find useful is the same meaning that was intended by the author 2000 (or more) years ago.

 

[Willamena]

Do you understand the metaphors? How can you be sure that your understanding of these metaphors is full and complete?

The ones that I see fit, with other ideas in the Bible and with ideas from other mythologies, and they work. Not only that, the more they work, the more I see them.

"Full and complete" doesn't mean much, here. My understanding is full and complete in as much as it is my understanding; I'm sure someone with greater knowledge understands more.

When do you know that your understanding is sufficient to determine that the “Bible is true”?

As soon as the understanding is true.

Are all metaphors "true"?

If it's truly the meaning that you garnered. The meaning of a metaphor is evident once the unspoken meaning in the spoken image is made clear, regardless if it's "the truth" or not. It's truthful, that's all that should count. If it's truthful, you don't doubt it.

 

[gnomon]

Is the concept of god necessary to explain anything? If so, what? How is it necessary? If not, why not?

No.

Other concepts of nature can be applied.

 

[McBell]

No one is capable of fully understanding these metaphors unless they are divinely assisted , therefore God is necessary (essential) to explain spiritual issues and inquiries.:shout

Oh yes.
The ever popular "infused with the Holy Spirit" safety net.

This is the way to interpret things any way you want, because if anyone disagrees, they obviously are not "infused with Holy Spirit."

 

[Scuba Pete]

This is the way to interpret things any way you want, because if anyone disagrees, they obviously are not "infused with Holy Spirit."

So? You can't understand calculus without having a certain skill set. This is just a harder skill set to acquire.

 

[McBell]

So? You can't understand calculus without having a certain skill set. This is just a harder skill set to acquire.

See there, if you were infused with the Holy Spirit you would not have to even ask.
You would know that your analogy does not apply.
And you would also know that it cannot be understood by anyone who is not infused with The Holy Spirit, so my attempting to explain it would do no good.

But God does love you, even if you cannot understand.

 

[Scuba Pete]

See there, if you were infused with the Holy Spirit you would not have to even ask.
You would know that your analogy does not apply.
And you would also know that it cannot be understood by anyone who is not infused with The Holy Spirit, so my attempting to explain it would do no good.

But God does love you, even if you cannot understand.

Well, this is puerile and a waste of time. You DO have to be open to it for it to happen.

 

[McBell]

Well, this is puerile and a waste of time. You DO have to be open to it for it to happen.

Getting infused with the Holy Spirit is NOT a waste of time.
It is the only way you will be able to make any sense out of Gods Word.

It is also something that only God can help you with.

Once you become infused witht he Holy Spirit, you will understand.
But until then...

See what I mean by it is merely a safety net (or perhaps 'security blanket') for people to believe whatever they want?

 

[Rolling_Stone]

Unlike reason, faith and feelings provide no boundary to limit any delusion, any whim.

Tell that to the millions who were murdered in the 20th century in the name of "reason."

 

[emiliano]

Getting infused with the Holy Spirit is NOT a waste of time.
It is the only way you will be able to make any sense out of Gods Word.

It is also something that only God can help you with.

Once you become infused witht he Holy Spirit, you will understand.
But until then...

See what I mean by it is merely a safety net (or perhaps 'security blanket') for people to believe whatever they want?[/quote]
I would call it rationality, all rational beings are moved to what is good, what one perceives as the supreme good, there are two things that humanity is in pursuit of, happiness and rest, believing in God provides both, this is what makes God the supreme good and we are irresistibly attracted to Him, we want to know Him, we seek him, we want to know about Him, we read and study the Bible, so the existence of God is necessary for us to be happy and at peace.:shout

 

[Sunstone]

Tell that to the millions who were murdered in the 20th century in the name of "reason."

Surely you are not suggesting that the people who murdered millions in the name of "reason" were being reasonable.

 

[Yerda]

Surely you are not suggesting that the people who murdered millions in the name of "reason" were being reasonable.

Who murdered people in the name of reason?

 

[McBell]

Tell that to the millions who were murdered in the 20th century in the name of "reason."

You will have to do much better than that.

Surely you are not suggesting that the people who murdered millions in the name of "reason" were being reasonable.

Why not?
If they can claim that anyone who murder in the name of religion were not "truly" of that religion...

Who murdered people in the name of reason?

I do not know.
Rolling Stone is the one making the claim, perhaps we should just flat out ask him.

 

[McBell]

I would call it rationality, all rational beings are moved to what is good, what one perceives as the supreme good, there are two things that humanity is in pursuit of, happiness and rest, believing in God provides both, this is what makes God the supreme good and we are irresistibly attracted to Him, we want to know Him, we seek him, we want to know about Him, we read and study the Bible, so the existence of God is necessary for us to be happy and at peace.:shout

And what, pray tell, does any of that have to do with having to be infused with the Holy Spirit in order to understand?

 

[Sunstone]

Who murdered people in the name of reason?

I think Rolling Stone is conflating some forms of communism, and perhaps fascism, with reason.

 

[Rolling_Stone]

Surely you are not suggesting that the people who murdered millions in the name of "reason" were being reasonable.

The logic works both ways: Surely you don't suggest that the millions killed in the name of religion were being religious?

People can rationalize anything.

 

[camanintx]

The logic workds both ways: Surely you don't suggest that the millions killed in the name of religion were being religious?

If the Crusades were started because the Pope said "[FONT=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Christ commanded it", wouldn't that qualify as being religious?
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