outhouse
Atheistically
I can explain it
No you cannot, or you would have tried. You know your short comings, and you know the people you learned from learned from human teachers.
Now you have a nice day.
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I can explain it
Maybe a what? What else could be posting here?
Well, first of all, I do beleive in God and very firmly so. I have studied most faiths that exist today and some that are no longer in existence. IMO, all religions have a piece of the truth to offer. But ultimately, again IMO, the person looking for truth, however they define that truth, has to be the one who decides what 'fits' them. Perhaps for you, it is Christianity. Or Judaism or whatever. For me, it is a compilation of eastern paths, and mostly Buddhist. I don't look to scholars for my spiritualty . I look to God, my heart and find what most gives me peace. I hope that makes sense to you sir.I decided a while back not to comment on these posts, but I have been following some threads and thought I may as well comment. I respect the fact that you have spent a lot of time studying and that you will soon receive your PhD. You must admit that there are and will be people with more intelligence and more PhD's than you! Some of these smart people have come to the conclusion that there is no God. I can follow their advice and dismiss God's existence. Which I am unable to do because I look at creation and realize that some intelligent being must have made all this.
Moving forward I am faced with countless religions and faiths to choose from. I find very well educated (University trained) people in all of these "groups", yet they all differ from one another.
The difficult task!, to find the "truth". I am unable to make a decision based on the level of education of the people in these groups as most of them claim to have studied the scriptures.
What do I do????
I know it has nothing to do with the OP...I just commented on JoStories post where he seems to claim that because he is more "educated" than some of the other posters we should rather believe his version of the "truth"...
I don't see why outhouse should not be. For one thing, he is incredibly well versed and educated in matters of faith and religion. Perhaps it interests him. But for whatever reason, all peoples are welcome here, not just theists.Am I missing something Outhouse?? You are here on a Religious Forum commenting on a religious question from the OP??
Yet you say you are an Atheist??
That is, unfortunately, very true. There are plenty of alleged scholars who are incredibly biased and should admit that openly but they don't. And btw, any professor who claims to know more than the students is full of horse crap. I told students, before I retired to finish my dissertation, that I learn as much from them, or kore, than they learn from me. Too many,professors get that PhD and think they know everything which is also crap.Ok I understand. The Professor only knows more than his students while they are being taught. Also there are some students that are smarter than their Professor.
Also we are not talking about for example the study of science! We may find the text book (bible) has some errors in translation. Some of it need to be taken literally, some not so much. Some need to be taken in context with other parts in order to make sense. My view is a big part of understanding the scriptures comes from God himself. Also many people have pre conceived ideas/doctrine before they even start their study/research.
So then, what Professor have you studied biblical studies under?
Its not about IQ though. Im not talking about a general education. I am talking about a biblical education in context.
Outhouse,
If you are following what they teach about Gods written word in a university,
I see why you seem blind to the truth.
Do you believe all good people are going to Heaven?
IMO, all religions have a piece of the truth to offer.
I don't look to scholars for my spiritualty
First of all, not one class have I taken where any professor has claimed that he/she was teaching anything about god.
Which makes sense, since god has not written a word we can study.
Only men wrote these words, of which many contradict each other, so by claiming god is responsible YOU are claiming your god makes many errors.
Im not sure you know the truth to make that claim.
Im not sure you know what heaven is.
Glad you found the weakest part of my argument. Thank you. I do type from work and often rushed. And this is a forum
Maybe you should stick to teaching grammar.
Because I have already addressed that we have two issues here.
The theological sacrifice.
And
The historical sacrifice.
And it seems clear you nothing about one and very little about the other. Maybe you would like to address the theological one in light of not understand the historical possibilities here.
but between you, and God.
I'm sure in the future he will address them with you.
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Exactly outhouse. We study and comment of the historicity of religion in all forms. We should NEVER suggest that we know what is best for anyone. That is up to them and their own interpretation of God, however viewed. My study into ASC and mysticism has led me to understand that spiritual ecstacy is universal to all faiths. With the difference being in how the experience is understood by that person in terms of what they know of religion and God. The commonalities are striking but again, people can only couch the experience in the way they understand it. IE: Thomas Merton changed his views to a more Eastern slant via his study while St Teresa saw it only in terms of her RCC POV.Absolutely.
You don't fix the bible, it fixes you
But that is just one of many valuable statements that apply to this collection of books.
Great advise.
They are not addressing any aspect of spirituality, they are crating the past from the evidence we possess as you know.
No one knows what heaven is. They can only speculate. And even then, it is interpreted in terms of what the person knows of the concept. If a person is Christian, they will consider the concept in terms that reflect the Christian POV. IE: puffy white clouds, a city of gold, etc. Other than that, it is pure conjecture. Anyone claiming they 'know' there is a heaven is merely speaking their wishes and hopes and nothing more.First of all, not one class have I taken where any professor has claimed that he/she was teaching anything about god.
Which makes sense, since god has not written a word we can study.
Only men wrote these words, of which many contradict each other, so by claiming god is responsible YOU are claiming your god makes many errors.
Im not sure you know the truth to make that claim.
Im not sure you know what heaven is.
We don't have any issues...you have many, and they are not between you, and me, but between you, and God. But don't fret about them; I'm sure in the future he will address them with you.
[/QUOTE]Respectfully.. you have no right to an opinion on my relationship with God. You are free to speak about your own but you have no idea what my relationship is with God, so please refrain from thinking you do.