Understanding the holy scriptures is impossible unless God gives you the interpretation

[Elihoenai]

That's incorrect. I have no religion. I leave that to you. My worldview is atheistic. My metaphysics is naturalism, my epistemology empiricism, and my moral values are utilitarian for structuring societies and Golden Rule for my daily life. There's no magical thinking or spirits involved, and no rituals or dogma.

You practice Natural Religion, that apart from a Few hundred/thousand Elect, every person on the planet practices. When you live for maintenance and pleasure of the Body that is Natural Left-Hand Path Religion. Christianity, Islam and Judaism are Really Left-Hand Path Religions.

You're another one that thinks that being an atheist means living a licentious, incontinent life. Once again, I'm not looking for life advice.

You've been fed lies and have believed them. I'm almost 70 years old. I found my way at about age 30-35, which was when I made the last major course correction in life prior to expatriation from America when I left Christianity and embraced humanism. If it hadn't been satisfying, I'd have kept on looking. If it weren't better than the religious life I left, I would have returned to religion.

I Am Christian Ascetic Monk that is Celibate, Free From Alcohol, Free From Drugs and Vegan. Therefore, from my perspective you are Living/Dying a Licentious Life/Death.

I'm a Christian Gnostic that is Outcast from Christendom deemed a Heretic by the Roman Catholic Church having escaped the Lies of Catholicism. You have only experienced the so-called Christianity of Christendom. If you found Real Christianity you would not even contemplate leaving the Religious life.

Is this the path you recommend for me and others - thinking like this? There is nothing appealing about whatever path you call this. Here you are harshly and angrily judging a fellow theist because she eats meat. Why should she care about your judgment or your values?

I don't think she drinks alcohol, but there is no reason she shouldn't if she wanted to.

Go ahead and deprive yourself of that and many other pleasures in pursuit of heaven. You can deprive yourself of all happiness in the service of a god you imagine requires that of you. It doesn't matter to anybody but you.

I have lived life differently, tasting many of its pleasures. I have no regrets, but surely would have had I deprived myself of such things over irrational rules and eventually realized that before dying.

You probably have no regrets either, but your sacrifices are predicated on your beliefs in an afterlife and a particular god who you hope will reward you for walking away from so much. If that's wrong, then you've made a mistake, and there are many good reasons to believe that it is wrong.

I often ask zealous believers like you whether if they knew for a fact that their god didn't exist, would they consider the choice to live as they did a mistake or would they be glad for it even if those sacrifices were for nothing. They never answer. I would expect them all to say yes whatever their actual opinion was, but they prefer to act as if the question hadn't been asked.

It's my opinion that the more Abrahamic religion in one's life, the worse it is for everybody. If all one does is say that he believes in the god of Abraham but otherwise thinks and lives like an atheistic humanist, religion has not hurt him. But if he accepts its bigotries, its negativity about the world, its magical thinking, its war on pleasure, its war on autonomy, and its anti-intellectualism, then his life and the lives of his neighbors can be very adversely affected.

I have experienced that weak and pathetic Life/Death that you are talking about in my teens, apart from the Fornication. Never Fornicated or Committed Adultery in my entire life. In my teens got drunk and went to parties, took soft drugs and ate anything I wanted. The end of those things is Death.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

What is the motive of atheists posting mean little jabs at those who believe?

I don't see mean little jabs. I see people telling you why they don't believe what you do and sensitive believers finding offense there. Dissent is understood as rebelliousness, hedonism, and attacks on their god and themselves. That's on the believer. It's not my purpose to offend you when I express such opinions, but I understand that many will understand it that way, and that that is not a good enough reason to censor myself..

If there is not God, why the hell do they care what others think?

Unbelievers generally don't care what believers think.

What is the point of being mean? Oh, wait. Evil has no reason. It merely is.

@Sgt. Pepper beat me to it. Who's the one actually taking "mean little jabs" here?

When you live for maintenance and pleasure of the Body that is Natural Left-Hand Path Religion.

I have no religion, which to you is a religion.

I Am Christian Ascetic Monk that is Celibate, Free From Alcohol, Free From Drugs and Vegan. Therefore, from my perspective you are Living/Dying a Licentious Life/Death.

Back atcha. Your life sounds like conscious death to me.

I'm a Christian Gnostic that is Outcast from Christendom deemed a Heretic by the Roman Catholic Church having escaped the Lies of Catholicism. You have only experienced the so-called Christianity of Christendom. If you found Real Christianity you would not even contemplate leaving the Religious life.

As I've said, I'm comfortable without religion. And I'm not looking for life advice any more than you are. I worked that out decades ago. What advice do you think you could give me to improve my life?

I have experienced that weak and pathetic Life/Death that you are talking about in my teens, apart from the Fornication. Never Fornicated or Committed Adultery in my entire life. In my teens got drunk and went to parties, took soft drugs and ate anything I wanted. The end of those things is Death.

Bad news: your end will be death anyway. What matters is what happens until then. While you've been contemplating your navel in a cave in the hills, I've been about the world, visited concert halls and museums, visited restaurants, loved, and laughed - what you describe as getting drunk at parties and taking drugs, so naturally, you see that as decadence. That's unfortunate for you.

I'm almost seventy now, and I'm happy with my life. Yet here you are telling me that I should have lived it differently. You're warning me that no good can from this way of living when nothing but good has already come from it for decades now.

 

[Elihoenai]

I believe vegetarian is preferable but I choose to eat meat for personal reasons. I do not believe that eating meat is carnal, not by any definition of the word.

CARNAL Definition & Meaning​

adjective · pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites; sensual: carnal pleasures

CARNAL definition in American English
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/carnal
(kɑrnəl ) adjective [usu ADJ n] Carnal feelings and desires are sexual and physical, without any spiritual element.

No, I do not take any drugs or drink any alcohol. I have no desire to and it is against the laws of my religion.

I am not compensating for being Celibate since I have no desire for sex. Compensation is when you desire something and you try to make up for it by substitution.

Vegetarianism is not self-denial, which is what Jesus called for. A vegetarian could be just as attached to food as a meat-eater.

Genesis 1:29

29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Vegan is Superior to Vegetarianism given that in Veganism no Animal products are allowed. A Vegetarian can consume Cheese, Egg and Milk etc.. Vegan is the Original Diet that Elohim/God gave man.

Eating is Carnal activity. It's just some eating is more Carnal than others. For example, a person that consumes Fatty Pork is more Carnal than a person that only consumes Fish and Not Red Meat in that regard. Yes, Vegetarianism would be Self-Denial because you Want to eat meat, otherwise you would not be doing so. Do you eat anything you want? Everybody is attached to Food because, you admitted yourself before, it is required to live.


When I say Drugs I mean Pharmaceutical Drugs and Recreational Drugs. It could be that you are not aware about the different types of Drugs:


Recreational drug use

"...Common recreational drugs include caffeine, commonly found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, and chocolate; alcohol, commonly found in beer, wine, cocktails, and distilled spirits; nicotine, commonly found in tobacco, tobacco-based products, and electronic cigarettes; cannabis and hashish (with legality of possession varying inter/intra-nationally);..."

Drug - Wikipedia

Who says you Must? Did Jesus say you Must have Sex only for Procreation purposes?
Good luck with trying to enforce such a rule. The Baha'is get a lot of flak just for our law that allows sex only in a marriage between a man and a woman.

Therefore, in Baháʼí Law you can have Recreational Sex in Marriage. Therefore, it follows Baháʼí Law allows for a man wearing Condom or woman on the Pill.

If you are not having Sex in a Marriage for Procreation purpose than it is for Bodily Pleasure. Also in a Marriage a couple has Sex for Pleasure and Procreation. Sex is not for Pleasure and for Procreation purposes only. If you taught this in the Churches the Pews would be empty. Yeshua/Jesus taught Unmarried Celibacy by the example of his Life and Being a True Disciple I follow Yeshua/Jesus.

I was married for 37 years but we never had any children since we both came from dysfunctional families and we were not emotionally prepared to raise children. I was widowed in 2022.

When did you become a member of the Baháʼí Faith? Was it after the marriage?

I do understand your position but I don't think you understand who you are talking to. I did not have any sex for the last 22 years of my marriage because I had no interest in sex and no desire for sex, after I realized how it had come in between me and God. Now, if I want to remarry I cannot, because no men will date a woman who won't have sex. This is a very sad commentary on society when a woman cannot even date a man without expectations of sex. These men are not young men, they are in their late 60s and 70s.

Can't you find a man in the Baháʼí Faith to marry that doesn't want to have Sex? Not that I'm encouraging this. Why marry a man when you can Marry Elohim/God? This is a man speaking. Also Sex in Marriage between a couple in their 60s and 70s is not for Procreation purposes and, therefore, would be Recreational Sex.

 

[Trailblazer]

Bad news: your end will be death anyway. What matters is what happens until then. While you've been contemplating your navel in a cave in the hills, I've been about the world, visited concert halls and museums, visited restaurants, loved, and laughed - what you describe as getting drunk at parties and taking drugs, so naturally, you see that as decadence. That's unfortunate for you.

I'm almost seventy now, and I'm happy with my life. Yet here you are telling me that I should have lived it differently. You're warning me that no good can from this way of living when nothing but good has already come from it for decades now.

According to Baha'i beliefs, it matters how we live this life, but since we believe that death is not the end, we try to live life with that in mind.
If we live according to the teachings of Baha'u'llah, we will be prepared to enter the next life and live in it. If we don't, we may not be prepared.

Asceticism is forbidden in the Baha'i Faith. We are enjoined to go out into the world and be a part of it.

Baháʼu'lláh prohibited a mendicant and ascetic lifestyle. Monasticism is forbidden, and Baháʼís are taught to practice spirituality while engaging in useful work.

Baháʼí Faith - Wikipedia​

 

[Trailblazer]

Genesis 1:29

29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

That verse is not a prohibition om meat-eating.

FYI, the Baha'i Faith is far ahead of Christianity. Our teachings say that the food of the future will be fruits and grains.

But we are fortunate to have principles to guide us in our choices while we wait for science to catch up. So, what is the food of the future? Abdu'l-Baha's response to this burning question follows: Fruit and grains.

The Food of the Future | Baha'i Blog

Vegan is Superior to Vegetarianism given that in Veganism no Animal products are allowed. A Vegetarian can consume Cheese, Egg and Milk etc.. Vegan is the Original Diet that Elohim/God gave man.

The reason for me to become a Vegetarian or a Vegan is because I love animals, NOT so I could feel Superior to other people.
It is against my beliefs to judge other people and woe betide me if I feel superior to others.

Matthew 7:3-5 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

26: O SON OF BEING! How couldst thou forget thine own faults and busy thyself with the faults of others? Whoso doeth this is accursed of Me.

27: O SON OF MAN! Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be, and to this I bear witness.
The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 10

Eating is Carnal activity. It's just some eating is more Carnal than others. For example, a person that consumes Fatty Pork is more Carnal than a person that only consumes Fish and Not Red Meat in that regard. Yes, Vegetarianism would be Self-Denial because you Want to eat meat, otherwise you would not be doing so. Do you eat anything you want? Everybody is attached to Food because, you admitted yourself before, it is required to live.

Eating is Carnal but so what? We have to eat to live.
Vegetarianism would be Self-Denial for me because I Want to eat meat, but I do not need to deny myself of everything in this world just so I can say I practice Self-Denial.

I do not deny that I have some attachment to food, but so what? I do not need to be completely detached form everything pleasurable in this world. Should I not enjoy nature and animals?

When I say Drugs I mean Pharmaceutical Drugs and Recreational Drugs. It could be that you are not aware about the different types of Drugs:

Recreational drug use

"...Common recreational drugs include caffeine, commonly found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, and chocolate; alcohol, commonly found in beer, wine, cocktails, and distilled spirits; nicotine, commonly found in tobacco, tobacco-based products, and electronic cigarettes; cannabis and hashish (with legality of possession varying inter/intra-nationally);..."

Drug - Wikipedia

What is your point about these? Is your point that nobody should drink coffee? Do you know that there are health benefits from drinking coffee?

Baha'is are discouraged from using tobacco, and it is against Baha'is Laws to drink alcohol or take recreational drugs (drugs that are not prescribed by a doctor.)

Therefore, in Baháʼí Law you can have Recreational Sex in Marriage. Therefore, it follows Baháʼí Law allows for a man wearing Condom or woman on the Pill.

No, there is no Baha'i Law that prohibits the use of birth control. What would be the alternative? Abstinence is not realistic so the alternative would be bringing children into the world, that couples cannot care for and ultimately, overpopulation.

You are not going to stop people from having sex. If you cannot even stop people from having sex outside of wedlock how do you think you will ever stop people from having sex IN wedlock?.

If you are not having Sex in a Marriage for Procreation purpose than it is for Bodily Pleasure. Also in a Marriage a couple has Sex for Pleasure and Procreation. Sex is not for Pleasure and for Procreation purposes only. If you taught this in the Churches the Pews would be empty. Yeshua/Jesus taught Unmarried Celibacy by the example of his Life and Being a True Disciple I follow Yeshua/Jesus.

Yes, sex in Marriage that is not for Procreation is for bodily pleasure. People like to say that sex in marriage is 'needed' for bonding and it is not for pleasure, but that is a lie they tell themselves because there are happily married couples who do not have sex. The least people can do is admit the truth: They are having sex for pleasure.

When did you become a member of the Baháʼí Faith? Was it after the marriage?

I became a member of the Baha'i Faith when I was 17 years old and I did not get married until I was 32 years old. I had plenty of opportunities but I never had sex before I became a Baha'i or after, until I got married, and I have never had sex with any man other than my late husband, nor had he ever had sex with any other woman, and he was 42 years old when we got married. Obviously we are exceptions to the way most people live.

Can't you find a man in the Baháʼí Faith to marry that doesn't want to have Sex? Not that I'm encouraging this. Why marry a man when you can Marry Elohim/God? This is a man speaking. Also Sex in Marriage between a couple in their 60s and 70s is not for Procreation purposes and, therefore, would be Recreational Sex.

I wish I could find a Baha'i man to marry but there is no way to find one even if they are out there somewhere. And even if I did find a Baha'i man to marry he would probably want sex. I am not completely averse to the idea of having sex in marriage, yet it is not something I desire for myself. However, I would like a companion, someone to share life with who has the same values as I have.

Let's face reality. Most of the sex that people engage is is Recreational Sex because people like to experience physical pleasure. Been there, done that, so I know from experience. I thank God that I was able to escape from that prison, the prison of self. I am not close to God, but I want to be, so I don't want anything that could intervene between myself and God.

“Know ye that by “the world” is meant your unawareness of Him Who is your Maker, and your absorption in aught else but Him. The “life to come,” on the other hand, signifieth the things that give you a safe approach to God, the All-Glorious, the Incomparable. Whatsoever deterreth you, in this Day, from loving God is nothing but the world. Flee it, that ye may be numbered with the blest. Should a man wish to adorn himself with the ornaments of the earth, to wear its apparels, or partake of the benefits it can bestow, no harm can befall him, if he alloweth nothing whatever to intervene between him and God, for God hath ordained every good thing, whether created in the heavens or in the earth, for such of His servants as truly believe in Him. Eat ye, O people, of the good things which God hath allowed you, and deprive not yourselves from His wondrous bounties. Render thanks and praise unto Him, and be of them that are truly thankful.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 275-276

 

[2ndpillar]

FYI, the Baha'i Faith is far ahead of Christianity. Our teachings say that the food of the future will be fruits and grains.

The "food" of the "woke" Progressive Marxist, the humanist, is following the path of Vegans, whereas in the kingdom (Zechariah 14:21) there will be sacrificed animals, boiled in "holy" pots. (Zechariah 14:21). Without proper proteins, zinc, Niacin, and fats of meats, the Vegans will follow the path of the survival of the fittest, and no longer be among us.

 

[2ndpillar]

What is the motive of atheists posting mean little jabs at those who believe? It actually makes no sense. If there is not God, why the hell do they care what others think? What is the point of being mean? Oh, wait. Evil has no reason. It merely is.

I don't know. "Evil", as in the "serpent" of Eden, seems to have an innate ability to lie and get away with it. As for "atheists", who are indeed humanist, and are their own gods, as with the devil, they think that if they can accumulate enough followers, who are as depressed and disillusioned with life, as themselves, they can escape the coming wrath of God, which is the consequences of their own godlike decisions.

Mt 10:16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves.

 

[2ndpillar]

You're complaining about atheists posting mean little jabs at believers, but you just posted a mean little jab at atheists by insinuating that they are evil.

You are going to have to define evil.
Evil: profound immorality and wickedness, especially when regarded as a supernatural force:
That raises the question of what is "wickedness"
Wickedness: Wickedness is generally considered a synonym for evil or sinfulness
That raises the question as to what is "sinfulness"
Sin:

• The breaking or transgression of God's law.
• Disobedience or rebellion against God.
• Independence from God.
• "Missing the mark" of God's holy standard of righteousness.
• An offense against religious or moral law.

Do atheist break God's law? Do they even believe in God. If they construe themselves as a god, are they not keeping their own god laws? The result of breaking God's law is death (Jeremiah 31:30). What is the result of an Atheist breaking his own laws. It would probably depend on those laws he is breaking. The ultimate result is death, but what are the intermediate consequences? Are they AIDs, depression, suicide, loneliness, wokeness, or are those consequences based on the degree that their laws differ from God's laws? The "Christian" have created their own laws, as they have nailed the laws of God to a cross. They in turn will suffer the same fates as the Atheist, in the same manner, according to their actions.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

You are going to have to define evil.

She's referring to what the Abrahamic theist who used the word meant. Here's what she wrote: "What is the motive of atheists posting mean little jabs at those who believe? It actually makes no sense. If there is not God, why the hell do they care what others think? What is the point of being mean? Oh, wait. Evil has no reason. It merely is."

Evil: profound immorality and wickedness, especially when regarded as a supernatural force

There you go! She was calling atheists profoundly immoral (wicked) even as she was condemning them for allegedly doing what she's doing.

Do atheist break God's law? Do they even believe in God. If they construe themselves as a god, are they not keeping their own god laws? The result of breaking God's law is death (Jeremiah 31:30). What is the result of an Atheist breaking his own laws.

Atheists aren't breaking their own laws. They're breaking YOUR laws, which don't pertain to them.

The ultimate result is death

Bad news: People who try to obey those lies all die, too.

what are the intermediate consequences? Are they AIDs, depression, suicide, loneliness, wokeness, or are those consequences based on the degree that their laws differ from God's laws?

Disagree. I've disregarded all of Christian morality that violates my humanist moral values, and there were none of those things you named except possibly empathy, which you call "wokeness." Instead, I enjoyed life.

You may have seen that there's another Christian poster on this thread who has been naming all of the things he has denied himself in the pursuit of his religious beliefs. He tells us that he is an ascetic who denies himself sex, intoxicant, and meat, and called another theist carnal for eating meat. I think that he believes that he should be admired for that. I told him that I thought his life was "conscious death."

There are so many Abrahamists that have this idea that pleasure is bad or wrong, and harshly judge those who disagree. They also seem to consider the world a horrible place, and don't like being disagreed with there, either. They typically give people like me unsolicited life advice in the form of warnings to change before it's too late. My life is evidence that they have always been wrong and are still wrong now. It's a terrible thing to burden a person with, but it keeps them dependent on the church - the sole source of the only antidote to the disease which they invented: a dissolute life followed by perdition.

Once you begin to believe that they may be correct and that you can't afford to gamble, they own you. The trick is to not believe them - to realize that they know no more about life for reading a holy book, and often know much less for believing it.

 

[2ndpillar]

She's referring to what the Abrahamic theist who used the word meant. Here's what she wrote: "What is the motive of atheists posting mean little jabs at those who believe? It actually makes no sense. If there is not God, why the hell do they care what others think? What is the point of being mean? Oh, wait. Evil has no reason. It merely is.

I am sure that makes sense to you, but it does not define "evil". I mean, defining Biden as the sharpest stick on the block probably seems valid to you. And could you define an "Abrahamic theist". I mean an Abrahamic theist in the robes of an Islamist, might not have the same ideas regarding what an "Abrahamic theist" in the robes of a Jew or Christian might have. It might seem evil to a Jew when an Islamist thinks it all right to burn babies to death. On the other hand, the Islamist might think it is righteous, and he now has 72 virgins kept in heaven for him.

 

[2ndpillar]

Disagree. I've disregarded all of Christian morality that violates my humanist moral values, and there were none of those things you named except possibly empathy, which you call "wokeness." Instead, I enjoyed life.

And what are your "humanist moral values"? As for your woke empathy, empathy for who? Empathy for yourself? Empathy for so called revolutionaries, who burn and kill? Empathy for mutilated children, who soon after their mutilation, go out and kill themselves? As for you having "enjoyed life", am I to presume your life is coming quickly to an end, and if so, what is bringing about that ending?

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

could you define an "Abrahamic theist"

Yes. That's anybody who believes in the god of Abraham, which includes the Jews, Christians (including the JWs and Mormons), Muslims, and the Baha'i.

what are your "humanist moral values"?

They're my set of beliefs regarding what is good and right thought and behavior versus what is bad and wrong based in my belief that man decides these things for himself according to the intuitions of his conscience - not by revelation.

Though there is some overlap, they differ considerably from the Christian moral set. I don't consider faith or piety virtues, nor extramarital sex immoral if one isn't in a committed, monogamous relationship. I don't care who others love as long as it is consensual, and I leave decisions about abortion to pregnant women. I consider slavery immoral. There is no such thing as sin, and pursuing happiness is not immoral.

I consider what the god of Abraham is said to have done to terrestrial life in the flood story immoral, what it allegedly did to the kids in the Garden immoral, and what it did to Job immoral. I consider hardening Pharaoh's heart before killing children immoral. I consider loving enemies foolish. I consider calling the wisdom of the world foolishness and describing the world as an evil place fit to be shunned foolishness itself.

But like I said, there is some overlap. Those speaking for the god of Abraham got it mostly right about most homicides, stealing, and lying.

empathy for who?

For every living thing that hasn't forfeited it, which is all animal life and most people.

As for you having "enjoyed life", am I to presume your life is coming quickly to an end

I hope not. Not to my knowledge. But at my age, I have lived long enough to know that the choices I made lead to the kind of life I was looking for. I live relatively free from strife, anxiety, insecurity, loneliness, boredom, shame, guilt, and remorse. Life is easy and interesting and has been since retirement and expatriation fifteen years ago. It's a humble existence, but I am surrounded by love and beauty, and there is nothing that I want except more of the same for as long as I can have it.

 

[Quester]

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

So, considering the fact that ALL belief systems consider their individual beliefs to be "holy" and that they are right and everyone else is wrong ... how exactly do you prove YOU have all the answers? I mean, your text is doing the exact same thing - "I'm right, and everyone else is wrong."

 

[Trailblazer]

Atheists aren't breaking their own laws. They're breaking YOUR laws, which don't pertain to them.

In my opinion, most of the laws in the Bible don't pertain to anyone anymore because they are outdated.
Yet Christians refer to those laws as if they are hot off the press.

 

[jimb]

So, considering the fact that ALL belief systems consider their individual beliefs to be "holy" and that they are right and everyone else is wrong ... how exactly do you prove YOU have all the answers? I mean, your text is doing the exact same thing - "I'm right, and everyone else is wrong."

You are making a supposition then supplying the answer. What is your point?

 

[Quester]

You are making a supposition then supplying the answer. What is your point?

Really simple ... answer the question: " ... how exactly do you prove YOU have all the answers?"

 

[jimb]

Really simple ... answer the question: " ... how exactly do you prove YOU have all the answers?"

I would never make such an absurd claim, nor should anyone else. Apparently you don't understand what a belief system is. I believe what I believe but I would never be so stupid as to claim that I have the whole truth -- about anything. Anyone who makes the claim is crazy! If you want a further explanation, read my "signature" below regarding making judgements...

 

[Quester]

I would never make such an absurd claim, nor should anyone else. Apparently you don't understand what a belief system is. I believe what I believe but I would never be so stupid as to claim that I have the whole truth -- about anything. Anyone who makes the claim is crazy! If you want a further explanation, read my "signature" below regarding making judgements...

I understand what a "belief system" is. Since writing began (which is the clearest picture) people have been expected to "believe" what they were told by the religious elite ... and Christianity is no different. Look at your signature ... some people have spirit and some don't? This isn't true (and "spirit" is an incorrect approach) but by saying it, it allows the writer to create a picture that must be accepted as is by the reader / listener AKA the "believer" - and of course believers "have the mind of Christ." It's "doctrine" ... like any religion.

 

[2ndpillar]

Yes. That's anybody who believes in the god of Abraham, which includes the Jews, Christians (including the JWs and Mormons), Muslims, and the Baha'i.

They're my set of beliefs regarding what is good and right thought and behavior versus what is bad and wrong based in my belief that man decides these things for himself according to the intuitions of his conscience - not by revelation.

Though there is some overlap, they differ considerably from the Christian moral set. I don't consider faith or piety virtues, nor extramarital sex immoral if one isn't in a committed, monogamous relationship. I don't care who others love as long as it is consensual, and I leave decisions about abortion to pregnant women. I consider slavery immoral. There is no such thing as sin, and pursuing happiness is not immoral.

I consider what the god of Abraham is said to have done to terrestrial life in the flood story immoral, what it allegedly did to the kids in the Garden immoral, and what it did to Job immoral. I consider hardening Pharaoh's heart before killing children immoral. I consider loving enemies foolish. I consider calling the wisdom of the world foolishness and describing the world as an evil place fit to be shunned foolishness itself.

But like I said, there is some overlap. Those speaking for the god of Abraham got it mostly right about most homicides, stealing, and lying.

For every living thing that hasn't forfeited it, which is all animal life and most people.

I hope not. Not to my knowledge. But at my age, I have lived long enough to know that the choices I made lead to the kind of life I was looking for. I live relatively free from strife, anxiety, insecurity, loneliness, boredom, shame, guilt, and remorse. Life is easy and interesting and has been since retirement and expatriation fifteen years ago. It's a humble existence, but I am surrounded by love and beauty, and there is nothing that I want except more of the same for as long as I can have it.

It sounds like you are around 80 years old, a guy who was brought up under the rule of law and safety set up in a Christianized Western country, probably America, gaging on your grammar, under the protection of their laws, based on the 10 commandments, as is imaged on the Supreme Court building, and to use the retirement derived from that country, you use your relative wealth to prey on the younger poor woman of a country such as the Philippines, to enslave their attentions to mitigate your self- centered desires. I can see why you want to use your gaged conscience for making your choices. Old guys don't go to places such as the generally Catholic Philippines for their hot muggy weather, or sandy beaches. It is best to condemn the God who judges the morally corrupt, such as was done with Sodom, and to bolster those who kill the unwanted unborn. The problem with your Progressive viewpoint, is that it devolves into San Fransico, Portland, Chicago. And ultimately the Philippines and other places such as Thailand, will raise their restrictions, on things such as visa requirements, phone restrictions, and increased paperwork, along with the noise and everything being so unorganized, that you will crack, and with thoughts of going home, and have no home to go back too. There are a lot of people like you, but I wouldn't want to be one of them. Although I do know a guy, I worked with, who lives in the Philippines. The guy is generally depressed and keeps beating himself up. I told him to watch some Dr. Peterson pod cast. It seemed to help him a little. You might try it. Peterson gets some of his insights from reading the Old Testament. https://www.youtube.com/user/JordanPetersonVideos

 

[jimb]

I understand what a "belief system" is. Since writing began (which is the clearest picture) people have been expected to "believe" what they were told by the religious elite ... and Christianity is no different. Look at your signature ... some people have spirit and some don't? This isn't true (and "spirit" is an incorrect approach) but by saying it, it allows the writer to create a picture that must be accepted as is by the reader / listener AKA the "believer" - and of course believers "have the mind of Christ." It's "doctrine" ... like any religion.

So I have been born again and have been given the Holy Spirit -- and you have not. I was healed by Jesus Christ; there was no "belief" involved.

Obviously you cannot understand this, but that is to be expected.

Again, read my signature below -- carefully this time. I doubt you will understand, but who knows?