First Principles
January 12th, 2020 at 1:30:15 PM permalink | |
FrGamble Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 67 Posts: 7596 |
Actually God is not a big fan of slavers, oppressors, and those who exploit widows, orphans, and foreigners. That is the common thread of the OT and the history of Israel.
I think eternal happiness is more akin to father embracing his kid when he is hurt and promising him that there is always hope.
Free will is always an interesting discussion. Suffice it to say that because someone might know what you will do does not mean that you don't have freedom. It doesn't change your decisions or choices if God knows outside of time what you will do.
Do you create and sustain someone's life and even give your life for them without any conditions only with the hope that they will use their freedom to respond in grateful love to their creator. What would the humane society advise if you do everything you can to love your dog and all it does is ignore, misbehave, fight, and attack? It is a good thing God is much more merciful and infinitely loving. “It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures.” ( |
January 12th, 2020 at 1:56:19 PM permalink | |
Evenbob Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 146 Posts: 25010 |
Eternal happiness, the original oxymoron. Borrrring... The only way we know what something is, is by knowing it's opposite. If you were eternally happy you wouldn't even know it because you would have nothing to compare it to. The ying and yang of life is what makes life bearable. The cosmic duality, sets of two opposing and complementing principles.
God is anything you want him to be, you make him up as you go along. Or they believe what somebody else made up because they're too lazy to do it themselves. There is no free will, lets not have that discussion again. If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose. |
January 12th, 2020 at 8:29:03 PM permalink | |
Evenbob Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 146 Posts: 25010 | "Isn't it lucky how everyone's god always wants them to be doing exactly what they like doing anyway." Ricky Gervais, atheist If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose. |
January 12th, 2020 at 9:07:13 PM permalink | |
FrGamble Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 67 Posts: 7596 |
I wish I always wanted to be doing what God wants me to do. As it is, following Jesus is the greatest challenge and often asks of me things I do not like or want to do. Yet my greatest peace comes from when I follow God and not what I like to do. “It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures.” ( |
January 12th, 2020 at 9:27:34 PM permalink | |
Evenbob Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 146 Posts: 25010 |
Jesus asks this of you? Or is it the dogma of your religion that asks it. Big big difference. The dogma asks the same things of every believer. If Jesus is directly talking to you, that's a whole different story. What Gervais is saying, isn't it convenient that when god supposedly contacts people, it's usually to encourage them to keep doing what they like doing. It's almost like they're making it up to give themselves permission to keep going. You hear this all the time. God pushed me to go for my owning a restaurant dream. God gave the green light for me to marry the love of my life. God made it clear I should quit the job I hated and open a cheese shop. You never hear anybody say god told me to turn down the scholarship because college would be a waste of time for me. Nobody ever says that. People only hear from god what they think a god would say. If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose. |
January 13th, 2020 at 8:03:45 AM permalink | |
FrGamble Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 67 Posts: 7596 | This is simply not true, I guess it is what happens when you listen to an atheist talk about someone's relationship with God. For the believer God is constantly speaking and encouraging us to work harder, be more virtuous, forgive, love, avoid sin. The other thing you and Gervais seem to not take into consideration is that God desires our happiness, even more than we do. Therefore it does make sense that God wants you to follow your dreams, your passion, and use your gifts to do good things. “It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures.” ( |
January 13th, 2020 at 9:53:36 AM permalink | |
Evenbob Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 146 Posts: 25010 |
So he IS speaking to you. Do you hear an audible voice in your head? How is this speaking done, how do you know it's god. If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose. |
January 13th, 2020 at 11:33:46 AM permalink | |
rxwine Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 188 Posts: 18631 |
Check to see if it's a cat. You believe in an invisible god, and dismiss people who say they are trans? Really? |
January 13th, 2020 at 11:35:02 AM permalink | |
Face Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 61 Posts: 3941 |
Forum is on fire today. 3rd time I've laughed and it ain't even dark yet Be bold and risk defeat, or be cautious and encourage it. |
January 13th, 2020 at 11:37:10 AM permalink | |
FrGamble Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 67 Posts: 7596 | It is an internal voice of my conscience. I kniw it us God because of discernment. This means paying attention to what these internal prompting and inspiration is asking of me and how they make me feel. They are not from me as they are often challenging and corrective. They give me hope even when I struggle myself to see it. I reckon you too have at times felt sone interior prompting to change some of your behaviors or a sweet calm presence desiring to comfort you. “It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures.” ( |