Philotic Web

Please clarify. I provided 7 links above doing just that. In addition, one needs to look at the history of biblical editing. A study of text and context shows that the current form of Genesis is a compilation of materials that was edited (or re-edited)at the very least in the post-exilic period, fa...

From all your talk about my "interpretations" as you call them, you clearly did not go and read Ephesians like I requested. Paul is very clear and precise on this subject. I did read it. Again. What you don't seem to grasp is that others legitimately can understand the same passages of sc...

The Genesis account, told by God through Moses, clearly outlines what is written there as Fact, without allegory or hidden meanings. Why is it so hard to accept?

Because then you'd have to completely throw away culture and context when it comes to interpretation. I'm not willing to do that.

Indeed. And it's hilarious to me that my conception of God is closer to Taal's than CTCT's. (Hi Dave!)

I'm really not surprised at all. Remember, we're both part of non-Christian cults after all.

Meaning you do not believe in Creation as God Himself told it? if so, then yes, you apparently don't truly believe in Him because if you did, you would believe and defend what He told us.

Did you see my earlier post? I'm curious as to your thoughts on what was presented.

that it the way the Bible says that it works

You mean, "That's the way I interpret what the Bible says." We disagree on that interpretation.

Taalcon: I'll say it again: Only God's elect are his "children." Therefore, he only has to act like a father to the Elect, and like a righteous judge to those who are not. It seems you do not believe in Hell, though (?), so I see no real point in debating this particular issue when we dis...

God created men who were predestined to do evil and go to Hell so that he could be further glorified. Who do you consider abetter parents? Those who neglects a large percentage of their children, or those who do all they can to see that each and every one of their children have (at the very least) ...

Also, only God's elect are his "children." His elect, and the Jews. If everybody were God's children, how could God ever have the heart to send any one of them to eternal torture? I don't believe that God sends anyone to Eternal Torture. I do believe that He does, however, allow his child...

If God creates people who never get to hear the name of Jesus, or who hear it only horribly mis-represented, then it cannot be just to simply condemn them for not having chosen to believe in Christianity. In order for God to in fact be a just God, there has to be a mechanism in place for these peop...

If God wished all men to go to heaven, then they would. He is all powerful, and he has no reason to do what he does not wish to do. Unfortunately, he doesn't reveal enough of Himself in nature, it seems, because so many people believe He did not create it. God wills men toward eternal suffering bec...

I don't think Genesis has anything to do with science, especially not the creation accounts. If you take it literally, then you believe the earth literally looks like this , as they did. The Genesis creation accounts appear to be a temple liturgy, and have quite a bit more to do with man's relations...

I just saw today that my name shows up in the book, too. This is the second time I've unexpectedly shown up in the thanks in an Ender book. Seeing Adam and Nathan's timeline in there did bring back memories, though. I remember looking at the original of that back in the day, as they were tweaking it.

"Purpose" implies a plan... Since there is no overall "plan" for us, our purpose is what we make it out to be. I'll go with a utilitarian purpose: The greatest happiness for the greatest number. Of course, how you GET there, and what that all MEANS are subject to debate. I've he...

:peeks in:
*runs out of the room screaming*
Ah, Nostalgia...

Aw, gee

Thanks!

And yeah, I'm a bad friend. Bad bad bad.

A combination of things. One major one is specificity. What is one asking? There are many elements of things that are equally good and true spread throughout many religions/philosophies. I believe that anyone can feel God's spirit pretty much anywhere when they are honestly seeking Truth. I remember...

This isn't a trick of logic, or, even really, a question about God at all, but about human interaction with Him. As a matter of absolute morality - the setting down of laws, or morals, which separate good from evil, there are many, many, many practices which the Bible explicitly prohibits. The 10 C...

Anyone reporting on any religion that they know nothing about is certain to make errors (It's hard to find anyone reporting about LDS who don't get something wrong!). Perhaps one of our Catholic posters can clarify, but I did some additional looking into it to confirm what I thought: Christening see...

Doesn't the term "christening" mean "anointing"?

I've been reading up on my Mesopotamian and Canaanite mythology. It opens up the Old Testament and allows a lot of symbolism and imagery used to be viewed in a whole new light. This reinforces my belief that understanding the historic and socio-context in which something is presented is essential fo...

I think the two aren't mutually exclusive. Asking alone doesn't work. Studying alone doesn't work. The two need to go hand in hand. "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me . But, behold, I say unto you, th...

Because it's funny? Why does it need to be suppressed? It's no worse than anything in Chasing Amy or Mallrats. Or Dogma for that matter. I think there's a difference between suppressing something, and choosing not to promulgate something. There's many times I see things which are of appallingly bad...

I guess my question is, why does this need to be shared?

Reading that made me feel ill.

I agree. An expanded account of this in LDS scripture (Moses 5:18-21) presents the more explicit idea that Cain's love of the world - and of the things prompted by Satan - were far more powerful than his love for, and desire to be obedient to, the commandments of God. The command to Sacrifice by God...

People ask me if I believe the Eden story is Literal, or Symbolic. My answer is, "Yes." There are many, many things that aren't known concerning the details. But there are some core things I believe that, to me, are non-negotiable. An historical, literal uniquely- and separately-created Ad...

'Clever', maybe, but to me, an archeologist's re-imagining of the Eden story based on a random (but cool) archeological find should not be 'convincing'.

I think it's a fascinating archeological discovery. Not being drawn in on the Eden theories, though.

A blog I like wrote in depth about it, and linked to some videos of the site as well.

Behemoth, is apparently the intensive plural of behemah, meaning â€œbeast.â€ A large river animal (possibly the hippopotamus). Only reference in the scriptures is from the unknown ancient writer of Job. Leviathan, however, is referenced much more. Isaiah makes another reference to Leviathan, "...

There's a great talk given in a General Conference a year or so ago that discussed this very point, the difference between Good, Better, and Best in a gospel context. It's a good general discussion, and terminology use aside, I think there is very little in there that would make the topic discussed ...

I know my Heavenly Father loves me, and because of this, I can truly love Him. And the key question, for me is: What is to love god? Is it to praise him and sing hymns to him? This is often an expression of our love. Is it to burn offerings to him? At times throughout history, this was presented by...

The point of this thread was not to lay out what led me to atheism but to try to understand why Christianity was generally seen as a positive message when it rang so many emotional false notes with me. I stumbled upon a Lewis quote that sort of sums up the problem for me: "The real test of bei...

I agree with starfox on this matter. As a Christian I strongly believe that it is essential to one's faith, and truly using religion as a tool to seek the truth, to be able to question one's own faith and either reasonably defend that faith, or be willing to take a good hard look at why you believe...

Because the purpose of this aspect of the forum is to help understanding of others. It's designed for learning from others about what they believe and why. Those who believe something are the authorities on what they believe. It's not a place to change or ridicule others' beliefs. Is it possibile th...

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Re: God as the Alpha and Omega of Morality