Christianity

[Gary Childress]

Try the conversation. See where it takes you. That's my advice.

I feel like it would be jumping right into the deep end for me to seek conversation with God at this point. I have a lot of baggage that needs to be sorted through. Some of it prevents me from being able to form the right words to ask anything directly to God. Plus I feel like I want to relax a little. I'm actually pretty exhausted just from the discussion today on the forum and all the mental exercise I undertook trying to keep an even keel throughout it. I'll just say, maybe God is using this forum to prepare me better for hearing God's voice. I don't know. They say not to put God to the test so maybe I shouldn't put God on the spot. I'll take whatever relief I can get at this point.

Although, I do want to thank you, IC, for your patience and consideration. I feel like I've put you through a marathon over the past month and more. I apologize to be such a hard head. But I think it's going to take some time. Not sure if it's going to be like the Exorcist or something--a sudden rapture or breakthrough. We'll see.

[Immanuel Can]

Try the conversation. See where it takes you. That's my advice.

I feel like it would be jumping right into the deep end for me to seek conversation with God at this point.

Good. That's how it should feel.

But give yourself the break you need, and think over what you want to do. Five minutes, once a day, at the beginning, for a month or two. It's not much to ask, and it's not going to cost you anything in money, and not much in time.

And if you think about it honestly, you'll realize it's not only not too much to do, it's the minimum you could be asked.

Although, I do want to thank you, IC, for your patience and consideration. I feel like I've put you through a marathon over the past month and more. I apologize to be such a hard head. But I think it's going to take some time.

The little voice that tells you to put things off is sometimes the same little voice that wants to make sure you never do them at all.

The voice you've been listening to...how's it done for you, so far? Has it led you to happiness? Has it made you a better person? Do you expect it to, now? And if not, then why listen to it anymore?

If you change nothing, then things will stay the same, Gary. That's a sure bet.

[Gary Childress]

Although, I do want to thank you, IC, for your patience and consideration. I feel like I've put you through a marathon over the past month and more. I apologize to be such a hard head. But I think it's going to take some time.

The little voice that tells you to put things off is sometimes the same little voice that wants to make sure you never do them at all.

The voice you've been listening to...how's it done for you, so far? Has it led you to happiness? Has it made you a better person? Do you expect it to, now? And if not, then why listen to it anymore?

If you change nothing, then things will stay the same, Gary. That's a sure bet.

The first time I had hyper-religious thoughts concerning God, the Bible, etc. was while I was working for a Federal Government agency. I walked into my boss's office mumbling incoherently and clutching a Bible. A psychiatrist working for that agency put me in a psychiatric hospital for the first time ever in my life. Being in a psychiatric hospital that first time was the single most devastating, earthshaking experience I have ever had. I don't know. When God came to Moses, and other mystics out there who have claimed to have had the experience, it shook up their world big time. A lot of Christian mystics seem to have been ascetics and such and lived in monasteries. When I look at monasteries and stuff like that, I'm a little apprehensive about the prospect of possibly ending up in one.

[commonsense]

If I haven’t heard God speak to me, how can I know that God has spoken?

The answer turns out to be quite simple: one has to be willing to look. The starting point is getting to know Jesus Christ, who is God's most perfect "Word" to mankind. God has promised that those who truly seek will find. He has given His Spirit for the purpose of revealing to human beings what they cannot know on their own. This is the Christian perspective.

I’m willing to look. I have truly looked sincerely and as hard as I can. God has not spoken to me. I must be doomed along with all atheists and agnostics. You have painted a very dismal picture. I am not happy with what you have posted nor with the Christian perspective.

[BigMike]

If I haven’t heard God speak to me, how can I know that God has spoken?

The answer turns out to be quite simple: one has to be willing to look. The starting point is getting to know Jesus Christ, who is God's most perfect "Word" to mankind. God has promised that those who truly seek will find. He has given His Spirit for the purpose of revealing to human beings what they cannot know on their own. This is the Christian perspective.

I’m willing to look. I have truly looked sincerely and as hard as I can. God has not spoken to me. I must be doomed along with all atheists and agnostics. You have painted a very dismal picture. I am not happy with what you have posted nor with the Christian perspective.

Well, looks like we got a detective over here! Sherlock Holmes, is that you? I mean, you must have been using your magnifying glass and Sherlock-level deduction skills to have looked as hard as you claim. But hey, if God still hasn't reached out to you, don't worry, you're not alone! You can join the cool kids club with us atheists and agnostics, where we get to sleep in on Sunday mornings and enjoy a guilt-free brunch. And as for that dismal picture, I say let's paint over it with some happy little trees and a big ol' smiley face! Who needs a Christian perspective when you've got Bob Ross?

[BigMike]

Oh boy, don't even get me started on some of the more outrageous beliefs some of these religious folks have. I mean, there are people out there who genuinely think that the Earth is only a few thousand years old and that dinosaurs coexisted with humans. It's like they've never heard of carbon dating or the fact that there's no evidence of humans and T-Rexes having brunch together.

And then there are those who believe that certain things are "sins," like eating pork or wearing mixed fabrics. I mean, what kind of arbitrary nonsense is that? It's like they just make up rules as they go along, and then expect everyone else to follow them without question.

But I think the most hilarious part of all is when these religious folks try to use their beliefs to justify their prejudices and bigotry. You know the ones I'm talking about - the ones who use their religion to condemn anyone who doesn't look, act, or love the way they do. It's like they're stuck in the Dark Ages or something, and can't wrap their heads around the fact that people are different and that's okay.

Look, I'm not saying that all religious people are like this. There are plenty of kind, compassionate, and open-minded individuals who just happen to have faith in something greater than themselves. But let's face it - there are also some real doozies out there who take their beliefs to ridiculous extremes. As for me, I'll stick to living my life with kindness and empathy, and leave the religious debates to the experts. Or at least to the people who actually bothered to read a science book.

[Immanuel Can]

Being in a psychiatric hospital that first time was the single most devastating, earthshaking experience I have ever had.

I don't have any trouble believing that, at all. I know what it's done to folks to whom it has happened.

[Immanuel Can]

I’m willing to look. I have truly looked sincerely and as hard as I can. God has not spoken to me.

I'd say the same thing I'd say to anyone. It's not spooky. It's just an honest conversation that's necessary. The whole thing is to open the conversation.

[promethean75]

i feel a flip-flop coming on again gary. u get some sense in to u and hold out for a few days and then that IC comes along and culls and seduces u once again with all his very well written posts. I didn't say 'right' i said well written. That's a characteristic of highly trained sophists btw Gary so u better watch out. Not saying he is just sayin.

Anyway then something bad happens and u get angry at god again and become an atheist. what we need is a prescription for a philosophy stabilizing drug... something that will help u remain rational when you're faced with frustrations and problems and everything else that sucks in life (of which there is much) so u don't get mad at god and flip-flop on us again.

[Gary Childress]

I’m willing to look. I have truly looked sincerely and as hard as I can. God has not spoken to me.

I'd say the same thing I'd say to anyone. It's not spooky. It's just an honest conversation that's necessary. The whole thing is to open the conversation.

I tried asking God a question before dinner tonight. IIRC it was something like "what do you want me to do?" I was a little frustrated when I asked the question so I don't know, maybe I wasn't reverent enough. I asked it out of frustration. Nothing yet. I'll give it another shot probably when I go to bed tonight. Sometimes I'll talk as though I'm talking to someone when I'm lying in bed before I go to sleep. I'll see what happens.

[Gary Childress]

i feel a flip-flop coming on again gary. u get some sense in to u and hold out for a few days and then that IC comes along and culls and seduces u once again with all his very well written posts. I didn't say 'right' i said well written. That's a characteristic of highly trained sophists btw Gary so u better watch out. Not saying he is just sayin.

Anyway then something bad happens and u get angry at god again and become an atheist. what we need is a prescription for a philosophy stabilizing drug... something that will help u remain rational when you're faced with frustrations and problems and everything else that sucks in life (of which there is much) so u don't get mad at god and flip-flop on us again.

I mean, IC is fine. I've learned a lot about Christianity from talking to him. A lot of the stuff he says makes sense in a way.

I'm a little apprehensive regarding the part about talking to God, but I'll see if it works. I might be a little too low-brow to talk nicely to God, my folks grew up as hicks, yokels, or whatever. I guess I'll see if that makes a difference or not. Not all of us grew up in fine proper Christian families.

[commonsense]

I’m willing to look. I have truly looked sincerely and as hard as I can. God has not spoken to me.

I'd say the same thing I'd say to anyone. It's not spooky. It's just an honest conversation that's necessary. The whole thing is to open the conversation.

Conversation between you and me or between God and me?

[Immanuel Can]

I’m willing to look. I have truly looked sincerely and as hard as I can. God has not spoken to me.

I'd say the same thing I'd say to anyone. It's not spooky. It's just an honest conversation that's necessary. The whole thing is to open the conversation.

I tried asking God a question before dinner tonight. IIRC it was something like "what do you want me to do?" I was a little frustrated when I asked the question so I don't know, maybe I wasn't reverent enough. I asked it out of frustration. Nothing yet. I'll give it another shot probably when I go to bed tonight. Sometimes I'll talk as though I'm talking to someone when I'm lying in bed before I go to sleep. I'll see what happens.

That's a good idea. But remember: you have to be willing to wait and pay attention. Persist. God, it seems, sometimes waits a bit, just to bring you to the point where you're not fooling around anymore, and you really get a sense of urgency and seriousness. For ordinarily, it's only then that you'll take a serious answer to the question you're asking as serious, and recognize it for what it is.

[Immanuel Can]

I’m willing to look. I have truly looked sincerely and as hard as I can. God has not spoken to me.

I'd say the same thing I'd say to anyone. It's not spooky. It's just an honest conversation that's necessary. The whole thing is to open the conversation.

Conversation between you and me or between God and me?

Between you and God.

[promethean75]

"I'm a little apprehensive regarding the part about talking to God, but I'll see if it works."

with Harris, Sam i note how even if god did answer your prayers, millions more would go unanswered as mothers pray that their children survive some terrible disaster or starvation... and yet the christian seems not to even consider this, concerned only with his own acne problem (think that's the examplw he used lol). that fact is not only offensively narcissistic, but down right obscene. not targeting u G but u see what i mean. like i hear discussions between black women in line at hardees in the morning praising god becuz one of em got the apartment, etc. and they're just jumpin up and down hallelujah, completely obviously to the number of children who had starved to death over in africa somewhere by the time them pancakes got done.

of course this behavior is dismissed becuz these aren't philosophers, but u r, Gary. u r.

U should be beaten unmercifully with a stack of Camus essays for saying that.