“The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will make you an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.”
-- Werner Heisenberg, Nobel Prize winning scientist and pioneer in quantum physics.
“The first gulp from the glass of natural sciences will make you an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.”
Hmm. I thought "agape" was a Greek word. I also thought that ever since the Tower of Babel (acc. the bible) different nations spoke a variety of languages. Silly me. Thanks for enlightening me. Is "Christian language" some sort of secret code with which you can communicate directly with Jesus?Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Fri Oct 31, 2025 10:33 pm
I love it when people who don't know Christian language try to use it to argue the opposite of what it requires.
It is. But it's also a term in basic Christian theology -- which you must know, or else there was no reason for you to employ it in the present discussion. So you're being a bit disingenuous there.Alexiev wrote: ↑Sat Nov 01, 2025 7:19 pmHmm. I thought "agape" was a Greek word.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Fri Oct 31, 2025 10:33 pm
I love it when people who don't know Christian language try to use it to argue the opposite of what it requires.
I know the Christian meaning --having read C.S. Lewis's "Four Loves". Originally it referred to God's love for humans -- a disinterested love not ameliorated by our lack of desert. It also refers to a human's reciprocal love for God -- and charitable love for fellow humans, which is why my use of the word was precise and correct. To some it continues to refer to a love from the higher (God) to the lower (us). If one practices charitable love toward humans, presumably one would want to help them achieve salvation -- in other words, preach effectively instead of ineffectively. Your preaching is ineffective, probably because it is self-centered instead of being an attempt to help others. Hence, it is a failure of agape.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sat Nov 01, 2025 7:26 pmIt is. But it's also a term in basic Christian theology -- which you must know, or else there was no reason for you to employ it in the present discussion. So you're being a bit disingenuous there.Alexiev wrote: ↑Sat Nov 01, 2025 7:19 pmHmm. I thought "agape" was a Greek word.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Fri Oct 31, 2025 10:33 pm
I love it when people who don't know Christian language try to use it to argue the opposite of what it requires.
If you knew this, then why were you feigning that you thought it was just "a Greek word"?Alexiev wrote: ↑Sat Nov 01, 2025 9:10 pmI know the Christian meaning --having read C.S. Lewis's "Four Loves". Originally it referred to God's love for humans -- a disinterested love not ameliorated by our lack of desert. It also refers to a human's reciprocal love for God -- and charitable love for fellow humans, which is why my use of the word was precise and correct. To some it continues to refer to a love from the higher (God) to the lower (us).Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sat Nov 01, 2025 7:26 pmIt is. But it's also a term in basic Christian theology -- which you must know, or else there was no reason for you to employ it in the present discussion. So you're being a bit disingenuous there.
So you say, I suppose. And if that's how you find the gospel to be for you, I can't stop you. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." So says the Word.Your preaching is ineffective...
Doubtless. And it's all your fault because of your obnoxious style!
It's the message, not the messenger. God is quite capable of overcoming any faults in the messenger, I assure you. Christ Himself was regarded as "offensive" by some. As He said, "Blessed is he who does not take offense in Me." Matt. 11:6.
Imagine being a self-proclaimed "spokesman", telling the benefits of 'snake oil', and then claiming that you can not save another.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sat Nov 01, 2025 10:55 pmIt's the message, not the messenger. God is quite capable of overcoming any faults in the messenger, I assure you. Christ Himself was regarded as "offensive" by some. As He said, "Blessed is he who does not take offense in Me." Matt. 11:6.
So take your offense, whether in style or message. Make all the excuses you can find to dismiss the message. But you have been told, and you have been warned, and that's what agape requires. It does not require me to save you -- I can't -- just to tell you the truth, and give you a chance to do the right thing. It doesn't ask me to become a salesman, just a spokesman.
I'm not "self-" anything. My message is not my own. There is One who can save, but it is not me. And He says that those who don't listen perish. You can ignore me: can you ignore Him?Age wrote: ↑Sun Nov 02, 2025 12:17 amImagine being a self-proclaimed "spokesman", telling the benefits of 'snake oil', and then claiming that you can not save another.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sat Nov 01, 2025 10:55 pmIt's the message, not the messenger. God is quite capable of overcoming any faults in the messenger, I assure you. Christ Himself was regarded as "offensive" by some. As He said, "Blessed is he who does not take offense in Me." Matt. 11:6.
So take your offense, whether in style or message. Make all the excuses you can find to dismiss the message. But you have been told, and you have been warned, and that's what agape requires. It does not require me to save you -- I can't -- just to tell you the truth, and give you a chance to do the right thing. It doesn't ask me to become a salesman, just a spokesman.
LOL "him".Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sun Nov 02, 2025 12:46 amI'm not "self-" anything. My message is not my own. There is One who can save, but it is not me. And He says that those who don't listen perish. You can ignore me: can you ignore Him?Age wrote: ↑Sun Nov 02, 2025 12:17 amImagine being a self-proclaimed "spokesman", telling the benefits of 'snake oil', and then claiming that you can not save another.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sat Nov 01, 2025 10:55 pm
It's the message, not the messenger. God is quite capable of overcoming any faults in the messenger, I assure you. Christ Himself was regarded as "offensive" by some. As He said, "Blessed is he who does not take offense in Me." Matt. 11:6.
So take your offense, whether in style or message. Make all the excuses you can find to dismiss the message. But you have been told, and you have been warned, and that's what agape requires. It does not require me to save you -- I can't -- just to tell you the truth, and give you a chance to do the right thing. It doesn't ask me to become a salesman, just a spokesman.
The medium is the message, as Marshall McCluhan once said. Some of your silly proclamations serve as a turn-off to potential converts. It's only natural to think, "If IC is so dogmatic and dismissive of any potential morality except his own, maybe Christianity is dogmatic, dismissive, and judgmental" I get it. God (if there is one) might judge. But who can know the mind of God? When you pose as a judge -- based on the Bible (which was written by men and determined by a church whose authority you reject) you not only sin by being prideful, but fail in promoting the faith.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sat Nov 01, 2025 10:55 pm
It's the message, not the messenger. God is quite capable of overcoming any faults in the messenger, I assure you. Christ Himself was regarded as "offensive" by some. As He said, "Blessed is he who does not take offense in Me." Matt. 11:6.
So take your offense, whether in style or message. Make all the excuses you can find to dismiss the message. But you have been told, and you have been warned, and that's what agape requires. It does not require me to save you -- I can't -- just to tell you the truth, and give you a chance to do the right thing. It doesn't ask me to become a salesman, just a spokesman.
You don't really know what he meant, or you wouldn't be quoting it in this context.Alexiev wrote: ↑Sun Nov 02, 2025 4:10 amThe medium is the message, as Marshall McCluhan once said.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sat Nov 01, 2025 10:55 pm
It's the message, not the messenger. God is quite capable of overcoming any faults in the messenger, I assure you. Christ Himself was regarded as "offensive" by some. As He said, "Blessed is he who does not take offense in Me." Matt. 11:6.
So take your offense, whether in style or message. Make all the excuses you can find to dismiss the message. But you have been told, and you have been warned, and that's what agape requires. It does not require me to save you -- I can't -- just to tell you the truth, and give you a chance to do the right thing. It doesn't ask me to become a salesman, just a spokesman.
Well, HE can, that's for sure. And He can tell you what He expects. And He has. And you get to decide whether to listen or not.But who can know the mind of God?
Excuses? What the heck are you talking about? I accuse you of failing in your missionary capacity, and you say I'm making "excuses". Huh? What does that have to do with the price of fish in China?Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sun Nov 02, 2025 4:27 am
You don't really know what he meant, or you wouldn't be quoting it in this context.
Well, HE can, that's for sure. And He can tell you what He expects. And He has. And you get to decide whether to listen or not.But who can know the mind of God?
I guess you can always try the excuses, "The medium didn't please me," or "The message didn't come across sweetly enough to me" when you see Him. I don't like your chances, but you can try it. And you will see Him, as will we all.
If your salvation depended on me, you might have a case. Unfortunately for you, and fortunately for me, it doesn't.Alexiev wrote: ↑Sun Nov 02, 2025 4:44 amI accuse you of failing in your missionary capacity...Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sun Nov 02, 2025 4:27 am
You don't really know what he meant, or you wouldn't be quoting it in this context.
Well, HE can, that's for sure. And He can tell you what He expects. And He has. And you get to decide whether to listen or not.But who can know the mind of God?
I guess you can always try the excuses, "The medium didn't please me," or "The message didn't come across sweetly enough to me" when you see Him. I don't like your chances, but you can try it. And you will see Him, as will we all.
Once more 'this one' blindly believes its own made up assumptions and conclusions, even when they are the exact opposite of what God says, and knows.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sun Nov 02, 2025 4:27 amYou don't really know what he meant, or you wouldn't be quoting it in this context.Alexiev wrote: ↑Sun Nov 02, 2025 4:10 amThe medium is the message, as Marshall McCluhan once said.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sat Nov 01, 2025 10:55 pm
It's the message, not the messenger. God is quite capable of overcoming any faults in the messenger, I assure you. Christ Himself was regarded as "offensive" by some. As He said, "Blessed is he who does not take offense in Me." Matt. 11:6.
So take your offense, whether in style or message. Make all the excuses you can find to dismiss the message. But you have been told, and you have been warned, and that's what agape requires. It does not require me to save you -- I can't -- just to tell you the truth, and give you a chance to do the right thing. It doesn't ask me to become a salesman, just a spokesman.
Well, HE can, that's for sure.But who can know the mind of God?
So, why have you chosen to 'not listen', "immanuel can"? Or, do you believe you 'do listen', and 'do understand'?Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sun Nov 02, 2025 4:27 am And He can tell you what He expects. And He has. And you get to decide whether to listen or not.
LOL 'you' will not be seeing God, at all, if you do not change 'your ways'. And, if you believe that you will after that body stops breathing, then 'you' are more of a fool than you portray, here, and, if you do not change 'your ways', then you have obviously been tricked and deceived beyond repair.Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sun Nov 02, 2025 4:27 am I guess you can always try the excuses, "The medium didn't please me," or "The message didn't come across sweetly enough to me" when you see Him. I don't like your chances, but you can try it. And you will see Him, as will we all.