I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
They be clones, dudes in tight white striped shirts wearing cologne, cookie-cutter citizens gone wrong. It's like, think, I know that's why I gotta retreat, all these people they be gettin' to me, I need space to breath, swallow hate, inadversity you wouldn't believe. That's why that I am moving out. It's not about running away, I'll be gone in a day, if I wanted to say that I won't heed your advice to think twice, I'm moving in the middle of the night.
"Ergonomics" by Optimus Rhyme
I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
im so glad we have ahnimus around here to protect us from our own thoughts :rolleyes: truly, he's a gift from god... here to lead us lost sheep out of the darkness.
See... here's the thing...
I don't want you to pray for me... that makes YOU feel good about yourself. Same goes for asking forgiveness from God... how about seeking forgiveness from the person you have wronged? It's easy to ask forgiveness in a one way converstaion... you can assume that you are forgiven and be done with it. That, to me, is a sham.
I don't like to admit fault... but, I do. It's just a bad character flaw of mine. and when I am the cause of something... I seek to remedy it because I don't like to be the one who causes problems. It's tough... especially, when your are as stubborn as I am... but, I do it. I don't ask God to patch up my screw ups... He is busy enough, running the Universe and all. It is up to ME to face the person, not God.
And if I want someone to find peace... or enlightenment... I tell THEM. I don't bother God with petty shit i can handle myself. I'm saving up for the big stuff... when I really need someone other than the people around me to lean on.
...
Oh... and I thank the kid at the taco joint for the tacos... he made them, not God.
from what i know; religion teaches to make the other person whole (ask thier forgiveness and make it right by them). if you steal from someone and get caught; you're expected to make restitution but you also ask forgiveness from the court. nobody walks into court and says give me the max. on the other hand; if you wrong someone; you also wrong yourself. this is what you seek forgiveness for.
the kid at the taco joint only assembled the tacos. he didn't make the meat or the veggies. and you're thankful that you can buy the tacos when so many are starving. an accident or illness could quickly change circumstances to where you couldn't afford to buy those tacos.
In your world where science is God there can be no reasoned debate. Everything is motivated and understandable. So you either understand what's happening or you don't. There is no middle ground and certainly nothing to have a reasoned debate over. The motivation for a "reasoned dabte" would be a lack of understanding by one or both parties. And if there's lack of understanding by one or both parties you cannot have reasoned debate.
It's all quite logical if your the logical sort.
“One good thing about music,
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley
im so glad we have ahnimus around here to protect us from our own thoughts :rolleyes: truly, he's a gift from god... here to lead us lost sheep out of the darkness.
i can't take his crap anymore. i think everyone on the board has told him how full of shit he is but he keeps it up. i'm waiting for him to tell us that God takes orders from him.
Not directed at you Cosmo, but I don't understand this point of view. If someone prays for you, you are not affected in anyway and the person feels good about themselves. Why would you ever want to stop anyone from feeling good about themselves when it is at no one's expense?????
I think some people just hate to see others being happy.
...
It's an excuse. If you are praying to make yourself feel good about yourself... what does that say about Prayer? It says Prayer is a selfish act. Prayer is not supposed to be about selfishness and making yourself feel good about yourself.. is it? Because if it is, then... yeah... I got the whole thing all wrong.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
In your world where science is God there can be no reasoned debate. Everything is motivated and understandable. So you either understand what's happening or you don't. There is no middle ground and certainly nothing to have a reasoned debate over. The motivation for a "reasoned dabte" would be a lack of understanding by one or both parties. And if there's lack of understanding by one or both parties you cannot have reasoned debate.
It's all quite logical if your the logical sort.
if he's so right; where's the debate? we just sit and read the gospel according to ahnimus. that is not reasoned debate. and the arrogance that he has come to save the world from itself doesn't sit well anymore.
...
It's an excuse. If you are praying to make yourself feel good about yourself... what does that say about Prayer? It says Prayer is a selfish act. Prayer is not supposed to be about selfishness and making yourself feel good about yourself.. is it? Because if it is, then... yeah... I got the whole thing all wrong.
if i pray for you it's a gift. i care enough about you donate some of my time to think good thoughts about you and wish you well.
does it bother you when people tell you to have a good day?
In your world where science is God there can be no reasoned debate. Everything is motivated and understandable. So you either understand what's happening or you don't. There is no middle ground and certainly nothing to have a reasoned debate over. The motivation for a "reasoned dabte" would be a lack of understanding by one or both parties. And if there's lack of understanding by one or both parties you cannot have reasoned debate.
It's all quite logical if your the logical sort.
Reality may be set in stone, I don't think anyone would deny that. Except maybe Angelica and Catefrances, maybe Onelongsong, or some others. But reason is how we interpret it, so certainly it's open for debate.
I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
from what i know; religion teaches to make the other person whole (ask thier forgiveness and make it right by them). if you steal from someone and get caught; you're expected to make restitution but you also ask forgiveness from the court. nobody walks into court and says give me the max. on the other hand; if you wrong someone; you also wrong yourself. this is what you seek forgiveness for.
the kid at the taco joint only assembled the tacos. he didn't make the meat or the veggies. and you're thankful that you can buy the tacos when so many are starving. an accident or illness could quickly change circumstances to where you couldn't afford to buy those tacos.
...
That's because people do not want to own up for their wrongs. And don't apply lawyer scum to the equation. Lawyers do not want truth... they want acquittals. If I murder someone... and i know I did... I am owning up to it and not snivelling up behind the greed of a lawyer. I have wrong and I accept my responsibility for it. If that is a fool... then, i am a fool.
You are basically saying that Prayers are equivalent to lawyers. If that's the case... we are ALL going to Hell.
...
and so... do I blame God for making me do the Green Apple quickstep... or the taco guy?
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
Reality may be set in stone, I don't think anyone would deny that. Except maybe Angelica and Catefrances, maybe Onelongsong, or some others. But reason is how we interpret it, so certainly it's open for debate.
Well if you are interpretting facts and getting them wrong, you've lost the ability to have a reasoned debate.
“One good thing about music,
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley
if he's so right; where's the debate? we just sit and read the gospel according to ahnimus. that is not reasoned debate. and the arrogance that he has come to save the world from itself doesn't sit well anymore.
Just because you disagree with me does not mean I need to shut up Mr. O'Reilly.
I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
Well if you are interpretting facts and getting them wrong, you've lost the ability to have a reasoned debate.
No you haven't Reason is the tool we use to hash out reality.
I'm not gonna implode the second I make an unreasonable conclusion.
I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
if i pray for you it's a gift. i care enough about you donate some of my time to think good thoughts about you and wish you well.
does it bother you when people tell you to have a good day?
...
Then, tell ME your thoughts and wishes... don't make God the middle man. And someone telling me to 'Have a good Day' is completely different from them thinking it to me. I ain't no fricken' mind reader, you know. I'm just a reg'lur Joe.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
Religion of any denomination is pure evil in itself and simply historys greatest racket. Designed to suck money out of the weak and gullible with returns of percieved salvation.
Heaven and hell isnt something you grovel your way into, nor out of..... youre in it, right here in this life.... its what you make of it. Christian values ? thats just a marketing tool meaning conscience.
The ten commandments ? BAHAHAHA.... I wonder what all those god fearing christian raised allied troops have to say about the ten commandments.
Religion of any denomination is pure evil in itself and simply historys greatest racket. Designed to suck money out of the weak and gullible with returns of percieved salvation.
Heaven and hell isnt something you grovel your way into, nor out of..... youre in it, right here in this life.... its what you make of it. Christian values ? thats just a marketing tool meaning conscience.
The ten commandments ? BAHAHAHA.... I wonder what all those god fearing christian raised allied troops have to say about the ten commandments.
Religion, what a fucking sham.
I got Acharya S' The Christ Conspiracy: The greatest story ever sold today! w00t! Gonna lend it to my Catholic friends.
I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
...
Then, tell ME your thoughts and wishes... don't make God the middle man. And someone telling me to 'Have a good Day' is completely different from them thinking it to me. I ain't no fricken' mind reader, you know. I'm just a reg'lur Joe.
does it mean more if i do something for someone and not expect anything in return or if i tell them what i did and wait for a pat on the head and a rubber cookie?
does it mean more if i do something for someone and not expect anything in return or if i tell them what i did and wait for a pat on the head and a rubber cookie?
...
Only if you do it with the condition that you will receive a pat on the head or a rubber cookie tied to it. Why would you not expect something in return from prayer... yet, EXPECT a reward if given in person? Sounds pretty insincere to me.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
...
Only if you do it with the condition that you will receive a pat on the head or a rubber cookie tied to it. Why would you not expect something in return from prayer... yet, EXPECT a reward if given in person? Sounds pretty insincere to me.
how about i said this cosmo? "lord jesus grant cosmo a great day so that he may know how much you love him?" do you find that offensive?
i don't know but when i pray i don't pray to feel good about myself. i pray because i'm hoping something good will come of it.
This isn't the land of opportunity, it's the land of competition.
No, I don't think you can prove there isn't a God. Just like I can't prove there is one, other than my "subjective experiences reasoning" line you wrote later on this thread.
And if you are very comfortable with your beliefs, or non-beliefs, why do you keep raising questions as if you are still looking for answers?
No, I don't think you can prove there isn't a God. Just like I can't prove there is one, other than my "subjective experiences reasoning" line you wrote later on this thread.
And if you are very comfortable with your beliefs, or non-beliefs, why do you keep raising questions as if you are still looking for answers?
I can prove there may as well not be a God. Or that if their is a God it is irrelevant to our lives. I can definitely prove the Christian God is a sham.
I ask questions to understand how others rationalize their views.
I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
Same goes for asking forgiveness from God... how about seeking forgiveness from the person you have wronged? It's easy to ask forgiveness in a one way converstaion... you can assume that you are forgiven and be done with it.
Let me see if I can explain that... hen you hurt someone, you sin against them, but also sin against God. There are several references of that in the Gospels. So when I pray for forgiveness, I'm asking God for forgiveness for sinning against Him.
I then, in order to show my repentance for those sins, would have to seek forgiveness to the people I hurt or make reparations, or to put it in another way, address/correct the damage I've done. If you don't do that, then you really aren't showing contrition and thus forgiveness from God can't be granted.
That's how I understand it works under Catholic faith.
I can prove there may as well not be a God. Or that if their is a God it is irrelevant to our lives. I can definitely prove the Christian God is a sham.
I ask questions to understand how others rationalize their views.
You can provide a lot of evidence, I'm sure. You will never run out of anti-Christian documentation. Just like the Catholic Church can provide how everything was founded and counter debate your evidence.
But I don't need to figure it all out. It is way to complex and would take years and years to study. I already know by how I feel in my heart. You say you can explain it without God. I say you can't.
No, I don't think you can prove there isn't a God. Just like I can't prove there is one, other than my "subjective experiences reasoning" line you wrote later on this thread.
And if you are very comfortable with your beliefs, or non-beliefs, why do you keep raising questions as if you are still looking for answers?
EXACTLY! he can never prove to me that there is no God. and as we've seen on this board; he hasn't convinced anyone else. it seems he's only talking to convince himself. chanting over and over as if he's brainwashing himself into believing what he believes is true.
i so hope i die before him. i want to be there to see the expression on his face when he meets God.
You can provide a lot of evidence, I'm sure. You will never run out of anti-Christian documentation. Just like the Catholic Church can provide how everything was founded and counter debate your evidence.
But I don't need to figure it all out. It is way to complex and would take years and years to study. I already know by how I feel in my heart. You say you can explain it without God. I say you can't.
It's all about the 3rd eye man. Thousands of traditions throughout history have celebrated and performed rituals to 'open' the 3rd eye. It's the basis of all rituals. This gives you an 'experience' typically relevant to you faith.
The eye of Horus from Egyptian tradition is a rough diagram of the center of the brain. The corpus callosum, pineal gland, third ventrical, etc..
There is no sensory organ specifically for detecting a spiritual realm as there are ears for sound. And to rule out any sub-atomic theory, chemistry only depends on the basic charge of the particle as mentioned before and this is accurate to a probability of %99.99~. The experience is entirely within the brain. This particular region of the brain may be responsible for the flow of most activity in the nervous system. These experiences may be a sub-conscious activation of biochemical systems, initiated by a conscious trigger (ritual). This biochemical activation is likely to just be a cocktail of desired 'experience'.
We could argue about the beginning of the universe to prove/disprove God, but we can apply Occam's Razor to any argument about that. Never-the-less, the brain is a macrochosmic device that follows classical physics and is therefor subject to causality. 'You' are a pack of neurons. An individual neuron does not behave without cause, it transmits at a steady 1 - 5 HZ, a keep-alive for computer geeks. When the neuron is stimulated (caused) by a neighboring neuron it becomes 'excited' and transmits at 500 HZ. A series of neurons that fire together is commonly called an 'engram'. When an engram fires it combines it's cumulative 'vote' and outputs it to the rest of the system. The brain is a bunch of neurons (grey matter), insulated by glial cells and connected together by mylenated white matter. This ultimately means that the system is subject to cause and effect and thus is determined by prior events. Now that we've negated any divine free-will, you can see how there is no Christian God. Or we can go even further in-depth if more is needed. Like the history of the Abrahamic faiths.
There is a saying that the simplest answer is most likely the right answer. Rather than saying that we can't understand something, i.e. alogical, acausal, amind, etc.. here is a simple answer... we don't have free-will and there is no God.
I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
It's all about the 3rd eye man. Thousands of traditions throughout history have celebrated and performed rituals to 'open' the 3rd eye. It's the basis of all rituals. This gives you an 'experience' typically relevant to you faith.
The eye of Horus from Egyptian tradition is a rough diagram of the center of the brain. The corpus callosum, pineal gland, third ventrical, etc..
There is no sensory organ specifically for detecting a spiritual realm as there are ears for sound. And to rule out any sub-atomic theory, chemistry only depends on the basic charge of the particle as mentioned before and this is accurate to a probability of %99.99~. The experience is entirely within the brain. This particular region of the brain may be responsible for the flow of most activity in the nervous system. These experiences may be a sub-conscious activation of biochemical systems, initiated by a conscious trigger (ritual). This biochemical activation is likely to just be a cocktail of desired 'experience'.
We could argue about the beginning of the universe to prove/disprove God, but we can apply Occam's Razor to any argument about that. Never-the-less, the brain is a macrochosmic device that follows classical physics and is therefor subject to causality. 'You' are a pack of neurons. An individual neuron does not behave without cause, it transmits at a steady 1 - 5 HZ, a keep-alive for computer geeks. When the neuron is stimulated (caused) by a neighboring neuron it becomes 'excited' and transmits at 500 HZ. A series of neurons that fire together is commonly called an 'engram'. When an engram fires it combines it's cumulative 'vote' and outputs it to the rest of the system. The brain is a bunch of neurons (grey matter), insulated by glial cells and connected together by mylenated white matter. This ultimately means that the system is subject to cause and effect and thus is determined by prior events. Now that we've negated any divine free-will, you can see how there is no Christian God. Or we can go even further in-depth if more is needed. Like the history of the Abrahamic faiths.
There is a saying that the simplest answer is most likely the right answer. Rather than saying that we can't understand something, i.e. alogical, acausal, amind, etc.. here is a simple answer... we don't have free-will and there is no God.
A,
Interesting stuff man. I'd need to dig into it to try and understand it better. It is above my head from a quick read. The brain is a marvelous organ. (Is it an organ? It seems you have some sort of medical training). So if I try to follow your post, we are not but some sort of electrical machines that respond to neurological activity. That all emotions, feelings and experiences that are not tangible or measurable to an extent are just some neurons firing stuff?
And all this came from nothing. It just happened? From millions and millions of evolution? It seems like a stretch to me.
It may be that you have studied everything there is and you really know what your talking about and there are really no more mysteries for you. I'm happy for you. Is your real identity Vincent Vega?
I've witnessed miracles. Not "freak occurrences of nature". Things that I'm sure you'd explain with some sort of theory. Emphasis on theory, not law.
I side with Jules on this one.
Interesting stuff man. I'd need to dig into it to try and understand it better. It is above my head from a quick read. The brain is a marvelous organ. (Is it an organ? It seems you have some sort of medical training). So if I try to follow your post, we are not but some sort of electrical machines that respond to neurological activity. That all emotions, feelings and experiences that are not tangible or measurable to an extent are just some neurons firing stuff?
Yes, but there are very important lessons to learn from understanding this. Like identifying sub-conscious motivators for better deliberation. In practice you have free-will, but in reality, you don't.
And all this came from nothing. It just happened? From millions and millions of evolution? It seems like a stretch to me.
I don't know, but it's never been of concern to me. I'm more interested in the way things are now.
It may be that you have studied everything there is and you really know what your talking about and there are really no more mysteries for you. I'm happy for you. Is your real identity Vincent Vega?
Hehe, no. I just bought another book. I just keep reading. I won't stop and I doubt I will know everything. But I'll have a good idea.
I've witnessed miracles. Not "freak occurrences of nature". Things that I'm sure you'd explain with some sort of theory. Emphasis on theory, not law.
I side with Jules on this one.
Me being alive today would be seen by many as a miracle. But I won't get into that, just know that I don't. So it doesn't have to be a miracle, just a chance coincidence.
I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
how about i said this cosmo? "lord jesus grant cosmo a great day so that he may know how much you love him?" do you find that offensive?
i don't know but when i pray i don't pray to feel good about myself. i pray because i'm hoping something good will come of it.
...
I'm not offended by someone praying for me. I'm just telling them that they can save their breath... instead of saving me. I don't need to be saved... when I do... offer me a hand, not a prayer.
...
As for Jesus... I already know about Him. And I don't think He should be worrying about my bouts with depression... when there are millions of others in the world that don't have a thing to eat and risk their heads being chopped off any day now. If you beleive in the power of prayer... pray for them, not me. They need a hell of a lot more saving from suffering than I do.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
Comments
You don't grasp predeterminism.
"Ergonomics" by Optimus Rhyme
from what i know; religion teaches to make the other person whole (ask thier forgiveness and make it right by them). if you steal from someone and get caught; you're expected to make restitution but you also ask forgiveness from the court. nobody walks into court and says give me the max. on the other hand; if you wrong someone; you also wrong yourself. this is what you seek forgiveness for.
the kid at the taco joint only assembled the tacos. he didn't make the meat or the veggies. and you're thankful that you can buy the tacos when so many are starving. an accident or illness could quickly change circumstances to where you couldn't afford to buy those tacos.
It's all quite logical if your the logical sort.
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley
i can't take his crap anymore. i think everyone on the board has told him how full of shit he is but he keeps it up. i'm waiting for him to tell us that God takes orders from him.
bye ya'll
It's an excuse. If you are praying to make yourself feel good about yourself... what does that say about Prayer? It says Prayer is a selfish act. Prayer is not supposed to be about selfishness and making yourself feel good about yourself.. is it? Because if it is, then... yeah... I got the whole thing all wrong.
Hail, Hail!!!
if he's so right; where's the debate? we just sit and read the gospel according to ahnimus. that is not reasoned debate. and the arrogance that he has come to save the world from itself doesn't sit well anymore.
if i pray for you it's a gift. i care enough about you donate some of my time to think good thoughts about you and wish you well.
does it bother you when people tell you to have a good day?
Reality may be set in stone, I don't think anyone would deny that. Except maybe Angelica and Catefrances, maybe Onelongsong, or some others. But reason is how we interpret it, so certainly it's open for debate.
That's because people do not want to own up for their wrongs. And don't apply lawyer scum to the equation. Lawyers do not want truth... they want acquittals. If I murder someone... and i know I did... I am owning up to it and not snivelling up behind the greed of a lawyer. I have wrong and I accept my responsibility for it. If that is a fool... then, i am a fool.
You are basically saying that Prayers are equivalent to lawyers. If that's the case... we are ALL going to Hell.
...
and so... do I blame God for making me do the Green Apple quickstep... or the taco guy?
Hail, Hail!!!
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley
Just because you disagree with me does not mean I need to shut up Mr. O'Reilly.
No you haven't Reason is the tool we use to hash out reality.
I'm not gonna implode the second I make an unreasonable conclusion.
Then, tell ME your thoughts and wishes... don't make God the middle man. And someone telling me to 'Have a good Day' is completely different from them thinking it to me. I ain't no fricken' mind reader, you know. I'm just a reg'lur Joe.
Hail, Hail!!!
Heaven and hell isnt something you grovel your way into, nor out of..... youre in it, right here in this life.... its what you make of it. Christian values ? thats just a marketing tool meaning conscience.
The ten commandments ? BAHAHAHA.... I wonder what all those god fearing christian raised allied troops have to say about the ten commandments.
Religion, what a fucking sham.
I got Acharya S' The Christ Conspiracy: The greatest story ever sold today! w00t! Gonna lend it to my Catholic friends.
John Lennon had the answer, and he was assassinated for it.
Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
does it mean more if i do something for someone and not expect anything in return or if i tell them what i did and wait for a pat on the head and a rubber cookie?
Only if you do it with the condition that you will receive a pat on the head or a rubber cookie tied to it. Why would you not expect something in return from prayer... yet, EXPECT a reward if given in person? Sounds pretty insincere to me.
Hail, Hail!!!
i don't know but when i pray i don't pray to feel good about myself. i pray because i'm hoping something good will come of it.
No, I don't think you can prove there isn't a God. Just like I can't prove there is one, other than my "subjective experiences reasoning" line you wrote later on this thread.
And if you are very comfortable with your beliefs, or non-beliefs, why do you keep raising questions as if you are still looking for answers?
I can prove there may as well not be a God. Or that if their is a God it is irrelevant to our lives. I can definitely prove the Christian God is a sham.
I ask questions to understand how others rationalize their views.
Let me see if I can explain that... hen you hurt someone, you sin against them, but also sin against God. There are several references of that in the Gospels. So when I pray for forgiveness, I'm asking God for forgiveness for sinning against Him.
I then, in order to show my repentance for those sins, would have to seek forgiveness to the people I hurt or make reparations, or to put it in another way, address/correct the damage I've done. If you don't do that, then you really aren't showing contrition and thus forgiveness from God can't be granted.
That's how I understand it works under Catholic faith.
You can provide a lot of evidence, I'm sure. You will never run out of anti-Christian documentation. Just like the Catholic Church can provide how everything was founded and counter debate your evidence.
But I don't need to figure it all out. It is way to complex and would take years and years to study. I already know by how I feel in my heart. You say you can explain it without God. I say you can't.
EXACTLY! he can never prove to me that there is no God. and as we've seen on this board; he hasn't convinced anyone else. it seems he's only talking to convince himself. chanting over and over as if he's brainwashing himself into believing what he believes is true.
i so hope i die before him. i want to be there to see the expression on his face when he meets God.
It's all about the 3rd eye man. Thousands of traditions throughout history have celebrated and performed rituals to 'open' the 3rd eye. It's the basis of all rituals. This gives you an 'experience' typically relevant to you faith.
The eye of Horus from Egyptian tradition is a rough diagram of the center of the brain. The corpus callosum, pineal gland, third ventrical, etc..
Eye of Horus
Brain: Third Ventrical
There is no sensory organ specifically for detecting a spiritual realm as there are ears for sound. And to rule out any sub-atomic theory, chemistry only depends on the basic charge of the particle as mentioned before and this is accurate to a probability of %99.99~. The experience is entirely within the brain. This particular region of the brain may be responsible for the flow of most activity in the nervous system. These experiences may be a sub-conscious activation of biochemical systems, initiated by a conscious trigger (ritual). This biochemical activation is likely to just be a cocktail of desired 'experience'.
We could argue about the beginning of the universe to prove/disprove God, but we can apply Occam's Razor to any argument about that. Never-the-less, the brain is a macrochosmic device that follows classical physics and is therefor subject to causality. 'You' are a pack of neurons. An individual neuron does not behave without cause, it transmits at a steady 1 - 5 HZ, a keep-alive for computer geeks. When the neuron is stimulated (caused) by a neighboring neuron it becomes 'excited' and transmits at 500 HZ. A series of neurons that fire together is commonly called an 'engram'. When an engram fires it combines it's cumulative 'vote' and outputs it to the rest of the system. The brain is a bunch of neurons (grey matter), insulated by glial cells and connected together by mylenated white matter. This ultimately means that the system is subject to cause and effect and thus is determined by prior events. Now that we've negated any divine free-will, you can see how there is no Christian God. Or we can go even further in-depth if more is needed. Like the history of the Abrahamic faiths.
There is a saying that the simplest answer is most likely the right answer. Rather than saying that we can't understand something, i.e. alogical, acausal, amind, etc.. here is a simple answer... we don't have free-will and there is no God.
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Interesting stuff man. I'd need to dig into it to try and understand it better. It is above my head from a quick read. The brain is a marvelous organ. (Is it an organ? It seems you have some sort of medical training). So if I try to follow your post, we are not but some sort of electrical machines that respond to neurological activity. That all emotions, feelings and experiences that are not tangible or measurable to an extent are just some neurons firing stuff?
And all this came from nothing. It just happened? From millions and millions of evolution? It seems like a stretch to me.
It may be that you have studied everything there is and you really know what your talking about and there are really no more mysteries for you. I'm happy for you. Is your real identity Vincent Vega?
I've witnessed miracles. Not "freak occurrences of nature". Things that I'm sure you'd explain with some sort of theory. Emphasis on theory, not law.
I side with Jules on this one.
Yes, but there are very important lessons to learn from understanding this. Like identifying sub-conscious motivators for better deliberation. In practice you have free-will, but in reality, you don't. I don't know, but it's never been of concern to me. I'm more interested in the way things are now. Hehe, no. I just bought another book. I just keep reading. I won't stop and I doubt I will know everything. But I'll have a good idea. Me being alive today would be seen by many as a miracle. But I won't get into that, just know that I don't. So it doesn't have to be a miracle, just a chance coincidence.
I'm not offended by someone praying for me. I'm just telling them that they can save their breath... instead of saving me. I don't need to be saved... when I do... offer me a hand, not a prayer.
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As for Jesus... I already know about Him. And I don't think He should be worrying about my bouts with depression... when there are millions of others in the world that don't have a thing to eat and risk their heads being chopped off any day now. If you beleive in the power of prayer... pray for them, not me. They need a hell of a lot more saving from suffering than I do.
Hail, Hail!!!