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Willow,

Welcome! I hope you post more. Just start asking questions and you will get several different views usually, but most people will provide you with a link to more information.

I think seeking is a good thing. It means you are thinking and not just following. I like that. Smiler

Once again welcome to the forum and post away! Big Grin
quote:
Originally posted by Not Shallow Not Slim:
As a species, we've surpassed the facile answers religion offers as explanations of reality. The only issues where religion is not demonstrably wrong are the deep scientific issues of cosmology, physics, and biology, to name a few, of which we remain ignorant.



which is where i default back to God... the deep scientific stuff.
ya see... i *think* i know what you guys mean by 'the god of gaps'. not sure, but i think so.

doesn't matter much to me either way, tho
my thought on God is pretty simple.
God created the 'deep scientific issues'.
God used those issues/rules/regulations to create the universe.
when the time was right, he planted the seeds that would become US on this earth.
He sat back and watched us evolve.
please don't ask me why... i don't pretend to know. heck... i'll never see the ' why' in this lifetime, so to be honest i'm only slightly interested in the acctual reason.
i'll kick that bucket one day.. and either there is a god, and i'll know.. or there isn't a god and i won't know... so.. either i'll know so it doesn't matter, or i won't know so it won't matter.

i think your idea of the god of gaps is 'use science to explain everythign that you can, then use god to explain everything else.... to 'fill in the gaps' left by science.
see, i don't see him that way. God doesn't fill the gaps science leaves.... he IS the gaps science leaves. he is also the science itself. he's the big pretty pictures science explains perfectly, explains poorly, and makes a half hearted stab at theorizing.

He created everything. he created "cosmology, physics, and biology, to name a few" and most likely quite a few other things , of which we remain ignorant.
i don't believe that god flipped a switch or snapped his fingers or waggeled his wand and *POOF*, the universe popped into existance.
i think of Him as a monk, equipped with many various impliments, creating designs in the sand of a huge Zen garden. 4 pronged rake... slowly... this waaaaay.. slight curve... and stop.. ok.. 2 pronged fork.. short strokes.. here.. here.. here.. here.. here.. rays bursting thru and within the pattern...
and so on...
he designed the rules the universe must follow... caused us to evolve into animals that can figure out what the rules are.. and the whole time, he's tehre with his forks and rakes and spades, slowly, carefully shaping the way we and the universe grows expands and evolves and the whole times, He is subject to the same rules we are.. because God doesn't cheat Smiler

now... this is my belief on god on a cosmological scale... don't ask me about the bible.
quote:



At that point of our ignorance, the religious define god as the answer to those unknown points. This is dangerous to religion, because as we find out more and more about the real universe, God has less and less to do.

cause he's already done the bit he needed to do... now his job is roughly equal to weeding and watering... seeeds are already planted, he's juts gotta make sure the squirrls don't get the corn Smiler

quote:

I post here because this God of the Gaps is in no way a sufficient reason for people of faith to tell me how to live. There is no connection between the God who mysteriously created the Big Bang (if you so believe) and the God who says it's sinful to sell liquor in excess of the 49/51 regulation. The extrapolation is absurd.

Agree... it's a stupid rule.
if god is all powerful, and he hates alcohol, why does he allow it to exist?

quote:

It's past time we gave Christianity any respect. It's obviously way past time regarding Judaism and Islam, as well.


well, now, that's a little much, isn't it?
sorry, but i always try to respect others beliefs, up to the point that they try to force them upon me.
it's no news that i believe in God... and yet me and billy joe and jank and puppy and b50m all respect each others believes even when we don't agree..
we even get along with Veep and she's a bloody catholic... and you know what they are like. /grin

so are you telling us that our beliefs aren't worth respecting, even out of courtesy? are you telling us that you are the athiest version of Bill Gray?
because that's how he operates... if you don't think the way he does, you are wrong and unworthy of even being polite to, much less offereing respect to. that seems to be what your statement says.

i mean.. i can work that way as well, but i'd rather not.

quote:


100 year ago, Robert G. Ingersoll destroyed Christian philosophy. He is due for a renewal.



Oh? did he? destroyed it? total destruction, huh?
100 years ago?
wow.
so christianity hasn't existed for a century?
interesting.

i didn't get the memo.
quote:
Originally posted by vplee123:
Curious.
Question for the masses-
Why do you post here? What is your motivation for coming back?


mostly similar to b50m.

free and open exchange of ideas, thoughts and concepts.
i can here to help other people see things differently, and so that other people could help me see thigns differently.

i come here to educate if i can, and to learn whereever possible.

i come here to rant and rave, to smypathize and support and to generally annoy the heck out of any closed minded arrogant worm, regardless of their theological persuasion.

i come here to entertain myself, and other's if possible... but mostly myself Smiler
quote:
God doesn't fill the gaps science leaves.... he IS the gaps science leaves. he is also the science itself. he's the big pretty pictures science explains perfectly, explains poorly, and makes a half hearted stab at theorizing.

He created everything. he created "cosmology, physics, and biology, to name a few" and most likely quite a few other things , of which we remain ignorant.


Perfect! Thanks for stating my belief so well!!
quote:
Originally posted by AWillowBreeze:
I am still fairly new to the forum. I find it interesting to read the various points of view and was hopeful it would be a place where there would be a civil discussion and tolerant exchange of beliefs. Currently I read more than i post and perhaps that will change. I don't label myself as anything so i'm not sure where i fit in here as it appears most of the regulars have already formed a set belief in one religion or none. I liked the term "Seeker" someone used in a post as i'm interested in learning about all religions. I admit that my current beliefs are fairly basic and still full of questions.


Willow, welcome. Seeking is good. Follow your heart. Meaning, always go towards peace.
Spirituality comes thru seeking.
quote:
Originally posted by buffalo:
Jank,

Also:

You were barely weaned at the time but Deepfat and Gofish, the first atheist I ever heard of in my life bastardized every believer on this forum.

It was` awful, they were unrelenting in their vile ridicule of believers.

They made fun constantly of everyone on the religious forum.

Their influence turned otherwise peaceful readers into the slobbering jerks they were themselves.

You are not a good atheist. Believe me I know what a good atheist behaves like.

If these a-holes are what you want to be remembered as keep it up.

Veplee , you criticize me, well that’s why I give them NO quarter.

Until deep fat and gofish come on here and apologize for the animals they have fostered.

I will pursue them over the edge of hell because they have intentionally hurt so many lives.


OMB,

Such lies.

This is funny. "over the edge of hell"... LMAO.

We hurt nobody. We liberated one or two, maybe, but hurt? That's not what we do. That's what religion does.


nsns
quote:
Originally posted by semiannualchick:
quote:
Originally posted by Not Shallow Not Slim:
We hurt nobody. We liberated one or two, maybe, but hurt? That's not what we do. That's what religion does.

nsns


You haven't hurt me, but religion sure has & still does.




Semi,

Have you thought about nurturing your spiritual side and not worrying about what religion or denomination to tag yourself with. Smiler
quote:
Originally posted by House of David:
Semi,
Have you thought about nurturing your spiritual side and not worrying about what religion or denomination to tag yourself with. Smiler



quote:
Originally posted by vplee123:
I agree with David on this one- just find your spiritual side, and nurture it. Find out what YOU believe, and how YOU feel, without worrying about where you will fit in.
Everything else will come. (((((HUGS))))


Thank you both, but my spiritual side got up & ran away from home years ago.

I don't worry at all about fitting in or any denomination. I just honestly don't know what to believe anymore.
quote:
Originally posted by semiannualchick:
quote:
Originally posted by House of David:
Semi,
Have you thought about nurturing your spiritual side and not worrying about what religion or denomination to tag yourself with. Smiler



quote:
Originally posted by vplee123:
I agree with David on this one- just find your spiritual side, and nurture it. Find out what YOU believe, and how YOU feel, without worrying about where you will fit in.
Everything else will come. (((((HUGS))))


Thank you both, but my spiritual side got up & ran away from home years ago.

I don't worry at all about fitting in or any denomination. I just honestly don't know what to believe anymore.


Semi,

I would suggest the COC or Catholic brand since with both of them you can leave it at the door when you leave.

The Baptist and others insist you experience the touchy feely out of body out of mind to qualify.

If you exhibit these characteristics in the above two mentioned everyone with good reason suspects insanity.

Be well my dear. Contact the likes of veeplee or myself for logical advice.
First a quick Thank You..to those who welcomed me..I appreciate your comments.

quote:
Originally posted by semiannualchick:

Thank you both, but my spiritual side got up & ran away from home years ago.

I don't worry at all about fitting in or any denomination. I just honestly don't know what to believe anymore.


I once felt exactly the same!! For me..The spiritual side has ever so slowly come back..the feeling that i needed to come to terms with what DO i believe or not believe.. I had purposely avoided discussions of religion for years which is so much easier than opening yourself up to really learning about each religion as well as listening to atheist and fighting the internal fight to find what you believe rather than what you were raised or currently being told you "should" believe. Some days i grow weary or frustrated and consider just shutting it all aside again..but i guess for me its like an interactive mystery book and while some chapters are boring or odd to say the least..I can't seem to put it down until i figure out the end of the story! lol
quote:
Originally posted by buffalo:
Semi,

I would suggest the COC or Catholic brand since with both of them you can leave it at the door when you leave.

The Baptist and others insist you experience the touchy feely out of body out of mind to qualify.

If you exhibit these characteristics in the above two mentioned everyone with good reason suspects insanity.

Be well my dear. Contact the likes of veeplee or myself for logical advice.


I frequently visited the COC as a teenager since my best friend was COC. No offense to anyone but I wouldn't touch COC now with a 10 ft. pole.

Never been to a Catholic church though I can't say I wouldn't go. With the COC, they tend to either believe you can't know you're going to Heaven or they're the only ones going.

There's good people in all churches. Most just don't live the life of a Christian although they claim the title.

The "touchy feely out of body, out of mind" term you used describes the pentecostal. Big Grin

I was raised in a Baptist church.
quote:
Originally posted by buffalo:
quote:
Originally posted by semiannualchick:
quote:
Originally posted by House of David:
Semi,
Have you thought about nurturing your spiritual side and not worrying about what religion or denomination to tag yourself with. Smiler



quote:
Originally posted by vplee123:
I agree with David on this one- just find your spiritual side, and nurture it. Find out what YOU believe, and how YOU feel, without worrying about where you will fit in.
Everything else will come. (((((HUGS))))


Thank you both, but my spiritual side got up & ran away from home years ago.

I don't worry at all about fitting in or any denomination. I just honestly don't know what to believe anymore.


Semi,

I would suggest the COC or Catholic brand since with both of them you can leave it at the door when you leave.

The Baptist and others insist you experience the touchy feely out of body out of mind to qualify.

If you exhibit these characteristics in the above two mentioned everyone with good reason suspects insanity.

Be well my dear. Contact the likes of veeplee or myself for logical advice.



Buff,

Leave what at the door?
quote:
Originally posted by Jankinonya:
buffalo,

At the assemblage you attend, you are not expected to live a christian life out side the doors of the church building?

Wow, things have changed since I attended the COC.


Jank dear, little wonder you are perplexed and relish having old men in your basement.

You are hoping to re-visit advice you perhaps spurned as a child.

The Church has no doors. Doors are reserved for a building.

One is always in the church.

A building is where folk get in out of the wx and plot.

Expectations are the business of one’s self because they never seem to be the same as others.
quote:
Originally posted by semiannualchick:
I understand, V, but he is so insistant that he doesn't attend church in a building with walls & doors. Smiler


Semi dear,

I go to buildings where there can be found an assemblage of folk who are of the Christian faith.

There they are inclined to practice singing, reading, observance of the Sacrament etc….. but the building has nothing to do with being ‘The Church’. One could assemble with others in the middle of a cow pasture and likely accomplish much more good.

That’s why I say one does not ‘go to church’ one does not ‘ go’ to something you constantly drag along with you.

You accuse me of being hypocritical if that be the case I am dragging that along within the ‘ Church’ no matter what my location.

As for your self I can picture you in your twenties or maybe thirties with no fingernails with the deer in the headlights look on your face, confused about what to believe when you are sitting smack in the middle of Church.

Look semi, Bro. Bill tries to make this thing into a mental turmoil that it requires some Pierre Car din interpretation that only he and preachers are at liberty to fathom.

It just ain’t that difficult semi . Don’t call the buffalo names. Put out some sweet feed for him occasionally and build a lean-too to shelter him from the sun in the Summer and Cold in the Winter.

that’s all that’s necessary.
quote:
Posted 10 September 2010 12:51 PM Hide Post
First a quick Thank You..to those who welcomed me..I appreciate your comments.

quote:
Originally posted by semiannualchick:

Thank you both, but my spiritual side got up & ran away from home years ago.

I don't worry at all about fitting in or any denomination. I just honestly don't know what to believe anymore.



I once felt exactly the same!! For me..The spiritual side has ever so slowly come back..the feeling that i needed to come to terms with what DO i believe or not believe.. I had purposely avoided discussions of religion for years which is so much easier than opening yourself up to really learning about each religion as well as listening to atheist and fighting the internal fight to find what you believe rather than what you were raised or currently being told you "should" believe. Some days i grow weary or frustrated and consider just shutting it all aside again..but i guess for me its like an interactive mystery book and while some chapters are boring or odd to say the least..I can't seem to put it down until i figure out the end of the story! lol


A big welcome from Themax, things sometimes get deep around here as I'm sure you've already found out, always have a pair of boots handy to wade through some of it.
However once past that there is much good stuff on here. My favorite is beternU he doesn't post a lot but when he does he backs it up with scripture.
Once again welcome.
quote:
Originally posted by buffalo:
quote:
Originally posted by Jankinonya:
buffalo,

At the assemblage you attend, you are not expected to live a christian life out side the doors of the church building?

Wow, things have changed since I attended the COC.


Jank dear, little wonder you are perplexed and relish having old men in your basement.

You are hoping to re-visit advice you perhaps spurned as a child.

The Church has no doors. Doors are reserved for a building.

One is always in the church.

A building is where folk get in out of the wx and plot.

Expectations are the business of one’s self because they never seem to be the same as others.


Buffalo,

Did you even read what I said up there? I said the church BUILDING. You said in another post that you can leave all the religion at the door when you leave.

What kind of COC do you go to? As I said they must have changed ALOT since I was a member.

And no thank you, I had enough of that whackobabble (thx RP) to last a life time.

I think you are just jealous that I have not invited you to live in my basement. If you start acting like a nice buffalo and I feel you need a place to be stalled then I will consider it. I do have 2 bedrooms down there, It might be interesting to have you and NSNS living in the same house. hmmmmm now that I think about it come on over. This could be fun! Smiler

Sorry, NSNS but I think you can hold your own. Smiler
quote:
Originally posted by Jankinonya:
quote:
Originally posted by buffalo:
quote:
Originally posted by Jankinonya:
buffalo,

At the assemblage you attend, you are not expected to live a christian life out side the doors of the church building?

Wow, things have changed since I attended the COC.


Jank dear, little wonder you are perplexed and relish having old men in your basement.

You are hoping to re-visit advice you perhaps spurned as a child.

The Church has no doors. Doors are reserved for a building.

One is always in the church.

A building is where folk get in out of the wx and plot.

Expectations are the business of one’s self because they never seem to be the same as others.


Buffalo,

Did you even read what I said up there? I said the church BUILDING. You said in another post that you can leave all the religion at the door when you leave.

What kind of COC do you go to? As I said they must have changed ALOT since I was a member.

And no thank you, I had enough of that whackobabble (thx RP) to last a life time.

I think you are just jealous that I have not invited you to live in my basement. If you start acting like a nice buffalo and I feel you need a place to be stalled then I will consider it. I do have 2 bedrooms down there, It might be interesting to have you and NSNS living in the same house. hmmmmm now that I think about it come on over. This could be fun! Smiler

Sorry, NSNS but I think you can hold your own. Smiler


I'm packed. Big Grin
quote:
Originally posted by buffalo:
Semi dear,
As for your self I can picture you in your twenties or maybe thirties with no fingernails with the deer in the headlights look on your face, confused about what to believe when you are sitting smack in the middle of Church.


Picture a woman with grandchildren, & long nails that are manicured each week & you
have me. Cool

I don't go to church & have no desire to go. If I did, you're right, that's when you would see the "deer in the headlights" look, but I would be in the back, not the middle.

I'm sorry for the name calling. Frowner
It's the way you show yourself at times.
quote:
Originally posted by semiannualchick:
quote:
Originally posted by buffalo:
Semi dear,
As for your self I can picture you in your twenties or maybe thirties with no fingernails with the deer in the headlights look on your face, confused about what to believe when you are sitting smack in the middle of Church.


Picture a woman with grandchildren, & long nails that are manicured each week & you
have me. Cool

I don't go to church & have no desire to go. If I did, you're right, that's when you would see the "deer in the headlights" look, but I would be in the back, not the middle.

I'm sorry for the name calling. Frowner
It's the way you show yourself at times.


you manicure your grandchildren?

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