Hey, believe it or not, after having read the bible the only rational conclusion one can draw is that one does not choose God. There can be no choice if an omniscient god exists. The bible routinely makes that reference itself. Albeit with with enough references to what appears as choice. I can list all the verses and passages if you like. They call those who adhere to that view, Calvinist as you may already know. But Calvinism is the minority view point. The majority of Christians believe in or adhere to free will determination (arminianism). And no consensus as to which camp is right has formed. I know a great deal about Christianity. Please, feel free to put me to the test. I posted that to counter Volente's post. While he laughs and snickers at Atheists and other religions, he himself may not even be "saved." So much for, "I don't know what I'm doing here." Was that "smart" enough for you?
LOL. Uh huh. Look at that definition again. Geez man. I mean really now. An atheist is one who denies the existence of a diety or divine beings. I'm not being clever. You're being evasive. If you don't believe in Vishnu, what are you? You think you're being clever by labeling yourself just a Christian. Fact is, when it comes to Vishnu, you're an atheist. Get over your hang ups and understand what an atheist actually is. Thing is, your reason for denying Vishnu's existence is based upon, what? You arrogantly term the other gods as voices in one's head? Nice. What transcends your beliefs above mere voices in your own head? Listen, before you get all huff and puff. You're free to believe as you wish and I would defend that right. All I ask is that you take a look at yourself and the claims you make and realize that there is nothing you can show to say that your claim is anymore valid than someone else's. Unless of course, you can show something that should at least give everyone pause to ponder. And all this talk about my posts being illogical is empty posturing unless you can actually show where. I'd gladly admit and correct it. But your posts, sir, are rife with evasion and narrowmindedness.
The world is the "prodigal Son" which leaves the Kingdom as an expression of freedom, and returns by choice. Time is for war and wandering. Time ends with peace and returning. There is only one Son despite appearances, so it's inevitable that all choose to return. Time is already ended, the instant it seemed to begin, thanks to the function of the Holy Spirit. It is finished. The end is known, and everything that happens in between. Each one's experience of time ends when he chooses to return, and fulfills his special function in the undoing of the world as the Holy Spirit has planned it. Each choice is free and not coerced. In this way, the Son is free always, even when he appears to be a slave. The Father knows nothing of this world except that it represented a potential break in communication which was solved by the creation of the Holy Spirit to go between the contradictory worlds of knowledge and symbols until symbols were no more. Time never interupted eternal reality. But for those individuals seemingly lost within it's vast illusion of billions of years, it seems as though time has prevailed in warping eternity. Not so. Salvation is guaranteed for all as one. The Son stands as one at the alpha, and stands as one at the omega. Jesus
Wow, that's heady stuff. Particularly since you are making it up as you go along. Word play comes so easily when you're reclining in a Barcalounger with a 6-pack, eh?
Funny how in the christians world, anyone who doesn't believe in the christian god is "athiest". In the Muslim world, it's the same with their god and so on and so forth. The christian won't allow themselves to think that the very arguments against the gods they *don't* believe in are just as valid against the one they *do* believe in. Rcan (TraderZones) will never acknowledge his athiesm, even when by *his own chosen definition* he is one scores of times over. Funny as hell. JB
The world is some heady stuff. It is a set of if-then hypotheticals that appear to be made up as it goes along and given temporary values. All very confusing. And yet, whatever happened happened simultaneously. Like a green flash at sunset, it was so inconsequential and so fleeting and easy to make and unmake that it hardly disturbed the Son's paradise at all. That is why "today" is the day of salvation, and "now" is where to find it. All aspects of the Son eventually find that moment when time is exchanged for timelessness. That's the true Christmas-time...any time you want it. Plus, the Paradigm Shift Key on my keyboard helps too. What, you don't have one? Seek, and you shall find. Jesus
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy; O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.