Christianity has its nutbags too

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I don't believe I am non porous...I believe when you ask God to be part of your life he does dwell in you as well. I believe nature is non porous but that people can be porous if they want to be.

If you get a cut, does God leak out?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

No. Catholics do believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. But it was nevertheless written by humans and is full of human error. You have to discern God's Truth within the text without taking all of it in as God's word.

So essentially, you get to pick and choose what you believe.

You interpret the Bible whether you want to admit that or not - interpretation is an inseperable part of all forms of communication. Discernment is not simply picking and choosing what you want to believe. It's using your intellect, your knowledge and your faith to find God's truth from the human language and logic that the Bible was written in. Why do you suppose Jesus spoke in parables? Why didn't he just come and say, "This is what heaven is?" God is infinite, yes? Humans are finite. Believing that we can fully and completely understand God is like trying to pour the ocean into a bucket.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Believing that we can fully and completely understand God is like trying to pour the ocean into a bucket.

You may not be aware of this (or maybe you are), but that is actually very similar to a verse from the Bhagawad Gita.

[incanada1234 0]

No. Catholics do believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. But it was nevertheless written by humans and is full of human error. You have to discern God's Truth within the text without taking all of it in as God's word.

So essentially, you get to pick and choose what you believe.

Don't we all get to believe what we want? You know, free will and all that. Sure, you may think we believe wrong and I may do the same. But we all get to believe as we please.

I happen to believe that the universe is a jug of water and we are just amoeba floating inside it. Except for stina&suj, who is a non-porous piece of plastic.

Sure, we GET TO believe what we want, absolutely. But why someone would WANT to believe they get to choose what to believe in the Bible is beyond me. How could you, as a Christian, ever have any certainty in salvation or even Jesus Christ Himself, or in ANYthing in the Bible? It just seems odd to me, and totally unfulfilling.

But hey, if that's what Steven chooses to do, it's his life.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

But hey, if that's what Steven chooses to do, it's his life.

Yes, it is. His life. His will. His freedom. Good thing to remember.

[Ban Hammer 14,085]

from nutcase christians to god to jugs. i love vj

[incanada1234 0]

You interpret the Bible whether you want to admit that or not -

Hmmm, there doesn't seem to be much interpretation needed for John 3:16.

But hey, if that's what Steven chooses to do, it's his life.

Yes, it is. His life. His will. His freedom. Good thing to remember.

Gupt, you're annoying me. I'm talking to Steven, not you.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Believing that we can fully and completely understand God is like trying to pour the ocean into a bucket.

You may not be aware of this (or maybe you are), but that is actually very similar to a verse from the Bhagawad Gita.

Wow. I actually read a Christian theologian use that analogy. Have you heard of Joseph Campbell? He studied world religions and found so many metaphors repeated among different cultures. That to me speaks about Truth as something that transcends culture and religion.

[rclouse 0]

I never understand why people make this argument, because WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS. And those manuscripts say For God so loved the world, that he gave his ONLY BEGOTTEN Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Don't go there. If you do, then you'll have to learn Arabic & become Muslim. You are aware Muslims believe that the Koran is God's actual words, and the Prophet Mohammed was merely passing them along, right? Well, by your argument that "WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS", then you'll have to agree that Islam has the final, updated manuscripts. By your own logic, you must become Muslim!

Now, repeat after me (in Arabic): "There is only one God and Mohammed is His messenger..."

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Hmmm, there doesn't seem to be much interpretation needed for John 3:16.

I think you are sadly mistaken what interpretation is and what it means. If you want I'll give you examples of Jesus' parables and then you can tell me what he meant without interpreting them.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Have you heard of Joseph Campbell? He studied world religions and found so many metaphors repeated among different cultures. That to me speaks about Truth as something that transcends culture and religion.

"Ekam Sat Viprah Bahuda Vadanti"

That's an ancient Hindu saying in Sanskrit. Means the truth of the universe is one, but there are many ways to say it (or many paths leading to it).

[incanada1234 0]

I never understand why people make this argument, because WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS. And those manuscripts say For God so loved the world, that he gave his ONLY BEGOTTEN Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Don't go there. If you do, then you'll have to learn Arabic & become Muslim. You are aware Muslims believe that the Koran is God's actual words, and the Prophet Mohammed was merely passing them along, right? Well, by your argument that "WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS", then you'll have to agree that Islam has the final, updated manuscripts. By your own logic, you must become Muslim!

Now, repeat after me (in Arabic): "There is only one God and Mohammed is His messenger..."

There is only one God and Moha- hey wait a minute! Is this a trick??

[Dina 0]

But is it representative? From the majority of people I've met and spoken to both on and off VJ, I'd say no.

Of course, it won't be long before someone brings up the 'christians don't blow stuff up'. I'd agree. But I guess you have to ask - do citizens of a wealthy first world country really have any need to?

Tell that to the people that have been killed by "pro life" activists.

[incanada1234 0]

I think you are sadly mistaken what interpretation is and what it means. If you want I'll give you examples of Jesus' parables and then you can tell me what he meant without interpreting them.

I dunno, I've only read the New Testament twice, so I can't remember all of them but Jesus' parables never seemed too difficult to interpret. And doesn't He usually end up explaining them anyway? So I'm not sure what your point is...

(by the way, I apologize if it sounds like I'm being rude to you. I'm enjoying debating this with you)

[Ban Hammer 14,085]

I never understand why people make this argument, because WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS. And those manuscripts say For God so loved the world, that he gave his ONLY BEGOTTEN Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Don't go there. If you do, then you'll have to learn Arabic & become Muslim. You are aware Muslims believe that the Koran is God's actual words, and the Prophet Mohammed was merely passing them along, right? Well, by your argument that "WE HAVE THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS", then you'll have to agree that Islam has the final, updated manuscripts. By your own logic, you must become Muslim!

Now, repeat after me (in Arabic): "There is only one God and Mohammed is His messenger..."

um you might wanna check that. the koran was "rewritten" along the way by a caliph and he burned other copies that conflicted with his version.