We are in that time frame now. - Page 8

^ snicker, ruger you may think and indeed attempt to want to answer questions but ime you never do. i think those that want to lecture and preach should give equal time to justifying and explaining, the whole;

 

god said it

 

i believe it

 

that does it

i think you are not even aware you are doing it, YR is blind this way as well, and gouda and shtal do not even try.

 

 Vk ~~ due to personal conflicts sleep eludes me. I am here and always willing to answer; if I understand the question,,, try me,,,

Ruger, its about empathy;  about seeing things with others eyes.  Its a bit like the arguments over 

"Political Correctness";  some of us just see it as being polite and respectful of differences NOT to

call other people harsh names - inc, the N word - and not to point and laugh at physical handicap

or 'abnormal' bodily differences;  or sexual preferences,  et.c.    Others, however, wish to shout that 

their freedoms are eroded by society deciding to be more tolerant, accepting, caring, polite, enabling ...

 

Working example of that, see current thred on Gay Marriage.

 

I can never get the Christians on here, no matter how benevolent they believe themselves to be, to pay

more than 'lip service'  - if that ! - to the damaging effects some of their assertions about what (their version of) God

says or intends to do, to people who are of other faiths or none.  Sometimes it is qute hurtful;  others its just plain

rude.  None of these regular "preaching" posters have ever shown that they understand this, or give two hoots

about it.  I'd just like them to remember, whenever they are posting, to be aware of the need to "walk a mile in other

shoes".   Is that really too hard to grasp ?  [ Would it perhaps have an impact on America's standing in the world, too ?]

"Vk ~~ due to personal conflicts sleep eludes me. I am here and always willing to answer; if I understand the question,,, try me,,,"

 

the final attempt at trying to learn anything from you was on some thread about morals, i now no longer have the desire to see things from your POV or to endeavour to learn anything from you.

nothing personal or against you, i have just found more efficient and productive ways to learn, my problem not yours.

Linda

If I say I am a carpenter yet I pick up the hammer from the wrong end and try to use to pound nails in with the handle and then claim that I'm following the example of some other individual and keep wanting you to go watch the.  Am I a carpenter.  The answer is obvious.  I may be trying but my actual knowledge of carpentry is obviously lacking.  Everyone is at different stages of development.  Some may be very advanced with knowledge in certain areas but really lacking in others.  Some my have great difficulties in application.  But that doesn't mean that no carpenter can build anything.  Some advance to a certain point and never advance any further.  Each individual stands or falls in any thing they do usually based upon their own actions.  

Could the words of the Bible seem hurtful to others.  Sure.  But is that the intent.  No.  The Bible is supposed to be like an owners manual.  Teaching us  how to live, how to get the most out of life,  how to be truly satisfied, and how to gain his approval.  Its intent was never to be a hammer.  It wasn't meant to beat people, to try to scare people. 

And here is a little surprise for all the Christians who say they are going to heaven and everyone else is going to hell.

Read Eccl. 9:5,10  There is says with some variation by translation but the thought is the same. The living know they will die, but the dead know nothing.  While you are alive do all you can for when you die there is no thoughts, no knowledge, no planning, no wisdom.  If there is no knowledge how do you punish someone by burning? 

Here is where people who believe in hell interject scriptures from Rev. referring to the lake of fire they focus on 20:15 but fail to notice verse 14.  It says death and Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire.  How do you burn death?  Or Hades which means the grave?  You can't those are situations not tangible items that can be burnt.  It is illustrative of complete destruction.  The same as if I burn your paycheck.  Its gone you can't put it back together.  Hell is contrary to a God of love.  He also says with evil God can't be tried.  Yet that is what many Christians are accusing him of.  When ancient Israel passed their children through the fire, (offered them up to false gods)  He said such a thought hadn't entered into his heart.  Would you put your son's hand on a hot stove for disobeying?  Of course not.  Do you have higher morals then God?

reggie would you kill your own child if god told you to?

Oh boy.

Reggie, so you don't believe in an actual Hell for those who don't accept Jesus?  Is that what you are saying?

 

Here is the vs.

For the living know that they will die,
    but the dead know nothing;
they have no further reward,
    and even their name is forgotten.
⁶ Their love, their hate
    and their jealousy have long since vanished;
never again will they have a part
    in anything that happens under the sun.

 

To say you took it out of context is an understatement.

 

THE DEAD KNOW NOTHING

 

Aprevailing mood in the Old Testament.

It remained for Jes Christ to bring life

and immortallity to light through the Gospel

2 TIM.1:10.

 

  John

Rom. 6:23 the wages sin pays is death it doesn't say hell it doesn't say burning. if you read the first part of Revelation it says that it's a book of illustrations. or do you truly believe that Jesus is going to come riding on a horse with a sword coming out of his mouth.

Reggie I think you should slow down a bit so your typing can keep up with your thoughts  LOL 

Would you like to try posting that first paragraph again ?

I think I see the point you are making, but I can't be sure enough to argue about it !  

And Ruger says  I need to clarify ...

 

In your second para you add that the Bible was not 'intended' to be used to beat  people, like with

a hammer ;  and it wasn't 'intended' it should be used to frighten people (that they'd be burnt, for instance,

whether or not they believed they woud be concious of that ).  Apart from querying if any of us really 

know what was 'intended',  I'd beg to point out that this is EXACTLY how it is often used.  On PDB

and elsewhere.   I realise it is impossible to have a complete empathy with those who do not have

exactly your own faith or experiences;   however, there is no attempt  [among those who do this ] to even

TRY.