Haha, yeah backed up by common sense. Aww... your feelings still a little bruised because I called you a kook? I'm sorry lil guy.
Nope, logical deduction "If you don't leave loopholes like that then the people who have sinned for example, have no motivation to follow your religion (or you which is the end goal)." Ironic how I'm debunking what is by definition and for all intents and purposes a cult and you're trying insinuate that I'm the one with the conspiracy. Are you seriously trying to compare the debate over religion with your wackjob NWO theories dude? You're really trying to make that comparison? Surely you jest Haha, psst.... You're trying too hard
What I find remarkably ignorant about you is the fact that we had a very thorough discussion about what I defined as a New World Order. I think you remain confused as to what "theory" I believe. http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1100317 Psst.. do you remember writing this? Maybe you need to take a break from posting and read this thread in it's entirety. Normally, I do.
What have I said that's wrong? You do believe in the vast and ominous threat of NWO don't you? Shouldn't we all be afraid? Sigh..... Well you've been trying your hardest to insult me since I called you a kook. Unfortunately it's been like water off a duck's back Your jumping in this thread has only furthered that agenda and the hilarity for me so I thank you... The only conclusion I can draw from this is that I must have really hurt your feelings. To make matters worse It must really have stung because I said that after you laughably thought I might be wondering why you of all people chose not to "enlighten" me or grace us with your vast NWO knowledge in that thread. But to get to the point..... can you tell me how you linking to a post where I said we need to come together as a species (the very thing NWO loons fear) -- inside the same thread where you were trying to convince people that your theory isn't "lunacy" actually helps you in any way here?
Hei dude, please... it is not about win and lose. Religion is needed to control human's behavior. But, beyond the sin theory, still, karma is valid for all of creatures in the universe. (Karma maybe just a terminology, what I want to say is, what you've done to other creatures will be happen to you, someday, somehow. We will harvest what we had planted. May all creatures be happy...
You seem obsessed with the fact that you were able to call me a kook.. You didn't really "pwn" me or show that my argument was lacking. In fact, I consider your statement a fair shot considering what I was getting at in the post before it.. you were probably left with such few options at the time, an insult never hurts. I like engaging you in threads because you have such a large ego, it's just entertaining to me, and I have to admit my shortcomings in the same sentence. The point is really what do you consider lunacy? What is so loony about suspicions of a NWO if you suggest pretty much what it entails? What it boils down to is supporters and opponents to globalization. To figure my definition of a NWO would be good for humanity, we can assume you're a supporter. What's so loony about opposing it?
I can understand why crime and punishment, heavens rewards and hells torments, would be seen as a political mechanism to control people, I believe that myself. The way the concept of an afterlife, hell, heaven, the devil and God have changed so rapidly throughout the last 2000 years right along with the cultures they were recognized in pretty much lays it all out as a big scam. But the foundation of morality is still being represented as avoiding sin and no one seems to be trying to really define that word in this thread. Is it a sin because a book says so? Is it a sin because it harms another or yourself? Is it a sin because it goes against your understanding of nature? That really seems the crux of the matter to me. If all these religions/cults claim to hold "special knowledge of right living" (and that is what they ALL say in one way or another) then they need to be able to explain that way of life in as way that holds up to scrutiny. That is where most religions fall short for me right there. When someone says "because the Bible tells me so" (good song though) or because Our most blessed prophet Muhamed P.B.U.H said so, or Joe Smith found these tablets and they said so... well that's just not good enough for me. And really a lot of what I have found to be "right living" is pretty common sense stuff and is apparent to most people. It doesn't really hinge on religious belief to do something like treat others with respect. The other thing besides claiming to have the answer of "right living" that all religions seem to have in common though is, that there is more to them than just that. I have not found a single religion that is SOLEY about controlling people through promising them the answers to life and taking their time and money in exchange. There is always something more to it, and I think that answers a more holistic oriented part of humanity than cold logic/science does. A part of people that strives to be complete instead of perfect or happy instead of productive I think that rituals and belief structures are important to a healthy mind, culture, life.
I didn't read all these posts, not enough time atm, its 3 am lol. So, what language does "God" speak? Personally, I believe there is no hell. I think theres some special hiding place way out in the middle of no where (not in the sky, but out in space, on one of them galaxies we aint been to yet. Thats where all the souls go, there was a study that the average human looses about 27 oz. of unexplainable weight (not counting voiding of bowels/bladder) when they die. So, theres god to be something there right? Now, if there were one right religion, there would be only one. This God would have said something about that by now, and he wouldn't have only picked one person and hoped everyone believed him. And there is no son of God, just a bad thunder storm. Once I get some sort of proof he was the son of god, we'll talk about it. Also, it is my belief that all these ancient religions were invented to explain things. But, now that we have science, a lot of things can be explained a little better.
The study you are talking about is an old one. http://www.snopes.com/religion/soulweight.asp Here is something I dug up that states a more popular belief, that the body actually gains weight during death as well as during certain types of dreaming or meditation. http://www.scientificexploration.org/jse/articles/pdf/15.4_hollander.pdf "Conclusion There is no long-term weight change, at death, in the animals tested, within the limits of the equipment and procedure used. However, a 5 second transient weight gain of 18 to 780 grams was observed. Dynamic weight measurements maybe a fruitful area for further investigation. Although the weight gain transients have been observed spontaneously in humans, thus far they have not been reproducible. In contrast, all the adult sheep exhibited a transient gain at the moment of death. These transients may be an artifact of the equipment used or may have a physiological explanation." Note the study was not to determine why they gained weight but merely to determine if they did at all. So of course they didn't answer why it happens.
No, it just opens up Heaven and God to us for forgiveness. Its not an invitation to sin, but rather an admission that man is not without fault. That said, Jesus died so that we may be forgiven. Its a difficult concept, I agree, but one that makes sense the more you practice faith rather than pessimism.
I also don't believe in Hell. Well, not the traditional, fiery place of torment where the bad people go. The Bible itself doesn't even teach that. According to the Bible, Hell is the grave. Death. The opposite of life. Nothingness. When you're dead, you're dead, simple as that. Also, God is love, and the very concept of torturing people eternally is horrendous if you understand that. Oh, and regarding the soul, you may be interested to know that according to the Bible, we are souls. It's not like our personality is magically bottled inside of us, just waiting for our body to die so it can escape to play a harp in the clouds. And logically, it dies with us when we die. There is also a common misunderstanding here. He died to make forgiveness possible for all people. It doesn't say that all people will receive it. If a person continues willingly to live a life that they know is wrong despite having been taught what God expects, then those sins will not be forgiven. So no, it's not a get-out-of-jail-free card, it requires something on our part as well.
Perhaps, but in the end, if they ask for it, they will receive it. Its never too late to be saved. And its never too late to ask for forgiveness.
Well, I mostly agree with you on that point. Even King Manasseh was forgiven because of his heart condition. However, there is one type of sin/blasphemy that won't be forgiven - if it's against the spirit (Matt 12:31).
Perhaps I should explain myself more clearly then: I choose to accept the evidence and logic presented to me, that very clearly explains the existence of a creator. I choose not to put my faith in evolution, which is far less probable, and means our existence is meaningless and temporary.