Allow me to parrot Ray today. What if you all start to see the Bible come true? Would you acknowledge it? Would you understand that you have been wrong all along?I liked what Kaitlyn posted on the matter:
I don't know what passages Ray is referring to, but if the Bible did predict that a country called the United States would have a financial crisis due to the home-lending / mortgage business in the year 2008, I think it's time to reevaluate our position on the Bible.Exactly, if it predicted it, I would begin to re-evaluate it as it would be some extra evidence in favor of it. But why should I accept the vague, incoherent ramblings of Revelations over, say, the incoherent ramblings of Nostradamus? Jefferson had a similar thought concerning this book:
It is between fifty and sixty years since I read it, and I then considered it merely the ravings of a maniac, no more worthy nor capable of explanation than the incoherences of our own nightly dreams. … what has no meaning admits no explanation.Exactly. What has no meaning admits no explanation. Ray's attempts to get the current events to fit into the Bible are as inane as those attempts to get the current events to fit into Nostradamus' works.
The posts of Ray and Dan, though, highlight the truly unsettling quality about many Christians I see who accept all of the New Testament: their glee over the destruction of the world. Oh, there's a "world-wide economic meltdown"! Hooray! The end times, and Jesus, are near!
The prospect of destruction is only appealing to fanatics: those fanatically-bent on evil and those fanatically-bent on religion. (The two are not mutually exclusive.)
8 comments:
The end of days loons are always rubbing their hands with glee at every bit of bad news. Quite simply a load of pathological psychos.
Reason Must Triumph
"The prospect of destruction is only appealing to fanatics: those fanatically-bent on evil"
...destruction must come to wipe out the evil, the sin in this world, it is the only way.
"and those fanatically-bent on religion."
religion is man-made, no, I prefer calling what I have with Christ a relationship.
Hope you are doing well.
In Christian Love,
Brittany
Hey Dave,
Thanks for the link. I've added it to my feed :-) It's sad that your assessment of them is so spot on; the glee of the end of the world is something which truly baffled me when I began investigating religions.
Greydon Square has in one of his songs something along the lines of Muslims wanting to bring hellfire to the world and the Christians wanting to stop them; not because they're planning to take life, but because they aren't praying to the same God that they are and that isn't right.
- JT
Hey Brittany,
It's so good to see you back around. You seemed to have just vanished and I was wondering if you were okay as I hadn't even seen you posting to Ray's blog (but then again, I don't check the comments of every thread). I didn't have a way to drop you a line to see, so I'm glad to see you're okay.
Alas, though, I think we reunite on a point with which we disagree. Even if I had the perspective that destruction is necessary to obliterate evil (even though, ironically, the destruction is itself evil), I still could never take glee in that fact. I could never see children, even babies, being killed, people burning alive in fires, and people losing everything in their lives, look upon that and say "This is excellent! It's Bible prophecy coming true! Glory!"
It reminds me of the depraved individuals of the Westboro Baptist Church who celebrate when soldiers are killed or maimed simply because they see America as accepting sin. Even if America were accepting sin, I could never take glee in someone else's suffering.
It relates back to our discussions on Heaven and Hell. Even if someone is cast into Hell for their own doing, I could never take solace in the fact that they knew the rules, and I especially couldn't take glee in the fact that they are experiencing unending torment.
People suffering and being destroyed does not appeal to me. The only way it can is if my faculty for empathy and compassion were skewed by religion and/or evil corruption.
- JT
Hi,
Yeah, I took a little break from posting, to instead watch from the sidelines.
I've been trying to find the proof of God's existence(besides the obvious, which I have found that many non-believers will not accept) that many non-believers seem to want/need beore they accept Christ.
Anywho, I attended church service one evening and to my amazement, my preacher, who has never really broached the subject of atheism/proof of God's existence, etc. answered my questions.
Therefore I have a proposition for you JT, and any other atheist/nonbeliever:
Would you take 5 minutes of every day, for a month (give or take 30 days) and talk to God. Yeah I know you don't believe in Him, but could just try.
I've looked through alot of your blog and you seem to be a very intellectual person, and I know that spending roughly 150 minutes of your one and only life(as you believe) talking to God may seem childish to you, but what if you find that your beliefs about God are wrong. Don't you think that it's worth a try; just 5 minutes a day talking to God.
I hope you accet the challenge, JT, it may very well change your life.
As always I hope you and your family are doing well.
In Christian Love,
Brittany
Would you take 5 minutes of every day, for a month (give or take 30 days) and talk to God. Yeah I know you don't believe in Him, but could just try.
I actually have an open request to Christians to convince me that their religion is true (as I would invite from any religion). If it's true, I think it's important that I know about it.
I'm willing to pray daily for a month, and I'll be sincere in the prayers, too. I have a few questions first, though.
* What should I pray about?
* When should I pray?
* Where should I pray?
* Is there anything I need to pray?
* Do I need to read when I pray?
I want to be sure I do it correctly. I don't want to spend over two hours in a month's time only to find out I wasn't praying correctly. Also, should it not work, I don't want to be told that I didn't do it correctly. So, any advice you have, I'd like to hear it.
I do have a pertinent question, though. Ray has stated, categorically, that God won't listen to atheists' prayers. So, why should I even bother trying?
As always I hope you and your family are doing well.
I have a little beagle I live with whom I've had for at least a decade now (I got her when I was in junior high). Sadly, I had to leave her with family back at the beginning of August because I couldn't take care of her medical needs at the time.
She had her eye surgically removed earlier this week because of the glaucoma, so I've been a bit down lately because I can't be with her. I've been worried about her for a while, though, so at least my mind's been put at ease now that she's survived the surgery.
I know you asked about family, but I consider my beagle part of my family ;)
- JT
Hi,
"* What should I pray about?"
You seem to have alot of questions about Christianity, heaven, hell, sin, proof that God even exists, etc. So why not start from the beginning. Just talk to Him, from my experience He has always listened.
"* When should I pray?"
Whenever the urge hits you. Christianity is not like the Islamic faith. We don't have certain times in the day where we have to pray. I personally talk to God throughout my entire day, where ever or with whatever I am doing.
"* Where should I pray?"
Anywhere. As I stated earlier I talk with God where ever I am; either it be outside at the grocery store, etc.
"* Is there anything I need to pray?"
You can pray about anything you want; as long as it is not evil. Just remember that while God listens to your prayers sometimes His answers to your prayers will be No. God knows what is best for you and if what you pray for is not in His plan for your life, He will not allow it.
"* Do I need to read when I pray?"
I assume that you mean reading the Bible. In my experience, I have found that after talking to God, I find the answers to my questions in the Bible. Remember that the Bible is the main way God talks to His people.
"I do have a pertinent question, though. Ray has stated, categorically, that God won't listen to atheists' prayers.
I beleive that what Ray was trying to say is that those who specifically talk with God with a PRIDEful heart will not be answered by God. You previously mentioned that you would be sincere in your talk with God, so ray's statement would not apply to you.
"I have a little beagle I live with whom I've had for at least a decade now (I got her when I was in junior high). Sadly, I had to leave her with family back at the beginning of August because I couldn't take care of her medical needs at the time.She had her eye surgically removed earlier this week because of the glaucoma, so I've been a bit down lately because I can't be with her. I've been worried about her for a while, though, so at least my mind's been put at ease now that she's survived the surgery. I know you asked about family, but I consider my beagle part of my family ;)"
I'm glad your dog is doing well. I have a couple of dog's and consider them a part of my family as well. In fact, I have a mixed retriever and poodle dog who is around 16 years of age. When people ask me how many brothers or sisters I have, I always tell them I have a 16 year old sister!
I hope you have a great day JT.
In Christian Love,
Brittany
Hi Brittany,
I've officially taken up your challenge here.
The only other question I have, should I be asking for proof of his existence, or should I be asking about things in my life (like guidance, strength, etc)?
- JT
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