in case of emergency
If God had a face what
Would it look like
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe...?
We must not forget ourselves in our conceit. Too often, I think, we forget the original intentions and reasoning for our actions, and when that is forgotten we go through the motions, and that will lead to people doing things for the ( Read more... )
Would it look like
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe...?
We must not forget ourselves in our conceit. Too often, I think, we forget the original intentions and reasoning for our actions, and when that is forgotten we go through the motions, and that will lead to people doing things for the ( Read more... )
All too often I meet people who don't realize the God they hate is really the bad experiences they've had - its no excuse for the bad Christian, but at least for me, I try to base my faith not in whether other Christians are behaving the way I feel is right or wrong, or whether I like my church, but whether what I read in the bible makes sense. Belief should not come blindly even for non-falsifiable ones, 'count the cost' is something I try to live by. The existence of God and how He is described in the bible explains, for me, why human beings are the way they are, why we are capable of such good and such evil, such hypocrisy - that's fallenness. For the naturalists, there is no such thing. And I'm sure that your own thoughts aren't pure naturalism, if not there is no 'right' or 'wrong', only 'less powerful' and 'more powerful'...
Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is, I completely agree with what you've said, except that you don't need to wager. It's in the bible, Luke 2, - 'This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed'. Not that 'those who believe in Jesus will do good things', but that through Jesus, the intentions of people will become manifest. What you are fighting against is Godly, I dare say. All the same, and I hope I don't sound impertinent because I really do want to know - what are you fighting (living, existing) for? I might not be the best person to do this, but I would really wish for you to see who the person of Jesus is - not believe, but understand in theory, if you see what I mean). What He stands for is probably aligned to the sentiments you've expressed.
See you soon, you are in my prayers!
-HG
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They usually reply with a blank stare. "No, no, go ahead, you can perform your little pagan ritual. I'm not offended by your quaint religious practices."
There are two kinds of prayer. The scientific and medical community will likely contest and say that all prayer is one type of prayer - you pray for your own benefit, to feel like you're doing or achieving something, and not really because God will surgically remove the tumour or graft it off unto some prominent atheist author.
The other kind of prayer is often misunderstood, I think - prayer for other people. For some, the knowledge that people are praying for them is often a comfort, a source of strength, a solace, and something to hold.
One thing I think memetic scientists can study is Christianity and its proliferation, related to its proselytizing. It may be a cultural thing for you to say "You are in my prayers", or you might mean it, but I think we need to think what we say when we say it. I am touched you would pray for such a damned, accursed sinner as I, but when you tell me you pray for me, what does that mean?
If I told you I sacrificed goats to my heathen demonic gods for you and told them to send ghost-scourges to scour your enemies with pox, I'm not sure you would appreciate it.
I'm not forwarding the atheist agenda here; I always serve my own, which is, perhaps ironically, from your book - the golden rule. I'm not about to go around pompously wishing you "Merry Commercialised Holiday" (did you know, Coca-Cola were the first to make Santa Claus red? Marketing is excitng) and clap chaps at a funeral "Don't worry, he doesn't exist any more." I don't know if it's appropriate for Christians to humble-brag and say things like that too.
So, I understand - Fridya?
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