AndyBaker

Tragedy? in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

I watched the film ‘Titanic’ last night for the first time in years. I’d forgotten how much of a powerful movie that is. I think those kind of films bring home the fragility and uncertainty of this physical realm, and can force us to rethink our values. The falling bodies toward the end reminded me of September 11th. ‘Alive’ is another such movie – the one about the Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashes in the middle of the Andes. I’d re

Reply to Should life really be a struggle? in Religion JoeUser Forums

I believe that God is a God of unconditional love, goodness and grace. . . . He's not sending any to hell if that's what you mean. We go there because we choose to. He sets before us life and death. He's the just judge who will hand over the sentence at the end. But that does not minimize his unconditional love at all. I think the doctrine that

Reply to An easy way to become an atheist in Religion JoeUser Forums

Truth can be tried over and over and weather it. "Knowing" usually spells an end to that kind of trial and self-reflection. That’s right. To truly embrace the spiritual life, i.e. to actually walk it, rather than just talk it, can be a science all of its own to the individual. I believe that it’s possible for a person to reach a stage on their pa

Reply to Should life really be a struggle? in Religion JoeUser Forums

I do believe that you can't just sit back and accept everything. You do need to struggle for some things. One example, two men are diagnosed with the same life threatening disease. One decides that it is just in God's hands and accepts whatever will happen. This man dies. The other man decides he is going to live and does everything mentally and physically he can. He stru

Reply to An easy way to become an atheist in Religion JoeUser Forums

Suicide bombers "know" they are going to their harem when they blow themselves up. If they "believed", I doubt they'd be so quick to do it. I appreciate what you're saying, BakerStreet. It is true that we all have our model of the world. A lot of people might say they "know" what is right, from within t

Reply to Life isn't Fair in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

Life can be so unfair. It just doesn't make sense. I believe that multiple lifetimes and re-incarnations balance out bad lives. It makes things fair at the end of the day. I also believe that we choose to come down here, from Heaven, not unlike we would choose to take a trip to the gym. I think that life only seems unfair when it's seen through

Reply to An easy way to become an atheist in Religion JoeUser Forums

I am persuaded in whom I believe and am waiting for the day...when it comes...boy will you be surprised!! But as for me .... I'm going to be ready God knows, KRC, but we BELIEVE. In that case, all of us may be surprised unt

Reply to The only Way to Gods grace is to be Jewish in Religion JoeUser Forums

It's a battle out there...it's not a flesh and blood one but a spiritual. KFC, don’t you think we can afford to surrender that the victory is already won? If God is all-knowing and all-powerful, and God exists outside of time, then the ultimate outcome is already assured, and that outcome is good. It’s logical to believe that God already

Should life really be a struggle? in Religion JoeUser Forums

We are taught from an early age that if we want to make it in life, we have to work hard. That life involves pain and struggle, that we have to earn love and acceptance; and that, if we want to come out on top, we have to fight our way there. This is a false teaching of the world, in my view. Life doesn’t have to be a struggle. There’s a difference between struggle and effort. Struggle is effort laced with negative emotion or desperation. It

Reply to The only Way to Gods grace is to be Jewish in Religion JoeUser Forums

I do not see faith as a competition, rather as something personal to help us make our way through life, to reach the point we strive for which for many of us is heaven Well said zergimmi. I think we should relax and surrender. That's the quickest way to inner peace. If we believe in God then we can trust He knows what He's doing. If we don't, the

Reply to An easy way to become an atheist in Religion JoeUser Forums

why should I believe you over the spiritual experiences I've had? That's what really counts. Our inner experience and intuition, and our 'inner sight', is what it's all about. Define the thing you think I don't bel

Reply to Allah or Jesus? in Religion JoeUser Forums

I just don't agree. But that's ok....we're still friends, right? Of course we're still friends KFC, you know that. Com'on Andy you have to get some different lines. There were some new l

Reply to Allah or Jesus? in Religion JoeUser Forums

And, that by killing an infidel, which is a command to all Muslims, they are assured of a place in heaven KFC, don’t you think we can afford a bit more breathing space from our Holy Scriptures than this? There’s a lot more to the Qur’an than you are portraying, and there are many, many verses that teach a message of compassion, forgiveness and

Reply to Nonchristian vs Antichristian in Religion JoeUser Forums

So...how would you tackle the reincarnation versus resurrection on the last day hmmmm? Battycoda, do you believe that our resurrection in the last days will be a physical resurrection, or a spiritual one? Regarding the consonance between reincarnation and eschatology, I believe that in “the last days”, reincarnation will come to an end. It will h

Reply to Religion and science: The Truth is out there...... in Religion JoeUser Forums

Christ kept trying to take their eyes of the physical to get them to "see" the spiritual. I think of the woman at the well in John 4. While he was talking about "spiritual" water she kept thinking "physical." Then she finally got it!! She left her waterpots behind to tell the others what she found I like that KFC. I think that if people’s inner-e

Reply to Nonchristian vs Antichristian in Religion JoeUser Forums

Matter of fact, many of nonchristians have more respect for christians than some christians have for other forms of christianity. Yes. I've never really understood those in-house squabbles that a lot of Christians have, <TD class="mb-Body-Quote-

Reply to Nonchristian vs Antichristian in Religion JoeUser Forums

My point was that the statement a happy christian is a buddhist can be true but the statement that a happy Buddhist is a christian is not neccessarily true. Christianity after all is centered on Jesus Christ being the son of God. That is pretty darned specific. If you believe you can only get to God through accepting Jesus Christ

Reply to Nonchristian vs Antichristian in Religion JoeUser Forums

Why should it be so darned complex that people who share the same philosophy or religion can't even agree? I think the reason why there are so many ‘versions’ of God is because we’re all interpreting reality - and 'viewing God' - from different stages of the path. Each view caters for different tastes and preferences, some of which won’t be to th

Reply to Religion and science: The Truth is out there...... in Religion JoeUser Forums

In fact, though, you have to BE open to that acceptance. You have to be willing to receive it. Close your mind to conscious thought.....just allow it; let it happen. Kind of like feeling the flow of the "Force", I guess. Excellent stuff. It's ironic that the religious outlook can be the most free-th

Reply to Nonchristian vs Antichristian in Religion JoeUser Forums

I do not think there is that much difference between Christians and Buddhists. ... A truly happy Christian is really a Buddhist. And vice-versa" I can't say I agree with that part. Christianity requires much more specific f

Reply to Nonchristian vs Antichristian in Religion JoeUser Forums

I just thought I rant too much. I don’t know. I know that humility, like HC, is a lot more attractive than me. I can get behind the idea of old souls but I don't see how that translates to christianity in any way It transcends Christian teaching, but doesn’t necessarily refute it, in my opinion. I don’t believe that any one religion hold

Reply to Nonchristian vs Antichristian in Religion JoeUser Forums

“Spiritual growth results in an expansion of consciousness and opens up a new world, one of which previously the seeker had been wholly unaware, although it had always been present awaiting his recognition.” - Joseph Benner (My God, I've just re-read that last post and I sound far too arrogant. Especially compared to HC. I'm not sure if I ought to be ranting around like this, but I really can't help it. I apologise)

Reply to Nonchristian vs Antichristian in Religion JoeUser Forums

So, will this 1yr old be a 1yr old for all eternity? Perhaps the parents will live and experience life for decades upon decades while the 1yr old never even got a chance to begin life. Still makes no sense to me. It could have been an old soul Jill, which might have had plenty of lifetimes already. In which case there would be nothing unfair goin

Reply to Nonchristian vs Antichristian in Religion JoeUser Forums

Basically they say now that this baby was the instrument that brought them to God KFC, I've just seen your reply. Yes - I couldn't have worded that any better!

Reply to Nonchristian vs Antichristian in Religion JoeUser Forums

(Regarding organised religion, I personally agree with Indian spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy, by the way: “Each religion is right, absolutely right, in its own way, but when we cry for the highest truth, the love of God becomes the only religion.”)