Register | Sign In


Understanding through Discussion


EvC Forum active members: 65 (9162 total)
5 online now:
Newest Member: popoi
Post Volume: Total: 915,815 Year: 3,072/9,624 Month: 917/1,588 Week: 100/223 Day: 11/17 Hour: 0/0


Thread  Details

Email This Thread
Newer Topic | Older Topic
  
Author Topic:   What is an "Ex Believer", anyway?
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 5 of 123 (193089)
03-21-2005 3:09 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Phat
03-21-2005 10:19 AM


Let me tell you about the Muggwumps.
Before I moved back to Texas I was living in Georgia. In the apartment across the walkway lived a family with two kids, one in pre-K, the other just learning to stand on one foot.
They loved my two little doggies and would often come to the door asking if they could take Demi and D'Arcy out to play.
When Demi was little ...
they would get all their friends and play "Pass the Puppy".
They too moved back home to Texas about a year before I did. I put together a travel kit for them with two pairs of little binoculars, a road map so they could mark off the trip, crayons and stickers for cities they would go through and Official Georgia Department of Natural Resources caps to wear.
They always called me Uncle Jim even though I was not related in anyway. I still get email from them, sometimes take them to the Zoo with their parents, they send me their school pictures every year and pictures of major events like Awards Day.
But I'm not their Uncle.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Phat, posted 03-21-2005 10:19 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 14 of 123 (193488)
03-22-2005 5:09 PM
Reply to: Message 12 by Citizzzen
03-22-2005 4:28 PM


Re: I am not a Billist, I am a devout uncle Charlie-ist...
As a Christian, not only do I think you're correct, but to limit GOD by saying he was incapable of reaching audiences through different means, different people goes against what is shown in the Bible and also diminishes and limits GODs capabilities.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 12 by Citizzzen, posted 03-22-2005 4:28 PM Citizzzen has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


(1)
Message 54 of 123 (195380)
03-30-2005 7:10 AM
Reply to: Message 53 by Phat
03-30-2005 7:00 AM


Re: The definition of meeting God
I think what others are saying to you is slightly different. Mike and others say they have met Jesus. But that later they decided he was not who he claimed to be. They agree they met the individual in question. They no longer believe he is GOD.
I may be putting words in their mouths and if so, I apologize, but it appears the bunch of you are saying similar things but not defining what it is you really mean.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 53 by Phat, posted 03-30-2005 7:00 AM Phat has seen this message but not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 57 by purpledawn, posted 04-04-2005 9:59 AM jar has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 61 of 123 (198282)
04-11-2005 11:52 AM
Reply to: Message 60 by nator
04-11-2005 11:19 AM


While I think this discussion is about as important ...
as counting Pinhead Angels, I may also see where there is a possibility of creating some understanding between the two groups.
Your Santa example is near perfect.
Suppose the child actually met the real Santa, not a storefront Santa, not Macy's Santa, not even Edmund Gwenn Santa, but the realy McCoy. In that case, even as the child matured he or she would still believe in Santa.
The rest of us may not have met the real Santa so it's perfectly reasonable for us to doubt the account, and there is absolutely no way that the child can prove his belief (he did get his Captain Midnight Glow in the Dark Decoder Ring but it was from Post, not Santa so it really isn't much evidence).
It is a reasonable assumption though that if one did meet the real Santa, then it would be hard to later not believe in the experience. It is equally reasonable to meet Edmund Gwenn who is enough like our vision of Santa to fool any child, and later realize he is nothing but a kindly old man with a beard.
The existence or non-existence of GOD will be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, but unfortunately, not under conditions where that knowledge can be disseminated.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 60 by nator, posted 04-11-2005 11:19 AM nator has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 63 by Phat, posted 04-11-2005 11:57 AM jar has not replied
 Message 68 by Phat, posted 04-11-2005 4:01 PM jar has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 92 of 123 (826429)
12-30-2017 4:02 PM
Reply to: Message 91 by ringo
12-30-2017 12:48 PM


Re: Santa And God.
ringo writes:
Phat writes:
So does this mean that when a man matures he no longer has a father?
It means he doesn't rely on his father to bail him out of everything. He takes responsibility for his own actions.
And often it means the child taking care of the parent.

My Sister's Website: Rose Hill Studios My Website: My Website

This message is a reply to:
 Message 91 by ringo, posted 12-30-2017 12:48 PM ringo has seen this message but not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 93 by Phat, posted 12-31-2017 11:50 AM jar has seen this message but not replied
 Message 94 by Phat, posted 01-01-2018 11:56 AM jar has seen this message but not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 116 of 123 (826660)
01-06-2018 10:38 AM
Reply to: Message 115 by Phat
01-06-2018 10:36 AM


Re: How you got there
Phat writes:
Also note that jar, whom I consider to be a rational Christian, has never had a born again experience yet remauins a believer.
Actually I believe that any "Born Again" experience is not just a delusion but truly destructive.

My Sister's Website: Rose Hill Studios My Website: My Website

This message is a reply to:
 Message 115 by Phat, posted 01-06-2018 10:36 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 117 by Phat, posted 01-07-2018 10:15 AM jar has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 118 of 123 (826689)
01-07-2018 10:25 AM
Reply to: Message 117 by Phat
01-07-2018 10:15 AM


Re: What To Believe In
Phat writes:
I believe that philosophically declaring that GOD, if GOD exists cant be omniscient without being evil, is also potentially destructive and a delusion.
But that is not just a belief Phat but rather the necessary conclusion of the proposition that the God character is the creator of all, that some are saved and some are not saved AND is also omniscient.
There is simply no other possible conclusion.
Phat writes:
If our human definition of God places limits and conditions on His character, it would appear that we are limiting belief not only in Him but in focusing the emphasis on ourselves and our responsibilities rather than our eternal destiny.
Correct. Focusing the emphasis on ourselves and our responsibilities is the message Jesus taught while our eternal destiny is the sell the sizzle and not the steak snake oil salesman spiel.
Phat writes:
After all, what is it that we are believing in, why are some of us running from this belief, and why are others so vehemently defending it?
Most folk do not want to assume responsibility but rather want the "Get Outta Hell Free Card".

My Sister's Website: Rose Hill Studios My Website: My Website

This message is a reply to:
 Message 117 by Phat, posted 01-07-2018 10:15 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 119 by Phat, posted 01-07-2018 10:45 AM jar has not replied

  
Newer Topic | Older Topic
Jump to:


Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved

™ Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024