Summations Only

I don't demand respect for my writings, nor demand it. That's not what I said, (as it would presume you are the worthy qualifier of what I say)I said it's best not to assume you know the pragmatics of my statements. I say this so that you won't make errors of equivocation. Naturally, it's quite self-evident that a person of normal intelligence or above will know what they mean when they state something, which is what my claim was, precisely, that it is more reasonable that a person will know what they mean by what they state, rather than what others think they mean.You just USED what I said to make out that I was agreeing with what you had been saying all along. I don't claim "personal truth" over others. Truth that is not dependent upon me believing it, is not, "personal truth". Thus, you are asking why my belief in gravity is any better than your grandson's belief in fairies.This assumes that because one person has a personal religious belief, that what I believe will be the same as "anyone else's personal truth".You have omitted to state your argument - which is to presume that what I believe in is the same as other people's personal truths. It is a non-sequitur to state that because I have faith in Christ, that it is therefore a personal-truth.Edited by mike the wiz, : No reason given.

Really it was just a passing comment - that people will always believe what they say is true. It's just a truism really but it doesn't really pertain to this thread, nor was it an attack on you or Faith, it was just a quick observation, that everyone is convinced they are right, which is a problem in life, generally, but Percy wanted to turn it into something more than I meant.

Sounds like you've never experienced the spiritual revelation of the truth and been, "born again" of the Holy Spirit, then. Perhaps that time is overdue then, to make that decision, rather than stay ignorant about the truth? Out of interest, have you ever experienced any of the spiritual claims made in the New Testament? Have you ever spoke in tongues, or had the presence of God fall upon you, or had amazingly answered prayers? Have you ever felt the peace of His presence? Has He ever made known to you His will for your life, and have you watched Him work it out? Sounds like you're basically a head-theism. I am guessing because of Catholic upbringing. I was never born again when I was a Catholic, nor did I get anything from it. Very few genuinely are born-again in reality, as can be seen by their many strange religious, man-made beliefs, POST-bible, "factoids"Besides, it's a false dichotomy anyway, "Is the bible the inerrant word of God or words of men". It can actually be BOTH, if God knows how to move men to do what He wants, to achieve His will. He surely can. Anyone who knows Him, like I do - knows this about Him. But obviously the words of ignorance are easy to spot, for someone who genuinely believes. For all purposes, you are basically saying this to me, "mike, come on man, we all know atheism is true, and materialist philosophy, this God-business is just a bit of fluff in my head".Then don't pretend to not be an atheist, is my recommendation. Claim head-theism, based on human reasoning, and admit you live according to human reason/wisdom, not God's wisdom, and you put secular science before God.

Your argument is this: "No, I haven't experienced it, but I saw or heard something I would call B.S." Perhaps you heard, "babble" - how then can you know you saw or heard it?What does that have to do with anything - am I supposed to rewind the videotape in your mind, to know what was, the "bullshit" you heard? Am I going to call the genuine article, "B.S."Look, if you are born-again, great. I was asking in order to get an idea if you know God. You don't talk like you do, which is just an impression I get, but sure - I can be wrong, I have to "go on something" though don't I? But if the Holy Spirit is real, and I really have spoke in tongues, then you have just called something to do with the Holy Spirit, "bullshit" if it really is genuine. That would concern me greatly if I had done that - because for me I would fear saying something false about God. You see, it's strange that your posts are so belligerent towards me as a fellow-believers.