Tribute Thread For the Recently Raptured Faith

No let's keep it public. I WANT people to see us discuss and debate these theological concepts. I DO pray often, though sometimes informally on my way to work, for instance, while driving. Other times I fall on my face and have even cried before God. Perhaps some critics of our belief have questions for me...in fact, I even anticipate some of them.Do I believe that a Rapture is imminent? Do I even believe in such a thing?
Do I believe that God exists, is personal, and gives me a second thought in the grand scheme of how reality will play out?There are many questions

what truth are YOU referring to? That society will enter into a golden age if we simply give to each according to our ability and receive according to our needs? That God and religion are outdated and unnecessary? That the message is that we can do it without Him? The snake is an effective preacher!

Im not sure if the definitions are the same. From the author Jones point of view: Thus monism is akin to pantheism, minus the awareness of divinity.Dualism implies that good and evil are equal, or that God and satan are equal....as I understand it. Jesus acknowledged that there is One Truth, but also alluded to the fact that people have a choice. Often the God marketed here is indistinguishable among various religions, whereas Jones argues that Oneism implies subjective relativity whereas twoism implies that there is One truth and two basic choices.Edited by Phat, : clarificationEdited by Phat, : No reason given.Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

I dont think I fully understand it, but I need to revise my definition as i understand it. Oneism advocates the idea that God is impersonal and thus can even be described as an energy force, such as the Force in Star Wars. The emphasis is on the god within all of us...not only those chosen by a personal God, but impartially and fairly in every living being.Twoism, in contrast, represents black/white thinking. Either you are for Him or against Him. Either you allow His character to commune with you and trust the consequences or you become more relativistic, non-judgemental, feeling as if you are gods yourselves. Granted many Christians---myself included---have felt the allure of the second way, Some would argue that they simply don't think about all of this hocus-pocus. They would argue that they simply live life, accept life and death, and enjoying the moment. They advocate relaxing from the seriousness of what they would term my religious obsession and fantasy.And to be honest, I am not even as serious as you are, Faith. you won't even allow yourself to entertain the possibility that your belief is wrong. I think that while we are on earth, there is a tendency to fancy ourselves as oneist as satan is...whereas the truth is that we are twoists in that God lives in us but our flesh fights against this reality. Perhaps Tangle is right---I am a bit obsessive and crazy. One thing I believe is that Jesus was and is indeed a twoist in that God is Spirit and yet Jesus has a body...which in any normal person would be fighting the Spirit. Jesus brought flesh and Spirit together, which would be the goal of God coming back for His Bride.

I have a question...a hypothetical one for everyone participating in this thread.If a Rapture happened (according to how it happens dogmatically)and was unavoidable...would you want to be taken or left behind? Why would you want either scenario? If you did want to be taken, what would you hope to gain from the experience? Here are my answers...and I'm curious to hear other hypothetical answers also...even you, Tangle! Put aside your preconceptions about the ludicrousness of it all...if A Creator were wanting to take some people off of this planet and leave others. which group would you want to be with and why?Phats Answers:

If a Rapture happened (according to how it happens dogmatically)and was unavoidable...would you want to be taken or left behind?---I would want to be taken because God would be in charge...whereas if I were left behind I would be stuck with a bunch of people who wanted to be their own bosses and according to the stories it all will end badly for them and the planet in general...so why not go out on the first bus? On the other hand, I'm in no hurry to take a plunge...there is a lot of work I feel needs to be done on my personal growth before moving on up to the East Side!

If you did want to be taken, what would you hope to gain from the experience? I would hope to become remade and given a new body and new wisdom so that I would be equipped to continue on with the next phase of existence and reality in the new place. Critics may ask why I cant wish the same here in the old place...and I must admit that they have a point. Metaphorically, as I get older and my body wears out I desire an overhaul. Reality suggests that I will never get one here. Finally...yes, finally...there is that Jesus character...the One I am supposed to love with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength! To be honest, I'm not sure if I'm ready to meet Him or not....after all, He knows everything I've been trying to hide from myself and others....but on the other hand, I trust that His way is the best way. To those who feel no need for such a relationship with a supernatural Being, I can understand why you prefer the known reality here vs an unknown other place.

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Chance as a real force is a myth. It has no basis in reality and no place in scientific inquiry. For science and philosophy to continue to advance in knowledge, chance must be demythologized once and for all. —RC Sproul
"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." —Mark Twain "
~"If that's not sufficient for you go soak your head."~Faith
You can "get answers" by watching the ducks. That doesn't mean the answers are coming from them.~Ringo

Because the bottom line is that in some ways I fear surrender. I like the old habits and addictions....its a daily choice to let go. Im also not 100% sure that I will like the changes He would cause in me....but this is a belief and a trust decision.....solid evidence is scarce.

I dont think its going to happen, Faith...though unlike tangle I leave open the possibility.Add By Edit:I understand you, however. You want the security and companionship of Jesus. You literally pine for it! You need it so bad! Like me, your hurt. Your body is worn out. Your life is boring apart from forum and blog communication with others.If nothing else, I hope that you get your ticket out. But don't do anything stupid and commit suicide or anything....quite likely we will be stuck here for a while. Keep trying to make friends with leftists and atheists....maybe God is waiting for you to fill up the bus before departure! Edited by Phat, : added

Not necessarily. I think that if belief were the criteria it would be graded on more than a simple creed or statement.

The honest ones are a work in progress, but the fact that many are shallow or in denial does not get them booted out of the club. Only God can be our final judge no matter what we believe or do, so I'll leave it at that.I can see where you, being an atheist, focus more on ourselves as being our judge and I have no problem with this philosophy and in fact adapt it to myself.I think what Faith is saying is that she believes that her behavior and actions wont sentence her.You are basically telling her not to minimize them nor ignore or dismiss them either. Right?

Perhaps it would be best to blame Pauls behavior on a spirit that haunts him rather than on PaulK himself. Is that not what "pray for our enemies" essentially means? Don't we believers want PaulK to also get freed up and also become a believer? Continually focusing on PaulK himself as an enemy is not our best strategy, perhaps.

She claims that you wont be punished, but I am essentially stepping in as a mediator and saying that all of us should be punished...according to Faiths own belief. Jesus protects those of us who accept the pardon.IF this is true, do you believe that it is fair for Jesus to only protect those who believe in Him or do you believe that we all should be judged by our works and behavior?

Matthew 25 is not the whole summation of the Bible.

One would think that they go hand in hand.Even though you are not a believer, surely you wouldn't reject a messiah if one showed up to do His thing while you were busy working....unless you wanted no such alien interaction without more evidence.What *would* you do if you found yourself being whisked away from your celestial home? Would it scare you? Anger you? Confuse you? One would think that the travelers would get briefed on what to expect.Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

Woah...wait, let me get this straight...global warming is a manmade hoax yet God directly controls the increasing intensity of the hurricanes? I usually disagree with the critics and agree with some prophetic warnings, but I agree that these obscure commentators on Christian radio are most definitely not the voice of warning...I can't believe that all of the scientific, evidence-based rational minds are wrong. Besides...Gods judgments occurred in the days before Jesus once and for all sacrifice which led to Gods forgiveness. Just because Percy and jar are not huddled around the Christian radio waiting for prophetic voices from on high does not necessarily mean that they are doomed, after all. I agree that it is a combination of belief plus works that lead to salvation from human error caused by Original sin, and I also attempt to imagine a God of forgiveness rather than one who simply waits for sins to accumulate like points on a game show before hurling thunderbolts, plagues, hurricanes, and earthquakes at His hapless human guinea pigs ...Percy actually makes some good points.And lets talk national judgment. What precisely would America have to do to avoid national judgment? They are all not going to start thinking the way that our conservative radio teachers believe....so I guess according to your belief judgment is ineveitable.

So in other words, guard your heart and mind against snake oil salesmen but keep your heart open while you stay busy doing your best for the least of these....right?