|
Register | Sign In |
|
QuickSearch
Summations Only | Thread ▼ Details |
Member (Idle past 6199 days) Posts: 3435 From: Edmonton Alberta Canada Joined: |
Thread Info
|
|
|
Author | Topic: The Meaning Of The Trinity | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phat Member Posts: 18690 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 4.5 |
ringo writes: Sez you. Many say otherwise. And surely you can't expect scientists to be able to go up to such a critter and slap a meter or measuring device on it. At best you could claim such a phenom to be a product of collective imagination, but to those who believe, the Holy Spirit serves His purpose. In fact, that is how people become believers. We believe, He responds, we receive. But He hasn't sent any comforter."A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain " *** “…far from science having buried God, not only do the results of science point towards his existence, but the scientific enterprise itself is validated by his existence.”- Dr.John Lennox “The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.” “The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” — Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ringo Member (Idle past 703 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined: |
Phat writes:
And you. You seem to be far from comfortable.
ringo writes:
Sez you. But He hasn't sent any comforter. Phat writes:
And many say St. Anthony comforts them. Anybody can say it.
Many say otherwise. Phat writes:
Why the hell not? It's a convenient fiction to claim that He "doesn't want to be detected". And surely you can't expect scientists to be able to go up to such a critter and slap a meter or measuring device on it. I could tell you that I have a million dollars in cash on my coffee table but you can't see it because it's specially made to be invisible to make it harder to steal. You wouldn't believe me, would you? You'd say you couldn't see it because it wasn't there.
Phat writes:
That's one of several possible explanations. It's certainly a better explanation than "he's real".
At best you could claim such a phenom to be a product of collective imagination... Phat writes:
Nobody's denying that. But to those who believe in Allah, he also serves his purpose. And to those who believe in every other god, they also serve their purposes. They're all the same.
... but to those who believe, the Holy Spirit serves His purpose. Phat writes:
More often than not, people "become" believers because they were taught from birth to be believers.
In fact, that is how people become believers. Phat writes:
Bullshit. A Muslim would say the same thing. Different gods, same "explanations'. We believe, He responds, we receive."I've been to Moose Jaw, now I can die." -- John Wing
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phat Member Posts: 18690 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 4.5 |
You know, Ringo I can almost foresee how your response to this post will play out.
I was talking with the minister at my Mom's memorial yesterday. He is a minister at the retirement community which Mom lived at for many years, and we were discussing belief and some of my conversions online at EvC Forum. Of course I realize that credentials mean nothing in the context of our points made in our arguments here. What I will say is that when I talk with other believers the conversations usually follow a common understanding.We believe because we are convinced. You claim to have "once been a believer" but I don't believe that you ever thought the way that believers think. You have been a skeptic from day 1. One big clue is how you argue the illogic of the 1+1+1 argument. To believers, it is patently obvious. To skeptics and unbelievers, it seems to also be blindingly obvious the other way. Rev Clavin has had a lot of experience talking with people and studying such questions and yet I was right on the page of what he believes. So now we are left with some questions. 1) Is there a "right" God? Is Jesus the only way that works or can one argue that any god will do? The short answer is that anyone could argue against Jesus being the only way and you continually do so. Since there is a spiritual conflict (which I see and believe) in the world, there never will be the obvious fact that there are not many gods. That argument is dead...you can have it. Though the only reason, I could see you believe it is that you like to argue. You really don't believe in any of them. In fact, you may argue that we humans simply make up the God we want. Your likely defense? See #2. 2) The Ringo/jar argument: Christianity is about what we do. The message. It has nothing necessarily to do with God being real. We cannot know. This is the roadblock I always end up at when debating you. More proof in my mind that you never were a believer. How is it so easy to "unbelieve"? In fact, it seems to me that both you and jar were critical thinkers first and church members second. And neither of you can allow yourselves to believe what most Christians teach (and do). You seemingly prefer the company of secular do-gooders who have a beer with you while unloading a food truck.This argument bothers me. Perhaps it should. ringo writes: This leads support to your idea that St.Anthony=Jesus=Leprechauns. Which is more evidence that you never were a believer.
many say St. Anthony comforts them. Anybody can say it. ringo writes: Convenient for whom? Ive never believed that.
It's a convenient fiction to claim that He "doesn't want to be detected". ringo writes: Why wouldn't I believe you? Perhaps because no sane person keeps a million dollars on their coffee table. But if it were in the bank, I would question you only because you claim to be lower on the economic totem pole than I am. And you are even proud of your position. Could it be that you gave away your house one spare change moment at a time? Is that why you support the idea that we ALL should give it all up? could tell you that I have a million dollars in cash on my coffee table but you can't see it because it's specially made to be invisible to make it harder to steal. You wouldn't believe me, would you? You'd say you couldn't see it because it wasn't there."A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain " *** “…far from science having buried God, not only do the results of science point towards his existence, but the scientific enterprise itself is validated by his existence.”- Dr.John Lennox “The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.” “The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” — Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
nwr Member Posts: 6487 From: Geneva, Illinois Joined: |
The Ringo/jar argument: Christianity is about what we do.
Why call that "the Ringo/jar argument". Why not call it "The Jesus Argument" -- it is what Jesus clearly taught.Fundamentalism - the anti-American, anti-Christian branch of American Christianity
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phat Member Posts: 18690 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 4.5 |
Except that Jesus never argued against God being real.
"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain " *** “…far from science having buried God, not only do the results of science point towards his existence, but the scientific enterprise itself is validated by his existence.”- Dr.John Lennox “The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.” “The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” — Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ringo Member (Idle past 703 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined:
|
Phat writes:
Well, you've been extremely bad at that in the past. You predict something, I explain how you're wrong and then you make the same prediction as if I had never said anything.
You know, Ringo I can almost foresee how your response to this post will play out. Phat writes:
See? There you go. You don't pay any attention to what I actually say. You believe what you want to believe, with no reference to reality.
You claim to have "once been a believer" but I don't believe that you ever thought the way that believers think. Phat writes:
And As I keep telling you, that's a good thing. Anybody who is not a skeptic is liable to become a Muslim, or a Hindu, or a Mormon, just because that's what he was always told.
You have been a skeptic from day 1. Phat writes:
That isn't true. Not all believers are Trinitarians - and not all Trinitarians would agree with your simple-minded "explanation"..
One big clue is how you argue the illogic of the 1+1+1 argument. To believers, it is patently obvious. Phat writes:
Cliff Clavin is your pastor? That explains a lot.
Rev Clavin.... Phat writes:
And you have no counter-argument. All you do is shout swear-words like, "Skeptic!" Why don't you ever stick to a discussion?
The short answer is that anyone could argue against Jesus being the only way and you continually do so. Phat writes:
On the contrary, "spiritual conflict" is drop-dead evidence that there are many gods. How could One God be in conflict?
Since there is a spiritual conflict (which I see and believe) in the world, there never will be the obvious fact that there are not many gods. Phat writes:
On the contrary, you have no counter-argument. You just keep running away from reality.
That argument is dead... Phat writes:
At least I understand my own arguments. When you present an argument, it's usually more right-wing politics than theology and you usually don't understand it anyway. Though the only reason, I could see you believe it is that you like to argue. You really don't believe in any of them. If you want to deride my arguments, for Christ's sake DISCUSS them. Don't just say, "Nuh uh," and run away.
Phat writes:
It isn't. Read my posts.
How is it so easy to "unbelieve"? Phat writes:
Again, that would be a good thing - if it was true. Children should be taught critical thinking before they are ever allowed to set foot in a church. In fact, it seems to me that both you and jar were critical thinkers first and church members second. But it isn't true. As I have said before, I was practically born in church. I could regurgitate Bible verses literally before I could read them. I was heavily indoctrinated in the crap you believe long before I ever heard of critical thinking.
Phat writes:
You don't know what most Christians teach. In Canada, most Christians are Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, etc. - whom you would curse as "liberals". Stop pretending that you're part of some majority. You're not.
And neither of you can allow yourselves to believe what most Christians teach (and do). Phat writes:
Why don't you read my posts? I have told you before that most of the people I know are Christians.
You seemingly prefer the company of secular do-gooders who have a beer with you while unloading a food truck. Phat writes:
Non sequitur.
This leads support to your idea that St.Anthony=Jesus=Leprechauns. Which is more evidence that you never were a believer. Phat writes:
For you. You've said it many times, haven't you? ringo writes:
Convenient for whom? Ive never believed that It's a convenient fiction to claim that He "doesn't want to be detected"."I've been to Moose Jaw, now I can die." -- John Wing
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ringo Member (Idle past 703 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined:
|
Phat writes:
But you reject what He taught. Except that Jesus never argued against God being real."I've been to Moose Jaw, now I can die." -- John Wing
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phat Member Posts: 18690 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 4.5 |
Rejecting Him....Rejecting what He taught....6 of 1 and a half dozen of another. You always. claim that I am nore anti Jesus than you are. this dead horse has been beaten enough.
I love and trust Jesus though I admittedly do not do everything He says. I am not alone in this behavior. And why you continually bring it up as an argumentative point puzzles me unless in so doing you mean to indict a larger group of Christians. is the reason you rejected Christianity at least partly to do with what you saw as hypocrisy? If so...pot meet kettle. Edited by Phat, : furthermore"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain " *** “…far from science having buried God, not only do the results of science point towards his existence, but the scientific enterprise itself is validated by his existence.”- Dr.John Lennox “The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.” “The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” — Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phat Member Posts: 18690 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 4.5 |
You predict something, I explain how you're wrong and then you make the same prediction as if I had never said anything. True. Im not ignoring you so much as I am reframing and rephrasing my argument. i dont look up everything you have said in the archives. Repitition happens. You don't pay any attention to what I actually say. You believe what you want to believe, with no reference to reality. Oh I try and understand you. To do that I attempt to engage you in dialogue."A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain " *** “…far from science having buried God, not only do the results of science point towards his existence, but the scientific enterprise itself is validated by his existence.”- Dr.John Lennox “The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.” “The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” — Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ringo Member (Idle past 703 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined: |
Phat writes:
As long as you keep denying Jesus, I'm going to keep calling you out on it.
You always. claim that I am nore anti Jesus than you are. this dead horse has been beaten enough. Phat writes:
You love and trust the "Jesus" that you made up. You continually deny the one in the Book, the only one any evidence exists for.
I love and trust Jesus.... Phat writes:
The behavior is common enough - but I don't think many professing Christians would reject the Bible as openly as you do, putting your own "experiences" above the "dusty old book".
I am not alone in this behavior. Phat writes:
As long as you keep denying Jesus, I keep pointing it out. What's puzzling about that?
And why you continually bring it up as an argumentative point puzzles me... Phat writes:
If the shoe fits, they can wear it. I'd like to think that some people would take rejecting Jesus more seriously than you do.
... unless in so doing you mean to indict a larger group of Christians. Phat writes:
I've answered that question for you before. Read my posts. is the reason you rejected Christianity at least partly to do with what you saw as hypocrisy? No, I don't have a particular problem with hypocrites. And I don't "reject" Christianity any more than you reject Mormonism. Do you reject Mormonism because Mormons are hypocrites?"I've been to Moose Jaw, now I can die." -- John Wing
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ringo Member (Idle past 703 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined: |
Phat writes:
But your phrasing is always the same.
Im not ignoring you so much as I am reframing and rephrasing my argument. Phat writes:
You have hundreds of posts from me that you never answered. And you're constantly grave-digging old threads and trying to start Great Debates with anybody who might conceivably agree with you, so you can't claim you don't have time. Oh I try and understand you. To do that I attempt to engage you in dialogue. And you repeatedly refuse to talk about apologetics. How is any of that attempting to engage me in dialogue?"I've been to Moose Jaw, now I can die." -- John Wing
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phat Member Posts: 18690 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 4.5 |
ringo writes: Explain why 1+1+1=1 makes no sense And you repeatedly refuse to talk about apologetics. How is any of that attempting to engage me in dialogue?Can you conceive of a Creator of all seen and unseen? Can you conceive. of such a Being imparting His character into a human? "A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain " *** “…far from science having buried God, not only do the results of science point towards his existence, but the scientific enterprise itself is validated by his existence.”- Dr.John Lennox “The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.” “The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” — Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tangle Member Posts: 9600 From: UK Joined: Member Rating: 5.8 |
Phat writes:
Ask any five year old. But really, why would anyone care? It's just an angels on pinhead issue, totally pointless.
Explain why 1+1+1=1 makes no sense Can you conceive of a Creator of all seen and unseen?
No. (Even disregarding the silly terminology.) The idea that a 'someone' has to be involved just because we think the way we do is juvenile.
Can you conceive of such a Being imparting His character into a human?
Given what we know of the human character, the concept is totally preposterous isn't it? It's just human hubris as usual.Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien. I am Mancunian. I am Brum. I am London.I am Finland. Soy Barcelona "Life, don't talk to me about life" - Marvin the Paranoid Android "Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ringo Member (Idle past 703 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined: |
Phat writes:
The onus is on you and your apologists to explain how it DOES make sense. The reason we use the mathematical analogy is because anybody who can count his own fingers can see that it's obviously false.
Explain why 1+1+1=1 makes no sense Phat writes:
Of course. Creator of all seen and unseen? Can you conceive. of such a Being imparting His character into a human? But that has nothing to do with any Trinity. Three and one at the same time is not possible."I've been to Moose Jaw, now I can die." -- John Wing
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phat Member Posts: 18690 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: Member Rating: 4.5 |
Three and one at the same time is not possible. First off, what defines possible? Second, can you see a Creator and His human character operating at once as Two(essentially becoming One?) Third, if the Creator of all seen and unseen so wanted, He could become all (pantheism) or infuse many sons and daughters (polytheism) and argue that either scenario is still Monotheism. Im speculating, but I still don't see your logic that 3 and 1 at the same time is impossible. With God ALL things are possible. I suppose that He could theoretically turn Ringo into a woman...or a bumblebee. What rules and guidelines would humans even be able to agree upon regarding the character and limits (f any) for God? I can hear you now...."science" you exclaim proudly."A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." ~Mark Twain " *** “…far from science having buried God, not only do the results of science point towards his existence, but the scientific enterprise itself is validated by his existence.”- Dr.John Lennox “The whole war between the atheist and the theist comes down to this: the atheist believes a 'what' created the universe; the theist believes a 'who' created the universe.” “The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of a doubt, what is laid before him.” — Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God is Within You
|
|
|
Do Nothing Button
Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved
Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2025