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Author Topic:   What is the Meaning of John 3:16?
ringo
Member (Idle past 402 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 95 of 156 (382167)
02-03-2007 3:36 PM
Reply to: Message 94 by anastasia
02-03-2007 2:46 PM


Re: Physical Discipline trumps Mental Discipline
anastasia writes:
What is important is what happens to those who do not believe, and why John would even worry about heaven at all if we all wre going there.
Can you say, "Empty threat"?
Some people respond to the stick more than the carrot. The fact that the stick is there doesn't mean it ever has to be used.
... you should be having just as much fun reading any other human book about God.
I like Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine too.

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This message is a reply to:
 Message 94 by anastasia, posted 02-03-2007 2:46 PM anastasia has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 96 by anastasia, posted 02-03-2007 5:59 PM ringo has replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 402 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 98 of 156 (382205)
02-03-2007 7:23 PM
Reply to: Message 96 by anastasia
02-03-2007 5:59 PM


anastasia writes:
... the water-and-moonstone Gospel of Inclusion.
Don't know what that means.
We are perfect, going along just fine. No need for stick, carrot, or evangelist.
Did you forget your smilie?
If not, I agree with you, but the writers of the Bible might not have.

Help scientific research in your spare time. No cost. No obligation.
Join the World Community Grid with Team EvC

This message is a reply to:
 Message 96 by anastasia, posted 02-03-2007 5:59 PM anastasia has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 99 by anastasia, posted 02-03-2007 10:14 PM ringo has replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 402 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 100 of 156 (382265)
02-03-2007 11:03 PM
Reply to: Message 99 by anastasia
02-03-2007 10:14 PM


anastasia writes:
Did you forget your smilie?
Yes. I needed it to explain 'water and moonstone' which was just a joke about 'fire and brimstone'.
Ah. I probably wouldn't have gotten it anyway. My sense of humour isn't very subtle.

Help scientific research in your spare time. No cost. No obligation.
Join the World Community Grid with Team EvC

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ringo
Member (Idle past 402 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 143 of 156 (822346)
10-23-2017 12:06 PM
Reply to: Message 140 by Phat
10-23-2017 9:39 AM


Re: Born Again Dogma
Phat writes:
Of course, I was supposedly born again, and the reason that the dogma has value to me is that I actually recall being changed nearly instantaneously. Perhaps there is another explanation for what actually happened to me.
Recollections are notoriously unreliable. I can clearly recall the first school I (supposedly) went to, though it was demolished when I was two. I have no recollection at all of the actual first school I went to.
"Born again" is a phrase that has been co-opted by (some) Christians but it's a pretty common concept: "I feel like a new man," "It changed my life," etc. Life-changing moments are a dime a dozen.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 140 by Phat, posted 10-23-2017 9:39 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 144 by Phat, posted 10-24-2017 10:36 AM ringo has replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 402 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 146 of 156 (822406)
10-24-2017 11:43 AM
Reply to: Message 144 by Phat
10-24-2017 10:36 AM


Re: Born Again Dogma
Phat writes:
I was taught that though it is a one-time decision, it is a daily recommitment.
I think that attitude is part of the problem. Doing the right thing shouldn't be a "decision" or a "commitment". It should be a way of life.
You shouldn't have to "decide" not to hurt people. It should come naturally. And it does - but unfortunately some branches of Christianity emphasize "separateness" and try to train the innate goodness out of you.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 144 by Phat, posted 10-24-2017 10:36 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 148 by Phat, posted 10-25-2017 10:27 AM ringo has replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 402 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 150 of 156 (822465)
10-25-2017 3:19 PM
Reply to: Message 148 by Phat
10-25-2017 10:27 AM


Re: Comfort The Afflicted
Phat writes:
I'm more inclined to help out a customer who is a buck or so short on their order so that they won't have to put any food back.
That way of helping is as valid as any other. You're lucky to have the opportunity.
Phat writes:
Perhaps the homeless guys are different in your town...they certainly don't strike any chord of sympathy with me.
Maybe you haven't been close enough to homeless yourself.
Phat writes:
Some of them we know even steal from our store.
I know for a fact that people have lied to me: One fellow asked me for bus fare and I didn't have any change; a minute later he got on a bus right in front of me and paid his fare. Maybe the customer that you help out is laughing all the way to his Cadillac too.
If they lie or steal, that's on them. If you refuse to help, if you feel no compassion, that's on you.

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 Message 148 by Phat, posted 10-25-2017 10:27 AM Phat has not replied

  
ringo
Member (Idle past 402 days)
Posts: 20940
From: frozen wasteland
Joined: 03-23-2005


Message 155 of 156 (822556)
10-27-2017 12:14 PM
Reply to: Message 154 by Phat
10-26-2017 5:53 PM


Re: If Jesus has an issue, I'll Hear About It
Phat writes:
I don't believe in simply throwing money at social issues with no thought as to how it might be best spent.
That's the oldest excuse in the book - deciding what's "best" for people while they go hungry. Teach a man to fish and watch his children starve until he graduates from fishing school.
Phat writes:
If Jesus has an issue with that, I certainly will hear from Him at some point.
You've already heard from Jesus. He said, "Ask and ye shall receive," not, "Ask and we'll see what the committee decides."

This message is a reply to:
 Message 154 by Phat, posted 10-26-2017 5:53 PM Phat has seen this message but not replied

  
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