What are the pros and cons of being a Believer?

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And if whatever inexplicable aspect of me which enables such a sense of being is wrong about Gods existance then it is wrong about everything else.

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That does not logically follow, iano.Surely, you believe that other people are wrong about the god or gods that they follow, no matter if they believe even more ardently annd surely than you do about yours.Does this mean, according to your logic, that those people are wrong about "everything else" and are left completely unable to function?

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Because I know God exists for all practical purposes

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No you don't.

Actually, he does. And so do I.

For all practical purposes?You can demonstrate the existence of God like I can demonstrate the existence of my mother?Fantastic!Show me.

I didn't say I could demonstrate anything. I simply said Iano knows it and I know it. Nothing else is implied.

You must have missed the discussion between iano and me when I used the phrase "for all practical purposes" to differentiate how he "knows" his mother exists and how he "knows" God exists.The methods he is using are different, but he refuses to admit that they are."For all practical purposes" means "I can demonstrate it such that any disinterested observer can observe it and come to the same conclusion".

I don't suppose I accept that definition. Why should I? Nobody claims to be able to demonstrate God. He's demonstrated Himself as far as that goes anyway. But then you are right, I didn't really follow that part of the discussion.

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Nobody claims to be able to demonstrate God.

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Sure they do, all the time.Many believers claim to speak for God, to know God's mind, to understand God's desires and message, and to know and follow the "One True Faith" (tm). They claim that certain events, visions and prophecies demonstrate the existence of God.

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He's demonstrated Himself as far as that goes anyway.

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Not according to my "for all practical purposes" definition, which is the definition that everyone in the world uses for nearly all interaction with anything.It's what you are using right now, reading the computer screen, touching the keyboard, sitting on a chair, enclosed in a room.

I guess I haven't been following the argument and shouldn't have entered into it, sorry.

Living one's live within the teachings of Jesus brings a sense of wonder to my life. Is there a price to living a life following the teachings of the bible? Most assuredly yes. People who are not in tune with the spiritual aspects of life will constantly attempt to draw your attention away from your goal of living your life in harmony with His teachings. The Devil is constantly trying you with temptations, watching television is a study of immorality. But, that is for another discussion.
However, I am finding, at least in my life, an acceptance of my religous views by non-believers. I am discovering that if you live live as Jesus did, non-judgemental, with love and respect in your heart people will respond to your message of love and faith in a very positive manner.

Could you live within the teachings of Jesus if he were just a man and not divine? I would see his teachings as pretty reasonable and can see a lot of good that could come from following his example.Do people need that message to be backed up by mystcial forces?

I agree here totally and await Iano's response to the self same question I have already put to him.

Hi Larni,For reasons explained elsewhere, the time has come for me to finish up at EvC so I won't be able to take further part in this discussion. If I may presume to have a last word on this I would reiterate something I said a couple of posts ago.If whatever aspect of me which enables knowing (whilst not being able to prove) that there is an objective reality, is wrong about Gods existance then it cannot be trusted to inform me accurately about anything else. I am as sure of Gods existance as I am of my own. If he doesn't exist then neither do I. That's all I mean by "I know"God blessIanThis message has been edited by iano, 03-Mar-2006 01:13 PM

If you do not claim to be able to demonstrate God, then why do you claim that "God says" or claim the 'KIND' is the word God used?

Sorry to see you go Iano, despite my tone sometimes I have enjoyed our dialogue.A different perspective is always good to experience, thanks for yours.