lets talk about god

Watch out! Looks like you're starting to argue with yourself.

 

You're right and I appreciate it. Self denial is the improper use of denial. I just grow weary of the suspicion. I don't cotton posers any better than you. Does it ring deep? You decide, I speak sincerely from the abundance of my heart.

 

Is denial ever proper?

 

Denial of pleasure to attain closeness with God? you know, Asceticism...

 

It depends on what you are denying yourself. Why and what for?

Denial of pleasure in of it's self does not bring one closer to God.

For example, if you have a favorite TV show and you deny yourself the pleasure of watching it, that in of it's self does not bring you closer to God but if you said to your self; I need to do more Bible study and I could buy out the time to do it by not watching my TV show, then the denial of the pleasure of watching the TV show will not draw you closer to God but the increased Bible study that you do instead does.

 

Yes, the denial of evil.

 

who is he? there are many answers to this question, maybe "God" is a collective term for actions and thoughts deemed moral. Another idea is that "God" is a fear tactic used to control the masses. A lot of it depends upon the religion you are following. God is an answer for people who need to have faith in something. God is whatever power is higher than you. God is something that most Christians will shove down your throat every chance they get. God is discrimination (at least at the church I was forced to go to). God is the facade the people will use to make themselves feel better about themselves, at your expense. I could give you all the theological answers, but I thought I would give you the answers I observed myself. 18 years of being forced to go to Church, this is what I have learned.

 

^^^
I so agree with this though I could never have put it so succinctly. Rarely do I make comment, or get involved in religious discussion as I find someone will always say those inevitable words, 'as a Christian', and in that instance they lose me forever.

Good luck with your medical studies HippyLandscaper!

 

Well... As a Christian, I think...... we should all eat Pumpkin pie and be merry.

 

As Christ we endow all things with equal grace.

 

Okay, I'm going to disagree with this one, as Christians there are some things we should not be endowing with grace.

 

All things God has given are truly given. My brother, grace is yours to endow upon the world.
Repent for the Kingdom of heaven at hand, means that it is within our grasp. What is loosed on earth is also loosed in heaven.

 

Everyone take a slice.

 

mmm!

 

Thanx! Is there enough for another piece?

 

It'll cost ya

 

What's the freight?

 

:drool5: Can I get some more whipped cream on it?

 

If not where did all this Hell business originate from?[/QUOTE]


First, nothing in the bible is about individuals but the common experiences of men. It is not flesh and blood with which we contend but principalities and powers. These are the hierarchical perceptions of men. This man is good, that man is bad, he is higher, that one is lower, that everyone one is contending and looking for proper authority.
If you notice in the bible there are several points of departure. In Genesis there are two distinct creation stories, one you could call Gods' take, and the next is mans. God saw that man needed a companion and caused him to fall asleep. This actually means that man started to dream that he was alone and fell asleep to the reality he was in. You notice the story does not mention him waking up. In Gods' take, man was created together with woman and they were of like kind.
At any rate it is from this state of sleep, the dream of separation that a new kind of man, subservient temptress woman emerges and here begins the battle for control, or the search for proper authority. Much of the remaining old testament deals with the development of cultural standards , judiciary, sciences, and art sprinkled throughout with confrontations of authority. Geno-logic records help apportion inheritances, responsibilities, areas of influence, divisions of property and the like. We see in Leviticus for example, developments in hygienic practice. There is a metaphoric description of the human sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in the story of Cain and Able. All through are prophets or men who have woken up enough to see that many things have been forgotten and warn of the peril that this entails. None of this is other worldly stuff. There are remaining points of departure, the gospels, acts, and revelations. I cannot comment specifically on King James. If I did not address your question specifically, I hope this can help with the general line of questioning.