That is the very point.To start doing positive things, a lot of people need to believe in something besides so called material progress.
Personally, I can't see how spiritual progress can be made without belief, and open mindedness to what cannot be proven. "you have to be like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven" JC
Only a basic faith that there is a benign higher power is necessary. Developed beliefs often just clog the mind and prevent a true opening inside.
If one has just basic faith, I don't deny that they could be great just by that, or at least that foundation is not a bad start, yet of course, it all depends on the intention and disposition of the individual himself. I'm almost ready to subscribe to the belief that you are either a righteous person or you're not, and no ammount of instruction can change you. Can you turn a DONKEY INTO A LION?. For instance, men that dedicate their lives to a church, and then suddenly become child-rapist, and yet others exploit the faith of the sheep by instilling guilt and charging money, or even worst... shamelessly charging money for grace. But the question arises: Were they good at any time? There are many wolves in sheeps clothing according to Jesus-- and he should know, he was crucified by them.
A very pessimistic view of humanity. No need to ask which category you'd put yourself in. 'Instruction' never changed anyone. Change has to come from within. Just goes to show the ineffective nature of a great deal of religion. Obviously a person like that was never really touched inside by anything, but just going through the motions. You can't charge money for 'grace' - it can't be bought or sold.
If instruction never changed anyone then why even go to school? I think you are either a sheep or a wolf, no need to ask what category you'd put yourself in.
Actually I'm neither sheep nor wolf - I am human. Humans have good and bad traits. I have good and bad traits. A sensible person develops the good. Schools are there to educate people. An person with bad intentions can be educated to just as high a standard as a philanthropist.
"Sheep" and "wolf" are terms used to symbolise kinds of people, like con-artists, deceivers, exploiters, religious hipocrites, demoniac men, abusers of self, lost souls, criminals, and the opposite of all that..the inocent, obedient, believers in the impossible, devoted, simple, pure, spiritual. I can safely assume that since you are here typing and discussing these subjects that you are not a low iq quadruped. Jesus wasn't talking about animals, but about hearts. Schools for me are like doctors, yes they are here to do great things, however, the very corruption coming from greed, leads to neglecting higher principles, and that leads to deception and rebellion against God's established principles; and he philantrophic principles and ideals are slowly abandoned for yet higher goals.... like golf for instance.
Are humans symbols? Are monkeys symbols? There have been cases of babies born all-covered with hair, and and even monkey's features. Did you know that for a long time the Gorilla was considered a "myth"? "yeah right, a big big monkey larger than a man".
Ok so Ram's army weren't monkeys but hairy humans - the thing would still not be literally true. If humans and monkeys aren't symbols, then why should wolves and sheep be?
We label things then get confused with labels. A potato chip, french fries, home fries as well as mash potatoes, are simply potatoe. Give up this obsession with exactness, and realise that you don't know 1% of a million% of what exists out there, and be done with it. The universe is larger than any mind. "Blessed you are because you have seen and believed, but more blessed you are if you believe without having seen". JC
Gosh, thanks for the advice! However, I don't think there is any limit on our potential for knowledge. We know a great deal more now than we did even 50 years ago. Part of the reason we know more is precisely because of exact sciences. Anyway, I'm getting extrememly bored with this, so I'll leave you to your medievalism.
Who mentioned limits? My only point is the inmense of potentialities that we are, that God is, that the universe is, and how we only cheat ourselves of our rewards, and even potential, when we don't believe what can be done. It doesn't stop everyone though; if anything...the history of even this insignificant planet has shown is that those who dream big do not listen to those who say "It can't be done" "no, it will never fly" But now that we have seen what can be done in all possible departmentss, like technology and sciences, we say "It does not exist, and it can't exist" in the area of the unknown. But that only goes on till something happens to prove that it is possible for that to exist, and again the skeptics are proven wrong, but amazingly, their minds remains closed.(strange bunch they are) The skeptics are the last ones to believe, because they believe only their eyes;indeed, they can't think, analize, speculate, conjecture, wonder, or dream. Even material inventions were created because of dreamers, not because of those who say "it can't be done", "it cannot possibly exist". Yes, it was the dreamers and open-minded believers that are at the forefront of the evolution in every planet...the skeptics are only there to inspire them to greater glories when they utter the skeptics slogan "no, it's not possible", and they (inventors) say "I can prove you wrong" (by pusihing the envelope of discoveries and inventions) . And this seems to be the best note in which to end this.
Wiki states skepticism as, A true skeptic should therefore suspend judgement not make judgement. It does not seem to fit with, These are close minded people, not skeptics imo.
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts. Right. We should be full of doubts. Doubts is what makes us wise. Only fools believe something because: some one important says it, it's in the bible, everyone else believes that already, it's the popular opinion, there may punishmnet if I don't one theory is as good as another.
