Why can’t God make it easy on us and just show himself? Funny how as soon as we developed the technology to record His visits, He stops making those obvious appearances He used to back in the good old days. Now He only appears on pieces of burnt toast and other unprovable methods.
Science is man’s pursuit of God’s mysteries…so the answer is yes.
Based on your study of Hebrew?
Shrug. My take: I would say that a person must really, Really, REALLY want it so he understands what he is getting into and the consequences. God doesn’t wish Himself on anyone, and there is a good reason for that. If you think nicotine and cocaine are addictive, try an encounter with God.
Exactly, and I personally think the fear of death/ the reward of an afterlife is the main reason religions were made up in the first place.
Until he evidence for the existence of God is more substantive than the existence of Santa Clause, Zeus, Thor, Ra, or any other mystical being, I’m not buying it.
That being said, I hope you enjoy your religion and get what you need out of it.
Ta ta. Nice talking with you.
What is he getting into and what consequences?
I am blessed beyond measure. Thanks!
I can also epyt sdrawkcab.
John Chapter 3:
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Have you studied ancient Greek or Arabic? If not you’ve probably been misinterpreting Zeus and Muhammad all your life. What about ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics?
It most certainly is and if you go back far enough, it was the fear of nature more generally. Western religion grew out of pagan / fertility religions where the Gods were natural forces - praying for rain etc. Interesting theory is that we evolved to personify natural forces because we evolved to be aware of predatory indicators - ex: a bush moving around may indicate an animal. Well, a big thunder crack in the sky and pouring rain may also be some being- and we better not upset it otherwise we cant grow food and we will die.
Can you think of a religion that doesn’t promise an escape from death if people join the club?
A lot of them even threaten us with eternal torture if we don’t join their club as well, but the promise of a cool existence after death seems to be the biggest draw.
Besides some Jews (which I mentioned before), some neo-paganists.
Hardly anybody follows these religions/sect.
Kinda proves my point, doesn’t it?
Well, it does make me snicker.
You atheists fall for anything!
That is funny.
I think so. However, keep in mind I have atheists in my own family and married an atheist from a mostly atheist family. I find they are an entirely different breed from those who post in religion forums. While all have no belief in God, they have interesting views about the afterlife. These are: No afterlife, reincarnation, to something comparable to evaporation. Just as all forms of liquid are evaporated, collected, and then return to earth in several different forms, they hypothesize spirits are collected in the same way, mixed together, then return in combination with what were once other spirits.
Just as not all people of faith have the same view of an afterlife, nor do all atheists. The atheists I know best simply rule out heaven, hell, purgatory as that seems to require God–but not all rule out the same type of recycling that goes on with water and matter.
You think people of faith and atheists are quite different. Actually, we are much the same.
You never ask atheists here about their views on the afterlife.
That’s probably because they havent studied Hebrew enough
Why does any faith have to relate strictly to threats of a doomed afterlife?
Religion, Latin for rituals, is a guidebook for how to live here on earth.
Then why all the miracles and mythology and talk of afterlife?