"That does not make it a reality" - 'nuf said.
For Norse Vikings Odin was a reality, as was Asgard. Of course the world was also flat until 1492. And at that time that was reality. You can delude yourself however you will. (And I'm not saying that YOU specifically are deluding yourself, just pointing out that reality is subjective even if you are an Isrealite).
Jehovah fought how? When he could have just made them cease to exist he instead used nature to cause damage. Victories were acredited to Him by the Isrealites. Are the naturalist correct then? Because almost every account in the Bible (discounting the parting of the red sea which has been greatly disputed - ie some say they went around, some say there was an odd lowering caused by the moon etc...) where God interceaded it is clear to the REALITY of now that Natural forces were given divine countenance.
As far as triumphing over your enemies - this has ALWAYS been credited to a God, especially when the numbers don't add up or the odds were stacked against the winner. I have never heard of a battle where the winner said, "YEA! It was us, all us." In almost every battle in history man has given Proper homage to God. But what necessarily makes the Isrealites "reality" more real? Because they wrote it down? The I guess we all should be following the Chinese Gods because they were written down first.
Now, as for the actions of Jehovah versus the actions of man: I do not confuse the two, and that is my point. Discern what is Biblical hogwash and what is the Message/Word and you will be better able to live as Jehovah intended. Do not assume that since all is written all is true. Also do not believe it is all that was ever written, because that is truly foolish.
As far as changing the message - what message has changed in the Church? "Love one another as I have loved you?" No, that's still there. "Give a gift in love"(as opposed to have a full flung pagan orgy) may not have ever been said verbatum, but is it not the intention of Jehovah to love us and for us to love each other? Remember the Lord your God and Celebrating the birth/rebirth of Jesus is what Easter & Christmas are about, regardless of why you may think we celebrate them, or why we celebrate them when we do.
Let me ask you a spiritual question - is it ok to "trick" people into seeing the love of God so that they may then come to Him freely? We are not God, we have the free will to choose to save souls by any means necessary. We can not all be Bible thumpers (as I like to call it). There are a lot of people who are not reached by this approach but are by the ways in which the Catholic Church has acted and continues to change and behave. If, once tricked, they know they have been tricked, but because they now know God, are willing to forgive the trickery is it OK?
Is the imortality of the soul a false teaching? You kind of lost me there. If not to save your soul why did Jesus die for our SIN?
The trinity is a Faith matter that many who are even Catholic have trouble believing. But I am not one of them. Please illuminate me on how this is a False teaching, and if it is, why it matters one wit to God?
Hell fire, well... This was often used to scare little children in "the olden days". But it is a reality which you have already mentioned and quoted. While the Catholic Church obviously overused this feature of the Bible to impart upon its converts the reality of SIN, I don't think that teaching about it is necessarily FALSE.
-EVENTS-
Let's take for example the Flood. Did it cover the WHOLE world, or just the WHOLE KNOWN world? If it covered the WHOLE world, how do you explain native americans as decendants of Moses? I believe it covered the WHOLE KNOWN World at the time. Primarily because other Nations (Chinese and Native Americans (N & S)) make no mention in any of their history of ever being flooded.
But see, this belief does not pose any problem for my faith. The basic fact that God wrought a great flood upon the Known World is still a show of his power. The message still comes through. Which is the way the WRITERS of the Bible INTENDED it.
God's Kingdom is all of creation. Period. He made it all and guess what, He owns it all. I may have been refering to God's Kingdom in Heaven, which He also "owns".
To answer your question: Yes, Satan definately exists and is in our world presently. Do I believe he's a little red fellow with horns, NO! Do I believe he's a serpent, no. I believe a bit of the anti-serpentism in the Bible has to do with Irealites conflicting with the Church of Sett/Seth/however you want to spell it. I do believe that evil is present in our world and not necessarily due to Human influence, just as I believe good exists free from humans' influence.
ps. Why believe in God if you don't have a weaker antithesis? What would be the point? You might as well be a humanist at that point. And that could be a very lonely life. You'd have to start to believe in reincarnation just so you could justify your life's existance. But then you could still be a decent human being. (and who knows, maybe they ARE right... its a matter of Faith).
;)... when did you stop using drugs was what I was going to ask you, but I just figured that would irritate you, and since we're having such a good in depth discussion I really don't intend to irritate you so I'll knock off the ganga cracks (pun intended LOL).
pps. think once we find out what our common ground is we might start talking about UFO's and/or Nephilim? you never have stated what religion you are(that I could find)... |
