"So when Greg claims to have it all figured out..."
It's funny how you never fail to misrepresent my position when whining to others about me. You are a very shallow thinker if that's all you can do. The Christian Church is a very big circle who's borders are quite clear and have been established for centuries. The most basic proposition of Christianity (which is codified in the Creeds) is that God is: and that He has chosen to reach down to His Creatures to reveal Himself as the tri-personal Creator of everything. You don't even get to first base on that account, but go ahead and tell yourself whatever you need to.
This revelation comes in several ways. Creation itself is a revelation of God's power, and His personal nature.
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Rom 1:20)
God also speaks and is able to directly communicate with individuals. Some of that direct communication was written down and has become the bible. This revelation is not exhaustive but it is accurate and specific. So when you say: "your god is found in books", you are only partly right. Of course, you say it in a weak attempt to disparage what all Christians have always believed about the bible. That's the way you roll. I see that Solon is letting you alone on this. That's because you are doing a wonderful job of promoting Atheism even though you probably don't have a clue that's what's happening. You can believe in space men and be fine with the Dawkins crowd just as long as you never affirm the God that is revealed to us in the bible and in Jesus Christ.
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:14-)
Finally: God has revealed Himself to humans in the most direct and intimate way when the son took on the nature of a human in the incarnation. Here is what biblical scholars consider to be one of the very earliest of Creeds which was recorded by Paul.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 2 Pilippians 2:5-11 |
