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Post by metalikhan on Feb 16, 2009 11:27:13 GMT -5
Alas, all good worm cans must come to an end.
I don't feel you have anything to apologize for. The topic is an important one that all believers should be aware of; but you're right in that it's unresolvable and potentially divisive.
So, allow me to thank you for raising the subject and to the others posting here for giving me additional thoughts about it to ponder.
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Post by dizzyjam on Feb 16, 2009 11:55:28 GMT -5
Personally, I think that although this does have the potential to be divisive, everyone on here is being very polite and gracious in how they write (I hope people have felt the same about how I wrote my post) and as long as people are doing that, it would be interesting to see what else people would have to say. Nevertheless, I understand where you're coming from Jeff, so if you got to lock it, you got to lock it. I just hope you leave it up for people to read so that the thoughts presented by everyone on here helps others out in their thought processes concerning this. I found it to be quite educational and thought provoking.
Oh, and Seraphim, I agree that I don't really buy into what this guy is trying to say with it all. I thought I had made that clear with my last post, but what I meant by convincing was the way he described it. If one either doesn't have faith, or isn't grounded in their faith, then what he has to say about the blending of everything can be very convincing. In either case, I thought his usage of scripture and the points he makes about the Hebrew language and how the translators interpreted things centuries after the original text had been written were interesting and would certainly explain a few things. And I'm not sure if you read the story or went straight to the main page of the site. I listed the main page so you would know what part was the main page, but the part I really was wanting people to check out was "The Story" and all it describes. Anyway, it's just an interesting site I came across once that I thought would add an interesting twist to the discussion.
No matter if it did or didn't, I think the initial point that Jeff brought up is quite fascinating and the conversation has been great. Sorry to see it end, but if it must, it must.
Be encouraged,
David
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Post by J Jack on Feb 17, 2009 0:56:08 GMT -5
"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." Matthew 10-14, Parable of the Lost Sheep
A final thought for you all, is it not better to find the one lost than the one who doesn't believe? Don't reply to this, I just wanted to bring my little two cents forward for you to think about.
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Post by Jeff Gerke on Feb 17, 2009 8:34:46 GMT -5
Great discussion, you guys. I must say, I'm overwhelmed by how mature and kind you all have been. This could've gone very badly, I think, but not with you guys.
I've decided not to lock the thread for now. If others would like to say something, you can go ahead. I'm thinking it will go dormant pretty quickly on its own. And I can always lock it later if I need to.
In all my years of frequenting forums I can honestly say that this one is the most wonderful of them all. That might sound like I'm praising myself (since I launched The Anomaly), but that's not what I mean at all. You guys reflect the very best of what I love about being a Christian and loving speculative fiction.
Jeff
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Post by dizzyjam on Feb 18, 2009 10:30:12 GMT -5
Hi,
I'm posting today to clear something up. Apparently something I said was misunderstood by someone that was reading one of my previous comments. I was contacted privately about this and I'm posting here publicly so that no one will misunderstand what I meant.
The quote I was pointed out:
"As far as Buddhism, Hinduism and all those other "isms" (Oops, Catholicism anyone? Yikes!), the thing is how much did God talk with the original person who started these beliefs and how much was added on later? Or did God even talk with them at all?"
The person thought I was considering Catholicism equal to Buddhism and Hinduism in cult status and was concerned I didn't think Catholics were Christians.
Actually, I just thought of how it ended in "ism" just like the other two I had mentioned. I added the "Yikes!" on there to indicate I was joking about it. It wasn't meant to offend anyone. I joke about denominations and church stuff all the time and have had Catholic friends over the years I've considered brethren. I could have just as easily said "Pentecostalism" instead had it come to my mind at the time. Sorry for any offense, I hope this clears it up.
Be encouraged,
David
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Post by Jeff Gerke on Feb 18, 2009 16:55:20 GMT -5
Great note, David; thank you.
Jeff
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