To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose it?
- Zombocalypse
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To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose it?
What philosophical insight do you have that made you choose Christianity? Did you choose it just because it's the most popular religion? Did you choose it because it made the most sense to you?
Me, personally, I'm a Christian because of matters involving the heart. Back when I was an atheist, I valued intellect and rational thinking to guide me to the truth. I rejected Christianity and considered it a mere popular superstition. But things happened and things changed. I decided to simply listen to my heart, and my heart guided me to embracing the Holy Spirit. Thus, I became a Christian.
But what about you?
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
Zombocalypse wrote:To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose Christianity?
What philosophical insight do you have that made you choose Christianity? Did you choose it just because it's the most popular religion? Did you choose it because it made the most sense to you?
Me, personally, I'm a Christian because of matters involving the heart. Back when I was an atheist, I valued intellect and rational thinking to guide me to the truth. I rejected Christianity and considered it a mere popular superstition. But things happened and things changed. I decided to simply listen to my heart, and my heart guided me to embracing the Holy Spirit. Thus, I became a Christian.
But what about you?
That quote says it all. Christianity as I've grown to appreciate it supplies the intellectual cosmological depth I need, the emotional influence through its art and music as well as the physical support its rituals offer. Buddha was right to say that life is suffering. Christianity offers an objective means to profit from the inevitable while revealing human meaning and purpose. I don't know what else can be expected from an ancient perennial tradition?"The extreme greatness of Christianity lies in the fact that it does not seek a supernatural remedy for suffering but a supernatural use for it." ~ Simone Weil
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
-- Updated 2017 April 30th, 4:13 pm to add the following --
The strength of Christianity... is not a faith in the supernatural, is not a reliance on the supernatural for one's own well-being, but the strength of Christianity is a supernatural quote.
-- Updated 2017 April 30th, 4:14 pm to add the following --
sorry... double-quote or double-entry...
Spooky... I don't know how it happened.
I'm innocent. The Almighty made me do it.
- LuckyR
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
A secularist may want to appear righteous but a Christian doesn't. We know we are sinners and the wretched man as described by St/ Paul in Romans 7. What is there to be righteous about?LuckyR wrote:You guys do get that a follower of any religion (or nonreligion, for that matter), can substitute the name of their belief into your posts, and sound just as righteous, right?
-- Updated Wed May 03, 2017 9:48 pm to add the following --
A secularist may want to appear righteous but a Christian doesn't. We know we are sinners and the wretched man as described by St/ Paul in Romans 7. What is there to be righteous about?LuckyR wrote:You guys do get that a follower of any religion (or nonreligion, for that matter), can substitute the name of their belief into your posts, and sound just as righteous, right?
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
Speak for yourself. Oh wait, sorry, you already are. But seriously, I commend you on your non-self righteous stance but since everyone personally knows extremely self righteous religious folk (especially American Christians), your declaration is merely wishful thinking.Nick_A wrote:A secularist may want to appear righteous but a Christian doesn't. We know we are sinners and the wretched man as described by St/ Paul in Romans 7. What is there to be righteous about?LuckyR wrote:You guys do get that a follower of any religion (or nonreligion, for that matter), can substitute the name of their belief into your posts, and sound just as righteous, right?
-- Updated Wed May 03, 2017 9:48 pm to add the following --
A secularist may want to appear righteous but a Christian doesn't. We know we are sinners and the wretched man as described by St/ Paul in Romans 7. What is there to be righteous about?LuckyR wrote:You guys do get that a follower of any religion (or nonreligion, for that matter), can substitute the name of their belief into your posts, and sound just as righteous, right?
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
Who is more rightepus than a socialist who believes they are smarter than non socialists?LuckyR wrote:Speak for yourself. Oh wait, sorry, you already are. But seriously, I commend you on your non-self righteous stance but since everyone personally knows extremely self righteous religious folk (especially American Christians), your declaration is merely wishful thinking.Nick_A wrote: (Nested quote removed.)
A secularist may want to appear righteous but a Christian doesn't. We know we are sinners and the wretched man as described by St/ Paul in Romans 7. What is there to be righteous about?
-- Updated Wed May 03, 2017 9:48 pm to add the following --
(Nested quote removed.)
A secularist may want to appear righteous but a Christian doesn't. We know we are sinners and the wretched man as described by St/ Paul in Romans 7. What is there to be righteous about?
Can you imagine if I wrote:"The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism." - Karl Marx
I'd never hear the end of it. Progressives would be chasing me around with baseball bats. I'd be the poster boy for the demand for more money for indoctrination - no I mean education."The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to Christianity."Nick_A
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
A theist who believes himself to be more "rightepus"* than "secularists"Nick_A wrote:Who is more rightepus than a socialist who believes they are smarter than non socialists?
* the typo was perfect and worth keeping.
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
Asked and answered.Greta wrote:A theist who believes himself to be more "rightepus"* than "secularists"Nick_A wrote:Who is more rightepus than a socialist who believes they are smarter than non socialists?
* the typo was perfect and worth keeping.
Next...
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
Obviously you suffer from Typophobia. The term was coined in 1956 after Motimer Wadanobie made his famous typo. After listening to a speech on socialism. He wrote: "It all socks." of course he meant sucks but the experts got a hold of it and claimed socks refers to items of clothing that deny the direct experience of the feet. After that, people developed a fear of typos since they may attract experts leading to all sorts of trouble. You may be developing the beginnings of typophobial. If so good scotch eases the symptoms and gets you to think straight again.LuckyR wrote:Asked and answered.Greta wrote: (Nested quote removed.)
A theist who believes himself to be more "rightepus"* than "secularists"
* the typo was perfect and worth keeping.
Next...
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
A good scotch, or a cheap one for that matter, can remedy a number of things. I find it an effective mouthwash and gargle for mouth ulcers and it gives a wonderful shudder and spreading of warmth through your body on the way down.Nick_A wrote:If so good scotch eases the symptoms and gets you to think straight again.
So Nick, why did you choose Christianity over other faiths? Also, I'm guessing that you hold a Bible-based belief that does not subscribe to any particular Christian denomination. Is that right?
How do you feel about this Dalai Lama quote?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe2X95o4yIEAll major religious traditions carry basically the same message, the message of love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment, self-disciple - all religious traditions. So these are the common ground, the common practice. On that basis we can build genuine harmony on the basis of mutual respect, mutual learning, mutual admiration.
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
What is there to be righteous about? That you purportedly KNOW this, and the secularists are sub-righteous because they deny this.Nick_A wrote: A secularist may want to appear righteous but a Christian doesn't. We know we are sinners and the wretched man as described by St/ Paul in Romans 7. What is there to be righteous about?
You are righteous because righteous means "being right" and you are certainly displaying a proud and should I say haughty-sounding tradition by applying your purported truth as an (as the right) example to follow by all, even by those who diametrically oppose your view.
There is nothing non-righteous about being a sinner, if you ask me, when you present it the way you presented it.
-- Updated 2017 May 6th, 10:20 pm to add the following --
Oops. Tolerance is NOT part of any major religion or minor ones at that. The reversal of the lack of tolerance is forced upon religions by peace-loving national leaders.Dalai Lama wrote: All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, the message of love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment, self-disciple - all religious traditions. So these are the common ground, the common practice. On that basis we can build genuine harmony on the basis of mutual respect, mutual learning, mutual admiration.
Religion's once healthy functions include tribalism, and as such, tolerance is not tolerated.
I always thought the D.L. has been overrated much like Deepak Chopra. But sadly, Da Lama's main attraction and biggest source of credibility comes from the fact he is god, and not from his brain or opinions, if you examine them closely.
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
Well said. I knew you couldn’t be all badA good scotch, or a cheap one for that matter, can remedy a number of things. I find it an effective mouthwash and gargle for mouth ulcers and it gives a wonderful shudder and spreading of warmth through your body on the way down.
Since I was very young I’ve always had the need to understand why everything is and continues as an obvious absurdity. What is the meaning and purpose of this great universe that makes me feel less than a gnat and my purpose within it having nothing to do with the preachings of all sorts of experts around me. Esoteric Christianity has allowed me to appreciate the intellectual, emotional, and physical reasons why everything is as it is including all the contradictions. Once I learned how to read the New Testament, it made perfect sense.So Nick, why did you choose Christianity over other faiths? Also, I'm guessing that you hold a Bible-based belief that does not subscribe to any particular Christian denomination. Is that right?
An authentic tradition initiated by a conscious source will have both an exoteric and esoteric teaching. The exoteric is designed to influence human personality or the outer man through morals. It is like a peacekeeper and concerned with what you wrote.How do you feel about this Dalai Lama quote?
All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, the message of love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment, self-disciple - all religious traditions. So these are the common ground, the common practice. On that basis we can build genuine harmony on the basis of mutual respect, mutual learning, mutual admiration.
The esoteric part is designed for the inner man to grow consciously. It consists of practices including, physical, emotional, and intellectual exercises furthering this inner growth. The Dalai Lama is talking to the outer man. What he will say to the inner man will be said in private. The exoteric teaches what to DO. The esoteric teaching is concerned with what we ARE.
-- Updated Sat May 06, 2017 11:13 pm to add the following --
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The Oracle called Socrates wise since he admitted he knew nothing. I know that I am the wretched man. It has been verified through efforts to "know thyself." This doesn't make me righteous. it makes me a hypocrite.What is there to be righteous about? That you purportedly KNOW this, and the secularists are sub-righteous because they deny this.
All I do on this site is try to find people willing to discuss philosophy from square one which means we know nothing. Modern philosophy consists of people who believe they know a lot and want to argue opinions. I'd prefer to find those who have experienced that like Socrates they know nothing and willing to discuss why it is so. Those with this attitude learn from each other. Admitting we know nothing may be wise but it surely isn't righteous.You are righteous because righteous means "being right" and you are certainly displaying a proud and should I say haughty-sounding tradition by applying your purported truth as an (as the right) example to follow by all, even by those who diametrically oppose your view.
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
Interesting. Anyone can suppress their knowledge and life experience to address questions de novo. But if done perfectly, what is there to discuss? If we erase/suppress what makes us individuals (our accumulated experiences), then wouldn't we all be the same?Nick_A wrote:All I do on this site is try to find people willing to discuss philosophy from square one which means we know nothing. Modern philosophy consists of people who believe they know a lot and want to argue opinions. I'd prefer to find those who have experienced that like Socrates they know nothing and willing to discuss why it is so. Those with this attitude learn from each other. Admitting we know nothing may be wise but it surely isn't righteous.
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Re: To the Christians in here... Exactly WHY did you choose
We are all different but do not respect differences or appreciate their value. Have you ever seen a group of three year olds interacting? They are all different. Their essences are different. Socrates said to "know thyself" We don't know how so it is impossible to know another without first being able to "know thyself."LuckyR wrote:Interesting. Anyone can suppress their knowledge and life experience to address questions de novo. But if done perfectly, what is there to discuss? If we erase/suppress what makes us individuals (our accumulated experiences), then wouldn't we all be the same?Nick_A wrote:All I do on this site is try to find people willing to discuss philosophy from square one which means we know nothing. Modern philosophy consists of people who believe they know a lot and want to argue opinions. I'd prefer to find those who have experienced that like Socrates they know nothing and willing to discuss why it is so. Those with this attitude learn from each other. Admitting we know nothing may be wise but it surely isn't righteous.
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