Protestantism

» Brother_Jones - Excellent Question

In response to Excellent Question posted by pink101:

MY QUESTIONS.

What excellent question? You mean from whence do I have the ability to consider our nothingness... in contrast to the other animals? I have read little of Sartre and Camus because as you might have noticed, I am not drawn to the political side. But I took some interest in Kierkegaard early on because he wrote about the kind of Jesus that appeals to those who actually are numbered among the kind and gentle. He was reacting against a different spirit than we are today, when we have more than one institutional authority that drives us to pursue some common goal. He might have admitted to being undecided on the idea of Hell, but he was certainly strong on the idea of faith in God, albeit unproven except by experience.

If the heart is devoted to the mirage of the world, to the creature instead of the Creator, the disciple is lost...However urgently Jesus may call us, his call fails to find access to our hearts. Our hearts are closed, for they have already been given to another.

Bonhoeffer,The Cost of Discipleship, p99.

i am just an oldtimer for the Lord.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» EvilChihuahua - Cool heads on TV

In response to Cool heads on TV posted by Brother_Jones:

Since we are on the topic of Dawkins, I saw Dawkins the other night too, but he was on South Park in an episode that criticized Dawkins views on religion and what-not, entitled Go God Go.

I have to admit though that this is one of the funniest episodes they've put out, and I'm not just saying that because of my obvious disliking for Dawkins (I prefer his predecessor, Pro. Stephen Jay Gould who, unlike Dawkins, was more mature and knew what he was talking about most of the time). Not only does it show Dawkins engaging in sexual acts with Mr. Garrison (or rather Mrs. Garrison now) implying that he is unable to tell the difference between a woman and a man who's had an obvious sex change, but it questions an idea Dawkins brought up in his acclaimed fastasy novel, The God Delusion, that religion is a major cause of war whilst there would be less violence if more people became Atheists. In the episode, Dawkins and Mr. Garrison (after doing the horizontal monster mash) deside that together they can rid the world on religion and the violence it causes, meanwhile Cartman (the fat kid) freezes himself and awakens 500 years into the future where he finds the whole world have now become Atheists (thanks to Dawkins and Mr. Garrison). However, contrary to Dawkin's theory, there are 3 Atheist factions which are at war with each other, and the world is a much more violent place (and everyone uses curses such as "Oh my science!" "Science damn you!!!" and "Science help us!".

Dawkins did respond to this episode, but he was more concerned about the way the actor played him.

Of coarse, some Atheists were offended by the episode. A few of them I was talking to on another site laughed it off stating that we have to laugh at ourselves (I say the same thing when ever South Park attacks Christianity, because as we all know we do need to laugh at ourselves, otherwise we're not gonna enjoy life), while a few others went on a rant about how immature the show is and it's not fair to make fun of Atheists and all this crap, even though a few years back they commented on how great South Park was for attacking religion. They were also offended with an earlier episode in which the boys parents all become Atheists and, while ranting about the "religion right" and how it corrupts their kids, defecate (literally) out their mouths.

-- posted by EvilChihuahua

» Brother_Jones - Cool heads on TV

In response to Cool heads on TV posted by EvilChihuahua:

I saw Dawkins the other night too

Maybe I'll have to start watching South Park. But it is one of those habit that I think you are not supposed to admit to. The O'Reilly/ Dawkins deal was kinda a hoot, because Dawkins came off pretty displeased with religion but totally unlike the man who appears to want to set fire to Billy Graham. I think Dawkins is finally settling in to enjoying what he does more than trying to jump start a new movement.

i am just an oldtimer for the Lord.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» EvilChihuahua - Cool heads on TV

In response to Cool heads on TV posted by Brother_Jones:

I think we get O'Reilly Down Under. We have a few American news channels on cable here. I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the O'Reilly/Dawkins thing. I just can't stand listening to Dawkins ranting on about God knows what. He's kind of like the Atheists in South Park; ranting about religion while defecating out his own mouth.

I'll listen to someone criticize Christianity ONLY if they know what they are talking about. Someone like our very own Pink, or even Penn and Teller.

Maybe I'll have to start watching South Park

You'll be very surprised to see how moral this immoral show is. The thing is, while they are biased in the issues they raise, they tell it like it is. In fact Matt Stone and Trey Parker (the shows creators) seem to know more about the issues they bring up on the show then those who are involved in those issues. But be warned, the show pushes ever boundry of bad taste.:)

-- posted by EvilChihuahua

» pink101 - Excellent Question

In response to Excellent Question posted by Brother_Jones:
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You ask, What excellent Question?
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Here's your question plus one: Can you remember any particular event that shaped your understand of the afterlife? At what point did you give up on the idea that you would be with a loved one when you pass on?
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-- posted by pink101

» Brother_Jones - Excellent Question

In response to Excellent Question posted by pink101:

Still waiting on an answer as to why someone would choose to believe against Jesus that He has gone to another place to prepare that place for us. Jn 14:2.

i am just an oldtimer for the Lord.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» HeadZenCards - Excellent Question

In response to Excellent Question posted by Brother_Jones:

What a wonderful discussion!

Life is so great that if death is the end of it, so be it. If there is more, I choose not to have any preconceived notions about it.

The danger in having a preconceived notion about what happens after death is that you may end up being a slave to a slightly more powerful entity, in the same manner that a girl leaves China for a new life in Saudi Arabia only to find herself cleaning up and performing bizarre acts for her "benefactors".

Any all-loving, all-powerful entity would (IMHO) just gather up whatever is left of all of us, believer and nonbeliever, in a love embrace (and fire all of her guns at once and explode into space...).

There can be no proof of any of this. But as long as you keep what you think you believe flexible, you will be open and more able to respond to any situation.

The South Park episode with Dawkins was a hoot, and pointed to the dangers of building a cult around any particular theist or atheist.

The human reflex to overhype someone with good ideas can be recognized and positively responded to. The cult of personality can be seen for what it is and rejected, without fear of eternal punishment.

I have really enjoyed your posts lately, Brother Jones. I think all of my friends here have changed because of the positive interaction and association with each other.

-- posted by HeadZenCards

» pink101 - Excellent Question

In response to Excellent Question posted by HeadZenCards:
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The chances are that IF THERE IS A GOD as is proclaimed by so many religionists, then the existence we are in will be consistent of any existence that is to come in some other dimension.
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If one thing is true, it is that there are certain rules followed by nature. The fact that we have been fortunate enough to have been born into this experience of life is, in and of itself, evidence that luck or good fortune, plays an important part in whatever unfolds. That we have received this opportunity to experience life gives us reason to believe that if there is a creator, that creater would not create beings to dispose of us in an eternal hell of pain and misery.
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The Creator--then--is a Giver of pleasure. Anything less that pleasure is brought about by the altenative actions of human beings, that is, mans inhumanity toward man. Otherwise, we would be acting with the Creator to enhance life's experience for each and every person who is in this existence with us. The fairy tale stories of the pie in the sky world as it is portrayed by peddlars of the false hope of a bodily resurrection into a perfect example of this experience are just that--fairy tales.
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When we come face to face with that reality, we are in what some have referred to as an existential melt down--it can be horrifying. Falling backwards into black space as though it were a bottomless pit for ever and ever without end while all of existence laughs at your expense is hell in and of itself.
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How can we escape such a fate?
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With fairy tales?
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I don't think so.
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But, escape is possible.
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Stay with it, Brother Jones, it is YOUR QUESTION. And I am addressing it.
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-- posted by pink101

» Brother_Jones - Excellent Question

In response to Excellent Question posted by HeadZenCards:

Life is so great that if death is the end of it, so be it. If there is more, I choose not to have any preconceived notions about it.

Well, you can have some ready made thoughts about love and affection. Can't you? And whether love is an installed feature of all human beings.
When you see three or four men conversing, you can usually tell by the way they are holding themselves to each other, whether they actually know and respect one another. It fits a pattern. And then you can look a little deeper to see if they are laughing and enjoying themselves and there seems to be a real bond developing. Most folks can tell it within 5 minutes once they see a small group of men. And if by chance you stumble upon three or four men who truly love one another, it fits into a universal pattern of behavior, just like geese flying South.
You don't have to worry about those guys picking each other off when they see the first girl on the horizon. lol.

Where do you think we got this feature? Did we get it from the black hole of nothingness that went in the big bang in the past?

i am just an oldtimer for the Lord.

-- posted by Brother_Jones

» pink101 - Excellent Question

In response to Excellent Question posted by Brother_Jones:
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So, are you unable to stay with it, Brother Jones? Is it too much for you to handle?
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:)
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-- posted by pink101