yguy

No doubt the faith of Christ Himself couldn't withstand the onslaught of the searing, penetrating intellects on this board.

Godless Dave

Sorry, rules are rules and I have to enforce them consistently.

beth

Well, it looks like Geo really wants to get tempted into deconversion. I see him lurking in Gen. Religious Discussions. We atheists are too much of a temptation for the fundies, huh?

Eudaimonist

I have no idea what you mean by this. What are you saying?

GeoTheo

I will probably still post here. I always thought people who said goodbye to IIDB with some drawn out emotianal farewell and then came back were weinies. I think Galiel did it 3 or 4 times. Koyaniscotsi [sic] too.
Oh, well I guess I'm a weinie.

beth

Well, welcome back!

Amie

Hi GeoTheo
I am glad you are staying. I like your posts

you mentioned something in your OP questioning some people not believing in hell. I just don't believe that a loving, forgiving God would send his "children" to be tortured for eternity simply based on some transgressions that occured while using the free will that *he gave us*.

The concept of Hell is my greatest struggle biblically speaking...

GeoTheo

That's interesting that you would say that. I read your profile and we are within a few weeks of each other in age and have many of the same interests!
Well, I think that is a common sentiment. I think it says somthing about you as a person. You wouldn't send anybody to Hell and you probably figure God should be more loving than you so it doesn't seem to make sense. Here is my train of thought:
I have no scientific reason to believe in life after death. Having witnessed alzheimers disease take it's course in several close realitives, I have realized that what we think of as our "soul"/ persona/identity/personality is really just a function of our brain.
When our brain erodes away so does our soul. I see no reason to believe that our immaterial aspects survive death. I am also skeptical about "Astral projection". You know, the New Age people that claim to leave their bodies and float around and see stuff. If people could "see" without the use of their eyes It would be a handy back up device for blind people. But apparently blind people can't see with their souls, only their eyes.
The Bible doesn't teach about disembodied souls floating around though, It teaches that believers will be ressurected and given a new body. That seems more logical. But I have no scientific reason to believe in ressurections either. I can only take what the Bible has to say on the subject in faith. I have only revelation to go on. If I am going to go with the Biblical account on faith then what justification do I have to believe in the ressurection unto heaven for the just and reject ressurection unto damnation for the unjust? If I'm going to start picking and choosing I might as well throw away the whole thing.

Amie

yeah...I know GeoTheo I am a picker and chooser. I am so ashamed
Many of the things I believe in are based on some experiences I have had. None of it can be seen as anything scientific though, Its all subjective

on a lighter note though, I am glad we have some common interests! Thats always a positive

Opera Nut

yguy, what do you mean by "the faith of Jesus Christ"???
Jesus was a Jew and was called "Rabbi" which means "teacher" (just like "doctor" is teacher in Latin).

Christians ALWAYS say that if you were a Christian and lost faith then you were not a TRUE CHRISTIAN to begin with. Fallacious argument. I'll let somebody schooled in logic a bit better to explain it.

I have three college degrees, one of them is a doctorate, I have played two musical instruments quite well for decades and sing extremely well. I have many skills, such as sewing, typing, cooking, gardening, webpage making, painting, etc. Don't you dare cast aspersions on my intelligence!!!

I'm a law abiding citizen. So what's your problem??