what do you think of the bible? do you believe in it, or do you think that some of the thigs there are ludacris??

That is a very good question and I wish I had an answer but I dont and I wont even try. I used to feel the same way you do right now, meaning that I was raised christian but I chose not to accept it. Instead now I just educate on what I do know and visit several churches rather than just one denomination. Besides if I limit my self then I will truly never learn about humility and understanding.

Thanks for that, seriously, I appreciate the non-threatening and engaging post Dumars. No point fighting, I think we realize that.

But all I'm trying to do is lead horses to the water too. Get people to question the beliefs that to me seem irrational...or if not to question them than to at least explain them to me. I guess no one has ever really satisfactorily explained their belief to me, so I just don't get. I mean, if you weren't raised Christian (or had some event in your life that drove you to the church) you would probably think the whole thing sounded silly...try to think of it from that perspective. I was raised Christian, but it still seems silly to me. I just can't understand why people feel compelled to have faith in something greater than themselves. Human being are incredible, with their ability to think and reason and conjecture and wonder...why can't people just accept evolution, which seems so obvious as an explanation? Why do we always have to have something bigger? Why can't we just take the life we have and use it in whatever way makes us happy (within reasonable moral boundaries) without having to find a god to make it tolerable?

Ok brooke35 I understand where you are coming from but I just want to make one thing clear christians do not pledge belief in the bible, its not a popularity contest being a christian. It is a way of life for christians, The bible is a tool or guide in this case but it is not god. But gods word. Christians use the bible to help themselves when they need guidance, not to take place of god but to more along the lines of accent him. I dont see anything wrong with having good morals or even evolved christian standards. But we are just like every other person on this planet, we bleed, we cry, we even worry about people 3000 miles away just like non christians. The gace that god has shown us as christians is that we are to love one another no matter what and in return we feel convicted to help others and win them for god. I know some of us are a little over zelous but what we believe in states very clearly what we are to do and because we ask some non christians about there interpretation of the bible doesnt mean we are wanting to convert you, what we are doing is trying to guide you just like god guided us. Everyone knows the old saying you can lead a horse to water but you cant make him drink, and that is exactly what we are trying to do is lead people to what we believe is right, but in the end it is all up to the person. That is why god gave us all the ability to choose our actions in life.

If you'll go back to my original post of January 10 when I asked Dumars if he was "retarted" (which I misspelled), I follow it with the question of whether or not he has an "actaul" (which I also misspelled) learning impairment that would account for his views. I was being tongue-in-cheek politically incorrect at the time, and being stubborn like I am, I will continue to be tongue-in-cheek politically incorrect on this matter, as well as a variety of others. So it was not a "nice save," Joey, but a reiteration of my original intent.

Can we get back to the Bible being wrong? That was fun for me, and even though we regressed a bit into childish insults, the discussion wasn't so bad. I don't think I'm better than anyone who believes in the Bible, Dumars...As I've said, I'm willing to admit my belief in a higher power that got creation started, but I'm not going to pledge belief to a book, so much of which is essentially nonsense...what is wrong with someone believing in a system of Christian values without being Christian? They're good values, I'd just rather have them because I believe in right and wrong rather than because they were written down by a bunch of guys who lived 2 thousand years ago who thought they had heard them from the one true god.

My bad then, and I appoligize for my jumping to conclusions. It is getting hard to determine who is saying what on these boards because of all of the trash talking going on. Again I am sorry for letting my mouth gett away from me again.

Dumars, I was actually trying to stick up for you - but, hey, that's alright.

I didn't call you stupid or retarded.

It was all sarcasm, so don't take it personally.



And please tell me how know-it-all I am - seriously - it could help me deter from it if I knew exactly what it is that I somehow don't know.

...


Try reading the context of something before blasting me - name calling is stupid and when I do it, I realize it - but I [again] meant no personal damage to you.


As far as the retarded statement goes; brooke, nice save, but I'm not falling for it - just admit that you said a politically incorrect statement and move on.

Did this turn into another I'm better than you board. Please for the love of god. Stop acting like children. Who cares if my beliefs differ from yours? No one. These boards have been made for people to discuss their beliefs not for them to be picked on and have their words used against them. I really dont care about Joeys strugles with being gay or brooks claims that god is a girl. I dont care and I am pretty sure no one else does either. You people wonder why people dont see things the way you do and here is why. Because you guys wont admit that maybe you are wrong and there could be something out there that even you dont understand. Trashing someones beliefs doesnot validate your argument anymore than throwing a temper tantrum. I all factuality it makes you look young and foolish because you have to revert to cursing in order to validate your point. I cant remember the last time I was having a conversation with my boss and he asked me to do something I didnot agree with so I cussed him out and called him dumb and that got my point across real well!


Now as for joey calling people stupid. You bet sucka. Man you must be like the worlds greatest scholar and know the true meaning of the bible. I mean man you have been a christian for what like a whole 6 or 7 months now and you know everything about the bible, I'm impressed. I have been reading the bible for almost 25 years now and I cant say that I know all but you man you take the cake. I mean you have all the answers so maybe I should go to your house on sunday instead of church because you could teach me better than an ordained pastor. You have all the answers and could even teach me a stupid old man. I always thought christians were suppossed to lift people up not knock them down and spit in their face. Please do yourself a favor and think before you type. You can study the bible for the rest of you life and never have all the answers, so please stop acting like you do when you have only admitedly been in the word for a few months now. It makes you look truly ignorant! Now I know you may take this as an atack against you but its not more like a deterant for you to think before you turn people away from the word of god. Here is the last thing I will say towards you, never judge someone else because you know the saying, judge not lest you be judged.

I only used "retarded" to check to see if Dumar actually suffered from a medically documented learning imapairment that might explain the sheer idiocy of his statements...I meant no disrespect to the learning impaired community.

It is an insult to those that are retarded, though. And I have no problem with the term mentally retarded. I don't prefer mentally challenged or mentally disabled. My sister is retarded. Also, I will direct my posts to whoever I want to. I didn't read Brook's post first. But Joey still used this, and I felt I should speak out against it. It doesn't really matter who said it first.

Thanks, jstar.

And Elmer, the word "retard" used as an insult is of course, insulting - I don't use the word personally.

When someone um, "observes" me acting goofy, they'll be like, "Joey, you're acting retarded."

Retarded is actually the word that was used to describe such a behavoir, either just being stupid, or with actual symptoms of being "retarded."

Mentally retarded isn't SUPPOSED to be offensive; to me, changing the words to "mentally challenged" or "mentally disabled" is just more Political Correctness.

I hate the fact that someone uses retarded as a direct insult, but it was originally used.


And I think Brooke apologized earlier, but see, this "offensive" language rant only applies to certain individuals - certain NON-PC individuals.

Elmer-- When I read Joey's sarcastic post I immediately read it as mocking the post of another...Brooke35, who had just called Dumars retarded. (In bold...as the subject line) Unless his post was not meant to be connected to Brooke's post, all of your previous post should be redirected to Brooke.

I, as many others, do not see "retard" as funny. Maybe you would understand this if you had a retarded sister. And yes, I can read, and I read your sarcasm. It's like using "****" or "ni**er" to prove your sarcasm.

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You have such a simple little mind and obviously no ounce of sense of humor.

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Actually I do have a sense of humor.... unfortunately "retard" isn't in that book.

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don't even post anything if you're going to be that ridiculous.

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How about you find a better way to express your "sarcasm" and "humor"? Or just quite posting your tastless and offensive "humor."

Cindy-
I understand your feelings that you don't want to ask all these questions. It can be hard since this is such an important decision, but I'm glad to hear that your actively searching an answer.

I have a request. While going through your "search," please pray. You don't have to be 100% sure that there's a God to pray...but if you're searching for answers about God, who better to help you find the answers? Seriously...I remember praying something along the lines of "God...if you're there...guide me."

One more thing...please please please don't think that I (or any of the Christians currently in this discussion) would mock or belittle you for asking questions in an attempt to get answers.

I'll pray that your questions are answered.

--Jilaine

Joey, I think you mean thermoluminescence dating. "Carbon dating", and actually its radiocarbon dating only goes back in time so far, and then cannot be used anymore. Thermoluminescence dating records the light the electrons give off in the soil surrounding an artifact. Besides, radiocarbon dating has nothing to do with the fact if Jesus lived or not. It is all belief, nothing more.

http://www.christiananswers.net

That site has helped me a ton; gives great explanations, plus provides photos along with the answers


Oh, for the Love of God, elmer.

That was pure sarcasm.

You have such a simple little mind and obviously no ounce of sense of humor.

And if that isn't bad enough, I even typed the word "sarcasm" two, three lines below it.

How about YOU lighten up or just do us all a favor and shut up - don't even post anything if you're going to be that ridiculous.

jstar555, Um, it would be really great if all my questions about God, the Bible, or this world all together could be answered but I have so many questions that I don't know where to begin or end and I don't know how exactly to ask questions involoing this topic without being in fear of being criticized or made an idiot of.
But Thank you for willing to answers my questions But I guess I will find my way by books of what other people think.
Bye N Have a nice day everyone
Cindy

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And Dumars, you're completely stupid.

And retarded.

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What the hell is it with using retarded as an insult?

Grow the f**k up Joey.

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Now tell me - where does this stuff come from?

I look in the Bible and all this stuff that I see is described EXACTLY how I saw it!

...there's gotta be SOMETHING about it that's true.

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Sorry Joey ... I don't believe you.

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So in other words, you're saying that hundreds of millions of these Christians are just insane and are crazy lunatics?

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No. They're fooling themselves. Some more than others.

What exactly do you not believe in the Bible?

Creation?

Jonah being swallowed by a whale?

Jesus walking on water?

Jesus living at all?

How is it that carbon dating is somehow so accurate?

I mean, how can you find the history of something that old in the first place?

How do you know animals were around billions of years ago?

Since truly and honestly taking the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior this past July, I have accomplished things I wouldn't even have dreamt of - I haven't seen them in awhile, but I have seen visions of prophetic events, events described in Revelation.

I mean, how can this be?

This isn't a figment of my imagination - you know, you're fairly young and you and others are going through learning phases where you'll experience and experiment with different views, beliefs, etc.

I should know; I was there; I tried the scientific explanation for things - it just didn't make sense to me.

When the Holy Spirit of God came into my body, delivering me from my sin, drinking, sexual addictions and drug addictions, I saw the gates and flames of Hell - as well as the gleaming light of Heaven.

Now tell me - where does this stuff come from?

I look in the Bible and all this stuff that I see is described EXACTLY how I saw it!

...there's gotta be SOMETHING about it that's true.

So in other words, you're saying that hundreds of millions of these Christians are just insane and are crazy lunatics?

That's in essence what you're saying.