You fail to grasp that the process I am suggesting removes doubt to the extent that you are left with very valid reasons for believing that are logical within the framework of your own psyche and life's experiences, without having to rely exclusively or even to any great degree on somebody else telling you it is so. Seek and you will find.
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Thanks for asking your questions Simeon. Jesus said things and some people rejected it. Moreover, they rejected him. Jesus said things and other people received it. Moreover, they received him. Jesus confirmed the validity of the Bible. "And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Again, he said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." If you read the Bible and you find that you recieve it, that it is God speaking to you, then you likely have the Holy Spirit and faith. If you read the Bible and you find that you reject it, I would consider that the Holy Spirit may be something needed still.
Considering that the words of the Bible are spirit and life, the best thing you might do is to spend time reading the Bible, no matter what side of things you feel you are on. Also, tell God, or even plead with God if you feel you need to, for his Spirit and for salvation, unless you have the witness in yourself that you already belong to God. If it is God's will for you to be saved, he may give you what you ask. In speaking to believers, he said: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
Again, the Bible says, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Considering that the words of the Bible are spirit and life, the best thing you might do is to spend time reading the Bible, no matter what side of things you feel you are on. Also, tell God, or even plead with God if you feel you need to, for his Spirit and for salvation, unless you have the witness in yourself that you already belong to God. If it is God's will for you to be saved, he may give you what you ask. In speaking to believers, he said: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"
Again, the Bible says, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
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I am not getting an answer to my last question so I will just go ahead and affirm once again that developing a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe and the One Who gave you life is the purpose and reason for your existence. When you encounter the Living risen Lord it is quite likely your rational mind will rise up and try to negate your experiences, because what we as Christians call the flesh (of the world) is opposed to things of the Holy Spirit of God. Many non-believers have trouble accepting anything of a spiritual nature, which is just one more worldly thing they have to overcome. Still, if you seek diligently you will find. It is promised! I am living proof of that promise being fulfilled 
T
The only faith worth having is a well-reasoned faith. So I'd have to disagree with you that logic and reason have no part to play in walking with God. Especially, when things like the scientific method only came about because of Christians who believed in the one, true God and in what His Word said. You don't check your brain at the door when you become a Christian. You pick it up and use it. In short, blind faith is not faith.
1. The only way you can make sure you're filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with Christ's words since it's Christ's very own Spirit. The Hebrew term for holy spirit is "Ruach Ha Kodesh" which simply means "set apart breath" and the Hebraic understanding of the word "breath" is "an invisible force that moves upon an object; a manipulative force". It's why breath and spirit can be used interchangeably in the context of scripture. In the beginning "God breathed into man's nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being". The spirit "animates".
This is how the Hebrew people understood the concept of spirit. So if we take this understanding further we can say that if you want to know a person's spirit just listen to their words because one's words are carried on their breath. Said a different way; you can learn a person's character by the words they use. This is why Christ said "the words I speak to you are (my) spirit and are life." So if one doesn't know all of Christ's words; if one doesn't have all of Christ's words in them, can one truly be sure they have Christ's Character/Spirit within them and not a counterfeit?
Since the particular spirit you seek to have is Christ's, you have to make sure his words are on the inside.
This is the present weakness of believers, because while they understand what Christ did, not many actually know all of what Christ said, and fewer care. it's impossible to have Christ's Holy Spirit without having Christ's words in you. So to make sure you're filled with Christ's Holy Spirit you must make sure you're filled with Christ's words; study them. Memorize them.
2. How do we separate the influence of the Holy Spirit from confirmation bias? Well one way to do that is to know scripture says God "doesn't change" and that Christ is the same "yesterday, today and forever". So what they were like 2000 years ago; how they answered and responded to situations back then is exactly how they'll respond and answer to those same situations today. Why? Because (a) to them 2000 is but 2 days ("a day is as 1000 years and 1000 years is as a day") and not enough time for anyone to change their character, (b) "there's nothing new under the sun"; it's all been done before. Mankind is not that old by any measurement you use, so we're pretty easy to figure out.
So study scripture to see how God handled situations in the past, and (again) study his words to learn his character/spirit. The more you do the more you'll learn how he often responds and you'll bring his words to mind when a similar situation presents itself for you.
Another way to know it's the Holy Spirit and not your own bias is to know that the Spirit's words will ALWAYS contradict what your flesh wants to do. You'll know what you should do but you'll feel sick to your stomach ("in your mouth it'll be sweet as honey but it will make your belly bitter") as a tug not to follow through. The flesh is at war with God and hate his commands. The flesh seeks self-preservation, self-satisfaction, self-importance, while Christ's Holy Spirit does not.
---
We must study to show ourselves approved of God and to "test every spirit to make sure it's of God" using scripture, but unfortunately God's people are destroyed because they don't study. This is why so many different Christians can have completely different opinions on a matter, while each one says they feel led by the Holy Spirit regarding it. Yet scripture says "we are (supposed to be) many members but with one Spirit"; a body; THE body of Christ.
This is how the Hebrew people understood the concept of spirit. So if we take this understanding further we can say that if you want to know a person's spirit just listen to their words because one's words are carried on their breath. Said a different way; you can learn a person's character by the words they use. This is why Christ said "the words I speak to you are (my) spirit and are life." So if one doesn't know all of Christ's words; if one doesn't have all of Christ's words in them, can one truly be sure they have Christ's Character/Spirit within them and not a counterfeit?
Since the particular spirit you seek to have is Christ's, you have to make sure his words are on the inside.
This is the present weakness of believers, because while they understand what Christ did, not many actually know all of what Christ said, and fewer care. it's impossible to have Christ's Holy Spirit without having Christ's words in you. So to make sure you're filled with Christ's Holy Spirit you must make sure you're filled with Christ's words; study them. Memorize them.
2. How do we separate the influence of the Holy Spirit from confirmation bias? Well one way to do that is to know scripture says God "doesn't change" and that Christ is the same "yesterday, today and forever". So what they were like 2000 years ago; how they answered and responded to situations back then is exactly how they'll respond and answer to those same situations today. Why? Because (a) to them 2000 is but 2 days ("a day is as 1000 years and 1000 years is as a day") and not enough time for anyone to change their character, (b) "there's nothing new under the sun"; it's all been done before. Mankind is not that old by any measurement you use, so we're pretty easy to figure out.
So study scripture to see how God handled situations in the past, and (again) study his words to learn his character/spirit. The more you do the more you'll learn how he often responds and you'll bring his words to mind when a similar situation presents itself for you.
Another way to know it's the Holy Spirit and not your own bias is to know that the Spirit's words will ALWAYS contradict what your flesh wants to do. You'll know what you should do but you'll feel sick to your stomach ("in your mouth it'll be sweet as honey but it will make your belly bitter") as a tug not to follow through. The flesh is at war with God and hate his commands. The flesh seeks self-preservation, self-satisfaction, self-importance, while Christ's Holy Spirit does not.
---
We must study to show ourselves approved of God and to "test every spirit to make sure it's of God" using scripture, but unfortunately God's people are destroyed because they don't study. This is why so many different Christians can have completely different opinions on a matter, while each one says they feel led by the Holy Spirit regarding it. Yet scripture says "we are (supposed to be) many members but with one Spirit"; a body; THE body of Christ.
S
I am not getting an answer to my last question so I will just go ahead and affirm once again that developing a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe and the One Who gave you life is the purpose and reason for your existence. When you encounter the Living risen Lord it is quite likely your rational mind will rise up and try to negate your experiences, because what we as Christians call the flesh (of the world) is opposed to things of the Holy Spirit of God. Many non-believers have trouble accepting anything of a spiritual nature, which is just one more worldly thing they have to overcome. Still, if you seek diligently you will find. It is promised! I am living proof of that promise being fulfilled
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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A
Wow that is really mean and uncalled for based on her last post...
"
developing a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe and the One Who gave you life is the purpose and reason for your existence."
When you meet someone, how do you know you truly met them?
Your senses tell you right?
In the same way those who are born again have their eyes open to the spiritual realm and learn to discern truth from lies, good from evil. You learn to recognize the Sheperd's voice from those of thieves.
"
developing a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe and the One Who gave you life is the purpose and reason for your existence."
When you meet someone, how do you know you truly met them?
Your senses tell you right?
In the same way those who are born again have their eyes open to the spiritual realm and learn to discern truth from lies, good from evil. You learn to recognize the Sheperd's voice from those of thieves.
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This is the best definition of Faith.
Hebrews 11:1-40
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. [SUP]2 [/SUP]For by it the men of old gained approval. [SUP]3 [/SUP]By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. [SUP]4 [/SUP]By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. [SUP]5 [/SUP]By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. [SUP]6 [/SUP]And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. [SUP]7 [/SUP]By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. [SUP]9 [/SUP]By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; [SUP]10 [/SUP]for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. [SUP]11 [/SUP]By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. [SUP]12 [/SUP]Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. [SUP]14 [/SUP]For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. [SUP]15 [/SUP]And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. [SUP]16 [/SUP]But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
[SUP]17 [/SUP]By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; [SUP]18 [/SUP]it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” [SUP]19 [/SUP]He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. [SUP]20 [/SUP]By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. [SUP]21 [/SUP]By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. [SUP]22 [/SUP]By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.
[SUP]23 [/SUP]By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. [SUP]24 [/SUP]By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, [SUP]25 [/SUP]choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, [SUP]26 [/SUP]considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. [SUP]27 [/SUP]By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. [SUP]28 [/SUP]By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. [SUP]29 [/SUP]By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.
[SUP]30 [/SUP]By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. [SUP]31 [/SUP]By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
[SUP]32 [/SUP]And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, [SUP]33 [/SUP]who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, [SUP]34 [/SUP]quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. [SUP]35 [/SUP]Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; [SUP]36 [/SUP]and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. [SUP]37 [/SUP]They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated [SUP]38 [/SUP](men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
[SUP]39 [/SUP]And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, [SUP]40 [/SUP]because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
Hebrews 11:1-40
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. [SUP]2 [/SUP]For by it the men of old gained approval. [SUP]3 [/SUP]By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. [SUP]4 [/SUP]By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. [SUP]5 [/SUP]By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. [SUP]6 [/SUP]And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. [SUP]7 [/SUP]By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. [SUP]9 [/SUP]By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; [SUP]10 [/SUP]for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. [SUP]11 [/SUP]By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. [SUP]12 [/SUP]Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
[SUP]13 [/SUP]All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. [SUP]14 [/SUP]For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. [SUP]15 [/SUP]And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. [SUP]16 [/SUP]But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
[SUP]17 [/SUP]By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; [SUP]18 [/SUP]it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” [SUP]19 [/SUP]He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. [SUP]20 [/SUP]By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. [SUP]21 [/SUP]By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. [SUP]22 [/SUP]By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.
[SUP]23 [/SUP]By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. [SUP]24 [/SUP]By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, [SUP]25 [/SUP]choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, [SUP]26 [/SUP]considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. [SUP]27 [/SUP]By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. [SUP]28 [/SUP]By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. [SUP]29 [/SUP]By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.
[SUP]30 [/SUP]By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. [SUP]31 [/SUP]By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
[SUP]32 [/SUP]And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, [SUP]33 [/SUP]who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, [SUP]34 [/SUP]quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. [SUP]35 [/SUP]Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; [SUP]36 [/SUP]and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. [SUP]37 [/SUP]They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated [SUP]38 [/SUP](men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
[SUP]39 [/SUP]And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, [SUP]40 [/SUP]because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
to know if you truly have the holy spirit and not a lying spirit pretending to be him you first have to get know him and how you get to know him is getting know God. The closer you get to God and deeper your love with him becomes the closer you get to the holy spirit.
Traits I have found of the holy spirit is he speaks encouraging words not doubtful whispers he gives us strength when we are about to fall he fills us up with that fire and is what you might call the voice of God he speaks to us in all kinds of ways even ways you might not expect and he also fuels that hunger and thirst for God he pours into us that deep longing and craving to know God.
as for faith our faith is something that builds over time and the building of our bond with God, to know if our faith is true and that the holy spirit a very close and very intimate love and bond with God is required otherwise we can be tricked into thinking we are of God yet are not just the people who said to Jesus in the parable how they prophesied in his name and performed miracles and healed others but Jesus said he knew them not.
Traits I have found of the holy spirit is he speaks encouraging words not doubtful whispers he gives us strength when we are about to fall he fills us up with that fire and is what you might call the voice of God he speaks to us in all kinds of ways even ways you might not expect and he also fuels that hunger and thirst for God he pours into us that deep longing and craving to know God.
as for faith our faith is something that builds over time and the building of our bond with God, to know if our faith is true and that the holy spirit a very close and very intimate love and bond with God is required otherwise we can be tricked into thinking we are of God yet are not just the people who said to Jesus in the parable how they prophesied in his name and performed miracles and healed others but Jesus said he knew them not.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Thank you, Ed, that is very kind and loving of you to say!
To the board at large: You see, the problem is that he has no answer for me, so he must pretend I am crazy and not worth talking to. Otherwise he will lose face and have to acknowledge that what I say is true. While he accuses me of being illogical, he commits glaring logical fallacies. It is always the same problem: while believing themselves to be superior in intellect, such people always prove how irrational they are.
To the OP: you have an evil lying spirit in you if it leads you away from God The good news is that exploring the natural world from a scientific standpoint need not necessarily lead you away from God. Many scientists are theists, and quite a few of them are Christian
To the board at large: You see, the problem is that he has no answer for me, so he must pretend I am crazy and not worth talking to. Otherwise he will lose face and have to acknowledge that what I say is true. While he accuses me of being illogical, he commits glaring logical fallacies. It is always the same problem: while believing themselves to be superior in intellect, such people always prove how irrational they are.
To the OP: you have an evil lying spirit in you if it leads you away from God
The good news is that exploring the natural world from a scientific standpoint need not necessarily lead you away from God. Many scientists are theists, and quite a few of them are Christian The good news of the gospel is that Jesus Christ gave His life that you might have more life. He has triumphed over death. He holds the keys to life and death; He has overcome those evil lying demons you are so concerned about. He has overcome the world, and you overcome the world by placing your faith and trust in Him. How often do you pray? If you are lacking faith and trust in Jesus Christ, please start praying more regularly and frequently. Ask to know His will for your life. If you do not believe, that is where you start: with believing. After that it becomes about walking according to faith and not sight. This does not mean you have no evidence or reasons for believing.
I agree and see what you see, magenta, (which he can't see) that he puts his faith in what scientists say. So he has placed his faith in science, which is really mostly just limited best guesses based on observation. And those scientists change what they believe quite often. They once said the earth was flat even though it clearly states in the bible (in more than one place) that the earth is round. And the men who began to say, no the earth is round, some were killed for daring to go against the accepted theories!
But I don't agree with you that he needs to begin by just believing. Men born blind can't just choose to see. Their blindness must be cured first. Before my blindness was cured, I could have just as easily (not really easily!) believed in fairies as have believed in God. It sounds to me like he has believed because his parents believed since he says he is facing a crisis of faith. He won't get through that crisis of faith by any way other than sight being given to him.
My crisis was different, because I never believed to begin with (even if just because others believed). My crisis came more along the lines of...seeing how insufficient everything was. And seeing that if I would just continue to struggle through life even after having seen all the insufficiency and horrors in the world, only to one day die and cease to be any more, ever again, then I concluded that those who commit suicide are the smartest among us. I mean, if we just die in the end, why struggle for more years? To what purpose? Why cling to a life that is so hard and bitter when it is just temporary anyway? Just to cling to whatever distracts me from knowing it is all only temporary? That is completely insufficient! Yes, you will die and cease to be but cheer up because there is a new movie coming out that will distract you from that for two hours!
Completely insufficient!
But I don't agree with you that he needs to begin by just believing. Men born blind can't just choose to see. Their blindness must be cured first. Before my blindness was cured, I could have just as easily (not really easily!) believed in fairies as have believed in God. It sounds to me like he has believed because his parents believed since he says he is facing a crisis of faith. He won't get through that crisis of faith by any way other than sight being given to him.
My crisis was different, because I never believed to begin with (even if just because others believed). My crisis came more along the lines of...seeing how insufficient everything was. And seeing that if I would just continue to struggle through life even after having seen all the insufficiency and horrors in the world, only to one day die and cease to be any more, ever again, then I concluded that those who commit suicide are the smartest among us. I mean, if we just die in the end, why struggle for more years? To what purpose? Why cling to a life that is so hard and bitter when it is just temporary anyway? Just to cling to whatever distracts me from knowing it is all only temporary? That is completely insufficient! Yes, you will die and cease to be but cheer up because there is a new movie coming out that will distract you from that for two hours!
Completely insufficient!
D
Kierkegaard was wrong. Faith is substance. Faith is assurance. Faith is mind based as well as whole body based. True faith is logical.
May I assume you are sitting? Why? Because you have faith that chair (sofa, bed, whatever) will keep you from falling. Would you sit on a two legged chair? No. Because it's not logical, and because you know where that ends.
Substance. Assurance.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen. The first time you sat there, you had that assurance of hope from your brain and your experience. It is logical!
And faith in God is likewise. It is substance. It is assurance. It's sitting in the same spot more than once, because you found the seat safe and true the first time.
What else do we have but sitting in him? The history of God being who he is throughout history and remaining the same. And, frankly, it doesn't take long through walking in the substance that is God that we have our own experience to confirm what God has said is true always.
Get rid of Kierkegaard. His philosophy is a waste of time and space.
May I assume you are sitting? Why? Because you have faith that chair (sofa, bed, whatever) will keep you from falling. Would you sit on a two legged chair? No. Because it's not logical, and because you know where that ends.
Substance. Assurance.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen. The first time you sat there, you had that assurance of hope from your brain and your experience. It is logical!
And faith in God is likewise. It is substance. It is assurance. It's sitting in the same spot more than once, because you found the seat safe and true the first time.
What else do we have but sitting in him? The history of God being who he is throughout history and remaining the same. And, frankly, it doesn't take long through walking in the substance that is God that we have our own experience to confirm what God has said is true always.
Get rid of Kierkegaard. His philosophy is a waste of time and space.