Searching for GOD...

[Alan Burns]

..how does he do that exactly?

temptation

[Maeght]

But I am not trying to win an argument.  I am trying to spread the Good News.  I would hope that even though they are rejected now, some of the messages I send might provide food for thought in later life

Why in later life particularily?

[Alan Burns]

Why in later life particularly?

It does not matter when you see the light, as long as you see it before you die.

[Gordon]

I am trying to spread the Good News.

Then that is where you are going wrong, Alan - what you are spreading ain't news, and it ain't good neither.

[wigginhall]

But I am not trying to win an argument.  I am trying to spread the Good News.  I would hope that even though they are rejected now, some of the messages I send might provide food for thought in later life

So the Good News is that people who object to your stuff in these posts are being twisted by the devil.  Well, I suppose that's one way to gain support. 

[wigginhall]

Hey, Alan..... how goes it? Still holding your own, I see....

Well, if you call being dishonest holding his own, I suppose, yes.   Goal-post moving, quote-mining, retreating from a position while denying it - it's quite a collection of deceit.

[torridon]

But I am not trying to win an argument.  I am trying to spread the Good News.  I would hope that even though they are rejected now, some of the messages I send might provide food for thought in later life

This is not a place for proselytising; you should not be here if you have no intention of engaging with the ideas of people with a different perspective; you are just wasting people's time through misuse of this board.

[Rhiannon]

It does not matter when you see the light, as long as you see it before you die.

So what you mean is you hope that as people approach their own death they might clutch at the same straws that you do already.

[Alan Burns]

This is not a place for proselytising; you should not be here if you have no intention of engaging with the ideas of people with a different perspective; you are just wasting people's time through misuse of this board.

The fact that I have strong Christian faith should not prevent me from engaging with people who have a different perspective, particularly on the Christian section of a forum.

[SweetPea]

Well, if you call being dishonest holding his own, I suppose, yes.   Goal-post moving, quote-mining, retreating from a position while denying it - it's quite a collection of deceit.

I meant continuing in this thread. It's all about perception as well.

[Alan Burns]

So what you mean is you hope that as people approach their own death they might clutch at the same straws that you do already.

I would hope that they see the truth, for the truth will set you free.

[wigginhall]

I would hope that they see the truth, for the truth will set you free.

And yet you're one of the most dishonest posters that I've seen on this forum.   How come?

[Rhiannon]

And yet you're one of the most dishonest posters that I've seen on this forum.   How come?

Did Alan's truth set you free, Wiggs? Me neither.

[Shaker]

But I am not trying to win an argument.  I am trying to spread the Good News.

Why then is this turning out to be such an abject failure?

You should be trying to win the argument, but that would involve actually having one in the first place, which you do not. Remember that you're dealing not with your chums at church now but rational, sceptical people who are persuadable by evidence, reason and the force of logic, not by hare-brained claims and bald assertions.

[Shaker]

It does not matter when you see the light, as long as you see it before you die.

By 'seeing the light' I assume you mean coming to believe as you do. What if this does not happen and you live a long, productive, useful and interesting life and die as an atheist - like Bertrand Russell, say? Or Christopher Hitchens (a life sadly far briefer than that of Russell)?

[Shaker]

The fact that I have strong Christian faith should not prevent me from engaging with people who have a different perspective

So what else is it that prevents you from doing so?

[torridon]

The fact that I have strong Christian faith should not prevent me from engaging with people who have a different perspective, particularly on the Christian section of a forum.

Engaging is good, we would welcome that; that implies a two way dialogue requiring you to open your mind up to learn from the insights of others who have a different experience of life. We see no evidence that you have learned anything here.

[Maeght]

It does not matter when you see the light, as long as you see it before you die.

Okay - but it was you who said 'in life later' which is why I asked.

[wigginhall]

Did Alan's truth set you free, Wiggs? Me neither.

Well, watching someone lying for Jesus is not all that attractive, although no doubt it is an old custom. 

[Walt Zingmatilder]

This is not a place for proselytising;

Get off then.

[Shaker]

Torridon isn't proselytising. Alan explicitly states that that's why he's here. Bit of a difference.

[Khatru]

As I have said before, I do not believe God causes suffering, but I do believe He can help us to deal with it and ultimately bring good out of it.

Perhaps you should read Amos 3: 1-5  where you will see that the Bible itself explains how God does indeed cause suffering.

On your second point, my faith would prevent me from using any reasoning which did not include God, because I know Him, I trust Him and I love Him.

Which, of course, translates, "I have disabled my own conscience and allowed an external agency the privilege of assuming that role for me. I accept as moral whatever I am told God thinks is moral."

Have you thought about how ripe you might be to being exploited? Can you see why you might be a danger to your neighbours with an attitude like that?

I know. You can't. God is good. End of analysis, right?

[Khatru]

But I am not trying to win an argument.  I am trying to spread the Good News.  I would hope that even though they are rejected now, some of the messages I send might provide food for thought in later life

Sorry, Alan - your good news isn't very convincing.  Especially when it can't even stand up to honest scepticism.

[Khatru]

The fact that I have strong Christian faith should not prevent me from engaging with people who have a different perspective, particularly on the Christian section of a forum.

Engaging

Have you got a secret Christian definition for that word that isn't found in the OED?

[Sebastian Toe]

temptation

..and how exactly does he do that?