Searching for GOD...

[Sassy]

And you've also told us that we need to seek God before he will choose to do that for us. Which is it? Or did God make an exception in your case?

Which was it for you?

You claimed to know God and Christ, once.
Did they move without leaving a forwarding address? Or did what Christ said would happen, happen?

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Which one was it? Which was your way? Rhiannon, you know God loves you and I know every day it lessens you become numb/harder to the reality. Truth is God did not send you your troubles and eventually would have taken you through it to the other side. You may have given up on God but he has never given up on you.

[floo]

More assertions from Sass without any evidence to back them up.

[Sassy]

God doesn't seem to be coming through for Alan's poor friend and others like her.

Lack of knowledge sometimes causes people not to come through. God is the only one who gives us hope and actually helps.
She survived this far... you mock all you want... I find it hard to believe that your husband came through something similar and we all prayed for him. How would  a remark like yours have encouraged you if made about your husband.

That is low and below the belt.

[floo]

Lack of knowledge sometimes causes people not to come through. God is the only one who gives us hope and actually helps.
She survived this far... you mock all you want... I find it hard to believe that your husband came through something similar and we all prayed for him. How would  a remark like yours have encouraged you if made about your husband.

That is low and below the belt.

As I have said many times, when people made well meaning prayers for my husband, a friend of ours (a born again) was also extremely ill. No doubt he was the subject of many prayers too. My husband survived albeit with half a brain, and an experience whilst in a coma that no god or afterlife exists. Our friend died leaving a young family, one of whom is disabled. If my husband had died it would have been sad, but possibly for the best, due to the frustration he has now at not being able to do the things he loves best in life. Our friend's family we left devastated and found it hard to cope.

I am firmly of the opinion that people will survive and others will die, prayers will not make the slightest bit of difference either way.

[Shaker]

I am firmly of the opinion that people will survive and others will die, prayers will not make the slightest bit of difference either way.

Indeed.

Life is random. Some stuff happens to some people sometimes; to other people at other times it doesn't.

Some people are aware of that fact and are reconciled to it. The ones who aren't think that bending the metaphorical ear of a supposedly omniscient entity will change things, because of their need to believe that a someone is ultimately in control.

[Sebastian Toe]

My husband survived albeit with half a brain, and an experience whilst in a coma that no god or afterlife exists.

That should convince AB then, a first hand personal witness statement.
I'm sure that he will be withdrawing all of his assertions now.
Unless he has got his industrial goalpost moving equipment up and running again? 

[floo]

That should convince AB then, a first hand personal witness statement.
I'm sure that he will be withdrawing all of his assertions now.
Unless he has got his industrial goalpost moving equipment up and running again? 

The human brain is a remarkable organ and can convince people of almost anything. I don't give my husband's 'experience' anymore credence than I do of those claiming 'experiences', which they believe come from god.

[Alan Burns]

That should convince AB then, a first hand personal witness statement.

I know of many first hand witness statements which confirm the existence of God.

Quoting examples of God's apparent non intervention does not negate the many obvious examples of God's intervention.

[BeRational]

I know of many first hand witness statements which confirm the existence of God.

Quoting examples of God's apparent non intervention does not negate the many obvious examples of God's intervention.

And the apparent intervention does not demonstrate a god. Just a mistake.

[Étienne d'Angleterre]

Jesus Christ, rose from the dead.

Allegedly

How big a miracle do you want?

Well as I said if Doubting Thomas got the real deal why can't I have it as well?

Seems reasonable to me.

[Stranger]

I know of many first hand witness statements which confirm the existence of God.

Quoting examples of God's apparent non intervention does not negate the many obvious examples of God's intervention.

Incredible.

You really don't see the blindingly obvious flaw in this, do you...?

[Sebastian Toe]

I know of many first hand witness statements which confirm the existence of God.

Quoting examples of God's apparent non intervention does not negate the many obvious examples of God's intervention.

Quoting apparent first hand witness statements does not confirm the existence of God.

See I can play that game also.

Next........

[torridon]

I know of many first hand witness statements which confirm the existence of God.

I know of many first hand witness statements which confirm that some individuals are being visited and interfered with by aliens.

Do we believe every fantastic claim without murmur ?

[Shaker]

I know of many first hand witness statements which confirm that some individuals are being visited and interfered with by aliens.
Do we believe every fantastic claim without murmur?

As wedded, indeed welded to the negative proof fallacy as he is, Hope comes very close to espousing such a position - it's the (il)logical consequence of the stance that anything without explicit proof to the contrary is either true or at the very least worth serious consideration.

[Maeght]

I know of many first hand witness statements which confirm the existence of God.

More correctly in my view would be to say 'I know of many first hand witness statements which confirm people's belief in the existence of God.' since people are interpretting things to be acts of God with no supporting evidence that they are.

[horsethorn]

More correctly in my view would be to say 'I know of many first hand witness statements which confirm people's belief in the existence of God.' since people are interpretting things to be acts of God with no supporting evidence that they are.

And, of course, there are plenty of first hand witness statements which confirm peoples' belief in the existence of many different gods.

I wonder if AB gives them the same credibility?

ht

[BeRational]

And, of course, there are plenty of first hand witness statements which confirm peoples' belief in the existence of many different gods.

I wonder if AB gives them the same credibility?

ht

Apparently he has a high I.Q, but cannot see the most obvious flaws.

[floo]

Apparently he has a high I.Q, but cannot see the most obvious flaws.

Even people with high IQs can compartmentalise their faith so logic doesn't impinge.

[BeRational]

Even people with high IQs can compartmentalise their faith so logic doesn't impinge.

Clearly (I do not believe his claim though)

[Étienne d'Angleterre]

As wedded, indeed welded to the negative proof fallacy as he is, Hope comes very close to espousing such a position - it's the (il)logical consequence of the stance that anything without explicit proof to the contrary is either true or at the very least worth serious consideration.

I think what happens is that if a belief is unproven then they default to the odds being evens on it being true or false.

[Sassy]

Allegedly

Well as I said if Doubting Thomas got the real deal why can't I have it as well?

Seems reasonable to me.

You don't reason Stephen,

You sit on the fence thinking it exists but it really doesn't.
You are not a doubting Thomas. Thomas was HONEST and believed in Jesus being the Son of God.
But it was his resurrection he had trouble believing. He said if he could see him and put his hand in his side.
But when Jesus came to him he knew Jesus was risen. You have no point of faith. Had you really sought the truth then you would have told God you really want to believe but you need to know who God is. Who is the real God.

A young man a reported having witnessed many things told God he wanted to believe but how would he know which is the truth. God sent someone to him and this person told them what God wanted him to know. What he wanted to know.

Sometimes like Thomas, God acts on the knowledge and faith of our hearts. In these cases he responded to the faith of these men and the fact they had asked God to reveal himself. So you know the way Stephen. But do you really want to know for the right reasons.

[savillerow]

Msg 12477 Sassy "You have no point of faith" No i do not, i have none, zippo, bereft, lacking, vacant, empty, devoid of the bloody thing. Your "faith" answers nothing. Its the curse of the planet. It really is.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Msg 12477 Sassy "You have no point of faith" No i do not, i have none, zippo, bereft, lacking, vacant, empty, devoid of the bloody thing. Your "faith" answers nothing. Its the curse of the planet. It really is.

Ah, faith in no faith...........I'm sure if we scratched the surface we would find another little sunbeam for ontological naturalism.

[floo]

Ah, faith in no faith...........I'm sure if we scratched the surface we would find another little sunbeam for ontological naturalism.

Far better than the pie in the sky nonsense for which there is no evidence whatsoever.

[savillerow]

I have no faith(such an annoying word) but I tell people  i have a shed load of hope. I do hope for so many things for this planet and the population. Why wouldnt I. But "coming together" for all of us must be a much more shared view of all the things that have been mentioned in the past IE(in no particular order) logic, science, common sense, evidence, rationality etc. . . . .glass of wine. Its not a bad wish is it?