Maybe YOU should take the test.... keep the faith!

[Sassy]

Isn't that in itself just one interpretation among many?

I don't think so. What interpretations had you in mind?

Any interpretation which doesnt agree with "... the essential meaning of the Gospels is quite clear, and immovable;  it is only the "incidentals"  that may be interpreted in differing ways."

Any Christian would agree on the basic meaning:  Jesus taught of love, forgiveness and Redemption.  I wouldn't expect you to have known, though I, alone, have said it often over time.

#Between Shaker and Floo,
They have done a pretty good job of burying each other and themselves. Just a thought... When both buried whose left to put the gravestone on?

[Sassy]

The understanding of the Bible is as long as a piece of string, and so is the term 'Christian. They mean whatever you want them to mean, imo.

I suspect that, if God does exist, he would disagree - but he might also disagree with some of the ideas that Christians have historically had - in the way that he disagreed with some of the ways that the \Jewish religious leaders thought.

So Christians and Jews should ask you where they are going wrong?

Don't you read the bible? The diversity of teachings like the Pharisee and Sadducee was to be settled by the Messiah.
Hence Christ did just that...So the bible tells us where they went wrong and why.  The builders rejected the most important stone. Hence the Gentiles added and then in time the Jews will see the TRUTH about their Messiah...

[Leonard James]

How about atheists doing the same? Do you think that would be a good idea, Len?

Yes, of course. I will always take sensible advice from anybody.

[jakswan]

Don't you read the bible?

I've read it but I don't understand it the same way as you.

Have you read the Koran? That claims to be the unaltered word of god!

[Alien]

How about atheists doing the same? Do you think that would be a good idea, Len?

Yes, of course. I will always take sensible advice from anybody.

Excellent. That makes two of you who never let bias affect you, i.e. you and BeRational.

The rest of us are human.

[BeRational]

How about atheists doing the same? Do you think that would be a good idea, Len?

Yes, of course. I will always take sensible advice from anybody.

Excellent. That makes two of you who never let bias affect you, i.e. you and BeRational.

The rest of us are human.

I am aware of my biases and take steps to counter them.

As I have explained before, i expect life to exist on other planets. BUT when faced with some exciting new possibility of say life on Mars, I ALWAYS suspect that there is another explanation, and these will ALL have to be ruled out first.

I DO NOT assume my preferred answer is most likely. I put my preferred answer to the back of the queue.

Unlike you for example, that thinks the BEST explanation about ancient reports of a dead man coming back to life, is that it actually happened. Yet, when Sai baba does similar things, you conclude that these are not real events.

As I say, I am aware of my biases, and work AGAINST them, not with them!

[Nearly Sane]

How does one know that one is aware of one's biases?!

[floo]

Sass is really surpassing herself with the complete garbage she is churning out!

I am so glad you don't agree with me... You supporting Shaker just proves how far he has fallen and how desperate he has become.
One thing no one would want is you supporting them when it comes to biblical matters etc....

Sass if I agreed with your total nonsense, I would be so concerned I would need to check myself into a psychiatric facility!

[BeRational]

How does one know that one is aware of one's biases?!

How do you know anything?

[Nearly Sane]

(

How does one know that one is aware of one's biases?!

How do you know anything?

you made a positive claim. Your attempt to evade answering about it is obvious.

[Leonard James]

How about atheists doing the same? Do you think that would be a good idea, Len?

Yes, of course. I will always take sensible advice from anybody.

Excellent. That makes two of you who never let bias affect you, i.e. you and BeRational.

The rest of us are human.

I fail to see how taking sensible advice has anything to do with bias.

[BeRational]

(

How does one know that one is aware of one's biases?!

How do you know anything?

you made a positive claim. Your attempt to evade answering about it is obvious.

Is it?

I know my biases.

Are you saying you do not know yours?

[Nearly Sane]

(

How does one know that one is aware of one's biases?!

How do you know anything?

you made a positive claim. Your attempt to evade answering about it is obvious.

Is it?

I know my biases.

Are you saying you do not know yours?

After evasion, now a repetition of assertion and then an irrelevant question.

[Alien]

How about atheists doing the same? Do you think that would be a good idea, Len?

Yes, of course. I will always take sensible advice from anybody.

Excellent. That makes two of you who never let bias affect you, i.e. you and BeRational.

The rest of us are human.

I fail to see how taking sensible advice has anything to do with bias.

How do you stop your biases from stopping you realise what is sensible advice?

[BeRational]

(

How does one know that one is aware of one's biases?!

How do you know anything?

you made a positive claim. Your attempt to evade answering about it is obvious.

Is it?

I know my biases.

Are you saying you do not know yours?

After evasion, now a repetition of assertion and then an irrelevant question.

I think you argue for the sake of it.

It is you that is avoiding answering the questions.

Do you know your biases?

[Nearly Sane]

(

How does one know that one is aware of one's biases?!

How do you know anything?

you made a positive claim. Your attempt to evade answering about it is obvious.

Is it?

I know my biases.

Are you saying you do not know yours?

After evasion, now a repetition of assertion and then an irrelevant question.

I think you argue for the sake of it.

It is you that is avoiding answering the questions.

Do you know your biases?

So I ask a direct question, you avoid answering it and then accuse me of not answering questions. Hmmm

I think you make statements that you are unwilling to back up.

As to your irrelevant question. I think I am aware of some things I might be biased about but I may well be biased in ways I am unaware of. I don't see how I could know all such. But then I am not making a claim,you are - care to back it up and not indulge in this rather sad evasion you are indulging in?

[BeRational]

(

How does one know that one is aware of one's biases?!

How do you know anything?

you made a positive claim. Your attempt to evade answering about it is obvious.

Is it?

I know my biases.

Are you saying you do not know yours?

After evasion, now a repetition of assertion and then an irrelevant question.

I think you argue for the sake of it.

It is you that is avoiding answering the questions.

Do you know your biases?

So I ask a direct question, you avoid answering it and then accuse me of not answering questions. Hmmm

I think you make statements that you are unwilling to back up.

As to your irrelevant question. I think I am aware of some things I might be biased about but I may well be biased in ways I am unaware of. I don't see how I could know all such. But then I am not making a claim,you are - care to back it up and not indulge in this rather sad evasion you are indulging in?

I said I was aware of my biases, perhaps not all, but I am aware of some of my biases. This is clear as I gave an example. I have many other biases in every area of my life. I am FULL of biases too many to list.
Could there be some I am not aware of, possibly, but this does not matter, as my method for getting the best approximation of truth is to not use my biases, and if known actively work against them.

Why is this such a big deal.

I assume you do much the same sort of thing.

[Nearly Sane]

You didn't make any qualification. You said you were aware of your biases. Nothing about some
 Perhaps you need to he more careful of your writing.

[BeRational]

You didn't make any qualification. You said you were aware of your biases. Nothing about some
 Perhaps you need to he more careful of your writing.

Agreed.

But do are you aware of SOME of your biases?

If so what steps do you take when faces with some new information that seems to agree or confirm your bias?

I bet you play devils advocate with yourself and argue the other way and everything you reasonably can to not just accept this new information just because you like it?

[jakswan]

I don't think anyone can be aware of all the biases there is well trodden path of confirmation bias. Ask a moon landing conspiracy theorist and they will accept willingly evidence that confirms their bias, if you offer evidence that refutes their position they will reject it.

Not many will accept they have confirmation bias since it would, if they wanted to believe what is true, seriously undermine the position they hold to.

 

[BeRational]

I don't think anyone can be aware of all the biases there is well trodden path of confirmation bias. Ask a moon landing conspiracy theorist and they will accept willingly evidence that confirms their bias, if you offer evidence that refutes their position they will reject it.

Not many will accept they have confirmation bias since it would, if they wanted to believe what is true, seriously undermine the position they hold to.

Exactly, and the scientific method is in place to remove bias.

[Leonard James]

How do you stop your biases from stopping you realise what is sensible advice?

Give me an example and I will be able to answer you.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Don't you read the bible?

I've read it but I don't understand it the same way as you.

Have you read the Koran? That claims to be the unaltered word of god!

But Christianity states that the word of God is in the form of a human being.
I can think of why that is more comprehensive than just words in a book Jak....can you?

[BeRational]

Don't you read the bible?

I've read it but I don't understand it the same way as you.

Have you read the Koran? That claims to be the unaltered word of god!

But Christianity states that the word of God is in the form of a human being.
I can think of why that is more comprehensive than just words in a book Jak....can you?

A dead one that is no  longer available to question.

So no.

[jakswan]

Don't you read the bible?

I've read it but I don't understand it the same way as you.

Have you read the Koran? That claims to be the unaltered word of god!

But Christianity states that the word of God is in the form of a human being.
I can think of why that is more comprehensive than just words in a book Jak....can you?

No the word of god (Koran) states the Bible was corrupted by man, which it was, e.g. ending of Mark.

Its all mumbo jumbo to me but if you go for this sort of thing...