I'm not mocking you. I'm merely pointing out the inherent fallacies of your logic (or lack thereof).

I love your avatar...always makes me laugh when I see it.

Most people that can't find God can't find him because they haven't put the onus on themselves to really listen to him.

There is a reason I am a Deist, and not an Atheist. There have been 3 times in my life where I felt lead by 'God'. They would be compelling to no one but myself. Even so, they hold no conviction to the Christian god.

It is not just the 'Christian' who can experience the unexplainable. Mormon, mystic, tribal, etc. Personal experience is a poor method to rationalize your particular brand of faith.

But you skipped a step in your thinking.

The only way God can change me is if I experience him.

God doesn't want to prove himself. He wants to change nature. If he changes human nature then he proves himself and he obtained his goal.

His primary goal isn't just to prove himself though that might be an indirect or secondary goal of his. If it was there'd be no need for redemption. Man is fallen and his nature needs to be restored in the here and now as much as possible. We aren't suppose to wait for the next life for him to do it all.

And so say the Mormons. We've had this discussion before, and you've not been able to answer me. How can a person know his experience is authentic and truthful?

Perfect.

Surely you know this makes no sense to someone who doesn't share your faith. I'm looking for common ground, so we can possibly reach an understanding, but you keep going back to things that don't make sense.

Why does humanity inherently need redemption? Why is man fallen?

....

So the question is "Do you want to be all that God can make you into or do you want things as they are?"

That's not even close to the question. The question is 'Why is your brand of religion right?'

Murder and Stealing are generally frowned upon and punished in most cultures, regardless of religion. This is not an argument for the bible or the christian god. Moral law exists independent of holy writings.

I am a follower of Jesus Christ but I'm currently non-denominational because I don't think there is a right brand of religion.

Jesus wasn't promoting religion he was promoting a relationship via spirituality.

Religion is like the hard seed casing that contained the spirituality inside...It takes a lot of practice and dedication to crack through religion to the spirit inside. Religion is powerless and ineffectual without releasing the Spirit.

As for murder and stealing...humans are made in God's image so we still have enough of a semblance to that image to recognize things are wrong whatever ideas or people we decide to follow.

I think your experience is more authentic if you grapple with the doctrine on your own. How would you build spiritual discernment if you don't grapple with texts on your own?

But that's not a characteristic peculiar to humans. There are many examples of animals that cooperate with eachother rather than killing eachother indiscriminately, so it obviously has nothing to do with God unless you believe that all social mammals and even some insects are made in God's image as well.

Read Genesis. Animals have souls.

Its just theology has crystallized over centuries as it tries to explain God's message.

But the message is suppose to be alive and active. The word of God is alive and active. It's not suppose to be totally dominated by tradition. People get so anxious about preserving the truth that they won't let people even breath.

lol okay I guess that settles it.

this rambling in now way addresses the post you responded to a quoted. Imagine how much better you would be received if you spent time actually reading the stuff you respond to.

Here is what he said:
You are a Christian. You have not listed anything that differentiates your faith from that of a Muslim, a Mormon or an Ancient Greek who worships Zeus.

God Bless you kurto.

You are so strong willed. I know you're probably an anvil God is determined to dash my pride on. Maybe he'll start on your's and a few others on here when he gets done with me.

http://godsanvil.com/

One wonders if you willfully ignore questions or if you just can't read? I really doubt it takes God to do what I'm trying to get you to do. I'm just doing what your english teachers failed to do. Reading comprehension.

You'll not that once again your response evades the point of what you're responding to.
Let's try again:
fwiw - I don't have a pride issue. Trying to teach you to follow a thread has nothing to do with pride as it does trying to get you to follow a normal conversation like everyone else.

Another gem to add to the book of Splendour:

I confess I have a good text file with a lot of my favorites. ADDED

You don't have a pride issue? Then why do you talk down to the theists who post in the active voice so much?

The problem with reading comprehension is yours as is the prideful assumption that you could speak for Big Perm. If he was dissatisfied with my answer he could say so.

I already explained my religion isn't a religion. It's a relationship and relationships are experienced. I don't have to go around and invalidate other people's religions to experience a relationship.

Do you have to disprove redheads to date a brunette or vice versa?

That was a gem wasn't it Hopey?

Didn't you know the Church is the Bride of Christ...Each believer has a personal relationship with their Savior.

lol, this one is pretty solid.

Bride of Christ...relationship...get it?

Not really. Perhaps you're using the word pride differently then everyone else?

I don't. I'm not talking down to theists. I'm talking down to someone who refuses to attempt even a modicum of reading comprehension.

Again, if you could read you would see that you're wrong again. (Surprise!) Becacuse he did point out that you didn't answer his question. I even quoted for you where he pointed out that you didn't address his question. If you could read like the rest of us you would realize this and not continue to look so foolish. f you would like, we could search the forum and find that very regularly people point out that you can't answer questions.

Are you saying this to just get us to quote you more for laughs?

Of course your religion is a religion. I should clarify, I mean when you use the word how most people do. I know if the splenda world that words mean whatever she decides they mean.

Yep... its a religion and you've proven once again that even simple words you use everyday flummox you.

And the usual psychobabble that has no real relevence to the discussion. End result - She still hasn't answered the question but we've all been given more quotes to store in the book of splendour.

"My religion isn't a religion" Perfect!

Next time take a look at the NT. Jesus decried religion because he was The Truth and every other religion was just a distracting belief system or weak carbon copy trying to compete with the Truth and there by deny people the ability to obtain the way, the truth and the life.

I don't take the world's definition of religion as equaling Jesus' definition of The Truth.

That would be to concede to the deception imposed by the ruler of this world aka the prince of the power of the air aka Beezlebub aka Lucifer...etc...he has a long list of aliases and he likes to play semantics (word games) and confuse people.

That is unrelated to what Hopey was saying (as far as I can tell). You can see how those bolded statements he quoted contradict each other, right?

Once again you seem to have no ability to classify things correctly. Surprisingly even when its pointed out that you're making a mistake, you'll repeat it endlessly. Its surprising you have such a positive reputation.

I don't target them because they're theists. I target them because of the quality of their posts. (btw- I've complimented Pletho repeatedly.) Here for instance I keep pointing out that you can't answer simple questions. It has nothing to do with your theism. Most of the criticisms I see (and make) aren't because you're a theist.

I noticed you ignored the part where I pointed out that Big Perm stated that you didn't answer the question. I don't know if that's becuase you're too prideful or dishonest to acknowledge you were wrong or if this is just another product of your lack of reading comprehension?


Surprise... circular reasoning. The fact that jesus said he was the truth doesn't answer the question as to why that should hold more value then other religions who also say they're the truth.

Just save us time and admit this goes over your head.

This is nonsensical and doesn't answer the question. I think I get it now... you are incapable of answering even the simplest question. Since you can't answer questions with a meaningful answer you simply post an endless list of random thoughts bouncing around in the echo chamber above your neck hoping no one will notice that you never answer any questions. Unfortunately, we've all noticed.

No. The question has nothing to do satan. No one is playing word games here. Its a very simple question. Blaming your inability to answer questions on satan is pretty funny though.

I'll answer for her.