Well, certain traditions teach us that God is out there, somewhere, apart from us.
And that we are separated from him from birth because of our ancestors and remain separated from him because of our actions.

Perhaps that idea ingrained into the consciousness of humanity for centuries also plays a part in hindering oneness.

No, I think that's a false impression.

Christians have also had a contemplative tradition though it may not be as well known as the Buddhist one.

You only know more definitively about the nature of God because He chooses to describe Himself to us through words. Words are the only way humans can form mental pictures at all that we can relate to. They're also a tangible way in which God can send people's actions in a moral direction.

In the NT God says He's most present in our weakness. He delights in showing His strength in our weakness and what a mercy that is. One day everyone will experience the greatest of all weaknesses: death. Won't it be wonderful to be able to surrender all to God's strength and get carried on into eternity?

Without God telling us He delights in showing His strength through our weakness we'd never know that we win by surrendering our all to Him. All we'd be left with are false appearances to judge things by like there isn't a God in charge in the most terrible of times.

Also without the words it is hard to establish a relationship with God and get right with Him.

How Do You Have A Relationship With God?
http://www.clarifyingchristianity.co...tionship.shtml

Heres some random ****. Tebow threw for 316 yards today. 3:16. John 3:16 may be the most quoted verse in the Bible, and almost certainly in the NT.

I'm not claiming that there is necessarily any causality or correlation.

Something Tebow and Jesus have in common is their fans tend to be a bit loony.

Must of sucked being on Pittsburgh with having the God of the universe using his powers against you.

It's funny you'd think that since Christian civilization is probably the most progressive one in the world today and you most likely live in it and wouldn't live in a third world country by choice without money.

Quote:

"Charity was a part of western civilisation long before it was nationalised. Charity has been a virtue recognised and fostered by religion throughout human history. Christian charity has been an integral part of European civilization. In medieval Europe the Church bore the responsibility for organising and promoting poor relief and it was not until the 16th century that the state began to take over this responsibility."

From The Political History of Charity by Dr. Mark Cooray
http://www.ourcivilisation.com/cooray/btof/chap242.htm

Hmmm....now what does that say about human nature that it took government 1600 years before it took over the work of organized charity?

Honestly, I don't know where to start with this one.

Was it posted in response to your post?

If it wasn't then leave it alone.

its ironic that she gives you this advice when she was posting in response to someone who wasn't posting to her. We've learned that with Splenda, what's good for the gander is not good for the goose. She defines hypocrisy.

Isn't epitome the better word?

Hypocrisy?

There's only so many posts I can make and once you've proven intransigent why should I continue to engage you?

Keep your intransigence. You want it then keep it. But just don't waste my time with it.

I like spending my time with the sincere seekers. There's really no reason for me to waste my valuable time on someone who isn't open to God now is there?

I used to think "atheism" was a label....but the question is who sealed himself off behind the label and who didn't?

At this point in time....I'd say you're sealed....willfully....So there's no openness on your part.

I take mockery as a dead giveaway to the sealed status because I have no other cues to interpret on here, now do I?

Kurto, you should read the dictionary before you post again.

Is this thread weird for anyone else? Like, it's very wiiiiiiide....

I'm just making posts so we can get to the next page of this thread and get rid of this wide problem...

Voice of Carey Ann: He's baaaaaaaaaaaack....

gogo NotReady!

Splendour,

You did something and gave someone advice to do the exact opposite of what you were doing at the time.

What would you call that?

Being a dork.

Have to go now...bye, bye...

Cool.

how about a word a day calendar?

are you referring to her intransigence or what I was referring to above?

By the way - my new word for the day is portmanteau (Thanks to Wookie in the politics forum) -

American Heritage:

It's a forum, I know you don't understand how they work so maybe you should try google.

Re your earlier post, it really shows an incredible lack of knowledge of European history.

I did not know that portmanteau also meant a large suitcase.

She defines epitome?

a better word than define, as in:

the epitome of hypocrisy...