So why doesnt God appear every now and again?

[Agnostic007]

You glossed my explanation.  Here it is again:

You chose the harshest translation which includes the term "rape" which is the minority of the various translations.  The terms "and they are discovered" implies a complicit relationship hence invalidating the improper use of "rape" and indicating an adulterous relationship......they were to be pure and set apart.  She wasn't forced to marry a rapist, she was forced to marry the man she gave her virginity to.  The term "young woman" often implies virginity.  Virginity is to be given to her husband.  Therefore the man in question is to be her husband since marriage and sex is highly regarded by God.

Today's world wants to be make marriage a bad situation and treat sex as casual and carefree and fun.....trading evil for good.  You have no regard for sex and God's standards in reference to it.  You define it according to your subjective presuppositions and Godless worldview.  "It feels good so what's wrong with that?"  God is the objective standard....the bar....the ultimate degree of righteous and he says otherwise.  You like your sin you so you dismiss God as irrational and vindictive and carry on trading good for evil.  The world's standards are grounded in subjective opinions and whimsy.  Whatever god abhors the world wants to legalize and justify as good.

When God wiped out nations of pagan folks it's because they came into the fullness of their sin and God passed judgment upon them.  Pregnant, pagan women that would've given birth to future Godless pagans that would've been eternally separated from God were wiped out.  God had had enough of their wickedness and generation after generation of children brought into the world and destroyed by the influence of their reprobate elders.  These unborn children were innocent and brought to God's kingdom before the generations of pagans before them could corrupt them and separate them from him permanently.

Why do you side with evil and hate righteousness?  

Yes, because he is God and he is good and rigtheous and holy and the ultimate standard is his law and will always supercedes our opinions.  Don't want righteous then move along and give someone else an opportunity to be saved.

It's rare when flowery language like "When God wiped out nations of pagan folks it's because they came into the fullness of their sin and God passed judgment upon them.  Pregnant, pagan women that would've given birth to future Godless pagans that would've been eternally separated from God were wiped out." doesn't whitewash the stench of what it is saying.. but this is one of those rare times..

[Man of Steel]

It's rare when flowery language like "When God wiped out nations of pagan folks it's because they came into the fullness of their sin and God passed judgment upon them.  Pregnant, pagan women that would've given birth to future Godless pagans that would've been eternally separated from God were wiped out." doesn't whitewash the stench of what it is saying.. but this is one of those rare times..

In my experience this is how God haters tend to view scripture:

Let's say 50 verses say God is loving and good.
Let's say 50 other verses are called into question.
Let's say 40 of the verses are explained and then align with the 50 verses indicating the goodness of God.
10 of the verses didn't have complete context included and could be perceived as good or bad.
The God hater then deems the verses are absolutely bad regardless of the predominance of the good and lack of clear context.

I have rarely heard or read a God hater stating, "you know, you did reconcile the majority of my objections and although you didn't a few of them I think it's safe to assume the unreconciled verses shouldn't be deemed negative in light of the others."

Oh, you still haven't answered any of my questions.

[Primemuscle]

We don't know how old Mary was when she became pregnant.  Can't answer your question fully.  Some say 12, some say 16, some say 18, some say 22. 

A twenty-two year old was middle aged in those days.

[Primemuscle]

the one thing you can rely on with religious nuts

as soon as you confront them with facts

they start with the i will pray for your soul crap

i cant believe this is the same man of steel

he used to be funny self depreciating and really got this place



what a shame  

Perhaps he found God.

[Man of Steel]

A twenty-two year old was middle aged in those days.

Yep, just an opinion I've read.  Doesn't mean I agree with it.

The age range I read the most is 14 to 18. 

I just don't know.

[Primemuscle]

Yes it does, though my motivation for doing so is not comfort. It is to cultivate the ability to dwell in Presence which brings exceeding joy and love and is not a selfish state but a more complete interaction with all that is. People spend hours in the gym to sculpt their bodies. Some spend hours in contemplation to allow the universe to sculpt their mind.

Interesting.

Would you say your use of the term "universe" could also be defined as universal intelligence?

"I AM THAT I AM." All inquiry into Truth must begin with the self-evident fact that Life Is. The Truth is that which Is and so is Self-Existent.

The Science of Mind, by Ernest Shurtleff Holmes [1926]

[BigRo]

Interesting.

Would you say your use of the term "universe" could also be defined as universal intelligence?

"I AM THAT I AM." All inquiry into Truth must begin with the self-evident fact that Life Is. The Truth is that which Is and so is Self-Existent.

The Science of Mind, by Ernest Shurtleff Holmes [1926]

For me the universe is incredibly intelligent yes.

I agree with these words above, and it is something to be experienced with the whole being not something that can be conceptually understood.

[Primemuscle]

Interesting perspective on the forbidden fruit/sex connotations. I've always read it straight forward as direct disobedience.

Would God create this basis of direct disobedience? Really, an apple?

[Dave D]

you can't tell me his favorite color, favorite food, favorite pastime as a kid, best friend as a child, if he had a dog. You can't tell me if he had a sense of humor, if he liked to swim, was he a morning person or a night owl. You can't tell me anything about this person you claim to have a personal relationship with, but you KNOW he was without sin... yeah that's totally believable.  

Nice try.
I don't know most of this stuff about my closest of friends but since you asked:

Color: scarlet and/or white
Food: I know He likes figs and lamb
Past time as a child: scripture study at the synagogue
Bf: his younger brother John
Dog: yes, His was a carpenter but also a shepherd
He has a sense of humor, it's pretty obvious
Swim: He's more likely to walk on water as opposed to wade in it
Jesus is an early riser so morning person

Good questions.

[Primemuscle]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_fruit

"Forbidden fruit"
"As a metaphor, the phrase typically refers to any indulgence or pleasure that is considered illegal or immoral." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_fruit

This means the apple was and is symbolic. Illegal or immoral are not synonymous with procreation i.e. intercourse (sex).

[Dave D]

Would God create this basis of direct disobedience? Really, an apple?

An apple? Where did you learn that?

You're asking me why God said don't do one thing, He had one rule in the garden and your question is why? Yet after the exile from the garden He established books of rules and law and everyone wants to question why there are so many?

Then Jesus came and taught us to love our neighbor as ourself, to treat others as we want to be treated and even that is to hard to follow.

So I guess what we've really learned is ultimately people do what they want,  regardless of rules and laws. The consequences will eventually be determined ....

[Primemuscle]

Abstinence does not work. There is nothing moral about waiting until marriage to have sex.

Both statements are correct. Marriage is man's invention. We've seen what can result from unnatural suppression of sexual desire (abstinence).

[Primemuscle]

Do you mean for those who desire sex? Johhnynoname has 5 years that would say otherwise. 

Has he defined what he means with regards his abstinence?

[Dave D]

Both statements are correct. Marriage is man's invention. We've seen what can result from unnatural suppression of sexual desire (abstinence).

Marriage is man's invention? Where was it established? What's the first recorded instance? What are some of the popular inventions of cats or dogs (these can be of the domestic or wild variety)?

[Primemuscle]

? Nocturnal emissions? Those aren't considered in the same class because it's in the subconscious?

Nocturnal emissions do not provide the same emotional, mental and physical release.

[Man of Steel]

You know what i wanted to understand, and you still choose to deliberately obfuscate and deflect. I have never once asked for your undivided attention or complained that you take too long to reply to me. I merely point out the fact that you refuse to answer simple questions that you are seemingly uncomfortable with, choosing instead to post verbiage unrelated to what i asked. You could have given me two simple yes or no answers multiple posts ago, but you still continue to avoid doing so. All you've said now is that Jesus came along and put an end to the laws relating to murder, which only highlights the issue of God being an immoral and capricious psychopath in the first place, if he initially justified it and carried it out himself in multiple biblical passages.

As for you quoting out of Deuteronomy, what difference would it make if it was your original words or an article which you posted in support of your stance? Are you saying that you personally repudiate all of its passages and do not believe them to have come from God? Or could Deuteronomy be correct when it comes to drug use, but wrong nowadays, when it comes to sacrificing your family?

I'm telling you, MOS....the ice is thin and you're skating all over it. Don't make me write a getbig poem. DON'T MAKE ME DO IT!!

I don't know which post, which page, which thread, what question, etc....

Write brief statements in your reply to this.  What are your questions?  Clearly I'm missing something.

I'm not avoiding anything.

[Primemuscle]

We know his life was without sin whether we know 5 minutes or 33 years of his life.

Rather than know this, you believe it and that is fine.

[Man of Steel]

Rather than know this, you believe it and that is fine.

I know and believe it.  You and others won't accept that.  Ok by me.

[Primemuscle]

Ok, so if I knew the answers were blue, roast chicken, playing stick ball, Saul, Skippy, knock-knock jokes, the backstroke and the calm of early morning would that change anything else in scripture we do know about Christ and the love and grace revealed to his body of believers?

Yes, we know he was without sin.

It is not possible to "know" the unknowable. It is possible to believe that you do.

[Man of Steel]

It is not possible to "know" the unknowable. It is possible to believe that you do.

Special revelation of God in believers validates the words of scripture.

[Man of Steel]

Right, that's it. YOU'RE GETTING POEMED!!

Fine, right a poem.

What are your unanswered questions:

Question 1)

Question 2)

Question 3)

etc....

I'm not gonna fish for them.  Ask them now....short and sweet is best.

In a short time Raymondo, OB1, SF, etc...are gonna find the thread and start to clutter it.

[Dave D]

Nocturnal emissions do not provide the same emotional, mental and physical release.

Prime you're a strange dude.

If you read the question I quoted I was asking if he meant NE's were permissible as opposed to masturbation. My point was if it's subconscious then wouldn't it be considered a heart  (internal) issue.

Everyone is so worked up over sex.

Why?

People display self control regarding sex every day and everyday there are people who don't have self control. A man can't just mate any woman he wants whenever he wants, we define that as rape. So everyday people display sexual self control. Those who don't are usually labeled criminals.

If you're married  be married, enjoy being faithful to your partner . If that doesn't work or you have some of different relationship fine.

If you're single do you.  If you want to sleep with multiple people than by all means.

If you can't to committed rrelationships dont. But don't get mad when people are hurt and upset by your choice.

[BigRo]

http://www.truthbeknown.com/   

[Primemuscle]

An apple? Where did you learn that?

You're asking me why God said don't do one thing, He had one rule in the garden and your question is why? Yet after the exile from the garden He established books of rules and law and everyone wants to question why there are so many?

Then Jesus came and taught us to love our neighbor as ourself, to treat others as we want to be treated and even that is to hard to follow.

So I guess what we've really learned is ultimately people do what they want,  regardless of rules and laws. The consequences will eventually be determined ....

I am not sure what you mean in your opening paragraph. In retrospect, I first leaned this in Sunday school, like many of us did. It could have been any fruit, indeed it could have been anything. No one really knows. It is simply what many were taught....it is symbolic.

Did I ask why? I don't believe I did.

The consequences of what we do, either good or bad, are in the here and now.  

[Man of Steel]

An apple? Where did you learn that?

You're asking me why God said don't do one thing, He had one rule in the garden and your question is why? Yet after the exile from the garden He established books of rules and law and everyone wants to question why there are so many?

Then Jesus came and taught us to love our neighbor as ourself, to treat others as we want to be treated and even that is to hard to follow.

So I guess what we've really learned is ultimately people do what they want,  regardless of rules and laws. The consequences will eventually be determined ....

LOL!!! Exactly