So why doesnt God appear every now and again?

[Dr Dutch]

THERE IS NO GOD, IT'S MEDIEVAL BULL.....WAKE UP THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY. 

[SF1900]

A fucking eternal all loving god would never allow slavery, the fact that your god changes with the times is again exactly in line with it being a book of fiction written by bloodthirsty idiots.

Exactly. The fact that a master would get killed for beating his slave still doesn't make slavery right.

Trying to justify slavery because the master gets punished for knocking a slaves tooth out.

Ive said it once and I will say it again: religion corrupts the mind.

[Man of Steel]

the foreknowledge argument makes absolutely no sense, how can I make a choice if he knows what I will do? that would be the action is crystallized ie not fluid as you are suggesting. So he knows he will do it, but the person is just deluded into thinking they have choice, really it's all known.

if it's a definite choice, it's not a choice, the definition of definite indicates this.

God works within the confines of our lives allowing his law to guide us as a schoolmaster.  His law is the path to righteousness, but in truth in it leads us to Christ.  He's repeatedly allowed men to walk in defiance and has attempted to lead them from that defiance into the truth of his righteousness.

Well you ignore the customs and implications associated with them so no big surprise you'd casually dismiss all of it.  I mean hey, if doesn't fit your argument!

Yes God knew the young men would do this before it happened and he allowed them to choose to do what they did..he didn't force them.  I serve God daily and all sorts of bad things happen to me all the time.  My truck was in a wreck on Monday of this week.  My grandmother died from a brutal fall a few weeks back.  Hail destroyed a ton of property for my folks, mother in law and best friends this week.  Bad things happen all the time to all sorts of people.  Back in November 2015 we watched a family friend slowly die of cancer in front of his wife and daughters.  All these examples happened to believers.  For me every bad incident is merely an opportunity to watch God work and to draw closer to his will.  I'm getting to the point in which with each difficult circumstance I almost smile and think, "how are you gonna dazzle me this time Lord?"  And he does.

Foreknowledge is a facet of total knowledge (omniscience).  God knows all things past, present and future.   His foreknowledge is not “force”knowledge….it doesn’t force your choices or his will upon you.  Knowledge in and of itself is benign.  It doesn't force you to act, but you can make choices based upon the knowledge you have.   If you want pizza ,then you eat pizza.   His foreknowledge is inerrant only because he’s aware of the definite choices you will make.   Your argument could applied to any situation whether it's perceived as good or bad.  Again, foreknowledge is not forceknowledge.....no divine power is used by God to make you act like his puppet. 

I often know how my daughter is going to act or respond in a situation, but that knowledge didn't force her to choose to act in a manner I knew she would....she did it all by herself.

[bigmc]

man of steel must be trolling

no decent human being would defend slavery based on the different customs argument

he is the one truly walking with sin in this thread

hopefully he wont set some bears on me 

[Man of Steel]

10pints, still awaiting your unanswered questions.

MOS,

I have particularly enjoyed watching you avoid questions from myself and Bigmc. Questions which cut to the very core of your ludicrous arguments. I expect similar deflections in your response (if any) to this question:

If i told you that i believed that Ronald Dean Coleman was 100% natural at the "O" in 2000, and that the Weiders had confirmed this as being true (and they subsequently published it in scripture). Could it be false?

Please, list your questions and I will give answers where I am able to.

You want to know if Ronnie Coleman's natural claims were confirmed as true and then subsequently published (or that claim added) in scripture could it be false? 

Yes.  All sorts of uninspired words have been written and attempted to made part of the canon of scripture.

Follow up questions: 

Why would Ronnie Coleman's natural claims be included in scripture?   
So if it was confirmed as true what is the issue with the claim? 
Are you wanting to falsify the claim in some way? 
Do you want to find a means to deny the confirmation? 
Is it because the claim itself is too fantastic for you to do on your own so you can't reason or accept it? 

Again, please provide your questions or bigmc's questions that were unanswered.  Remember, there's one of me typically responding to 5-8 of y'all.

Atheists for years tell me "it's fun watching you avoid my questions"....par for the course prodding.  I don't avoid anything, but I might miss stuff sure.  So, then I just answer the questions when they are presented again.  Sometimes someone asks the same question so I only respond to one of the questions. 

[bigmc]

mos i have a serious question for you

did this god thing start out of some traumatic event

maybe a near death experience or losing someone close to you ?

[Man of Steel]

mos i have a serious question for you

did this god thing start out of some traumatic event

maybe a near death experience or losing someone close to you ?

Yes, near death experience I had 5 years ago.  I survived.  Surrendered my life humbly to God.  Holy Spirit of God instantly filled the room I was in with the thickest, most tangible, awesome presence and divine experience I've ever had.  These demonstrations of his presence and reality have continued ever since.   Left me a man on fire for God and changed forever.  Experienced some wonderful, sweet, private moments of prayer and worship with just me and Lord during my recovery!

I proclaim his reality today, help others understand his word, grow in knowledge and understanding myself and give reasons for hope within me.

[Raymondo]

Yes, near death experience I had 5 years ago.  I survived.  Surrendered my life humbly to God.  Holy Spirit of God instantly filled the room I was in with the thickest, most tangible, awesome presence and divine experience I've ever had.  These demonstrations of his presence and reality have continued ever since.   Left me a man on fire for God and changed forever.  Experienced some wonderful, sweet, private moments of prayer and worship with just me and Lord during my recovery!

I proclaim his reality today, help others understand his word, grow in knowledge and understanding myself and give reasons for hope within me.

If you're referring to the blood clot, I remember you were already a fully committed Christian at the time. I could be mistaken.

[Man of Steel]

If you're referring to the blood clot, I remember you were already a fully committed Christian at the time. I could be mistaken.

Yes, that almost killed me....one foot in the grave.

I was your classic nominal Christian....nothing about me said "that guy is a Christian".  It was all fake.  I constantly questioned "is all this God stuff real?"    It was as if it was constantly replayed in my mind over and over.  I used foul language like it was going out of style, I was smoking, drinking, partying, indulging in pornography, adulterous behavior, stealing, hate, anger, greed, envy, lust...about the only thing I didn't do was murder someone.  I was pathetic.

I was raised in a Christian home, but to my great shame not at all a Christian and acted like a fool.

[Raymondo]

Yes, that almost killed me....one foot in the grave.

I was your classic nominal Christian....nothing about me said "that guy is a Christian".  It was all fake.  I constantly questioned "is all this God stuff real?"    It was as if it was constantly replayed in my mind over and over.  I used foul language like it was going out of style, I was smoking, drinking, partying, indulging in pornography, adulterous behavior, stealing, hate, anger, greed, envy, lust...about the only thing I didn't do was murder someone.  I was pathetic.

I was raised in a Christian home, but to my great shame not at all a Christian and acted like a fool.

Ok, fair enough. It seems you turned your life around, this is admirable if nothing else.

*edit* If you don't do any of the above, what do you do for fun?

[Alfurinn]

Yes, that almost killed me....one foot in the grave.

I was your classic nominal Christian....nothing about me said "that guy is a Christian".  It was all fake.  I constantly questioned "is all this God stuff real?"    It was as if it was constantly replayed in my mind over and over.  I used foul language like it was going out of style, I was smoking, drinking, partying, indulging in pornography, adulterous behavior, stealing, hate, anger, greed, envy, lust...about the only thing I didn't do was murder someone.  I was pathetic.

I was raised in a Christian home, but to my great shame not at all a Christian and acted like a fool.

Does it ever happen to you that certain bible passages sound irrational or that put you in a difficult situation when trying to judge the morality of such passage?

[SupplementGuy]

Does it ever happen to you that certain bible passages sound irrational or that put you in a difficult situation when trying to judge the morality of such passage?

That happens to every seeker of truth imho. Prayer and more research helps to understand the meaning behind each. Some things are literal, some symbolic,  some prophetic .

[Man of Steel]

Does it ever happen to you that certain bible passages sound irrational or that put you in a difficult situation when trying to judge the morality of such passage?

Of course.   Study, study, study....pray, pray, pray.

After I began understanding one difficult passage and another and another....and then 20 and 50 I realized I can have confidence in the word and trust in it.  It became easier and easier to understand scripture.

I read a ton and still do.  People think I pull stuff out of the air LOL.

The hours I've studied and read and written and prayed and listened....things have become clearer and clearer.

Today I continue to pray for more and more understanding of his word.

[bigmc]

Yes, near death experience I had 5 years ago.  I survived.  Surrendered my life humbly to God.  Holy Spirit of God instantly filled the room I was in with the thickest, most tangible, awesome presence and divine experience I've ever had.  These demonstrations of his presence and reality have continued ever since.   Left me a man on fire for God and changed forever.  Experienced some wonderful, sweet, private moments of prayer and worship with just me and Lord during my recovery!

I proclaim his reality today, help others understand his word, grow in knowledge and understanding myself and give reasons for hope within me.

that makes sense

its your way of dealing with your mortality

the fear of death being offset by the promise of eternity in paradise

some of us just learn to live with it

we have an inner strength that doesnt require that coping mechanism

its not a coincidence that people that turn out like you have usually had a near death experience

if it gives you comfort great

just accept that some of us dont need that crutch to get through life

[Costanza]

that makes sense

its your way of dealing with your mortality

the fear of death being offset by the promise of eternity in paradise

some of us just learn to live with it

we have an inner strength that doesnt require that coping mechanism

its not a coincidence that people that turn out like you have usually had a near death experience

if it gives you comfort great

just accept that some of us dont need that crutch to get through life

Candidate for Post of The Year.

[Alfurinn]

That happens to every seeker of truth imho. Prayer and more research helps to understand the meaning behind each. Some things are literal, some symbolic,  some prophetic .

How do you determine what is literal, what symbolic and what prophetic?
Could you tell us how praying tells you what is what and if you also use another method for corroboration afterwards?

[10pints]

10pints, still awaiting your unanswered questions.

Then general gist of what I am inferring, is that: just because something is written down, and promoted as being true, doesn't make it so.

My example is no different to what has happened with the bible. Except in the case of the bible, it has multiple authors, who have amended the story over the ages.

[Man of Steel]

that makes sense

its your way of dealing with your mortality

the fear of death being offset by the promise of eternity in paradise

some of us just learn to live with it

we have an inner strength that doesnt require that coping mechanism

its not a coincidence that people that turn out like you have usually had a near death experience

if it gives you comfort great

just accept that some of us dont need that crutch to get through life

This cliche is actually the opposite of my situation and my experience.

[Necrosis]

This cliche is actually the opposite of my situation and my experience.

Yes, but that's the problem, your experience, you cannot see yourself objectively, your experience is not enough.Everyone looking from the outside could tell hitler is nuts, everyone looking at your situation can see the writings on the wall, whatever you inner thoughts and world may tell you. You could be deluded, have you considered this? seriously considered the possibility that the euphoria and transcendent experience you had wasn't just the rush of endorphins as you believed you had cracked the code to life, so shortly after almost losing it all. Such a realization must be life changing, that you honestly believe you have it figured out, that you know what you can't (what happens when we die), you have successfully circumvented the existential reality those with dissonance experience. You no longer suffer the human experience, it's fleeting, you feel comfort, finality and a sense of overall well being... things will be ok.

I could understand why this is intoxicating, why it would motivate, you feel enlightened, and in essence are. Perception is reality, your perception is a glorious one, the best one could hope for.

[Man of Steel]

Yes, but that's the problem, your experience, you cannot see yourself objectively, your experience is not enough.Everyone looking from the outside could tell hitler is nuts, everyone looking at your situation can see the writings on the wall, whatever you inner thoughts and world may tell you. You could be deluded, have you considered this? seriously considered the possibility that the euphoria and transcendent experience you had wasn't just the rush of endorphins as you believed you had cracked the code to life, so shortly after almost losing it all. Such a realization must be life changing, that you honestly believe you have it figured out, that you know what you can't (what happens when we die), you have successfully circumvented the existential reality those with dissonance experience. You no longer suffer the human experience, it's fleeting, you feel comfort, finality and a sense of overall well being... things will be ok.

I could understand why this is intoxicating, why it would motivate, you feel enlightened, and in essence are. Perception is reality, your perception is a glorious one, the best one could hope for.

I read what you wrote, but it's not correct.  Not endorphins causing a deluded euphoria.  I don't mind the you suggesting it though as an option.

I read what bigmc wrote too, but it's backwards as I said.

[Man of Steel]

Then general gist of what I am inferring, is that: just because something is written down, and promoted as being true, doesn't make it so.

My example is no different to what has happened with the bible. Except in the case of the bible, it has multiple authors, who have amended the story over the ages.

What are your questions and bigmc's questions you got a kick out of me avoiding answering?

[Man of Steel]

Candidate for Post of The Year.

Well, if it was correct.

[Conker]

Of course.   Study, study, study....pray, pray, pray.

After I began understanding one difficult passage and another and another....and then 20 and 50 I realized I can have confidence in the word and trust in it.  It became easier and easier to understand scripture.

I read a ton and still do.  People think I pull stuff out of the air LOL.

The hours I've studied and read and written and prayed and listened....things have become clearer and clearer.

Today I continue to pray for more and more understanding of his word.

i believe in god and class myself as a christian. but this is just taking things too far like the rest of the religious fanatics.

vanity is apparently a sin. so why would god want his 'children' to spend so much time praising him and worshipping him...is he that vain?

if you're a parent you want your children to grow up and be good people, do unto others as you would have done unto them and all that. but what parent would be so vain that they wanted their children to spend hours worshipping them?

look at the church and how much wealth it holds onto. from my memory of learning about jesus, he never wanted anything material, he gave everything he had away...so why is the church amassing all this wealth, look at all the opulence on display in the vatican...

organised religion has completely lost it's way.

[bigmc]

I read what you wrote, but it's not correct.  Not endorphins causing a deluded euphoria.  I don't mind the you suggesting it though as an option.

I read what bigmc wrote too, but it's backwards as I said.

i realise you think i am out my "depth"

however i would ask you to consider what i said objectively

we never feel more alive than when we dance with death and survive

its also very difficult for us to get our head round the concept that when we die thats it

religion solves that problem

but you have to accept that you believe you dont know

and what you claim to be facts have been argued the other way just as convincingly by very intelligent people

you fall down when you move the goal posts

the bears story is a classic

shifting the sands to make it seem less ridiculous

religion is largely responsible for more death in the world than anything else

fanatics like you are dangerous

[Man of Steel]

Ok, fair enough. It seems you turned your life around, this is admirable if nothing else.

*edit* If you don't do any of the above, what do you do for fun?

For fun?  Protest abortion clinics, make "God hates fag" posters for Westboro Baptist church, burn science books in my front yard, go to gay pride parades and tell folks they're going to hell, brainwash young kids at Christian bible camps, find ways to make slavery happen again, hunt for Canaanites, work on my ark project, recreate the Passion of the Christ, stand on street corners and scream at people and point out their sins, read the New Testament over and over and over and over front to back and back to front...the usual stuff.  

Seriously, hang out with family, take wife on dates, have family "date nights", hang out with friends, bbq, lift weights, watch movies, watch sports, read, go on vacations....stuff like that.