Free Gift

Originally posted by dj2becker
Who of you would turn down a free gift from somebody you don't know?

If so discuss why?

see also

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pascal-wager/

Originally posted by dj2becker
Who of you would turn down a free gift from somebody you don't know?

If so discuss why?

Nothing is for free.....everything comes with a price

Originally posted by dj2becker
Who of you would turn down a free gift from somebody you don't know?

If so discuss why?

Oh if only I could deliver a brown lunch sack to your door that said 'Free Gift' on it. I wouldn't even have to set it on fire to get you to fall for it.

Originally posted by dj2becker
Who of you would turn down a free gift from somebody you don't know?

If so discuss why?

It's like those telemarketers.

TM: "Hello. I'm calling to congratulate you on winning a free gift."

Me: "Uh . . . you know I can't talk right . . ."

TM: "Sir, all you have to do is choose between a watch or a hand-held TV. Now which would you prefer?"

Me: "Hypothetically? TV I guess."

TM: "Great! Now we just need to get some information so that we know where to mail your new TV! Mailing address?"

Me: "I really don't want the TV . . ."

TM: "Ok, I'll put you down for the watch. Do you like magazines?"

Me: "What?"

TM: "We have over 300 different magazines. You buy just two subscriptions at 50% of the regular cover price, and we'll give you an additional free subscription of your choice. Do you like Playboy?"

Me: "I suppose, but I don't want a subscription."

TM: "ESPN? Maxim? Good Housekeeping?"

Me: "I don't want magazines. Thank you for your offer but I . . ."

TM: "If you hang up now, we can't send you your free watch."

Me: "That's fine I don't want the watch."

TM: "TV? Penthouse? Discount Vitamins? Life Insurance?"

Me: "No thanks. Bye."

TM: "Thank you for your time, sir."

Me: "Ok. No problem. Good bye."

TM: "Talk to you tomorrow."

Originally posted by telerion
It's like those telemarketers.

TM: "Hello. I'm calling to congratulate you on winning a free gift."

Me: "Uh . . . you know I can't talk right . . ."

TM: "Sir, all you have to do is choose between a watch or a hand-held TV. Now which would you prefer?"

Me: "Hypothetically? TV I guess."

TM: "Great! Now we just need to get so ...[text shortened]... r your time, sir."

Me: "Ok. No problem. Good bye."

TM: "Talk to you tomorrow."

LOL!

I especially like the last line...Talk to you tomorrow!

LOL!

Check these out:

http://www.jimflorentine.com/download.htm

Nemesio

Originally posted by kirksey957
Is this a question or a sermon? I get solicitations over the phone all the time of something I "just can't live without." Here is an actual verbatim of one I had today.

Caller: "Hello, sir. I have a wonderful offer for you - a $500 shopping spree.

Me: Great! Thanks so much. Just send me the money and I will look forward to spending it.

C ...[text shortened]... (click)


Listen to me carefully. Nothing is free. You have to work for stuff you want.

Nothing is free

I bet you'll soon be paying tax on the oxygen you're breathing 😀

Originally posted by dj2becker
Who of you would turn down a free gift from somebody you don't know?

If so discuss why?

I might. I might wonder what the other person's ulterior motive was. It might be a gift I don't want.

Originally posted by Serendipity
Nothing is for free.....everything comes with a price

How many dollars did you have to cough up when your mother gave birth to you?

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
I might. I might wonder what the other person's ulterior motive was. It might be a gift I don't want.

So if you were busy drowning and somebody you didn't know presented you with a gift in the form of a life-jacket, you'd question their motive?

Originally posted by dj2becker
Who of you would turn down a free gift from somebody you don't know?

If so discuss why?

dj2,

i think the concept of 'gift' that you employ with respect to salvation is warped. a free gift can certainly be declined without negative ramifications...something along the lines of the following exchange:

two people meet, one carrying a free gift:
--hello, how are you today? would you like a free gift?
--no, but thank you.
--okay. have a nice day then.
then the two merrily part ways.

can this exchange happen between me and god? if i politely decline salvation from god, are there negative consequences i must face? from what i can tell of your world view, i cannot politely (or impolitely) decline this 'free gift' from god without facing eternal damnation in the fires of hell. that's kind of a stiff penalty for declining a 'free gift' that i didn't want in the first place. this concept of salvation is more like a stiff ultimatum, not a 'free gift'.

i've heard some people characterize salvation in a more fitting fashion: something like you're drowning in a river and someone voluntarily offers you their hand to pull you out (they don't have to help you out, but they do willingly; they also don't grab you, they only offer the opportunity for you to make effort and take their able hand). i think this analogy is vastly better than your construction.

the free gift thing is making you look like a greedy bastard looking for a handout -- and i think you are doing a disservice to your religion since you are implying that faith should be grounded on the perception of personal reward alone.

Originally posted by dj2becker
So if you were busy drowning and somebody you didn't know presented you with a gift in the form of a life-jacket, you'd question their motive?

I didn't say that.

Originally posted by LemonJello
dj2,

i think the concept of 'gift' that you employ with respect to salvation is warped. a free gift can certainly be declined without negative ramifications...something along the lines of the following exchange:

two people meet, ...[text shortened]... should be grounded on the perception of personal reward alone.

Are you jumping to some very wierd conclusions. I have not once compared my first analogy to 'salvation'. Besides, my first analogy is not at all totally fitting with my idea of salvation, although it might just reveal a single aspect thereof.

(I must agree my fist analogy was rather vague)

Originally posted by dj2becker
Are you jumping to some very wierd conclusions. I have not once compared my first analogy to 'salvation'. Besides, my first analogy is not at all totally fitting with my idea of salvation, although it might just reveal a single aspect thereof.

(I must agree my fist analogy was rather vague)

So instead of attempting to be cryptic by asking silly questions, why don't you enter the debate with a solid stance which you can defend and take opinions from. What exactly was the point of your question?

Originally posted by dj2becker
I have not once compared my first analogy to 'salvation'. Besides, my first analogy is not at all totally fitting with my idea of salvation, although it might just reveal a single aspect thereof.

You must really have a low opinion of the posters in this forum.

Originally posted by Starrman
So instead of attempting to be cryptic by asking silly questions, why don't you enter the debate with a solid stance which you can defend and take opinions from. What exactly was the point of your question?

If I came in with a strong stance I may have got no reply. 😀

OK. The point of my question at first was just to get your take on any unspecified gift. I was planing on bringing in another analogy later on. But I guess you just spoilt the surprise element. 🙁