Originally posted by no1marauderI also quoted Old Testament. I don't think you should restrict yourself to the first four books of the New Testament. If you want to understand the Gospel, and the words of Christ, you need to understand it in terms of the whole Bible. Scripture does not differentiate between Christ and the Word and Scripture. All are meant for learning about God and man.
Two quotes from Jesus in that whole post and neither supports your contention that man's nature is vile or evil or that we all merit more suffering on Earth than we receive. Matthew 15 talks of evil thoughts which lead to va ...[text shortened]... ng the Sermon on the Mount (you've heard of that, haven't you?).
Do you beleive that only some parts of the Bible are God's Word? Do you restrict your knowledge to the sermon on the mount?
I would like to thank those of you who have offered your thoughts on this matter. I very much appreciate the respectful tone of many posts.
I would like to encourage any new posters to stay closer to the thought that started this thread. Why do some have so much while others have so little? And the question which arose from that: What is the flaw in man's understanding that prevents action to allievate the suffering?
Just a suggestion: maybe we could refrain from engaging in judgements about other peoples thoughts?
Originally posted by AynatThe pure and simple is the flaw in Man is that he thinks he can live without God.
I would like to thank those of you who have offered your thoughts on this matter. I very much appreciate the respectful tone of many posts.
I would like to encourage any new posters to stay closer to the thought that started this thread. Why do some have so much while others have so little? And the question which arose from that: What is the flaw in man's ...[text shortened]... t a suggestion: maybe we could refrain from engaging in judgements about other peoples thoughts?
That's akin to a fish trying to live without water. It just suffers and will eventually die.
Through Christ, this world could turn around. But man won't see this for the most part until the Son of Man returns to set things straight.
Originally posted by ColettiActually, I don't "believe" any of the Bible is God's word. However, I would think that people who describes themselves as a "Christian" would be most interested in the words of Christ. It constantly amazes me how seldom the right wing "Christians" on this site use Jesus' words; I would guess the ratio of times they quote the words of Paul to the Word of Jesus is about 10:1. It is a standard concept in law that the words of the principle are preferred to the words of an agent when interpreting a document; I suspect that Jesus' words are not used that much by "Christians" because he rejects your central tenet that mankind is by nature vile and evil.
I also quoted Old Testament. I don't think you should restrict yourself to the first four books of the New Testament. If you want to understand the Gospel, and the words of Christ, you need to understand it in terms of the whole Bible. Scripture does not differentiate between Christ and the Word and Scripture. All are meant for learning about God and ma ...[text shortened]... parts of the Bible are God's Word? Do you restrict your knowledge to the sermon on the mount?
Originally posted by AynatQuite simple. You are wealthy and powerful. Your wealth and power gives you access to resources. Someone (of equal merit) in sub Saharan Africa does your wealth or power and their share of the world's resourse (in part) flow to you.
I don't understand why I get to sit in my nice little apartment with my wonderful dog waiting for a pizza to come out of the oven in front of my dated little old laptop and enjoy the company of people on-line as I play. I don't understand why I have a car and a job and extra clothing, a box of beads and lots of books........
Why did I get this life of pr ...[text shortened]... nd, why do some who have so much think they have so little? I am not just talking money here....
On the other hand, if you believe in the jesus cult its because you're a better person and god is looking after his boys (and girls)