The Gospel of Jesus vs The Gospel of Paul

Originally posted by @jacob-verville
Usually your only role here is to interrogate others on their beliefs.

Whether that's a fair characterization of my participation here or not, I have now laid out a tranche of "ideology" with scarcely a question to be seen ~ and how have you responded?

Originally posted by @jacob-verville
Methinks you dislike the very idea of discussing y our own views because it really does take a bajillion times more effort.

If not discussing my views, what is it we are doing now? I don't really get this line of criticism in the circumstances of this thread.

Originally posted by @fmf
Each of us has a unique narrative to which we are the only witness. That narrative delineates our each and every 'personhood'. Our capacity for abstraction is the basis for the human spirit. It is part and parcel of the human condition that many of us will find these faculties that enable us to contemplate and philosophize will lead to conjecture about supernat ...[text shortened]... ies - or "spirits" - in supernatural terms. That is a 2 minute version of my notion of "spirit".

Did you edit this? Because what I read previously in your answer was much longer and delved into the spirit’s influence on personality (among other things.) It was, frankly, a much more interesting answer but left exposed your position that accepting Christ is purely an activity of the brain/mind.

Originally posted by @fmf
[b]Then what is your notion of a soul or spirit?

I think as humans ~ whether we be theists or atheists ~ we are endowed with a capacity for projecting ourselves in abstract ways and also we are affected and influenced and shaped by the abstract projections of other people.

Added to this, we clearly have individual spirits ~ perhaps the same thing tha ...[text shortened]... I think this 12 minute answer addresses your question 'What is your notion of a soul or spirit?'[/b]

Ah. This is what I was looking for. Disregard previous question about whether you edited this post.

Originally posted by @romans1009
You’re assuming that believers will openly attribute misfortune in their lives to God and share that opinion with you. On the occasions when I have felt I was being chastised by the Lord (or unfairly punished,) I was loathe to share that with anyone.
BTW, the Lord scourges every son he receives and tries our faith by means of adversity and affliction

Well, our life journeys and experiences differ markedly then because I feel your "we humans" generalization about religious people, about Christians and Muslims in particular, is not valid.

Originally posted by @jacob-verville
It is an interesting tactic, certainly, to discuss the prayers of Muslims versus the prayers of Christians, with the assumption that God does not answer prayers of one group but would do so for the other group, and so one group is simply lying or mass hallucinating when speaking of the veracity of their tprayers coming true.

It reminds me of a co ...[text shortened]... e a Jew, but his prayer was essentially answered.

Like so.

What do you think about that?

He had faith in Christ. Whether he was a Jew or baptized was not relevant. His faith in Christ was all that mattered.

Originally posted by @romans1009
Did you edit this? Because what I read previously in your answer was much longer and delved into the spirit’s influence on personality (among other things.) It was, frankly, a much more interesting answer but left exposed your position that accepting Christ is purely an activity of the brain/mind.

I am completely open about how "accepting Christ", or any comparable religious beliefs, is in my view "purely an activity of the brain/mind". I make no secret of it and never have. In fact, I have probably talked about it or alluded to it hundreds of times. How do you feel this is a position that is now somehow "exposed"?

Originally posted by @fmf
Could you not glean it from the piece of writing you are responding to?

I contend that our human spirit is the only "spirit" we have. What I reject, I suppose, is what is manifested by religionists when they pick up the "human spirit” ball and run with it in the direction of conjecture and hope regarding the supernatural.

Surrendering the words “spirit” ...[text shortened]... to discuss it because they don't have spirituality and don’t understand what spirits/souls are.

Do you have any thoughts about where the human spirit came from? Presumably you believe in the theory of evolution to explain the existence of humans. If so, what evolutionary process led to the human spirit? What evolutionary advantage is gained by humans possessing a spirit?
BTW, thank you for your previous responses re: whether you think man has a soul or spirit. Would like to delve into that manana when so likely will have more time.

Originally posted by @fmf
I am completely open about how "accepting Christ", or any comparable religious beliefs, is in my view "purely an activity of the brain/mind". I make no secret of it and never have. In fact, I have probably talked about it or alluded to it hundreds of times. How do you feel this is a position that is now somehow "exposed"?

What is the purpose of the human spirit then? What purpose/function does it have in your view?

Originally posted by @jacob-verville
I just suggest you be very bold, honest, and what have you. Be courageous when you choose words.

Courage is the virtue that makes all other virtues possible, and it is the virtue by which we can liberate ourselves from our other shortcomings, so even if this isn't vital to your personal well being to use courageous, assertive words, you should still just do it.

Just a suggestion to put into your suggestion box.

You recently dug a bit of a pit for yourself in the debates forum whereby you were called out for seemingly holding racist views, I tackled you on this myself. You subsequently decided and announced (at least to me) that you were not going to return to that thread and defend you position. Is that the type of courageousness, virtue and liberation you are referring to?

Originally posted by @romans1009
Do you have any thoughts about where the human spirit came from? Presumably you believe in the theory of evolution to explain the existence of humans. If so, what evolutionary process led to the human spirit?

Don't know really. Greater minds than mine are working on this. I don't find credible the answer that religionists settle for.

Originally posted by @romans1009
What evolutionary advantage is gained by humans possessing a spirit?.

You mean what advantage is gained by the exercise of the capacity for abstraction and other faculties? Well, there is the development morality, for example, which governs the interactions between humans and therefore increases the chances of survival.

Originally posted by @romans1009
What is the purpose of the human spirit then? What purpose/function does it have in your view?

Isn't this the more or less the same question again?

Originally posted by @fmf
You mean what advantage is gained by the exercise of the capacity for abstraction and other faculties? Well, there is the development morality, for example, which governs the interactions between humans and therefore increases the chances of survival.

The development of morality among humans doesn’t have to be linked to a spirit within them, does it? Isn’t simple experience enough?

Originally posted by @romans1009
The development of morality among humans doesn’t have to be linked to a spirit within them, does it? Isn’t simple experience enough?

I am working here with my definition of "spirit" and the "human spirit". The faculties and consciousness that this refers to certainly are needed for the development and existence of human morality as we know it. Your Christian perception of these faculties and consciousness residing in individuals as a "soul" or "spirit" with a supernatural dimension is something I do not subscribe to. However, the competing conjectures that we have are both rooted in our "spiritual" dimension [as I define it] while yours is religionist and mine is non-religionist.