Tony Steed - I do wish people would realize that their
fate and destiny on this world is in their own hands, not some entity. You've
got a lot more impact on your own life than you think you do. When
bad things happen, they aren't tests. They're just bad things.
When good things happen, it isn't a blessing, it's the law
of averages. I've been through a lot in my life, and when I was
religious, I attributed it to God. Now I attribute all those good and bad
things to the situations I was in, mostly done at my own persistence or
resistance. You are more likely to be helped by those that care for
you, and even the random stranger, who APPEARS to be a god send, but really
isn't, to help see you through.
Trust more in your own abilities, but don't get big headed.
Accept help from others when they offer it legitimately. Realize your future is
in your hands alone. You're the ships captain. So go do your thing. Just don't
hurt anybody else while doing it.
Muhammad Rasheed - Tony Steed wrote: "I do wish
people would realize that their fate and destiny on this world is in their own
hands, not some entity."
According to The Entity, the gift of free will gives all
human beings their fate and destiny in this world in their own hands.
Tony Steed - That could be true, but we must define the
entity, then prove the entity to exist, once proven to exist, we must prove the
entity to not be a highly evolved alien entity. THEN and only then can we
decide if said entity belongs to one of the thousands of belief systems on this
particular world. But even then I still would not worship it. It's like a
deadbeat parent.
Muhammad Rasheed - Tony Steed wrote: "That could
be true, but we must define the entity..."
Not necessary. He defined Himself and was kind enough to
reveal the info to us. That will keep us from the awkward position of trying to
figure out a truly unique Being we are literally incapable of understanding.
Tony Steed - Also true. But is he really a he or an it?
Or a them posing as a he or a she? As a student of the stars, there's one thing
I understand. I will never understand everything. But will seek out the things
I can, and am capable of understanding. Eventually the "Gods" WILL be
us. Who knows maybe it was us or another form of life that caused the creation
of this universe. The idea is fascinating to me. Even if the Gods existed, I
would never wish to stay in the heavens under their presence. The Multiverse is
much more intriguing. I'd want to explore the "Gods" creation for
eternity. I'd love to sit in the middle of a black hole and follow it to the
"exit". I'd love to "look" at a Quasar with my own eyes. Me
personally. I don't think i'd be satisfied with a heavenly afterlife.
Tony Steed - I guess I'd have followed Satan, or Hades,
or Prometheus, and Osiris.
Michael Williams - All deities are just energy. Most
people are too stupid to understand and accept it.
Muhammad Rasheed - Tony Steed wrote: “Also true. But is
he really a he or an it?”
Neither. Traditionally we use the male pronouns because of
the status the male has in a patriarchal language, capitalizing them to
differentiate them from the regular pronouns that actually convey “male.” God
is One and is above the concept of duality, so the ‘male’ aspect doesn’t apply
to Him. It’s just a limitation of the language. Likewise we wouldn’t use “it”
because in English ‘it’ designates something that is inferior to humans, and it
would definitely not be appropriate.
Tony Steed wrote: “Or a them posing as a he or a she?”
God said He is One and shares His Godhood with no one. He is
separate from His creation, and all he has created are His servants.
Tony Steed wrote: “As a student of the stars, there's one
thing I understand. I will never understand everything. But will seek out the
things I can, and am capable of understanding. Eventually the "Gods"
WILL be us. Who knows maybe it was us or another form of life that caused the
creation of this universe.”
God knows. And He took the time to explain the matter to us.
We can use science to attempt to figure out the numerous “hows,” but God
already explained the why.
Tony Steed wrote: “The idea is fascinating to me. Even if
the Gods existed, I would never wish to stay in the heavens under their
presence. The Multiverse is much more intriguing. I'd want to explore the
"Gods" creation for eternity. I'd love to sit in the middle of a
black hole and follow it to the "exit". I'd love to "look"
at a Quasar with my own eyes. Me personally. I don't think i'd be satisfied
with a heavenly afterlife.”
We have no idea of what the afterlife will be like, only
weak analogies that can only attempt to give us a tiny peak using concepts that
we are already familiar with. From the glimpses of the creatures in scripture
that are not limited by the inherent shackles of a life of flesh, they seem to
be able to explore the multiverse at will all they wish. The believer will find
out what its like on the other side. From here we don’t have enough to
speculate on; God doesn’t share the secrets of the unseen with us while we are
going through this test.
Muhammad Rasheed - Michael Williams wrote: "All
deities are just energy. Most people are too stupid to understand and accept
it."
How can someone with no certain knowledge of spiritual
concepts, pull a random idea out of thin air and then claim others are stupid
because they don't recognize the fake truth in the random idea he proclaimed?
Muhammad Rasheed - Tony Steed wrote: "I guess I'd
have followed Satan, or Hades, or Prometheus, and Osiris."
Will you forsake the secrets of the universe that you are so
fascinated by? Have a care, Tony.
Muhammad Rasheed - Tony Steed wrote: "You've got a
lot more impact on your own life than you think you do."
That's God's message to mankind. What you do will effect the
quality of your existence, both in this life and in the next.
Tony Steed - Thats the thing. Those "Gods" I
posted were the ones giving us the secrets of the universe. They were more like
teachers, rather than evil. Even Satan could do no harm unless he had God's
permission. The others paid for their gift of knowledge, by having the Gods
punish them. I think i'm one of those willing to be punished to further
mankind. I'd rather worry about the people in front of me, than the reward or
penalty of an afterlife. That's one of the reasons I gave up religion. People
mattered to me more than the Gods, or their whims. It's funny though. The Gods
of the Greeks, and Romans were more open to human thought and the progress of
man. As long as you paid them due, they cared not what we did.
Muhammad Rasheed - Tony Steed wrote: "When bad
things happen, they aren't tests. They're just bad things. When good things
happen, it isn't a blessing, it's the law of averages."
Both good and bad events are tests. If a bad thing happens
to you and you curse God and reject Him and give up on life, then you failed.
If good things happen and you consider it all to be your doing in every way and
never give God His due, basically worshiping yourself, then you failed.
When bad things happen and you pray for God to strengthen
you and patiently persevere through the hardship and work hard to figure out
solutions to make it happen, then you win. If you thank God for the good things
that befall you and share a portion of the good with those who are less
fortunate, then you win.
Tony Steed - I do those now, without thanking or
cursing him. I simply don't believe. I am happy for those who have found a need
for something more than themselves. For me, the people I help are where my
"tests" lay. I'll help a believer as fast as a non believer. I had a
woman once who was purchasing some cleaning supplies in either a wal mart or
target, I was behind her, and her card was declined. It was only like 15 bucks
or so, so I paid for it. To her it may have been something of a test, or some
trial, she did kind of panic. I just said i'll pay for it. It was a person in
need, She thanked God, and asked him to bless me. I told her I was an Atheist,
and said you were in need, no biggie. She thanked me again and left. I don't
know what she was thinking after that. But it was just the human thing to do.
Her bad situation just happened, probably because of something she neglected.
No harm no foul, just a learning thing.
Tony Steed - I do like this discussion though.
Muhammad Rasheed - Tony Steed wrote: “Thats the thing.
Those "Gods" I posted were the ones giving us the secrets of the
universe.”
In His scripture it was the One God who said that He taught
us the use of the pen, and taught us that which we knew not. Over and over He
said it was He who gave us what we need, that He always was here to provide for
us, and why He commands that we bow down and acknowledge it, and that we have
no cause at all for our arrogance. That if He so willed, He could dissolve us
into the component atoms he made us of, and create a whole new species to take
our place, one that will give Him His due.
Tony Steed wrote: “They were more like teachers, rather than
evil.”
God set the matter straight as to what really goes on behind
the scenes when it comes to rebellious spirits that sometimes interact with us,
and what it truly means, and who promises, and who keeps His promises.
Tony Steed wrote: “Even Satan could do no harm unless he had
God's permission. The others paid for their gift of knowledge, by having the
Gods punish them.”
It is God that gives us knowledge through inspiration.
Punishment, and banishment, comes to those who sin.
Tony Steed wrote: “I think i'm one of those willing to be
punished to further mankind. I'd rather worry about the people in front of me,
than the reward or penalty of an afterlife.”
This finite mortal life is the dojo training ground to prepare
us for the eternal true life on the other side of it. That’s like saying you
never want to get a job and become self-sufficient; that you’d rather live in
your mom’s basement and go to middle school for the rest of your life. It has
the same level of seriousness to it.
Tony Steed wrote: “That's one of the reasons I gave up
religion.”
Considering what you confessed you loved and would want to
explore, throwing away your religion will prove to be your undoing. I suggest
you reconsider.
Tony Steed wrote: “People mattered to me more than the Gods,
or their whims.”
The One God is all that matters. It is He that can grant you
the Ultimate Quality of Life you didn’t even know you wanted. How you treat
people in this life is one of the tools for claiming that Ultimate Life, but
there are other major components that come along with it, that you will
seriously damage yourself over if you fail to embrace them.
Tony Steed wrote: “It's funny though. The Gods of the
Greeks, and Romans were more open to human thought and the progress of man. As
long as you paid them due, they cared not what we did.”
The One God has given you the free will to literally do
whatever you set your mind to do in this life. He was merciful enough to
provide instruction as to the path to take in this life that would secure
maximum benefits, but you are free to reject it completely if you wish to; it
won’t harm Him in the least if you do. But know that you will seriously
shortchange yourself.
Andrew Bell - Lol
Muhammad Rasheed - Tony Steed wrote: “I do those now,
without thanking or cursing him. I simply don't believe.”
That’s where the shortchanging yourself comes in at. You
cannot win without God. You wouldn’t be here at all without Him. Why ignore His
manual for success to risk a colossal failure by attempting to reinvent the
wheel yourself?
Tony Steed wrote: “I am happy for those who have found a
need for something more than themselves. For me, the people I help are where my
"tests" lay. I'll help a believer as fast as a non believer. I had a
woman once who was ....”
Why take the time to go out of your way to help people if it
won’t profit you in the long term? If you’re going to play the game, you may as
well play to win it. Why just randomly toss around the pieces on the board, and
uselessly shuffle the fake money in the tray? That’s a waste of time. A waste
of life. You should go ahead and deal yourself in for real and try to win that
trophy while you are putting in all that work along the way.
Muhammad Rasheed - Tony Steed wrote: "I've been
through a lot in my life, and when I was religious, I attributed it to God. Now
I attribute all those good and bad things to the situations I was in, mostly
done at my own persistence or resistance."
It's both.
Muhammad Rasheed - Using our Free Will we make things
happen in our personal lives, and the decisions we make have both physical and
spiritual consequences. When we praise God much and never give up, striving
hard to accomplish difficult tasks while praying for His strengthening, He will
move those items that are out of our reach and opens doors for us... give us
favor. But when we give up, and take bullshit shortcuts, shoot illegal moves,
etc., then we eat the bad of those choices. And sometimes just being on a
geologically volatile planet can catch us, wrecking horrendous damage to our lives,
but it is our attitude when faced with such adversity that alone determines
whether we will be victorious or not at the end of it.
Muhammad Rasheed - Tony Steed wrote: “You are more
likely to be helped by those that care for you, and even the random stranger,
who APPEARS to be a god send, but really isn't, to help see you through.”
How would you know that the goodly stranger isn’t a God send
in people’s lives? How could you possibly know whether that was so or not?
Tony Steed wrote: “Trust more in your own abilities, but
don't get big headed.”
God said to use the abilities He gave you to do your best in
this life and follow the path so that you may prosper, making sure to thank Him
and be among those who are grateful.
Tony Steed wrote: “Accept help from others when they offer
it legitimately.”
And how would they know that?
Tony Steed wrote: “Realize your future is in your hands
alone.”
That’s what Free Will means. No one is controlling you. The
pagans believed their idols were holding them back.
Michael Williams - "No certain knowledge of
spiritual concepts?" That's a mighty big assumption on your part. Do you
claim to have 'certain knowledge'? I've studied more about religion than most
people would even consider. I devour religious texts like a fat kid at a cookie
stand. I am practicing Odinist, though I've grown to hate the terms assigned to
practitioners of various faiths, and have been for roughly 10 years. I meditate
everyday for about an hour, some days 2-3. And I hate to break it to you, but
the concept of God(s) being energy is anything but random. Ever hear of
metaphysics? Do some reading. And I love that term you used, "Fake
Truth". That's perfect for what most religious organizations have rammed
down the throats of the masses for centuries. It's been so firmly lodged in
there, in fact, that it's choked the common sense from the 'devout' and blinded
them with illusions. Tony posted originally on the notion of man having more
power than they realize and this concept is completely lost in the Abrahamic
faiths. Without the Will of man God as "He" is know would not exist.
It has been through the Will's of various men throughout the ages to put the
mythologies of the various faiths to paper to propagate their existence throughout
the world.
Muhammad Rasheed - Michael Williams wrote:
“MRasheed wrote: "No certain knowledge of spiritual
concepts?" "That's a mighty big assumption on your part. Do you claim
to have 'certain knowledge'?”
Of course. The revealed scripture of the One God is my
certain knowledge, and it is exactly what it claims to be. Without doubt.
Michael Williams wrote: “I've studied more about religion
than most people would even consider. I devour religious texts like a fat kid
at a cookie stand.”
Michael you’re 28 years old.
Michael Williams wrote: “I am practicing Odinist…”
That’s called paganism.
Michael Williams wrote: “…though I've grown to hate the
terms assigned to practitioners of various faiths, and have been for roughly 10
years. I meditate everyday for about an hour, some days 2-3.”
To do what?
Michael Williams wrote: “And I hate to break it to you…”
lol
Michael Williams wrote: “…but the concept of God(s) being
energy is anything but random. Ever hear of metaphysics?”
Energy, metaphysics, matter, and any other aspect of this
reality have nothing to do with God. As he said He is the Supreme Creator that
is apart from His creation, and there is nothing like unto Him. You can read
all the science book that have ever been writ, and not once come close to what
God is.
Michael Williams wrote: “Do some reading. And I love that
term you used, "Fake Truth". That's perfect for what most religious
organizations have rammed down the throats of the masses for centuries.”
No, God’s truth is the only truth. Fake truth is paganism,
and any nonsense pseudo-science that pretends it understands the nature of God.
Michael Williams wrote: “It's been so firmly lodged in
there…”
If that were true then the falsehood of paganism would not
exist.
Michael Williams wrote: “…in fact, that it's choked the
common sense from the 'devout' and blinded them with illusions.”
Common sense would be to realize that the Being that created
the very concept of mathematics from scratch, and hung a universe upon it like
a jacket onto a coat hanger, would be so far removed from mere “energy” (a
concept created specifically for this reality) it would cause you to never fix
your mouth to say such foolishness.
Michael Williams wrote: “Tony posted originally on the notion
of man having more power than they realize and this concept is completely lost
in the Abrahamic faiths.”
That’s 100% untrue, and an interesting statement from one
who claimed to study the religions. Free Will is the gift from God that means
you have the liberty to do whatever you want to in this life… anything at all…
and you will only be held accountable once this is all over. If a believer does
not act within his Free Will, it is a limitation he put only upon himself.
Michael Williams wrote: “Without the Will of man God as
"He" is know would not exist.”
Only the narrow pagan mind thinks that way.
Michael Williams wrote: “It has been through the Will's of
various men throughout the ages to put the mythologies of the various faiths to
paper to propagate their existence throughout the world.”
Meanwhile, God told mankind who He was from the beginning,
but waves upon waves of the narrow pagan-minded came along and tried to force
the Supreme Creator into small boxes that they could more easily understand,
like bearded men-imagery, multi-armed fiends, and even “energy.”
Michael Williams - Scripture? Really? That's your
certainty? A book of Mythology? Wow. A strong feeling would have been a better
answer. You're so deluded by Dogma that there is little point in arguing with
you, but I'm feeling feisty, so why not. Oh, and I guess I'll go with the
formatting you're so fond, since you seem incapable of stringing cohesive
thoughts together without breaking them up, though I'm going to be a little
less academic in my wording.
Muhammad Rasheed - Michael Williams wrote: “Scripture?
Really? That's your certainty? A book of Mythology? Wow. A strong feeling would
have been a better answer.”
And that’s the difference between us. You think your 28 year
old feelings trump the Word of God.
Michael Williams wrote: “You're so deluded by Dogma that there
is little point in arguing with you…”
I’m deluded but your feelings have you meditating to odin?
Michael Williams wrote: “…but I'm feeling feisty, so why
not. Oh, and I guess I'll go with the formatting you're so fond…”
You’ll owe me $0.25 ever time you do it, too.
Michael Williams wrote: “…since you seem incapable of
stringing cohesive thoughts together without breaking them up, though I'm going
to be a little less academic in my wording.”
Do you, pagan. Throw down your rod. Let’s see what you have.
Michael Williams - Having an unwillingness to even
entertain the notions brought on by Science mires you further in Dogma and
prevents you from grasping the full breadth of what "God" actually
is. God goes way beyond what any Bible or Preacher says and if more Christians
would pull their heads out of the sand, they would see a far larger and more
splendid word than conceived by the Church.
I get that you might extrapolate that the Abrahamic faiths
are all about the Will of man, but that's a modern concept put forth by the
free thinkers within the church. Doctrine's main focus is the Will of God and
the Will man is an after thought.
Michael Williams - But you're completely indoctrinated.
A "lost cause", so to speak. And I'm sad for you, truly. Ah well,
better luck next life, am I right?
Michael Williams - Be wary of Dogma, for it makes sheep
of men.
Michael Williams - And your damn right my 28 year old
feelings trump the "Word of God". It's a book. Compiled by an awful
man, who pulled things from it, interjected his own ideas, to levy it as a
means of control of the people he ruled. Feeling is the essence of what God
should be. If you don't feel it, if you need the "Word of God" for
your faith to be justified, then you've missed the point entirely.
Muhammad Rasheed - Michael Williams wrote: “Having an
unwillingness to even entertain the notions brought on by Science…”
Actually I love science. But that’s not what we are talking
about here. Science is the effort to reverse engineer how God created the
universe so we can figure it all out. God Himself isn’t science, nor is He a
part of this creation. Trying to force Him to be is a sign of the
narrow-minded.
Michael Williams wrote: “…mires you further in Dogma and prevents
you from grasping the full breadth of what "God" actually is.”
You will never know the full breadth of what God actually
is. You don’t have that ability. None of us do. God is truly unique, and
nothing we have is equipped to understand Him, all we can do is study the
briefest glimpses He revealed of Himself.
Michael Williams wrote: “God goes way beyond what any Bible
or Preacher says…”
Of course He does. That’s why He’s God. He goes way beyond
any measuring instrument mere men can ever devise.
Michael Williams wrote: “…and if more Christians would pull
their heads out of the sand, they would see a far larger and more splendid word
than conceived by the Church.”
Unfortunately, modern Pauline Christianity is a form of
paganism by way of their worship of the messenger that God anointed to preach
His Word.
Michael Williams wrote: “I get that you might extrapolate
that the Abrahamic faiths are all about the Will of man…”
The Abrahamic Faiths were gifts by God to mankind… His
messengers’ systematized wisdom and instruction of what God revealed to us.
Michael Williams wrote: “…but that's a modern concept put
forth by the free thinkers within the church. Doctrine's main focus is the Will
of God and the Will man is an after thought.”
You’re projecting.
Muhammad Rasheed - Michael Williams wrote: “But you're
completely indoctrinated.”
lol I chose my religion for myself.
Michael Williams wrote: “A "lost cause", so to
speak. And I'm sad for you, truly. Ah well, better luck next life, am I right?”
Being lost to the cause of paganism is a win for me, chief.
Michael Williams wrote: “Be wary of Dogma, for it makes
sheep of men.”
The sheep I most often encounter are the ones who discard
their barely understood family religion for a false sense of intelligence by
embracing atheism because “everyone’s doing it” who lack a cohesive argument of
their own as to why they chose that path. More often than not it’s because
sheep are too lazy to do what their Lord commanded of them, so they find it
easier just to proclaim they don’t believe in it.
Michael Williams wrote: “And your damn right my 28 year old
feelings trump the "Word of God".”
You’ll think differently when those same feelings have you
dangling over the Pit.
Michael Williams wrote: “It's a book. Compiled by an awful
man, who pulled things from it, interjected his own ideas, to levy it as a
means of control of the people he ruled. Feeling is the essence of what God
should be. If you don't feel it, if you need the "Word of God" for
your faith to be justified, then you've missed the point entirely.”
lol smh
So is this the extent of your argument, Michael?
Michael Williams wrote: “Yes, I'm 28. What does that have to
do with anything? Are you asserting that because of my age I couldn't possibly
have any idea what I'm talking about?”
Absolutely. For example, the post above that one was the
most idiotic thing I’ve ever read on Facebook.
Michael Williams - So sad. So very, very sad. Though I
would like to point out the use of the phrase "Family Religion". My
ancestry hails from Northern Europe. Odin is
in my blood and embrace that. The Christian lies made my spirit I'll and I
sought a deeper truth and found my way to the teachings of the Aesir and
Vanir. A faith far older than any of the Abrahamic texts. Granted my beliefs
are far from literal and very much a sibling to my scientific beliefs.
And the fact that you have nothing but "smh" to
say in regard to my views on your so called "Word of God" speaks
volumes. Dogma, dogma, everywhere but no sense to be found. But,
regardless of your archaic authoritarian views I still wish nothing but peace
and love for you. For everyone, really. An end to suffering from the binds of
illusion. Sig Ansuz. Sig Wunjo. Sowilo, hailjà !
Muhammad Rasheed - Michael Williams wrote: “So sad. So
very, very sad. Though I would like to point out the use of the phrase
"Family Religion". My ancestry hails from Northern
Europe. Odin is in my blood and embrace that.”
Is Dr. Seuss also in your “blood?” Or Sesame Street? That’s on the same
level of seriousness.
Michael Williams wrote: “The Christian lies made my spirit
I'll and I sought a deeper truth and found my way to the teachings of the Aesir
and Vanir.”
Any lies within Christianity are a light dusting on top of
the truth of God’s Word. There is no truth at all within paganism.
Michael Williams wrote: “A faith far older than any of the
Abrahamic texts.”
The texts themselves are relatively new, but the message
they contain are far older, and go back to the First Family of mankind as they
describe. Paganism came after the true message and represents a taint to tempt
the foolish and narrow-minded.
Michael Williams wrote: “Granted my beliefs are far from
literal and very much a sibling to my scientific beliefs.”
1.) Paganism has nothing to do with science in anyway.
2.) Your “scientific beliefs” is very telling.
Michael Williams wrote: “And the fact that you have nothing
but "smh" to say in regard to my views on your so called "Word
of God" speaks volumes.”
Well, what can I say to someone who believes their 28 year
old little feelings are more important than the civilizing ideals of humankind
that we built entire societies around? Your feelings will cause you to date
rape some poor girl, to run in fear from an unarmed black man who is just going
to the store, to not feel like getting up and taking care of a household chore
because of laziness, etc. Your feelings don’t mean anything and barely have
value even to you.
Michael Williams wrote: “Dogma, dogma, everywhere but no
sense to be found.”
You wouldn’t know ‘sense’ if it had only one eye and rode in
on a goat-drawn war cart.
Michael Williams wrote: “But, regardless of your archaic
authoritarian views…”
A minute ago you were bragging about how old your worthless
paganistic views were, but now you’re taking a dig at my archaic views? I think
you managed to outrun your own flimsy version of ‘sense.’
Michael Williams wrote: “I still wish nothing but peace and
love for you.”
I guess that explains why your first post was a
passive-aggressive insult. That’s what I expected “peace & love” would look
like from a pagan. You may keep them.
Michael Williams - So, it's silly of me to follow the
teachings of my ancestry, but perfectly okay for you to go a faith cause it's
your 'family religion'. Your lack of respect for heritage is staggering.
I will admit that there are some truths within the Bible.
The teachings of the Christ figure, about love and treating others as you would
treat yourself, that stuff is solid Gold. But there are quite a few bits that
are just awful and anyone who accepts them as part of 'Gods Truth' is just as
awful. Like...let's see....1 Timothy 2:12, 1 Samuel 15:3, Exodus 22:18, Psalm
137:9, or the entire book of Leviticus, to name a few. Besides that the so
called 'truth' was so convoluted by the men who compiled it that it can barely
be assessed as a coherent mythology, much less any great Truth. I mean come
one, there are about 18 YEARS of Jesus' life that are missing from the book.
You'd think they'd want to include those, seeing as he seems to be the central
character in the piece, but maybe I'm just knit-picking.
As far as the age of my faith, that's where the science
comes in. The 'first family' is a myth and if you think otherwise then your
intelligence really is in question. The concepts of my faith are older than the
word paganism and purer than the control mechanisms instilled by yours.
And my faith and science go very strongly together, but then
again I'm going to guess that you assume I look at some dusty old tome and
that's where all my beliefs come from, like you, so it'd be much too difficult
for you to grasp the concept of a the cultivation of a harmonious scientific
spirituality. But, of wait, that teetering back in that whole metaphysics realm
and that must make your head hurt something awful.
Muhammad Rasheed - Michael Williams wrote: “So, it's
silly of me to follow the teachings of my ancestry, but perfectly okay for you
to go a faith cause it's your 'family religion'.”
I accept the message of the Abrahamic Religions because I
believe them to be true, and they stand up to intellectual scrutiny
Michael Williams wrote: “Your lack of respect for heritage
is staggering.”
Heritage is worthless if it fails to uphold the values of
God’s truth. Paganism is beyond worthless.
Michael Williams wrote: “I will admit that there are some
truths within the Bible.”
I will admit there are no truths within paganism.
Michael Williams wrote: “The teachings of the Christ figure,
about love and treating others as you would treat yourself, that stuff is solid
Gold. But there are quite a few bits that are just awful and anyone who accepts
them as part of 'Gods Truth' is just as awful. Like...let's see....1 Timothy
2:12, 1 Samuel 15:3, Exodus 22:18, Psalm 137:9, or the entire book of
Leviticus, to name a few. Besides that the so called 'truth' was so convoluted
by the men who compiled it that it can barely be assessed as a coherent
mythology, much less any great Truth.”
Sacred scripture is worth studying so you will understand it
in stages throughout your lifetime. That’s how it was designed… multi-layered.
But I wouldn’t expect a 28 year old within our 30 second sound bite/instant
oatmeal society to understand that right now.
Michael Williams wrote: “I mean come one, there are about 18
YEARS of Jesus' life that are missing from the book. You'd think they'd want to
include those, seeing as he seems to be the central character in the piece, but
maybe I'm just knit-picking.”
The job of scripture is to explain the message, so if the
minute details of the prophets’ lives are omitted, it means they were not
relevant to the point. Common sense.
Michael Williams wrote: “As far as the age of my faith,
that's where the science comes in. The 'first family' is a myth…”
Based on what? Science traces our DNA to the original
unknown man and woman they came from, with all humans on earth holding the
portions of those same genes spread throughout us all.
Michael Williams wrote: “..and if you think otherwise then
your intelligence really is in question. The concepts of my faith are older
than the word paganism…”
Making an argument that something is older than the English
language is a strawman.
Michael Williams wrote: “…and purer than the control
mechanisms instilled by yours.”
Avoiding wrong and doing good so that we can avoid
punishment and receive reward was there from the very beginning.
Michael Williams wrote: “And my faith and science go very
strongly together…”
Your version of “science” is only faith.
Michael Williams wrote: “…but then again I'm going to guess
that you assume I look at some dusty old tome and that's where all my beliefs
come from…”
At this point I’m actually questioning the strength of your
literacy skills. Once again you are criticizing the age of my faith, while in
the same post celebrating the age of your own. Do you even hear yourself when
you rant?
Michael Williams wrote: “…like you, so it'd be much too
difficult for you to grasp the concept of a the cultivation of a harmonious
scientific spirituality.”
Like the 10th century Islamic society in old Baghdad? Lol smh
Michael Williams wrote: “But, of wait, that teetering back
in that whole metaphysics realm and that must make your head hurt something
awful.”
You’re the one who can’t express the concept of God without
forcing him into a bearded anthropomorphic form that your little infant mind
can grasp.