The Way The Truth

Philosophy Forums Religion and Spirituality
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This young man is very convincing, he is erudite, logical, and cut right to the meaning of his purpose. I’m almost convinced to convert but I’m also too encouraged the world, to love life in all its hardship, to have faith in people, evne if they are evil and corrupt and direcionless, perhaps I am then, truly mad.

What do you make of this?

If you don’t believe his beliefs you have to concede, at the very least, he has taken his beliefs to their proper conclusion. All or Nothing - Take the message and swallow it fully. I respect that. I am also terrified by it. I am homosexual and therefore my door way to hell is wide open, if indeed, the christian belief is the ultimate perception of the reality of Gods Universe.

Comments would be appreciated.

How to know you are truly saved:

youtube.com/watch?v=z_-XE1ZYr9I

Save Souls from Hell:

youtube.com/watch?v=9VMbyN7CA8Y

The Earth is only around 6000 years old:

youtube.com/watch?v=gs8HlJIP7AM

Proving the Bible is inspired by God:

youtube.com/watch?v=YwMfqP-nrUU

Proving Satan Invented Evolution:

youtube.com/watch?v=xvyQRdlKiwI

There are many more videos all on fasincating topics! This is freaking me out. Haha! I love my life and my homosexuality, I know that I am evil and contain much inner darkness…I don’t want to burn in hell…I don’t want others too. But, I also do not want to live a life or servitude to a God who is all God because I am all bad.

Madness…more food for thought…a banquet!

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I can’t watch the videos but, I do know this, some people are very eloquent, they have a mastery over words that can manipulate people’s emotions. If they fully believe what they are speaking about, it makes them that much more hypnotic. It makes their words sound like truth.
Be careful colin, you are a bright interesting caring human, remember that even as a work of art can enthrall us words can do the same.

Trust yourself and your instincts. Trust what is in your good heart. Don’t be swayed by anything other than what you are.

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Thanks for the reminder, Kriswest, I’m not about to convert but I think he makes so many interesting and convicing arguments against evolution, and he applies Biblical Story to History, and encapsulates almost perfectly the Logic of christianity.

If anything, this young man, makes the leap from ‘simply believeing’ to ‘actively living’ the word of the Bible. Jesus Christ and the Bible aren’t simply ideas and apothycra, they are in fact, ultimately the definitive nature of spiritual reality.

It is an interesting and compelling perspective and world-view. It is also quite terrifying. It is also strangely preposterous.

Take care.

p.s. why can’t you watch the videos?

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Colins, I’ve watched a lot of the videos that try to refute evolution. One thing they all have in common is that they really don’t know anything about evolution. This ONLY becomes obvious when one actually takes the time out to learn about evolution, and why it is true. Many of the young earth creationist arguments have already been refuted, and they keep using the same ones over and over, knowing it will work on those who don’t know much about evolution.

Don’t feel bad though, most of America, as well as a large majority of other countries, have been deceived too. Here’s a good starting point for the other side of the argument. I’m sure you’ll hear some of the arguments from the videos you posted, if not all of them, refuted here.

youtube.com/watch?v=JVRsWAjvQSg

In addition, my heart goes out to you for your current situation. One of the main reasons that I have contempt for religious belief is exactly for what you mentioned in your post:

There are so many belief systems that make you feel guilty about being homosexual, and society turns a blind eye to the fact that discrimination against gays springs from the same well of ignorance that discrimination against blacks and women did before the rights movements.

Fortunately, as an atheist, I believe morals are subjective in terms of mankind, and don’t exist on a universal scale, but I Know many aren’t comfortable with the concept. If you want to be a Christian, or feel you need it in your life, I know there are MANY Christian religions that are open to homosexuality, realizing it’s NOT evil, NOT a bad thing, and even allow gay pastors.

The world would be a much better place if we stopped finding reasons to hate other people, or make them feel inferior. There are Christian religions that do this. There are sects in a lot of religions that do this. Don’t beat yourself up over something you don’t have any control over. It’d be like a black man hating himself for being black; it’s really not good for you, and it’s nothing that you can or should have to change!

You’re just fine the way you are! Let me know if I can be of any help.

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You know, Hitler had a way with words too.

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What impresses me is the clarity and plausibility of his explanation an understanding. I suppose with enough thought given any subject matter can become entirely plausible, but it is hard to sort the Truth from the Illusion.

I am Playing Devils advocate, rather than dismiss this guy outright, I listen to his arguments and see them validated. In our present, highly secular age, we are pretty much on auto-dimiss, of any other interpretations of the world, if find the evangelical interpretation so terrifying because it is so all-encompassing and strangely apparent.

Strange, insightful…worrying…I’m not about to convert, mind you.

#-o

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Mat 7:21-23
`Not every one who is saying to me “Lord, lord”, shall come into the reign of the heavens; but he who is doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens.
Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, lord, have we not in thy name prophesied, and in thy name cast out demons, and in thy name done many mighty things?” And then I will acknowledge to them, that–I never knew you, depart from me ye who are working lawlessness.

The greatest problem that Evangelicals have with Jesus is that he was ascetic. He lived a very frugal life and told others, especially poor people, that they had an advantage over people who are rich, if only they would realise it. His austerity with regard to possessions was such that he told people, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven places of rest, but the Son of Man hath not where he may lay the head.” He was telling them essentially, that the “new” man, the “Son of Man”, was free and that he guarded this freedom. On another occasion, he said, “Nobody is able to serve two lords, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one, and despise the other; you can’t serve God and Mammon.”

This is the problem that modern Christians have to acknowledge, especially living in countries where consumerism uses up more resources in a day than other countries in a year. Mammon is the “god” of possessions, it is the “god of this age” which “blinds the minds of the unbelieving” according to St. Paul, and causes the great rift between the “haves” and “have not’s”. This is where humankind truly is separated. It isn’t between Christian and Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist, religion and atheism, but an existential separation. “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go that way.” It is easy to get on that spacious path and believe that it must be God’s blessing, but “narrow is the gate and how constricted is the road that leads to life, and few are the people who find it!”

That is why there always have been, and always will be those who believe that they are under “the reign of the heavens”, but they are reigned instead by “Mammon”. They may prophesy, and cast out “demons”, do many mighty things in the name of Christ, but he never knew them and what they are doing contradicts the Torah. And although they are eloquent and able to express themselves, they are far off from the humility of Christ, who says, “learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Shalom

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Thanks, bob, you always bringing a refreshingly down to earth approach to understanding scripture and theology.

Par of the Evangelist weapons is the use of FEAR to encourage people to fully dedicate their lives to God; this techinque reeks of evil, cruelty, the lust for power. I find it abbhorent.

Take Care
:wink: