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In the beginning (Evolution and religion)
www.economist.com ^ | Apr 19th 2007

Posted on 04/30/2007 1:18:21 PM PDT by mjp

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To: presently no screen name
“Why so hell bent on YOU having me belong to a religion? “

Because Lone Ranger Christian don’t make it. Plus, their directly disobeying Christ. Want to know how?

“Besides satan is powerless, he’s been defeated and under my feet.”

Not true!

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

61 posted on 04/30/2007 9:25:23 PM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: PetroniusMaximus
“Besides satan is powerless, he’s been defeated and under my feet.”

Not true!


Well, it's true for me!

seeking whom he may devour:

Sure, that's his job! Resist satan, he will flee. The Name of Jesus is all powerful! EVERYTHING bows at the Name of Jesus. Why don't you believe "It is finished" - you sound so frightened, why?
62 posted on 04/30/2007 10:07:33 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: PetroniusMaximus

You determine how the “Spirit” that is speaking to you is from God, by what the words and the character from which it comes. Just by you asking me that question tells me you are a trouble shooter and a non-believer. You will not shake my faith nor the faith of a soul that knows the one true God. Jesus did not establish a religion, he established a way of life and a truth that transcend the concept of a religion. The concept of Religion is not even figured here. He did tell his disciples to teach people the same things that he [Jesus] taught them. It wasn’t religion it was a way of life and a way to eternal life after death. Man calls it religion, as well as Mormans, Buddist, Scientologist, Jeh. witnesses, Muslims, hari Christna...or whatever they call it...and; and, Satanist call their worship of Satan a religion. Now, there is something wrong with the term. The love and following of Jesus Christ has little to no association to the term Religion.


63 posted on 04/30/2007 10:35:51 PM PDT by tgambill (I would like to comment.....)
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To: PetroniusMaximus

OH, I never said that I “despised” religion. Where did you get that? Don’t put words in my writings that are not there. I don’t have a religion, in that others use Religion to control people....in the name of some religion.

The old concepts or similar writings correspondening to the bible is just that.....you have to ask yourself in reality, “who inspired these other Gods and religions”? Then, there lies the truth linked with the lie...........to disinform.

You see, cold does not exist as a term or a principle, in the same way that Evil exists only because there is an absence of God; in the same way that cold only exists because of an absence of heat.

The world is in chaos because in every war and most all conflicts we provided the seed as did England.


64 posted on 04/30/2007 10:44:55 PM PDT by tgambill (I would like to comment.....)
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To: presently no screen name

You are right on track.......there will be many naysayers that will try to distract us from the truth and from speaking the truth.


65 posted on 04/30/2007 10:46:48 PM PDT by tgambill (I would like to comment.....)
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To: tgambill

They don’t ‘get it’ because they don’t ‘have it’! When you know The Truth, you can spot a lie!


66 posted on 04/30/2007 10:57:37 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: tgambill
"You determine how the “Spirit” that is speaking to you is from God, by what the words and the character from which it comes."

You must have a higher criteria than that. Paul stated, "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14) - and John said, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:" (1 John 4:1) In other words, beware, because you can be deceived. You must compare what you believe the Spirit is telling you to what God has revealed in the Scripture - and to what God has taught other Christians.



"Just by you asking me that question tells me you are a trouble shooter and a non-believer."

You are mistaken. Your comment was, " I don’t believe in Religion....I believe in Jesus Christ." That is usually a sign of someone who has "pop religion" - i.e. "I don't need no Church to tell me what to do, I got Jesus and I'll just do my own thang...". Usually it's followed up with a disparagement of  "organized religion".




" Jesus did not establish a religion, he established a way of life and a truth that transcend the concept of a religion. "


You are hung up o­n the word religion. Religion can be "a way of life" As we saw earlier, religion can be defined as: “3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based o­n the teachings of a spiritual leader.” This could (partially) describe the Christian experience. There can be bad religion - if James points out what good religion is, then there must be a corresponding "bad" religion.

"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep o­neself unstained from the world." - James 1:26, 27

Worthless Christian religion is a religion that evidences no true holiness or compassion. If James says that there is pure and undelifed religion, then that's the kind of religion you and I need!




"OH, I never said that I “despised” religion."


Forgive me if I put word in your mouth. So, do you like religion?




"
I don’t have a religion, in that others use Religion to control people."

Where do you go to church?

67 posted on 04/30/2007 11:17:12 PM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: dan1123
If the atheist crowd could definitively prove false Genesis, then why should they take any part of Christianity seriously?

Every branch of science, not just biology, shows that a literal interpretation of Genesis is a flawed interpretation. Hence it is our understanding of Genesis that needs to be reconsidered.

But at the same time this does not mean that we understand the literal meaning of Genesis completely. For instance, due to the fluidity of time as affected by speed and gravity, the explanation in Genesis, even if accurate, may not be clear for quite a while.

That's essentially my point. I don't see a literal Genesis interpretation as a foundational issue, unlike many of the replies to my earlier posts. A literal interpretation, to me, restricts God and forces Him to be restricted by our time and space as well as our conceptions. It forces Him to be a part of creation, not outside of it.

While genetics should be the foundation of biology, and I don’t believe that any biologist would say that they completely understand genetics, evolution has taken over as the philosophical “foundation of biology” even while new cellular and genetic mechanisms are discovered today.

I disagree. Evolution is the explanation for (and the predecessor of) modern genetics. Evolution was around long before molecular genetics and the discoveries of molecular genetics are all consistent with evolution. If they weren't, then evolution would have had serious issues. There are always new discoveries in every branch of science and lots of things we don't know or understand. Those gaps are not indicators of weak theory, but places of future discovery. Science as a whole, and that includes evolution, are fluid and are under constant revision.

I think that is one of many reasons why some people have such a hard time with it. It does not offer an absolute truth like religion does. It is fluid and changing and that can be quite disconcerting for many people. But with religion, it is easy to take a literalist approach and then go on spiritual war with anything that even remotely contradicts that fundamentalist perspective. There is no introspection or questioning of one's interpretation. It is that dichotamy that is the source of friction. One group is fluid and changing, the other is rigid and unyeilding.

68 posted on 05/01/2007 6:17:31 AM PDT by doc30 (Democrats are to morals what an Etch-A-Sketch is to Art.)
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To: presently no screen name
Sorry to disappoint you - all that typing and all. Doesn’t take long to see if I want to use my time for something. When you have the Truth, you do save a lot of time.

Willful ignorance - a mind is such a terrible thing to use.

69 posted on 05/01/2007 6:21:28 AM PDT by doc30 (Democrats are to morals what an Etch-A-Sketch is to Art.)
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To: PetroniusMaximus

The problem is you are hung up on the word religion. I go to church at a First Baptist that is very near.

The scripture is good to have in order to know what words are of God and what is not. However, your spirit and it’s recognition of the truth is supernatural and you do not need a higher criteria. You are mistaken there.

You are also mistaken and mislabeling what I said for your own purposes. You don’t have the knowledge nor the right to lable what I said, as Pop Religion. Your authority stops to just what you think. In other words, you don’t have the authority to label what I said as a general label. Your posts are misleading and your attempt to control is weak at best.

For example.......”....I believe in Jesus Christ.” That is usually a sign of someone who has “pop religion” - i.e. “I don’t need no Church to tell me what to do, I got Jesus and I’ll just do my own thang...”. Usually it’s followed up with a disparagement of “organized religion”.

What I said, is not a sign except according to your own personal beliefs, not for a general classification. You also tend to put words in peoples mouths which then takes away any credibility or desire to take your posts serious. I never said, “I’ll just do my own thang”. This is your ignorance showing....:)) and obvious agenda to distort what is true.

I don’t trust Religion. I assume then that you approve of the doctrine that I will become a God, or, the Religion that Jesus was not God, or the religion that Jesus was a prophet only....which religion do you favor? Or, do you favor all as long as they believe in something?

I don’t think I will forgive you for putting words in my mouth twice now. You are quickly losing any form of credibility and in my humble opinion, you are the type that gives just enough truth, and then once you have their confidence, you sway from the truth and inject false doctrine. This is only my humble opinion, however...:)) lolol.


70 posted on 05/01/2007 6:59:46 AM PDT by tgambill (I would like to comment.....)
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To: doc30
then evolution would have had serious issues.

It does - it's purpose is to deceive.

There are always new discoveries in every branch of science

Science, yes. Evolution is a belief, as in a religion. And evo's are out to 'convert' everyday - much like the Jehovah Witness's.

and lots of things we don't know or understand. Those gaps are not indicators of weak theory, but places of future discovery.

Yes, evos don't understand but have no problem telling others they are wrong. Weak is an understatement. Your place of 'future discovery' is a given because "EVERY KNEE WILL BOW". Your future discovery will show how wrong you were.

Science as a whole, and that includes evolution, are fluid and are under constant revision.

Evolution is not a science - no matter how many times evos try to make an association with it to gain credibility. When something is based on a lie, it will ALWAYS be a LIE.

I think that is one of many reasons why some people have such a hard time with it.

Evos are having the hard time with it. They just can't/won't understand why Christians don't succumb to "THEIR" way of thinking. Mere mortal man and "his" thinking - his ego is his enemy. It's time to get over it - God is Supreme, All Mighty, Everlasting, THE ALPHA and THE OMEGA, THE KING OF KINGS, ALL Powerful, ALL Knowing. Evos - get a grip - you cannot compete, try as you may.

It does not offer an absolute truth

There is only ONE Absolute Truth - The Living Word.

It is fluid and changing and that can be quite disconcerting for many people.

It should be disconcerting - who would chase something that is not stable. God ALWAYS was, ALWAYS will be, and ALWAYS will remain the same and that equals TRUTH.

One group is fluid and changing, the other is rigid and unyeilding.

One group is chasing it's tail, and the other is grounded in TRUTH. And, you are right - unyielding to the deceiver! God Reigns and what an Awesome God He is!
71 posted on 05/01/2007 7:17:49 AM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: presently no screen name

Satan is powerless, when you have the spirit of Christ and his word on your side and in your mind. These postings are filled with those that are trying to control by appearing to be Christians. Its a clever way to mislead but one that is obvious. If Evolution is a religion which one of the “posters” agreed with, then who can trust a “religion”. As i said before, one does not need to belong to a religion which is structured by man, using their own rules that won’t be found in the Bible. It just so happens that Biblical principles tend to follow the Christian Religion but not all. If I attend a “Christian” church and they start putting their own rules in the “flock”, well, I get the “flock” out of there...and never to return. It’s simple......:)lolol...:))


72 posted on 05/01/2007 7:19:12 AM PDT by tgambill (I would like to comment.....)
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To: doc30
When you have the Truth, you do save a lot of time.

Willful ignorance - a mind is such a terrible thing to use.


And so is time spent on a lie. That's a great bumper sticker that applies to evo's! Willful ignorance - They 'think' with their limited brain they know more than The Almighty! Man vs. God - how much more ignorant and self-righteous can someone be!

Those who have the mind of Christ have no need to chase a monkey's tail. When you get tired of the lie and deceit, you will seek The Truth. Unless, of course, your ego is more important than Truth.
73 posted on 05/01/2007 7:30:44 AM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: PetroniusMaximus

Gen 2:15 ¶ And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Question for you: How long did Adam live BEFORE he and Eve ate of the tree?

Gen 3:1 ¶ Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Adam and Eve did not physically die. Satan gave them the old switcheroo. God meant that they would spiritually die. They did. And, they physically began to die, too.

Adam lived to be 930 years old. I take that to mean that he lived 930 years from the point he and Eve ate of the fruit.

How long did he live before the sin occurred?


74 posted on 05/01/2007 7:58:01 AM PDT by Bryan24 (When in doubt, move to the right....)
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To: tgambill
that are trying to control by appearing to be Christians.

Yeah, and they are doing a terrible job of it!

one does not need to belong to a religion which is structured by man,

And one SHOULDN'T. That's why the PUSH for some to make you say - you do belong to a religion - otherwise, if you don't the lion will attack you!! And then do it by quoting scripture! They refuse to submit that Christians follow Christ, not a religion. Anything to decrease the Name of JESUS CHRIST! A tactic of satan, the father of lies.

Satan uses lies and wraps it up in some truth - but he is the great deceiver because when you know The Truth - you know, the great deceiver is powerless - all he has is deceit. If one falls for it, it's at their own doing - they submitted to it and it's not by any 'perceived' power of satan because he ain't got any power. He was been defeated at The Cross!

It's so obvious how 'these 'self proclaimed' Christians' give no power to The Blood of Jesus but give power to satan using 'their thinking'. Hence, the 'self'.

I do attend a church where only The Word of God is taught - and where we gather as a family to praise and honor The Most Holy and Most Powerful Name, Jesus - The Living Word! We are humble servants to a Mighty Savior, yet we are co-heirs in His Kingdom.

Jesus did it all, so we could have it all - here and for eternity! Now that's LOVE! What an awesome privilege it is to be able to call him Our Father and He calls us His children.
75 posted on 05/01/2007 8:17:35 AM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: presently no screen name

Please take your prostelytizing where it is welcome. I am Christian and do not share your opinion. If you wish further replies from me, please make your posts to be substancive and informed.


76 posted on 05/01/2007 8:30:30 AM PDT by doc30 (Democrats are to morals what an Etch-A-Sketch is to Art.)
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To: doc30
If you wish further replies from me, please make your posts to be substancive and informed.

LOL! Who said I want any further replies from you?

please make your posts to be substancive and informed.

They are - my posts don't need changing but 'your mindset' does. So you have a dead darwin day, while my day will be filled with worshipping The Living God and praise Him for His Awesome Truths.
77 posted on 05/01/2007 8:38:08 AM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: presently no screen name

You are a long way from where I am right now, but; I’m working in that direction. It’s a pleasure to know that the truth is shared and supported.

I found a book, you may have heard of before. “The Conspiracy to Silence the Son of God” by Tal Brooke; 1998.

Changing times are very very close at hand. Those that have never thought of the “end times”, “New World Order Conspiracy”.....will now start looking for answers. There will be a sweeping of the Holy Spirit, in the same way that a conductor will send out his last boarding call before the train pulls out.....and then the Ark doors will shut. Some amazing things are going to happen in a relatively short while.


78 posted on 05/01/2007 9:02:19 AM PDT by tgambill (I would like to comment.....)
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To: PetroniusMaximus
You’re using the worn-out, “if it’s old it must be deficient” argument.

Only recognizing that most people think that old ideas are in fact deficient. Sometimes they are, sometimes they are not.

Do you feel the same way about the U.S. Constitution???

The history behind the US Constitution is orders of magnitude more secure than Christianity. Yes, there are two milenia of history of Christianity, but it is the history of the followers of Christ and the evolution of their belief, not a direct history of Christ himself. There is *some* valid history of Christ. All I'm saying is that there is dramatically more history behind the countries founding.

As to the Constitution, it is secular law pertaining to how we run the country, while Christianity is a personal faith that can be accepted or rejected at will.

Those documents [about other old faiths] would be subject to the rules of evidence. They would be set aside.

You would set them aside because your belief system. I don't follow your belief system, and see them equally as old documents with supernatural claims with zero physical evidence. They are equal in my judgement.

In the Bible, God states, “You will find me when you seek for me with all your heart.” Can you honestly say you have done that?

People tend to find what they're looking for. That's why genuine science requires double blind tests, so that the researcher will not read into the evidence that which he wants to be true. You want your faith to be true, therefore your mind makes it so.

As for myself, I was once intending to be a Southern Baptist Missionary, and attended a religious university for a time. I've sought Jesus with all my heart, and eventually discovered my mistake.

79 posted on 05/01/2007 9:19:23 AM PDT by narby
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To: tgambill
You are a long way from where I am right now

I don't see it that way at all! We are grounded in Truth and learning more of His Awesomeness. Of course, we will never know ALL about Him here but in eternity.

There will be a sweeping of the Holy Spirit

Yes and your analogy is fitting. The last call, indeed, before The New World Order - the flood of deceit - takes over.

Some amazing things are going to happen in a relatively short while.

And they are amazing right now - seeing how 'today's news' has already been 'WRITTEN' thousands of years ago. And since we read The Book, we know the end and know of 'our victory'.

Ploys of satan, the deceiver... You can't understand scripture or 'how do you know you interpreted it correctly'.

Those who claim Christianity can't possibly believe that God would give us a book and not an Instructor. In fact, if they read the Book, they will KNOW that the Holy Spirit is our Teacher. Like this is My Book and I'm not going to let you understand it! What kind of god do they serve?

While satan has some believing in a "Bang" instead of "The Almighty Creator', he goes after those that believe there is a God and uses his 'written by man, don't understand, misinterpret 'tactics'. Then satan's pawns do the same to us who know he has no power and he can't achieve anything - unless one submits themselves to his deceit. Resist satan and he will flee. God's Word vs. deceit - Good vs evil - all the time, everytime.

you may have heard of before. “The Conspiracy to Silence the Son of God” by Tal Brooke; 1998.

No, I don't remember hearing about it. It will be worthwhile reading since he 'gets it'. Time spent on those who choose to remain deceived/clueless is time wasted, IMO.
80 posted on 05/01/2007 11:06:47 AM PDT by presently no screen name
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