Free Republic

Wow! Brings back memories - another time, another world. I was a 20-year-old kid working with a Christian mission smuggling religious literature into (then) communist (atheistic) Bulgaria. They say the Communists feared and sought to intercept two things: drugs and Christian literature. I was apprehended one terrifying night as I wandered the dark streets of some Bulgarian town looking to deliver the Gospel booklets. I was interrogated by a top Bulgarian prosecutor determined to uncover some great conspiracy by foreign agents. I’ll never forget his words as he finally released me to be escorted out of the country via train back to Vienna: “Tim, I don’t believe that you told me the whole truth - but I trust you.”

“Which of the thousands (of creation stories) have you chosen to believe?”

It must first be pointed out that it is false to presume that the presence of many possible answers to a question/problem “proves” that none of them is correct.

Secondly, it is also false to presume that there exists “thousands” of creation stories. In reality, as has been astutely pointed out: “When it comes to the truly Big Questions, there are very few men (or women) in the room.”

Answers which have garnered significant adherents among different human cultures include: polytheism, monism, belief in the divine Trinity, and atheism.

One could obviously spend all day arguing for or against these alternatives. I, for one, believe that the strongest case can be made for Trinitarianism.

Why? Because it is an irrefutable truth and reality that unimaginable levels of inherent design and complexity CANNOT spontaneously arise from time plus chance plus matter.

To give an example, suppose that during a walk in the woods, you were to suddenly and inexplicably come across a wristwatch laying on the path. Would you spontaneously exclaim: “There must have been some amazing confluence of minerals in the soil, moisture, etc. along with perhaps a perfectly-timed lightning bolt that “created” this watch!”

Anyone who would seriously propose such nonsense would be a candidate for a mental institution. We all know and recognize objects which obviously have been “made” by humans. Similarly, anyone who has studied living things on a cellular level cannot help but be amazed at the level of complexity and inherent design that is evident.

The biological cell has been compared to the astounding complexities of a vast metropolis. Furthermore, it is believed that we only understand about 3% of what is going on inside a cell.

This in a nutshell is one argument for “Intelligent Design.” The concept of the Trinity holds that the universe is not empty silence, but from time immemorial there has existed a Divine communication and relationship.

I have gone on too long. Hope this helps. Full disclosure: I have an earned B.A. in Bible and Theology, an M.A. in Theological Studies, and a Ph.D. in Religion, all from respectable institutions of higher learning.

Atheism requires a stunning level of “head in the sand” denial of reality.

Why? It is impossible that unimaginable complexity and design could spontaneously arise solely from time plus blind chance.

I recall a biologist comparing the inner workings of a cell (any cell) with the vast infrastructure of a major metropolis, including electrical, water, sewage, roads, communications, etc.

The same biologist concluded by admitting that this limited understanding only begins to scratch the surface, and that we only know about 3% of what is going on inside a typical cell.

The book of Genesis provides the only eminently reasonable explanation: “In the beginning God created...”

“Me too. I haven’t drank alcohol in years. I did enough as a young Marine and single civilian to last a lifetime.............”

Good for you!

Back in the day Steel Reserve was my beverage of choice - good stuff! But I couldn’t handle the alcohol and stopped drinking years ago.

“On a gigantically worse scale I lost my dear wife a few months ago and have found it more enormous a loss than I could have imagined after about 49 years of love together.”

My sincere condolences to you. I also lost my wife earlier this year. It’s like a nightmare you can’t wake up from. I miss her terribly.

“I will be the first to write that I hope he dies a horrible death only to be followed by an eternity in hell. F U FauxChi”

A reminder to you and any other FReepers who openly and brazenly wish Dr. Fauci a painful death and eternity in Hell (all the while considering themselves to be “good Christians”):

Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

And what about those who refuse to extend mercy to others?

I for one pray and hope to be shown mercy.

(Full disclosure: I am not a fan of Fauci or of any decisions he has made)

Married 32 years here. I have found one secret to a long and happy marital life: communication!

Whenever my dear wife and I have a difference of opinion as to a course of action, we take time to carefully enunciate our respective positions and the merits of our viewpoints. Then - and ONLY then - we conclude by doing what she wants.

I was raised conservative Baptist and received my theological education in pre-eminent Evangelical schools (B.A. Moody Bible Institute; M.A. Wheaton College), while earning my Ph.D. in Theology at a Jesuit school (Marquette University). I have learned to appreciate both traditions, and hope that one day genuine Christians (the author of the article wrongly cites the Jehovah’s Witnesses bible as if it was a legitimate “Protestant” sect) of varying denominations will realize that they hold much more in common than what they disagree on. As the world descends into hostility and the persecution of Christianity as prophesied by Jesus Himself, one would hope that people of Faith would encourage and support one another rather than continue in pointless squabbles.

Interestingly, long ago (1947) an oil pipeline was built from the Persian Gulf to Haifa. The Trans-Arabian pipeline operated until 1967, when it fell into disuse. The remains of the pipeline can still be seen on the Golan Heights.

Protestant here, born and raised in a “fundamentalist” independent Baptist Church. I have a BA. and M.A. in Bible and theology from flagship Evangelical schools. I also have an earned Ph.D. in theology from a Jesuit university. I served for years on the mission field [in the Middle East], and have taught on the college level. Finally, I am the author of numerous books of the subject of eschatology.

Before anyone thinks I am “touting my own horn,” I should add that at this stage in my life [retired] I am flat broke and facing numerous health and other problems. Perhaps I should have chosen professions where I could make a little money!

Anyway, all this to give my 2 cents on the pope and the current situation. I know a little bit about how Catholics view the pope as after many years of attending mega-Evangelical churches, my wife and I currently attend a RCC church [long story].

In my view, either the current pope is unthinkingly spouting off, or there is something more sinister going on. The latter possibility is supported by the nefarious St. Gallen Group and the fact that Bergoglio has elevated MANY heretical prelates to positions of power [including the diabolical Fr. James Martin].

It is truly possible that we are seeing the predicted evil religious leader that will arise in the End Times. Time will tell; all that is left to do is try to prepare ourselves as best as possible, and do what we can to advance the Gospel and oppose the evil. As I said, just my 2 cents.

“However, the Arabic word for God is Allah.”

- And so it appears in the Arabic Bible. I.e., the word for “God” in the Arabic translation of the Bible is “Allah”, regardless of the fact that many on these threads find it incomprehensible.

The problem is that Muslims redefine the word for God to fit their aberrant theology.

Full disclosure: I have lived in the Arab world and learned this first-hand from Arab Christians.

“No, Egypt is one of the good guys”

Ever been there? I’ve been several times. Yes, Egypt broke ranks with the Arab world to make peace with Israel years ago. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has been pro-Western and pro-American, and has suppressed the Muslim Brotherhood. All good.

Problem is, with a population of almost 100 million all squeezed along the Nile, the Muslim country could be a fertile hiding place for Islamic terrorist cells. Doubtlessly we will see more such acts as the population can’t help but think that the more radical a Muslim is, the more “true” to his/her faith they are.

It’s happened before. Lebanon in the early 70’s was called “The Paris of the Middle East,” before it was torn apart by a bloody civil war.

“How does this fit into Bible prophecy?”

Turkey, stretching east into Central Asia, is the heartland of Gog and Magog.

“Bet he ‘takes his own life’”

That’s a real possibility, especially if he faces life in prison. It would be an unimaginable fate for the lifetime playboy.

A century ago our society would have executed swift judgment on such sick perverts. Unfortunately, I fear that America has lost much of its moral compass, e.g. allowing these criminals to tie up the legal system on technicalities.

I’m only hoping and praying that this time they will face justice for the horrendous crimes they have committed.

“It’s akin to saying that a 747 could be built completely at random and with no involvement from a designer.”

Make that a 747 X 1000. The basic problem with evolution is the completely untenable assertion that unimaginable complexity arose spontaneously. It is the irrational belief that a roomful of monkeys typing away randomly will eventually produce the Encyclopedia Britannica, while in fact over an eternity they will scarcely produce anything resembling a coherent sentence.

OMG