People Who Think Their Beliefs Are Better Than Others' Probably Know the Least

Curiosity ^ | June 29, 2018 | Reuben Westmaas

[HeadOn]

(Note: Not necessarily aimed at anyone!)

So - If I claim to be insane and can’t fly the mission, I’m sane enough to ask to get out of it, and I must fly the mission. If I want to fly the mission, I’m insane, but the Doc says I have to ask not to fly before he can ground me. (Catch-22)

So - If I know my own mind, I’ve got to be wrong, but if I’m not sure what I think, I’m much smarter. Riiiiight.

I like what GOPJ said in post 2. If you didn’t believe your belief was better, you wouldn’t believe it. That’s pretty much a definition.

Here’s one from me. If I’m pretty sure where I’m going, why would I take a side road instead of the route I know? The “open-minded” discussions are simply people trying to convince me to turn off early. I can listen, if I have time, but not sure why I would, most of the time. I have to have some sort of respect for someone (or his message) to spend time listening to him.

I tell people that if you are going to follow Christ, you need to be willing to do what He plainly says to do, and to believe what he’s told you (the Bible). Is my faith in Christ better than doubting him? He says it is. He also says I need to be ready to give reasons why I believe. I get it - to anyone who does not believe, it sounds like circular reasoning. And the Bible tells me that’s what they will think.

The MORE I study scripture, with the underlying meaning of the words, the MORE I believe what it says. Flame away.

[HeadOn]

“A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8

[robroys woman]

Besides, God said when sin entered then death entered.

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Yes, this is true. But what, exactly, did death enter? According to romans 5:12, it entered the world:
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.”

The word for “world” is Kosmos. http://biblehub.com/greek/2889.htm

When you look at all the information at the above link, it becomes clear that it is dealing with the “earth” as created in genesis. More precisely, it entered this dispensation.

Thing is, it is quite possible to believe that the earth was, before genesis 1:3, wiped clean, as one might paint over a painting on a canvas and then produce an entirely new painting on it. I mean, God destroyed the earth in the flood, which really only wiped out the surface and was sort of a “do over”. And it will happen again at the end of this age, only through fire, which will leave the planet even without any sea.

So, we don’t really know what came before genesis 1:3. We only know that God created the heavens and the earth. And that could have been billions of years (or more) ago.

And not to mess with this too much: Just as with a canvass that has been painted over, and you can peel away the paint and find remnants of the earlier painting(s), maybe that is what happens when we peel away the layers and find things like dinosaurs.

Just thinking out loud. Not saying I believe it or I don’t. But it is an interesting thought exercise. The next step is to find scripture that makes it not a feasible theory about the time before genesis 1:3.

[robroys woman]

I take God SERIOUSLY. I think the word “literally” is over-used. Some scripture I take literally. the Genealogies of Mary and Joseph would be two examples. Where he was born, his method of death. His resurrection.

I don’t take any of the parables literally. I don’t take the number of times the rooster crows literally. I don’t believe Jesus is literally a lamb.

The new testament is not a book. It is four biographies of the life and times and teachings of Jesus, the son of God, it is a history book (Acts), it is a bunch of letters to individuals and churches with all sorts of text addressing specific issues those people and groups were struggling with, and it is a dream, very much paralleling prophesy from the OT.

It is an excellent source of information to bring us into an understanding of the personality of God. It is very useful in helping us to a stronger and more personal relationship with our creator, and it helps us to learn to deal with our relationships with other people.

Lastly, it helps us to put this age in perspective as it relates to ages to come. i.e. the Millennial age and the age following the GWTJ. I don’t know if there are any ages after that (I assume there are). Sadly, John sealed up what the seven thunders said. We see now as through a glass darkly.

[OneVike]

You cut and paste, I now from study.

My words are mine, not from some site that surfed using a phrase on.

Just because there are many different meanings for a word, does not mean they are all used. You must take context, time and understanding of the subject matter. Something you are clueless about.

You obviously get your understanding from others, because you refuse to read it for your self. As you already admitted.

From hence forth, discussing this subject with you is worse than discussing abortion with a radical feminist.

You have no knowledge, thus you could care less about what the Scriptures truly say.

OH, I’m sorry, the Scriptures are useless to you. Go back to the leftists church you attend, if you go at all, and feel comfortable in your trip to oblivion.

[HeadOn]

Yes. I agree. The question you pose is, what is essential? And the famous quote, most often credited to Augustine, “... in essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity.”

I strongly believe what is plainly stated in the scripture, on divorce, adultery, homosexuality. If the issue is interpretation, you have to understand the context of the time, and the original meaning of the words in which it was written.

No matter how long we live, or what experiences we’ve had, the meaning and intent of the scriptures do not change.
READ, then interpret. Don’t ACT, and then interpret (justify your actions)

[robroys woman]

I think the best way to have a well founded belief system is to be your own devil’s advocate and to engage people with opposite point of views.

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Exactly!

I’ve found that when I am exposed to a new teaching on the internet, I’ll actually search out those teachers that disagree with it and try to find out which holds the most water. In most cases, it actually becomes pretty obvious, pretty quickly.

[wardaddy]

Seattle has some of the nations lowest church attendance.

Kentucky some of the highest

Faith is faith not empiricism

If Christianity were simply empirical the entire world would likely follow and easily

But it’s faith more than anything

All that historical explanation stuff is interesting and folks can argue all they wish but it’s almost beside the point.... that

Resolute faith and dogmatic are again two different things

I’ve learned to look at Christianity as unique because to my knowledge it’s the only religion of note whereby the creator sends his duly created son as an extension of himself to earth to live and suffer and die horribly in order to prove or show that he can live and die as you and for you to have faith in accepting that for your everlasting future after death with him and as proof that he loves those which he created and living as us demonstrates the old adage he’s not asking you to do something he has not experienced

Nobody else really does that and it logically makes the most impression on me as understandable and believable.

I’m sure Kentucky has less socially conservative churches like Lutheran or united Methodist if the fundies irritate you

[robroys woman]

You admit you do not like read the Bible, or you may be believe it?

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Your entire post is predicated on this first statement in it.

That statement is false.

[robroys woman]

I cut and pasted from a lexicon. If I type it in, does that make it somehow more “valuable”?

Most of what I post is my own words, but when something needed to make the point is easily out there, id would be literally STOOOOPID to NOT cut and paste it.

Like all tools, cut and paste is very useful when used properly. ;)

[robroys woman]

Just because there are many different meanings for a word, does not mean they are all used. You must take context, time and understanding of the subject matter. Something you are clueless about.

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Ignoring your last statement, you and I are in complete agreement. It’s my main point regarding the use of these words. Obviously you don’t really know me. Calling me clueless about that is, honestly, kinda funny. Well, it would be to anyone who actually knows me. ;)

[robroys woman]

You have no knowledge, thus you could care less about what the Scriptures truly say.

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OK, that comment cracked me up. :-D

[robroys woman]

You obviously get your understanding from others, because you refuse to read it for your self. As you already admitted.

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In all seriousness, based on what I’m reading from you and your attitude in your post, I think that part may be projecting. I mean, I already said that I read the bible a LOT. I have been since 1981, when I became a Christian.

[robroys woman]

OH, I’m sorry, the Scriptures are useless to you.

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Why would you say that? The bible is my core source. I do pray and also reach out to others for wisdom to help me understand what I’m reading from time to time. Is that a bad thing? When you go to church, do you stick your fingers in your ears to protect yourself from hearing what some other person may say about the bible or the Christian walk?

[alexander_busek]

Knowledge can be argued, the tools of logic apply. Beliefs cannot be argued (though many try).

Your reply has such a wide scope (are you sure that you wanted to reply to me?) that I can scarce respond in kind. In any event: A well thought-out posting!

Regards,

[OneVike]

These are your words not mine;

The more I read the word, the more I endeavor to not do that

Those who endeavor not to read the Word too much. will inevitably never believe what it says.

All heretical beliefs begin with those who would rather feel what they believe about the Scriptures, than study them to be assured they have the truth and thus become approved by Christ.

Scripture is the best commentary to understand what you do not understand. By refusing to use it to know what you believe, will inevitably lead you down a road you will one day regret.

People like you scare the crap out of me, because you pass on your misunderstandings to others who are truly craving the truth.

David Koresh learned form people like you who told him what they thought the Scriptures said without ever truly studying them.

Atheists have more faith than you. Maybe you should read what Christ had to say to the Church of Pergamos. Because like you, they desired compromise with the world on what they believed as true. Don't worry, it's a freerepublic link. So you will not have to leave FR.

It's getting late, and I need to get to painting my house.

[robroys woman]

Seattle has some of the nations lowest church attendance.

Kentucky some of the highest

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Yep. And I observed something kinda funny about that:
In Seattle, if you go to church you are going against the grain. It generally means you take it seriously for what it is.

In rural KY, you go to church because that is what everyone does. You go to potlucks, listen to poorly prepared or unprepared sermons (and some good ones), and do social events.

This is an overgeneralization, but it makes the point: For people in rural KY, church is very much a cultural thing and also religious for many of them. In Seattle church is a religious thing and also a cultural thing for many of them.

FWIW, I get this from talking with people about their beliefs and getting to know them and what they have to say about their relationship with God. There are some quite devout believers here in KY, but many of them can’t really back up their beliefs. Christianity is very much a cultural thing here, though there are those who can very much defend their viewpoint.

[Dark Knight]

Yours was the post that talked of argument best, so I landed there. I believe...the article mixed fact and belief as did the research without any competent discussion of the two. Research based on garbage will output...

Thanks for hook to post!

DK

[robroys woman]

Resolute faith and dogmatic are again two different things. --------------------------------------------- Yes. For me it is dogmatism when you absolutely firmly believe your position on an issue and disagree with mine, yet you can't support your position. dog·ma·tism. . [ˈdôɡməˌtizəm] NOUN the tendency to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true, without consideration of evidence or the opinions of others.

[robroys woman]

I’ve learned to look at Christianity as unique because to my knowledge it’s the only religion of note whereby the creator sends his duly created son as an extension of himself to earth to live and suffer and die horribly in order to prove or show that he can live and die as you and for you to have faith in accepting that for your everlasting future after death with him and as proof that he loves those which he created and living as us demonstrates the old adage he’s not asking you to do something he has not experienced

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I agree.