[Junior]

Will a belief in parachutes save you from a 20,000 foot jump, or do you actually have to put on the parachute?

Irrelevant. I can touch, see and experience a parachute -- as can any other objective observer. The same cannot be said of mystical experience.

As long as you rely on your own understanding, there is nothing that I or more importantly, God, can do for you. And that saddens me.

So sorry. However, my relying on anyone else's understanding of God without some sort of objective standard with which to match it should also sadden you. After all, that other's understanding could also be apostasy, as you put it.

My understanding of God has to match up with reality. If it does not, then my understanding is wrong. That is why I have rejected Scripture as being the inerrant Word of God -- because it does not match up with reality.

[Search4Truth]

"My understanding of God has to match up with reality. If it does not, then my understanding is wrong. That is why I have rejected Scripture as being the inerrant Word of God -- because it does not match up with reality."

Then you have made yourself a god. Which is probably mankind's favorite sin. Can you not see the arrogance of that?

You already have a god - your own understanding of reality. When the day comes when that feeble god fails and abandons you, I hope you will turn, not to religion, but to the God of all creation. All the answers you seek, you can find in the Bible, if you will only forsake the limits and arrogance of your own understanding. He will be the only One who can save you then.

Are you a good person?

[Elsie]

My understanding of God has to match up with reality. If it does not, then my understanding is wrong.

Which 'understanding'??

That of GOD; or or 'reality'?