[Dimensio]

Well obviously we both can't be right. Either my seeing the cliff is a product of my conceit or your failure to see it is a product of yours. One of us is clearly wrong.

Maybe we're both wrong, and the Hindus are right -- in which case it's not as big a deal, because we'll get to try again later. But then, maybe the Muslims are right. Or some obscure, rarely heard-of religion.

I would suggest you get a long stick and probe, there might just be a cliff there.

The metaphor only works so far.

My wife tends to give me directions that are "Turn here" which is no help because it doesn't say which way. My kids tell me "Turn left", but they don't know left from right yet. Sometimes my kids tell me to turn and they don't even know where we are supposed to be going.

So what you're saying is that I have know way of knowing whether or not you're pointing me in the right direction, is that it? Of course, there's the possibility that you're mistaken about the need to turn altogether.

God said, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. " Now this requires giving God the benefit of the doubt enough to ask Him. But it's really an excellent start. This I know, God desires to give man good things. If you ask Him for wisdom, it might take Him a while to teach you, but He is not likely to leave that request unanswered.

This, of course, is assuming that the God of which you speak exists and is of the nature that you claim. The problem here is that you're asking me to assume that you're correct in the first place. It's circular reasoning.

[DannyTN]

Maybe we're both wrong, and the Hindus are right

HOLY COW!!!

But then, maybe the Muslims are right.

HOLY FLYING TERRORIST!!!

The Koran tells the Jews and the Christians to search their own scriptures to see if the Muslims are right. Both the Jews and the Christians can easily and categorically rule out Mohammed being a true prophet of God based on our scriptures.

So what you're saying is that I have no way of knowing whether or not you're pointing me in the right direction, is that it?

No, I'm acknowledging that there are a lot of voices telling you which way to go. Only one answer is right. There are ways of knowing what is the right course. If there was no way to know, how could you possibly be held accountable?

What does your conscience tell you about right and wrong, good and evil? Is there such a thing as right and wrong and if so, why?

This, of course, is assuming that the God of which you speak exists and is of the nature that you claim. The problem here is that you're asking me to assume that you're correct in the first place. It's circular reasoning.

If I gave you a winning lottery ticket, you'd have to assume that it might be legit in order to be motivated to even check it out. And in this day of scams, it very possible someone wouldn't even bother to check. So I understand your problem. I'm just one more guy on the intenet saying "You've won, click here for details."

Yeah, it's a little circular. I'm asking for enough faith in God from you to get you to ask Him to give you wisdom to discern the truth, to see the evidence for His existence. It's not much. It is the equivalent of a telephone call or knocking on a door and saying "Anybody there?".

You've spend far more effort discussing this with me than the one request I want you to make to God. He after all is in a far better position to prove Himself, than I will ever be.

In fact, if you ask Him to give you wisdom to see the evidence of His existence, and He doesn't, you might actually have a defense on judgement day. But He will, if He hasn't already. And when He does give you that wisdom, it's still going to be up to you to act on it. But you are certainly no worse off for the asking.