Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: js1138
The problem with your post (which is quite good although you might be surprised to know you are neither the first person to raise it, nor have skeptics been the only ones to wrestle with it), is that it puts the onus of distinguishing on the human mind and reason. This simply will not work for two reasons: 1) We are sinful and fallen and do not wish to believe face the implications of biblical truth. Our emotions trump our intellect every time. It is far better to believe lies than to stand morally naked and filthy before a holy God. Men will do ANYTHING mentally possible (and impossible) to escape those implications.

2) Revelation of the infinite to the finite by definition has to run one way. God is "responsible" not only for the revelation itself, but for the "certificate of authenticity" if you will. Reception of these are by definition subjectively received, and not available for public display or scrutiny.

If you read that and don't have REAL problems with it, you either didn't pay attention, or you have biblical faith. The biblical message is simply that God's revelation is self authenticating, AND that the authentication is predicated (in some measure) on a receptive heart. That is not to say that there is not tons of really good supporting evidence from history, logic, observation of men, and other things. It is just saying that when all the clutter is out of the room, those willing to know the truth will "get it."

435 posted on 06/11/2007 10:55:28 AM PDT by DreamsofPolycarp (Libertarianism: u can run your life better than government can, and should be left alone to do it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 425 | View Replies ]


To: DreamsofPolycarp
God's revelation is self authenticating...

Then the part that is authenticated is not the part that conflicts with reality.

At the risk of oversimplifying, I see two kinds of believers: those who think the message of God is to love others as we love ourselves, and those who enjoy threatening others with hellfire if they deviate from doctrine. And of course, the threateners have the one true doctrine.

446 posted on 06/11/2007 11:48:24 AM PDT by js1138
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 435 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson