[keats5]

I said: "Now, that's some twisted logic.
Facts are facts, even if some disbelieve the facts.
If I don't believe a tree is a tree, it's still a tree. My disbelief doesn't turn the tree into an opinion."

Your said: "If I believe (or say I KNOW) the tooth fairy leaves money under pillows, that doesn't make it a fact. It's an OPINION."

Regardless of your belief, the tooth fairy won't put a dollar under your pillow tonight. That's a fact. Opinions refer to beliefs, not events. The way you wrote your sentence, the word "it" describes the tooth fairy's actions, not your belief. A more correct way to express what I think you're trying to say is: "In my opinion, the tooth fairy will leave me money."

It may seem like splitting hairs, but I had a reason for bringing this up, when you stated something to the effect that the good news of Christ's salvation is an opinion.

There is such a thing as absolute truth, regardless of one's beliefs. Perhaps, you may not believe Christ saves. (I say "perhaps" because I don't know what you believe.) I do. If that is indeed your position, one of us is clearly right, and the other clearly wrong.

Calling an event an "opinion" has no effect on the truth or falsity of that event.

[jimt]

I think we're coming to an understanding !

It may seem like splitting hairs, but I had a reason for bringing this up, when you stated something to the effect that the good news of Christ's salvation is an opinion.

No, you're not splitting hairs, that is exactly what I said.

There is such a thing as absolute truth, regardless of one's beliefs.

I agree completely.

Perhaps, you may not believe Christ saves. (I say "perhaps" because I don't know what you believe.) I do. If that is indeed your position, one of us is clearly right, and the other clearly wrong.

After years of studying and pretending to believe, I was brought face to face with the fact that I was a hypocrite - my actions were not following my supposed beliefs. At this point I don't believe, but I certainly cannot and would not say it is a false belief. Indeed one of us is clearly right, and the other either clearly wrong - or ignorant of the truth.

Calling an event an "opinion" has no effect on the truth or falsity of that event.

Let's take this a step at a time. Did a man named Jesus live and die about 2000 years ago? Almost certainly so.

But that is not the crux of the issue regarding fact. The real question is, if we live by the strictures of the Bible (and there are many differing interpretations) will we have eternal life in heaven? If we do not will we go to hell?

If Jesus was was simply a great man, with perfect morals but not divine, as Jefferson believed, then the answer could be no. If we choose the wrong Christian sect the answer could be no. If you're a Presbyterian, your fate is pre-determined and your actions mean nothing. If you're a Catholic, and you truly repent of sin and are absolved before death, your previous actions, no matter how heinous, mean nothing. If you're a Mormon, unless you had truly known God and rejected him, you'll be given opportunities to better your eternal lot after death.

As there's currently no way I can objectively determine what the truth is regarding these matters, it must be a matter of faith. Matters of faith are not facts until they actually occur.