Posted on 01/03/2002 11:19:13 AM PST by ArGee
A very rich man decided that he wanted to show kindness to the people of the fair city where he lived. Since he was very rich indeed, he decided to throw a banquet for the entire city. He rented the largest sports arena in the city and began his plans. He planned for huge amounts of the best food possible, making allowances for every religious and medical diet. He advertised the banquet in every possible manner - television, radio, billboard, door-to-door canvassing. Considering that there might be some who could not travel, he arranged for free bus transportation to and from the event, and some special-needs vehicles for all who could not ride busses. He even scheduled the banquet to run for 24 hours a day for several days so that everyone could be sure of being served.
He planned long and hard and finally the big day came. The rich man ate quickly and then went about wishing all his guests well and personally making sure that all had every need met. After a while he went outside to tour the grounds and talk with those who had not yet gone in, and those who had already left. Everyone was happy. Many were profusely thankful. It was a glorious occasion.
At one point the rich man noticed a group of people sitting outside a locked door with most unpleasant looks on their faces. Sensing they were not happy, he went over to them. He did not introduce himself but simply asked them if he could be of service.
"We want to go in through this door," one of them replied.
The rich man explained to them that the hall was arranged to feed a large number of people as quickly and effortlessly as possible. This required order inside, and the entrances and exits had been carefully planned to be as efficient as possible. He then offered to go call one of the golf carts that were avaialbe to help people who could not walk far to take them to the entrance. But the man replied, "We do not want to go in the entrance. We want to go in this door. We don't understand why we can't go in any door we wish. We think the man who set this banquet up is mean and hateful for insisting we go in through the entrance. He has tried to bill himself as a very kind man by offering this banquet, but he is not kind at all if he will not indulge us and let us go through this door.
The rich man was distressed at these words, but still attempted to please these people. He tried once more to explain to them what was behind this particular door, and how if they went in this door they would disrupt the meal service being offered inside. He offered to drive them himself, not only to the door, but inside the hall to their tables if they would only go through the entrance to enjoy the meal. Again the man said, "No, but only a hateful man would keep us from going through the door of our choosing. And we will sit here and tell anyone who will listen to us what an awful man he is until he lets us in."
At that the rich man was enraged and he shouted, "Enough." Then he called a police officer to have them thrown off of the property and ordered that they not be allowed to return until the banquet was over and all the scraps had been hauled away. Then, mourning for their loss, he turned to visit with other guests.
Can you be more specific as to what that is and what you base it on?
...And people must be willing to trust him and follow his instructions if they want to find his gate and enter his banquet hall.
Oh, really? I recently toured Mark Twain's cave near Hannibal, MO. There was quite a lot of writing, nearly all of it older than myself, on many of the walls. Would you insist that the markings were a natural occurrence and, that they just happened by chance? After all, we didn't witness the act of writing; therefore, we cannot assume there were any writers. Right?
So, what is DNA? Aren't we finding it to be a "wall" with some "writing" on it? Sure, it's not letters and numerals like what I saw in the cave but, isn't it a code, a language? How much did poor ol' Darwin know about DNA?
Sure, you'll probably respond with another witty, seemingly intelligent denial of your Creator. But, keep an open mind about Him. Every day, wiser -- and, yes, more learned -- brains than yours become convinced of His existence.
You're right. There's a LOT more information encoded on a single strand of DNA that there is on all the walls in Mark Twain's cave. Sorry for the oversimplification.
Nope, we cannot assume they are natural occurrences as we have independently verifiable evidence that writing is manmade.
So, what is DNA?
DNA Pronunciation: "dE-"en-'A Function: noun Etymology: deoxyribonucleic acid Date: 1944 : any of various nucleic acids that are usually the molecular basis of heredity, are localized especially in cell nuclei, and are constructed of a double helix held together by hydrogen bonds between purine and pyrimidine bases which project inward from two chains containing alternate links of deoxyribose and phosphate.
Aren't we finding it to be a "wall" with some "writing" on it? Sure, it's not letters and numerals like what I saw in the cave but, isn't it a code, a language?
Your analogy is one that is certainly used by laypersons, however, it is a false analogy. DNA is a specific molecular combination of elements. The structure of individual DNA molecules indicates specific genetic traits. It is not a code and it is not a language.
How much did poor ol' Darwin know about DNA?
Actually, Darwin knew nothing at all about DNA, hence the necessity to alter the theory of evolution to fit the new evidence.
Sure, you'll probably respond with another witty, seemingly intelligent denial of your Creator.
I do not deny any creator, I deny the assertion that a creator would have even been necessary without independently verifiable evidence to the contrary. You made the assertion, you trot out the alleged creator.
But, keep an open mind about Him.
My mind is always open to any presentation of independently verifiable evidence to support your assertion.
What is the starting premise (or premises) to which you apply reason and derive your moral code?
Ha ha ha.
No.
I am presuming that you are being deliberately obtuse and don't really need an answer. I think my meaning was fairly clear. If I am wrong and you do need an answer, let me know.
Shalom.
So you are saying that man has no creativity on his own?
It could be possible that one or two of those 40 writers could have had a little too much wine one cold nite while they were writing.
Lots of things are possible. What is your point?
Shalom.
I don't have to provide substantiation for it unless I want to convince you. But I have seen how you work. If it wasn't you who admitted to me that you wouldn't believe it was G-d if He took you for a walk across a black hole then it could well have been. I have asked you if you truly want an answer to a question you asked. I will wait until I see your reply. But between now and then the matter of convincing you is in G-d's hands. Your heart is far too hard, and your mind far too closed, for me.
Fortunately, His hands are big.
Shalom.
Need? Is this all about meeting a need you have?
There is so much more further up and farther in. I am going there. While I can draw breath I am going there. I never "needed" anything beyond my original simple faith. But I am going further up and farther in.
Stay where you are if you like. G-d bless you.
Shalom.
If you can tell me why it is that you accept the money in your pocket as being real money without having first evaluated every piece of counterfiet that was ever made, you may be able to understand why I am so confused.
If I remember correctly, you and I have danced these steps before. I don't think it turned out to be satisfying for either of us.
I reject what is not real in favor of the real. You can not see the real. That is too bad. But if you are happy, perhaps it is not too bad. Maybe it's good to be blind?
Shalom.
I disagree. Perhaps we mean two different things by the word "religion."
Why should anyone require anything more than their own God-given faculties to know God?
Our reason is based on two things: 1) our knowledge and 2) our ability to process that knowledge without error.
Maybe you are very different from me. In my experience, both are rather limited. I can not imagine either one ever being sufficient to concieve of Him as He is, let alone both together.
Shalom.
Good for you.
My title is a little arrogant. Please forgive me for having seemed to speak for you.
Shalom.
I see and hear Him.
And they are all talking at the same pitch and they are all saying different things.
I also hear them, but they are pretty easy to ignore. Perhaps you are too easily distracted? Perhaps you aren't really intrested in going to the banquet?
Why should the people go through your door as opposed to any other?
Hmmm. Did I say I had made a door? No, I didn't say that.
Shalom.
Shalom.
But I also think I know why you never saw G-d. The next time you go looking for Him, look up rather than down. He is far bigger than you think. And you are not nearly as big.
Shalom.
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