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My friend, I used to OWN your position.
Now, I already told you that I won't convince you, and I'm fine with that. I even hosted a "New Age" radio show for seven years, 52 weeks a year, so I can say for certain that I have "been there, done that". What seems too "convenient" to you is just the way it is. If you want to argue, take it up with Him. I suspect that you'll get your chance someday.
Thanks for your participation in this discussion. I have, in fact, heard most of this thread before. You can't argue a matter of faith using the mind of Man.
You know, I find it interesting that religious types automatically assume that non-religious people are wanton, self-centered, and totally void of a sense of responsibility.
personally think it's a lot harder to live your life knowing you are solely responsible for your actions. I think it makes you much more accountable when you truly believe that you have one shot (read that life) at being the best you can be. I think it demands a lot more self control if you're interested in benefiting society rather than staining it, and that desire really doesn't take a god in heaven to direct.
Seems to me an awful lot of religious types commit most every "sin" in the book, as defined by their religion, only to run to god for forgiveness. It becomes a regular and often repeated pattern. (And who sets the example better than the many TV evangelists caught repeatedly with their pants down - some literally!) Now you tell me which is the lazier, more irresponsible way to live.
I choose to instead believe that people are people, and as such have both positive traits and negative flaws. If you need god to direct your life, forgive your mistakes, and track the brownie points for your pie in the sky opportunity, terrific. I could care less whether the entity you worship is a guy or a goat. The important thing from my viewpoint is that you try to make your corner of the world a better place through your actions, and I'm not talking about proselytizing but rolling up your sleeves and helping someone less fortunate than yourself.
As a fellow pilot you can do that by conducting an Angel Flight, helping a lower time pilot catch a break, working with search and rescue groups, or volunteering with lifeguard just to name a few. Obviously there are tons and tons of ways to help that are non-aviation related.
Timebuilder said:We can however, debate the constitution and the intention of the founders. Somewhere it was mentioned that the right to freedom of religion and the establishment clause amount to a separation of church and state. I suppose there is some support for that idea. The problem I see is that the establishment clause is currently being interpreted in a way that the founders could never have expected or intended. As I see it, there is a tremendous difference between naming "an official religion of the United States", which was the meaning which was intended by the founders (it is very clear, and unambiguous) versus the idea that a teacher leading her class in prayer constitutes making that an "official" endorsement of a particular religion, which is NOT what was intended. The teacher and the students have as much right as anyone in our country to the free practice of religion. Many may not like that, but that is what was intended. A Christmas tree on a public area is not a sactioning of an official religion. If it were, you could be routed from your homes and forced to stand around it and sing.
1. The Pentatuch, the Law and the Prophets, were written before Christs birth. That is a fact that is scientifically verifiable, according to the people who study ancient manuscripts. The discovery of the dead sea scrolls was only the icing on the cake.
2. Those Hebrew writings were approximately 30% prophecy. As of today the vast majority of that prophecy has been fullfilled. That is fact.
3. There were 24 major prophecies (and hundreds of minor prophecies) predicting Jesus Christ and detailing most every aspect of his birth and life. Scholars have calculated that the odds of someone man meeting all of those specifics at over 10 Billion to one. Jesus met them all.
4. Jesus was a verifiable historical figure according to Roman records, and according to archeological evidence from the region.
5. His resurrection is more provable than disprovable.