No scrutiny? Why would it have to be scrutinized? That was the point I was making.
(If by scrutiny you mean investigations into The Iliad's authorship, yes, it has undergone scrutiny. Some scholars don't believe there was a man Homer, as Iliad author at least, but that the poems attributed to him originated as oral tradition. But nobody's eternal fate rests on the truth of that matter!)
Back to my question of interpretation. So, you would have me and the rest of the human race believe that God set down The Rules, at certain times of history, using terminology particular to those times and cultures, never modernizing them, but they are applicable and binding on all humanity (even the huge portion of humanity that has never even seen The Rules), though they are becoming farther and farther removed from today's time and culture, making it harder to follow The Rules (again, witness the arguing and fighting over what they really mean and which ones still apply)?
Mmmmmkay.
Many works of antiquity, including Homer's Iliad, have philosophical bends, which seek to answer the questions about the meaning in life. I'd say those are heavy and weighty implications.
Your second question, yes. He has tasked the first disciples, even so as we are tasked, to proclaim the Good News of His death, burial and resurrection and the hope that is in the cross.
When you approach it with such deep skepticism, nothing can persuade you. Be assured. Skepticism and doubt are not free passes, at some point you have to have an answer. This man, Christ, changed the course of human history, and millions have followed, and even risked their lives. They know Him not just by history, but through personal experiences and continual relationship with the resurrected Christ (through the Holy Spirit).
Reason will never fit into the box called Revelation, though there is no question to heavy, or doubt to hard that God falls short. Revelation is much more vast than reason and goes places reason never could. Reason is bound to hypothesis and chemicals, matter and substance. Revelation approaches not the causation of chemicals, but the creator of those causes that produced the chemicals.
Oh I agree that there are certain things that one cannot believe unless one stops thinking!
Look, all I'm doing is figuring out what to believe, based on the information available to me. We are all doing that, I think. And yes, it is reasonable to think that God, if interested in us, may intervene in our world, at times. But it is also reasonable to think that, if He does that, He would be consistent about it. The stories and claims of such intervention demonstrate an dire lack of consistency. And there is always a handy explanation. I'm half-way through the book "Is God To Blame", which is an attempt at an explanation. So far, it makes a bit more sense than most other attempts I've heard, but it falls short. (So far!)
If you think your case is strongest enough for the courts of eternity, then so be it... remember, there will never come a time when doubt is sealed away, there is always an opportunity to rationalize this whole things and throw it away. I'm sure Noah felt the same way. But it doesn't change reality. Reason comes from God. The idea that we can reason, making sense of seeming chaos, is a function of divine.
I respect your journey and seeking of answers. I may also recommend a few books to you through PM on an apologetic level.
You guys are just as skeptical, perhaps more, about my views as I am of yours. Why is that skepticism good and mine bad?
Skepticism, as a generic word, meaning free inquiry about things is one thing, as a philosophy is another. We ask questions, sure that God has the answers, and no matter the outcome trusting in His providence. The skeptic asks a question, quite sure there is no answer good enough.
If you think your case is strongest enough for the courts of eternity, then so be it... remember, there will never come a time when doubt is sealed away, there is always an opportunity to rationalize this whole things and throw it away. I'm sure Noah felt the same way. But it doesn't change reality. Reason comes from God. The idea that we can reason, making sense of seeming chaos, is a function of divine.
I respect your journey and seeking of answers. I may also recommend a few books to you through PM on an apologetic level.
OK. I have probably read some of them already, and have others in the library. Waiting.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
If you think your case is strongest enough for the courts of eternity, then so be it... remember, there will never come a time when doubt is sealed away, there is always an opportunity to rationalize this whole things and throw it away. I'm sure Noah felt the same way. But it doesn't change reality. Reason comes from God. The idea that we can reason, making sense of seeming chaos, is a function of divine.
I respect your journey and seeking of answers. I may also recommend a few books to you through PM on an apologetic level.
And we begin that stereotypical fundamentalist/Pentecostal fear tactic game... and on someone that's clearly not interested.
There is probably nothing any of us can say to change Timmy's mind, and if we are trying so hard it's probable because if we did end up changing his mind, we would then "prove" the Truth to ourselves once again.
Timmy, I know the Truth, and it has made me free. You know a fair amount of the Scriptures, but you reject them. I want to live my life peaceably, and you probably want to do the same. There is no point to me trying to change you or vice versa.
Everyone here has bought into the "Christians have to be "nice"" idea... I have not, so I say this very easily- you are a lost cause.
And we begin that stereotypical fundamentalist/Pentecostal fear tactic game... and on someone that's clearly not interested.
There is probably nothing any of us can say to change Timmy's mind, and if we are trying so hard it's probable because if we did end up changing his mind, we would then "prove" the Truth to ourselves once again.
Timmy, I know the Truth, and it has made me free. You know a fair amount of the Scriptures, but you reject them. I want to live my life peaceably, and you probably want to do the same. There is no point to me trying to change you or vice versa.
Everyone here has bought into the "Christians have to be "nice"" idea... I have not, so I say this very easily- you are a lost cause.
And I say it with a smile on my face
-Bro. Alex
You're probably right!
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Sept5SavedTeen since your faith is so strong and you are so sure will you drink any deadly thing?
No, I do not interpret the Scripture that way, and yes, I live my life based on my interpretation of Scripture, since we all have to interpret things around us in order to live and to function in this world.
Linear Mode
