The Universe is Mental, God is the All in Everything

a reply to: Deetermined

It's all just a mystery to everyone but its nice to spit-bail the little idiosyncrasies of our reality.

Tell me, how can you possibly entertain the notion of free will whilst believing God is infallible and has a plan(predestination) in play?

Don't you realize that one notion is diametrically opposed to the other?

So which is it free will or an infallible God? Because you simply can't have both, or you can, but not at the macro scale where you exist.

Keep in mind it takes all sorts to make the world spin.

a reply to: CornishCeltGuy

All pretty logical, so how about you?

I don't believe it's logical to conclude that life has no purpose.

In a nutshell, I believe what the Bible tells us...

That God created man so that some day we could all live together in perfection and harmony.
That our purpose in life is to understand good and evil so that we will learn from it in order to obtain the above.
That our purpose is also to understand that we're not capable of living a full or eternal life without our Creator.
That a time will come when all human life and death itself will cease to exist at all.
That there is an eternal spiritual life (with God) after this human life is over for those who come to understand all of the above.
Understanding all of the above comes through developing a relationship with God in order to gain that knowledge.

a reply to: andy06shake

Tell me, how can you possibly entertain the notion of free will whilst believing God is infallible and has a plan(predestination) in play?

Don't you realize that one notion is diametrically opposed to the other?

Yes, God allowed us to all have opposing views so that we could choose Him or not. He's not going to force you into that prayer and worship that you so despise the thought of. That's why free will was given to us in the first place.

Edit to Add: There is no "predestination". There is only foreknowledge. Because God knows what decision you're going to make ahead of time, doesn't mean that he predestined it for you. He allows us to make that choice for ourselves. That is the plan.

a reply to: Deetermined

God created us in his image, which implies he was seeking a companion or equal, not a servant nor subject who prays, worships and bends to his will, which is where our place in the Christian universe seems to be.

Then there is the old v new testament conundrum to address, schizophrenia much Daddy, because thats two totally different entities portrayed right there.

originally posted by: Deetermined
a reply to: CornishCeltGuy
I don't believe it's logical to conclude that life has no purpose.

But you see believing in a claimed entity which has no verifiable evidence to support it is not logical either.
Why do you think there is a purpose for living other than maybe continuation of the species and genetic diversity?
I see no purpose because I don't believe in any gods. I don't need a purpose either, I enjoy being alive as far as I perceive being alive, and I'm happy enough for it to continue as long as it can.
But purpose? Why do I or anyone else 'need' a purpose for being alive? Just be happy being alive and create your own purpose for wishing it to continue.

Or on the other hand, if someone is depressed with seeing no purpose then they can always choose to end it. I wouldn't understand a need for purpose myself but it takes all sorts to make a world...some folk seem to need a deity of some kind, I don't though.
I'm alive, and it is what it is, so long as I enjoy it I'll stay on the train.

originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: Deetermined

God created us in his image, which implies he was seeking a companion or equal, not a servant nor subject who prays, worships and bends to his will, which is where our place in the Christian universe seems to be.

I think the term 'created in Gods image' means this present image that is appearing. You are appearing now...

a reply to: Deetermined

We are the spanner in the works to any predestination if indeed we possess a modicum of free will.

Your free will is a philosophy mate, tangible science suggests otherwise I'm afraid, and whilst its not providing all the answers at once, it surely is producing them with increasing pace.

No free will the way its portrayed in the Bible, that's pretty much a given. Same with a lot of other notions and ideologies is said book really.

a reply to: Itisnowagain

We are part of an explosion, light being part of such, then there is normal matter, dark matter and dark energy to contend with.

As to image, seems to me image comes down to perspective and ours is so very, very, limited.

a reply to: andy06shake

God created us in his image, which implies he was seeking a companion or equal, not a servant nor subject who prays, worships and bends to his will, which is where our place in the Christian universe seems to be.

Then there is the old v new testament conundrum to address, schizophrenia much Daddy, because that two totally different entities portrayed right there.

God is seeking companions and the Bible tells us that God will become "all in all", but that won't happen until all that has been corrupted (human bodies, the earth, etc.) have been destroyed and done away with forever. We can't become as one until all evil and corruption has been removed from existence.

As for the Old vs. New Testaments. All the same God, just showing and describing his different attributes. The New Testament tells us that Jesus will be returning to claim those who are His and he'll be pouring out God's wrath on those who aren't.

a reply to: andy06shake

Your free will is a philosophy mate, tangible science suggests otherwise I'm afraid, and whilst its not providing all the answers at once, it surely is producing them with increasing pace.

LOL! There isn't anything tangible about that science experiment on free will. Delude yourself all you want, you've been given the free will to do that!

a reply to: Deetermined

"God is seeking companions"

And yet he will burn my immortal soul for all eternity, spank me in the afterlife if i don't do exactly as he says?

Seems rather harsh, what kind of companion is it he's after again? LoL

Jesus is late to the party, just like his father, don't you see a pattern developing?

It's not Gods wrath that's the problem it's our own.

a reply to: Deetermined
I see all you have as support for your claims is the Bible so I'll bow out of this discussion now.
As I've previously stated, I regard your Bible as lacking in evidence to support claims of gods as badly as Jehovah Witnesses or Mormons knocking on my door.

Shout if you find some verifiable evidence to support your god claims though, as a rational person I am always ready to change my opinion when new sources of information come to light.
Unfortunately though, all you have is blind faith and that doesn't cut the mustard with me.

a reply to: Deetermined

"There isn't anything tangible about that science experiment on free will."

Aside from the repeatable results of course and data to reinforce such.

No nothing tangible whatsoever. LoL

a reply to: andy06shake

"God is seeking companions"

And yet he will burn my immortal soul for all eternity, spank me in the afterlife if i don't do exactly as he says?

Seems rather harsh, what kind of companion is it he's after again? LoL

God wants a companion to love Him unconditionally, just like anyone else. He dislikes hardened heads and hardened hearts. Maybe if you weren't so stubborn and set in your free will you'd see and understand that what you think really doesn't matter because you didn't create or have control over the world, you only have control over your decisions. Now you can blame God if you want for allowing you to make poor choices on what to believe, but that's not going to have a very productive outcome.

a reply to: andy06shake

Aside from the repeatable results of course and data to reinforce such.

You mean aside from the link where the experiment itself was faulty? LOL! Sure, if you have a faulty experiment, you're going to keep getting faulty results to reinforce that faultiness.

a reply to: Deetermined

Unconditionally love, a misnomer at best I'm afraid.

Even with your own siblings, there is a modicum of expectation, whether you choose to recognize the fact or otherwise.

Everything comes with conditions, even love.

Control just like free will is illusory, same with freedom and security.

I dont blame God i blame humanity and its propensity to repeat her mistakes and past historical transgressions from one generation too another, its our fault not Gods. LoL

a reply to: Deetermined

Its not perfect, nothing is, like i said further study is most assuredly required.

We simply work with the tools and ideas we have at our disposal.

Ile take Science over religion through every day of the week and twice on Tuesdays because the former requires repeatable results and the latter a massive leap of faith.

I notice im addressing your queries but you seem to be skipping over some of the larger questions possed, why is that?

Tell us what you think and not what God says on the subject from a book written 1000s of years ago.

a reply to: Deetermined

Here is a link to a BBC Horizon documentary 'The Secret You'.
documentaryheaven.com...
Near the end of a the documentary....the test is done with a MRI machine.
You can tell by the researchers face as he sits, stunned by the results.

The whole doc. is well worth a watch imo.

a reply to: andy06shake

Unconditionally love, a misnomer at best I'm afraid.

Even with your own siblings, there is a modicum of expectation, whether you choose to recognize the fact or otherwise.

God loves you unconditionally, but he does have a modicum of expectation from you too.

originally posted by: Deetermined
a reply to: andy06shake

Unconditionally love, a misnomer at best I'm afraid.

Even with your own siblings, there is a modicum of expectation, whether you choose to recognize the fact or otherwise.

God loves you unconditionally, but he does have a modicum of expectation from you too.

Total contradiction.