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Bhaskar's wisdom
Those are words of wisdom indeed, and I do appreciate your taking your time to say them to me. I know that what you say here is true and good. I will try my best always to abide by them. Thanks, my friend.
posted by
GEPRUITT
on April 13, 2007 at 6:13 AM
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Hi GEPRUITT
I have tried to thoroughly analyze these very issues, and found that those who believe will go on believing - right or wrong - simply because it is a matter of faith and as it is said that "Faith is a faculty higher than Reason". So ultimately in each of the cases, my aught comes to a naught, because none will ever be found to be giving ground. Not everyone can be expected to be open-minded enough to seek out truth and truth alone for its sake, and nothing else. The world knows about Aristarchus' discovery of the heliocentric principle, that the sun is the centre of world of the little portion of the universe that we know of, 300 years before Jesus. But later, in about 100 AD, Ptolemy again changed this discovery and said that the earth was the center. After that, it took over one thousand years until Kepler and Copernicus reestablished that the sun is the center of our universe. The truth discovered by Aristarchus remained hidden for a very long time, until Copernicus opened the old book of Aristarchus and declared it again...and people were shocked. Another is that man was born on the Earth 6000years BC. All these issues will go on and on endlesly without a solution anytime.
But I do believe that the seeking for truth, and Truth alone should be the objective, it should be given an air of openness and healthy discusssion; if someone believs...fine, and if he does not, then too ....fine. Getting into arguments is a waste of time when the other is steeped in faith, again I use here, right or wrong. Let the environment of 'Each to his own' prevail, and just move on without rancour or even regret.
However, since you strongly feel from inside that these issues be written and discused, and it gives you a sincere satisfaction, I support you in your endeavour. But, by the very same token, it should also not be taken that I stand against those who do not. I am ready to listen and discuss. Please go right ahead, and go ahead with all courage and boldness. I am a firm believer that the voice of reason should be heard, if one is saying in all his earnestness. May all, whether believer, or non-believer, be blessed. That is my prayer.
posted by
Bhaskar.ing
on April 12, 2007 at 8:09 PM
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Absolute.libra
Thank you so much for your wise comments. Let's face it. Christianity will change, but it will continue to be "bringing up the rear;" it will never be in the forefront of change. It will be dead last. Christianity, as practiced today, is so far removed from the practice of the early church as to be barely recognized as one and the same.
A few hundred more years from now, there will be no Satan or literal Hell preached among the mainstream of Christianity. New, modern, revised revisons of the latest revision of the Bible will be created, and Christians will then claim that it had it all straight from the very beginning. In the meantime, and for the rest of my life, I think I will just keep my opinions to myself. Yep, just keep my mouth shut. I have many more important things to do than to waste my time on narrow-mindedness.
Thanks, again, Absolute. I have some thinking to do.
posted by
GEPRUITT
on April 12, 2007 at 12:45 AM
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MMmm
I took a class on the bible. You know a council of old guys decided what would be in it and what wouldn't? Old. Guys. The writings of Mary Magdeline were left out, and some other very important folks, or not so important folks that may have seen some important things.
I suppose those old guys had their reasons for allowing or not allowing what went in and Im sure they werent all the purest of reasons. After all it is in human nature to make sure what you find is important is taken care of.
I am a Christian but while I say Im a Batist (as I was baptised one) I really have my own religion. I talk to God and he hears me. Is it so important to hold on to words that people long dead wrote? Think of it like a really old blog. Sure you want to keep the outline, and the stories are there to teach lessons so it is important to know what is there, but besides the really important rules (10 commandments) it really is only an outline whose letters have doubtless change over the millenia.
Believe in God. Do what is right when interacting with your fellow man and the world at large. Thats really all there is to it. No need to bicker about whose version is the most true. The final truth is God.
posted by
absolute.libra
on April 11, 2007 at 9:13 PM
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Justi
You're right! Your beliefs are your beliefs, and mine are mine. We both have our rights to them, each his own. Let's leave it at that. Peace. We still yet can be friends. Good night, and I hope you have a truely great day. Sincerely.
Gerald
posted by
GEPRUITT
on April 9, 2007 at 10:13 PM
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GEPRUITT
I wasn't looking for a cigar. The four corners of the Earth you are talking about are the directional corners. NESW. Find someone who wants to listen to your bashing. It is your right, but I am simply not interested. The Christian faith as I know it is totally satifactory for me and I am not responsible for you, your beliefs nor your faith. So spread what you want. It only brings out the ugliness in you. Be blessed. I am totally not interested in a blog war either. They are so tacky!
posted by
Justi
on April 9, 2007 at 8:52 PM
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Justi's "spheres"
The Scripture you quote is, first of all, not talking about the Earth at all. It is, rather, talking about the "heaven," where even the ancient writers of the Bible could plainly see that all heavenly bodies are round! Secondly, the word appears as "stories" in the stardard King James version of the Bible.
Amos 9:6 "It is he that buildeth his "stories" in the heaven and hath founded His troop on the earth." Nothing is said here or anywhere else in the standard King James version of the Bible, the one used by Christians for hundreds of years, about "sphere" or "spheres."
Strongs Exhaustive Concordance lists EVERY word in this standard Bible, and the word "sphere" or "spheres" DOES NOT ONCE appear in this Bible, much less three times. It was only later, with more "modern" versions of the Bible, when even Christians had long-since given up on their "flat-earth" theories because Science had over and over again proven them wrong . . . that man attemped to add to or change the Bible.
The standard King James Bible DOES make several referrences to the four CORNERS of the earth, however:
Isaiah 11:12 " the four corners of the earth," and
Rev. 7:1 "And after these things, I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth . . ." A sphere or round-shaped object does not have one corner, much less four.
Nice try, Justi, but no cigar!
posted by
GEPRUITT
on April 9, 2007 at 6:26 PM
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Sphere
There are 50 results for sphere in the 1897 Easton's 1897 Bible Dictonary. There are 5 in the Amplified Version and there are 3 in the New King James; however, the one I was speaking of is in the 21st Century King James Version it is as follows:
- Amos 9:6
It is He that buildeth His spheres in the heaven, and hath founded His troop on the earth. He that calleth for the waters of the sea and poureth them out upon the face of the earth--the LORD is His name.
posted by
Justi
on April 9, 2007 at 1:47 PM
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Justi's sphere
Have it as you wish. You are right; I have searched Strong's Exhastive Concordance and can not find that the word "sphere" is even listed as being in the Bible. Will you please tell me what scripture in the Bible contains this word? Thanks; Gerald.
posted by
GEPRUITT
on April 9, 2007 at 1:29 AM
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GEPRUITT
You honor me by putting me in the place that you named as mine. One thing in here is not at all true. The Bible said long before anyone wondered that the earth was a sphere, maybe you missed that part. Christians who choose as you do to believe what they want still believed it was flat.
I am sorry you got your drawers all in a wad. You may of course see what you want as you want. I just gave you more credit as a writer. Say what ever you choose about me if you have nothing important to write about. I personally am confident in my faith and will stay with it as it is. Your quarrel is with God not me.
posted by
Justi
on April 9, 2007 at 12:50 AM
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