Disbelief is not a choice

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Why does it matter if they are born-again? People still believe what is being told to them.

13 percent of Americans reported they believe God had no role in the creation of the Universe. (http://m.cbsnews.com/storysynopsis.rbml?feed_id=0&catid=657083&videofeed=36)

40 percent still believe in the literal interpretation (http://www.gallup.com/poll/145286/four-americans-believe-strict-creationism.aspx)

That means about 47 percent of America still believe in a naturalistic form of creation.

No matter how one slice it, most of America is still influenced by the Abrahamic doctrines.
 
I think Reba believes those who are Christians are the ones who actually LIVE like Christians or at least do their best. I think we know that most self named Christians don't practice what they preach/believe.

However, for this argument, we are talking about general BELIEFS, not behavior. Most do say that they do believe in God.
 
CALL THEMSELF CHRISTIAN
1) Bill Clinton
2) Jesse Jackson
3) John Edwards

DON'T FOLLOW CHRIST
1) Bill Clinton
2) Jesse Jackson
3) John Edwards
 
Wirelessly posted

Don't play the game of "not true Christians," rolling7. It's how churches wage wars with each others.
 
If one doesn't "believe in God existing in non time" isn't the converse also a belief "nothing started this world-whenever""?
How can "science" deal with non time?

This has been discussed since time immemorial. Resolution?

Implanted A B Harmony activated Aug/07
 
Wirelessly posted

Phil, try "the Queer Univese" on TED Talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_dawkins_on_our_queer_universe.html if one wants to understand how physicists resolve the concept of temporal infinity and perception of matter. It's subtitled in any language of choosing.
 
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souggy said:
Wirelessly posted

Don't play the game of "not true Christians," rolling7. It's how churches wage wars with each others.
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So you have no problem with some person taking a public position on an issue and living the life different? This recall how MM and people attack a congressperson who speaks out as pro-family, anti-gay, etc. and then gets caught with his/her pants down. Where is the fairness when I bring up these 3? My point is really about behavior, not religion.
 
rolling7 said:
So you have no problem with some person taking a public position on an issue and living the life different? This recall how MM and people attack a congressperson who speaks out as pro-family, anti-gay, etc. and then gets caught with his/her pants down. Where is the fairness when I bring up these 3? My point is really about behavior, not religion.
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No, you are talking about CAUGHT behavior. Do you REALLY want to label who is a true Christian and who is not based on what you know about them? Just because someone LOOKS like a true Christian, does not mean they are. And vice versa.

So even if EVERYONE agrees on what makes someone a true Christian (which itself is NEVER going to happen), no one really knows because lying exists, unfortunately.

So that's why we are just going to focus on BELIEFS because people are less likely to lie about their beliefs than about their "Christian-like" behavior. There isn't much incentive nowadays to lie about whether they believe in God or not, but there is definitely incentive to lie about whether they have been leading a good Christian life. See what I'm saying?

So in terms of BELIEFS alone, the majority of people in America believe in God.
 
Also, I want to add that I understand why certain people don't equate "Believe in God" with "Being Christian". After all, if one truly believed in God and the Bible, they would realize why living a Christian-like life is important, right?

My mom calls herself a Catholic but doesn't really believe in all the details in Catholicism. In fact, the ONLY Catholic thing about her is that she believes in God and goes to church. The rest is whatever.
 
Daredevel7 said:
Also, I want to add that I understand why certain people don't equate "Believe in God" with "Being Christian". After all, if one truly believed in God and the Bible, they would realize why living a Christian-like life is important, right?

My mom calls herself a Catholic but doesn't really believe in all the details in Catholicism. In fact, the ONLY Catholic thing about her is that she believes in God and goes to church. The rest is whatever.
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Agreed. I know people who are very Christian-like but don't go to church and I know people to go to church who are not Christian-like at all.
 
rolling7 said:
CALL THEMSELF CHRISTIAN
1) Bill Clinton
2) Jesse Jackson
3) John Edwards

DON'T FOLLOW CHRIST
1) Bill Clinton
2) Jesse Jackson
3) John Edwards
Click to expand...

A couple of observations:
  • You did not list any Republicans. Is it only Democrat-Liberal political figures, professing to be Christians, that are failing to live the right way?
  • You did not list Obama. Is that because you consider him a closet Muslim?
 
Daredevel7 said:
Also, I want to add that I understand why certain people don't equate "Believe in God" with "Being Christian". After all, if one truly believed in God and the Bible, they would realize why living a Christian-like life is important, right?

My mom calls herself a Catholic but doesn't really believe in all the details in Catholicism. In fact, the ONLY Catholic thing about her is that she believes in God and goes to church. The rest is whatever.
Click to expand...

Sounds like Mom needs to open her heart/soul to a different doctrine/church. Just saying...
 
saywhatkid said:
Sounds like Mom needs to open her heart/soul to a different doctrine/church. Just saying...
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Daniel Dennett touched on this during a BBC interview with Jonathan Miller about Christians going to church, but not practicing what they preach. He found through his research, they go to church to interact with people. They like the concept of a benevolent God who will protect them. The rest of the details doesn't matter to them as long they are happy and are part of a community.
 
As far as I am concerned "temporary infinity" is meaningless and not the same of non time. Not to be philosophical, of course in this forum.

Implanted A B Harmony activated Aug/07
 
Temporal infinity meaning time doesn't end nor start. It's non-linear.

In our concept of time, time starts somewhere and it's fixed in measurable units. The interstellar doesn't have the concept of time, nor is it measurable. One cosmic day could be vastly different from our definition of a day. To illustrate what I means, a day to a banana slug is much longer than a day is to a human.

Non-time is absurd term to use to describe temporal infinity.
 
saywhatkid said:
Sounds like Mom needs to open her heart/soul to a different doctrine/church. Just saying...
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I think she just likes the comfort and convenience of the church she is going to. 1) Her sister goes there, too. 2) She likes the priests there. 3) I doubt she wants to make the effort of finding another church, especially when she's scared of most of them. Haha. She would need a "recommendation". We used to go to another Catholic church, but they switched priests and she doesn't like the new priest's sermons. So her sister give her a "recommendation" of her own church.

Also, she is a private person. She likes the idea of dealing with religion by herself. She feels that religion is a "private matter." She doesn't want to talk about it nor discuss it with anyone. She also doesn't like to openly "praise the lord!" in front of people. So I doubt she'd open her heart/soul to anyone within any church.

My opinion? She really is just a spiritual person, not a Catholic. She definitely believes in a higher being, but doesn't really believe in the Bible. I think she just likes the label "Catholic" better than "spiritual".

I hope my mom never reads this forum.... :D
 
I am not describing "temporary infinity" as non time- you are. I assume time "started" somehow by" who"-One's beliefs? Your choice.

Implanted A B Harmony activated Aug/07
 
I am not describing "temporary infinity" as non time- you are. I assume time "started" somehow by" who"-One's beliefs? Your choice.

Implanted A B Harmony activated Aug/07
 
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