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A Sense of God[W:288]

Re: A Sense of God

Nilly said:
Erm yeah. Do you save money? Or do you spend it the day you get it?

I work my job today so I can enjoy tomorrow more.
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Saving for a rainy day isn't exactly the same as preparing to live life to the fullest.
You're talking about this grand quest you want to have to search and prepare for the answer on how to live life.



Someone I know has a friend who worked so hard preparing for her retirement. She died the week after she retired.
This fellow was shakened by that. Reality hit like a ton of bricks! She worked and prepared for what, he asked.
 
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Re: A Sense of God

Nilly said:
I work my job today so I can enjoy tomorrow more.
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Well, I thought you said you want to search and prepare for the answer to the question how to live life?

Is that the answer you discovered? Take a job? :lamo


I thought in this world, having a job is a given....for survival. :lol:


Anyway.... what if tomorrow never comes?
 
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Re: A Sense of God

tosca1 said:
But what if tomorrow never comes?
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Then I've lost out. But more often than not I'm glad I don't spend my money every day in case I don't wake up tomorrow.

Do you save? Do you work?
 
Re: A Sense of God

Nilly said:
Then I've lost out. But more often than not I'm glad I don't spend my money every day in case I don't wake up tomorrow.

Do you save? Do you work?
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Here is the bottom line, Nilly.

You are not in control of your own life.

You may think you are....but that's just an illusion. A Supreme power is the One in control.
He just lets you have what He wants you to have - and He can just as easily take it away. Be it wealth, power,
loved ones or your own life.

We can do all the preparation we want to do, try our best to achieve our goals in life - but if it's not meant to be,
no amount of sweat and dedication, and preparation on your part will make a difference.


You might even find yourself swept up in situations one after another, that you have no control whatsoever.
Like being swept by a strong current. Fortunately for me, I'd already acknowledged and accepted Him as my Lord, and humbly went along, trusting Him to take me where He wanted me to be.

I speak from experience.
 
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Re: A Sense of God

calamity said:
I think about the concept of "god" a lot. It's not something I take lightly. And, the thoughts are more or less filling my need for understanding things which are not easily understood. Why are we here, what's it all about, is this all there is? I look that way too when confronted with random acts or when looking for guidance on a subconscious level.

Within a reasonable level of certainty, I am confident that the gods of this or that religion do not exist, especially not as described in the various texts or spoken through religious dogma. However, I would not go so far as to say there is not something, real or imagined, which can be tapped into during a time of need that gives comfort and the illusion of control: A loved one is going in for life-threatening surgery, so, I pray to "god," and let said prayer still my heart. That sort of thing.

Maybe that's what it's all about. God, the imaginary friend who can pull us through when times get rough. I guess that makes sense to me. And, perhaps, those who take it to the extremes by worshiping their imaginary friend on a daily basis and othering people who worship differently are simply taking it down a road I do not feel comfortable traveling. Or, maybe they are just more delusional. Don't know.
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Ever think of a leaf in a waterfall?
 
Re: A Sense of God

Nilly said:
Then I've lost out. But more often than not I'm glad I don't spend my money every day in case I don't wake up tomorrow.

Do you save? Do you work?
Click to expand...

Well of course. I don't wish to be a burden to anyone!

But having a roof over one's head and food on the table, and clothes on one's back, and a few odd luxuries in life,
is not exactly the same as living life to the fullest, is it?

Living life to the fullest is, hedonistic living! Pleasures in life is the most important goal.
 
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Re: A Sense of God

tosca1 said:
Here is the bottom line, Nilly. You are not in control of your own life.

We can do all the preparation we want to do, try our best to achieve our goals in life - but if it's not meant to be, no amount of sweat and dedication on your part will make a difference.

I speak from experience.
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I'm sorry that you failed in what you wanted to achieve in life, and I'm sorry that you feel the need to blame it on gods plan.

Personally, I don't subscribe to some silly divine plan. Clearly gods plan doesn't favor some people and I don't want to be one of those people.

'Fail to prepare. Prepare to fail.' What we do with this life is the only legacy we get to leave behind.
 
Re: A Sense of God

tosca1 said:
Well of course. I don't wish to be a burden to anyone!

But having a roof over one's head and food on the table, and clothes on one's back, and a few odd luxuries in life,
is not exactly the same as living life to the fullest, is it?

Living life to the fullest is, hedonistic living! Pleasures in life is the most important goal.
Click to expand...
No offense, but I just watched a documentary on Isis, and those guys all said just about the same thing. The difference though is that those fellows will kill anyone who does not agree.
 
Re: A Sense of God

Glen Contrarian said:
Here's something else.

We take care of an elderly lady in our home. She's got a form of dementia - every day is Easter to her. Anyway, she's always very grateful for everything, never makes a real fuss, never raises her voice, and for the 2.5 years she's been with us, never gets up at night.

Except for one night I will never forget. She got up at about 4:30 AM, and started yelling "I can't breathe! I can't breathe!" We were able to settle her down after a while, with the help of her meds. But the next day we found out that her sister that lived about 80 miles away had passed away at that same exact time. That sends chills down a guy's spine, y'know?

Yeah, that's a bit spooky...but I don't liken this to an NDE. Actually, I strongly suspect that it's something that's come to be called "quantum biology". You've probably heard of "quantum entanglement", where subatomic particles become entangled, and when the state of one is changed, the other automatically changes, too - and it's truly instantaneous, not limited by the speed of light. Thing is, at first this was found only in subatomic particles, but now they've found it not just in atoms, but even in complex molecules...and there's a serious school of thought that this can happen across time, as well.

Yeah, that sounds silly...but then, try to explain away sympathy pains, or how a flock of birds all swerve in the same direction at the same time, or how a mom just knows something's going on with her child who's so far away.

There's a lot more to this world than we yet understand.
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I totally believe that there is a sort of interconnectedness that we cannot quite grasp in our conscious being. There is very little doubt in my mind that is exists. But, what "it" actually is and on what level it interacts is a deep mystery.
 
Re: A Sense of God

tosca1 said:
Calamity, forgive me for my awful sense of humor....I can't help it, it's in my nature. I do get carried away!


But I think you need to really look deep inside you.....and if you can, just talk to God......and ask Him to help you know that He's real.
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As real as finding peace even as storm clouds roll in. Sure.
 
Re: A Sense of God

Fearandloathing said:
The Bible is not proof of anything, the only characters that can be proven are Pontius Pilot and Herrod, we have only Roman history to document what was to them a dirty little backwater they thought was ungovernable...my how things never change.
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There's dozens of other Biblical individuals who have been confirmed in other writings, archaeology, etc.

Here's some for the record:

50 People in the Bible Confirmed Archaeologically – Biblical Archaeology Society

List of biblical figures identified in extra-biblical sources - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
Re: A Sense of God

Paschendale said:
I had an NDE as a child, long before I ever heard any description of such a thing. It had nothing to do with any gods. It's just your brain freaking out when your body is damaged. And it is not, as you say, an "awareness after death". You haven't died. Nor is the personal nature of the experience indicative of any exterior force interacting with you. Your experience knows your name because you do, and it's happening entirely inside your mind. Oh and the "not time yet" feeling, that comes from not actually dying. It's recognition that you're going to survive whatever happens.

All of this comes from inside you. It's in your own brain and your own mind. There is no reason to conclude anything about an exterior force unless you have been socialized to do so.
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That's a perfectly valid interpretation. But the fact you had an NDE (assuming you indeed did) seems irrelevant here. That doesn't in any way make you an authority on NDE. I suffer from migraines, I haven't the slightest clue what causes migraines. Having migraines doesn't magically make me a migraine expert. Having an NDE doesn't make you an NDE expert. Everything you say may be true, but I think that opening with the words you did serves no purpose other than as a fallacious appeal to authority.
 
Re: A Sense of God

calamity said:
I think about the concept of "god" a lot. It's not something I take lightly. And, the thoughts are more or less filling my need for understanding things which are not easily understood. Why are we here, what's it all about, is this all there is? I look that way too when confronted with random acts or when looking for guidance on a subconscious level.

Within a reasonable level of certainty, I am confident that the gods of this or that religion do not exist, especially not as described in the various texts or spoken through religious dogma. However, I would not go so far as to say there is not something, real or imagined, which can be tapped into during a time of need that gives comfort and the illusion of control: A loved one is going in for life-threatening surgery, so, I pray to "god," and let said prayer still my heart. That sort of thing.

Maybe that's what it's all about. God, the imaginary friend who can pull us through when times get rough. I guess that makes sense to me. And, perhaps, those who take it to the extremes by worshiping their imaginary friend on a daily basis and othering people who worship differently are simply taking it down a road I do not feel comfortable traveling. Or, maybe they are just more delusional. Don't know.
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You might find the progressive Christian movement attractive, it sounds right up your alley. It doesn't match your current beliefs 100%, but it's along the same lines. Wait until you have 15 minutes to spare, then watch this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I4Pk0VSOog If you never have 15 minutes to spare, then at least watch from 11:10 on, for a take on prayer not unlike the one you have expressed here. If you find that attractive I suggest reading Marcus Borg's book "The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering the Christian Faith", it's available in pretty much every format: audiobook from audible, e-book from amazon, or hardcopy from any bookstore. Another option is Finding Faith: A search for What Makes Sense by Brian McLaren.
 
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Re: A Sense of God

Nilly said:
I'm sorry that you failed in what you wanted to achieve in life, and I'm sorry that you feel the need to blame it on gods plan.
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Why will you feel sorry for me? I'm not.

In fact I'm grateful to have been shown that He is the One in control.....and that, He can be depended on.
My husband and I have already come to the realization that there is a "ceiling" on how much we can have.
Believe me, it's not for lack of testing.


And I tell you, God isn't only there for you when the times get rough.


He is indeed as a Father, who can be indulgent even with trivial things.....but, who knows what's best for you.
His decisions may always be based on what He knows is best for you.



Personally, I don't subscribe to some silly divine plan. Clearly gods plan doesn't favor some people and I don't want to be one of those people.
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I can see why you feel that way.

Anyway, you may not want to "subscribe" to His plan, or you may not want anything that He lets you have.....but,
you don't really have any say in it.

You have no real control of your life....just as you have no control of the weather.




'Fail to prepare. Prepare to fail.' What we do with this life is the only legacy we get to leave behind.
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That's why it's silly to make preparation how to live this life, that is if you don't believe in an afterlife.

Unless you'd had a trial run about living life....how can you make preparation when you're learning about life as you go along? Your experiences wouldn't be the same as the experiences of those who lived before you.


Not all of us become presidents, or bigger-than-life heroes people build monuments for, or gets mentioned in celebrity columns long after we're dead. Not all of us will do anything to impact the world in such magnitude that it'll be noticed at all.

The only legacy some of us may get to leave behind may be our opinion posted online! :lol:
 
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Re: A Sense of God

calamity said:
No offense, but I just watched a documentary on Isis, and those guys all said just about the same thing. The difference though is that those fellows will kill anyone who does not agree.
Click to expand...

This is what you're responding to:

Originally Posted by tosca1 View Post

Well of course. I don't wish to be a burden to anyone!

But having a roof over one's head and food on the table, and clothes on one's back, and a few odd luxuries in life,
is not exactly the same as living life to the fullest, is it?

Living life to the fullest is, hedonistic living! Pleasures in life is the most important goal.
Click to expand...


Why are you surprise that Isis members would want to have a roof over their heads, food on the table, and clothes on their back?

What human wouldn't want that? :shock:
 
Re: A Sense of God

calamity said:
As real as finding peace even as storm clouds roll in. Sure.
Click to expand...

Here's what you wrote:

I think about the concept of "god" a lot. It's not something I take lightly. And, the thoughts are more or less filling my need for understanding things which are not easily understood.

However, I would not go so far as to say there is not something, real or imagined, which can be tapped into during a time of need that gives comfort and the illusion of control: A loved one is going in for life-threatening surgery, so, I pray to "god," and let said prayer still my heart. That sort of thing.

God, the imaginary friend who can pull us through when times get rough. I guess that makes sense to me.
Click to expand...


No, that doesn't make any sense at all.....because you believe that you're worshipping something that's
not real. That's not only illogical. That's insane!

Why not call on the toothfairy instead?



Why do you feel you have to call on a god, even if it's only a pretend-god to you?

Why do you call that "something," God?

You never did answer that puzzle. Please explain.
 
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Re: A Sense of God

tosca1 said:
This is what you're responding to:




Why are you surprise that Isis members would want to have a roof over their heads, food on the table, and clothes on their back?

What human wouldn't want that? :shock:
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It was more in reference to their belief that pleasures found by the pursuit of earthly comforts: spending time with family, pursuing a career, buying nice things, living in harmony with others, etc.; are superseded by doing God's work, which is the only work worth living for. I see that as a trap easily walked into if not on constant guard.
 
Re: A Sense of God

CrabCake said:
That's a perfectly valid interpretation. But the fact you had an NDE (assuming you indeed did) seems irrelevant here. That doesn't in any way make you an authority on NDE. I suffer from migraines, I haven't the slightest clue what causes migraines. Having migraines doesn't magically make me a migraine expert. Having an NDE doesn't make you an NDE expert. Everything you say may be true, but I think that opening with the words you did serves no purpose other than as a fallacious appeal to authority.
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The post I was quoting was saying "I heard this story about an NDE and I declare that such things are definitive proof of this particular religious belief." I was presenting contradictory evidence, having had an NDE myself that had nothing to do with any religious ideas. No one is talking about experts. Likewise, nothing that I said has anything to do with an appeal to authority. What happens in your body and brain to cause the sensations that occur during an NDE are well documented. We know why those things happen. They have nothing at all to do with any myths about death. The biggest misconception that the post I quoted has is that you do not actually die during an NDE. You don't die and come back. Did you even read the post I was responding to?
 
Re: A Sense of God

tosca1 said:
So, why do you feel you have to call on a god, even if it's only a pretend god to you?
You never did answer that puzzle. Please explain.
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There are often times when things spiral out of control, and it becomes very obvious that we as individuals no longer have control of the situation. It's time to step away and just let things work themselves out on their own. For me, a "prayer" is not so much asking god to solve my problem, than it is letting go of it and letting, fate, the universe, even god take the ball.
 
Re: A Sense of God

I have to point out some facts about Marcus Borg (Progressive Christianity). His teachings would be classified as
false teachings since he denied important Christian tenets. The Scriptures is full of warnings about false teachers. Followers, beware. The onus is on us to discern.




The False Teachers: Marcus Borg

Of the over five hundred sayings of Jesus recorded in the Gospels, they determined that only thirty-one were authentic with the rest being possibly authentic, doubtful or completely inauthentic. Over their many meetings and through much dialog they eventually determined that Jesus was a mortal man who, like the rest of us, had been born of two parents, that he did not perform miracles, that any healings attributed to him were merely psychosomatic, that he did not die a substitutionary death, that he was not physically resurrected, and that the post-resurrection sightings of Jesus were merely visions.


Marcus Borg became and remains one of the foremost leaders in what has become known as Progressive Christianity which differs from Evangelical Christianity in a number of important ways. Where Evangelical Christianity emphasizes life after death, sin and forgiveness, the substitutionary atoning work of Jesus Christ, and grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone as the only way of salvation, Progressive Christianity takes a historical and metaphorical (rather than literal) approach to the Bible, affirms that God can be known through every religion, is far more concerned with good behavior than orthodox beliefs, and pursues progressive social and political views.


False Teaching

As a Progressive Christian, Borg denies important tenets of the historical Christian faith while affirming what Christians have long held as unorthodox or outright heretical positions.
He has long denied the inspiration and authority of the Bible, saying, “I let go of the notion that the Bible is a divine product. I learned that it is a human cultural product, the product of two ancient communities, biblical Israel and early Christianity. As such, it contained their understandings and affirmations, not statements coming directly or somewhat directly from God.”

He explicitly denies Jesus’ virgin birth: “Jesus almost certainly was not born of a virgin, did not think of himself as the Son of God, and did not see his purpose as dying for the sins of the world.”

He also denies the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ: “I do not think that the gospel stories of Easter require us to think of the resurrection in material physical terms. I see them as parables of the resurrection. Parables are about meaning. They are truth-filled and truthful stories, even as they may not be literally factual.”

In fact, he denies so much of the core beliefs of the Christian faith that it becomes nearly absurd to consider him a Christian at all.


The False Teachers: Marcus Borg | Challies Dot Com



You have to ask yourself: why do you seek God? What's your real reason?

If it's simply to "feel good" about yourself, to have some form of "validation," even if it's only pretend.....then, any religion or any god will suffice, I suppose.


But if you want to seek Him that you may have all that's been promised by Him.....then, you owe it to yourself to know and have some understanding of Him, and what is it that He requires from you.
That's what the Scriptures is for.
 
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Re: A Sense of God

Hari Seldon said:
No more so than praying before a sporting event as if a "God" will help you win the big game.
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When I've attended sporting events where there was a prayer, it was for the safety of everybody and for thanksgiving, not for God to give one side or the another a win.
 
Re: A Sense of God

calamity said:
It was more in reference to their belief that pleasures found by the pursuit of earthly comforts: spending time with family, pursuing a career, buying nice things, living in harmony with others, etc.; are superseded by doing God's work, which is the only work worth living for. I see that as a trap easily walked into if not on constant guard.
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Islam is dis-owning Isis. Really, I don't see how Isis relates with your OP. :roll:


You're talking about worshipping a pretend-god, whom you know is imaginary! Stay focused, please!
 
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