I can’t entertain the possibility that atheism is valid because non-entities can’t instantly heal human beings, and I’ve been healed myself (several times), and I’ve been used in the instantaneous physical healing of others. More than that though, the indwelling of The Holy Spirit is an unmistakable Presence in my life, and He guides me, prompts me, just as surely as if you were to dig me in the ribs or yell at me if I were about to take a misstep. Jesus is just as real a Companion to me, and YAHWEH answers all my prayers. So, atheism is either a cop out or a derangement from my perspective, depending upon whom we’re discussing.
It wouldn’t advance the devil’s cause to heal me or encourage me because I’m definitely on his hit list. I could write a book about my battles with him and his minions but this is hardly the place.
However, I’ll give you this. I’m a human being, a fallible, all too human, human being, and because I am it’s possible I could be wrong and deluded. I hope I’m not, I pray I’m not, and I don’t believe I am - of course. I believe in The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit and I would rather die than deny them. I live my faith, I work for it, I sing, write, and play for it, and this is the reality I’ve lived in and I’ll die in. It is impossible for me to ignore my experiences, and Satan doesn’t do for his followers what GOD had done, and continues to do for me.
Another convincing factor, if I were inclined to doubt my faith, is that many of my experiences have been shared experiences, so two, three, or more of us would have to have been sharing the same delusion, which is medically and biologically impossible. As much as I could write a book about being on Satan’s hit list, I could write (and do write) about living life under GOD’S protection, disguised as fiction, but there’s nothing fictitious about it. Pochacco, you wouldn’t believe my life, the things I’ve done, seen, and had visited upon me.
So, the naked truth is that while I am certainly fallible, I don’t believe YHWH is, or Jesus Christ, or The Holy Spirit. IOW, can I be wrong? Certainly! Can They be wrong? Never!
I don’t know how to answer you more honestly than this.
I do appreciate your well thought out presentation. It’s a pleasure to share my heart with you - regardless of your personal belief system.
I apologize for adding my signature to my last post, but I didn’t see your admonishment prior to posting. Why don’t I recall reading this in the rules…?
Nope, apparently it’s rare, but not physically or medically (psychologically) impossible. Folie à deux. Then there’s the obvious one: people lie. Especially when they want to be accepted as part of a group. Especially when believing is more comforting than not believing.
Brown Eyed Girl - I didn’t mention what my shared experiences were, so there’s no possible way you can offer a valid opinion on what is and is not possible. I stand by my original testimony. - Jesse.
It doesn’t matter what the shared experience was. People are, after all human. Even believers can get caught up in it.
Regarding faith healing, that’s all bullshit and you know it. Studies have been done and have determined it is worthless. The big question you want to ask yourself is, if your god substance can heal you and your pals, why doesn’t he heal everyone? Why not your alcoholic brothers? Why not my mother? Why not every sick person, past or present? If his magical powers extend to medical skills, and he doesn’t use them to heal the sick, your little love train pretty much derails, doesn’t it?
Come off it Kalhoun! Jesus healed scores of sick people and even raised the dead. It was meant to be a preview of coming attractions, as I explained to you earlier.
There’s a difference between so-called faith healing and unasked for miracles, by the way. I don’t have enough experience with faith healers to comment on their veracity. However, I’ve experienced what God can do when He so chooses. Why he chooses to do some things and not others at this juncture, I just don’t know. Nevertheless, the results remain the same.
Incidentally, only one of my brothers is an alcoholic - with a heart of gold, in case I didn’t mention that before. He hasn’t had an easy life, and I love him. Last time I checked though, he had no patience for GOD. I continue to hope that changes.
My apologies, Fear Itself. I should have counted to ten before responding to your flippant remark. I didn’t care for your casual mocking of GOD. Still, there’s never a good enough excuse for a breach of etiquette. I’m sorry, and I ask your forgiveness. - Jesse.
You have just made my case for god being an evil sonovabitch. It shouldn’t matter if someone believes or not. Love (whatever THAT means) is touted as the prime motivator of your superhero. You continue to use the bible as your only source of reference for his goodness, and yet if you look around, there’s no evidence to support your case. Horrible deaths continue to take people…believers or not. Your blind insistence that he is capable of healing people or performing other assorted magic tricks simply doesn’t hold water. If he exists, he’s a loser. If he doesn’t, you’re wasting your breath.
This is where we differ, Kalhoun. I look around me and see God’s love everywhere. Please do not presume to lecture me about loss, I know what it is to bury a child, brother, mother, father, friends… no one walks through this world unscathed. Loss is a part of our present existence, but it won’t always be this way.
The Bible is not my ‘only source of reference’ but you don’t believe in The Holy Spirit or personal experience, so I see no point in bothering you with details. BTDT, and you not only disbelieve GOD, you don’t believe me. - Jesse.
You’ve offered nothing in the way of support for your argument. I’m not lecturing you about loss, I’m simply highlighting the lack of interest your god offers it’s most staunch believers. Your lazy loophole of “loss is a part of our present existence” is preach-speak for “I don’t know what I’m talking about.”
Your god certainly doesn’t act like he loves anyone. Why would you think he does? Maybe you can explain to me why an all-powerful superhero would cause so much pain to those he loves. What’s his motivator? This is a big one, Jesse. You’ve had numerous conversations with him. I’d think this question would be near the top of your list. “Why, god…why don’t you exercise your powers and make everything perfect? You’re capable, yet you choose to be an evil sonofabitch. Why???”
Everywhere? Evidently you don’t see what the rest of us see. You don’t see the beaten children, the starving, the sick, the victims of horrific crime, those who were swept away by natural disasters (presumably inflicted by your god), those born (of god’s will…every sperm is sacred and all that) with horrible disabilities, and all the rest.
Evidently god provides blinders for his most staunch believers.
Based on my observations, if there is a god, this is how he interacts with his creation:
[ul]
[li]Sometimes he bestows blessings on those who are humble and pray for forgiveness.[/li][li]Sometimes he inflicts pain upon the wicked who curse him and turn their backs.[/li][li]Sometimes he bestows blessings on the wicked who curse him and turn their backs.[/li][li]Sometimes he inflicts pain upon those who are humble and pray for forgiveness.[/li][/ul]
It appears the living god is indistiguishable from the imaginary one.
Because GOD did make everything perfect and we (humankind) messed it up and continue to, and because I know that GOD is going to end all suffering - suffering we brought upon ourselves, I might point out. We cause our own pain.
"And GOD will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more mourning, or outcry, or pain, and death will be no more, for the former things have passed away."
FYI, I was one of those ‘beaten children.’ I have been sick all my life and must take medication to live. I have been homeless and hungry and caught in a couple of natural disasters. I chose and choose to look beyond circumstance. Perspective gained from eyesight only is one dimensional. We must also have vision, understanding, and LOVE. - Jesse.