Comment Re:It's Not Magic, It's God(TM) (Score 1) 1010
I think you've presented 3 arguments:
Argument 1. How can I have a personal relationship with a dead guy? Surely the relationship is in my head?
Argument 2 (implied). My beliefs are because of my upbringing. Therefore my belief is wrong. It's also Wacko.
Argument 3. This was very unclear, but I think you argued: By currently popular scientific views the Earth is really old and the human race isn't. Many species existed before us, so why would God choose to make us "in the form of God"?
1. My answer: I've had experiences that strongly suggest to me that Jesus is alive and communicating with me. The way my car battery exploded last year, the way I coped with my parents divorce, the way I found a fire extinguisher for my church, the way I found my wife, the reason why I went to college, the way I get answered prayers (not all the time granted, but sometimes dramatically). These are just a few examples. None of the above probably make any sense to you because they're *personal*.
What I would recommend is asking God if he's really there. Really, really asking him. Like on Bruce Almighty when Jim Carrey is really frustrated. Sometimes God shows up.
2. My answer: To your point, most western Christians do have a Christian upbringing. This doesn't make their beliefs wrong.
3. My answer: The Bible agrees that humans were the last on the planet. I'm not sure what you mean by "special". We're clearly more intelligent than any other species. We experience vastly more complex emotional, intellectual, spiritual and social behavior than anything else on the planet. Apes are apparently the closest species and they can't program Java, appreciate art, fall in love, read Shakespeare or even make a better bow and arrow. I think that as a species we're very special. What do you mean?
Argument 1. How can I have a personal relationship with a dead guy? Surely the relationship is in my head?
Argument 2 (implied). My beliefs are because of my upbringing. Therefore my belief is wrong. It's also Wacko.
Argument 3. This was very unclear, but I think you argued: By currently popular scientific views the Earth is really old and the human race isn't. Many species existed before us, so why would God choose to make us "in the form of God"?
1. My answer: I've had experiences that strongly suggest to me that Jesus is alive and communicating with me. The way my car battery exploded last year, the way I coped with my parents divorce, the way I found a fire extinguisher for my church, the way I found my wife, the reason why I went to college, the way I get answered prayers (not all the time granted, but sometimes dramatically). These are just a few examples. None of the above probably make any sense to you because they're *personal*.
What I would recommend is asking God if he's really there. Really, really asking him. Like on Bruce Almighty when Jim Carrey is really frustrated. Sometimes God shows up.
2. My answer: To your point, most western Christians do have a Christian upbringing. This doesn't make their beliefs wrong.
3. My answer: The Bible agrees that humans were the last on the planet. I'm not sure what you mean by "special". We're clearly more intelligent than any other species. We experience vastly more complex emotional, intellectual, spiritual and social behavior than anything else on the planet. Apes are apparently the closest species and they can't program Java, appreciate art, fall in love, read Shakespeare or even make a better bow and arrow. I think that as a species we're very special. What do you mean?
