We actually do this all the time already. The other evening I had to give my 8 year old son some strict discipline. It made him cry and was hurtful to him. My love for him was intimidating/hard/stern/judging. But when he got the message being communicated to him, I forgave him, hugged him, and affirmed him. My love for him was gentle/nurturing/kind/accepting.

So, either my love is schizophrenic or the nature of love is paradoxical. Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh I know the answer......I’ll choose B please!

If you dismiss out of pocket that there is no spiritual realm, then of course none of this makes sense. But if you give some credence that there is a spiritual realm and that somehow in some way that realm intersects with our human existence, you simply have got to embrace some level or paradox……what most call mystery.

That was awesome! Thanks for taking the time. I am learning a lot and appreciate your enthusiasm and candor.

Some call this curiosity in their new hobby not proof of god. When I started playing disc golf after being away from it for years, I read and learned all I could handle. When I decided to break the world record, I learned all I could from those before me. When I decided to go agnostic and then atheist, I started reading everything I could get my hands on. I don't see any proof here.

I guess I was under the impression it is by the book only. I respect you so much for taking out the parts that seem a little bit off and going for the big message. I was at that point once.

If he made us, why would he allow or plan life like this? Why would he abandon us? You can say he has a plan and we can't understand it, but that is forever without him. That is evil, not loving. You will likely never be able to convince me otherwise on that point.

A=B, B=C....
You example is about levels of emotional intentions not actually "physical" beings. I say physical, but I think you know what I mean. You certainly can have more than these at once, but be all beings at once, I'm not buying that. I do understand that you didn't make this up, but I certainly question the validity.

I think you are wrong here. I can except that this could be one of an infinite number of possibilities, even of the spiritual kind. But it seems that believers, refuse to see it any other way. Could it be we swap dimensions, realities, planets in other galaxies,... See, I'm willing to think it could be anything, but until one of these is real, I'm willing to side on nothing happens after death and there is no all powerful creator. I do this, because it is the simplest answer in all things on this planet. I think until I am proven otherwise, it is human arrogance or fear of the unknown that causes people to gravitate toward what other humans teach them.

cont.

People who join Christ later in life, are usually down on their luck or having a serious struggle and need the acceptance to survive. Kids do it because they are taught before they can think for themselves...I still call that brainwashing, but hell, I guess all parenting is a form of that. I rarely hear of anyone who is happy with life and doesn't need anything from anyone, that says, hey I need god in my life. I'm just saying.

Lastly, "autobiography" is written by one's self about one's self. The bible, the scriptures, gospels, are not any part of an autobiography. The fact that a committee decided which books went into the bible, is proof positive, that humans decided what you will learn.

Dave242 - I think you are an awesome guy. Thanks for writing with me.

I don't want anyone who reads any of my stuff to believe anything I write. All I ever ask for anyone talking about anything, is to think for yourself. Listen to others, but don't let other people's writings or words tell you how to think or allow them to take control of you. Live life.

Multiple realities.

When god creates you, he knows that all things are not only possible, but inevitable. He watches your paths through life blossom in fractal fashion. He harvests the wheat from the chaff. Those yous who are redeemable, go to heaven. The rest wind up in the incinerator. He saves yous from yourselves.

Wow jenb, did you write that? I felt like I was back in Chicago and hearing some street pose. Very nice.

Are you from Buffalo? That is the only place I have heard "yous".

I'd like to know how a believer gets past the whole story behind Christianity. It crumbles to pieces the moment you start to think about it. Filled with contradictions.

So the story goes: an all-powerful being made the universe and then, billions of years later, made intelligent beings (out of thin air). Even though he (why "he"? does God have a penis?) created these intelligent beings with "sinful" faults, he soon outlawed many activities in which humans are highly prone to participate. God then sent his son, (who is sometimes the same being, sometimes just his son) to sacrifice God/his son in order to appease himself. There is also the virgin birth and a wealth of other supernatural events that obviously never happened, given what we now know about biology, chemistry, physics, and every other field of science.

While Jesus most likely did exist, the Biblical account of his life is lacking. We all picture a scene in a simple setting in which he is born. Then suddenly he is an adult with people following him around, hanging on his every word. Very next scene, he's being executed. What about his childhood and teen years? So he was supposedly perfect? Did he ever take a dump? Get an erection? Have intercourse? Only a highly flawed person would go a lifetime without performing these and many other seemingly unholy activities on a regular basis.

The average Saturday morning cartoon show presents a more coherent story.