GOD EXISTS

In this topic: confirmation bias.

Let us assume that God exists and created the universe.
That means that according to various belief, God is (in no particular order)...

1) Jehovah
2) THE LORD GOD
3) Allah
4) Brahma
5) Gaia
6) Cheonjiwang
7 Apsu & Tiamat
8) Lono, Ku, Kane & Kanaloa
9) Mangala
10) Pangu
11) Roog/Koox
12) Atum
13) Ptah
14) The Flying Spaghetti Monster (official religion, not kidding!)
15) Waheguru
...
..
.
As you can see, if there is a GOD, then either we are all doomed to Hell (since many of the main religions claim that all other paths lead to Hell, so since all religions are covered by that, there is therefore no path to Heaven) or GOD has innumerable facets, meaning that whichever facet you choose to believe in, it is only a tiny aspect of GOD and is just as valid as all the other aspects, therefore no religion should seek to place itself above any other religion.

So. Are we all hell-bound or are all religions valid? Logic dictates that those are the only two choices, assuming of course that GOD does indeed exist.

Remember, by denying other religions, you are denying aspects of GOD and therefore trying to reduce him/her/it...

Have to agree with Cthia on one point. KJV is the way to go. I do like my traditions, and that version is as traditional as I can understand. (Don't speak latin )

Have you ever perused the Book of Mormon or the Koran?

Michael Everett wrote:Let us assume that God exists and created the universe.
That means that according to various belief, God is (in no particular order)...

1) Jehovah
2) THE LORD GOD
3) Allah
4) Brahma
5) Gaia
6) Cheonjiwang
7 Apsu & Tiamat
8) Lono, Ku, Kane & Kanaloa
9) Mangala
10) Pangu
11) Roog/Koox
12) Atum
13) Ptah
14) The Flying Spaghetti Monster (official religion, not kidding!)
15) Waheguru
...
..
.
As you can see, if there is a GOD, then either we are all doomed to Hell (since many of the main religions claim that all other paths lead to Hell, so since all religions are covered by that, there is therefore no path to Heaven) or GOD has innumerable facets, meaning that whichever facet you choose to believe in, it is only a tiny aspect of GOD and is just as valid as all the other aspects, therefore no religion should seek to place itself above any other religion.

So. Are we all hell-bound or are all religions valid? Logic dictates that those are the only two choices, assuming of course that GOD does indeed exist.

Remember, by denying other religions, you are denying aspects of GOD and therefore trying to reduce him/her/it...

Not quite right, Michael. Whatever God's nature is, He has a purpose for His creation. We glorify Him in our pursuit of His purpose. Might more than one religion's teachings suitably support His purpose? Possibly. Only He knows for sure. Might one or more other religions be the complete antithesis of His purpose? Very Likely. So, while many religions might describe His nature, how many embrace His purpose for us? In the end which is more important? My suspicion is the pursuit of His purpose.

To deny all other religions might well diminish God. To accord all religions' teachings the same level of veracity is to detract from His purpose. Some of these teachings are contradictory, after all. We come back to each individual having the responsibility to seek and choose and advocate for his beliefs. Some of these beliefs might well be flat out wrong. It is up to each us to correct those beliefs regarding His purpose for us.

From that perspective, you dichotomy doesn't work. Religion isn't about separating oneself from God's creation in an effort to better envision God's infinite nature. It is about how to revel in God's creation pursuant to His purpose. Because He created us to achieve that purpose, each of us can envision that part of the purpose we can fulfill. That requires we choose that which we believe to be true and that which we believe to be false.

Spoke with Hermes.
The Flying Spaghetti Monster is really Apollo messing with us.

Annachie wrote:Have to agree with Cthia on one point. KJV is the way to go. I do like my traditions, and that version is as traditional as I can understand. (Don't speak latin )

Have you ever perused the Book of Mormon or the Koran?

Which version of the KJV, the original or the one after James told them to rewrite it because the first version didn't emphasize the divine right of kings sufficiently.

Just for Cthia, I have a button that reads:

Tithe if you love Jesus. Any fool can honk.

fallsfromtrees wrote:Tithe if you love Jesus. Any fool can honk.

fallsfromtrees wrote:Just for Cthia, I have a button that reads:

Tithe if you love Jesus. Any fool can honk.

Indeed.

Evenso. Never question another man's tithes. Even if she has given only two pence.

Mark 12:41 - 12:44

Now viewing scripture range from the book of Mark chapter 12:41 through chapter 12:44...

Mark Chapter 12
41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living.

Evenso. I have always felt that the ten percent expected as tithes is even less than the gratuity, of fifteen to twenty percent, expected unto hostesses and servers - the relationship between tip size and the evaluation of service.

How much more has the Father the Son the Holy Spirit and the Heavenly hosts assisted us?

One who questions another's tithes fails to mention offerings. As in tithes and offerings.

In my heart there's a button that says:

Tithe - If you love Jesus.
and
Offerings - If you also love God.

Offer, not only your money. But also your time. Volunteer in homeless shelters. Serve God's people with love, a smile and understanding. Not pity. Rather sympathy born of empathy.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:31-46

31 "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. 34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
37 Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' 40 And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' 45 Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Time volunteered amongst the homeless brings me both tears of joy and sadness. It is one of the most difficult, yet rewarding, things I have ever done. Difficult because of the emotional, physical and spiritual suffering encountered. Joyful - because it is truly found in giving.

I have silently slept in a homeless shelter. I have silently slept as the homeless do, outside in the elements. I have chatted, talked and worshipped with the homeless. How can one know the plight of the homeless lest we walk at least a day in their shoes (or lack thereof), or sleep at least a night in their beds (or lack thereof).

I met a lovely Christian one evening while serving the homeless at an outside venue. She was a student at the nearby Wake Forest University, and she came to me with several in her group. *Tears in my eyes, at these events, are difficult for me to hide.

She said to me, "We'd like to help as well. But we don't know what to do, what to give."

"You have given them much already," says I. "Your love and empathy. Your helping hand in feeding them. I see the tears in your eyes pooling down to your heart as well. A homeless man would rather you give him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without condescension and judgment, than a steak dinner with."

"But we'd like to give more. How can we understand, so as to give more?"

"Consider living for a single night as they do. One night is all it will take, I assure you," I said.


They pledged to do just that. I suggested they do it in groups and in a safe place. They agreed.

The following occasion I met with them, for it had become a big thing in the local media, she ran up to me and hugged me tightly. Crying. "I did it. We did it." She was trembling with its emotional and spiritual effect. I saw enlightenment in all of their eyes. And love.

"So how was it love?," touching her playfully on the shoulder and arm, acknowledging her tears, needing to consummate our bond of shared knowledge of an intimate, Christian passion.

Her attempt to speak faltered. She had to clear her throat and begin again. I touched her lightly on the arm and bristled fingers lightly through her hair in support, and understanding.

"Thank you for suggesting that we do this. We had tents and sleeping bags, but it was still so cold. The majority of the homeless do not have sleeping bags and tents. We supplied ourselves with hot beverages to drink. But we were hungry even with the chips we bought."

The understanding was hard on her and heavy upon her heart, and I could see by her mannerisms that there was more. Something profound. And her tears began to stream. I encouraged her to continue. She needed to get it all out.

"I, I" ... looking back up at me from averted eyes, "I found myself needing to use the bathroom. In the middle of the night. I never thought I'd need to use the bathroom. I never thought of that. We never thought of that."

She was full-on streaming tears now. "What did you do love?"

"I went behind that building over there," pointing, with a hint of embarrassment and my heart ached for her. "I'd never in my whole life." Her eyes once again looked away, staring into her own quite personal world of tears and acknowledgment.

It was a highly visible public place, with the occasional passerby even at night.

I took her into my arms as she cried, and I whispered into her ear. "If I had been there love, I would have removed my coat in the cold. And held it as a curtain, with eyes pointed forward, protecting you, as you did what you had to ... Princess."

We cried together, in spiritual understanding and love. I was an engineer working at a local Civil Engineering firm at the time and I volunteered time, money, effort, love and heart to the homeless. These were students at Wake Forest University, (WFU). An everlasting relationship had been forged with these students and other professionals in the area. From that one night and subsequent nights in below freezing weather was to be the beginning of a tradition that carried on and is now supported by a neighboring Winston-Salem State University. (WSSU)

I don't just donate my time and money to these causes, but I single out individuals to help them privately. There is one young girl who had run away from home. I insisted that she enroll into college and I assisted. She is now a proud and quite thankful college graduate.


I have given much of myself, in several cities, to people downtrodden. Even computers to schools. I have purchased storage units and allowed several to store their only belongings while they work, or search for work. Sleeping bags, gloves, socks, scarves, water- all kinds of perishables, because they are not. I don't give to those in need because it is what Jesus asks of me, or His Father in Heaven. I give, because the love God has put in me, demands it of myself.

I no longer live in that area. My career and love for the coast has taken me back to my roots and the beach. But wherever I am, my eyes are open to the needs and the plight of the homeless.

A happy ending. One of the WFU students was studying internal medicine. Wake Forest has an outstanding hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (WFBMC) She says, "you have given me so much. How can I ever repay you?"

"Nonsense, God has given unto us both. But if you want, you can give me free medical service when you become a Doctor."

We both laugh. That was over a decade ago. Recently I went to see a specialist. Who walks out? "Oh my God!" We stare at each other trembling. After what may have been an eternity, we hugged and embraced amongst shared tears for another eternity. Her colleagues were dumbstruck. Now I have a very capable specialist whose hand, eye and intellect are guided by God. Her prognosis, I am fine!

The act of Christian love which began with my suggestion to a Christian student at Wake Forest University has become a tradition.

http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/sl ... l?mode=jqm

There truly is much joy in giving.

In summary, I ultimately agree with your button ...

Any fool can honk.

****** *


On this day of thanks giving, it is tradition to give thanks and acknowledgement for something personal to us ...

I am thankful God has saved me.

Happy Thanksgiving to all whom observe.

And ...

May God bless you all.

It is one thing to believe in the teachings of the Avatars and Disciples of God.
It is harder to live the life recommended by those teachings.

Paraphrasing Mahatma Gandhi.