Allow me to interject ...
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<i>Originally posted by Deadwood:</i>
I heard it said ealier in this thread that a Christian Scientist is somewhat of an oxymoron. So science isn't actually about learning and finding things now is it.
To become a scientist you can believe what you like. Why should you be limited by an atheist belief? Do you feel threatened or scared, you should be and rightly so.
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Science <i>isn't</i> about learning and finding things ... ? I see you've spent a good deal of time studying and pondering the writings of God, then. Being an atheist is somehow limiting? By tony1's definition, this would be taken in the literal sense--that atheism equates to death (eventually). Obviously you've never entertained an atheist's perspective, even for show. Threatened or scared is not the emotive force behind such thoughts. Are threats and fear the means by which you would "convert" others, then?
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Ever heard of Jesus Christ or the Bible. This is God's way of telling you that He exists. Jesus healed many and brought a couple of people back from the dead. If thats not proof, then look at one of my church ministers ...
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Jesus Christ? Oh, yeah. He's the one that taught about divisiveness, right? Isn't it interesting that Christians take quite an affront to anything derogatory towards Christ, but can take whatever is directed at God? Could this be an unconscious realization that God <i>may</i> indeed be at fault in some instances, whereas Christ represents all the good that God <i>could have</i> been if only he'd done a little better. I take it you've read the Bible, then. Quite a piece of work. My favorite section would be the Old Testament, because it seems the most poetic (and it's rather straightforward as well). Is it proof that God exists? Not necessarily. Is it proof that someone in the past thought that God exists? Yes.
And doesn't everyone (myself included) have an experience in which some form of healings have been propagated? The mind taps an amazing ability, though I haven't really looked into Scientology recently. Have a headache, try and circumvene the headache by understanding it (through neuroscience) and blocking it through the proper release of inhibitors from the endocrine system. Put a name on it, say, Jesus and it's healed. Jesus, then, becomes the means by which the healing has the desired effect. If you would have said, Ronaldo, it would have the same effect, as long as your mind can incorporate the belief that saying 'Ronaldo' will have a beneficial effect on your system. In short, doesn't it seem that people are being healed throughout this planet, whether they believe in Christ or not? That's great that your minister is capable of healing people. Seriously. Anyone that's trying to help others is keen in my sight.
BTW, tony1 doesn't give a rat's ass how the work is going in Vanuatu. This is not meant to be detrimental to your point on this one, but to show that, most likely, tony1 wouldn't even consider you to be Christian. In fact, tony1would probably think that the word 'Christian' is a misnomer perpetuated by the Catholics. Just a side note, there.
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His spirit spreads like wild fire through these people.
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Ever wonder why it spreads like wildfire in third-world nations? My brother did some proselyting in South America and, man, the word spread like wildfire down there as well. I did some in Japan and, guess what? Not a lot of spreading up there. Different culture? Sure. The only point, though? No. My brother said that the average educational level of the people he was acquainted with was equated to a 12-year old. As for my experience? We'll say that they're pretty good thinkers. IOTW, it would seem that the lower the education level, the more likely someone is to embrace religion, specifically Chrisitianity; while, conversely, the greater the educational level, the more likely someone will <i>NOT</i> embrace religion. Hmm. Wonder why. Why are people commanded to drink the milk (principles) and abstain from the meat (doctrine)? Because the doctrine is where all the questions crop up. But, a diet that consists solely on milk will lead to malnutrition.
So, Deadwood, although I disagree with your manner of teaching, I do think it is good that people are out there (like your minister) that have some talent in helping others. Talents such as those should never be buried. But other talents shouldn't be discounted either.
peace,
prag
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<font size="1">quote:</font>
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<i>Originally posted by Deadwood:</i>
I heard it said ealier in this thread that a Christian Scientist is somewhat of an oxymoron. So science isn't actually about learning and finding things now is it.
To become a scientist you can believe what you like. Why should you be limited by an atheist belief? Do you feel threatened or scared, you should be and rightly so.
<hr>
</blockquote>
Science <i>isn't</i> about learning and finding things ... ? I see you've spent a good deal of time studying and pondering the writings of God, then. Being an atheist is somehow limiting? By tony1's definition, this would be taken in the literal sense--that atheism equates to death (eventually). Obviously you've never entertained an atheist's perspective, even for show. Threatened or scared is not the emotive force behind such thoughts. Are threats and fear the means by which you would "convert" others, then?
<blockquote>
<font size="1">quote:</font>
<hr>
Ever heard of Jesus Christ or the Bible. This is God's way of telling you that He exists. Jesus healed many and brought a couple of people back from the dead. If thats not proof, then look at one of my church ministers ...
<hr>
</blockquote>
Jesus Christ? Oh, yeah. He's the one that taught about divisiveness, right? Isn't it interesting that Christians take quite an affront to anything derogatory towards Christ, but can take whatever is directed at God? Could this be an unconscious realization that God <i>may</i> indeed be at fault in some instances, whereas Christ represents all the good that God <i>could have</i> been if only he'd done a little better. I take it you've read the Bible, then. Quite a piece of work. My favorite section would be the Old Testament, because it seems the most poetic (and it's rather straightforward as well). Is it proof that God exists? Not necessarily. Is it proof that someone in the past thought that God exists? Yes.
And doesn't everyone (myself included) have an experience in which some form of healings have been propagated? The mind taps an amazing ability, though I haven't really looked into Scientology recently. Have a headache, try and circumvene the headache by understanding it (through neuroscience) and blocking it through the proper release of inhibitors from the endocrine system. Put a name on it, say, Jesus and it's healed. Jesus, then, becomes the means by which the healing has the desired effect. If you would have said, Ronaldo, it would have the same effect, as long as your mind can incorporate the belief that saying 'Ronaldo' will have a beneficial effect on your system. In short, doesn't it seem that people are being healed throughout this planet, whether they believe in Christ or not? That's great that your minister is capable of healing people. Seriously. Anyone that's trying to help others is keen in my sight.
BTW, tony1 doesn't give a rat's ass how the work is going in Vanuatu. This is not meant to be detrimental to your point on this one, but to show that, most likely, tony1 wouldn't even consider you to be Christian. In fact, tony1would probably think that the word 'Christian' is a misnomer perpetuated by the Catholics. Just a side note, there.
<blockquote>
<font size="1">quote:</font>
<hr>
His spirit spreads like wild fire through these people.
<hr>
</blockquote>
Ever wonder why it spreads like wildfire in third-world nations? My brother did some proselyting in South America and, man, the word spread like wildfire down there as well. I did some in Japan and, guess what? Not a lot of spreading up there. Different culture? Sure. The only point, though? No. My brother said that the average educational level of the people he was acquainted with was equated to a 12-year old. As for my experience? We'll say that they're pretty good thinkers. IOTW, it would seem that the lower the education level, the more likely someone is to embrace religion, specifically Chrisitianity; while, conversely, the greater the educational level, the more likely someone will <i>NOT</i> embrace religion. Hmm. Wonder why. Why are people commanded to drink the milk (principles) and abstain from the meat (doctrine)? Because the doctrine is where all the questions crop up. But, a diet that consists solely on milk will lead to malnutrition.
So, Deadwood, although I disagree with your manner of teaching, I do think it is good that people are out there (like your minister) that have some talent in helping others. Talents such as those should never be buried. But other talents shouldn't be discounted either.
peace,
prag