facets of a fictional god can help people. but people often forget, that when u star beleiving, to a smaller or greater extent, you also have to believe the WREST of the message, and it is THERE, that great danger/delusion/prejudice lies. its all nice to beleive that there is some greater purpose why your suffering and that there is sum benevolant entity in the heavens who will look out for us and where our immortal soul can take peace in, and a heaven for all the negetivity one suffers.
but then, theres the wars between beleivers and unbeleivers, the prejudice and perspective against unbeleiverse, the rigid rules and guilt coming from all the positive things defined as sin, the brainwashing children and masses, the hopes which wont be fulfilled etc etc etc.
and at the end of the day, the person themself, helps themselves. delusions are volatile things, as far as negetive and positive outcomes go. all too soon, in one manifest facet or another, it can lead to a negetive outcome, even if it was providing a positive one in one place for you.
well yes i guess, or brainwashed or pressured. but the thing is, you cant be following a RELEGION, if ur just going for a few aspects of it. specially when the relegion ITSELF claims that ALL inside it is necessary and infalliable.
Most people in so-called "technological countries," have lost the sense of perspective. They have lived in their comfort zone -- bubble -- way, way too long. The world is bigger than them; but on all accounts, fail to register this.
Britney Spears... all the way down to the spoiled brats at the grocery store arguing over chewing gum attest this fact. We have have full stomachs, cars, shelter, family, friends, the pursuit of success and education and high definition TV. But, of course, this is not good enough.
Welcome to the "ME" generation -- a generation having much pride, but no sense of reality and blessing, not to mention hard work.
People with swollen stomachs (that have not eaten in weeks or persons who've had their houses blown up by para-military forces) have more faith than you. How can this be? Its all about perspective!
What have you done for God?
When life is smooth, nobody cares about God; but when things get tough... all of a sudden, they care, and they want -- in fact, DEMAND -- God's help.
Hypocrites!
Word to the wise: God is not a push-over. And God doesn't OWE you anything more than what He has already given you.
You'd realize this, if you'd focus on something other than yourselves.
Quick answer: this is a fallen world in which you and I live. This life is temporal, however, not the end all be all. The bible states that man does not live on bread alone.
Last edited by ushomefree on Sep 4th, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Gender: Male Location: Southern Oregon,
Looking at you.
You said that the selfishness of people in the developed world leads to weak faith, and then you contrasted that to the third world were people who starve to death have great faith in god.
If the people who are starving to death have stronger faith, then why are they not blessed?
When people have faith in God -- true faith -- they are consulted and embraced "spiritually," by God Himself through the Holy Spirit. God never said that He would bring "wordly" treasures for all who believed. All the God of the Bible promised was Salvation and a life of meaning and joy, not temporal happiness.
Technology, although not a bad thing, creates a gap between man and God when embellished.
What I mean is, people lose perspective. They lose focus. They feel independent and safe in technology. And they feel no need for God, and so, they do not resort to God for anything. In the end, they lose it all. Hence, their faith.
But when times get tough, they turn to God, but it is not out of love. It is out of selfishness (and a need). People who have nothing and love God at the same time have a pure relationship, and they are blessed by God to comfort them, despite living in a fallen world. They have perspective.
Jesus said, "Seek life and you will lose it. Deny yourself and you will find life." Do not quote me on that, but that is pretty accurate.
Understand?
Last edited by ushomefree on Sep 4th, 2008 at 11:34 PM
No, the Bible doesn't say that one should do that. In fact it is suggested several times that you freely use your money, possessions and power to help others even if it is difficult or you might receive nothing (even gratitude) in return.
I know the line after it puts it in better context but that really did make me laugh.
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Graffiti outside Latin class.
Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
A juvenal prank.
Probably that, in his view, poverty is not necessarily a bad thing and can put one closer to God. Don't many forms of Buddhism have similar concept: that one can function better without the distraction of material things, but that having them in not inherently bad?
__________________
Graffiti outside Latin class.
Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
A juvenal prank.
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