Alright, I admit it, I'm a Big Bang Theory show fanatic. Sheldon kills me because he is so analytical and takes everything so seriously. He has difficulty recognizing sarcasm, for example. One of the things he mentions is the theory of alternate universes which I think is silly and just another avenue for scientists to run down attempting to evade the confrontation of the question of a Creator.
Sheldon alludes to what he might be like in an alternate universe (in none of them is he dancing) but that raises the question: In what other universe could he even exist? Do you have any idea how incredible the odds are against it? Supposedly in alternate universes things happen differently and people make alternate decisions. That a certain person could exist in two different universes at all would have to be termed a miracle.
I see no reason to believe there is life on other planets much less in alternate universes. I believe our universe was the work of what we would call a super-intelligent Being who had a plan. To believe in life on other planets or alternate universes would require believing that they were caused by an accident. Of course, I can't speak for God and it could be that He just felt like creating other life than on earth.
That's why I don't have a fixed theology. Over the years I have found that some of my theology didn't stand up to scrutiny simply because men made it up over the millennia. Sometimes it was necessary in their circumstances and sometimes it was just to retain control over the masses. It's like Congress who pass laws that should be temporary instead of permanent. (I think every law we have should be reviewed by Congress and HR periodically to determine whether or not to keep it or trash it. This does not include the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Just think of how many new bills they wouldn't have time to pass.)
In my studies I go by the theory of a friend: My Belief System will be large enough to include all of the facts; I will be open enough to allow it to be tested; and I will be flexible enough to change it when I become aware of errors or new facts (http://www.biblicalheritage.org). I have carried more than one belief about any particular subject around in my head for years waiting for the evidence that would make one or the other opinion conclusive. I would not be a good 21st century American exclusive science club member because the alternative to supernatural creation is not conclusive yet and I doubt it ever will be. The scientific age of the universe is credible to me though I cannot discount the possibility that the Designer could have started it at a certain point. Who could ever determine that? Evolution is a possibility, though I cannot bring myself to believe that the animals changed themselves. However, if the Creator manipulated the changes, it's easy to accept if I find out.
Scientists have reached a stumbling block on their road of blind faith. There are many theories about many things and, as scientific as they are, somehow they just can't totally agree. If the absolute evidence is laid before them, how can they deny it? My answer is that it isn't all there.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Genesis 1:1-5
At first Elohim created the sky and the earth. And the earth was an unformed wasteland; and there was darkness upon the abyss. And Elohim's breath moved against the waters. (Traditionally this has been translated as the Spirit of God but I think it is poetically describing God causing the waves. The word for spirit has a variety of meanings according to context.) Elohim said: Light shall exist. And light did. Then Elohim perceived that the light was beneficial; and He divided the light from the darkness. Elohim called the light part Day, and the dark part He called Night. And the nighttime and the daytime were one day.
What Do We Know about God?
There are two possibilities. One is that nothing caused everything. The other is that something caused everything. I know that philosophy has built quite a concept of the latter but I have a problem with the thinking that arrives at conclusions such as that I cannot prove I exist. You can take "logic" too far. I am sitting here typing this message. That's all the evidence I need. If you are there wondering whether you are really there, you have my sympathy - or you would if you were really there. If you don't believe you are really there, why are you reading something that doesn't exist? To me the statement "I think, therefore I am" is quite suitable in the reality outside the modern philosopher's mind. To go on, Aristotle was also correct in saying that something set the world in motion. I am a believer in odds and the odds are that the universe was not an accident. I have difficulty believing that something sat motionless forever, then suddenly exploded into the universe. I believe that God created the universe and laid down the rules to follow. Therefore He is not subject to those rules. He could be of a substance that we cannot sense because He didn't equip us with what we would need to do that. He might be standing next to me and I cannot perceive his Presence. He can change things in the universe without leaving a trace of evidence we can detect. Supposedly, many people have seen God and I cannot deny it but I would have to trust their words to think that is evidence for his Existence. That is what amuses me about science. To most scientists this is anathema. They only study facts and God cannot be a fact because He cannot be observed or demonstrated. Yet these same scientists are telling me that certain things they cannot demonstrate are facts and, therefore, I should believe them. God can neither be proved nor disproved. It is not in our power to do so. I believe God is the Creator. I worship Him. I do not worship the creation. That means I am very grateful for all the joy, including nature, He has given me to experience. He does not owe me even the next breath. If He chose to take my life right now, why would I complain? I am grateful for the life He gave up to this very moment. The next moment I may not be here.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Bedtime
Someone I care about and haven't seen for a very long time woke me from my three-month slightly depressive slumber. I won't tell you who he is so you can't hate him. I could stay up all night writing (I certainly have before) but I think it would be wise to go to sleep. I'll feel much better when I wake up.
Future Article
A lot of people complain constantly about "Bible thumpers cramming their beliefs down my throat." You'll love me when I get into that.
Other Projects
One thing I plan to do in the future is to go through a friend's (Jim Myers) articles to give you some deeper research into particular subject. Jim is the one who woke me up one day by telling me things that closed my mouth and popped open my closed eyes. We sometimes don't disagree but we both know we don't know everything we should, although he's way ahead of me. If you don't learn anything else from me, at least stay where you're safe and only a little bit uncomfortable. Let other people walk around the edges.
Wow! Another Article!
When I was a standard Christian (the definition is a little loose considering all the denominations) I was taught that I should be offended if anyone questioned the particular brand of Christianity with which I was indoctrinated. I could disintegrate anything I didn't agree with. I was not allowed to question my church's theology because that would be questioning God and, trust me, you didn't want to do anything that caused you to question God. This is not to say any particular church is evil. It's just how most Christians are taught.
Various things offended me and I at once went to battle with my innocent Bible and my guilty theology. (I want to point out that most Christianity is not bad. Only bad spiritual leaders are bad as with any religion. As a matter of fact, no religion can be bad if the leaders and people are good. God will lead good people to where they need to be ultimately. That's not for me to say. I wish to be simply a generic relay and to trust that God will do the rest.) It was my job to take on all the demons and idols with my magnificent theology. And, then, one day, I saw something that gave me a revelation. It was a movie about a woman who had a gift of healing other people who, incidentally, did not believe in God. It took me many years to consider this dilemma. I, of course, immediately annihilated it with my biblical knowledge but the movie stayed in my head and revisited me when I finally learned to think clearly.
It is irrelevant here as to whether or not the woman really healed people. I no longer care. What is relevant is the idea that it is possible. A Jewish parable teaches that even an evil man can do a good deed and that in the final judgment God will consider it. I have said that I have seen God lead some down rather unusual paths to reach their Creator. Who am I to say what God can and cannot do? If God chooses to use a woman that isn't the preferred religion to do his miracles, I cannot judge. I believe God can do whatever He wants and that we sometimes do not understand why He does it. Mankind likes to put God in a box to keep an eye on Him to keep their houses in order. It is not acceptable to allow Him to violate our established, unchangeable belief system.
We really know little of God. It is obvious to me that He created the universe in its incredible complexity. It is obvious that I did not cause myself to live and breathe. And if you had been with me all my life for every moment you would agree that a lot of things have happened to me that were beyond doubt caused by Someone. Most of what we believe is faith. A variety of people wrote the sections of the Bible. It's absolutely true that there are passages that contradict other passages. Does that mean the Bible is invalidated and God does not exist? No, that's ridiculous. Sometime I want to get into the workings of the Bible so you can see how ridiculous that thought is.
Some people think, and I'm not kidding, that God wrote the Bible. Well, no. Men who had a relationship with God wrote the Bible. Sometimes their memories weren't perfect but they certainly made their point. Their writing describes how they perceive God and his wishes. Each writing is supposed to teach the children of their father Israel about God and what He wants from mankind. Even Jesus explained that sometimes a circumstance superseded the Law. In the case of this non-Christian, non-Jewish woman we see that at work, assuming that it is true. Think about it this way - If God loved a particular person and wanted to heal him or her, why does it have to be a licensed (saved/qualified) Christian or Jew? If you have a problem with that, you'd better go read the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus is the one who told it.
I'm not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers. I just want you to understand that God is God and He can do what He wants, however He wants, and through whomever He wants. If we don't like that, we're little spoiled brats in need of discipline.
Various things offended me and I at once went to battle with my innocent Bible and my guilty theology. (I want to point out that most Christianity is not bad. Only bad spiritual leaders are bad as with any religion. As a matter of fact, no religion can be bad if the leaders and people are good. God will lead good people to where they need to be ultimately. That's not for me to say. I wish to be simply a generic relay and to trust that God will do the rest.) It was my job to take on all the demons and idols with my magnificent theology. And, then, one day, I saw something that gave me a revelation. It was a movie about a woman who had a gift of healing other people who, incidentally, did not believe in God. It took me many years to consider this dilemma. I, of course, immediately annihilated it with my biblical knowledge but the movie stayed in my head and revisited me when I finally learned to think clearly.
It is irrelevant here as to whether or not the woman really healed people. I no longer care. What is relevant is the idea that it is possible. A Jewish parable teaches that even an evil man can do a good deed and that in the final judgment God will consider it. I have said that I have seen God lead some down rather unusual paths to reach their Creator. Who am I to say what God can and cannot do? If God chooses to use a woman that isn't the preferred religion to do his miracles, I cannot judge. I believe God can do whatever He wants and that we sometimes do not understand why He does it. Mankind likes to put God in a box to keep an eye on Him to keep their houses in order. It is not acceptable to allow Him to violate our established, unchangeable belief system.
We really know little of God. It is obvious to me that He created the universe in its incredible complexity. It is obvious that I did not cause myself to live and breathe. And if you had been with me all my life for every moment you would agree that a lot of things have happened to me that were beyond doubt caused by Someone. Most of what we believe is faith. A variety of people wrote the sections of the Bible. It's absolutely true that there are passages that contradict other passages. Does that mean the Bible is invalidated and God does not exist? No, that's ridiculous. Sometime I want to get into the workings of the Bible so you can see how ridiculous that thought is.
Some people think, and I'm not kidding, that God wrote the Bible. Well, no. Men who had a relationship with God wrote the Bible. Sometimes their memories weren't perfect but they certainly made their point. Their writing describes how they perceive God and his wishes. Each writing is supposed to teach the children of their father Israel about God and what He wants from mankind. Even Jesus explained that sometimes a circumstance superseded the Law. In the case of this non-Christian, non-Jewish woman we see that at work, assuming that it is true. Think about it this way - If God loved a particular person and wanted to heal him or her, why does it have to be a licensed (saved/qualified) Christian or Jew? If you have a problem with that, you'd better go read the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus is the one who told it.
I'm not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers. I just want you to understand that God is God and He can do what He wants, however He wants, and through whomever He wants. If we don't like that, we're little spoiled brats in need of discipline.
Why am I Wasting my Time?
Why am I writing these little articles? Do I want to be a preacher? Do I want to write a book to get rich? Do I want to change your religion? No. No. No.
I have watched the world change in my lifetime. Today has turned into a state of confusion. Scientists say there is no God. Professors say there is no God. Even spiritual leaders say there is no God.
People are confused. I wish to explain what is logical to you to help you understand your own beliefs. Many of you have all but given up your belief in the Creator of the universe because of your lack of understanding God. Science can neither prove nor disprove God because all they have to judge Him by is the universe. What are they looking for - fingerprints? I think the complexity of life attests to the fact that God created all things. Quite often I read how they were surprised by this, they don't understand that ... They have to rewrite their thinking because something worked differently than they expected. It happens all the time. Yet they can stand there and say God does not exist? They count the complexity of the universe down to the tiniest thing ... until they find something smaller. Then they say they have to lengthen the age of the universe to fit in their latest discovery. Etc., etc., etc.
I know a person who argues this way. He told me just today that I'm not qualified to understand how he feels about something because I am not in his position anymore. I used to be in his position and I know exactly how I felt about things from his perspective. He said I'm disqualified from understanding his position now because I'm not in it anymore. Are you getting dizzy yet?
This is the sort of dribble I read and see. I gave up watching nature shows because the narrators kept telling me how some animal realized it had a shortcoming in its environment and changed some feature to "adapt" to it. It's not that I can't deal with such gibberish. It's that when you hear something over and over (called conditioning) is starts to sound believable. Many different things condition people to believe a certain way. It's the method most colleges and universities use to indoctrinate young, delicate voters. "There is no longer a need for a God." "Conservatives are all rich and hate African-Americans." "Capitalism only benefits the elite." And on and on.
Almost all large newspapers are socialist now. They condition you to believe they and only they care about you and want to enlighten you to the evils of our land. The Democrat Party is Socialist. They boot out anyone who disagrees with them. When a new news service came along, people were so indoctrinated toward the Left that they were sure Fox News, who was actually telling both sides instead of just one, was extreme Right. Anything on the Right, of course, is bad. Let's see, the Media is socialist in their beliefs and the Democrats at the high level are socialist in their beliefs. I wonder if there is a coincidence that they seem to both be opposed to any ideas the Right has including a Creator. You'd better read your newspapers and watch the Evening news a little more carefully.
The thing that bothers me most about conditioning is how the Media for the most part and the Democrats almost totally are opposed to the concept of a Supernatural Creator. If you really watch carefully and honestly you will begin to see this and I will not be there to constantly condition your thoughts. It's just true.
God created all that is however He did it. The universe didn't just suddenly appear without a reason. The funny thing is that scientists who push the Big Bang theory have no idea what caused the Big Bang and they have no idea what happened just before the Big Bang. Yet, somehow, they are absolutely certain that no Creator (generic or not) caused it. They suffer from the same problem as the poorly educated know-nothings they are drenching with their fallacy.
I do not belong to a particular religion. I know what religious theories I lean toward and they are well thought out. Someone created all we know and have yet to discover. This Creator gave us life. He did it deliberately. If He can do this, He can know my name and He can love me. We have a book called the Bible by Christians and the Tanakh by the Jews. The Tanakh does not include some of the material of the Bible. The writings in these two books teach that God loves us and we are to pass it on. If we receive something, we are supposed to pass it on to those who need help. The conditioning has taught America, and by their example the rest of the planet, that we don't need God, that we should care only about those we choose to, and that everything we can get our hands on is ours. This is the opposite of what God set up. The Golden Rule lives in all well-developed religions - Love your neighbor as yourself. And who is your neighbor? Everyone.
This is why I waste my time. There is the story of (let's say) an owl who was passing by a little bird who had heard the sky was falling. The owl asked if the little bird thought he could stop the sky from falling by sticking his feet up in the air. The little bird said: One must do what one can. And that is my mission. If I change a life and that person changes a life, and if it goes on and on, the world can change. A Jewish belief is that you should live your life this way: Half of the world is evil and half of the world is good. It is up to you to tilt the scales. Is it feasible? Sure it is if people can stop entertaining themselves long enough to think. How many people have said they don't vote because their vote won't make a difference? Think about it this way. What if every voter that thinks that way went to vote - all the millions of them? The world would be a lot different.
I don't want to try to make people to believe as I do. I just want people to do something with their lives and be grateful to their Creator for the free gift of life. This is the way to happiness. If you just understood God the way I do (no theology here), your life would change. It would become meaningful. There are a lot of things in my life I am not happy with. Do I dwell on them? No. I am always happy because I have meaning in my life and nothing can stop that. I owe my life to my Creator who loves me and I've got my feet in the air trying to turn our sad little world around. I just need some help. When I stand before Him I may be regretful for not putting my best effort into it, but I will be able to say I tried to tilt the scales.
I have watched the world change in my lifetime. Today has turned into a state of confusion. Scientists say there is no God. Professors say there is no God. Even spiritual leaders say there is no God.
People are confused. I wish to explain what is logical to you to help you understand your own beliefs. Many of you have all but given up your belief in the Creator of the universe because of your lack of understanding God. Science can neither prove nor disprove God because all they have to judge Him by is the universe. What are they looking for - fingerprints? I think the complexity of life attests to the fact that God created all things. Quite often I read how they were surprised by this, they don't understand that ... They have to rewrite their thinking because something worked differently than they expected. It happens all the time. Yet they can stand there and say God does not exist? They count the complexity of the universe down to the tiniest thing ... until they find something smaller. Then they say they have to lengthen the age of the universe to fit in their latest discovery. Etc., etc., etc.
I know a person who argues this way. He told me just today that I'm not qualified to understand how he feels about something because I am not in his position anymore. I used to be in his position and I know exactly how I felt about things from his perspective. He said I'm disqualified from understanding his position now because I'm not in it anymore. Are you getting dizzy yet?
This is the sort of dribble I read and see. I gave up watching nature shows because the narrators kept telling me how some animal realized it had a shortcoming in its environment and changed some feature to "adapt" to it. It's not that I can't deal with such gibberish. It's that when you hear something over and over (called conditioning) is starts to sound believable. Many different things condition people to believe a certain way. It's the method most colleges and universities use to indoctrinate young, delicate voters. "There is no longer a need for a God." "Conservatives are all rich and hate African-Americans." "Capitalism only benefits the elite." And on and on.
Almost all large newspapers are socialist now. They condition you to believe they and only they care about you and want to enlighten you to the evils of our land. The Democrat Party is Socialist. They boot out anyone who disagrees with them. When a new news service came along, people were so indoctrinated toward the Left that they were sure Fox News, who was actually telling both sides instead of just one, was extreme Right. Anything on the Right, of course, is bad. Let's see, the Media is socialist in their beliefs and the Democrats at the high level are socialist in their beliefs. I wonder if there is a coincidence that they seem to both be opposed to any ideas the Right has including a Creator. You'd better read your newspapers and watch the Evening news a little more carefully.
The thing that bothers me most about conditioning is how the Media for the most part and the Democrats almost totally are opposed to the concept of a Supernatural Creator. If you really watch carefully and honestly you will begin to see this and I will not be there to constantly condition your thoughts. It's just true.
God created all that is however He did it. The universe didn't just suddenly appear without a reason. The funny thing is that scientists who push the Big Bang theory have no idea what caused the Big Bang and they have no idea what happened just before the Big Bang. Yet, somehow, they are absolutely certain that no Creator (generic or not) caused it. They suffer from the same problem as the poorly educated know-nothings they are drenching with their fallacy.
I do not belong to a particular religion. I know what religious theories I lean toward and they are well thought out. Someone created all we know and have yet to discover. This Creator gave us life. He did it deliberately. If He can do this, He can know my name and He can love me. We have a book called the Bible by Christians and the Tanakh by the Jews. The Tanakh does not include some of the material of the Bible. The writings in these two books teach that God loves us and we are to pass it on. If we receive something, we are supposed to pass it on to those who need help. The conditioning has taught America, and by their example the rest of the planet, that we don't need God, that we should care only about those we choose to, and that everything we can get our hands on is ours. This is the opposite of what God set up. The Golden Rule lives in all well-developed religions - Love your neighbor as yourself. And who is your neighbor? Everyone.
This is why I waste my time. There is the story of (let's say) an owl who was passing by a little bird who had heard the sky was falling. The owl asked if the little bird thought he could stop the sky from falling by sticking his feet up in the air. The little bird said: One must do what one can. And that is my mission. If I change a life and that person changes a life, and if it goes on and on, the world can change. A Jewish belief is that you should live your life this way: Half of the world is evil and half of the world is good. It is up to you to tilt the scales. Is it feasible? Sure it is if people can stop entertaining themselves long enough to think. How many people have said they don't vote because their vote won't make a difference? Think about it this way. What if every voter that thinks that way went to vote - all the millions of them? The world would be a lot different.
I don't want to try to make people to believe as I do. I just want people to do something with their lives and be grateful to their Creator for the free gift of life. This is the way to happiness. If you just understood God the way I do (no theology here), your life would change. It would become meaningful. There are a lot of things in my life I am not happy with. Do I dwell on them? No. I am always happy because I have meaning in my life and nothing can stop that. I owe my life to my Creator who loves me and I've got my feet in the air trying to turn our sad little world around. I just need some help. When I stand before Him I may be regretful for not putting my best effort into it, but I will be able to say I tried to tilt the scales.
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