@qrrby I believe what the Bible teaches, which for me is currently most accurately translated by ESV or NIV, and best followed by a nondenominational Christian view. Nothing I’ve studied says that we will “become one” with God nor is it anywhere in the Bible that God is everything. I believe that God created everything and He is omnipresent (different from being everything) and that there is a heaven where we can be the perfect creation God originally intended us to be. If you want to discuss more I’d be glad to through PM!
I'm always down to talk spiritual stuff, so long as there's love involved; I always take that kind of stuff to heart.
Working on a forest/ swamp map semi inspired by witcher 3, mostly just making it for fun so layout isn't stellar or anything
'God' Spoiler: is a cloud that I will now yell at , if truly an external entity/creator, must have given us the faculty of free will if we are even capable of being tempted to choose Evil over Good (Good=God // Gott=Gut), meaning that we have only the potential for doing Good and Evil, we are neither Evil by nature, nor Good by nature. Acting virtuously is to actively choose the good, or God, assuming that you are indeed capable of making choices, and indeed capable of being responsible for those choices. Why would an all-knowing and all-powerful being allow us to choose him over evil and corruption? Because he must values the choice more, he values the agency, understanding, responsibility, and freedom that must exist for a mortal being to truly be virtuous. And if God values something, and we are created in the image of this God, and if in valuing that which God values we are fulfilling our function as beings in the image of said God, then oughtn't we value this gift of Free Will, and the responsibility of choice we have been given? (Ask me about the possibility of a truly omnipotent and omniscient God, and this argument from the creator falls apart - but if we accept just a creator, then it still works out). If one turns a good into the Good, one is then substituting the immaterial though observable virtue into something that is material. Sure, heroes are great and all, but when it is the form of that hero and not the virtue of that hero that is what is valued, you end up in idolatry-land. Think consumerism, militant atheism, corporatism, and the absolutely cucked nature of Christianity: what can be Good if we value goods more than virtue? If one values Master Chief because he kills alianz and dosent afrade of anything, then one is making valuing Chief for his percieved virtue of bravery. If one values him because he's a tall ****ing guy with cool armor, then one is valuing Chief for aesthetic reasons alone - and yes, you can make arguments about virtuous aesthetics (Bungie vs 343 armor, for example), one is not choosing to value Master Chief's immaterial virtue; the good, his armor - the Good, his bravery. I like Christian values, but the fundamental issue with Christianity as it exists is that it is self-destructive - if one cannot lie (lying=choosing the Evil over the Good), then one cannot defend Christianity against the arguments and evidence from scientific origin; while the morals and the Goodness of Christianity are still valid, they cannot be defended from a Christian standpoint because of this fundamental disconnect. Read your Nietzsche and Aristotle!
So because you think that Christianity can't be defended on a moral or scientific basis you're saying that we are liars. Therefore we can't be Christians. Am I understanding your reasoning correctly? Because if so that is really circular thinking.
I have walked among men and angels for 3,000 years. Time has no end, no beginning, no purpose. I wandered the earth seeking forgiveness for my horrible crimes against God and man. I live to see death and destruction. Evil over the light, but the light cannot be extinguished. I live in a prison of my own demise. I am lost in time.
I'm not going to read into any of this but I might as well give my honest opinion. I personally don't believe in a God because it just simply does not make any logical sense (to me). But when I die, and if I'm facing the Pearly Gates up in Heaven, I would happily get down on my hands and knees and beg for forgiveness. There's just no solid proof I can wrap my head around. I'm not going to act like some Rick and Morty super fan, though. Because not only does science not really explain much either, I heavily respect religion and what it stands for. I can completely understand why someone would want to have faith in something greater, it can fuel a good outlook and give a sense of security. I just prefer to make my own luck and along with that have faith in myself. Religion's impact on history and society could be argued both positively and negatively, but both sides can at the very least agree it's an extremely important topic as a whole. What I'm really trying to say is, I'm never going to judge someone based on what they believe in. However I will judge you on a list of other things.
No, I am not calling you liars, nor is that circular reasoning. If it is a virtue to tell the truth, and a sin to tell a lie (note the truth, and a lie), and the truth requires the word of god as written in His book to be changed, or not interpreted literally, then there are two possibilities: either His book is infinitely interpretable, meaning that His Truth could be Anyone's Truth (and that's subjective!), or His Truth is not The Truth. If the first, then it is impossible to sin, and His Truth has no value whatsoever. Therefore, the good Christian cold be literally anything, and do anything they wanted, just as long as they can interpret the Bible in some way to support it - no true Christian ideal or morality. If the second, then His Truth is either a Lie (a sin), since it is not the Truth, and is being referred to and used as such verbatim, or it is a mistake - which means that if it truly is the word of God, that god is not infallible, and therefore not omnipotent or omniscient. The good Christian, therefore, must accept this and tell the truth; which is that Christianity is flawed, and does not hold up. Now, Christian morality absolutely can be defended morally and scientifically, but the backdrop that supports it logically defeats itself. Meaning, that the system of Christian ethics in a Created universe, if applied according to the doctrine as written in God's words, must be discarded and reworked. As far as you not being a real Christian, you should ask your parents to see your birth certificate.
Nothing flame warey yet. Everyone has been pretty respectful I'm actually impressed. Also @MULLERTJE sometimes what I'm working on is my VERY SOOOOOUL
I don't know about some dude in the clouds with a beard watching us. That being said, every watch has a watchmaker. I think the universe is god.