Introduction to OpenMind2000

[OpenBehind2000]

Greetings all who choose to view my introduction. My real name is Michael, I grew up mostly in the pentacostal group due to my parents, and now I suppose I am at the age where most people expect me to be a pointlessly rebellious hormone driven teenager, but fortunately im much more mature than many of my peers and others of a similar age. Um, I cant say that i am any form of any religion right now, which garuntees me some who will scold, but at this point im used to being scolded for one reason or another. I feel like i tend to easily represent several groups (not necissarily religious ones), and so, when the circumstance demands, i will try to defend most groups in the calmest, most civilized manner possible. Im not entirely sure what all Im supposed to be listing about myself. Except maybe that i seek to quarrel with no one unless for a justifyable reason, and even then, again, i will approach it in a manner proportionate to that of my conversation partner. But, for the most part, right now, im simply treking through life one footprint in the snow capped mountain of life at a time, thats all i really can do, so im just trying to keep an open mind about differing oppinions and ideas, and im trying to keep my own displays in a manner that should be observed by anyone who doesnt want a confusing storm of very different thoughts. Also, i have a tendancy to unintentionally use metaphor and other figurative devices where they confuse people and for this i am sorry, but i really cant help it all that much. so, im just here to listen to what everyone has to say, and most of the time, i wont bother anyone in a harsh way, so please dont reject me because of the shortcomings of those around me, as i have real questions (i think?) about the way that you all have come to believe. So in the most conclusive statement possible: I am but a seeker of knowledge who searches all corners for new information to add to my collection that i may better understand the world and the people around me. thank you for your time.

[Alan Swallows Waiting for Email Confirmation]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

Hello, OpenMind2000. I'm relatively new here as well, but I'm a Baptist. My beliefs are based on the Bible.

I must say I'm astounded by people who don't share our beliefs. How can anyone not believe the Bible?

[OpenBehind2000]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

Hello, OpenMind2000. I'm relatively new here as well, but I'm a Baptist. My beliefs are based on the Bible.

I must say I'm astounded by people who don't share our beliefs. How can anyone not believe the Bible?

I theorize that a lot of it has to do with exposure, the amount of fear or imagined reward as well as the rate of spread a certain belief offers that determines its following. For instance, many nordic countries once believed that if they slaughtered as many of their enemies as possible and they died in battle, that they would get to live in a surreal dreamland for fallen warriors. Through the human desire to continue in the best conditions, many believed theyd get to go to vallhalla, and so any time a chief wanted to wage war, hed have thousands of willing hosts, same goes for certain extremist religion beliefs, such as extremist muslims (with note not all muslims are extremists). Anyways, when struggling in life it is only instinct to find comfort, but when there are so many of them, with most of them claiming to be the one true one, it can get intimidating to choose when you essentially have to options that are only slightyly different, its like hoping, not even knowing for most, that one, just ONE vial in a room full of vials MIGHT save you from dying of an infection or something, but choose wrong and the one you chose causes the infection to kill you slower and more painful, or something like that. I hope this makes sense. (also, all of the vials are in different languages, most of them probably in runes or alphabets you didnt know existed)

[Alan Swallows Waiting for Email Confirmation]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

Anyways, when struggling in life it is only instinct to find comfort, but when there are so many of them, with most of them claiming to be the one true one, it can get intimidating to choose when you essentially have to options that are only slightyly different, its like hoping, not even knowing for most, that one, just ONE vial in a room full of vials MIGHT save you from dying of an infection or something, but choose wrong and the one you chose causes the infection to kill you slower and more painful, or something like that. I hope this makes sense. (also, all of the vials are in different languages, most of them probably in runes or alphabets you didnt know existed)

But all other religions are ridiculous. Their sacred texts are riddled with myths, unlikely events and improbable characters who make long-winded speeches. Not a single one of them can prove they're right.

[OpenBehind2000]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

But basically, though, i see three main reasons. (ill be continuing with the antidote analogy)
1) The person is overwhelmed at the thought of choosing wrong, fearing the extra pain, and so, they simply dont choose
2) The person chose the wrong antidote vial believing it to be the one vial that could save them, probably because a ton of other people chose that vial and just THOUGHT it was working, and so, if in order to get the final results you have to exit the building with the vial room forever, its kinda hard to tell if you chose wrong, because you dont have any instances where you can observe someone who chose that vial.
and 3) the person looked at a group of vials, and started teaching themselves the language of each (or at least tried to) so that they may understand and have a better chance, but at some point the person gets suspicious of what they read and also decide it would be best to not mess with the vials because they believe the chances too slim to use time to decipher them all, in stead going to get that candy bar they saw in the vending machine before they are cast out of the building.

Id like to make a revision to my analogy. In stead of curing a current infection or virus, each person has so much time to roam the building (lifes possibilities), including the room of possible antidotes to the virus outside of the building, so when you are thrown out (death) you can then administer your chosen vial to either suffer forevear as you roam the unknown or feel no effect as your body becomes self sustained, notneeding food or water because it recycles itself. or you just suffer the mild effects forever in relative misury. Its not a mirror, but i hope its close enough.

[Elmer G. White]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

Dear Open-Minded Friend,

Is you mind open enough to embrace the possibility that Jesus and the Bible are the Truths™ and the only ones™?

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

For the sake of the argument, how can you disprove this? And if you cannot, again, for the sake of the argument, would it not be prudent to accept Him considering 70-80 years of comfortable life cannot really be compared to Eternity either with our Lord or in the Furnace?


Yours in Christ,

Elmer

[OpenBehind2000]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

But all other religions are ridiculous. Their sacred texts are riddled with myths, unlikely events and improbable characters who make long-winded speeches. Not a single one of them can prove they're right.

Please dont be mad when i say this, but thats what everyone says. They all use this psychological phenomina of selective observation to see the consistencies in their desired truth, as they work constantly to prove theyre right and everyone else was wrong, while in the "truths" of others their minds subconsciously try to find every last pitfall and inconsistency, and then you have two people who both see the possible pieces in their own and the impossible of the others, and because they are illuded by their fantasy they become stubborn and butt heads over it, and they teach their children to butt heads over it, and hey teach their children, untilmost beliefs are totally designed to either control or spread, like a parasite or a virus. Im not saying for christianity in particular, but you never know. or at least i dont. i know several christians who are 100% certain they got the right one, so i dunno. personally i think that if people were more compromising, or at least more cooperative, there would be far less bloodshed over the accuracy of a belief. I personally find that most religious or otherwise "spiritual" beliefs were originally intended to explain things and make people feel better, which when a belief did, the undeniable productivity and efficiency of that society increased tremendously, so from an outside perspective i find it sad so many have changed a placebo into a reason for genocide. i dont know. feel free to discredit this heavily biassd reply, as i am super tired.

[Alan Swallows Waiting for Email Confirmation]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

Please dont be mad when i say this, but thats what everyone says. They all use this psychological phenomina of selective observation to see the consistencies in their desired truth, as they work constantly to prove theyre right and everyone else was wrong, while in the "truths" of others their minds subconsciously try to find every last pitfall and inconsistency, and then you have two people who both see the possible pieces in their own and the impossible of the others

The difference is we Christians are blessed with not having to prove anything. The Bible says everyone knows our God is real. People of other religions are just fooling themselves.

Romans 1:18-21: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

So what about you? Why do you deny His existence? Which vial have you chosen to dull your conscience and help you escape the reality that you'll one day face God's wrath?

[OpenBehind2000]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

Dear Open-Minded Friend,

Is you mind open enough to embrace the possibility that Jesus and the Bible are the Truths™ and the only ones™?

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

For the sake of the argument, how can you disprove this? And if you cannot, again, for the sake of the argument, would it not be prudent to accept Him considering 70-80 years of comfortable life cannot really be compared to Eternity either with our Lord or in the Furnace?


Yours in Christ,

Elmer

To answer your first question, yes. I fully understand the possibility that there is a man outside space and time that wants my approval who will send me to be punished for the rest of an infinite measure of time. But then again, with the lack of tangible evidence, in my mind its just as possible a 3 eyed, 2headed, 5 limbed being that farted and made the universe (not to try to be disrespectful towards your particualr biliefs, as i am familiar with the intensity of the bond belief can have, whether it be true or not). it is as i said, you get one chance to pick from a room filled with hundreds of thousands of possible antidotes, many of which you will never even encoutner, and you get tossed into a radioactive wasteland, if you dont have the antidote for radioactivity, youre doomed to a life of radioactivity poisoning with nothing you can do to learn from your mistakes. even if you choose the one billions of others have chosen, you cant know if its the right one until your tossed in the wasteland.'and so to your 80 years vs forever bit i have to say, sure. its totally possible that you will have made the best exchange of your eternal life, trade a good 80 years for the rest of time, thats a really, really, REALLY good deal. but what if the universe collapses? then time is done much quicker than you expected. now thats a reall unlikely and bizarre example, but again, what if you choose the wrong antidote, or there was no antidote? then you will have traded those 80 years of tireless devotion for a forever of suffering or simply nothing at all. and so if only one vial can be the antidote out of, say, 200,000,000 throughout all of human history and all of humanitys future, every variation of every belief ever, then you have a 1 in 200000001 chance of getting the right one. with those odds youre more likely to win the lottery in one ticket...by about 25000000 units. i dont know, you may be very correct, but i heard a saying once that said worry not of tommorrow, for today has its own problems, and so does tomorrow. And Im afraid thats all the time i have today gentlemen. good night. Feel free to compose a counter point, even if its just for a theoretical scenario, after all, even if its just theoretical, its practice right? and out of personal experience, it takes a LOT of practice to debate with the annoying ones who offer no points whatsoever, so yeah...

[Alvin Moss]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

Welcome, friend. I see a lot of fancy talk, but no meat. What is your congregation? Who is your Pastor? How did you find Jesus? We want to know how Jesus has improved your life. If we want to talk philosophy, we will go to a Starbucks. We are here to talk Jesus. Are you saved, or not?

God Bless!

[OpenBehind2000]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

Welcome, friend. I see a lot of fancy talk, but no meat. What is your congregation? Who is your Pastor? How did you find Jesus? We want to know how Jesus has improved your life. If we want to talk philosophy, we will go to a Starbucks. We are here to talk Jesus. Are you saved, or not?

God Bless!

I have known the sensation of belief, as I was for many years of the faith. This was passed from my forefathers to me, and eventually I rejected the inconsistencies I saw. The tongues that were spoken were not one language, the writings filled with words and sentences that directly conflicted each other, and the general principles confused me, a born and raised, above average intelligence Christian boy. So now the only thing I seek is peace of my own definition that I can rest my head and not have the fear of death while I sleep. So basically, I'm trying to sift through the opinions, the proposed solutions to all lifes problems, the countless "one true religions" to see if any one of them speaks to me on a divine level, for it is through this that my entirety, all my knowledge, my skills of speech and relating with others that I will be put to the revealed ultimate truth. I am a being of curiosity, of passion, and of reason, and so if I find that there is a certain thing that I can say without a shadow of doubt I believe in wholeheartedly and will stand beside always, then I will do so. Because as i understand it, once you discover a solution, it clicks, and it all makes sense. This is what I wander from place to place to possibly find. However, at the moment, I am not wtechnically a believer of any faith. I'm just a single insignificant traveler of this fragment of the river of time, who has the dream to unify people to solve problems despite their differences in stead of creating more, coming together only under the terms of the pursuit of a betterment of the human condition, and afterwards, when we've survived and tackled all of the obstacles, then, once we understand one another as brothers and sisters can we discuss our beliefs. I dont know though, I've seen some rather chillingly crude and distasteful articles so far, but as I told myself I would do, I will keep an open mind (no pun intended), and see every part of this, my twelfth stumbled upon belief before I judge anyone, as that would instantly make me a hypocrit due to blaming someone for convicting people without giving them a chance, so yeah... I hope to learn something while I observe your faith, other than what I've learned 11 times already (humans have a bad habit of believing things without looking into it themselves, otherwise they would know by now that magical rocks that produce electricity (rocks are insulators) and removing a creation in the name of the sun to splatter its blood is just s little unusual of a thought process at best)

[Youth Minister Harry]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

I have known the sensation of belief

Why hello there, young man! Welcome to God's Favorite Forums™! I can tell Christ has led you by the hand into our room here for a reason.

You say you have known the sensation of belief. That's very interesting. Did it make you cry out in pain? Did you exclaim GLORY for Christ at the top of your lungs in overwhelming ecstasy? Did your toes curl and your eyes roll back in exaltation for the salvation you were receiving?

Young man, you haven't begun to experience the sensation of belief until you've experienced the Lord Christ Jesus deep in you. And I mean really, truly inside, not just the tip
of the iceberg that so many other churches preach.

I do hope we have a chance to pray together. The youth ministry here has so much to show you. You have a lot to show us as well, I'm sure! I'd get you on a bus down to our Boys-Only No-Homo Bible Camp right now, but I've got my hands full at the moment. But, we'll work on it!

Praise Christ Jesus!

[Alvin Moss]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

I have... above average intelligence...Followed by a great spew of more drivel.

It is interesting that retards and lunatics often refer to themselves as being "above average intelligence". The more warped they are, the smarter they think they are. I suspect you have serious problems coping with life.

The new age drivel you are drooling here on our clean and fresh website is soiling the carpet. Why don't you drop the nonsense and tell us about your walk with Jesus.

[WilliamJenningsBryan]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

Blah, blah, blah, blah (poorly written insufferable Wall of Text).

Son, this is perhaps the most poorly written composition I've seen here on our Godly forums in some time. While our Godly members are certainly tolerant, God's mercy only extends so far when it comes to things that have to do with the gifts God gave you - and that encompasses learning to spell correctly, compose proper sentences, paragraphs and grammar in God's favorite language - American.

While you might justifiably claim to be a victim of the liberal Democrat education establishment, Jesus expects you to rise above it and pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Just because the Democrats have created the low information voter that elected Obama president twice doesn't excuse you from your responsibilities to your Creator, nor to the burden and suffering that you are placing on those you wish to read your compositions.

I've taken the time out of my busy schedule and other responsibilities here on this earth to modestly correct your latest diatribe and put it in a condition that might garner you a "C" grade in ordinary composition classes. You would do well to study it and vastly improve your skills here, and remember - Jesus is watching.

To answer your first question, yes. I fully understand the possibility that there is a man outside space and time that wants my approval who will send me to be punished for the rest of an infinite measure of time. But then again, with the lack of tangible evidence, in my mind its just as possible a 3-eyed, 2-headed, 5-limbed being that farted and made the universe (not to try to be disrespectful towards your particular beliefs, as I am familiar with the intensity of the bond belief can have, whether it be true or not).

It is as I said, you get one chance to pick from a room filled with hundreds of thousands of possible antidotes, many of which you will never even encounter, and you get tossed into a radioactive wasteland. If you don't have the antidote for radioactivity, you're doomed to a life of radioactivity poisoning with nothing you can do to learn from your mistakes. Even if you choose the one billions of others have chosen, you can't know if it's the right one until you're tossed in the wasteland. So to your 80 years vs. forever bit I have to say, sure it's totally possible that you will have made the best exchange of your eternal life, trade a good 80 years for the rest of time, that's a really, really, REALLY good deal.

Consider what if the universe collapses? Then time is done much quicker than you expected. Now that's a really unlikely and bizarre example, but again, what if you choose the wrong antidote, or there was no antidote? Then you will have traded those 80 years of tireless devotion for a forever of suffering or simply nothing at all.

To summarize, if only one vial can be the antidote out of, say 200,000,000 throughout all of human history and all of humanity's future, every variation of every belief ever, then you have a 1 in 200000001 chance of getting the right one. With those odds you're more likely to win the lottery in one ticket...by about 25000000 units.

I don't know, you may be very correct, but I've heard a saying once that said worry not of tomorrow, for today has its own problems, and so does tomorrow. I'm afraid that's all the time I have today gentlemen - good night.

Feel free to propose a counter point, even if it's just for a theoretical scenario, after all even if it's just theoretical, it's practice right? Out of personal experience it takes a LOT of practice to debate with the annoying ones who offer no points whatsoever, so yeah...

[Pastor Ezekiel]

Re: Introduction to OpenMind2000

This kid has obviously been molly-coddled by his unsaved parents. He is a complete fool. What he needs is a couple of good Christian beatings laid on every day until he accepts the love of Christ.

The Holy Bible clearly states that beating your children will make them less foolish.

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15

The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. Proverbs 29:15

So beat them hard and often. Don't worry about hurting them. You may break a few bones and cause some brain damage, but it isn't going to kill them. And even if it does, they'll be better off. They'll thank you in heaven for beating the hell out of them.

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. Proverbs 23:13-14