Having a personal relationship with God

[Achronos]

Was it this thread that I gave some suggestions on having a relationship with God? I guess due to my poor wording and/or understanding from the audience it was addressed to but in any case what I was really trying to get across, is that God is serious business, and if someone thinks it's just going to be an interesting intellectual exercise, they're mistaken. We can sit on this boards and discuss the rules of logic, cosmology, history, etc., until we're blue in the face, but we're not going to settle anything here. We're not going to settle it in books, or debates either.

If someone has a genuine desire to find God, there are important things that would prove invaluable in helping someone find Him. It's kind of like a Hobbit in the Shire not believing a word of Frodo's when he tells them he stood on Mt. Doom and the journey that it took to get there. Frodo could show them the maps, he could show them his scars, he could tell them the names of the others who accompanied him, but none of that will make a difference to someone who's not willing to do what it takes to take that same journey and find out for themselves.

That's probably a poor analogy, but it's the first one that came to mind! Someone setting out for a specific end ultimately has to do things that ensure their success.

[DJAkuma]

Was it this thread that I gave some suggestions on having a relationship with God? I guess due to my poor wording and/or understanding from the audience it was addressed to but in any case what I was really trying to get across,  is that God is serious business, and if someone thinks it's just going to be an interesting intellectual exercise, they're mistaken. We can sit on this boards and discuss the rules of logic, cosmology, history, etc., until we're blue in the face, but we're not going to settle anything here. We're not going to settle it in books, or debates either.

If someone has a genuine desire to find God, there are important things that would prove invaluable in helping someone find Him. It's kind of like a Hobbit in the Shire not believing a word of Frodo's when he tells them he stood on Mt. Doom and the journey that it took to get there. Frodo could show them the maps, he could show them his scars, he could tell them the names of the others who accompanied him, but none of that will make a difference to someone who's not willing to do what it takes to take that same journey and find out for themselves.

That's probably a poor analogy, but it's the first one that came to mind! Someone setting out for a specific end ultimately has to do things that ensure their success.

Wasn't the shire destroyed before frodo got back? Nobody there would have been alive to believe him, his other friends probably would have been inclined to believe him since they'd seen some pretty crazy stuff themselves and would have probably seen some pretty major changes that could only have been a direct result of the one ring being destroyed.

[TheJackel]

Was it this thread that I gave some suggestions on having a relationship with God? I guess due to my poor wording and/or understanding from the audience it was addressed to but in any case what I was really trying to get across, is that God is serious business, and if someone thinks it's just going to be an interesting intellectual exercise, they're mistaken. We can sit on this boards and discuss the rules of logic, cosmology, history, etc., until we're blue in the face, but we're not going to settle anything here. We're not going to settle it in books, or debates either.

If someone has a genuine desire to find God, there are important things that would prove invaluable in helping someone find Him. It's kind of like a Hobbit in the Shire not believing a word of Frodo's when he tells them he stood on Mt. Doom and the journey that it took to get there. Frodo could show them the maps, he could show them his scars, he could tell them the names of the others who accompanied him, but none of that will make a difference to someone who's not willing to do what it takes to take that same journey and find out for themselves.

That's probably a poor analogy, but it's the first one that came to mind! Someone setting out for a specific end ultimately has to do things that ensure their success.

No, you gave suggestions on how to attach emotions to an ideological concept.. Relationships usually include the actual person and not some conceptual Idea of one. Your suggestions are in the realm of manipulation geared to engineer devotion to an ideological construct.

We can sit on this boards and discuss the rules of logic, cosmology, history, etc., until we're blue in the face, but we're not going to settle anything here

This reads as: Let's skip all that and just go with argument A "my suggestions pointed out earlier".. Good try though

[Stevil]

Someone setting out for a specific end ultimately has to do things that ensure their success.

It depends what the end goal is.
If the end goal is to have a personal relationship with god then that is one thing. However if the end goal is to learn or get close to the truth then that may be an entirely different goal.

To have a personal relationship with god it is impossible to follow the path of facts, proof, substance etc.

To know the truth it depends on how your mind works as an individual.
A: Some people feel that the path to truth is by seeking that which is consistently testable and predictable, disregarding faith and belief.
B: Others feel that the path to the truth is by having faith and belief disregarding the need for that which is consistently testable and predictable.

With path A, everyone arrives at the same end point
With path B, it depends on what is used as the source of the faith and belief

I don't care which path people take as long as the people on each path don't start trying to control some part of the lives of the people on the other paths.

[gsaint]

I can show you all the evidence in the world but it seems that you need to look for yourselves.

To know the truth it depends on how your mind works as an individual.
A: Some people feel that the path to truth is by seeking that which is consistently testable and predictable, disregarding faith and belief.
B: Others feel that the path to the truth is by having faith and belief disregarding the need for that which is consistently testable and predictable.

which one are you stevil?

[McQ]

I can show you all the evidence in the world but it seems that you need to look for yourselves.

To know the truth it depends on how your mind works as an individual.
A: Some people feel that the path to truth is by seeking that which is consistently testable and predictable, disregarding faith and belief.
B: Others feel that the path to the truth is by having faith and belief disregarding the need for that which is consistently testable and predictable.

which one are you stevil?

No need for "all" the evidence in the world. One piece of evidence should suffice. Go for it.

[Whitney]

I can show you all the evidence in the world but it seems that you need to look for yourselves.

To know the truth it depends on how your mind works as an individual.
A: Some people feel that the path to truth is by seeking that which is consistently testable and predictable, disregarding faith and belief.
B: Others feel that the path to the truth is by having faith and belief disregarding the need for that which is consistently testable and predictable.

which one are you stevil?

The bolded part of your quote seems really stupid to me (and probably everyone else who hasn't been fed that nonsense their whole life).

Why in the world would you think that truth can be determined by deciding to believe in an idea you like?

[iSok]

Was it this thread that I gave some suggestions on having a relationship with God? I guess due to my poor wording and/or understanding from the audience it was addressed to but in any case what I was really trying to get across, is that God is serious business, and if someone thinks it's just going to be an interesting intellectual exercise, they're mistaken. We can sit on this boards and discuss the rules of logic, cosmology, history, etc., until we're blue in the face, but we're not going to settle anything here. We're not going to settle it in books, or debates either.

If someone has a genuine desire to find God, there are important things that would prove invaluable in helping someone find Him. It's kind of like a Hobbit in the Shire not believing a word of Frodo's when he tells them he stood on Mt. Doom and the journey that it took to get there. Frodo could show them the maps, he could show them his scars, he could tell them the names of the others who accompanied him, but none of that will make a difference to someone who's not willing to do what it takes to take that same journey and find out for themselves.

That's probably a poor analogy, but it's the first one that came to mind! Someone setting out for a specific end ultimately has to do things that ensure their success.

Undeniably there are times -- whether during the agonizing days of a lingering
illness, the seemingly eternal moments of a violent and humiliating mugging, or the split
second of anticipating the impact of an imminent car crash -- when all mankind recognize
the reality of human fragility and the lack of human control over destiny. Who does a
person beseech for help in such circumstances other than The Creator?

Such moments of desperation should remind every person, from the religious scholar to the professed
Atheist, of the dependence of mankind upon a reality far greater than our own meager
human selves. A reality far greater in knowledge, power, will, majesty and glory.
In such moments of distress, when all human efforts have failed and no element
of material existence can be foreseen to provide comfort or rescue, Whom else will a
person instinctively call upon? In such moments of trial, how many stress-induced
appeals are made to God, complete with promises of lifelong fidelity?
Yet, how few are kept?

- Dr. Laurence Brown

[LegendarySandwich]

A: Some people feel that the path to truth is by seeking that which is consistently testable and predictable, disregarding faith and belief.
B: Others feel that the path to the truth is by having faith and belief disregarding the need for that which is consistently testable and predictable.

That's a false dichotomy, and I don't even think it's accurate. I feel that most people would be somewhere in-between -- empiricism is good, but sometimes you just need to have faith.

[Sophus]

Was it this thread that I gave some suggestions on having a relationship with God? I guess due to my poor wording and/or understanding from the audience it was addressed to but in any case what I was really trying to get across, is that God is serious business, and if someone thinks it's just going to be an interesting intellectual exercise, they're mistaken. We can sit on this boards and discuss the rules of logic, cosmology, history, etc., until we're blue in the face, but we're not going to settle anything here. We're not going to settle it in books, or debates either.

If someone has a genuine desire to find God, there are important things that would prove invaluable in helping someone find Him.

Yes! Why are we concerned with whether or not God exists when we can just start talking to ourselves already? This isn't the time for critical thinking. You're suppose to just believe me and do as I say.  

[elliebean]

A: Some people feel that the path to truth is by seeking that which is consistently testable and predictable, disregarding faith and belief.
B: Others feel that the path to the truth is by having faith and belief disregarding the need for that which is consistently testable and predictable.

That's a false dichotomy, and I don't even think it's accurate. I feel that most people would be somewhere in-between -- empiricism is good, but sometimes you just need to have faith.

In my observations, it seems most people use both approaches, whether they're aware of it or not; just for different things and to different degrees.

[NaturaLCalamity]

Having a relationship with god isn't meant to be taken literally. What I don't get is, why can't they just love god without entering in a relationship with him? It's all bogus to me. If you can't have sex with god, then there's no point. Remember, the thrill is in the chase. God, in any way, isn't worth chasing at all.

[LegendarySandwich]

Having a relationship with god isn't meant to be taken literally. What I don't get is, why can't they just love god without entering in a relationship with him? It's all bogus to me. If you can't have sex with god, then there's no point. Remember, the thrill is in the chase. God, in any way, isn't worth chasing at all.

After a relationship with God, should not be taken literally. I do not understand why, not only can you love without being in contact with him, my God? It 's all fake to me. If you do not have sex with God, then it makes sense. Remember the thrill of the hunt. God, at least not worth chasing at all.

[wildfire_emissary]

Having a relationship with god isn't meant to be taken literally. What I don't get is, why can't they just love god without entering in a relationship with him? It's all bogus to me. If you can't have sex with god, then there's no point. Remember, the thrill is in the chase. God, in any way, isn't worth chasing at all.

After a relationship with God, should not be taken literally. I do not understand why, not only can you love without being in contact with him, my God? It 's all fake to me. If you do not have sex with God, then it makes sense. Remember the thrill of the hunt. God, at least not worth chasing at all.

WHat?

[The Magic Pudding]

Having a relationship with god isn't meant to be taken literally. What I don't get is, why can't they just love god without entering in a relationship with him? It's all bogus to me. If you can't have sex with god, then there's no point. Remember, the thrill is in the chase. God, in any way, isn't worth chasing at all.

After a relationship with God, should not be taken literally. I do not understand why, not only can you love without being in contact with him, my God? It 's all fake to me. If you do not have sex with God, then it makes sense. Remember the thrill of the hunt. God, at least not worth chasing at all.

WHat?

I'm not shore what that means either, but some gods/goddesses are more appealing than others.