Riddle me this, o ye faithful — natural disasters

reply to post by iLemming


He still loves you. He wants you to accept what His Son did for every single person who ever has, or ever will live. All you have to do is pray for the forgiveness of your sins, and accept Jesus into your heart.

So much hatred for something you are trying to, for some reason, convince everybody that you are so sure doesn't exist.

reply to post by iLemming


The nazarene is made up of nothing but stolen legends, stolen identities and a bunch of meaningless, worthless hypocritical and contradictory teachings. I don't think there has been a character in all of history that is as fictitious as this nazarene idiot, and because he is a lie, he can change according to the times.

S & F for the title only. I will read the thread later at another Bat-time.

colbe
Be loving in the present moment no matter the circumstance and you will be happy,

.... something that is almost always heard coming from people who are healthy and well fed.
The starving ... the sick ... the chronically ill ... those screaming to die in nursing homes ...
they aren't going to 'be happy' simply by being loving. It doesn't turn off the agony.

reply to post by iLemming


Can I just ask this, who created the atomic bomb?

Was it God that dropped the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Was it God that built the nuclear reactors in Japan or Chernobyl or Three Mile Island?

Was it God driving the car through the red light killing young mothers and fathers?

Was it God walking through Columbine?

Was it God who blew up the Boston Marathon?

Was it God who who caused the Great Chicago Fire or the San Francisco fire or the one in Rome, that Nero was blamed for?

Tell me, why is it when natural disasters occur, you charge the religious and yet when people create destruction, you let them slide?

Tell me, what grand purpose is there in the atomic bomb, other than to hold us hostage to our neighbors? I The atomic bomb kills people, and you call us mad? Religious people didn't make the bomb, but someone did. Who was it again?

reply to post by iLemming


God is an entity created by everything in the universe. A link, a collective consciousness that can structure matter into DNA. God is not as we define through our stupidity as alive but is both a creation of life and a creator of life.

In essence the universe is a structured form of life itself. We can link to this collective consciousness and find the truth but often our desires and conditioning teach us to ignore this link. If you do not understand this communication and hear it, they call that a mental disease. Religions often define the parameters of this communication to follow a desired philosophy with man at the top here on earth. We are a part of this and not a dictator over nature. This link gave us the power and intellect to take over this world when we were supposed to be caretakers. Some of what we do is necessary but some of it is destructive to other lifeforms on the planet. This collective consciousness is realized by all lifeforms including the smallest which are building their armies to take away our power. Those who are linked to this consciousness will get instructions from within and will survive, the microbes will not hurt

Now this may sound like a lot of crap but then again, look at religion and the stuff that science says is real and complete. We have barely scratched the surface of comprehending things in this universe. We see patterns and say these patterns are relevant to everything when in essence they are relevant to certain things. This causes misinformation to run the world today. I will admit, I know very little about reality even though I know a lot of what mankind says is real. We use what we learn to create profit or prestige for ourselves instead of freely sharing and examining it properly. Although I feel science is necessary and does supply us with much real evidence, I question the motives and translation of the evidence.

I believe in god, the word or frequency that forms life from different elements. My ideas would probably not be accepted by most religions. I do not fear god, I respect god and trust that this entity has others that can help us. These creatures would be called angels by some, they have no real bodies, just the ability to interact with matter as we recognize it and with our minds.

I know I am a little crazy, I believe in a being that is not supposed to exist. Yet so many people on this planet believe in god or gods so I suppose crazy is the in thing and has been for a very long time. Earth is a very important part of god in our sector of the galaxy. Without it experiencing a good and simple life here would not be possible. Yet we must be crazy, we constantly allow the creation of bad chemistry and practices which negatively effect it's ability to provide us with a sustainable existence. This puts our money in the hands of a select few people.....the kind of people Jesus was trying to dissuade us from following in the writings in the bible.

Boy, this got long. I need to start tending the fire instead of babbling.

FlyersFan

colbe
Be loving in the present moment no matter the circumstance and you will be happy,

.... something that is almost always heard coming from people who are healthy and well fed.
The starving ... the sick ... the chronically ill ... those screaming to die in nursing homes ...
they aren't going to 'be happy' simply by being loving. It doesn't turn off the agony.

Exactly.

Isn't it funny that when we are faced with our own mortality, it tends to change our perspective on things?

I have Multiple Sclerosis and know that eventually I will end up somewhere in a bed never to be able to get out of it, so I have to speak now and live now, realizing that my end is not going to be pleasant. Ever since I was diagnosed in 2003, I have heard from everyone, even the MS Society, that there will be a cure in my lifetime. 10 years now and no cure.

We have heard there was going to be a cure for AIDS, why is it people spend more money and research into a disease that is preventable? People were told how AIDS is transmitted, but people went gleefully along saying "don't mess with our morality". MS is not preventable and neither is it transmitted, there's no cause and no cure. But people have less compassion for a non-moral issue.

If we looked at the history of AIDS and MS, fewer people have MS, fewer people die directly from MS and fewer people with MS die young. But AIDS is fairly a recent disease and has always been preventable. But who wants to prevent something if it means they have to change their morality?

But more money is spent on AIDS research, more celebrities endorse AIDS research and AIDS gets the most compassion, because people think it is wrong to point out how they got AIDS in the first place. Then people with AIDS donated blood, infecting innocent people. Women with AIDS had babies born with AIDS and drug addicts shared needles. AIDS is more than just "don't mess with my morality", it destroys innocent people who didn't partake in the actions to begin with.

But watch this....

You can prevent this sexually transmitted disease.

(Now watch it descend into "how dare you be such a homophobe).

reply to post by WarminIndy


I think most of us with Sjogrens have given up on getting a cure in our lifetime.
We are the forgotten redheaded stepchildren of the autoimmune world.
I've heard people say 'it's only sjogrens' .... YIKES!
Tell that to my liver .. my heat and lungs ... my brain ... my whole nervous system ....

God created the universe in six days. Some bugs are to be expected. Send a bug report.

FlyersFan
reply to post by WarminIndy

 

I think most of us with Sjogrens have given up on getting a cure in our lifetime.
We are the forgotten redheaded stepchildren of the autoimmune world.
I've heard people say 'it's only sjogrens' .... YIKES!
Tell that to my liver .. my heat and lungs ... my brain ... my whole nervous system ....

Oh yes, it's only autoimmune...pffftttt...

Contribute to ATS while you can, someday your eyes might not be able to see.

And people don't even know how to pronounce it, then you have to tell them 50 times and then people are like "whatevahhzzz". I know exactly what you mean.

Why is it autoimmune disorders get "whatevahzzzzz" until a famous person is diagnosed? Then people are like "Whaaa? that celebrity has whaaaa???

If Elton John died tomorrow, the world would be like..."Oh, international televised service for such a noble and courageous celebrity for standing up for AIDS victims". Aren't we victims of autoimmune disorders? Whatevahzzzzz.....

I know exactly how you feel. Strange, I won't buy any of the Susan G. Komen merchandise, I must be really, really, really mean. Wait, where's the celebrity endorsement for Uterine cancer? Fran Drescher. I had uterine cancer, so this cancer thing is really personal. I just wish maybe someday someone will decide to do a benefit run for other things too.

The two most over-merchandised diseases, AIDS and Breast Cancer. But hey, if people want to support the cause, then go ahead, breast cancer needs a cure also.

Broom
God is not ruling the world. If he was he would enforce his standards right now. And it would not be in the condition it is in.

Satan is the ruler of the world. And man has basically given God the middle finger and told him to butt out. Well, you elect humans to rule you, and reject God's rule. So fix it on your own.

God will fix it. He will step in, but not just to fix things. He will take over and he will rule as he knows is best. That means this world, this system as we know it must go. He will not merely step in and fix things when it is convenient for you. He will not merely allow badness and fix the consequences of those bad actions.

You see, we cannot govern ourselves, not even Satan is doing a good job.

Not so fast!

Romans 13
1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

Sounds like a bad ad campaign for the rulers if you ask me.

"Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?" Well, obey them and DO NOT rebel, because they are God's agents for YOUR good. To rebel is to bring judgement on yourself, so be a good little human and let them do what they want.

Seems like that is exactly what got us in this situation if you asking me, people letting the rulers walk all over them. The bible says that's the way it's supposed to be.

rockoperawriter
reply to post by iLemming

 

The nazarene is made up of nothing but stolen legends, stolen identities and a bunch of meaningless, worthless hypocritical and contradictory teachings. I don't think there has been a character in all of history that is as fictitious as this nazarene idiot, and because he is a lie, he can change according to the times.

oh we need to debate this! i'm for a good rousing convo on the subject.
let's make a thread about it.

reply to post by iLemming

There were several 'lords' that inspired Biblical scripture. The Prime Creator Allows us (and these Created lords also) the sovereign will to manifest all the mess we have in this world (that we do so 'unwell' in being manipulated by evil). We are meant to follow in Leading by the Spirit of Love in Truth, so I understand why aspects (especially of the Old Testament) did not resonate well with your being.

You are on the right track in areas, but we should also be very careful not to go to the other extreme of faithlessness in a spite of the manipulation within Biblical texts that DOES contain much Light Truth in Christ (amongst the contradictions of wickedness to 'divide and conquer').

That is exactly what the willfully evil operating here wants.

reply to post by 3NL1GHT3N3D1


Those words you quoted were written to Christians who are "no part of this world." God never thought that the majority of mankind would follow his son's footsteps. He has the hope that everyone will use their freewill to do what is right. But he already knows that will not be the case.

Nevertheless, God can and does remove political powers when they become too depraved and or oppressive.

Ancient examples in the Bible would be many Canaanite nations who God used the nation of Israel to expunge from the earth because of their badness.

He also used nations who didn't even recognize he existed to exact punishment on nations, even his own. For example he used Babylon to subjugate and destroy many nations who were doing what was wrong. He even told his own people he was going to send Babylon against them for their badness. And he removed the king from Israel because of their disgusting badness.

Then he punished Babylon itself because of its badness by sending the Medo-Persian Empire against it.

These are but a few examples.

Hitler no longer exists today, after he was told to stop persecuting God's named servants, and would not.


God has tolerated Satan to rule and human rule for a short while. For about six thousand years now. To him less than a week. Soon he will fix that situation. Until then Christians are told to remain in subjection to the superior authorities. They look to God's kingdom as the hope of humanity, no human or human rule.

Does that mean suffering and hardship? Yes. That is why Jesus said that whoever wanted to follow him must pick up their "torture stake" and follow him continually. He was preparing those who wanted to really follow him, that it would be a road of torture. For as he said, if they hated the master, they will not love the servant. If they persecuted him, they would persecute his followers.

And if you mean to think that rebellion will fix the problems. Six thousand years of rebellion should tell you otherwise. Where is the Utopia created by a rebellion? It doesn't exist. It does in minds of the naive, but soon they too realize that trust in themselves or other humans will always lead to disappointment. Always.

reply to post by Broom


i've had quite enough of the whole torture thing. everyone has their limits, and i have reached mine.

reply to post by iLemming


Riddle me this, o ye faithless — human sinfulness

reply to post by FlyersFan


Romans 5:3-5
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

1 Peter 4:12-19
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

I have suffered personally with an extremely painful terminal illness, I know the meaning of pain and agony, and though at times it was hard to stay faithful, for the most part I kept my faith and hope fairly high throughout,

I've also struggled with extreme poverty, hunger and thirst, and homelessness,

I can say from experience faith can keep the heart hopeful through many agonizing life events,

God bless

OP,

This whole post shows your ignorance of Biblical Theology, and I think you should do a little bit more research. Let me give you a little lesson on God's sovereignty and Satan's dominion. You said God dictates what happens in the world. This is some what correct. God allows Satan to operate, but Satan must ask God's permission to do things that are not already in his power to do. An example of this is in the Book of Job Satan must ask God's permission to test Job.

Also, Satan holds dominion over Earth. There are many Scriptural references to this fact.

1 John 5:19
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one

Matthew 4
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”

Notice that Jesus dos not dispute Satan's claim to the Earth.

Jesus is the speaker of these next three verses:

John 12
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

John 14
30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me,

John 16
11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned

Paul reiterates this fact again in 2 Corinthians 4:4 when he calls Satan the god of this age.

And Luke 4:6

I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.

Now, the church speaks of God's Sovereignty, but there are things God cannot do.

Examples:
God can't...
break His word
break His Law
make us love him
stop us from sinning
or prevent us from going to Hell

Romans 8:19-21
19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[a] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed they lost dominion of Earth over to Satan. Undoing those consequences cost God the Life of His Son.

the increase in frequency and intensity of sever weather events is due to human interaction with the environment.

Matthew 24
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

The end times are near friend, and I truly hope you will take the amount of time it takes to seriously research the theology and fully understand it before you make a decision all together.

GodIsRelative
God created the universe in six days. Some bugs are to be expected. Send a bug report.

Still waiting for the patch.

I guess that means bliss will be... "DLC"?

ServantOfTheLamb
Now, the church speaks of God's Sovereignty, but there are things God cannot do.

Examples:
God can't...
break His word
break His Law
make us love him
stop us from sinning
or prevent us from going to Hell

I think this is worth clarifying a little bit (though the entire post was well written, and I agree).

The only things that God "can't" do are those things that violate His own character.

So... God can't break His Word because He is "the Truth" (John 14:6)
God can't make us love Him because to do so would violate the free will He Himself gave us... and so on.

The only reference to which God is held accountable is God Himself.

I actually disagree that God can't break His law. He has, can, and does - and the Bible details instances where these things have occurred. The law was given to man, God isn't subject to it at all. That's another topic for another day, though.