I like the way that the late Dr. Isaac Asimov put it, more or less: "When people pine for 'Merrie Olde Englande and the Nut-Brown Ale,' they probably imagine themselves as a Norman Lord and not a Saxon Serf." Good point.

We actually live right now in one of the most amazing periods of time in human history. "What country are you in?" Does it matter, like it did? Today we live in an unbelievable and unprecedented period in which the world has, through communications, suddenly become very small. And, we see much more clearly -- much more clearly than our governments currently do -- just how interconnected we really are; always have been.

Actually, I think that there are two important parties who may well be the last to accept how fundamental these changes are: (1) senior legislatures and chief-executives in the various world governments; and (2) the media. And actually, the media may be the most recalcitrant of them all... the most stubbornly unwilling to admit that the monopolies they once enjoyed no longer exist.

One way or the other, life will go on. We may be a good bit more about it because now we see much more of what's really going on, but we live in "interesting times."

why does man use so many assumptions, like the big bang etc. to explain away the overwhelming evidence for God. Like some have said previously, look around you! Think about the world, the universe, in which you live..... how can you just be sooo sure that it was a big bang, and stuff evolved, and it took millions of years?

For everything to be as it is by chance is impossible. Look at the design of your world..... perfect placement from a star, a moon to take asteroids and stuff. Think of your body! how could something this complex just happen! Man has never observed a gaining of genetic information, which is what evolution is all about.... there has been, however, genetic specialization, or loss of genetic info to give an organism adaptive properties. This is one of the millions of wonders of the Creator.

but, I am just trying to direct you all, I do not wish to force my "religion" on anyone; so, please don't take it as so. Thanks,

slackwarebilly


29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

don't you think we're a bit imperfect to be created by something perfect? I don't think you should take religion as a way to describe the world and how everything is. The bible is not science and god is not science (well the latter can be argued lol), but take it as a way to live your life instead of a way to explain your life...

back to "the climax of humaniy", i would say its right now with computers, though i think we'd better worry about ourselves more than about the environment

There's no "true" religion. No people has been "chosen" by god. Every culture exists and explains reality in its own way and this diversity is beautiful because every one has a reason to be in its own. The global challenge is to try to understand all religions as collective efforts of mankind to explain reality.

"the bilble is not truth" "god is not science" "the big bang"

aren't these all assumptions? What's wrong with God and the bible totally agreeing with science. Why is there this idea that god and the bible cannot be in tune with science? there is no scientific basis for "the big bang" 'cept for that the universe has an orbit. Why is the bible not science? hmm? you just assume? Tell me one thing that is false in it.... the archeological and chronological evidence for the Bible is astounding... check it out http://www.answersingenesis.org/

The climax of humanity? yes it is getting there. There have been an increase in natural disasters such that the world has never seen before. (hinting towards end times..... {NOT doom, doom, doom, BTW})

7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

and technology will definitely be an advantage but, it is beginning to be used as credit cards and things in humans. This is "convenient" at first, but may begin to become another means of control. (like microsoft )

ultimately, I know you all can see it coming, and the bible predicts it, currencies will be united, there will be a universal ID tag of some sort, "the mark of the beast" and stuff. That's the only reason I'm a little hesitant about nanotechnology in me.

I am excited about the idea of electric cars, and with improvements in solar panels, I think it would be awesome to park my car, and have it recharge for free! This would be an incredibly awesome solution for people like me who live in hot, sunny states, (Arizona).

I leave you with this......

GAS IS EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!

thanks for reading,

slackwarebilly

The bible is completely full of contradictions. Just try to read the gospels in sync. It does not contain truth and we must heal the hysteria for end times. People experience disasters like this and overcome this non-sense. They start to live life fully and don't waste vital energy in irrational fear.

believe what you want, but, what a statement. Nothing to back it up, just, "The bible is completely full of contradictions". Tell me about 'em....

Some variance in wording sure, because different guys were witnessing the same event. Also, try reading a literal translation, such as Young's http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/rylt/rylt.html (it helps to avoid a translator or paraphraser's interpretations)

later,

slackwarebilly

Three sequences of a lie:
1- "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
2- And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
3- Jesus descent into hell

Jesus had sisters and brothers, why does the church not tell the truth completely?

What about the detailed accounts of animal sacrifices in the Old Testament? There's almost human sacrifice too (Abraham's son).

The catholic church still doesn't allow marriage to their priests (they end pedophiles because of this), and:

Leviticus 21:13-15 (Revised Standard Version)

These same verses are written in this way in KJV:
Check this one of the N.T.:
1 Timothy 3:2-6

I won't quote the ones that punish women because of this stupid belief that she was created after Adan.

I just cannot trust these lies. The bible was possible in times when some random madman would come inspired to tell us about heaven and hell and make us feel guilty. If this were these times, they would end up in a psychiatric hospital, unless they have some money and build a cult just like the Raelians, scientology, etc.

This one denies any person with defects to approach the altar:
Leviticus 21:16-23 (Revised Std. Version)

It just takes some verses to know that the bible is not the word of God. They're just the way that priests want to exert power and we all ended up truly believing it

I'd suggest that we should be especially careful when thinking that technology will help us out. Not only does a reliance on some future technology provide us with an excuse to not do anything in the here and now while we wait for the technology to be implemented; it also tends to bring about its own problems which become increasingly difficult to address. Moreover, once invented, technology can never be undeveloped: witness the A-bomb, for a telling exemplar of letting the proverbial genie out of the bottle. Furthermore, the use of nanotechnology is by no means a benign panacea - some astute and tech-savvy thinkers have got some significant reservations about the grey goo.

Also, while I am responding to this thread, while I would certainly support the use of meditation, etc., I think that we would do well to recover the feminist 1960s/1970s slogan lest we forget it: "the personal is political". While we can meditate to our heart's content, there comes a time when we must realise that political action must commence with us ourselves, individually and collectively. Meditation won't change anything beside (possibly) yiedlign some degree of enlightenment. Even if we were enlightened, many thousands of people are routinely killed in warfare (whether declared, illegal, legal or undeclared) annually, starved as a consequence of primarily first world economic policies and the politics of IMF and World Bank "aid" programmes, poisoned by the export of toxic waste, and victimised by radical and irreversible changes to the planetary ecosystems that are the consequence of economic "development" (whatever that idiot GW Bush has to say about the matter!!). Individual enlightenment doesn't even begin to address these issues, but tends to give individuals the idea that they are making a difference. They aren't, and keeping quiet merely helps perpetuate the status quo. The personal is political insofar as, whatever happens to the individual in terms of their personal experience as a being-in-the-world is the foundation of all political activity. An illegal and unwarranted war is being fought in our names, and yet so many of us keep quiet about it. If you disagree, then speak up: shout, scream ... but don't meditate and think that that is going to make a difference.

Christians are not under the old laws of the Jews; the Jews blew their chance at being God's chosen people...... in other words God chose to include "the gentiles" or people other than Israelites in salvation.

http://www.wcg.org/lit/law/lawmoses.htm

Christians do not necessarily believe in things the Roman Catholic church does, in fact, we disagree with quite as few of them, as you can see are not in the Bible. Almost all the things the world associates with Catholicism is not mentioned in the bible, all the crazy stuff like confessionals, purgatory, etc.

Jesus had brothers, we know that, I don't deny it. (the Catholic church does... heh). Many scholars believe that James was the Half brother of Jesus, BTW.

lastly, the whole point of Christianity is that Jesus paid the price, saved us from having to die for our sins.

He descended into hell to kick the devil's butt. Jesus overcame death. This is why we can praise God through Jesus, and like you said, without him, we wouldn't be worthy to be near to God (enter the temple, so to speak)

Christianity is about hope for those that may not be the best people, Most other religions are about doing things to get better, and if you mess up, then you've lost.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

and here's a good resource, have fun......

http://www.christiananswers.net/menu-at1.html




slackwarebilly

A question for you, you say christians are not under the old laws, but didn't jesus say a little something about that?

Then again he also said something about a sword....

sorry all for being off topic, I won't post again (after answering one more question),

I just don't get how you want me to answer your vague comments.


Just tell me where it is, and I'll have a look,

thanks,

slackwarebilly

Maybe it was a big bang 'cause God likes these kind of games
There's nothing wrong and it's in fact possible that complex things evolve from simpler, elemental things.

This is what I really admire about Creation. In all, our discussion does not create anything. We just discuss these things and get/give feedback to ease our restlessness and our doubts maybe because God wanted us to rediscover religion, who knows? The hindus have a very big-bang like belief in Shiva as the creator and destructor of universes (in the shape of spheres). Maybe this thing that inspired other peoples complete the picture that mankind has tried so hard with science, phillosophy, art, tantra & religion.

Your's positive christianity. It's better to believe in forgiveness and that there's no death than a belief based on fear.

Odd, you despise a belief whereby life began from base materials(clay, etc), only to believe in a system where a god who apparently came from nowhere himself breathed life into....get this--CLAY.

The irony is overwhelming. Personally, I don't care where life began or came from, but I detest the mentality that will allow someone to look at a violent religion and see peace. Those are some violent gods you guys follow. Everyone's an atheist....LIke the man said.