Talking to God boosts self-control and emotional stability, claims study

[catcherinthewry]

First of all, there are no flaws in logic. That's a misconception.

I'm curious, have you read the Bible? Unless you have you are at a
disadvantage to discuss the existence of God.

God gave man free will. Man decided to take things upon his own. God
allowed man to follow his own way. God provided direction. Man, on
his own, decided to ignore God's direction (Genesis 3).

Satan tried to take over Heaven and God cast him out. Man has a
choice to follow God or satan (lust of eyes, lust of the flesh and the
pride of life - 1 John 2:15-16)

I guess you can say there are no flaws in logic if you completely ignore my question. Why would an omnipotent God allow Satan to exist?

And, yes I have read the bible and would guess that I have heard more sermons than most on this board. I'm not out to change any one's mind here. But I'm willing to answer any question regarding my beliefs, which it doesn't look like you are.

[Prunepicker]

I guess you can say there are no flaws in logic if you completely ignore
my question.

I did no such thing. I answered your question. What did you not
understand? Maybe you wanted me to say something else. I don't know.
Since God is omnipotent He can do whatever He wants. Satan has been
present since the Garden of Eden. He job is to be an adversary.

[catcherinthewry]

I did no such thing. I answered your question. What did you not
understand? Maybe you wanted me to say something else. I don't know.
Since God is omnipotent He can do whatever He wants. Satan has been
present since the Garden of Eden. He job is to be an adversary.

God allowing Satan to exist since he's been present since the Garden of Eden would be like man allowing small pox to exist since it has always been around. We love our children, we don't want them to be harmed, we have the power to eradicate small pox, we choose to eradicate small pox

God loves his children, He doesn't want them to be harmed, He has the power to eradicate satan, He chooses not to.

I guess this is more of a paradox than a flaw in logic, but never the less I don't get it.

[BBatesokc]

Really? you seem to be discounting the wars and constant terrorist attacks in the name of religion.

Regardless of wars and such, Japan is a country that is essentially non-religious and that hasnt negatively affected them. They have next to no crime and people are honest, friendly and of high morals.

No idea where you get the idea I'm 'discounting' anything. I'm far from someone who lives under a rock and I'm perfectly aware of the wars waged under 'religious' motivations.

Like I said, I believe our world is far better with religion than without it. My opinion discounts nothing.

Referring to Japan, while a majority of their population may not personally declare an 'official' religion, they are a very religious tolerant people. Many of their 'traditions' mirror the customs of different religious beliefs and practices. Are you discounting Buddhism and Shinto?

[ThomPaine]

Really? you seem to be discounting the wars and constant terrorist attacks in the name of religion.

Regardless of wars and such, Japan is a country that is essentially non-religious and that hasnt negatively affected them. They have next to no crime and people are honest, friendly and of high morals.

Not arguing your point about religion being a cause for war, but regardless of the reasons on the surface, the basis for all war is power. You can say you are fighting for Allah or Jesus, but what you are really fighting for is your right to impose your will. If a person really believes in an omnipotent power, waging war in his/her name seems kinda silly, don't you think? (Of course, that's that danged reason interfering with faith again...)

Oh, and also, the Japanese have only been "friendly" for about the last 70 years or so. Ask a Korean or Chinese how friendly the Japanese are (or have been).

[onthestrip]

No idea where you get the idea I'm 'discounting' anything. I'm far from someone who lives under a rock and I'm perfectly aware of the wars waged under 'religious' motivations.

Like I said, I believe our world is far better with religion than without it. My opinion discounts nothing.

Referring to Japan, while a majority of their population may not personally declare an 'official' religion, they are a very religious tolerant people. Many of their 'traditions' mirror the customs of different religious beliefs and practices. Are you discounting Buddhism and Shinto?

Im not discounting Buddhism and Shinto because the majority of Japanese claims to be one or the other. But the large majority of Japan also does not believe in a god. So essentially Japan is a atheist country, and seems to have fewer bad people than most other countries.

Also, Buddhism and Shinto are almost hard to call them an actual religion. They don't worship a creator or a god.

[RadicalModerate]

and that's stopped you when?

You aren't "The Devil In Disguise" are ya' . . ? =)
(If you haven't already read it, "The Screwtape Letters", by C.S. Lewis, is worth investing a few moments of timeless reading.)

[RadicalModerate]

God allowing Satan to exist since he's been present since the Garden of Eden would be like man allowing small pox to exist since it has always been around. We love our children, we don't want them to be harmed, we have the power to eradicate small pox, we choose to eradicate small pox

God loves his children, He doesn't want them to be harmed, He has the power to eradicate satan, He chooses not to.

I guess this is more of a paradox than a flaw in logic, but never the less I don't get it.

Good observation. Perhaps this all has something to do with Free Will?
(as compared to the alternative?)

[BBatesokc]

Im not discounting Buddhism and Shinto because the majority of Japanese claims to be one or the other. But the large majority of Japan also does not believe in a god. So essentially Japan is a atheist country, and seems to have fewer bad people than most other countries.

Also, Buddhism and Shinto are almost hard to call them an actual religion. They don't worship a creator or a god.

I think possibly what you are discounting is the more broader and accepted definition of 'religion' - One that does not require the belief in a 'god.'

Personally, I think its very narrow minded to think it hard to consider Buddhism a 'religion.' I can't speak for Shinto, as I know almost nothing about it.

[kelroy55]

I did no such thing. I answered your question. What did you not
understand? Maybe you wanted me to say something else. I don't know.
Since God is omnipotent He can do whatever He wants. Satan has been
present since the Garden of Eden. He job is to be an adversary.

Does that mean if God wanted abortions stopped he would snap his fingers and they would stop? It appears God doesn't want abortions stopped does it.

[Chadanth]

Does that mean if God wanted abortions stopped he would snap his fingers and they would stop? It appears God doesn't want abortions stopped does it.

He could have stopped slavery, the holocaust or any of the other genicides as well. But his decisions are mysterious and not for us to know, blah, blah, blah.

[Plutonic Panda]

Like when a parent prays "please protect my child who is in school from the tornado that is moving his way".

Since May 20th I've been wondering why an omnipotent God would answer NO to that prayer. Can anyone here help me with that one?

I'm sure all of our questions will be answered one day.

[Plutonic Panda]

Does that mean if God wanted abortions stopped he would snap his fingers and they would stop? It appears God doesn't want abortions stopped does it.

Agreed. I believe that everyone should follow their own beliefs and try and better themselves to follow their dreams and goals in life.

[kelroy55]

I'm sure all of our questions will be answered one day.

or not

[kelroy55]

He could have stopped slavery, the holocaust or any of the other genicides as well. But his decisions are mysterious and not for us to know, blah, blah, blah.

Yep... if what you pray for happens it's a a miricle from God and if not it's God's will. The guy is in a win win situation all the time.

[Plutonic Panda]

or not

Well that too lol You won't know until you know and even if you know, you still might not know.

[RadicalModerate]

Abortion . . . Slavery . . . Other Racial Injustice . . . Hatred . . . Murder . . . Greed . . . Covetousness.
We have Free Will here to Just Say No. Don't we?

[kelroy55]

Abortion . . . Slavery . . . Other Racial Injustice . . . Hatred . . . Murder . . . Greed . . . Covetousness.
We have Free Will here to Just Say No. Don't we?

Until somebody wants to force their free will over your free will.

[RadicalModerate]

Grandfather's Heaven
(by Naomi Shihab Nye)

My grandfather told me I had a choice.
Up or down, he said. Up or down.
He never mentioned east or west.

Grandpa stacked newspapers on his bed
and read them years after the news was relevant.
He even checked the weather reports.

Grandma was afraid of Grandpa
for some reason I never understood.
She tiptoed while he snored, rarely disagreed.

I liked Grandma because she gave me cookies
and let me listen to the ocean in her shell.
Grandma liked me even though my daddy was a Moslem.

I think Grandpa liked me too
though he wasn't sure what to do with it.
Just before he died, he wrote me a letter.

"I hear you're studying religion," he said.
"That's how people get confused.
Keep it simple. Down or up."

Until somebody wants to force their free will over your free will.

Somebody can want to force their free will over yours, but wanting isn't the same as doing.
The worst that could happen is that they could kill you . . . and then what . . ?

[Rover]

You guys should quit trying to use a message board to convince someone of the reality of God. It is like trying to teach someone blind from birth what yellow is. There is no real reference and context. Not everyone sees and/or believes. But everyone is responsible for their own souls.

[RadicalModerate]

Sometimes, when I read the poetry of Naomi Shihab Nye I feel as if God is talking to me.
(Yet that can't possibly be right on account of God is obviously a man. =)

This is probably why I'm more comfortable reading The Prophet, something by C.S. Lewis, or The Collected Works of J. Vernon McGee.

As my old, Reformed Church of Christ, pastor and mentor used to say: "What it's really all about is . . ."

[RadicalModerate]

You guys should quit trying to use a message board to convince someone of the reality of God. It is like trying to teach someone blind from birth what yellow is. There is no real reference and context. Not everyone sees and/or believes. But everyone is responsible for their own souls.

Nit-picky attention to detail: If you substituted Yet for But in the last sentence, it could possibly be one of the most effective (and truthful) paragraphs ever keyboarded in here.

I only mention this because the concept of "But" has been called "the great eraser"--negating everything preceding it--in terms of communication.
Of course, that observational suggestion may be most applicable to verbal, rather than written, communication. Yet who knows?

I suppose that is one of those "jots and tittles of The Law" deals, yet . . . Thanks! anyways.

[Dubya61]

You guys should quit trying to use a message board to convince someone of the reality of God. It is like trying to teach someone blind from birth what yellow is. There is no real reference and context. Not everyone sees and/or believes. But everyone is responsible for their own souls.

I also wish that people would quit using a message board to try to convince someone of the non-reality of God.

[RadicalModerate]

I also wish that people would quit using a message board to try to convince someone of the non-reality of God.

Yet . . . Isn't that simply a manifestation of what some call the Yin/Yang balance of so-called "reality"?
As The Bible reminds us (more than once): The Kingdom of God Is Within You. (it ain't way off there somewheres else.=)
Deal with than fact as you choose to so do.

[Chadanth]

^^^^^ that.