Conversion to religion
Discussion
drainbrain said:
You call that being blessed? I call it being offered a Euro rollover jackpot winning ticket and rejecting it because it just can't be true….can it??
Oh the irony. I've already won the Euro millions rollover. We all have. The lottery of evolution has placed me on this fabulous planet at this time. We are all stardust. The fact that my happy collection of atoms happens to have produced me, a sentient creature, on this pale blue dot, is far more unlikely than winning the Euro millions. But my numbers came up and here I am, enjoying my winnings.But you are the bloke who has won the Euro millions rollover, and instead of enjoying it, are wandering around telling everyone that there has to be more to it than this. One jackpot win isn't enough for you. You think that this life on it's own isn't worth that much and you're focusing on winning the bigger prize of eternal life.
Have you considered how meaningless this life will seem should you get your eternal life. After trillions of billions of years, you'll still have that times a trillion left to go. And then the same again, and again, and again. Your 70 odd years here will be like a blink of an eye.
That's a pretty sad way to view your life, that's it's little more than a quick wipe of your feet on your way into heaven.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
drainbrain said:
You call that being blessed? I call it being offered a Euro rollover jackpot winning ticket and rejecting it because it just can't be true….can it??
Oh the irony. I've already won the Euro millions rollover. We all have. The lottery of evolution has placed me on this fabulous planet at this time. We are all stardust. The fact that my happy collection of atoms happens to have produced me, a sentient creature, on this pale blue dot, is far more unlikely than winning the Euro millions. But my numbers came up and here I am, enjoying my winnings.But you are the bloke who has won the Euro millions rollover, and instead of enjoying it, are wandering around telling everyone that there has to be more to it than this. One jackpot win isn't enough for you. You think that this life on it's own isn't worth that much and you're focusing on winning the bigger prize of eternal life.
Have you considered how meaningless this life will seem should you get your eternal life. After trillions of billions of years, you'll still have that times a trillion left to go. And then the same again, and again, and again. Your 70 odd years here will be like a blink of an eye.
That's a pretty sad way to view your life, that's it's little more than a quick wipe of your feet on your way into heaven.
davepoth said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
drainbrain said:
faith is so satisfying. Probably the only thing in life that really is truly and lastingly satisfying.
I you believe that, I think you need to change your life. I haven't had faith since I was a child, and have (thus far) had a pretty good life. Certainly aspects of it that have been long lasting and satisfying. I sometime wonder, if there is a god, given that I don't believe in him, why I've been dealt such a good hand so far. He clearly has a soft spot for atheists.
Faith answers so many questions in a definite fashion. All us apostates are left with is uncertainty.
Your god sounds like a total Tw@ to me.
Religion is a blight on this world and is dragging the world backwards.
BigLion said:
Drain rain or anyone else - out of interest regarding Angel Gabriel did he/she appear to Christianity and Mohammed at around the same date?
Mo lived in the 5th century AD.And why, yet again, did all of this happen in the Middle East and not in Rome or China? What has God got against the rest of the world?
gadgetmac said:
BigLion said:
Drain rain or anyone else - out of interest regarding Angel Gabriel did he/she appear to Christianity and Mohammed at around the same date?
Mo lived in the 5th century AD.And why, yet again, did all of this happen in the Middle East and not in Rome or China? What has God got against the rest of the world?
Basically it seems like the same characters appear in Christianity, Judaism and Islam - we should just combine the 3 religions together!
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Oh the irony. I've already won the Euro millions rollover. We all have. The lottery of evolution has placed me on this fabulous planet at this time. We are all stardust. The fact that my happy collection of atoms happens to have produced me, a sentient creature, on this pale blue dot, is far more unlikely than winning the Euro millions. But my numbers came up and here I am, enjoying my winnings.
But you are the bloke who has won the Euro millions rollover, and instead of enjoying it, are wandering around telling everyone that there has to be more to it than this. One jackpot win isn't enough for you. You think that this life on it's own isn't worth that much and you're focusing on winning the bigger prize of eternal life.
Have you considered how meaningless this life will seem should you get your eternal life. After trillions of billions of years, you'll still have that times a trillion left to go. And then the same again, and again, and again. Your 70 odd years here will be like a blink of an eye.
That's a pretty sad way to view your life, that's it's little more than a quick wipe of your feet on your way into heaven.
One fascinating and endlessly recurring feature of the spiritually challenged is their obsessive association of faith with life after death. If only they knew that But you are the bloke who has won the Euro millions rollover, and instead of enjoying it, are wandering around telling everyone that there has to be more to it than this. One jackpot win isn't enough for you. You think that this life on it's own isn't worth that much and you're focusing on winning the bigger prize of eternal life.
Have you considered how meaningless this life will seem should you get your eternal life. After trillions of billions of years, you'll still have that times a trillion left to go. And then the same again, and again, and again. Your 70 odd years here will be like a blink of an eye.
That's a pretty sad way to view your life, that's it's little more than a quick wipe of your feet on your way into heaven.
that eternal life (which is indeed a BIG blessing) includes this earthly life. Our earthly life - the one you're enjoying - is described by James as a vapour. We all know it's temporary. And in the grand scale of eternity it is indeed like the blink of an eye. It's also very very hard to enjoy other than most fleetingly. And that's because we cannot help but be affected by our environment and all the pain it contains. Not for ourselves but for others. Whose heart isn't wrenched by all the daily outpouring of misery we're bombarded with especially now in our super connected global village? And who can sit there and say they are truly satisfied in this material world when so many of the brothers and sisters on this tiny tiny blue dot are the opposite?
Well you are he. They might be getting raped and murdered; starving homeless and naked. They might be riddled with disease or under some monster's jackboot. No direction home and the bombs raining all round them. Racked with stress and depression and worried to distraction for themselves and their children. But hey-ho! Doesn't affect you, does it? You've found lasting satisfaction and bask in the 'enjoyment of your winnings'.
Seriously? Nonsense. Very very few are that selfish and oblivious to the atmosphere around them.
Y'see mate it ain't possible. And it doesn't take much to work out why. This world and worldly things and thinking do not provide satisfaction, or happiness, other than for fleeting moments.
But of course that's all there really is, not so? No such thing as spirituality. Just what the senses can experience and the mind conceptualise. And, of course, because that's as far as it goes for YOU that's as far as it goes, period. Not so?
What a surprise YOU'VE got in store!
drainbrain said:
You're another. Not far away at all. But don't think you can undo a believer's faith. You can't. You can't browbeat it out, bribe it out or even torture it out. Can't be done. Of course, the Parable of the Sower explains this and why shallow faith can wither. But really well rooted faith? Impossible!
Probably my favourite post on the thread so far as it gets to the very heart of the fingers in ears, sanctimonious and utterly delusional stance of the majority of ardent believers. I think it's the level of pride displayed when confirming a total imperviousness to reasoned argument that amuses me the most. I'm assuming that's considered a virtue in religious circles?gadgetmac said:
Mo lived in the 5th century AD.
And why, yet again, did all of this happen in the Middle East and not in Rome or China? What has God got against the rest of the world?
Indeed, you'd have thought spreading the 'true' word in the most illiterate and uneducated area of the globe (at the time) would have been a terrible marketing ploy. Unless of course it's all made up and requires exactly those conditions to take root?And why, yet again, did all of this happen in the Middle East and not in Rome or China? What has God got against the rest of the world?
So many questions...
drainbrain said:
spiritually challenged
I like that, might add it to my outlook auto signature. 
Edited by SWoll on Friday 29th July 19:50
drainbrain said:
One fascinating and endlessly recurring feature of the spiritually challenged is their obsessive association of faith with life after death. If only they knew that
that eternal life (which is indeed a BIG blessing) includes this earthly life. Our earthly life - the one you're enjoying - is described by James as a vapour. We all know it's temporary. And in the grand scale of eternity it is indeed like the blink of an eye. It's also very very hard to enjoy other than most fleetingly. And that's because we cannot help but be affected by our environment and all the pain it contains. Not for ourselves but for others. Whose heart isn't wrenched by all the daily outpouring of misery we're bombarded with especially now in our super connected global village? And who can sit there and say they are truly satisfied in this material world when so many of the brothers and sisters on this tiny tiny blue dot are the opposite?
Well you are he. They might be getting raped and murdered; starving homeless and naked. They might be riddled with disease or under some monster's jackboot. No direction home and the bombs raining all round them. Racked with stress and depression and worried to distraction for themselves and their children. But hey-ho! Doesn't affect you, does it? You've found lasting satisfaction and bask in the 'enjoyment of your winnings'.
Seriously? Nonsense. Very very few are that selfish and oblivious to the atmosphere around them.
Y'see mate it ain't possible. And it doesn't take much to work out why. This world and worldly things and thinking do not provide satisfaction, or happiness, other than for fleeting moments.
But of course that's all there really is, not so? No such thing as spirituality. Just what the senses can experience and the mind conceptualise. And, of course, because that's as far as it goes for YOU that's as far as it goes, period. Not so?
What a surprise YOU'VE got in store!
What's his surprise? Is he going to hell or something?that eternal life (which is indeed a BIG blessing) includes this earthly life. Our earthly life - the one you're enjoying - is described by James as a vapour. We all know it's temporary. And in the grand scale of eternity it is indeed like the blink of an eye. It's also very very hard to enjoy other than most fleetingly. And that's because we cannot help but be affected by our environment and all the pain it contains. Not for ourselves but for others. Whose heart isn't wrenched by all the daily outpouring of misery we're bombarded with especially now in our super connected global village? And who can sit there and say they are truly satisfied in this material world when so many of the brothers and sisters on this tiny tiny blue dot are the opposite?
Well you are he. They might be getting raped and murdered; starving homeless and naked. They might be riddled with disease or under some monster's jackboot. No direction home and the bombs raining all round them. Racked with stress and depression and worried to distraction for themselves and their children. But hey-ho! Doesn't affect you, does it? You've found lasting satisfaction and bask in the 'enjoyment of your winnings'.
Seriously? Nonsense. Very very few are that selfish and oblivious to the atmosphere around them.
Y'see mate it ain't possible. And it doesn't take much to work out why. This world and worldly things and thinking do not provide satisfaction, or happiness, other than for fleeting moments.
But of course that's all there really is, not so? No such thing as spirituality. Just what the senses can experience and the mind conceptualise. And, of course, because that's as far as it goes for YOU that's as far as it goes, period. Not so?
What a surprise YOU'VE got in store!
BigLion said:
Drainbrain or anyone else - out of interest regarding Angel Gabriel did he/she appear to Christianity and Mohammed at around the same date?
The answers you've had are good answers, but don't forget that there may be more types of 'time' than the one we use defined by hours and minutes and distances travelled through space. You've probably experienced what I mean. A minute's like an hour in the dentist's chair. And sometimes when you're having fun time seems to pass much quicker.
Then there's eternity. How long is that in terms of hours and minutes? And what is it anyway? All we really can know and experience is the absolute immediate NOW moment. The moment that's immediately passed only to be immediately replaced with the next NOW moment. It doesn't have a definition by clock. It's not a zillionth of a second or a zillion zillionth of a second. It is endlessly small. But also endlessly big. Suddenly you get the insight. Eternity and the NOW are the same. It's just not measurable in circular/clock time terms. So whilst Gabriel may have appeared to both at different times/dates on man's clock/calendar to Gabriel they may have been simultaneous events.
drainbrain said:
BigLion said:
Drainbrain or anyone else - out of interest regarding Angel Gabriel did he/she appear to Christianity and Mohammed at around the same date?
The answers you've had are good answers, but don't forget that there may be more types of 'time' than the one we use defined by hours and minutes and distances travelled through space. You've probably experienced what I mean. A minute's like an hour in the dentist's chair. And sometimes when you're having fun time seems to pass much quicker.
Then there's eternity. How long is that in terms of hours and minutes? And what is it anyway? All we really can know and experience is the absolute immediate NOW moment. The moment that's immediately passed only to be immediately replaced with the next NOW moment. It doesn't have a definition by clock. It's not a zillionth of a second or a zillion zillionth of a second. It is endlessly small. But also endlessly big. Suddenly you get the insight. Eternity and the NOW are the same. It's just not measurable in circular/clock time terms. So whilst Gabriel may have appeared to both at different times/dates on man's clock/calendar to Gabriel they may have been simultaneous events.
drainbrain said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Oh the irony. I've already won the Euro millions rollover. We all have. The lottery of evolution has placed me on this fabulous planet at this time. We are all stardust. The fact that my happy collection of atoms happens to have produced me, a sentient creature, on this pale blue dot, is far more unlikely than winning the Euro millions. But my numbers came up and here I am, enjoying my winnings.
But you are the bloke who has won the Euro millions rollover, and instead of enjoying it, are wandering around telling everyone that there has to be more to it than this. One jackpot win isn't enough for you. You think that this life on it's own isn't worth that much and you're focusing on winning the bigger prize of eternal life.
Have you considered how meaningless this life will seem should you get your eternal life. After trillions of billions of years, you'll still have that times a trillion left to go. And then the same again, and again, and again. Your 70 odd years here will be like a blink of an eye.
That's a pretty sad way to view your life, that's it's little more than a quick wipe of your feet on your way into heaven.
One fascinating and endlessly recurring feature of the spiritually challenged is their obsessive association of faith with life after death. If only they knew that But you are the bloke who has won the Euro millions rollover, and instead of enjoying it, are wandering around telling everyone that there has to be more to it than this. One jackpot win isn't enough for you. You think that this life on it's own isn't worth that much and you're focusing on winning the bigger prize of eternal life.
Have you considered how meaningless this life will seem should you get your eternal life. After trillions of billions of years, you'll still have that times a trillion left to go. And then the same again, and again, and again. Your 70 odd years here will be like a blink of an eye.
That's a pretty sad way to view your life, that's it's little more than a quick wipe of your feet on your way into heaven.
that eternal life (which is indeed a BIG blessing) includes this earthly life. Our earthly life - the one you're enjoying - is described by James as a vapour. We all know it's temporary. And in the grand scale of eternity it is indeed like the blink of an eye. It's also very very hard to enjoy other than most fleetingly. And that's because we cannot help but be affected by our environment and all the pain it contains. Not for ourselves but for others. Whose heart isn't wrenched by all the daily outpouring of misery we're bombarded with especially now in our super connected global village? And who can sit there and say they are truly satisfied in this material world when so many of the brothers and sisters on this tiny tiny blue dot are the opposite?
Well you are he. They might be getting raped and murdered; starving homeless and naked. They might be riddled with disease or under some monster's jackboot. No direction home and the bombs raining all round them. Racked with stress and depression and worried to distraction for themselves and their children. But hey-ho! Doesn't affect you, does it? You've found lasting satisfaction and bask in the 'enjoyment of your winnings'.
Seriously? Nonsense. Very very few are that selfish and oblivious to the atmosphere around them.
Y'see mate it ain't possible. And it doesn't take much to work out why. This world and worldly things and thinking do not provide satisfaction, or happiness, other than for fleeting moments.
But of course that's all there really is, not so? No such thing as spirituality. Just what the senses can experience and the mind conceptualise. And, of course, because that's as far as it goes for YOU that's as far as it goes, period. Not so?
What a surprise YOU'VE got in store!
Kawasicki said:
drainbrain said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Oh the irony. I've already won the Euro millions rollover. We all have. The lottery of evolution has placed me on this fabulous planet at this time. We are all stardust. The fact that my happy collection of atoms happens to have produced me, a sentient creature, on this pale blue dot, is far more unlikely than winning the Euro millions. But my numbers came up and here I am, enjoying my winnings.
But you are the bloke who has won the Euro millions rollover, and instead of enjoying it, are wandering around telling everyone that there has to be more to it than this. One jackpot win isn't enough for you. You think that this life on it's own isn't worth that much and you're focusing on winning the bigger prize of eternal life.
Have you considered how meaningless this life will seem should you get your eternal life. After trillions of billions of years, you'll still have that times a trillion left to go. And then the same again, and again, and again. Your 70 odd years here will be like a blink of an eye.
That's a pretty sad way to view your life, that's it's little more than a quick wipe of your feet on your way into heaven.
One fascinating and endlessly recurring feature of the spiritually challenged is their obsessive association of faith with life after death. If only they knew that But you are the bloke who has won the Euro millions rollover, and instead of enjoying it, are wandering around telling everyone that there has to be more to it than this. One jackpot win isn't enough for you. You think that this life on it's own isn't worth that much and you're focusing on winning the bigger prize of eternal life.
Have you considered how meaningless this life will seem should you get your eternal life. After trillions of billions of years, you'll still have that times a trillion left to go. And then the same again, and again, and again. Your 70 odd years here will be like a blink of an eye.
That's a pretty sad way to view your life, that's it's little more than a quick wipe of your feet on your way into heaven.
that eternal life (which is indeed a BIG blessing) includes this earthly life. Our earthly life - the one you're enjoying - is described by James as a vapour. We all know it's temporary. And in the grand scale of eternity it is indeed like the blink of an eye. It's also very very hard to enjoy other than most fleetingly. And that's because we cannot help but be affected by our environment and all the pain it contains. Not for ourselves but for others. Whose heart isn't wrenched by all the daily outpouring of misery we're bombarded with especially now in our super connected global village? And who can sit there and say they are truly satisfied in this material world when so many of the brothers and sisters on this tiny tiny blue dot are the opposite?
Well you are he. They might be getting raped and murdered; starving homeless and naked. They might be riddled with disease or under some monster's jackboot. No direction home and the bombs raining all round them. Racked with stress and depression and worried to distraction for themselves and their children. But hey-ho! Doesn't affect you, does it? You've found lasting satisfaction and bask in the 'enjoyment of your winnings'.
Seriously? Nonsense. Very very few are that selfish and oblivious to the atmosphere around them.
Y'see mate it ain't possible. And it doesn't take much to work out why. This world and worldly things and thinking do not provide satisfaction, or happiness, other than for fleeting moments.
But of course that's all there really is, not so? No such thing as spirituality. Just what the senses can experience and the mind conceptualise. And, of course, because that's as far as it goes for YOU that's as far as it goes, period. Not so?
What a surprise YOU'VE got in store!
///ajd said:
What's his surprise? Is he going to hell or something?
Not a chance! A man who counts his blessings and is grateful for them as ardently as him? What's hell anyway apart from the feeling of being so far from the best feeling possible that it doesn't exist for you anymore. Naaaa. He'll just take a bit longer than most to wake up! After a life full of love and its satisfactions he'll be delighted to enjoy the same joy x a zillion, once he's done that moment of regret thing the nice ones always do…..He 's not anti-God. He's just in need of a better pair of spiritual specs Or maybe he really is a bit of a selfish grumpy unkind old misery spreader…..
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