Christianity

[Alexis Jacobi]

What could be fun? Your nonsense? I'll pass.

Have it your way.

Thanks!

Think nothing of it.

[Harbal]

If we both go down, then we go down as martyrs in the face of an unjust god. However, I can't for the life of me believe that Yahweh is the one and only true God. My faith is that God is good, not some psychopath who wants to punish the innocent and deals in fear.

I don't know if there is a God, but, if there is, I'm quite certain we won't find him in the Bible, nor any other mythology.

[Immanuel Can]

I don't know if there is a God, but, if there is, I'm quite certain we won't find him in the Bible, nor any other mythology.

Have you tried the little "experiment" I proposed a few pages back?

It doesn't require you to believe anything at all in advance. It just offers you a way to investigate -- assuming that's what you would care to do.

However, there hasn't yet been time since I suggested it for the experiment to pan out one way or the other, so can only assume you haven't. Maybe you don't want to know?

[Gary Childress]

I don't know if there is a God, but, if there is, I'm quite certain we won't find him in the Bible, nor any other mythology.

Have you tried the little "experiment" I proposed a few pages back?

It doesn't require you to believe anything at all in advance. It just offers you a way to investigate -- assuming that's what you would care to do.

However, there hasn't yet been time since I suggested it for the experiment to pan out one way or the other, so can only assume you haven't. Maybe you don't want to know?

Oh look, Harbal. IC wants you to suffer for your "sins". He seems to need that in order to validate his own pathetic existence. I suggest ignoring any "experiments" IC gives you involving his Yahweh. Otherwise, you'll regret it. I say that from lived experience. Discarding Yahweh is the first step to any real happiness for those with clear consciences.

[Immanuel Can]

Discarding Yahweh is the first step to any real happiness for those with clear consciences.

Yes, Gary...you're my model of a guy with "real happiness" and a "clear conscience."

[Gary Childress]

Discarding Yahweh is the first step to any real happiness for those with clear consciences.

Yes, Gary...you're my model of a guy with "real happiness" and a "clear conscience."

Actually, I feel perfectly fine after prying you out of my mind.

[Alexis Jacobi]

Oh look, Harbal. IC wants you to suffer for your "sins". He seems to need that in order to validate his own pathetic existence. I suggest ignoring any "experiments" IC gives you involving his Yahweh. Otherwise, you'll regret it. I say that from lived experience. Discarding Yahweh is the first step to any real happiness for those with clear consciences.

The 'experiment' that Immanuel Can suggests is one that would work (if that is the right term) for anyone, in any time, in any place, inside or outside of Judaism or Christianity. Why? Because it is an act of beckoning to the Self. And when the Self is beckoned to the Self responds. Especially perhaps when one is in a fix or an impasse.

[Gary Childress]

Oh look, Harbal. IC wants you to suffer for your "sins". He seems to need that in order to validate his own pathetic existence. I suggest ignoring any "experiments" IC gives you involving his Yahweh. Otherwise, you'll regret it. I say that from lived experience. Discarding Yahweh is the first step to any real happiness for those with clear consciences.

The 'experiment' that Immanuel Can suggests is one that would work (if that is the right term) for anyone, in any time, in any place, inside or outside of Judaism or Christianity. Why? Because it is an act of beckoning to the Self. And when the Self is beckoned to the Self responds. Especially perhaps when one is in a fix or an impasse.

Personally, I find discarding mental parasites to be much more alleviating. Gets right to the root of the problem.

[Harbal]

Have you tried the little "experiment" I proposed a few pages back?

It doesn't require you to believe anything at all in advance. It just offers you a way to investigate -- assuming that's what you would care to do.

However, there hasn't yet been time since I suggested it for the experiment to pan out one way or the other, so can only assume you haven't. Maybe you don't want to know?

No, I didn't try the experiment; I don't have any reason to. You have told me the benefits of embracing Christianity, but I am not attracted by them. You have also told me of the danger in declining it, but I don't believe it. Besides, I could never adopt your style of Christianity; many of your beliefs and attitudes are far too unpalatable to me.

Incidentally, it has also been suggested to me that I should try meditation, and various other things, but I didn't act on those suggestion, either, so I'm not just singling out Christianity for rejection.

[Immanuel Can]

Have you tried the little "experiment" I proposed a few pages back?

It doesn't require you to believe anything at all in advance. It just offers you a way to investigate -- assuming that's what you would care to do.

However, there hasn't yet been time since I suggested it for the experiment to pan out one way or the other, so can only assume you haven't. Maybe you don't want to know?

No, I didn't try the experiment; I don't have any reason to. You have told me the benefits of embracing Christianity, but I am not attracted by them. You have also told me of the danger in declining it, but I don't believe it. Besides, I could never adopt your style of Christianity; many of your beliefs and attitudes are far too unpalatable to me.

Incidentally, it has also been suggested to me that I should try meditation, and various other things, but I didn't act on those suggestion, either, so I'm not just singling out Christianity for rejection.

No, that's fine. That's a choice, too.

I just pointed out that there are neutral ways of investigating, should the day ever come when you regard the issue as serious. I'm not saying that day is today, or that it will necessarily ever come. But it might.

[Harbal]

Oh look, Harbal. IC wants you to suffer for your "sins". He seems to need that in order to validate his own pathetic existence. I suggest ignoring any "experiments" IC gives you involving his Yahweh. Otherwise, you'll regret it. I say that from lived experience. Discarding Yahweh is the first step to any real happiness for those with clear consciences.

I don't have a clear conscience, I have plenty of regrets, but God, even an existent one, could not remove any guilt I am left with. To convince myself that he could would be a cop out, a weakness, and a failure to take responsibility for my own mistakes.

You need have no worries about me, Gary, I'm pretty impervious to the appeals of religion.

[Gary Childress]

Oh look, Harbal. IC wants you to suffer for your "sins". He seems to need that in order to validate his own pathetic existence. I suggest ignoring any "experiments" IC gives you involving his Yahweh. Otherwise, you'll regret it. I say that from lived experience. Discarding Yahweh is the first step to any real happiness for those with clear consciences.

I don't have a clear conscience, I have plenty of regrets, but God, even an existent one, could not remove any guilt I am left with. To convince myself that he could would be a cop out, a weakness, and a failure to take responsibility for my own mistakes.

You need have no worries about me, Gary, I'm pretty impervious to the appeals of religion.

OK. As long as you'll be fine. I'm sorry to hear you have regrets. I have some too, things I wish I had done differently. But I did those things in good conscience, believing they were the right thing to do at the time. Perhaps they were or perhaps they weren't. In any case, tomorrow is a new day and a new chance to apply lessons learned. We all make mistakes, we'll probably make more. I don't believe any human being is inherently evil, only inherently misguided. We do our best with what we have in our finite, limited toolboxes.

[Harbal]

No, that's fine. That's a choice, too.

I just pointed out that there are neutral ways of investigating, should the day ever come when you regard the issue as serious. I'm not saying that day is today, or that it will necessarily ever come. But it might.

Okay, that sounds reasonable, but I would still rather not try it, just in case it works.

[Gary Childress]

Harbal, sometimes it takes considerable distance to have enough hindsight to come to terms with mistakes and realize we weren't really as bad as we may have thought. It takes time. And patience. And sometimes a little mental house cleaning. You'll get there and you'll be back up and running full speed again. Feel free to drop me a PM if you ever feel a need for someone to talk to.

[Harbal]

OK. As long as you'll be fine. I'm sorry to hear you have regrets. I have some too, things I wish I had done differently. But I did those things in good conscience, believing they were the right thing to do at the time. Perhaps they were or perhaps they weren't. In any case, tomorrow is a new day and a new chance to apply lessons learned. We all make mistakes, we'll probably make more. I don't believe any human being is inherently evil, only inherently misguided. We do our best with what we have in our finite, limited toolboxes.

You seem like a decent, level headed bloke, Gary, so I guess at least something must have gone right.