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#31
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03-21-2015, 08:55 PM
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| The Candyman With the Windowless Van Poster Rank:143 Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 11,461 Mentioned: 32 Post(s) Quoted: 6080 Post(s)
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Re: More Photos of the Lynchings of Two People by a Mob of Christians.
Yes, this is the Biblical theology. However, I would raise the following question: aren't you using the Bible when it agrees with your beliefs, and disregarding it when it doesn't? After all, the Bible makes it very clear that the Devil is to be regarded as a very real being. Now once you start getting selective with regard to which portions of the Bible you believe and which ones you don't you have effectively staked out your own faith. That is fine, from an intellectual standpoint as you are free to believe what you want. But once you go this route you can't prove your theological points by quoting the Bible. Your interlocutor can just as easily refute your position by saying that he doesn't believe the particular part of the Bible you are quoting. Since you follow a similar practice you have no grounds for objecting to his tactic.
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#32
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03-21-2015, 10:30 PM
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| My Rank: STAFF SERGEANT Poster Rank:821 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 942 Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Quoted: 501 Post(s)
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Re: More Photos of the Lynchings of Two People by a Mob of Christians.
The Bible is true and I try to have my beliefs concur with it. As I said before, my beliefs are against some fundamental doctrines. The devil is a metaphor for our fallen or sin nature. Perhaps they are afraid of being thought as a heretic, but many laymen, pastors and theologians just go along with tradition. If you or anyone would like a thorough understanding of this issue, I recommend the book 'The Real Devil' by Duncan Heaster. You can see it PDF. |
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#34
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03-22-2015, 04:13 PM
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| The Candyman With the Windowless Van Poster Rank:143 Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 11,461 Mentioned: 32 Post(s) Quoted: 6080 Post(s)
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Re: More Photos of the Lynchings of Two People by a Mob of Christians.
Being a seminary graduate, I think I have a rather good understanding of the matter. While I am now of Social Security age, long ago I was a Calvinist who attended a well known seminary in the Philadelphia area. The notion of the Devil as a metaphor can't be supported by sound Biblical exegetical principles. From his earliest mention in Genesis, through the book of Job, to the New Testament where he tempts Jesus and his followers and is condemned to an everlasting punishment which is to be inflicted at the Last Judgment, the Devil is clearly and consistently presented as a personal agent. This is the orthodox Christian understanding and is such for good hermeneutical reasons. Interpretation of a text (any text, not just the Bible) must be governed by characteristics internal to said text plus considerations of historical and cultural context (e.g., the literary genre, the intentions of the author(s), the anticipated understanding by the readers/hearers based upon cultural context, etc.) and not by concepts imported from outside the text (e.g. disbelief in what it apparently teaches). By the above standards, the Bible presents Satan as an active personal agent. The original recipients of the Scriptures would not have considered any other option, as can be demonstrated from a study of both ancient Hebrew and church history. As I said earlier, I am not arguing against your beliefs per se, merely your attempt to base them on the Bible. Deconstructing the Devil is a modern idea, and one can present reasons in favor of this project. It is not a Christian project, however.
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#35
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03-22-2015, 05:27 PM
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| My Rank: STAFF SERGEANT Poster Rank:821 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 942 Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Quoted: 501 Post(s)
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Re: More Photos of the Lynchings of Two People by a Mob of Christians.
philovan, I see that you have seminary experience and appreciate your eloquence. Still, you believe as you have been taught and accept that and (it seems) choose not to consider that what was presented to you may be incorrect. Other people and factions may have a clearer and more true understanding. |
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#36
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03-22-2015, 08:46 PM
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 My Rank: STAFF SERGEANT Poster Rank:760 Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,054 Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Quoted: 645 Post(s)
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Re: More Photos of the Lynchings of Two People by a Mob of Christians.
First of all you don't know my faith, if any. My comment is one based on objective reality and logic, not religion. Secondly, do you really believe there's any equivalency whatsoever between the tidal wave of horrific violence we are experiencing today that is directly related to Islam and any other religion? Really? Are you that fucking stupid, intellectually dishonest, or did some pedophile priest bugger you and that's why you're willing to make such an absurd equivalency between Mohammad's cult of death and other faiths?
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#37
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03-23-2015, 07:20 AM
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| The Candyman With the Windowless Van Poster Rank:143 Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 11,461 Mentioned: 32 Post(s) Quoted: 6080 Post(s)
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Re: More Photos of the Lynchings of Two People by a Mob of Christians.
I believe you responded to the wrong posting (or didn't really read the one you responded to, just using it as a vehicle for your comments). Please try to be more careful in the future.
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#38
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03-23-2015, 07:24 AM
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| The Candyman With the Windowless Van Poster Rank:143 Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 11,461 Mentioned: 32 Post(s) Quoted: 6080 Post(s)
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Re: More Photos of the Lynchings of Two People by a Mob of Christians.
Au contraire mon frere. I have always taken a critical approach to the teachings I have encountered in various venues of higher education. That I attended a dogmatic Calvinist seminary and ultimately rejected Calvinism is more than ample proof of this. I have considered your ideas. As you may note I have not rejected them. I merely want to place them in their proper context.
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#39
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03-23-2015, 10:53 AM
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| My Rank: STAFF SERGEANT Poster Rank:821 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 942 Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Quoted: 501 Post(s)
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Re: More Photos of the Lynchings of Two People by a Mob of Christians.
philovan, Please explain what you believe the devil to be, fallen angel or a force? Also, do you believe in an eternal suffering hell? |
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#40
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03-23-2015, 02:01 PM
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| The Candyman With the Windowless Van Poster Rank:143 Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 11,461 Mentioned: 32 Post(s) Quoted: 6080 Post(s)
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Re: More Photos of the Lynchings of Two People by a Mob of Christians.
I lean toward the traditional account of Satan as a fallen created being of higher order. Regarding hell, I like what C.S. Lewis said about it being locked from the inside. Those who permanently reject God will reap the consequences permanently.
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