@Greatest I am,
I just assumed you weren't serious, and so I didn't give you serious answers, but for those who may read this and be truly seeking an answer I'll say the following:
In regards to the Star Trek episode shown:
Quote:Although Roddenberry was raised as a Southern Baptist, he instead considered himself a humanist and agnostic. He saw religion as the cause of many wars and human suffering.[18] Brannon Braga has said that Roddenberry made it known to the writers of Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation that religion and mystical thinking were not to be included, and that in Roddenberry's vision of Earth's future, everyone was an atheist and better for it.[19] However, Roddenberry was clearly not punctilious in this regard, and some religious references exist in various episodes of both series under his watch. The original series episodes "Bread and Circuses", "Who Mourns for Adonais?", and "The Ultimate Computer", and the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes "Data's Day" and "The Next Phase" are examples. On the other hand, "Metamorphosis", "The Empath", "Who Watches the Watchers", and several others reflect somewhat, his Humanist/Agnostic views.
Given that writers were instructed to write scripts to be atheistic it can only be concluded that any episodes that included a God, or a god-like, character where not to be taken as a serious view of theism per any major religion.
In regards to literary sources including the Bible and a dictionary: My spiritual journey has led me to the logical conclusion that God does in fact exist. With that in mind any biblical, logical, or illogical reasoning that conflicts with that truth there must be an error with the supposed conclusion. In my mind, while logic is great it does not supersede the nature of God, so any logic that is in conflict with Truth is flawed. Biblical scholars come from several fundamental backgrounds. It is from this basis that they use exegetical tools to interpret biblical meaning. Obviously since the Bible is a record of events and scripture it behooves people who desire to know the truth to use good exegetical practices. And just as obvious not everyone does. A wise person will do their own research and listen to many voices. I recommend dissenting voices as well as those that match up to ones' own beliefs.
As far as the speakers claim that religion is used for control that is true. And this is easy to understand from a sociological perspective. Religion is an institution which is culturally based. The main factor of control is culture. Through psychological controlling avenues such as peer-pressure, folkways, morays, laws, and dogma people are made to conform so as to be a part of the group. This fact is just an aspect of human socialization, and religion is just one of several such institutions that behave this way.
It is a fact that none is so blind as he who would not see. I can throw down pages upon pages of logic, but none of that really matters. My experience with the supernatural realm wasn't discovered through logic. The empirical evidence that I have was given to me by God starting when I was young, but I didn't recognize until I was about 11 years old. From that point till now I've grown to discover God in new and amazing ways. But that is for me. It's my spiritual journey, but unlike a physical journey with pictures and geopositioning, I have nothing to hand anyone or show them physically. I don't expect many to believe me, but a few do, and I recognize the signs when the Holy Spirit is working on their heart. I've seen people change before my eyes, and come to their own spiritual realization of God. This may not happen to you, the reader, in this life time, but I know without doubt you will have the opportunity to know of God for yourself. I believe this, because it is who He is to make known His nature (part of which is Love).
The question "What does an omnipotent God need with a hell?" incorrectly assumes that He has needs and that hell is part of His design. These two assumptions are incorrect. God, better yet, the Supreme Being needs nothing, and hell was never his creation. But it is a creation and so as an omnipotent creator of all things it could be viewed by some to be a place of his doing, but here is the fact people who assume this have not considered. The Supreme Being has intentionally limited his nature so as to save us from the consequence of our sin nature being exposed to his glory. (As an example of what would happen if the limits were not in place think of joining matter and anti-matter together except that it would be more like trying to join darkness with light.) In doing so there were things created (like Hell) that were never his intention nor a part of the original design. Why did he give his creation the ability to create hell knowing what would happen? To answer this one only has to learn what it means to love someone so completely that you're willing to humble yourself to the point of removing power differential between you and the person you love. True love between an all-powerful being and that of his creation could not exist without the removal of the power differential.
In conclusion if one lives life by reasoning and logic then it is only possible to known as much truth as logic and reasoning will provide for you. If this is satisfactory for someone then I truly wish them well, because I realize that it isn't my jurisdiction to dictate the course of each person's spiritual journey. As far as myself I know that logic hasn't, wouldn't work for me, and that is why I've chosen the path I've chosen.
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace