@Chights47,
I just wanted to point this out Chights....and I am not being a dick here, I am truly curious from your perspective(s)
You said to me, I am not open-minded, you said God is a Crutch, and you said that anything that is not of God is poison to me....You also said that If your wrong for people to point out your flaws...(which would suggest you feel your right, but want people to show you when your wrong)
Which now I say, because I am curious....If that is true, and you feel your right, but want people to point out your flaws...How could anyone ever do that for/to you?? So that you would except what they say?? In other words, If you think your ways are correct, and want people to point out your flaws, are you not using your views of atheism as a crutch?? Who can change your personal lack of beliefs/or things you believe or doubts you have with conjunction to your own life and experiences?? None, not one....and religious know this, and won't fall down this trap....The only person, or being who could do this, would be God....Since your not willing to give up what you think is right, there is no way anyone, not even a possible God, to come into your life to change what you think is right, and show you your wrongs....(again this if you believe your views is right, and are asking people to show you, or prove you wrong)...It can not be done...not in the manner your propose....You have to open your mind to first possibly being wrong in order to be shown by others what your wrong about....
You say I am not open minded, and use God as a crutch etc....
But if you look back...I have opened my mind and gone against scripture many times...
I will give you 3 or 4 examples I can think of off the top of my head...
1. It says in the Bible, that homosexuals are abominable, I never said JcBoy is abominable, I said I disagree that people are born gay or straight, I said his views on God will determine his end result (if God exists)
2. It says no one shall read other scriptures or they cursed men and women...I have gone out of my way to promote people of many faiths in finding their path...(Rex, Igm, Found Soul) Because I feel the Bible is a guide, and the thing is to ultimately, love everyone equally, and do acts to progress others, as well as yourself...and to accept, and love God above all things....So I do not believe I am contradicting my scriptures....
3. I have gone way out of my way to say that reincarnation exists...because I believe it does, and because it is not stated in the Bible does not mean it isn't real....
You claim these are horrible irrationalities, but yet you never once took the time, to open your mind to accepting something you never thought was/could be right....(not with me) (and even said your not accepting anything I say, and that I am sorely mistaken to believe you accept anything I say)
You said you don't acknowledge the Bible...One reason is it old, and people could have misinterpreted words etc...If that is the case doesn't definitions needs to be upgraded to better suit oneself? In other words, my definition of reality would be, What the heart and mind (your conscience) directly speak to you and tell you to do, and the actions you do based upon the conscious feelings, and your consciousness decisions....
So if my definition is correct, (again open your mind) Who will be able to except your positions/experiences/views/beliefs/lack of beliefs/feelings/ what the heart says/what the heart does/mind etc....and validate them? and prove your wrong? only you can do that when you want to...and if not, Only a said God is capable of such a thing...If you wished to embrace the faith path to see this....other than that, there is no other way....
So in closing I would just like to say that it is me who feels like I am hitting my head against a wall....there is nothing else I could/can do to try to accommodate you other than denouncing my faith, which I will not do...remember, understandings, and oneness comes from a give and take relationship...
This doesn't mean I am wrong about God, nor am I giving up my faith, etc... just opening my mind, to the others paths people take to find themselves...I doubt there is one exact way to do things, and would not be suprised in the least if the whole Bible is a tool to get you to Progress humanity, and get to know and Love God himself, nothing less, nothing more....and when you do open your mind, you will see that opening your mind is not a bad thing....You don't have to give up what you believe, in order to accept different views...as a matter of fact, it may be essential so that you can learn, we all can, our faults etc...(if that is what you want people to do for you personally) (sometimes you must take the first step)
Even if you don't think your wrong!!
And in the end it may even strengthen what you already know and believe...
Anyways I mean the best of all of this, and I am no here to be an enemy, and I still value you as a friend....SO you can or don't have to reply...If your not interested in this anymore...but if you do, I will not carry it on much longer if you wish...I just wanted to say this in closing, from religious debates....
Please take in everything I have said....
BTW, I still did not watch the video, but plan to...had to go last minute to the doctors yesterday...and will be snow plowing, shoveling tonight....will see you in a few days...