I don’t agree with that underlying premise. How about we agree to make America greater! Or make America better than before! Or may the best of our today’s, be the worst of our tomorrows!
Or my personal favorite “America, FUCK YEAH!!”
Well, yes. You spent 30 years looking for him in the pages of a book, and you didn’t find him.
Again, you’re seeking outside of yourself for answers and finding none.
So? He said to “Be still and know that I am God”. Did you miss that part?
I think this is maybe where we disagree.
You claimed to disagree with my original statement but still haven’t really explained why what I said was wrong. Your refutation seemed to only be founded on the stance of not believing in Christianity, which is of course irrelevant.
I do believe in the inner quest of the Kingdom of God, which is found through silent prayer and meditation. IN THAT STATE OF BEING (pray without ceasing), one will naturally stop seeking people, places, things, emotions, thrills, riches, etc for peace and will be guided by an inner peace and silence. You will take care of what is in front of you without having to worry, live in fear or be angry, and external factors will not shake you.
I will add though, that as far as it being a quest goes, this is all available IMMEDIATELY. It just takes some time of practicing it (prayer) before all the noise in your mind and body slow down and you’re able to see clearly. That is why I previously said that this is anything but COMFORTABLE.
At this point I don’t know why I’m typing any of this on T-Nation because I know for certain that I will persuade nobody, nor do I care to.
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It’s not about a “superiority complex,” it’s about salvation. Whether you believe in salvation through Jesus or not, it should be obvious that attempting to convert people is the most loving act a Christian can perform.
Would it make more sense for a Christian to lead by example without “trying” to convert? Food for thought.
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I long for the days of Ronald Reagan, one of the greatest presidents in our nation’s history. I was fortunate enough to experience his two terms in office.
Christians are not perfect, we are forgiven
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In my opinion yes, but I don’t see much of that.
That is the opinion/belief of a Christian. It doesn’t come off that way very often especially in cases where the person one is attempting to convert is being condemned by the one proselytizing (I.e. how most evangelicals view LGBT folks). Intent doesn’t necessarily matter.
What if this is just meditation and quieting one’s brain? Prayer could be seen as just a form of chanting (I am thinking a long the lines of Gregorian chanting- which I do think is quite beautiful). We may not be so different in this regard.
Because the belief it presupposes that the statements made in the book are true.
And your point is what?
That is what it is. In doing, true consciousness is allowed to “catch up” so to speak.
From my perspective, this is not prayer.
The book is not necessary per se but does contain many useful parables and insights.
No but without its ubiquitous presence in society would you necessarily come to the same conclusion? What if you knew nothing of the Bible and its stories and were only exposed to say Confucious, or Shiva, or Voodoo?
I don’t deny the existence of one or many gods. It’s possible all or none exist.
Curious then how you view it (genuinely). You may have a novel angle on it I haven’t explored before.
The point is you can’t lead by example as none of us are good enough
I don’t know.
Prayer is to sit in silence and observe within, and to understand that the ideas, the thoughts, the identity and the body are not You.
God doesn’t need you to tell him what you want or need. He knows, you don’t.
In my practice I spend around 30 minutes right after I wake up and again before bed sitting and breathing and observing within and without. I am careful to call it meditation because there are many types of meditation and in prayer you aren’t actually meditating on anything. The Dali Lama, for example, has many many topics and ideas that one meditates on in his practice.
This usually holds me throughout the day, but we are also called upon to “pray without ceasing.”
I’ll mention again, this is anything but comfortable, and at times has been downright painful. If anything it is MUCH easier to just not do.
Not sure where you got the idea that we can’t lead by example. Are you patient with your children?
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I’m pretty sure openly giving credit to God is going to be considered “trying to convert” by non-believers. And no, just being a nice guy would NOT make more sense; credit has to be given to God.
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It’s easy to like messages that bend to tell you what you want to hear.
I just want to know how people legit believe the supernatural stuff.
Do you believe in good and evil?
Who said “just being a nice guy” was leading by example? God doesn’t need your credit. But if he did, wouldn’t seeking His Kingdom be the best way to do it?
Like a god and an anti-god or a moral code in general and decisions breaking that moral code?
No. Just, do you believe in good and evil?
Do I think there are things that have qualities to be desired for a particular role? Yes. For example, I think schools with strong academic scores, test scores and college prep programs are good schools for launching kids in to adulthood.
Do I believe in a profound, supernatural source of wickedness? No.
Okay?
But you acknowledge that there is evil? If so, what is the distinction that makes something evil?