[quote]pat wrote:
[quote]KingKai25 wrote:
[quote]Headhunter wrote:
[quote]KingKai25 wrote:
Once again, Mark 4:10-12 - (following Jesus’ parable of the sower) When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told THEM (meaning HIS FOLLOWERS), "to YOU has been given the secret of the kingdom of God. But to those outside (i.e., everyone who wasn’t already one of Jesus’ followers) everything is said in parables, so that “they may be ever seeing but not perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.” In other words, Jesus spoke in parables so that he wouldn’t be understood by those who weren’t his disciples. Jesus’ ethical teachings weren’t meant to convert; his presence and miracles were meant to do that. His ethical statements were intended for those who were already following him, and they only reason his disciples even understood his teachings and parables was because he EXPLAINED the parables and teachings to them (Matt. 13:18, Mark 4:34).
Once again, if JESUS didn’t think his teachings were particularly “simple,” JP, that should tell you that, perhaps, YOUR simplistic readings and interpretations of Jesus’ words are WRONG![/quote]
And…we appeal to authority yet again.
“I can’t figure out this lawyer gobbledy-gook, so it must be awesome! Its mysteriousness just makes it awesome!”
If Jesus was going to be a lawyer and try to confuse anyone reading his teachings, then I say: skip it. Go drink, party, read Dawkins, and so on.
At least Dawkins doesn’t write like a lawyer trying to deceive.
[/quote]
Of COURSE I appeal to authority, an authority that both JP and I recognize. Frankly, HH, I couldn’t possibly care less what you think about this part of our discussion, as you are not included in it. And once again, you need to learn to read. You are a terrible interpreter of texts. At NO POINT did I say Jesus was trying to deceive anyone. There is a BIG difference between making your message opaque to outsiders and actively deceiving them.[/quote]
I personally am grateful he is on the opposite side of the arguments. With his track record, his support would only serve to devalue proper intelligent thought.
He’s the atheists problem, not ours. They MUST face palm every time he seeks to be relevant.[/quote]
Now now… he’s a believer , that puts him squarely on your team hehehehe. You don’t get to palm him off that easily!
