My problem? 1st one is that the confusion between you, the evangelicals, and the protestants speaks to one of the main points the aetheists love to grab hold of. How can so many different interpretations of the teachings of Jesus exist?
Have you read any history? The interpretations of “God” number in the tens of thousands, but how does that refute the existence of God or the fact one may still be the most proper?
AND what proof exists that one is more right than the other?
Well like Benedict XVI told a secular journalist who asked for similar proof; “there are thousands of books and testimonies from saints and scholars which address that question, but now you expect me to convince you in a single moment?” My answer: It is a stepping stone process. First we must convince the doubter of the existence of God. Once we are there then we move on to which God. If we can ever get to that point, i.e. establishing the fact that the Judeo-Christian God is the one and only true God, then we can move forward into denominational teaching. The Roman Catholic Church has the strongest argument I am certain of it.
Question for you: What would be “proof” to you? For 95% of the unbelievers, they demand empirical evidence of the supernatural. They are more in demand of miracles than are the faithful who take great interest in them. If you cannot examine the facts of Fatima and come away convinced that God intervened in the affairs of man, then that tells me you are not open-minded, but agenda driven to do your level best to explain away any great manifestation, no matter how implausible your defense may be. Zeitoun, Egypt 1968 would be another I would call irrefutable evidence of divine intervention.
No different in some respects as Sunni and Shiite factions of the prophet Mohammad?
No, no different if you use the barbaric world and rules of war from the 16th century to brand Protestant and Catholic disagreements as tantamount to 21st century Sunnis and Shiites blowing up market squares and shouting “God is great!” Christians have a more tolerant and compassionate view of their neighbor than do your prophets of Mohammad. The difference is that there was some level of warring and death between Christian sects, but mostly that ended 400 years ago and it was never as diabolic as what we see in other religions. Islam currently has a fringe element of intolerant, violent extremists that is almost as large as its peaceful core. Their acts of evil and hatred know no equal. So when someone points out Northern Ireland as a reason Christianity is no better than Islam, I just roll my eyes.
The 2nd problem is when people allow thier religion, something that is a heart and mind singularity per individual to believe, to amass itself as in political law. (IE legislating morality)
How stupid is that? Using your buzz words to blanket against a cause. You realize that you can legally kill your 8 month old fetus in the womb don’t you? Forgive the Catholic if he is using his voice and his vote to try to stop that act. Forgive the Catholic if he uses his voice and his vote to allow parents the right to know if their 14 year old daughter is about to have an abortion. Forgive the Catholic if he uses his voice and his vote to legislate the public air waves from the most vile and licentious messages targeted squarely on teens and pre-teens. You realize public air waves are a privilege not a right, do you not? Forgive me for looking around at noticing a morally debauched nation that is so drunk with lust and narcissism and materialism that they are acting essentially as a nation filled with 95% atheists and 5% Christians. And 99% fools who are so full of themselves that they cannot begin to consider their eternal futures. Too lazy, too proud, too in love with themselves, too hedonistic, take your pick for the reason.
The 3rd problem is accountability. You mentioned Paul - he directly contradicted Jesus' teachings on The Mount when he said, "Do what ever your leaders tell you, for they will answer to God"
Sorry is the man who uses Scripture in a very selective way to promote his cause. It is really all too sophomoric. Jesus and Scripture contradict themselves all the time, but it is a wise or prudent man who can understand the intended meaning. Jesus says in two separate passages “If they are not with us, they are against us” and in another “If they are not against us, they are with us.” I can figure out how or where that would apply and where it would not, same goes for your paradoxes or contradictions.
I'm not so much lazy as I am tired. Tired of the excuse that the Devil made me do it.
Finally we agree. No one is getting a free pass to heaven for that excuse. More apropos might be “I made the devil make me do it.” Those who choose to be lazy or indifferent or naïve (and with all that comes greater sin) place themselves in the devil’s workshop. Much easier to entice the fool than the wise man.
