Matthew 7:7-11

Nope. Simple reality. Just examine your own life and you will see this is true. You do not make choices without an outside influence on you. It's human nature. It's why advertising works.

 

I see. I need advertisers to make decisions for me.

 

Nevermind, Tuor. I ain't gonna keep arguing 'round and 'round. Believe what you choose to believe.

 

Right back at you.

 

What action does man perform that is not a reaction to an outside stimuli?

Bro. Dallas Eaton

 

How many people blame poor choices in life on circumstances?

 

6.5 billion?

 

If you take into account all the people who have ever lived or ever will live (outside Jesus of course), I think you'd get an even higher number.

 

you are correct, the figure I gave is more of a modern world population figure.

God Bless.
Bro. Dallas Eaton

 

Tuor, it sounds like you believe a child growing up in the Congo has the same opportunity to make the same choices you make as you both have the same non-influences or circumstances on which to base your choices.

 

When it comes to the only important decision, you bet that child does!

 

Please explain how.

 

Romans 2:9-16

***Emphasis mine***

Through God, all things are possible.

 

Be careful when you say that. Some people might think you are bad-mouthing man's "free" will.

 

Only Calvinists. No one else would attempt to pervert that statement in such a way.

 

Seriously though, Tuor, you really don't believe that in making your decisions you are influenced by outside sources? Do you mean that advertisements really have no effect on you? What about Bible commentaries, sermons, hymns, etc.? None of these have influenced your understanding of theology, none have influenced your anti-Calvinism stance?

 

How much of what one believes is based on one's own decision? How much is based on enviroment? How much of your enviroment is based on your own decisions?

It seems to me that you are asking which came first, the chicken or the egg?

 

No, as the influences upon you - your parents, your neighborhood, your friends are the chicken - you are the egg, to use your analogy.

I am rather amazed, as you are the first person I have ever come across who truly believes that no outside influences affect him.

Sincerely, I thought only God could claim that.

 

I don't think I've said that outside influences have not affected me. What I am trying to say is that outside influences have not determined what I do. There is a difference and it is the difference between what I believe and what Calvinists believe.

 

Whatever, Tuor, just whatever.