First, I apologize for being absence for the past few days. I have had some pressing business matters on my plate. I'm a one man show for several businesses.
Second, I gave my introduction here and have been given the go ahead by Scarlett O. to post my questions on your forum here. I do hope I am in the right place, but if not, I pretty sure this forum software allows the admin to move the thread to another location.
Third, I have been giving some of thought as to how I want to open the discussion. I want this to be a fair and productive discussion. As I mentioned in my introduction, I have read and studied many religious manuscripts. I have probably read the KJV and a few derivatives more than most ardent church goers, over my lifetime. This is not a brag on my part to show off my vast religious intellect. I can assure you, that doesn't exist. I am am always ready to be schooled in areas that I may lack.
I think the best way for me to proceed is to ask three prep questions. The reason being, Christianity is a huge umbrella of belief systems. Judaism doesn't recognize the New Testament. Catholics, Protestants, etc argue over which books should be canonical. Each with their own belief structure and fervent followers. There really doesn't seem to be a standard, which bothers me greatly. I like standards. These questions will help me frame the discussion so I am not asking questions about things you don't necessarily believe in, or hold as a core conviction.
Three prep questions:
• Christians believe in an infinite, omnipotent, omniscient God, without limitations. We could sum up everything God could ever be described as with two words; 'without limitations'. I'll foreshadow here a bit and tell you I'm going to lean in heavily on 'without limitations'. Without limitations is the crux, the key. Without this, everything else falls apart. When you reach the level of "without limitations" you either is or you is not, to quote Louis Jordan. There is no gray area, because gray areas would render God limited and therefore not God.
• To put a finer point on it, Christians believe in a God who knows all, sees all, is all, does all, created all; seen and unseen.
• Christians believe that their Bible is the infallible, inspired word of God. Now, I'm a mediocre musician on my best day. I take inspiration from the blues, jazz, soul, R&B, etc, and homogenate these bits and pieces into my own style. However, we're not talking about that kind of inspiration. What I mean by inspired is: God reaching over the shoulder of the scribe as he dipped his reed in the inkwell, and wrote the words that God whispered into his ear. That kind of inspired. I realize it has been translated. Not many of us speak the ancient tongues.
So, there you go. Three prep questions. If anyone has any objections, edits, etc, I welcome you to comment as such.
Thank you for your time, patience, and hospitality.
Second, I gave my introduction here and have been given the go ahead by Scarlett O. to post my questions on your forum here. I do hope I am in the right place, but if not, I pretty sure this forum software allows the admin to move the thread to another location.
Third, I have been giving some of thought as to how I want to open the discussion. I want this to be a fair and productive discussion. As I mentioned in my introduction, I have read and studied many religious manuscripts. I have probably read the KJV and a few derivatives more than most ardent church goers, over my lifetime. This is not a brag on my part to show off my vast religious intellect. I can assure you, that doesn't exist. I am am always ready to be schooled in areas that I may lack.
I think the best way for me to proceed is to ask three prep questions. The reason being, Christianity is a huge umbrella of belief systems. Judaism doesn't recognize the New Testament. Catholics, Protestants, etc argue over which books should be canonical. Each with their own belief structure and fervent followers. There really doesn't seem to be a standard, which bothers me greatly. I like standards. These questions will help me frame the discussion so I am not asking questions about things you don't necessarily believe in, or hold as a core conviction.
Three prep questions:
• Christians believe in an infinite, omnipotent, omniscient God, without limitations. We could sum up everything God could ever be described as with two words; 'without limitations'. I'll foreshadow here a bit and tell you I'm going to lean in heavily on 'without limitations'. Without limitations is the crux, the key. Without this, everything else falls apart. When you reach the level of "without limitations" you either is or you is not, to quote Louis Jordan. There is no gray area, because gray areas would render God limited and therefore not God.
• To put a finer point on it, Christians believe in a God who knows all, sees all, is all, does all, created all; seen and unseen.
• Christians believe that their Bible is the infallible, inspired word of God. Now, I'm a mediocre musician on my best day. I take inspiration from the blues, jazz, soul, R&B, etc, and homogenate these bits and pieces into my own style. However, we're not talking about that kind of inspiration. What I mean by inspired is: God reaching over the shoulder of the scribe as he dipped his reed in the inkwell, and wrote the words that God whispered into his ear. That kind of inspired. I realize it has been translated. Not many of us speak the ancient tongues.
So, there you go. Three prep questions. If anyone has any objections, edits, etc, I welcome you to comment as such.
Thank you for your time, patience, and hospitality.
