Bigthink - Idea Comments Feed

Comment on: Re: How do you deal with your success?

Bigthink — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:36:17 +0100

Final note to Graham Orr,

Your negative antecdotal comments have been proven as baselsess and fruitless as they are and that was always my only objective.

Your claim, however, of not having enough time is false; it literally only takes me five minutes to respond to your idiotic comments. The time it takes you is proof of your lack of knowledge on the topic.

Stick to whatever it is you think you know and don't make comments or judgements on Christian's, who spend their life's making this world better; while you just whine and do nothing.

Comment on: Re: How do you deal with your success?

Bigthink — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:13:09 +0100

Luke#####,
I looked at the website you linked to and read your recent responses. This nonsense is not worth my time. I have real science/engineering to do... I'd be more than happy to take on AiG PhDs (who appear to often talk on subjects they are not educated in) though debate here regarding particulars isn't worth the effort.

In regard to my disapproval of Saddleback Church, measure of something often times is the compilation of anecdotal observations...and although my observations are anecdotal, they are worth consideration especially since I am not the only one who believes such things.

Regards,
Graham

Comment on: Re: How do you deal with your success?

Bigthink — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:04:56 +0100

sorry the website is www. answersingenesis.org (in regards to point 4)

Comment on: Re: How do you deal with your success?

Bigthink — Wed, 21 May 2008 07:01:19 +0100

To Graham Orr,

Have you ever heard of a topical debate? You don't ever deal with points made, you just make general negative points that aren't included in the original's speaker or writer's arguments.

Every question you asked I will answer but I hope you will respond in kind by being as topical and addressing the points I made in my first statement: I will even simplify them for you by putting them in order 1-4 at the end of this response, to see if it is possible for your mind to respond.

To pass away and find there is no more is indicative of having awareness beyond death. Neat little trick on my part to prove your own words have some semblance of knowledge of awareness after death. Also, the idea that you are exhibiting energy now reading this, as I am writing it, and it is a fact that energy can NEVER be exactly recreated or ever destroyed (Thermodynamics) is further proof.

Now as far as manipulation goes, I doubt my readings of the gospels are anymore manipulative than those atheist that claim a belief in God is a primitive ignorance of our species. I mean after all, if they are true; who wouldn't want to be beyond that. Simply stating: manipulation occurs on both sides of the God coin, my friend, and I, as an individual, have not succumbed to this form of learning. You may want to check your premises to see if you have.

The appealing nature of a subject can never be a cause to reject it. Those that are poor in 3rd world nations also share another charectaristic: proximity to death. This is the same in the most developed nations, as any hospice will tell you, most folks get seriously spiritual approaching their end. Whereas, you may claim this is because of fear: I claim this is because of knowledge of eternal life, due to the fact of one's energy of which can never be destroyed.

The final paragraph you wrote please re-read so that you can see how convulated and non-sensical it is. "Did you arrive at the "Universal Truth" realized as the Bible without being exposed to the Bible" How could one respond to this when: no one not exposed could lead to something not known. Could you know how to type english if not exposed to the alphabet? Yes it was a book held in high regard but so was Gabriel Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude and I still read that and thought it was crap, lol. What I am trying to re-inforce here, Graham, is that one other's opinion has not and will not affect my thinking without my contemplating whether or not I want it to.

Now Graham the final point you attempt to make is that the Bible would be the root to all truth and you make the assertion that since it isn't then its wrong. By what authority? Who claims truth isn't there? Now please don't think I don't know there isn't a lot of Christian arguments that are WRONG! I particularly hate when Christians make "God of Gaps" arguments to defend their faith and I don't believe any Christian, myself included, has a full understanding of the texts... therefore, for me, the text isn't wrong we could be making wrong interpretations. And unless you know something that has "all" universal truths; The Holy Bible which might can't be abdicated just because we can't find all the answers in it.

So to summarize:
1. Pastor Warren does alot of AMAZING things in the world and if one of the member's of his church (which has millions) chooses to hang himself than you can't conclude it is only his dogmatic teachings that lead to this. In fact, law-of-large numbers and statistics will show that suicide is possible in any sub-group. The act of suicide can not be connected to anyone except the individual who committed suicide. Please don't use this fallacy of a personal story argument to discourage someone from ideas (Christianity) that you clearly don't understand.

2. The bile you sent in your first message was responded to by me with questions of your reasoning and logic. I still want to know those. You claim Christians are sheep; maybe some are, but your acting like a sheep of the atheist side by not attempting to assert why or how you can make these claims. Because one is, doesn't mean all in the group are my friend. I can assure you I am no sheep.

3. What teaching isn't slightly manipulative? And if you can concur that there is some manipulation to all teachings than why cant you concede that manipulation alone isn't cause for rejection? What would make you reject ANYTHING Pastor Warren's said on this message? Specifics please, no more "elephant hurling" (please google the term if you've never heard the term).

4. Finally, please check out www.answersingenesis.com and tell me which one of the doctoral speakers you disagree with most and what points particularly you find lacking in the scientific method?

I am hopeful for the continuation of our debate.

Comment on: Re: How do you deal with your success?

Bigthink — Wed, 21 May 2008 05:41:20 +0100

To Luke####,
One day you'll learn this style of teaching is manipulation. Given your trajectory, however, this day will most likely be the day that you pass away and find that there is no more.

How appealing are the ideas of eternal life, a tangible creator, and unconditional love? Is it no coincidence that these ideas spread like a wildfire in 3rd world and uneducated populations?

How long have you searched for the kernel of the COSMOS without intervention of outside ideas? Did you arrive at the "Universal Truth" realized as the Bible without being exposed to the Bible? Because if the Bible were the Universal Truth then all independent and non-influenced quests of truth would lead to the kernel of the Bible. However, they do not.

Comment on: Re: How do you deal with your success?

Bigthink — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:05:44 +0100

To Graham Orr,

You, like most of your ilk, only send hatred on Pastor Warren with generalities. Whether or not his teachings are dogmatic are irrelevant when you don't specify which of his teachings you disagree with. The idea and only idea that you state is that the idea we are all sinners that love Christ; actually has roots in all religion and science. Meaning: what we don't know we study and learn through humility, even in science. When one already knows everything science itself ends. Discovery and lack of knowledge is the root to all knowledge of sins. Please understand the Christian community overwhelming Loves and supports both Pastor Warrens and yourself. I am not kind, however, to vague personal attacks that lack any real semblance of facts... if you didn't know: millions of people come and go through all churches, whatever they are, so personal expiriences of others are irrelevant to the truthful ideas expressed by Pastor Warrens.

Please show some semblance of a rational thinking human being before you simply admonish another's life work based on nothing more than life stories.

Good luck in learning that you are a simple minded individual that can only enhance your mind through the grace and glory of Jesus Christ in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

To Pastor Warrens,

Thank you sir, and God bless you. You send millions aid and relief regardless of their affiliations and if some just showed half your grace and kindness the world would be a far better place.

You are blessed by God for your wonderful ability to write beautiful books that literally help save millions of souls. DO NOT stop praying and learning as you are a man of tremendous strength and deserve the blessings of Christ.

I feel blessed to live in your era and will work as much as possible to help as many as possible as you have...

THANK YOU!!!!

Comment on: Re: How do you deal with your success?

Bigthink — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 10:44:33 +0100

Rick Warren,
I've lived by your church for the last 19 years. All I have to say is that the rhetoric that is used makes Saddleback more of a cult than anything else. I actually have friends who used to be devout Christians (from your church) that have realized that they were trapped by the dogmatic ways of your teachings. They are terribly upset that no one told them that they were ridiculous.

Your impact on the world transcends money. "I'm such a good guy. I gave all my money away". Yeah, and in doing so you've made sheep of the peoples of Mission Viejo/RSM.

I've had numerous close friends that were members of your church. One hanged himself and at his funeral (at Saddleback) one of your ministers said that the only thing that mattered in his life is that he believed in Jesus. Thanks for discounting the fact that my friend was a wonderful person and you reduced his essence to your dogmatic ways.

Good job.

Comment on: Re: How do you deal with your success?

Bigthink — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 03:27:54 +0100

Warren sure runs counter to stereotype. I am very impressed.