Hi everyone

Gaius · 09-19-2007, 11:48 PM

Hey friends

My first post here and I just want to let everyone know that I became a Christian a few years ago after about 10 years of agnosticism through research, reading, thought, and reason. I'm here for some friendly converstation/debate and insight on your own personal views. Peace and I look forward to conversing with you all.

Gettin' In Tune · 09-19-2007, 11:53 PM

Welcome

How did you go from agnostic to christian?

Gaius · 09-20-2007, 12:21 AM

Well it was one very long process of research and thought basically. I plan on committing plenty of posts to this forum so you will see my philosophy come out eventually. Im not claiming to be super-smart or anything but I really would need to write a huge essay to completely answer your question. In short I guess I grew to have a hard time believing that the universe popped into existence one day out of nothing for no reason whatsoever and produced creatures like us who are capable of foresight involving reason and purpose. Craddling and tossing us into a whirlwind of magical existence that has forever inspired poets to write, artists to paint, lovers to love, and theists and philosophers to ponder what the meaning and cause of it all could be. Also I find that the reason that most people are atheists are a reason for me to believe. For example man is just an animal. But when we consider man as an animal the observation of his animal nature is seems more bizzare than if he were not an animal at all. He seems like an alien in this universe. Despite being the only creatures that we are aware of who are moral agents (we truly make moral decisions) we continue to chose wrong even when we know its wrong. Such is the Christian doctorine of the fall of man. Not of course that I think the fall was the direct result of the eating of an apple but rather that that was a poetical mythological representation of mans decision to put himself first, before God even. And when we are all honest with ourselves we can readily see that man is not quite what he should be. We all know this in our better moments. People always say things like, "whats this world coming to?" "can you believe people?" But if it werent for knowledge that we should be something else those statements would be non-sensical. We would just be following the simple path of nature that we cant help but to follow in the first place so to wish that we should be something else would be silly.

Gaius · 09-20-2007, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gettin' In Tune

Welcome

How did you go from agnostic to christian?

By the way..great av. Pink Floyd is one of my favs. I got ALMOST all their albums on my i-pod. I dont have some of the early stuff though. Syd Barret era

Gettin' In Tune · 09-20-2007, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaius

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gettin' In Tune

Welcome

How did you go from agnostic to christian?

By the way..great av. Pink Floyd is one of my favs. I got ALMOST all their albums on my i-pod. I dont have some of the early stuff though. Syd Barret era

Thanks, but hardly the point. Careful with That Axe Eugene off of Ummagumma is a favorite early post Barret song.

You are dodging the question. How did you go from agnostic to christian?

Oops, I missed the intermediate thread,

Gettin' In Tune · 09-20-2007, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaius

Well it was one very long process of research and thought basically. I plan on committing plenty of posts to this forum so you will see my philosophy come out eventually. Im not claiming to be super-smart or anything but I really would need to write a huge essay to completely answer your question.

So you don't appreciate simplicity?

Quote:

In short I guess I grew to have a hard time believing that the universe popped into existence one day out of nothing for no reason whatsoever and produced creatures like us who are capable of foresight involving reason and purpose.

You rather say "God done it" than rather say "I do not know"? I rather be humble and burn in hell.

Quote:

Craddling and tossing us into a whirlwind of magical existence that has forever inspired poets to write, artists to paint, lovers to love, and theists and philosophers to ponder what the meaning and cause of it all could be. Also I find that the reason that most people are atheists are a reason for me to believe. For example man is just an animal. But when we consider man as an animal the observation of his animal nature is seems more bizzare than if he were not an animal at all. He seems like an alien in this universe. Despite being the only creatures that we are aware of who are moral agents (we truly make moral decisions) we continue to chose wrong even when we know its wrong. Such is the Christian doctorine of the fall of man. Not of course that I think the fall was the direct result of the eating of an apple but rather that that was a poetical mythological representation of mans decision to put himself first, before God even. And when we are all honest with ourselves we can readily see that man is not quite what he should be. We all know this in our better moments. People always say things like, "whats this world coming to?" "can you believe people?" But if it werent for knowledge that we should be something else those statements would be non-sensical. We would just be following the simple path of nature that we cant help but to follow in the first place so to wish that we should be something else would be silly.

Have you ever checked out a library book?

Gaius · 09-20-2007, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gettin' In Tune

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaius

Well it was one very long process of research and thought basically. I plan on committing plenty of posts to this forum so you will see my philosophy come out eventually. Im not claiming to be super-smart or anything but I really would need to write a huge essay to completely answer your question.

So you don't appreciate simplicity?

Quote:

In short I guess I grew to have a hard time believing that the universe popped into existence one day out of nothing for no reason whatsoever and produced creatures like us who are capable of foresight involving reason and purpose.

You rather say "God done it" than rather say "I do not know"? I rather be humble and burn in hell.

Quote:

Craddling and tossing us into a whirlwind of magical existence that has forever inspired poets to write, artists to paint, lovers to love, and theists and philosophers to ponder what the meaning and cause of it all could be. Also I find that the reason that most people are atheists are a reason for me to believe. For example man is just an animal. But when we consider man as an animal the observation of his animal nature is seems more bizzare than if he were not an animal at all. He seems like an alien in this universe. Despite being the only creatures that we are aware of who are moral agents (we truly make moral decisions) we continue to chose wrong even when we know its wrong. Such is the Christian doctorine of the fall of man. Not of course that I think the fall was the direct result of the eating of an apple but rather that that was a poetical mythological representation of mans decision to put himself first, before God even. And when we are all honest with ourselves we can readily see that man is not quite what he should be. We all know this in our better moments. People always say things like, "whats this world coming to?" "can you believe people?" But if it werent for knowledge that we should be something else those statements would be non-sensical. We would just be following the simple path of nature that we cant help but to follow in the first place so to wish that we should be something else would be silly.

Have you ever checked out a library book?

Hey how do you separate and qoute like that? I could never figure that out. Please let me know. Until then Ill qoute your words.

""So you don't appreciate simplicity?"

On the contrary. Its the logicians and scientists who drive themselves mad not the poets and people of the like. Logic will drive you mad. I see to much logic attempted by atheists. Their syllogisms become quite ridiculous sometimes. Love and religion do not need to be rationalized. Their only rationial value lies in accepting them for what they are. Indeed thats why Christ said that we should "be as children."

""You rather say "God done it" than rather say "I do not know"? I rather be humble and burn in hell.""

Funny that you should mention that becuase it is indeed the humble who occupy Heaven and the Pridefull who occupy Hell. All the fathers of the faith have agreed that pride is the supreme vice and its converse virtue is humility. Attributing existence to God is to acknowledge Him. And acknowledging Him involves recognizing yourself as nothing in comparison. The Christian says, "I know how existence can be accounted for and I myself do not exist in my own right. I do not contain the potentiality of existence but rather have been given it for free and owe my gift of existence to Him." Very humble indeed.

""Have you ever checked out a library book?""

lol

Gettin' In Tune · 09-20-2007, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaius

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gettin' In Tune

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaius

Well it was one very long process of research and thought basically. I plan on committing plenty of posts to this forum so you will see my philosophy come out eventually. Im not claiming to be super-smart or anything but I really would need to write a huge essay to completely answer your question.

So you don't appreciate simplicity?

Quote:

In short I guess I grew to have a hard time believing that the universe popped into existence one day out of nothing for no reason whatsoever and produced creatures like us who are capable of foresight involving reason and purpose.

You rather say "God done it" than rather say "I do not know"? I rather be humble and burn in hell.

Quote:

Craddling and tossing us into a whirlwind of magical existence that has forever inspired poets to write, artists to paint, lovers to love, and theists and philosophers to ponder what the meaning and cause of it all could be. Also I find that the reason that most people are atheists are a reason for me to believe. For example man is just an animal. But when we consider man as an animal the observation of his animal nature is seems more bizzare than if he were not an animal at all. He seems like an alien in this universe. Despite being the only creatures that we are aware of who are moral agents (we truly make moral decisions) we continue to chose wrong even when we know its wrong. Such is the Christian doctorine of the fall of man. Not of course that I think the fall was the direct result of the eating of an apple but rather that that was a poetical mythological representation of mans decision to put himself first, before God even. And when we are all honest with ourselves we can readily see that man is not quite what he should be. We all know this in our better moments. People always say things like, "whats this world coming to?" "can you believe people?" But if it werent for knowledge that we should be something else those statements would be non-sensical. We would just be following the simple path of nature that we cant help but to follow in the first place so to wish that we should be something else would be silly.

Have you ever checked out a library book?

Hey how do you separate and qoute like that? I could never figure that out. Please let me know. Until then Ill qoute your words.

""So you don't appreciate simplicity?"

On the contrary. Its the logicians and scientists who drive themselves mad not the poets and people of the like. Logic will drive you mad. I see to much logic attempted by atheists. Their syllogisms become quite ridiculous sometimes. Love and religion do not need to be rationalized. Their only rationial value lies in accepting them for what they are. Indeed thats why Christ said that we should "be as children."

""You rather say "God done it" than rather say "I do not know"? I rather be humble and burn in hell.""

Funny that you should mention that becuase it is indeed the humble who occupy Heaven and the Pridefull who occupy Hell. All the fathers of the faith have agreed that pride is the supreme vice and its converse virtue is humility. Attributing existence to God is to acknowledge Him. And acknowledging Him involves recognizing yourself as nothing in comparison. The Christian says, "I know how existence can be accounted for and I myself do not exist in my own right. I do not contain the potentiality of existence but rather have been given it for free and owe my gift of existence to Him." Very humble indeed.

""Have you ever checked out a library book?""

lol

I'd rather jump around on a pogo stick then listen to your useless drivel.

**George** · 09-20-2007, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gettin' In Tune

I'd rather jump around on a pogo stick then listen to your useless drivel.

Let's not get personal here.

You have received an infraction.

**George** · 09-20-2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Hey how do you separate and quote like that? I could never figure that out. Please let me know. Until then Ill quote your words.

Whenever you want to separate quotes simply click the quote button to copy the person's entire post then whenever you want to separate a block of text just highlight it with your mouse and click on the quote icon in the toolbar (

).

It will create a begin and and end quote marker in your text editor. Simply write your reply after the end quote marker [/quote].

If that wasn't clear, you can always hit the quote button on someone's post and see how they did it

Hope that helps.