10 Questions Intelligent Christians MUST Answer - Page 10

Tirya · 06-27-2008, 02:02 PM

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Why?

Because there are native modern day Greeks who still worship the Hellenistic Gods, and in fact recently underwent a legal battle with their government for the legal right to do so. So your claim that "Nobody in modernday Greece [...] still considers these 'gods' as anything other than fables" is wrong.

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So it's all a vast right-wing conspiracy???

No, it's a matter of believers forcing their beliefs on others by prosyletization, force and intimidation throughout history.

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Why did those ancient moon gods and goddesses allow that to happen?

Why not ask your God why He allows people to still worship Zarathustra? Or why He hasn't smitted (smited? smote?) the hundreds of millions of Hindus? I mean, Hinduism is generally regarded as "the world's oldest organized religion" - which means that it's endured longer than your "one and true God" has.

garysher · 06-27-2008, 02:17 PM

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Originally Posted by Tirya

Because there are native modern day Greeks who still worship the Hellenistic Gods, and in fact recently underwent a legal battle with their government for the legal right to do so. So your claim that "Nobody in modernday Greece [...] still considers these 'gods' as anything other than fables" is wrong.

There are still people who watch "I Love Lucy"!

OK I'll substitute "no significant following" for "nobody".

The fact remains that these ancient gods have all but disappeared in the sands of time - how could that happen if they were the real god of the Universe?

No, it's a matter of believers forcing their beliefs on others by prosyletization, force and intimidation throughout history.

So you think people can outsmart these gods and force other people to stop believing in them?

Why not ask your God why He allows people to still worship Zarathustra? Or why He hasn't smitted (smited? smote?) the hundreds of millions of Hindus? I mean, Hinduism is generally regarded as "the world's oldest organized religion" - which means that it's endured longer than your "one and true God" has.

Where is the evidence that Hinduism precedes Judaism??

The God of Abraham created the Earth and everything in it - so it's logically impossible that Hinduism preceded Him!!

The New Testament explains how people have free will to choose who they worship, or not to worship at all - no smiting involved.

Maybe Hinduism and Christianity are not logically exclusive, although only Christianity offers the hope of Eternal Life through grace.

Tirya · 06-27-2008, 02:39 PM

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There are still people who watch "I Love Lucy"!

And this has what to do with anything? I'm sure Lucie and Desi Jr are glad for the residuals.

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The fact remains that these ancient gods have all but disappeared in the sands of time - how could that happen if they were the real god of the Universe?

I like your backtracking style - it's very adept. So suddenly you've gone from "My God is right because NOBODY worships the old gods anymore" to "well there are a few but they really don't matter so I can safely ignore them because it doesn't fit into my worldview".

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Where is the evidence that Hinduism precedes Judaism??

Well, aside from being commonly-accepted by historical scholars, it is also accepted by some Christians:

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Hinduism, considered the oldest religion in the world, is said to have evolved from an ancient Indian religion dating from the 2nd millennium B.C. -- St. Vincent de Paul Parish St. Vincent de Paul Parish | Vincent's Corner | The Oldest Religion in the World - Hinduism

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The God of Abraham created the Earth and everything in it - so it's logically impossible that Hinduism preceded Him!!

Now you're just being funny, right?

garysher · 06-27-2008, 03:05 PM

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Originally Posted by Tirya

And this has what to do with anything? I'm sure Lucie and Desi Jr are glad for the residuals.

I like your backtracking style - it's very adept. So suddenly you've gone from "My God is right because NOBODY worships the old gods anymore" to "well there are a few but they really don't matter so I can safely ignore them because it doesn't fit into my worldview".

Not just my worldview but everybody else's

The point is if any of these gods were the god who created the Universe, why would he/she let us earth dwellers forget all about him/her?

And where is their equivalent of the Bible that lays out a plan for the ages and lists multiple prophecies, many of which have already been fulfilled?

Well, aside from being commonly-accepted by historical scholars, it is also accepted by some Christians:

Now you're just being funny, right?

Nope, being perfectly serious.

How could Hinduism have existed before the earth was created??

Tirya · 06-27-2008, 03:16 PM

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Not just my worldview but everybody else's

There you go, trying to speak for everybody again. Didn't you learn anything from the last time you tried to post in terms of "everybody" and "nobody"?

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The point is if any of these gods were the god who created the Universe, why would he/she let us earth dwellers forget all about him/her?

You seem to have a poor grasp of the concept of "world religions". There are millions of people who still worship various aspects of the Divine in several hundred different world religions - that's hardly letting "us earth dwellers forget all about him/her".

YOU don't believe in them. That's your right. YOU are welcome to believe anything that you want about the Divine, and believe whatever creation myth is applicable to your personal cosmology.

But it doesn't make your beliefs any more wrong or right than anyone else's.

cactusman · 06-27-2008, 03:22 PM

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Originally Posted by Tirya

Because there are native modern day Greeks who still worship the Hellenistic Gods, and in fact recently underwent a legal battle with their government for the legal right to do so. So your claim that "Nobody in modernday Greece [...] still considers these 'gods' as anything other than fables" is wrong.

Why don't these Greek gods make themselves known? Because they're made out of wood and clay. The God of the Bible makes Himself known through prophecy, creation and the lives our His TRUE believers. The Bible says that many will come in the name of God, but are liars. They will prey on the weak and unsuspecting. It's hard to decipher between these guys and the real deal, so please ask me about the difference.

No, it's a matter of believers forcing their beliefs on others by prosyletization, force and intimidation throughout history.

Nobody, on this thread, is forcing Christian beliefs on you. In fact, this thread is dedicated to debunking the "Christian myth". The narrator leaves no room to debate the issues through slander and bad mouthing. Anyways, why are you in this thread preaching the same old song? Don't you have anything better to do than pick on another religion? Aren't you forcing your belief on me? Let's discuss this, like adults, without any tit for tat.

Why not ask your God why He allows people to still worship Zarathustra? Or why He hasn't smitted (smited? smote?) the hundreds of millions of Hindus? I mean, Hinduism is generally regarded as "the world's oldest organized religion" - which means that it's endured longer than your "one and true God" has.

Go to India and ask the people about karma and the cast system. Then you will know why God doesn't smite these people. They hate it. They love the idea of salvation. Only the wealthy and leaders don't want it in their towns. Hindus are scared to death to do anything wrong because they feel that they reincarnate into something even worse. Also, almost all the Hindus are dirt poor. The living conditions make Tijuana, Mexico look like Singapore. Now you know why God doesn't just smite the Hindus.
God put this world in Adam's care, but he dropped the ball-Eve is not who God went to for the apple; God made Adam responsible. God told us to feed the poor and clothe the naked. It our responsibility to care for people.

CrazyFlamingos · 06-27-2008, 03:22 PM

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Originally Posted by garysher

Nope, being perfectly serious.

How could Hinduism have existed before the earth was created??

You seem to be confused. Brahma created the Earth and the Heavens and the Skies. Since Brahma is the first member of the Hindu trinity, it is only logical that Hinduism existed before any other religion.

highway80west · 06-27-2008, 03:26 PM

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Originally Posted by CrazyFlamingos

You seem to be confused. Brahma created the Earth and the Heavens and the Skies. Since Brahma is the first member of the Hindu trinity, it is only logical that Hinduism existed before any other religion.

Either he is confused or ignorant, CF.

Tirya · 06-27-2008, 03:34 PM

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Originally Posted by cactusman

snip

Interesting that the post that you quoted (which I presume was one of garysher's) seems to be missing...?

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It's hard to decipher between these guys and the real deal, so please ask me about the difference.

And why should your perception of "the real deal" be the right one? How can we be sure that you aren't in actuality one of the liars who comes in the name of God to prey on the weak and unsuspecting? Because you say so?

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No, it's a matter of believers forcing their beliefs on others by proselytization, force and intimidation throughout history.

Nobody, on this thread, is forcing Christian beliefs on you.

The response of force was in reply to the question of why Christianity is so widespread (providing an alternate explanation than "Divine Right"), which is why the response included the phrase "throughout history". I neither stated nor implied that I felt that Christian beliefs were being forced on me in this thread.

Now, on the gay marriage threads and the real-world issues that they reflect - yes, I feel Christian beliefs are being forced on me (and on others), because my religious beliefs do not include the concept that homosexuality is "sinful" and "wrong", and yet rights are being denied to a segment of the population based solely on theological beliefs.

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Don't you have anything better to do than pick on another religion?

Well, I was looking for intelligent discussion and rational debate, but I seem to have come up rather dry on that one so far. But hope springs eternal.

garysher · 06-27-2008, 03:35 PM

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Originally Posted by Tirya

There you go, trying to speak for everybody again. Didn't you learn anything from the last time you tried to post in terms of "everybody" and "nobody"?

I learned that , according to you, a handful of people in Greece still want to worship some forgotten ancient 'god'.

You seem to have a poor grasp of the concept of "world religions". There are millions of people who still worship various aspects of the Divine in several hundred different world religions - that's hardly letting "us earth dwellers forget all about him/her".

YOU don't believe in them. That's your right. YOU are welcome to believe anything that you want about the Divine, and believe whatever creation myth is applicable to your personal cosmology.

This isn't about the right to worship

But it doesn't make your beliefs any more wrong or right than anyone else's.

When it comes to tap dancing you make Fred Astaire look like Long John Silver!

And in your attempt to promote moral relativism and avoid empiricism you seem to be missing the point.

IF these mythical ancient gods are real why do they let their religious following trail away to nothing?

And where is their equivalent of the Bible that lays out a plan for the ages and lists multiple prophecies, many of which have already been fulfilled?

Where is their offer of salvation and eternal life?

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