flagellum
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- gramme0
C'mon people, you're well aware that you're dealing with people who assume moral authority (via the Bible, or is it the Holy Spirit?) as their core belief.
Mimio
(Jun 28 06, 08:43)That's where things fall apart for people, if they don't see the Bible in the same light that I do, how on earth could they understand my worldview? And it's fine with me if people misunderstand or don't agree with me. It's fine if people lose their tempers or are rude or unfair. I expect that, and I'm OK with it.
I've said it before, and it bears repeating:
I have made, and will make, many mistakes in my life. I used to get wasted at least three times a week. I used to sleep around. I used to be an all-around angry and frustrated person. I used to be very disrespectful to my parents. I got so good at lying that I sometimes could not tell the difference. I convinced a girl to have sex with me who had until that moment wanted to save herself for marriage.
I have done all this, and more. I am not ashamed to tell my mistakes, it has made me who I am today. I just got to the point where as Marie Antoinette says "Nothing tastes". My relationship with the girl whose virginity I had taken was a wreck, drinking heavily was no longer fun. I hit a wall and gave up. I was absolutely broken.
I have since accepted Christ's sacrifice for me. I am a new man. I still make mistakes, and life is far from perfect, but I have been changed from the inside out. I am stil answerable for my mistakes and still have to apologize to people and admit my flaws, but now my answer is that it has been forgiven. because of that, I have hope, I have peace, and I have the strength to get up every morning and learn, grow, and love.
- flagellum0
Mimio:
I would argue that the genetic predispositions for destructive behaviors which science observes are the natural result of original sin. It supports the notion that we inheret this fallen nature from Adam.
- gramme0
your beliefs would preclude your ability to ever be a true, supportive friend to them.
paraselene
(Jun 28 06, 08:45)If you say so...unless you and I define friendship on different terms. Which is obviously the case.
By the way, one of my best friends is a semi-agnostic from an Islamic background. We get along wonderfully. We've been close since my second year of college; he's seen me go through some heavy shit and come out a changed man, and he still supports me. We argue about abortion and absolute truth, and we still remain friends.
I would much rather live in this variegated world than in one where everyone agrees. Agreement does not a friendship make. It's easy to love people who agree with you; sometimes too easy.
- Mimio0
Discipler,
Argue all you want, I doubt you'll find a shred of evidence that supports the changing of genetic code over a single conscious choice made by a mythological archetype.
- flagellum0
Mimio:
I don't expect to find a signature in the genome that says, "Sin caused this one." I'm simply saying that the decay and death we see all around us is consistent with the Biblical narrative.
- paraselene0
all i'm saying is that if you believed that my relationship with my partner was wrong and that my relationship with my child was wrong, i wouldn't be able to consider you a friend.
disagreeing on abortion or shi'a law or whether or not there's a god - these are incidental philisophical differences about which we can debate. but if you don't believe in my family or my right to have a family, that's a fundamental problem that you have with me as a person and no, i don't think that my interpretation of friendship would stretch to allow for that.
- ********0
Nevermind.
If being Gay is genetic, then nature will ensure they all die out anyway right?Can't have chickens without eggs or somethink...
- gramme0
i don't think that my interpretation of friendship would stretch to allow for that.
paraselene
(Jun 28 06, 09:15)Alright then. I see where you're coming from, even if I still disagree. However, I will maintain that belief in God and Scripture is not incidental, in fact it is what informs my views on marriage and child-rearing. It's all related. Everything in my life is connected to everything else. If someone has a problem with the practical application of my faith, then they have a problem with all of it, down to the very core, since it is all inextricably linked. Which is fine if you feel that way. I won't be offended.
- Jaline0
I completely agree, para.
Gramme, it's pretty obvious that people will be friends with those that have similar interests or are in agreeance with them about various issues in life. that doesn't mean having a friend who is never agreeing with you isn't possible, because it definitely is, but I suspect that a friend is more likely to talk to you about personal issues/beliefs and be more intimate with you if you agree with them about issues in life, if only because they don't have to worry about offending the person who doesn't share common beliefs.
- gramme0
I completely agree, para.
Gramme, it's pretty obvious that people will be friends with those that have similar interests or are in agreeance with them about various issues in life. that doesn't mean having a friend who is never agreeing with you isn't possible, because it definitely is, but I suspect that a friend is more likely to talk to you about personal issues/beliefs and be more intimate with you if you agree with them about issues in life, if only because they don't have to worry about offending the person who doesn't share common beliefs.
Jaline
(Jun 28 06, 09:32)That's the thing though, I have several friendships like this because people know they can disagree with me without me getting offended or tearing them apart. BTW I haven't always been this way, my natural predisposition is that os outspoken stubbornness. This has been slowly changing as I've grown older. When my non-Christian friends think about me, I hope what comes to mind is my loyalty, honesty and support, not our differences. Because at the end of the day, I think I'm mainly here to love, not to argue.
- Jaline0
Sounds good. Let's get with the lovin'.
- gramme0
Sounds good. Let's get with the lovin'.
Jaline
(Jun 28 06, 09:37)Word.
- Jaline0
oh, nevermind. you have a fiance.
let's just stop arguing...
- ********0
gramme, totally offtopic, but did you have a previous nickname on nt? i forgot. everyone seems to have changed over time..
- ********0
"BTW I haven't always been this way, my natural predisposition is that os outspoken stubbornness. This has been slowly changing as I've grown older. When my non-Christian friends think about me, I hope what comes to mind is my loyalty, honesty and support, not our differences. Because at the end of the day, I think I'm mainly here to love, not to argue.
gramme
(Jun 28 06, 09:36)"very nice! but stay honest and defend your beliefs. people always need different viewpoints and perspectives.
- gramme0
oh, nevermind. you have a fiance.
let's just stop arguing...
Jaline
(Jun 28 06, 09:40):) Nothing but love, nothing but love. Erm, platonic love, that is.
*picks up a drill
*punches a cat
- gramme0
very nice! but stay honest and defend your beliefs. people always need different viewpoints and perspectives.
Crouwel
(Jun 28 06, 09:42)Thanks man, i will do my best to hold down the fort.
I've always been gramme. I don't believe in reincarnation.
:)
- ********0
weird, i remember you posting your site before and i thought you had a different nic back then.
guess i dreamed that then. :)
- Mimio0
I don't expect to find a signature in the genome that says, "Sin caused this one." I'm simply saying that the decay and death we see all around us is consistent with the Biblical narrative.
flagellum
(Jun 28 06, 09:14)The opposite is true. Can't really argue the fact that people live longer healthier lives as a result of genetic research.
- Nairn0
2oo!