Theological Discussion

Alright, I was gonna sit this out & just read the comments, but eh, what the heck.

Anyway, concerning the "Test of Abraham." there's a viewpoint of which I'm part of that sees it as a window into who the enemy (or what we call Satan) is. While not getting into direct bible qoutes, I'll paraphrase.

God does not tempt people to do evil. Sacrificing another persons life is basically murder. So, seeing as God does not tempt us to sin (James 1:13), & that murder is a big sin (Exodus 20:13), as well as the fact, that after studying the old Testament, God always used some from, a focal point if you will (usually whenever you read the Angel of the Lord, it means Jesus, as does Archangel Michael. Sometimes using dreams, also a focal point) to interact with the world, & that a "Voice", not a form or dream, told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (the word elohiym, translated as God in the chapter, is basically the Hebrew version of God/god), not the Angel of the Lord, who stopped it from happening. We can understand that it was probably some other entity, most likely Satan, that wanted Isaac killed.

Why you may ask, well becuase Isaac was the progenitor of the lineage that would bring about Christ. Isaac was not Christ, therefore, his sacrifice would acheive nothing.

Whew... & I agree about what's been said about hell, as far as it's not really a place of torment, or fire. It's distance from God, leading to complete destruction. In plain terms, you either make it to heaven, or you cease to exist. Which brings about free will, you can either believe in God, or not. What happens to a soul that doesn't make it is up for discussion. There are sections, the badder parts are for the "angels" that are there chained up (Jude 1:6). We aren't really given a whole lot about Hell, seeing as the whole point of the Bible is to keep us from going there. Though a real locale is used as a metaphor for hell. I forget what it's called, but it was a place that was lawless. Child sacrifices, loud drums, lot's of bad stuff.

Also, Satan, in the Bible, isn't really described too well. He may have been an angel, or not. The whole thing about Good & evil, & duality, is based on the assumption that without the devil, there'd be no balance. Evil was basically created, so that there would be a clear difference between God's way, & the other ways. If it was never created, evil would be part of perfection, alongside with good.
i.e. Without Good, evil would be perfection; without evil, good would be perfection.

Post is already to long so, yeah.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Which proves another point, what on person understands as one thing, someone else will understand as another.

And for the record, giving someone else's life (for whom you have no say in, even if God told you it was alright, because it contradicts everything else God stands for) is murder. The taking of someone else's life, other than accidental or in self defense is murder in the 10 commandments.

Though it really is a moot point. Though it makes a big difference to certain people. Really, what matters is that people that follow the teachings & Laws of the Kingdon of Heaven (Christianity) are good, humble people.

How ya doing, buddy?

Also, for the record, I was talking about more trivial things, like who was talking to Abraham as being moot. Heck, Solomon & Paul both basically said the same thing I just did about what really matters.

Which is another thing about religions in general. Lots of pople claim to be one thing or another, & never ever do any type of studying to actually see if what they really believe, is really what they believe. That goes for all religions. It's rare you find a person who has actually went so far as to question what they believe, & has done some foundational work.

For example, in my particular faith, there are people who are surface readers & pulpit learners, never thinking for themselves. Basically people that listen agree & go on with there lives. This has lead to many people to believe things that are never even in our Bible, i.e. Hell is fire & brimstone & the Devil is there, if you believe in Jesus you'll get "Raptured" up to heaven, you'll speak unintelligible jibberish & it will be from God himself. I could go on, but you get the point.

For example, Muslims. Muslims believe that whatever a prophet of Allah says, has to be true. They consider Jesus a prophet of Allah. By that reasoning, since in the gospel accounts of Jesus, he declares himself God in the flesh, they would have to accept him as such. Not that they do, but that's how it would go if they followed every point their belief states.

Also, Sass, I'm not to familiar with your faith, naturist I think you said a few posts back. Gaiaism I believe, or something else? Either way, I'm interested in hearing about it as well. This is a theological discussion. On that note will agree that, in a way, God is created by society. Basically whatvever a person believes becomes their own reality. Have you ever tried to tell someone something only to have them tell you your wrong & their right, even though you know that it's true. Pretty big generalization, I know, but hopfully you get the gist.

How ya doing, buddy?

I agree with the Dark Nations, "theory." Recently I've started looking more into psychological sides of my faith, & of other faiths. There is this newer concept of a holographic universe, though it's conclusion most of the time I disagree with.

In my own stance on this theory is that whatever some one thinks, becomes fact to that person. If they believe it enough, it's real to them. That's one of the foundations of every religion, faiths, everyday things. Like when your hypnotized. I've seen some really weird crazy stuff happen when someone is in this state. You can tell someone they are a chicken & they'll do their best version of what a chicken is. If someone believes a person can heal them enough, they'll most likely get healed, regardless of the "healers" abilities.

That's a fact (or is it belief?) of humanity. That what you beleive in & have faith in, is ultimately what is real to you. Heck, speaking in my faith, there are numerous references to this type of thought in my own holy book. Jesus said himself, "by your faith, you've been healed." This not even considering pack mentality, but that's a whole other subject.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Basically. I do believe that a persons mind is extremely powerful. So much so, that whatever that person believes is fact. One just has to look into a sanitarium. Although this type of example is the extreme. Propaganda works the same way. That's why thousands of people can be talked into doing horible things sometimes. I believe we're hardwired with this need for belief in something. Be it a God, be it nature, or even in instincts.

What a person believes in, if they truely believe in it, is their reality. Having said that, one persons belief will not change what exist in someone else's view, nor will it change the actual foundational reality. I hope that made sense. That foundational reality varying, which is why there are so many belief systems. My particular view of reality is a very down to earth, day by day Christian life, with Christian morals & faith in Christ Jesus & all he stood for, be it in the OT or NT. That is my reality, though it's governed by a set of rules & regulations in a book. I'm still learning what it says, means, & how to apply them.

How ya doing, buddy?