From: user6340@newsgrouper.org.invalid
Mike posted:
> On 2026-01-07 17:01, Steven Douglas wrote:
> >
> > Mike posted:
> >> On 2026-01-07 15:51, Steven Douglas wrote:
> >>> Mike posted:
> >>>> On 2026-01-07 11:42, Steven Douglas wrote:
> >>>>> Mike posted:
> >>>>>> On 2026-01-06 17:01, Steven Douglas wrote:
> >>>>>>> Mike posted:
> >>>>>>>> On 2026-01-06 16:21, Steven Douglas wrote:
> >>>>>>>>> Mike posted:
> >>>>>>>>>> On 2026-01-06 13:47, Steven Douglas wrote:
> >>>>>>>>>>> Mike posted:
> >>>>>>>>>>>> On 2026-01-06 10:06, Steven Douglas wrote:
> >>>>>>>>>>>>> JTEM posted:
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 1/5/26 8:11 PM, Steven Douglas wrote:
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes, an idea -- not a fact.
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> *Yawn!*
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> You asked a question. I answered it.
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>> With a hypothesis.
> >>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>> Hypotheses are more likely to lead to facts
> >>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> Thank you for confirming that a hypothesis is
> >>>>>>>>>>> not a fact.
> >>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>> than 'beliefs', because they are designed to
> >>>>>>>>>>>> be tested and verified,
> >>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> The idea that life sprang forth and we all evolved
> >>>>>>>>>>> from a single cell has not been verified.
> >>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>> whereas beliefs do
> >>>>>>>>>>>> not require verification.
> >>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>> It's someone's *belief* that life was transported to
> >>>>>>>>>>> our world from some other world (and they're not
> >>>>>>>>>>> even sure which world that might have been).
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>> The Universe *IS* God, the source of all creation
> >>>>>>>>>> so it can do anything it wants.
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> If you're going to invoke God's Creation, the Bible
> >>>>>>>>> is the only choice you have. You can't just make
> >>>>>>>>> stuff up and pretend it's from God.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> All languages are human creations, in other words
> >>>>>>>> 'made up'. If it's in a human language, then that
> >>>>>>>> isn't God.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> The Bible is the Inspired Word of God.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> The Bible is only paper and ink !
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The Bible has a supernatural power that supersedes its
> >>>>> physical form. You might not understand that, but those
> >>>>> of us who love God understand it.
> >>>>
> >>>> God??? HA!!! You're infested with a legion of demons...
> >>>
> >>> I love God. Demons do not love God. Do you love God?
> >>
> >> What is love for God?
> >> How does it feel?
> >
> > Do you know what love is? It feels like that, only
> > more so.
> >>
> >> How does it manifest?
> >
> > It manifests when I realized and accepted that God is
> > in control, and I began to recognize and appreciate all
> > the times He has blessed my life -- and the way He has
> > proven to me that He is real, and He answers my prayers.
>
> I feel all that without God or the Bible.
> Just being alive is proof enough for me.
That's your free will.
>
> >> I love myself.
> >> God and I are one and the same.
> >
> > And you think I'm a narcissist! Sheesh, incredible!
>
> If I wasn't alive what use would I have for God?
Someday you will know the answer to that question.
>
> >> So in that sense, I love God as myself.
> >> I don't understand love for a fantasy character.
> >
> > God is not a fantasy character. I'm sorry for you
> > that you don't know the truth.
>
> Belief and fantasy are similar terms.
> Neither are facts. 'Know' and 'Belief'
> are oxymoronic and mutually exclusive
> expressions. One cannot know and believe
> at the same time.
I can look around at ALL the signs of design in our
existence and KNOW that it's virtually impossible
that out of chaos came order (like a tornado going
through a junkyard, and in its aftermath leaving
behind a fully functional 747 airliner, all gassed
up and ready to fly (credit British astronomer Sir
Fred Hoyle for that analogy).
I can KNOW that a Creator designed every aspect of
our existence, from the Big Bang and the galaxies
and our solar system (with all the laws of physics
in perfect alignment so that we can exist here),
all the way down to the machinery in our DNA, each
of us with a unique signature in our DNA; and it's
so complex that I will NEVER believe that it formed
itself, all by itself, without a Creator.
I can KNOW all of that, and BELIEVE that the Creator
of all things is the God of the Bible. Because it's
the best explanation I have for all the questions I
would otherwise have.
>
> >> There is no way to know if you understand either.
> >
> > Understand what? That you don't believe in God? I
> > can understand that. I've mentioned more than once
> > on this group that I went through a time in my life
> > when I had a lot of doubts about the existence of
> > God. I asked for a sign, and it didn't happen right
> > away -- but when it did happen, there is no doubt
> > in my mind that God exists.
>
> The Bible discourages making miraculous
> signs a requirement for faith. Faith is
> meant to trust God’s word and promises
> rather than expecting supernatural proof.
When I asked for a sign, I was not a devout believer.
After my Lutheran upbringing, which included Sunday
School and Confirmation classes all throughout my
childhood, I still had doubts. I realize I was given
a great gift when God gave me the sign I had asked
for years earlier.
But you're right -- now that I am a believer, I no
longer ask for signs. I no longer need supernatural
signs. I have all the signs I need in the design of
God's Creation, which fits perfectly with what the
Bible says.
>
> >>> Because I DO LOVE God!!! With every fiber of my being.
> >>
> >> I don't trust words from others.
> >> I need to feel it myself.
> >> How does it feel?
> >> How does it manifest?
> >
> > You're repeating yourself. See my response above.
>
> I cannot have faith based on your personal testimony.
I wouldn't expect you to have faith based on anything
I say. That would have to come from within yourself.
>
> And I'm sure God would not want or require that of me.
I agree.
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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