Regardless of faith: do you believe the bible is the word of god?

My question to masabee and trip tango is: "why does Christianity bother you so much?". Why do you feel the need to disprove something that means so much to someone else? I almost feel that you guys are making it your mission to discredit that god or his word can even heal, even though even in this forum, there is testimony of how god and this book changed their lives.

Is this same energy used to discredit people like "tony Robbins?". Or maybe how us fans feel good about this team? Wouldn't you think that positive energy like this would be promoted?

 

Where do you read "bothered"? This is pure curiosity and discussion fodder. You can believe in Zeus for all I care, but you better believe that I would ask you about it.

 

I don't mean to be rude, but you are still avoiding the question... You say "hard" to disprove, but that implies "possible". What is an example of something that would cause you to doubt? For example, if you had a bad day at work, flipped open the bible, and read something COMPLETELY unrelated to your situation, would that cause you to question your faith? (I'm guessing not -- just throwing out an example!)

 

Just on a side note, as I said before, I TOTALLY affirm and applaud the positive changes you've made in your life, and if your belief in God is what helped make that change possible I certainly wouldn't try to take that away from you. At the same time, I'm not going to hide the fact that I view your belief in God much like Dumbo's magical flying feather -- if it came down to it, I think you are capable of doing it on your own, but the feather gives you something to hold on to. Again, this is just my belief -- I can't prove it to you, and won't try.

For what it's worth, I had never heard of Tony Robbins before this, but I didn't see anything worth arguing on his Wikipedia page. The power of our own minds to enable or sabotage our success is pretty well documented, and I think it's perfectly legit to use motivational speaking to help others get out of self-destructive behavior.

P.S. I wuv this team.

 

i've wasted plenty of time 'discussing' depok chopra and other charlatans in forums : )

 

what is 'right' for you aside, it's trivial to demonstrate the probability is very high that your sense of supernatural experience isn't genuine. humans historically have constantly described revelations such as you do concerning many different supernatural beliefs that are mutually incompatable with biblical christianity and/or demonstratably false. humans are obviously prone to fooling themselves in this way, and there is no means available for you to distinguish between fooling yourself and genuine experience.

 

I can agree with you and I don't doubt Robbins either. I think the mind is a very powerful tool. Regardless of Faith.

 

I'm with ya, Mags. Even though I was raised in a Christian home, I soon realized I was an independent soul and wanted nothing to do with their God. I left the church at 13 and lived my life the way "I" wanted for nearly 20 years. Party over here, party over there...living life large. No god in my life but ME, baby!. I thought i was all that...for years and years.....and years. Without filling in all the details, it was in the breaking up of a long-term, live-in relationship that I realized I was simply running away from God all those years. Can't exactly place my finger on it, but He somehow got hold of me. Stopped me dead in my tracks.

It's not like I went sobbing into a church, and nobody preached me or anything like that, but I ended up on my knees totally surrendering myself to God and asked Jesus to fill that void in my life. (Note: My parents had been continuing to pray for me all those years. I'm convinced that played a big part in my conversion.) Now, I'm not necessarily into all that signs and wonders stuff, but I'll never forget that evening in my kitchen. It was like a total glow in the room. It was like Jesus was right there next to me saying, "I forgive you. Welcome into my family." There was a peace that came over me like none other I'd EVER experienced in my life.

I was a changed man

I then began reading the Word of God, I began attending a church that a gal from work recommended, I basically turned from my old ways. A friend at work was like, "Whoa, dude, what's this metamorphosis that's happened to you?" That made me happy, because it confirmed that my change was apparent to others. It made me even stronger in my faith.

That was over 20 years ago. From that point of conversion in my kitchen, God has given me His Holy Spirit who continues to minister to me and confirm (time after time after time) His presence in my life. Nothing or nobody can take that from me. It's as real as I'm sitting here typing this out. I know that I know that I know that God is real; His Holy Scriptures are real and communicate God's will and instructions for my life to me; Jesus is real; and importantly, His Holy Spirit is real and a tremendously dynamic influence in my life.

Do I continue to sin and screw up? Absolutely. Daily. BUT, I have the peace, joy, and confidence knowing that I have a risen Savior who has forgiven me, and continues to guide my life - even in the midst of my sinfulness. It's a beautiful thing. The Scriptures remind me that I have the reassurance (through what HE did) that I'll spend eternity with Him. It's not a license to sin, rather a beautiful relationship that compels me to "want" to live a life that's pleasing to him.....and the BEST way of living for me.

Win-win, baby.

 

Exactly how I felt too. It's hard to explain, but it truly felt like Jesus was there. Also, the extreme weight that was lifted after my prayer was done. It was amazing!

And this is what I believe as well. I don't think people understand why we have such strong believe because they haven't witnessed this transformation. It's almost something you really can't explain. And when it does happen, there isn't a thing that can change it. Someone using logic can't prove faith. And someone with Faith can't prove it logically. It's just something I accept and don't judge or criticize others for not having this Faith.

Like that sermon you posted. Jesus hung out with the "public outcasts" witnessing to them; and actually rushed the righteous leader's temples, chasing them out for thinking they were better than everyone else.

 

I rented and watched a movie last night prior to the Blazer game: Higher Ground. It's the story of one woman's faith quest and challenges/tribulations and triumphs therein. Very interesting (actually, quite touching) watch. I think you and your fiance' would enjoy it. If you do end up watching it, I'd be curious to know your thoughts.

 

Uh oh... I didn't see Chopra in there. That guy is trouble.

 

Actually, that's not true.

It is explained by science.

The brain changes, and the changes in the brain affect perception, feeling, etc.

These changes can be seen in modern brain scans, and occur in some people during changes to the body by drugs, hormone changes, meditation, to yogi masters, athletic endevors, etc, as well as during prayer.

Modern life is extremely stressful and a large portion of people are so chronically stressed that over time it affects their brain and body. For some, faith and prayer is their path to reducing the levels of chronic stress.

Your assumptions that faith and prayer are the only thing that can cause a transformation, and whether they even are primarily responsible for the transformation you experienced conveniently ignore recent (last generation) breakthroughs in brain science.

Look, faith is faith, and it is fine to have faith. But to hang on to a particular faith by explicitly editing and censoring and ignoring that which contradicts it, is not faith. It is something else entirely. And faith in a higher power and prayer to them - if it works for you - great.

That isn't the point of the thread though - it is about a book. That is something altogether different.

 

Good book by the way! Mystery, love, deception, war, peace, family values, etc... Everything that you need to fill you up!

 

Don't forget the vengeance, incest, murder, and magic!

 

Laugh at this if you want, but one of the great things about the Bible is the fact that it has people in it who are flawed and imperfect. The OT is full of dysfunctional families who have trouble learning from their past mistakes, but by repenting and putting their faith in the LORD they're saved. I think that's amazing, and definitely a cool thing to think of when I go through different negative times.

 

[video=youtube;1IAhDGYlpqY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY&list=LLpvzKMsezPkDQ22A_UdZFOg&index=1&feature=plpp_video[/video]

As for the thread question: Yes, the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

 

Nice find! I shared it on facebook! AMEN!

 

This looks way interesting. I just may have to sign-up:

http://www.theelephantroom.com/portland-or/

http://www.theelephantroom.com/about/

 

That does look interesting -- I would totally watch that. Love the "Elephant Room" name, too:
http://www.messagefrommasters.com/M...Parable_of_the_elephant_and_the_blind_men.htm

 

Awesome! Thanks for sharing this. So true.