Comments on: The Prelude to Serious Study http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study Sniffing out the work of God in the world... Fri, 18 May 2012 14:25:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wes Woodell http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70195 Wes Woodell Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:35:58 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70195 Call of Duty 4 - the only way to prepare for serious study! Call of Duty 4 – the only way to prepare for serious study!

]]> By: C. http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70190 C. Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:18:06 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70190 He might have, lol:) Whatever the method, I just know God created. He might have, lol:) Whatever the method, I just know God created.

]]> By: Jon http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70185 Jon Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:56:36 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70185 Maybe God created with a big bang. Maybe God created with a big bang.

]]> By: Keith Brenton http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70183 Keith Brenton Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:55:00 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70183 Martin, few if any of those epic stories try to represent themselves as anything beyond legend and myth and entertainment. I don't know of an entire clan of people who insist on them as the word of God or the gods today. I'm not aware of any from the same eras that reveal a love for mankind by the deity which created everything, a guide for mankind's behavior that reflects that love, nor an offer and means of extending immortality to those among mankind who will accept it. Certainly none that involve the fully human, fully divine son of that deity serving as a sacrifice. Do you see what I'm getting at? You're comparing apples and oranges - histories and legends with a book of faith. It'd be like comparing a high school social studies book with the Koran. Whatever you believe or don't believe, you surely can see that we're talking about two different literary genres. You don't find phrases in <i>The Odyssey</i> that say, "I write this so that you may believe," but you do in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=69&chapter=5&verse=13&version=31&context=verse" rel="nofollow">1 John 5:13</a> of the Bible - and similar expressions in many other places within it. I don't have to accept everything in the Bible as literal expression of fact as long in order to believe in the truth behind it. You can't explain particle physics to a child, and you couldn't possibly do justice to the story of creation (for example) to a civilization that was just getting familiar with things like writing and law. Martin, few if any of those epic stories try to represent themselves as anything beyond legend and myth and entertainment. I don’t know of an entire clan of people who insist on them as the word of God or the gods today.

I’m not aware of any from the same eras that reveal a love for mankind by the deity which created everything, a guide for mankind’s behavior that reflects that love, nor an offer and means of extending immortality to those among mankind who will accept it.

Certainly none that involve the fully human, fully divine son of that deity serving as a sacrifice. Do you see what I’m getting at? You’re comparing apples and oranges – histories and legends with a book of faith. It’d be like comparing a high school social studies book with the Koran. Whatever you believe or don’t believe, you surely can see that we’re talking about two different literary genres.

You don’t find phrases in The Odyssey that say, “I write this so that you may believe,” but you do in 1 John 5:13 of the Bible – and similar expressions in many other places within it.

I don’t have to accept everything in the Bible as literal expression of fact as long in order to believe in the truth behind it. You can’t explain particle physics to a child, and you couldn’t possibly do justice to the story of creation (for example) to a civilization that was just getting familiar with things like writing and law.

]]> By: C. http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70182 C. Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:51:18 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70182 Actually, "unreasonable" is your word. I find it reasonable. Why? Because what IS ludicrous is believing there was a big bang, or whatever you believe the beginning might have been, and from that came a solar system with a big ball of fire that planets cicle in an unchanging orbit. One of those planets just happens to be the perfect distance to promote living organisms. Organisms that have evolved into numerous species of insects, birds, animals, and of course, humans. Humans that live on an earth that has changing seasons, atmosphere, land (where you can plant a seed and grow food), water(some fresh, some salt). Humans that live in an unbelievably intricate and complex body. A body with a central nervous system, lungs to breate, a heart, etc, all protected by a muscular and skeletal shell that just happens to be covered by the amazing organism called skin. These are just some highlights, with much, much more incredible things that surround us that scream "CREATOR". Anyone that can create such beauty and complexity can certainly perform what you call "unreasonable". Actually, “unreasonable” is your word. I find it reasonable. Why? Because what IS ludicrous is believing there was a big bang, or whatever you believe the beginning might have been, and from that came a solar system with a big ball of fire that planets cicle in an unchanging orbit. One of those planets just happens to be the perfect distance to promote living organisms. Organisms that have evolved into numerous species of insects, birds, animals, and of course, humans. Humans that live on an earth that has changing seasons, atmosphere, land (where you can plant a seed and grow food), water(some fresh, some salt). Humans that live in an unbelievably intricate and complex body. A body with a central nervous system, lungs to breate, a heart, etc, all protected by a muscular and skeletal shell that just happens to be covered by the amazing organism called skin.

These are just some highlights, with much, much more incredible things that surround us that scream “CREATOR”. Anyone that can create such beauty and complexity can certainly perform what you call “unreasonable”.

]]> By: Martin http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70181 Martin Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:13:27 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70181 C., really, why do you want to be reasonable about everything EXCEPT religion? Maybe it is b/c you have been told to be unreasonable all your life by those you respect? Maybe, C., they are wrong. How far does the mysterious have to go before it is just ludicrous? C., really, why do you want to be reasonable about everything EXCEPT religion? Maybe it is b/c you have been told to be unreasonable all your life by those you respect? Maybe, C., they are wrong.

How far does the mysterious have to go before it is just ludicrous?

]]> By: C. http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70179 C. Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:29:16 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70179 It's that "unreasonableness" that illuminates the power and glory of God! It’s that “unreasonableness” that illuminates the power and glory of God!

]]> By: Martin F. http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70169 Martin F. Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:03:39 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70169 Keith Brenton, The pizza and SportsCenter were very relaxing, thanks for the advice. I love stories and the Bible is full of them, which is probably why it is such an endearing collection of texts. But there are lots of stories in the world, lots of ANCIENT stories. All ancient stories deal with supernatural events. Using reason, practically all Christians dismiss all of those supernatural occurances (even though the stories are great, think Homer, Gilgamesh, etc.) in all ancient texts, except for the Bible. Why? Most likely you believe as fact in the resurrection of Jesus, a dead person. That belief is completely unreasonable. Why don't you also believe that Utnapishtim has eternal life as stated in the "Enuma Elish"? Keith, stories are great, but the Biblical stories are no better than any other. And of course you are "going to believe anyway." I am a fool if I think I can replace years of indoctrination with my simple arguments. Keith Brenton,

The pizza and SportsCenter were very relaxing, thanks for the advice. I love stories and the Bible is full of them, which is probably why it is such an endearing collection of texts. But there are lots of stories in the world, lots of ANCIENT stories. All ancient stories deal with supernatural events. Using reason, practically all Christians dismiss all of those supernatural occurances (even though the stories are great, think Homer, Gilgamesh, etc.) in all ancient texts, except for the Bible. Why? Most likely you believe as fact in the resurrection of Jesus, a dead person. That belief is completely unreasonable. Why don’t you also believe that Utnapishtim has eternal life as stated in the “Enuma Elish”? Keith, stories are great, but the Biblical stories are no better than any other.

And of course you are “going to believe anyway.” I am a fool if I think I can replace years of indoctrination with my simple arguments.

]]> By: David Hall http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70168 David Hall Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:49:46 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70168 My nephew is one of those freshmen...and he loves your class...he didn't even ask me to make comment here. My nephew is one of those freshmen…and he loves your class…he didn’t even ask me to make comment here.

]]> By: Keith Brenton http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70165 Keith Brenton Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:27:39 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70165 Martin and Doubting: I'm going to go with Mike's son Chris here and recommend some pizza and some SportsCenter before you undertake any serious study of the Bible. If you still find its ambition to be a book of facts rather than faith, come on back and tell us why. If you can only believe facts but not stories others tell and accounts written by eyewitnesses, come on back and explain why to us. Most of us, I think will be willing to read your comments with an open mind. Yup, we'll probably CHOOSE (as Jerry emphasizes) to believe anyway. Point is, you don't read a novel or a cookbook or a book of poetry expecting to find nothing but statements of fact. Why would you do that with a book of faith? Martin and Doubting: I’m going to go with Mike’s son Chris here and recommend some pizza and some SportsCenter before you undertake any serious study of the Bible. If you still find its ambition to be a book of facts rather than faith, come on back and tell us why. If you can only believe facts but not stories others tell and accounts written by eyewitnesses, come on back and explain why to us.

Most of us, I think will be willing to read your comments with an open mind. Yup, we’ll probably CHOOSE (as Jerry emphasizes) to believe anyway.

Point is, you don’t read a novel or a cookbook or a book of poetry expecting to find nothing but statements of fact. Why would you do that with a book of faith?

]]> By: Amy http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70160 Amy Wed, 12 Dec 2007 04:50:51 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70160 SG, you would have never guessed the original post from these comments! This blog is definitely a great way to decompress and get a laugh. Or a cry, whatever the case may be. SG, you would have never guessed the original post from these comments! This blog is definitely a great way to decompress and get a laugh. Or a cry, whatever the case may be.

]]> By: reJoyce http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70159 reJoyce Wed, 12 Dec 2007 03:21:23 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70159 As a strange coincidence, my parents asked for a Heifer goat for Christmas. This is our third year donating to Heifer instead of buying presents (between myself and my parents). I sure would highly recommend it. I am curious now whether Sarah meant a pet or a donation animal! As a strange coincidence, my parents asked for a Heifer goat for Christmas. This is our third year donating to Heifer instead of buying presents (between myself and my parents). I sure would highly recommend it.

I am curious now whether Sarah meant a pet or a donation animal!

]]> By: BGC http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70157 BGC Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:13:40 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70157 I guess I am going back to the original post by Mike. I use Sudoku as a means of relaxation. I am a numbers guy :-) I guess I am going back to the original post by Mike. I use Sudoku as a means of relaxation. I am a numbers guy :-)

]]> By: Jon http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-2#comment-70155 Jon Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:57:22 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70155 And there's our answer: Goats! Whether Christians, atheists, or doubters, let's buy goats for families who need them and make the world a better place! http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.2529663/ And there’s our answer: Goats!

Whether Christians, atheists, or doubters, let’s buy goats for families who need them and make the world a better place! http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.2529663/

]]> By: clint http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study/comment-page-1#comment-70153 clint Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:20:45 +0000 http://preachermike.com/2007/12/10/the-prelude-to-serious-study#comment-70153 Martin, I am not looking for snake oil, all I want is hope. Why are you against people looking for hope? Martin,
I am not looking for snake oil, all I want is hope. Why are you against people looking for hope?

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