. . “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” ~ Albert Einstein
"I cannot see how nature could have created itself. Only a supernatural force that is outside of space and time could have done that. ~ Francis Collins
My mother introduced me to the Bible. I was 6. Her example and the experiences I’ve had and things I’ve seen first hand are the reason I am a believer. I u derstand that not everyone has a firm foundation of firsthand experience. I also understand that my mothers relationship with God is not the substitute for mine. She is how I know God is love but I have to establish my own relationship and faith. ... "A Beautiful Struggle" https://m.facebook.com/jamelabullock Www.reverbnation.com/jamela
1. we live in a time when what is "real" is spongy
2. the Bible spends quite a bit of time answering your title question, quality of apologetic(s) from Zacharias or anyone else notwithstanding, Doesn't anything but 100% reference to the source material as an answer to the question do a disservice to the source material, and serve as more of a self-reference to the interpreter?
3. "RE: If the Bible is real - why are there unbelievers? Responds" In response to Reply # 0
I don’t think that people should wonder why there are unbelievers. There have always been unbelievers since the beginning... no wonder there. When Yahshua was on the Earth many didn’t believe Him. So with that being the case why do you think that people will believe in the Word? Fact is that you don’t need a bible to believe in God. You either believe or you don’t.
4. "This clip should be titled “Ten Minutes Of Question Begging”." In response to Reply # 0
Because they don't answer the question any stretch of the imagination.
He rambled about crazy people, how if he had a cure for sickness, he has a responsibility to help them, and then says it’s up to god to change people.
That does not even begin to answer the question of why people can read the bible and come away not believing.
Murray got it right when he said some people don’t believe due to a lack of evidence. And some variant of this, for most, is the reason.
He then proceeded to muddy the water with a quote from someone stating that they didn’t want there to be a god, before rambling his way to a weak ass free will argument, before meandering his way to the “only god can change people” statement…. Which directly contradicts the free will argument.
Which not only does not begin to answer the question, but begs at it.
The question wasn’t just why there are unbelievers, but very pointedly under the premise that the bible is purportedly to be the revealed word of god.
The question then begs, why doesn’t god simply change the hearts and minds of everyone who reads the bible? Which, of course, begs more questions.
25. "Where is free will when this god "changes hearts"?" In response to Reply # 22
Where was free will when he revealed himself to Saul in such a way as to provoke a complete conversion?
And where is free will in all of these supposed intervening miracles?
Clearly, the bible is full of divine intervention.
The OP video directly supports the notion that god, not man or a book, is what changes people.
This is not at all an example of free will.
Where was free will when god hardened pharoah's heart, several times?
There are numerous issues with the very concept of free will from a biblical standpoint, let alone being a sufficient reason for why god allows unbelievers to exist despite, allegedly, intervening to make people believe.
You said the sheep know the shepherds voice, not his writing. Then moved the goal post to the sheep being out of earshot, and in need of a map.
If the sheep do not know the handwriting, by your own argument, said map is useless.
6. "semantics, but being "Real" does not mean it's assertions are fact" In response to Reply # 0
the Bible definitely exists after all.. but so does every book ever written that hasn't been lost forever in the fires of the Library of Alexandria or such..
but yeah I know.. I'm being obtuse... carry on.
to the questions intent I think the simple answer within the doctrine is "Free Will"
12. "He's not asking. He's saying Ravi and Abdu answered this question" In response to Reply # 11
They didn't, but that's another matter.
Further, the answer to that question is dependent upon the individual believer.
My reason for disbelief may be different from the next, and mine is simply a complete lack of good evidence to support the claim that any god exists, let alone the god of the bible.
26. "The smell of neither pleases the lord like the smell of burnt sheep" In response to Reply # 24 Fri Apr-05-19 11:19 PM by Cold Truth
And neither appeases him like torturing his son, whom he begat by impregnating a virgin in the single most badass cuckhold move in all of recorded history, in order to help people atone for the grevious offense of being descended from people he created, but who committed the terrible sin of eating the fruit of a tree, thereby unleashing a set of consequences that could not possibly be understood until after they'd eaten it.
I completely understand that it takes some wild shit for some folks to get off, but god sets an impressively high bar here.
"You can take an African out of Africa, but you can't take Africa out of the African" Afro-Americana/Afro-Caribbana/Afro-Latino unite. We are ALL Black!
28. "I'm sorry, I was gonna say something slick, but nah." In response to Reply # 27
>Case, as a man, a Brotha, A father: Youz a stand-up muhfukka >and I respect you, Flat-out! > >But as a over-zealous christian?, you be on some narrow-minded >bullshit, Duke! Fuck is you talkin bout Bruh? >
^^ You referring to me as a zealous person is a compliment. But I have to belly laugh at you calling me narrow-minded. Dude, you must be confusing me with those clowns that rely on Google to get their information.
. . “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” ~ Albert Einstein
"I cannot see how nature could have created itself. Only a supernatural force that is outside of space and time could have done that. ~ Francis Collins
30. "Says the guy with two wildly out of context quotes in his sig" In response to Reply # 28 Mon Apr-08-19 10:56 AM by Cold Truth
>But I have to belly laugh at you calling me narrow-minded. >Dude, you must be confusing me with those clowns that rely on >Google to get their information.
Except the quotes in your sig are the definition of confirmation bias.
There's a reason you don't include the full quotes, and it's not because of length.
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79545 posts
Mon Apr-08-19 09:45 AM
29. "This Lil Jon Chappelle thing you do is hilarious" In response to Reply # 27
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
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