Questions

I'm surprised this thread didn't take off more. Anyway, here are a few things I'm currently curious about:

* How is it some people live charmed lives, while other individuals - or whole families - never catch a break, and get slammed by one catastrophe after another? Is there a "science" to luck? To what degree is it subjective, and to what degree is it objective? How can it be deliberately influenced?

* What are the limits of what human Will can influence through what religionists call the "power of prayer" and occultists call "magic"? Which techniques are effective and which ones are a waste of time? What do the methods that work all have in common? How can success or failure be determined without superstition and self-deception?

* What kind of new and emerging forms of spirituality will develop in the next 10-20 years? What will the character of these be? Which ones will be short-lived, and which will take root and grow? Which ones will encourage liberation, independence of will, individual sovereignty and reasoned ethics? Which ones will promote guilt, submission of the will, spiritual dependence and arbitrary morality?

 

Ah! Exactly.

 

If the Trinity concept is not in the Bible, why do people/organized religion still follow it in this day and age?

 

The Trinity consists of three Persons: Genesis 1:1; 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:8; 48:16; 61:1; Matthew 3:16-17; Matt 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14. In the passages in the Old Testament, a knowledge of Hebrew is helpful. In Genesis 1:1, the plural noun "Elohim" is used. In Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:7 and Isaiah 6:8, the plural pronoun for "us" is used. That "Elohim" and "us" refer to more than two is without question. In English, we only have two forms, singular and plural. In Hebrew, you have three forms: singular, dual, and plural. Dual is for two ONLY. In Hebrew, the dual form is used for things that come in pairs like eyes, ears, and hands. The word "Elohim" and the pronoun "us" are plural forms—definitely more than two—and must be referring to three or more, in this case Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

In Isaiah 48:16 and 61:1, the Son is speaking while making reference to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Compare Isaiah 61:1 to Luke 4:14-19 to see that it is the Son speaking. Matthew 3:16-17 describes the event of Jesus' baptism. Seen in this is God the Holy Spirit descending on God the Son while God the Father proclaims His pleasure in the Son. Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 are examples of three distinct persons in the Trinity.

3) The members of the Trinity are distinguished one from another in various passages: In the Old Testament, "LORD" is distinguished from "Lord" (Genesis 19:24; Hosea 1:4). The LORD has a Son (Psalm 2:7, 12; Proverbs 30:2-4). Spirit is distinguished from the “LORD” (Numbers 27:18) and from "God" (Psalm 51:10-12). God the Son is distinguished from God the Father (Psalm 45:6-7; Hebrews 1:8-9). In the New Testament John 14:16-17, Jesus speaks to the Father about sending a Helper, the Holy Spirit. This shows that Jesus did not consider Himself to be the Father or the Holy Spirit. Consider also all of the other times in the Gospels where Jesus speaks to the Father. Was He speaking to Himself? No. He spoke to another person in the Trinity—the Father.

4) Each member of the Trinity is God: The Father is God: John 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2. The Son is God: John 1:1, 14; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20. The Holy Spirit is God: Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16. (The One who indwells is the Holy Spirit - Romans 8:9; John 14:16-17; Acts 2:1-4).



http://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html

 

I'm surprised too. Great subject.

ECILAM's 1st question would also probably be the 1st one I'd ask. The next 2 are great questions that I wish I'd thought of

I would also like to ask the biggie: Why are we here? What is the purpose of our lives? I have opinions about that, but I'd love to get the real scoop. It's vaguely possible that my opinions are wrong.

And specifically regarding the Old Testament of the Christian bible: How can any divine being justify telling his "chosen people" to attack & utterly destroy another group of people? Men, women, & children, without sparing a single one? I've never been able to wrap my brain around that one. I have not read the Koran myself, but I have seen similar quotes from that book as well.

 

where do you get this from?

 

I have a question. Why did God throw Job under the bus the way he did? and what happened to his kids that were all killed?

 

Here's the best Biblical answer I've found to that question:

"Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure." --Ephesians 1:4-5 (New Living Translation)

 

You're not alone.

I think it's supposed to be outrageous. I think it's supposed to be terrifying. I've come up with some theories as to why He did it, but I can't say I've come up with anything that would universally justify what happened.