Maybe a Religion for "You"?

[rdunk]

Z said, "You HAVE to deny dinosaurs to maintain your faith, because to accept dinos as being real and millions of years old would contradict your book.

So I DO understand your dilemma...   but because of Dinosaurs I can never believe your version of reality"


No Z, I and we Christians do not have to deny anything to maintain our faith! Denying "self" is a help in our walk of faith, however, Christianity is not about denying stuff, but rather it is simply accepting the Word of God as THE TRUTH, FOR NOW, AND FOREVER MORE.

Dinos are no problem for me, nor for any other Christians that I know. I do understand that it is difficult for non-Christians to understand the simplicity of what is in the Bible ("your book") that you mentioned, but Christianity is totally open to all/for to see! There are no hidden/secret concepts that have to be learned, but kept secret. The focus of all we Christians needs to be on God first, and than on all others, as there is "not much time left". 

[zorgon]

Okay LOL  "no time left for Dinosaurs"  Gotcha.... That is sad really when you think about it

May you enjoy your Bliss

One last question...

IF as you say God put the bones in the Earth for a pre programed 'history'  would He not have wanted you to be interested in Dino's? 

Otherwise there would be no point to adding Dinos

If God made this world in all its beauty  WHY are people wasting time butting heads against a wall or kissing pavement?  Hard to see the Beauty that way

[rdunk]

Zorgon said, One last question...

IF as you say God put the bones in the Earth for a pre programed 'history'  would He not have wanted you to be interested in Dino's? 

Otherwise there would be no point to adding Dinos

Well Zorgon, since you asked............ 1st I would say, addressing the why's of God's creation is beyond the mind of man to accurately do. But there are specific things that God does speak to that we certainly can bring to focus, if seemingly applicable. "IF"........... by purpose God included "dino bones" during creation, when there were never any real dinos, it could have been because He wanted to intentionally "CONFOUND THE WISE", rather than for Christians to be/become interested in dinos!

In 1 Corinthians chapter 1, the Apostle Paul (an extreme anti-Christian, until his conversion) speaks directly to the people at Corinth, about who he was, about what he was doing, about who they were, and about how God's message to some is "on purpose foolishness"! And verses 18 thru the rest of Corinthians 1 specifically details how God has presented, for some, things of foolishness and stumbling blocks. While vs 27 simply says it very directly, I think it worthwhile to include here vs 18-31, so that one can get a complete picture of God's thinking, relative to his presenting His Son Jesus to all men.

Please note: I am not suggesting that for sure God did or did not add dino bones to the ground. I will say for sure, God did speak all things into existence, "so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (Hebrews 1:3)!

1 Corinthians:

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

[ArMaP]

rdunk, can I get a clear answer, please?

What's your opinion about dinosaurs? Did they exist or not? If they existed, when?

Thanks in advance.

[rdunk]

rdunk, can I get a clear answer, please?

What's your opinion about dinosaurs? Did they exist or not? If they existed, when?

Thanks in advance.

ArMaP, whatever the answer is about dinosaurs, it absolutely makes no meaningful difference to us today, whether they existed or didn't exist. The same goes for the so-called pre-historic man figures, occasionally found in various places. 

My "opinion" about dinos...............some probably did exist, because "seemingly", a few still exist today, some of which we are all familiar with - like crocs and alligators. These animals' ancestors go back 100-150 million years ago, again according to "what as been found", in the ground!

Of course, any type of dating to determine "how old" "could" also be simply "not being what it appears! It does seem that man can make all kinds of potential erroneous assumptions on the basis of "so that things which are seen are not made of things which do appear"!

Wanting a "clear" answer? According to scriptures mentioned in this thread, the "answers" can become much more clear, after a person becomes a Christian....................., and the Apostle Paul is a good "for example" of that. He was killing Christians, before he was saved, and from the moment he was saved, he began preaching about Jesus. Paul's writings are included in many of the Books of the New Testament of the Bible.

[ArMaP]

ArMaP, whatever the answer is about dinosaurs, it absolutely makes no meaningful difference to us today, whether they existed or didn't exist. The same goes for the so-called pre-historic man figures, occasionally found in various places. 

That's not what I asked you, was it?

My "opinion" about dinos...............some probably did exist, because "seemingly", a few still exist today, some of which we are all familiar with - like crocs and alligators. These animals' ancestors go back 100-150 million years ago, again according to "what as been found", in the ground!

You don't think other animals existed and became extinct?

Wanting a "clear" answer?

Yes, clear answers instead of avoiding answering or answering to things I didn't ask. 

According to scriptures mentioned in this thread, the "answers" can become much more clear, after a person becomes a Christian....................., and the Apostle Paul is a good "for example" of that. He was killing Christians, before he was saved, and from the moment he was saved, he began preaching about Jesus. Paul's writings are included in many of the Books of the New Testament of the Bible.

See, that's what I meant about "clear answers", I didn't ask about the scriptures, I asked about your opinion, if I want to know what the scriptures say I will ask about them.

[rdunk]

ArMaP said, "See, that's what I meant about "clear answers", I didn't ask about the scriptures, I asked about your opinion, if I want to know what the scriptures say I will ask about them".

ArMaP, the reality of forum discussion is.............you get to ask question however you wish, and I and all have the privilege of answering your questions however we wish. That is called communications, and hopefully results in some gain/benefit for all parties.

There is much spiritual stuff taking place at all times on this planet, irrespective of differences in opinions and outlooks - some good and some bad! Sometimes spiritual answers are necessary about seemingly non-spiritual stuff. All of this did start with Z's "one last question" to me about Dinos, and he did mention "my book" referring to my Bible. So.............

[ArMaP]

ArMaP, the reality of forum discussion is.............you get to ask question however you wish, and I and all have the privilege of answering your questions however we wish.

I know that, but when I ask something I like to know the answer (after all, that's why I asked it). In this case, I asked your opinion about dinosaurs, so I was not interested in what the scriptures say.

That is called communications, and hopefully results in some gain/benefit for all parties.

When you answer with irrelevant information the communication becomes a waste of time, without any benefit for any part, as was the case.

There is much spiritual stuff taking place at all times on this planet, irrespective of differences in opinions and outlooks - some good and some bad!

My question was not about spirituality, it was about dinosaurs.

Sometimes spiritual answers are necessary about seemingly non-spiritual stuff.

It may look like that if those are the only answers you know, like the saying "when you only have a hammer everything looks like a nail". Me, I'm not interested in spiritual answers, I just ignore them, but I have to read them, so they just waste my time.

All of this did start with Z's "one last question" to me about Dinos, and he did mention "my book" referring to my Bible. So.............

I'm not zorgon and I didn't ask about any book.

[zorgon]

1st I would say, addressing the why's of God's creation is beyond the mind of man to accurately do.

Hmmm  Nope if we can ask it we can comprehend it... nothing in that Book says we do not have the ability to understand if given the facts straight.

But there are specific things that God does speak to that we certainly can bring to focus, if seemingly applicable. "IF"........... by purpose God included "dino bones" during creation, when there were never any real dinos, it could have been because He wanted to intentionally "CONFOUND THE WISE", rather than for Christians to be/become interested in dinos!

Well the WISE are not confounded ... we believe in Dinosaurs and can dig up the bones and test them for age The WISE can also look into space and see light from starts billions of years in the fast because the WISE know (and can measure) the speed of light... so it is the Christians that are confounded  because Jesus only spoke to you guys in riddles

Please note: I am not suggesting that for sure God did or did not add dino bones to the ground. I will say for sure, God did speak all things into existence, "so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (Hebrews 1:3)!

Noted but you quote more riddles

Like ArMaP said..

How about just making a staement on your own without quotes something from thousands of years ago

Do YOU believe Dinos are real or not?  Just a straight answer with your own words... Try it  you won't go to that hot place for speaking your own mind   (At least not about Dinos )

[zorgon]

ArMaP, the reality of forum discussion is.............you get to ask question however you wish, and I and all have the privilege of answering your questions however we wish. That is called communications, and hopefully results in some gain/benefit for all parties.

"What we have here is failure to communicate"  Somebody said that

This is why it is frustrating at times to discuss with Christians... They are so afraid to make an opinion on their own without having to quote scripture.

Yes it is your right... yes it is the belief you are comfortable with

but it doesn't give us any answers so in the end we just have to agree to disagree

[zorgon]

One thing to note

The Roman Catholic Church finally admitted after 350 years that Galileo was right and apologized to him...

I wonder what their position on Dinosaurs is now?

After All they do have their own Observatories and are set to Baptize Aliens...

So maybe there is hope after all

[rdunk]

One thing to note

The Roman Catholic Church finally admitted after 350 years that Galileo was right and apologized to him...

I wonder what their position on Dinosaurs is now?

After All they do have their own Observatories and are set to Baptize Aliens...

So maybe there is hope after all

On that "note", it shows how far off the "Catholic thinking" may be - do they not understand that it was because of man's sin on this Earth, that God had to sacrifice his Son, to make a way for the redemption of man. Beings not of this Earth would not need to be "saved/baptized", as they would not be under the curse of sinful Earthman. 

[zorgon]

Well they may be off base in your eyes but seems they answer the questions  so I went and asked them

Can Catholics believe in a literal six-day creation?
Is there room in the Catholic Church for a Christian that believes wholeheartedly in a literal 24-hour 6-day creation? I've only met with snide remarks and that look in the eye of Catholics that says, "You're nuts for believing in such fairytales."

To date, a Catholic is free to consider all of the possibilities that surround the amount of time surrounding creation, which include both the possibility of a literal six 24-hour days and the possibility that the six days are symbolic of a much longer time period. To my knowledge, so far the Church has not given an authoritative interpretation of the six days in the first two chapters of Genesis, although the Church has been open in recent years to symbolic interpretations:

Is the earth 5,700 years old?
Would the Catholic Church agree with Jews for Jesus that the age of the earth is about 5,700 years?

Without a quote that can be positively attributed to Jews for Jesus that it holds the earth to be 5,700 years old, I cannot comment on what Jews for Jesus believes about the age of the earth. For a statement of faith by that organization, click here.

Absent a statement to examine, there might be one sense in which Messianic Jews believe the world to be about 5,700 years old. The Hebrew calendar, which is said to date from the creation of the earth, reckons 2005 on the Gregorian calendar to be 5765. While there may be non-Christian Jews and Messianic Jews who consider this date to be literal, many understand the calendar in a liturgical sense. Just as Christians recognize that the Gregorian calendar does not date exactly to the birth of Christ but retain the calendar because of centuries of liturgical and secular custom, so many Jews do not necessarily believe that the Hebrew calendar dates to the literal creation of the world but retain it because of centuries of liturgical and cultural custom.

The Catholic Church leaves questions such as the literal age of the world to science. While it is theoretically possible that the earth is young, modern science indicates that the likelihood is that the earth is much older. Should science prove the earth to be millions of years old, the Church would not have any problem accepting such a determination.

Why did God create dinosaurs?
I'm trying to answer a question posed to me by an atheist and I'm stumped. Why did God create dinosaurs? If prevailing evolutionary theories are true, why would God create dinosaurs that we would never see in person but only in the fossil record?

The Church doesn't take a position on the existence of dinosaurs. This is a question for science, not theology.

The existence of dinosaurs forces believers to more deeply understand their religion and thus more deeply understand God's hand at work in the world. Questions of the creation of the universe are thrown into a new light and we are forced to re-assess the merit of apparently simple understandings of divine revelation through the Church and the Bible

[space otter]

Quote from: rdunk on August 30, 2015, 12:34:03 PM

1st I would say, addressing the why's of God's creation is beyond the mind of man to accurately do.

bwhahahahahahahah that  fits the definition of gnostic...who would have rdunk'd  (thunk) it...

laughing otter

[rdunk]

bwhahahahahahahah that  fits the definition of gnostic...who would have rdunk'd  (thunk) it...

laughing otter

I can laugh with you, but my thought expressed has very serious basis. The Bible states very directly that "no one can know the mind of God except the Spirit of God". 1 Corinthians 2:11 "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God".

So, my thought expressed about the "whys of God's creation" still stands - no man can know!! Of course, some do take the liberty of guessing at God's creation, but that is all they are - unknowing guesses!