wrote in message 
news:crgsut$o7v$1{at}nikalinux.nikaconsulting.net...
>
>
> Sarah Kanary wrote:
>>  wrote in message
>
>>
>> Presenting fantasy as fact is lying.
>
> It's fantasy!

Believe that if you wish.

>
>> And lying has no 'degrees'.
>
> Sure it does.  What about Rahab's lie?
>
>>  Few
>> parents actually believe in Captain Kirk, but then again, neither do
> they
>> lyingly tell their children that Captain Kirk visits their house and
> brings
>> them stuff.
>>
> Hey, you're free to raise your children the way you wish.

Of course.  So is everyone.  You may agree or disagree with it as you wish.

>I grew up on
> English hardbound comic books, such as Rupert and others.  Probably 90%
> of those who consider themselves "religious" were raised believing in
> Santa.  Where is the harm?  Do you think God has no imagination?  Does
> your view of God include creating man such that he can think abstractly
> and write great novels and fiction and fantasy, then condemn him for
> the telling of those tells?

I'm condemning no one for telling tales of fantasy.  It is the *pretense 
that they are, in fact reality* that is lying and condemned by God.

>Oviously, I don't have the same view of
> God as you do.

That much is pretty obvious.

>
>>
>> Believe that if you wish.  However, I've provided answers
>
> Yes, for the most part (though not always) you have provided some sort
> of reply.  But answers?  I mean substantive exegetical apologies?  Now
> who believes in Santa Claus?

If you choose not to believe the answers provided, that is your right. 
Reasonably, if the majority did not believe the perfect Son of God, it is 
highly unlikely that mere imperfect heaps of dust are going to do better. 
And few, if any of Jesus' teachings were "substantive exegetical
apologies". 
That is not how he taught.


>> > And as Christ mentioned to Nicodemus, how can you presume to know
>> > heavenly things when you can't even provide answers to such earthly
>> > things like, "Unity  in the midst diversity?"  Only
the Trinitarian
> has
>> > an answer -and that you are not.
>>
>> "Unity in the midst diversity" is nowhere mentioned in Christ's
> conversation
>> with Nicodemus, or anywhere else in the Bible in connection with
> Jehovah,
>> who ALONE is the Most High God.  (Ps. 83:18)
>>
> What was the point being made?  Why did I mention Christ's conversation
> with Nicodemus?  Jn 3:12.   What is the principle?  The principle is
> that if you cannot provide an answer to the little things like the
> constructs of the universe, then why should we believe you when you
> speak of the greater thing, the Constructor of the universe?

When did the topic of this conversation become "the constructs of the 
universe" and who is "we"?


> And this is about where the meritorious aspect of your answers have
> stood.
>
> JW's can no more justify their religion today from scripture than could
> the Arian's who were judged a heresy in the earliest years of the
> Church.  It cannot remain true to basic Greek grammar and true to its
> Arian view of Christ.  It doesn't believe in the Personhood of the
> Spirit therefore has no Spirit inspired revelation of what is the
> truth.  It worships an idol of the mind, thinking Christ and the
> Godhead to be other than it is.

I don't think much of either Arius or Athanasius, who took turns getting 
exiled and declared 'heretics' until finally Athanasius came out on top, 
amid much violence and hatred on both sides.  The Bible exposes such for 
what it is at James 3:15-18:

"This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but is earthly, beastly, 
devilish. For where jealousy and contention are , there is confusion and 
every foul deed. But the wisdom from above is firstly truly pure, then 
peaceable, forbearing, yielding, full of mercy and of good fruits, not 
partial and not pretended. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace 
for the ones making peace."

The religio-political squabbles of Nicea have nothing to do with the simple, 
pure Christian teaching of the 1st century.

Btw, Arius believed Christ to be God.  Jehovah's Witnesses do *not*.

> Again, you cannot even address the "earthly things" such as unity and
> diversity, so why should anyone believe that you can address the
> greater things, such as the nature of God.

The Christian congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses is a diverse, yet united 
international people, and this has, indeed caused people earthwide to 
believe that such is the Christian fruitage produced by those who DO know 
God.

As to "why should anyone believe".....that is best left up to each 
individual to decide for themselves.

>>
>> Being united, yet diverse as an 'earthly' thing is something unique
> to
>> Jehovah's Witnesses - in over 236 lands, we are an international
>> brotherhood, with no racial, national, political, tribal or social
>> divisions.  Whether Tutsi or Hutu, Iraqi or American, Brahman or
>> Untouchable, Christian love unites us under the rulership of the
> Prince of
>> Peace.
>
> Are you advocating JWism or the Baha'i faith?

Now I really am surprised.  Are there really only two faiths that you feel 
measure up to the Christian standard of international peace and unity?

Peace to you and yours.

-- 
Luke 6:45 - "A good man brings forth good
out of the good treasure of his heart."
http://www.watchtower.org/ 

((( s.r.c.b-s is a moderated group.  All posts are approved by a moderator. )))
(((   Read http://srcbs.org for details about this group BEFORE you post.   )))
---
þ RIMEGate(tm)/RGXPost V1.14 at BBSWORLD * Info{at}bbsworld.com

---
 * RIMEGate(tm)V10.2áÿ* RelayNet(tm) NNTP Gateway * MoonDog BBS
 * RgateImp.MoonDog.BBS at 1/7/05 11:53:36 AM