Hello Jeff,

>LL>Who knows what the Christian god teaches? Who knows what the Jewish god
>LL>teaches? Who knows what the Muslim god teaches? Who knows what the Hindu
>LL>god teaches? Who knows what the Buddhist god teaches? Who knows what the
>LL>Atheist god teaches?

JS>Lee, at this point of your post you really get into a lot of New Age-ish
JS>sounding psychobabble where there are no absolutes. Sorry, but I don't buy
JS>into that line of thought.

I am not God.  How can I possibly know what God teaches?  How can
anybody else possibly know?  I have not seen the Face of God.  Have
you?

JS>There are absolutes, and they are clearly defined for us in God's
JS>Word, the Bible.

"God's Word", according to who?  Not even the Catholic Church has
an official interpretation of scripture.  Should that official
interpretation of scripture be "God's Word according to Jeff Snyder"?

The Bible is a compilation of many different books, stretching
centuries, by various authors.  And nobody knows who all of the authors
of those books were.  The Jews claim Moses wrote all of the books of the
Torah.  Maybe he did.  Maybe he didn't.  There is no way of knowing.
However, there is room for much doubt.

The same can be said of virtually any scripture written by man.  And
to date, none have been found that have been written by God. Inspired
by God, perhaps.  But not actually written by God's own hand.  Except
possibly the ten commandments, as etched in them stone tablets given
to Moses. But it seems the Jews lost them stone tablets, as they were
placed in the Ark of the Covenant (which also has been lost).

JS>Personally, I have never claimed to know and understand everything,
JS>particularly when it comes to the matters of our faith. It is true
JS>that we are all told what to believe when we are young, and even
JS>after that; however, we each reach an age where we must form our own
JS>opinions.

If everybody held the same opinions about everything it would make
for a very boring world.  Each of us forms opinions, and often those
opinions are not even based on fact.  However, we are influenced by
others.  And it is others who shape our opinions, whatever those
opinions might be.

JS>I believe what I believe because I have been convinced of it from
JS>God's Word, the Bible, and not because someone else made me believe
JS>it.

You believe what you believe because it is what you want to believe.
That is the same as anybody else.  We believe what we believe because
that is what we want to believe.  It's that simple.  If I want to
believe that God is black, then God is black.  If you want to believe
that God is green, then God is green.  If Joe wants to believe that
God is purple, then God is purple.  That does not mean that God is
black, green, or purple.  Only that God is who or whatever we want
God to be.  Regardless of what any book says.

JS>I have given a great deal of time, thought, effort and study to my
JS>beliefs, and I am sure that you have a well.

"I believe my car will start in the morning."  Why should I study
that belief?  Either my car starts, or it does not start, in the
morning.  I'll find out when I try to start my car in the morning.

JS>I don't need to see the Face of God in order to believe.

If you saw the Face of God you would not believe.

--Lee


 * SLMR 2.1a * The foolish & the dead alone never change their opinions.

--- Maximus 3.01