10-03-2003, 07:43 AM
Well... imagine you create a micro-universe (real or imaginary, so long as it's something you create and know everything about). That's like what God did, Biblically speaking. He created the universe for his pleasure, and he created all people for that same purpose. He did it because he wanted to, and now he just watches it run, and knows everything in it.
Then comes a theologically gray area, but something that I take to -- God exists outside of time, so when he does something for everyone, it's for all of time. Thus when he incarnated himself in the body of Jesus, he was choosing a viable time to make his plans come to fruition (saving everybody for all of time). He sees us today, the day we were born, and the day we will die -- and he sees all the possibilities our potential choices lead to. Time isn't fixed just because God knows everything that does shappen, ever has happened, and ever might/ever will happen. Likewise, according to my beliefs (which rely on free will and choice) just because it's said that God has "a plan" for your life... well, in Jeremiah it's said:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."
I take the plural form there to be of great meaning -- though he has one universal plan for you (to make him known to the world), his plans are such that they can be chosen by you, to suit you. If he gives you a choice, he will use you in whatever path you take, or so I believe.
Then comes Christian as a label -- it's a bad label. Like most religions with extremists, people associate a Christian label as meaning it's a conservative thing trying to push the Bible and it can't possibly be good. And... well, there are two things I can't stand. Well, three. Weaklings who can't do things for themselves are the first, because I know a good number of them. Hypocrites, especially in religious circles, are the second, because they go around saying one thing and then loudly denying it in their actions (hence why people think Christians are no different from anyone else).
People who push religion are the third, because they're exactly the type of people who set forth a negative view of what it means to be religious, and do the least to encourage people to really keep an open mind, especially about Christianity (every other religion might be discussed freely, but mention Christianity and people block you out too often). They're also the type to have very narrow interpretations of a lot of ambiguous things, like "Only the King James Version is the real Bible", or "You can't dance, because dancing leads to sex and sex is bad." Anyhow, if anyone wants to discuss religion with me, I'm usually available on IM or through email to discuss it, as long as you're willing to listen to me.
Then comes a theologically gray area, but something that I take to -- God exists outside of time, so when he does something for everyone, it's for all of time. Thus when he incarnated himself in the body of Jesus, he was choosing a viable time to make his plans come to fruition (saving everybody for all of time). He sees us today, the day we were born, and the day we will die -- and he sees all the possibilities our potential choices lead to. Time isn't fixed just because God knows everything that does shappen, ever has happened, and ever might/ever will happen. Likewise, according to my beliefs (which rely on free will and choice) just because it's said that God has "a plan" for your life... well, in Jeremiah it's said:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."
I take the plural form there to be of great meaning -- though he has one universal plan for you (to make him known to the world), his plans are such that they can be chosen by you, to suit you. If he gives you a choice, he will use you in whatever path you take, or so I believe.
Then comes Christian as a label -- it's a bad label. Like most religions with extremists, people associate a Christian label as meaning it's a conservative thing trying to push the Bible and it can't possibly be good. And... well, there are two things I can't stand. Well, three. Weaklings who can't do things for themselves are the first, because I know a good number of them. Hypocrites, especially in religious circles, are the second, because they go around saying one thing and then loudly denying it in their actions (hence why people think Christians are no different from anyone else).
People who push religion are the third, because they're exactly the type of people who set forth a negative view of what it means to be religious, and do the least to encourage people to really keep an open mind, especially about Christianity (every other religion might be discussed freely, but mention Christianity and people block you out too often). They're also the type to have very narrow interpretations of a lot of ambiguous things, like "Only the King James Version is the real Bible", or "You can't dance, because dancing leads to sex and sex is bad." Anyhow, if anyone wants to discuss religion with me, I'm usually available on IM or through email to discuss it, as long as you're willing to listen to me.