Hmm... strange that you wouldn't mention that when you made the initial post. In the future, would you mind posting the source of any material that you didn't write yourself?
I'm sorry that I was raised Jewish and don't have the same knowledge of the NT as yourself. I guess I'm just a moron for not seeing how, "On the way a bright light blinded me on the road and caused me to have a wreck," was a reference to a myth that is supposed to take place in the first century, CE.
LScolaDominates- I would like to apologize to you, I should take the forum more serious, that was dishonest and I can see how being foolish took away from the good discussions that were taking place.
I appreciate that. I missed the joke, and that's fine. What upset me was that halfbreed chose to be condescending even after it became obvious that I wasn't familiar with the reference you were making.
I've always felt if I wanted to have a serious discussion I would rather it be in person, I shy away from getting too serious here because things can derail easily. I realize though the subjects are often serious. And often taken seriously. I am most serious when threads are about abortion. Much less serious (but more interested) when it is religion/Christianity And pretty much liable to say anything if it is politics, govt. or economy. If you wanted to discuss this particular subject with me I would prefer we try to have lunch together or coffee. I spent 1/2 my life non-religious/atheist so I certainly should be respectful to anyone who sees something different than I do. I also post pretty randomly as I work. If I get a crazy thought (like painting a picture of Paul the Apostle's Christian experience-which I thought would be picked up on by Christians with a chuckle ) I usually post it, it is a nice way to unwind for me. It is interesting to me you were raised in the Jewish faith, I have wanted to learn more from someone who had that tradition. Maybe lunch someday?
I was responding in kind. Your posts are repeatedly condescending and the post I was referring to was just another in a long line. I figured that anyone would realize that rhester wasn't referring to himself. In the end, I probably chose the petty way to respond, I admit. I'll try to watch that in the future.
Why should anyone realize that? It was in first person, and it wasn't in quotes, and it ended with him saying "That's why I believe." Is it a famous passage from some book? Never read it, myself.
Not really a famous passage more a story. That being said, maybe it was just obvious to me and I failed to see how it wouldn't be to someone else. It's just if it were an actual story it's likely that it would've been said by rhester before.
I see. It was probably obvious to you because you're familiar with rhester's posts in D&D. Until a few months ago, I almost exclusively stayed in the NBA/GARM forums. What's the story from? Who is it about? I'm not familiar with it.
If I'm interpreting rhester's purpose correctly he's recounting the life of Paul/Saul from The Bible. He was once a persecutor of Christians who was converted to Christianity on a journey through Damascus after seeing a light from Heaven and hearing the voice of God. His tale outlines the possibility of redemption for all (to boil his story down to a simple line).
Ok, thanks. I guess what confused me is that I don't understand why a biblical story like that would make you a believer. I mean, you'd have to assume it's a true story first ... So, that's why when I read it I thought he was talking about an actual experience he had.
I'm not sure if he was trying to make anyone a believer. Personally, I've always viewed the story as more focused on the possibility of redemption for all. In other words, nothing is bad enough to where you cannot be redeemed.
No, but he said "That's why I'm a believer". That story somehow is the reason why rhester is a believer. That's why I assumed the story was a personal experience for him, rather than a Bible story (which, for all we know, could be fictional). Also, the "alien scales" and "Christian dude" wording made it sound more modern than a Biblical account.
It's a nice idea, but if everybody's is in, then what's the point? And what's the consequence? Aren't you assuming that no one is cynical? Do some people want what's worst? Doesn't everyone want what's best and it's been so since humans were capable of empathy about 200,000 years ago? Of course everyone wants what's best. Who wouldn't? Otherwise we'd be monkeys. Right?
I pretty much hated Christians, alot. Even to the point of causing physical harm. I found out I had an opportunity to get some Christians in a nearby town arrested and so I took off to see if I could hurt them. On the way a bright light blinded me on the road and caused me to have a wreck. I was totally blind, couldn't see anything and next I hear a loud voice booming that seemed to come from the sky and the voice said, "This is Jesus, stop hating Christians." I couldn't see anything, total blindness for 3 days, I stayed with a friend and I couldn't eat, I had no appetite whatsoever; it's hell being blind. On the third day I had a dream that a Christian came to see me and in my dream this guy I never met prayed for me. The next morning the guy that I dreamed about, someone I didn't know, came to my friend's house and prayed for me- that was weird. Some kind of alien scales things fell from my eyes and my sight was totally normal. This Christian dude explained things to me and told me I should believe. That's why I believe. (My rendition of a post the Apostle Paul could have made if he lived today- based upon the account of his conversion in Acts 9; demonstrating the really unique ways God works to help people see the light, and illustrating that Jesus is very involved in someone's path to Christianity and confirming that the experience left the Apostle a very changed man.) I should have posted something like that... I like the thread sorry to derail the topic.
