Oops, sorry, Banjo - most of my last post was for you, only the last part was for Joe (Loudmouth). I really messed it up...

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Dear OzSpen,

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I asked :

« Whichever way you look at it, it's always difficult to explain how a baby can be born without a father, isn’t it ? What’s your explanation, Spencer ? »
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And you promptly replied :

« What's my explanation to you, a God-denier and Christophobic? You are not yet ready to consider matters concerning the Kingdom of God »
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A heavily charged emotional reply, OzSpen. There’s electricity in the air. It’s quite tangible – and I think it's no exaggeration to say that you are shooting from the hip as though your life were in in danger. I sincerely hope it is not !

I’ll leave it to you to reflect on the incident. You may be assured that I do not in the least feel offended.

I interpret it simply as a vivid expression of your unconditional faith.

Personally, I see no reason to deny that there is a god. I simply see no reason to believe there is one. My mind remains open on the question in the event that some irrefutable evidence may, possibly, be forthcoming sometime in the future.

In the meantime, I recognize that the notion of god as a concept and an ideal exists in some people’s minds as a source of inspiration and assistance in their daily lives. I, personally, do not feel the need for a concept or ideal of that nature.

Also, George Virsik, here on OLO, tells me that I am a Christian because I have been baptised and confirmed as a boy. I see no reason to deny that either. But, quite frankly, I prefer to consider myself simply as an ordinary person – which is what I was prior to my baptism and confirmation.

That said, I am irremediably steeped in Christian culture and more than grateful to my family for that.

Here is one of George’s articles you may be interested in, titled : “On the rational dimension of Christian faith” :

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=20605&page=0

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'Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others'.

Well you must be pretty darn foolish then
Because you never listen to anything I have to say.

You should think before you write, it goes BOTH ways.

Yuyutsu,

<<Indeed. Absolute Truth cannot exist because ... >>

You stated you do not believe in absolute truth. However, here you have created your own absolute: 'Absolute Truth cannot exist'.

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Dear Foxy,

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I just wanted to say that I found your post to Joe (Loudmouth2) on page 8 of this thread very interesting indeed.

Prof. Barbara Thiering’s book "Jesus The Man" seems to be full of a lot of good sense – though I’m not quite so sure about the introduction of which you cite a brief passage in your second post on page 9 of the thread.

I’m inclined to think that much of the narrative about Jesus is compounded with myth and legend, and also enriched and glorified beyond reality to a fairly large extent.

We should not lose sight of the fact that the books of the New Testament were not just written in order to leave a historical trace of Jesus and his life. They are especially imbued with a fervent desire and clear objective to evangelise and spread the Christian faith.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that, but I think it's important that we keep it in mind in evaluating the authenticity of the narrative.

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Dear Spencer,

«You stated you do not believe in absolute truth. However, here you have created your own absolute: 'Absolute Truth cannot exist'.»

But obviously I believe in God, the one and only Absolute Truth, whom existence itself depends on, whom nothing can exist outside, whom it is nonsensical to speak of anything/anyone besides, yet is not subject to anything in His/Her/Its own creation, including existence.

Only God is Absolute - my statement (or any other statement for that matter), "Absolute Truth cannot exist", while you may verify its correctness yourself, is not absolute.

You are intelligent enough so you can do some homework and verify for yourself that "God exists" would be a heresy. Do love God, Do worship God, Do think of God at all times, but please do not insult and degrade Him by attributing Him with existence!