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I, too, am unsure of Pwcca's intent in pointing out our tendency to snap at each other in defense of our beliefs. Since he has tended to be on my side I probably overlook what you see as provocative behavior. However, not much as I overlook and justify my own behavior. I could learn a lot from Christ's example, as could we all.


True, we all do it. I think the tendency to overlook the behaviours of those on the same side is also typically human, because you got "allies" in a sense when someone is on your own "team". Childish as it sounds, adults aren't any better! Yep, totally agree, everyday is a challenge to be more Christ-like and most of us fail often. It takes humility to admit that. Your comments are appreciated.

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Is the change in your life due to your adherence to the historical accuracy of Genesis or is it really due to the teachings of Christ concerning your relationship with God and other human beings? Almost all of the changes in people who become believers are in their perception of themselves, their relationship with God and their renewed relationship with others. Do these changes really depend on the six-day creation being something more than a parable or fable?


Hmmm. I'm not sure Linear, because for me, I always believed in His word from beginning to end....which may have seemed "naive" to some who feel it's just not "intellectual" enough to be true. But for me? I always saw God's word as being clear and plain for all (children/adults alike), though admittedly there are areas that we could all debate about.

Though at one time I doubted after hearing evolution, so in my mind, I then decided that God must have had the appearance of an ape like creature (this is the child's reasoning I had, because I was only a kid). I did not doubt God at all, so somehow, in my childlike mind, I then tried to fit in this view with God's word. I remained somewhat confused, didn't look into it further (just a kid), but again kept coming back to God's word (as stated) prevailing (for me). It is a challenge to anybody's faith and something a person will have to figure out themselves (with prayer). Someone else may make the decision to feel that it was not done exactly as stated and perhaps they have problems fitting it into the world view.... (but I had no problem at all fitting it in). I saw no reason not to, considering the world around me in all it's laws/order/design, rather confirmed it, than opposed it....that's how I saw it and still do.

But again, this was not a conversion for me. I called myself a Christian simply because I believed in Christ, but did not understand much more. I didn't take God's word seriously at all. I just decided what was right according to what "I" decided. Or what I felt was relevant to the "Times". without considering God Himself and HIs word are the same now and forever. Took much more than that (occult dabbling/involvement) and unfortunate experiences that chastened me a lot. Treating God a bit like an "accident/emergency God", only there when things got bad...eventually I found this wasn't working so well and my experiences with the occult became frightening and not something I could get myself back out of. I tried other means, they failed miserably. Then, I decided to get more serious with God (everything else had let me down) and the problems were almost IMMEDIATELY resolved. I have also had other frightening experiences to where the name of Jesus was finally used by me in desperation and again, incredible response. Now this is not with everyday suffering! He's allowed me to go through more than I care to discuss on here. So much so, that it was very very difficult for me to believe in Him many times in my life. I have turned away from Him more than once and became almost a total atheist, but somehow, not sure what, there was spark that remained and I didn't put it out completely. I realised without Him, the deadness I THOUGHT I felt was increased substantially. So much so, I felt like the walking dead. Perhaps others do not experience this, but I did.

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I also see design. Our disagreement is in how this design was put into place. Industrial Engineers design the means by which things are made. They don't design the item itself but their intellect provides for its assembly.
Chemical engineers design the means by which processes are manipulated to produce complex chemical compounds from extremely simple substances. They don't make the substances react, but put the environment around those substances in such a state that the complex compounds are formed. For me, God is the ultimate engineer. He made everything by putting into place a few simple physical relationships which he knew would result in us.


Well, anything is possible Linear. Perhaps we will all be surprised to find out exactly how it was done and what exactly happened and it will then make perfect sense. But for me? At this time? I have no issues believing and taking God at His word in exactly as stated. It may "seem" foolish, but as none of us were there or have seen what exactly happened, I have n issue believing it as is. I know God can do anything and can do so immediately in just the way stated in the bible if He chooses. I don't see that as being "beyond" Him, since nothing is beyond Him. It says 6 days....I have no issue believing exactly that. Since His power can produce instant miracles, OR slower acting ones.....6 hours wouldn't be beyond Him had He wished to do it that way, 6 thousand years wouldn't if he chose to do it that way. I believe in the 7 day week (6 days of work, one day rest) just as God set the example for us from the beginning. HOwever, one could claim that God's week was "different" from ours and on a scale we cannot quite fathom. AGain, I'm not sure and until I find out for certain, I accept His word as given, since everything else in His word is accepted by faith. No, not brain washing, because I have been a cynical person too and don't accept all I'm told either. But the power of Christ has been felt and experienced by me at different times in my life. Also, witness to a supernatural miracle overseas, seen by thousands has been profound. But I also believe investigating the "stories" in the bible, which have been done, and it seems there are evidences that what was told, may have been exactly that! Depends on what the person takes onboard as being evidence or not.

So yes, I believe in an awesome God and I see nothing as being beyond Him. I do know one thing, humans are limited and flawed and bias. Interpretations/evidences are so often changed due to finding out more. The more we know? The more we find out we don't know. I figure it's an awesome mind blowing universe and one I believe has an awesome purposeful/intelligent, design behind it. How one believes that came into being, is really up to us. We have a brain/intellect which we should use. But I think we too often forget that intellect (which is flawed) can sometimes override what God whispers to the spirit at times....

This is just my view Linear. Not something I expect everybody else to take onboard. But I do stand up for my belief and express it as others have done on here.