Happy Easter

Reed Lover wrote: Its the Capital of Paragraph isnt it?

Reed that just won't do for a Quizzzy like you, isn't it Paraphanelia?

Ha ha ha has he ever managed a good team

Peter wrote: Reed Lover wrote: The Lisbon Lions? Fergie's team at Aberdeen were the best ever! Do you like watching Lisbians play, Plead Mother?

ONLY WHEN THEY GET LICKED!!  DOH!

Reed Lover:

First, my apology for misunderstanding the intent of your statement.  However, I was not jumping to any asuumption: the way it read, it sounded like you were inferring what I took from it.  Now that I read it again, I see how it could mean exactly the opposite: that you were speaking of your gaining knowledge and wisdom re spiritual matters.  (And if you read it again, you will see that it could be read the way I read it...)

Second, given the complexity of your most recent statement - or, perhaps more accurately, the complexity of the responses - I would like to parse it line by line.  You said:

1.  "How can I learn from, or understand, your position if I agree with you?"  The logic inherent in this question is unassailable: if you agreed with me, there would be little you could learn from me, other than details.

2.  "Having done this set-play before, I know that very few will react to my probing with the reasoned tenacity that you display!  I care not if I drive people away with my rhetoric - that is partly my intent."  I appreciate the sentiment here.  As an aside, part of the reason why others may not react with "reasoned tenacity" is that you don't care if you drive people away.  My only question would be why that is partly your intent.

3.  "I dont want to hear the usual 'that's what I believe, now leave it' platitudes or 'I know why I believe in God, but I'm not going to share it with you.'  I am not the least bit interested in those sentiments."  As a "seeker" - even at the minimally receptive level that you are one (and that is an observation, not a "judgment") - you are absolutely correct in not accepting either of those two sentiments.  Re the first, it displays an unwillingness (or perhaps an inability) to "evangelize": i.e., to help you "gain knowledge and wisdom" re Scripture, God, Jesus, etc. in a patient, humble, loving way.  Re the second, such a "sentiment" - a seemingly complete unwillingness to engage you (with "reasoned tenacity" (), or otherwise) - does not seem particularly "Christian" in my understanding of what it means to be a Christian.  While it is true that we are told (Scripturally) that if we "bring the Word" to someone and they are not interested in hearing about, we are to "shake the dust from our feet" and move on (i.e., not engage in "disputations"...), we are nevertheless called to make an attempt to share the Gospel, to "plant a seed," etc.  An attitude of deliberate unwilingness is therefore not in keeping with the "Christian construct."

4.  I want to hear reasoned argument.  I am an Atheist, but I am very interested as to what underpins Faith in what, to me, is something totally tenuous, but ethereal."

Here we come to what would seem a hopeless impasse.  Indeed, I'm surprised that you would use the phrase "reasoned argument," since "faith" is, to you, "unreasoning."  Thus, how can I - or anyone else - make a "reasoned arugment" for God and faith if they deal, by definition, with "things unseen" and "things hoped for?"  It would seem a contradiction in terms to expect this.

As for your queries about my beliefs in three specific things: - Jesus Christ as God, the Holy Spirit, and Adam & Eve and Noah's Ark - given the above, whatever I might say would only seem to you to be "platitudes" or even intentionally evasive.  Re the first and second, they rest on "faith," which, as noted is "unreasoning," and thus no "reasoned argument" can be made.  Re the third, I actually did provide a response to you re this in the India & Chrisitanity thread.  I admit it was not what you were looking for, but it was my "best" response given the subject matter.

Peace.

Fragile wrote: Reed here's a real question which singer's real name was Waldon Roberto Cassotto?You can play too Pietro.

C'mon Bobby Darin.

maani wrote:     As for your queries about my beliefs in three specific things: - Jesus Christ as God, the Holy Spirit, and Adam & Eve and Noah's Ark -  I actually did provide a response to you re this in the India & Chrisitanity thread.  I admit it was not what you were looking for, but it was my "best" response given the subject matter. Peace.

But surely you are just "taking your ball home" by not answering this.I have been very honest with you-I deserve an answer,and I'm not the only one who thinks so...........