Is God Real?: Newsweek Debate (Fascinating!)
 

A debate between Megapastor Rick Warren and Mega-atheist Sam Harris.

It really is fascinating in about every way. It's not mean-spirited and both guys bring up good points.

I think what I took from it is that faith vs. experience is hugely important. I'm not sure where I fit on the big spectrum, because being a Christian I am supposed to believe certain things that I don't. I can't reject certain science just out of hand, and Harris gets at that point in here.

It really twisted around in my head while reading it. It's a bit lengthy, but worth reading -- especially after last night's conversation.

Brian,
I'm so happy I didn't jump into that thread. Geesh! I found myself agreeing with timm, danzig, and dahoss, if ya can believe it!
Anyway...to answer your question...it's a definite "yes" and a positive "no".
Kinda like how ya look at it.
Free will rules. Consequences for all others, or maybe not.

What, you didn't agree with any of my posts about being denied the body of chocolate Jesus? Man, DTS... I thought we shared something here... ;)

GR,
I put it in a diff thread.
I got dibs on the nuts.

Geesh, those C's don't know about art...metaphors.
The gallery director is stepping down.
At least Michaelangelo knew what to do...the Sistine ceiling says it all.
Seven beautiful nude men...and not once mentioned in the Bible.
Joke! Way to go Mike!
Some laugh, others cry.
Are any of us taking this seriously?
Maybe.
Even funnier.

GR,
Here's an update:
http://www.playfuls.com/news_0006356...hibition_.html

On a side note, Adam wrapped the new Will Smith movie, the one with all the extras under the b'kln bridge. Huge. Cast party was last night.
I'll post the link if I can find it.

GR,
Here's the link to the Will Smith movie:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01282007...rla_levine.htm

Also, check out the James Nachtwey show if you get a chance.
Very powerful.

i read the debate, as well as the article that asked if god was real...both very good reads, thanks for mentioning them brian.

Think what God must be feeling.






"Hey...are you people nuts...or what!!?? Isn't LeBron James proof enough?"

If only our political debates over subjects related to religion could be as cordial and eloquent.

Amen to that...

Amen...yup!

So, if I didn't tell you this one, let me know.....

I was on a plane, wearing my collar backwards so I didn't get hassled before I got to the boarding gate. They let me go right through.
The plane took off, climbed to 30,000 feet and cruised along...
Cruising...reading, you know what it's like.
Then the plane hit some turbulance. It got bouncy.
A guy came over to sit in the aisle seat next to me.
I could tell he was spooked by the plane's antics.
I think we hit another air pocket and it looked like he was about to blow his lunch.
So he looked at me with that pathetic look on his face and asked, "Hey, Rev...
is there something you could do about this situation?"
I smiled.
He became more insistant when the plane took another bounce.
"Can you PLEASE, PLEASE do something? Rev??? Do you know what I mean?"


So...being the good pastor that I've always been, I got out of my seat, walked down the aisle, and took a collection.

ps...after we landed safetly, I went to Belmont and bet the whole shabang on a horse. If I remember, it was named Affair in the Air.
Danged if it didn't come in!

AMEN!!!!!

Genuine Risk,
Do you have an opinion as to why the chocolate Jesus got such a stiff reaction compared to the chocolate Virgin Mary?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14400252/

I took a philosophy class, and needless to say the teacher was an athiest and I went round for round with him everyday. I think he actually graded me harder because of my belief in God, but I gave him hell and he wasn't going to tell me any different.

There ain't nothing that can't be done
By me and God
Ain't nobody come in between me and God
One day we'll live together
Where the angels trod
Me and God

no doubt both teams feel he likes them. i always wonder tho, if god would have time to worry about a game-what with wars, plagues, famine and the like--surely he hasn't got time for something so trivial.
but then again, maybe he's a sports fan.

go gators!!

ive got one word..tsunami..what god was on coffee break right.. merry christmas...

Don't start the argument that God doesn't exist because of natural disasters.

people who say, "well if God did exist than why do we have these disasters that kill so many people" and this and that.

Pay very careful attention to the cheer leaders. If you see one wearing a long white robe, tossing lightning bolts, and waving fancy glitter pom poms,
you might find the answer.

sorry he had to apear in a tortilla..in las cuzas..:confused:

i wont agrue...believe what you want ill do the same..and god is dog spelled backwards..so ill worship my animal friends who dont extort money in the name of......orginized religon........

i remember when mike huckabee (former gov of ark, out due to term limits-now running for pres (insert hysterical laughter here)) got all offended and declared that natural disasters should not ever be referred to as an act of god. he took it personally on gods behalf...

Is God real?


Very real...IMO...but all based on experience I guess.

funny you mention that--bunch of people got their panties in a wad over a chocolate jesus, but will rush to a highway underpass to light candles because an unexplained stain appears in the structure that looks like the son of god...or was it mary?? no...wait. mary was in a potato chip-i think a lady found that one on an airplane.

it was a piece of toast if I remember correctly...

LOL DaHoss...

GO GATORS!!! :D

It was in a grilled cheese. LMFAO

Ditto. I believe that it is better to be safe than sorry, anyway. Let's say that I believe in God and then I die... I get to the afterlife and find out there is no God, what did I lose to begin with? Nada. But what happens if I DON'T believe and get up there and find out there IS a God and then I'm screwed? No thanks.

another good point. You have nothing to lose but everything to gain by believing in God. Natural Disasters happen, bad things happen to people, people have to suffer, it is part of life. This is not God punishing people, but it is simply part of life.

Someone brought up money, noone says you have to pay money to go to church, but if you can afford it, why not give the Church money?

Danzig,
Post #12 has the link to the chocolate Virgin Mary.

What about when that long handled strange looking basket gets passed down the aisle...and if you don't volunteer .....it stays there in front of you?

but that's not faith. besides, i figure when i die, and there isn't an afterlife, i won't know if i was 'right' or 'wrong'. i'll be dead. but if there is a god, i'll be the same way i was when i was a kid and mom was right, and i was wrong....hey, my bad-i thought i knew better. but imo, playing you believe is no better then just not believing, and not worrying about it.

i mean, i'm going to burn in hell because i didn't subscribe to a certain church, and give them 10%?

i see you've been to a catholic church in the past.

Who created gawduh?

I personally don't believe you HAVE to go to church in order to be saved... JMHO. I think it has more to do with the faith inside of you than actually attending church. Some people just have to go to church or they get lax. I'm not one of those.

P.S. I do have faith.

In the past...and too many times.



I enjoyed sitting in the balcony with my 2 sisty uglies...I mean lovely sisters....in the winter and taking the fluffy things off their coats,rolling them into hard projectiles and then opening fire on the people below.

There is no beating the Catholics on Christmas Eve, though....midnight mass.


NOBODY beats them.




See for yourself....go with a slight buzz on.......see all the beautiful colors.....listen to the angelic like choir singing the finest songs of this time......smell the smell of the mesmerizing incense.







It jist don't git no better 'an 'at.

i was raised catholic, i've been to midnite mass. my youngest was 'baby jesus' in the childrens mass in '91. i quit going a couple years later....

Oh my.






You have to agree with the hypnotic spell they do weave that night....no?

I don't mean to make fun....it really is quite an experience.