tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5736821.post1578747753124756446..comments2023-08-08T04:19:26.974-07:00Comments on THE CALLADUS BLOG: Christian CredentialsCalladushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17620879847877868166noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5736821.post-77990336724699434212007-04-23T18:10:00.000-07:002007-04-23T18:10:00.000-07:00okay, I think I figured this thing out :)yea, I g...okay, I think I figured this thing out :)<BR/><BR/>yea, I get what you're saying.<BR/><BR/>and I have to agree with moviepastor in that it's called "faith", not proof. <BR/><BR/>By definition it means that there are things we trust in, without seeing or touching. Doesn't mean we're weak or stupid or drinking madly of the opiate of the masses, just means we have this relationship that matters to us, like any other relationship in our life.<BR/><BR/>And I'm not gonna apologize for that anymore than I'm gonna tell anyone else what they "need" to do. <BR/><BR/>But I will continue to try to dialogue in a way that is respectful of all our beliefs, as Jesus intended. Love God, love one another. I'm okay with that.lorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05349031369878779954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5736821.post-14748324804261363872007-04-22T20:19:00.000-07:002007-04-22T20:19:00.000-07:00Hi Lor! Welcome to my blog. I'll bet you didn't ...Hi Lor! Welcome to my blog. I'll bet you didn't goof up your sign-in, I think perhaps you didn't realize that comment moderation was on? All comments must be validated by me before I allow them to post.<BR/><BR/>I agree that life transformations happen. Mine just happened in reverse. Perhaps there's a cliche here too - ex-Christian turned Atheist?<BR/><BR/>The cliche that I'm most referring to isn't that of being saved in a dramatic fashion, it is of Christians using salvation as their only credentials, and then parlaying those credentials towards the growth of personal power in the Christian community. (And even into the world of politics, like Ron Luce.) <BR/><BR/>I don't doubt that profound insight comes to Christians, causing extreme personal transformation - what I do doubt is that all of those who claim this transformation have actually experienced it, or experienced it to the degree in which they claim. My doubt increases in proportion to the fame of the particular Christian.<BR/><BR/>Of course, as an Atheist, I also doubt the origin of transformative <A HREF="http://calladus.blogspot.com/2006/09/mind-hacking-god.html" REL="nofollow">feelings of "transcendence"</A>. But if a feeling of Nirvana allows people to turn their lives around then I would be all for it - if said transformation didn't carry with it the imperative that everyone else must be transformed too - or at least must follow religious laws.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5736821.post-28396828417590043032007-04-22T14:17:00.000-07:002007-04-22T14:17:00.000-07:00hi I just tried to leave a comment and it goofed u...hi I just tried to leave a comment and it goofed up my sign in name<BR/><BR/>please identify me as "lor" if possible <BR/><BR/>thankslorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05349031369878779954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5736821.post-5193042732728087562007-04-22T14:15:00.000-07:002007-04-22T14:15:00.000-07:00Dramatic transformations do occur. That is the be...Dramatic transformations do occur. That is the beauty of life change. Or at least it was for me. I don't feel compelled to force it on anyone, but I am very grateful for it. It's not my job to change a heart, that work belongs to the Holy Spirit.<BR/><BR/>Our God is into free will. People can choose to believe or not believe. That doesn't make what I believe any less real.<BR/><BR/>The point of having people share their stories is to provide context for others to see that life change can happen for people who choose to follow Christ. <BR/><BR/>My husband is one of those people who grew up very happily in a non-religious home. Much better for him than my own conflicted, angry Catholic upbringing which drove me from God (util He called me back.)<BR/><BR/>So he lives without God and I live with God and yet, we seem to make it work. I get so tired of these "us" vs. "them" interpretations of our spiritual journeys. There are many Christians who understand very well that life is full of shades of gray. But there is one black and white truth; people matter to God.<BR/><BR/>My point is, we all have our stories. My life is no cliche, it's real and it matters, same as your life and your decisions matter and are important to you. Our difference don't have to divide us.<BR/><BR/>I enjoy your blog, I think it's interesting.lorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05349031369878779954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5736821.post-28680295482335012142007-04-20T09:07:00.000-07:002007-04-20T09:07:00.000-07:00Great post about your "conversion". I hope you do...Great post about your "conversion". I hope you dont mind that I referenced your blog the other day on relevantchristian.typepad.com<BR/><BR/>I think Christians all try to have God figured out and stand in ready defense to prove something and most of the time leave out the faith component. If its provable - by my conversion - or by my apologetics - or archeology - its not faith anyway. (regardless of which side you are on by the way).<BR/><BR/>Here is the truth for me. I believe that God is confirming my faith in Him with every step I take - and sometimes I cant see very far down the path at all and when things dont make sense - they even cause me some element of doubt. <BR/><BR/>But even the greatest men and women of faith had doubts. If you believe the accounts in the bible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com