en-us http://www.intensedebate.com/users/289182 Comments by DreadedRafifi http://dewde.com/2009/05/the-atheists-have-it-right/#IDComment22998223 Middle ground is good. If we can all continue to find middle ground while holding on to the search for truth, I think we'll all find a God that can be discovered through both faith and science who is waiting to share his love and goodness with us all. :D Mon, 1 Jun 2009 17:46:11 +0000 http://dewde.com/2009/05/the-atheists-have-it-right/#IDComment22998223 http://dewde.com/2009/05/the-atheists-have-it-right/#IDComment22996685 When I say strings, I guess I mean that his only requirement for acceptance into a relationship, friendship, with him is acknowledge that you believe in Jesus as opposed to all the other constructs that come with "religion" as a whole (i.e. church, tithes, etc.). So, yeah, you could consider mere belief as a string, but in comparison to all the man-made constructs that typically go with religions, it's pretty small. I believe that there is an observable change in how a person lives after they truly believe in Jesus but I would also argue that it would be different dependent on the individual. I'm not going to limit that shift to moral behavior, or even say that any moral shift would occur because morals are universally given to everyone. But there may be other behaviors that could be apparent by a new found belief. I won't even say that this is limited to the Christian experience because anytime someone finds a truth (and I would say truth is key) that they can understand and relate to, they will change themselves to be more aligned to that truth or deny it and run. The problem we all face is our desire to cling desperately to the truths we already know. If more Christians could learn to understand the truth of discovery in science more Christians would be open to the wonders of Gods universe. If more scientists could be open to discovering things currently outside the realm of scientific scope and let their minds ponder spiritual truths, they may be more willing to acknowledge that maybe we aren't alone in this universe. So observable change is destined to happen to anyone who begins to believe in Jesus. But it'll be different for everyone and it doesn't have to be a moral shift. The idea of Jesus and God is in fact the search for truth, if not in a purely scientific setting though science definitely aides in the how of creation and wonder of God. If I could include one other observable shift, it would be a faith, a belief, that no matter what there is a good God and he loves us. Just this one truth can change someone when they truly believe it with all of their being. Mon, 1 Jun 2009 17:15:32 +0000 http://dewde.com/2009/05/the-atheists-have-it-right/#IDComment22996685 http://dewde.com/2009/05/the-atheists-have-it-right/#IDComment22994072 I'm not going to pretend that my answer to your question will change your life or even be the answer that you're looking for or whatever. Nor is it the answer I'm saying anyone share's with me. But this is my answer to the "Why believe in God at all" question. I believe in God because I choose to believe in something greater than creation. I believe that everything we can discover within creation (life, the universe and everything) was put in motion by something or someone greater than creation itself. I choose to believe that the something that set it all in motion is ultimately good. I believe in Jesus specifically because I think that the great big good that started it all is attempting to reach out to me personally. Out of all the other religions in the world, Jesus is the only one that had something free to give humanity, no strings attached. Science, evolution, and all the idea's that man can come up with to explain creation and life or whatever is cool and I'm not going to pretend I understand any of it. The universe has been laid out before for us to discover. But I don't think that it's contrary to a creator who wants to have some sort of relationship with his creation. So, yeah, I choose to believe in God, I choose to believe he's reaching out through Jesus. But I don't deny science or history or whatever. I just choose to believe in the greatest good and the greatest good I can find is Jesus. Mon, 1 Jun 2009 16:38:51 +0000 http://dewde.com/2009/05/the-atheists-have-it-right/#IDComment22994072 http://dewde.com/2009/05/the-atheists-have-it-right/#IDComment22983150 You could reverse that whole mindset. I've known many "Christians" who feel they can be as immoral as they want because at the end of the day they have the "get of jail" prayer, "Forgive me for my sins, God. Thanks, you're the best!" Morality and beliefs rarely coincide because humans are happy to live with comfortable double standards. Mon, 1 Jun 2009 13:41:30 +0000 http://dewde.com/2009/05/the-atheists-have-it-right/#IDComment22983150 http://human3rror.com/2009/05/15/30-days-of-blogathletics/#IDComment21529004 I hear one of the best things is Boot Camp. No gym membership required. Again, I "hear" it's good. I'd have to have a buddy roll me to a workout. Fri, 15 May 2009 17:53:53 +0000 http://human3rror.com/2009/05/15/30-days-of-blogathletics/#IDComment21529004 http://human3rror.com/2009/02/26/caption-please/#IDComment15880543 Is that epic hate? Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:54:33 +0000 http://human3rror.com/2009/02/26/caption-please/#IDComment15880543 http://human3rror.com/what-hurts-the-most-is-that-this-was-me/#IDComment15602120 My 4 year-old daughter Kai says, "Why does his mom let him dance like that?" Why indeed Kai, why indeed... Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:17:11 +0000 http://human3rror.com/what-hurts-the-most-is-that-this-was-me/#IDComment15602120 http://human3rror.com/2009/02/16/how-i-remember-the-milk/#IDComment15293781 "Organic Sugar Free Strawberry Jelly," is that the name of a new band? Should be. Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:02:37 +0000 http://human3rror.com/2009/02/16/how-i-remember-the-milk/#IDComment15293781 http://www.jasonjeong.com/blog/its-not-about-you/#IDComment14409913 It's amazing how short sighted we are here in the states, we don't see this type of struggle on a normal basis so we forget that it's going on in the world. Thanks for photo. Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:46:18 +0000 http://www.jasonjeong.com/blog/its-not-about-you/#IDComment14409913 http://www.jasonjeong.com/blog/what-are-you-reading/#IDComment14409669 Unshakable Foundations by Norman Geisler and Peter Bocchino. Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:42:27 +0000 http://www.jasonjeong.com/blog/what-are-you-reading/#IDComment14409669 http://human3rror.com/2009/01/24/video-games-pwned-my-marriage/#IDComment14305639 I haven't logged to WoW in almost three months. I have yet to uninstall it. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, sit at my laptop and stare at that log icon. My name is Thomas and I'm an addict. Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:12:50 +0000 http://human3rror.com/2009/01/24/video-games-pwned-my-marriage/#IDComment14305639 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/01/24/authentic-or-just-rude-your-thoughts/#IDComment14296895 Are words inherently evil? Is one word more evil than another word? Or does a culture place meaning on words making them evil or not evil? In the 1950's "suck" would have been almost as bad as dropping the f*bomb but now it's common place and acceptable. If the words we use convey authenticity and we have a right relationship with God, don't you think the Spirit will lead you to use the best words possible to convey Gods message? Could this possibly be base language considering the cultural context of the conversation? I have a Christian friend who lives in an inner city area who would attest that none other than that would penetrate some of those living there because they may not know any other language for lack of education. Where then do you start, by telling them they need to get better before they can understand God or speak to them at their level in terms they can understand? Authentic doesn't = base language. But why can't base language can be a tool to communicate God's love? Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:13:58 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/01/24/authentic-or-just-rude-your-thoughts/#IDComment14296895 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/01/12/digital-discipleship-is-it-possible/#IDComment13916660 This is something I'd be interested in. I'm building my WordPress blog and generating content to start it and would love to learn more about what I need to do once it's off the ground. Off topic a little bit but I wonder if anyone in the Catholic church has started using Tokbox or another tool to take confession or other traditional rites? I only wonder because it seems to me like something I'd be interested in if I were, say, a soldier and wanted to speak to my priest rather than a chaplain in the field or something. Curious. Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:36:05 +0000 http://churchcrunch.com/2009/01/12/digital-discipleship-is-it-possible/#IDComment13916660 http://big#IDComment13670108 Isn't it ironic how something so inconsequential such as the color of ones skin or the shape of their eyes or the type of clothes one wears becomes such a focal point in division? The Enemy is so good at turning the smallest of our differences into insurmountable obstacles to true relationship. We Americans seem to be stuck in this quagmire of racism. I hope it ends soon ... for my children's sake. Tue, 6 Jan 2009 15:56:02 +0000 http://big#IDComment13670108 http://big#IDComment13645471 I was born in Hawaii. My mother was Japanese, Hawaiian and Chinese; and my father is Irish, African-American, Puerto Rican, Columbian, Chactau, Cherokee. This kind of racial mixing isn't uncommon in Hawaii. Cultures are celebrated in Hawaii and aren't something kept secret among cultural groups. Anyone can practice the cultures of others and it is encouraged. Why should it be any different in the church? Why should we allow ourselves to be cut off from each other rather than learning and practicing each others cultures? It's an excuse to be separate. The Church is called to be one Body in Christ. What does it matter if an Irish guys wants to STEP or an African-American girl wants to dance the hula? Embracing the creativity and expressions of each others cultures makes us healthier people and gives us perspective into the God of the universe who made us all. It's an adventure to see God through eyes of our opposites and a blessing to worship Him in all forms of cultural creativity. Mon, 5 Jan 2009 16:21:50 +0000 http://big#IDComment13645471 http://human3rror.com/2008/12/30/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/#IDComment13321479 Late to post but I'm digging the new look. Great work dude. Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:43:26 +0000 http://human3rror.com/2008/12/30/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/#IDComment13321479