Unexplained Mysteries Discussion Forums: Unexplained Mysteries Discussion Forums -> Irish's Blog

Someone on the forums asked why I believe there is a God?
I thought I would share my answer here!

I am looking at the computer in front of me and guessing that it has several hundred thousand components, each with a purpose and design. Because of this I can not deny it had a creator who had a purpose in mind.

Then I look at my own hand and realize it has more than a billion components (cellular to muscular) and recognize that it too had a creator with a purpose in mind.

I sit back and take a deep breath of fresh air and contemplate the enormous number of things perfectly in place so that I am able to take that very breath and ponder my very existence.

I raise my glass of home made wine to my lips and savor the nectar of the glorious yet humble grape and appreciate the complexity of its very creation for the pleasure of my million taste buds.

I look over my desk to a picture of my son holding his new born baby in his arms and I notice the joy in his eyes and the love in his heart. And the baby looks back with complete trust and contentment. And I pray that he to will grow old like me and have dreams both realized and broken for they both hold hope.



I hear my wonderful wife in the back ground wrapping Christmas gifts for all the special people that have been brought into our lives.

With a small tear in my own eye I notice a bible on the table and realize I have a promise of even greater things to come in the future.



God’s word contained within and Old Testament and a New Testament, then I glance out the window at the sun setting behind the mountains draped in red clouds and white snow and I recognize I also have a Daily Testament that needs not be written by words alone.



If all this is but an accident then I am the luckiest man that ever lived. And if it is for a purpose than, that purpose must be love in its highest condition.



I am surrounded by evidence and my heart is truly thankful, yet I drop a few more tears for the many that can not see what I see and feel what I feel.



This world is not a random series of accidence's, but a wonderful gift to a loved creation.



All the best

Irish

For those that are spiritual lets examine the first law of creation.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The heart, soul and mind is the trinity of absolute Agape.

To love some one with all thy heart is to forsake all others and dedicate all their encompassing devotion to a single source. No mortal is worthy of such affection and fidelity. Such love is so powerful that it will radiate from the spirit of an individual and surround all others that are near to them and spark the flame of love within the hearts of others. True love is contiguous and benefits all that witnesses it.

To love some one with all thy soul, the soul is the eternal extension of our mortal creation. To love with it is an everlasting commitment that has no boundaries or limits. Again this is a love that transcends our mortal existence and such love can only be directed at one who exists outside of the realm of space and time, some one that has always been and always will be.

To love some one with all thy mind. Now this one I find is the most fascinating of the three loves for although it is outside of the emotional level of the heart and soul. Yet it still encompasses compassion and empathy. The mind is the tool of reasoning the part that understands how important the creation is to the creator. The mind transcends the boundaries of passion and sentiment. The mind is the core element of the image of God; not a physical image but the power and ability to create or destroy and the wisdom to know the difference. The viable proof of the existence of free will.

All three loves reflect the trinity of the Creator: The heart is the physical = The Son
The soul is the spiritual = The Holy Spirit, and the mind is that that binds them all into a central being of unconditional love; Agape = God.

Irish

If mankind were in charge of salvation it would be based on living a good life and doing good deeds to earn a place in heaven. Often in these forums I hear “well I am basically a good person and treat others the way I want to be treated” And that is great in theory however can anyone honestly say they have never had a bad or selfish thought, told a little white lie or have dis honored your parents in any way. According to scripture it is possible you can earn a place in heaven. The rules are laid out very simply in the 10 commandments which are the Readers Digest version of about 5000 other rules. But you have to remember that that man sees these laws in a different light than his Creator. We tend look at sin/ wrong doings as gradients. One sin is greater than another. But God sees all sin as equally abhorrent and therefore not acceptable in His house (heaven). Just as we have the right to tell people that comes into our house to remove their shoes first. It is not a question as to whether we agree with the rules. If your house guest refused to remove his shoes and stood at your door arguing the point you would be inclined to close the door in his/her face.
The result would be much the same, a separation between visitor and guest. That separation between man and God is what we refer to as hell.

So if you break or have broken any of these rules in thought or deeds you may need a good lawyer, I personally would recommend JC&Co. Unlimited.

Muslims however believes that a certain number of good deeds will nullify a bad deed (checks and balances)in that case I would recommend a good accountant and a thick ledger in which to record them. Unfortunately they do not know what the exact formula is so when you stand before the judge and everything is weighed there are no guarantees that you will be not be hooped anyway.

If you are Jewish by blood lineage (not a convert) you have the same rules as the rest of us however you do fall under a special dispensation of promise of something very similar to heaven. And if you are a male virgin who teaches the rules you are a automatic “shoe in ” that is if you are one of the 14400 chosen for this purpose.

If you are a Pagan you have less rules to follow, however there are more than 3000 Gods and Goddess to appease so make sure you keep them all happy because we can never be sure who exactly is in charge, and its probably one of the Goddess with my luck. And we all know how hard it is to appease a woman

You may as well forget the Jehovah Witnesses as they consider themselves the 14400 under special dispensation and their numbers of membership far exceed that already today. So there may be a lot of pushing and shoving at the gates to heaven. But hey the good news is they don’t believe in hell so you only have to put up with an eternity of doors slammed in your face much better than fire and brimstone, i think.

Then there is the Mormons, same rules as everyone else with a few extra thrown in for good measure, old Joe Smith had to have a few of his own because it is an elite club after all. As well as you receive special brand new white underwear to assist you with your salvation. A good choice if you are a man because heaven will be your very own planet to rule over. Bad choice however if you are a woman because you will have to share your new god/husband with a few 100 other poor women whose eternal job is to bear children to populate your husbands planet.

So in a sense all roads lead to God, Whatever it is you perceive to be God you will eventually meet Him. He may or may not meet your expectations, but on the other hand you may not meet His.
And we will all have a chance to plead our own case with or without a lawyer representing us.

Have to go now as I seem to have jammed my Tongue into my cheek

All the best

Irish

If Christianity was a pyramid scheme I could understand the mistrust associated with Christians here on the forums.
If they were trying to get you to join their church to bolster their numbers and increase the financial gains of the church, but I don’t see that happening here.

Christians have nothing to gain personally from any conversion except perhaps a friend.

Then why do they want to share their faith with others constantly?

Many on these forums see the word faith and immediately set out to debunk outright as it is were a fire that needs to be extinguished immediately.

Let’s look at it this way. If you found that the cure for cancer was as simple as sugar and water taken at precise times of the day. Would you share this news with joy and zeal? If you are a normal caring human off course you would, with as many people as you can. Even if you did not understand how or why it works you would still share the method. You would relate your experience with the method as well as others testimonies as well.

Well Christians believe with all their heart, mind and soul that they have found the one and only cure for death, the secret to immortality and the fountain of youth all rolled up in a single Messiah They would be insensitive to not share with others. Even if only one other person benefits from it and most people reject it.

They are willing to take the ridicule and humiliation that goes along with sharing something so simple. Yet they willingly allow themselves to be insulted and degraded by those that choose not to believe them.
If their motivation was purely selfish smug then all they need do is keep their mouths shut and we shall all find the truth when we leave this world.

So just what is it you think motivates a Christian in telling others of their faith and joy and how they achieved it? And why does it annoy and anger a lot of people?

It’s a simple “believe it or not”, choice yet the reaction from both sides are often hostile and rude, and why does that happen?

One objection I hear a lot, more from the non believers is the threat of “Hell” Why would hell be a threat to someone who does not believe in it? If someone told me I was going to Bonga Bonga if I don’t believe in BoB. I would be more concerned with whom the heck is BoB? Bonga Bonga would not even be on the radar at that point.
And to most Christians hell is just the eternal separation between man and his Creator and non believers are already riding that club car anyway.

Irish

I put a lot of thought into this answer within a thread, so I dicided to place it here as well for safe keeping and reference.

I as a Christian believe science and religion are quite compatible principles. Anyone who uses either side as a tool to disprove the other is not looking at the big picture. To me it is like comparing sound to taste. Both are viable and separate and yet we as individuals may be more partial to one or the other.

I believe God gave every man and women reason and intellect and within those is the ability to build science. Without either we would not be able to comprehend what our purpose was designed for and what we should design for our own purpose.

Wisdom and education go hand in hand. Even Jesus when choosing the apostles picked intelligent free thinkers to spread the gospel.
An example was Luke who was a physician, a man of science and reason.

For thousands of years man has believed first, that he could fly like the birds. That proof has only been with us for the past one hundred years. It was first an attractive idea that is now possible. It was once but a dream of many men and became a reality for the Wright brothers.

We know inside of us lies an unbiological/unmaterial entity we deem to be the soul. Without believing first we will never identify it and someday science may even prove it.
I wonder if before the invention of radio if conversation about the possibility of radio waves could have been thought of as within the spiritual realm.

There could be a form of undiscovered and unmeasured energy used during creation. It could be interpreted as part of the essence of God. And constitute evidence of a benevolent creator. If science can someday prove this it would come as quite a shock to some but others would still refuse to believe mainly because it’s not in their best interest to do so.

How many people died laughing at those who believed that someday man will fly amongst the clouds and maybe even to the moon?

How many people died laughing at those who believed that someday man could talk to his brothers half way around the world?

How many people died laughing at those who believed that someday man would have iron chariots that require no horse?

Science and spiritually share a special bond within the ability to reason and invent.

The inventor is not subject to His invention, but He does establish a code (law) of Creation and chooses as well as desires to works within its frame work much like a architect has a pre-conceived plan and design for his creations. Natural law, known and unknown has a purpose and design. As man is part of that creation and is in part in the original image of God we are privy as to the laws that govern creation through reason and learnt knowledge. We only have the ability of pro-creation now but our created destiny is within creation itself, science fits within God’s plan, and I believe quantum physics is the door to understanding creation.

Is it possible for human to have all the answers and proof or must we rely a certain amount to hope and faith? Science is continually changing as new discoveries are made on a daily basis, the answers occasionally send us back to the drawing board and sometimes open an entirely new form science and reasoning. For instance quantum physics was for the longest time pure speculation and theory and now is receiving the credit and attention it deserves.

We have a tendency to except scientific principles as dogma and in essence it has become a form of religion unto it self. With some adherents, so dogmatic that they reject anything to the contrary as being foolish and born of ignorance. Our personal view is blinded by our own arrogance and self worth to the point of actually stiffening our scientific progress as well as neutralizing our spirituality. We place our faith in proof and speculation and give little credit toward old wisdom and ancient knowledge, New and Improved has become the god of the twentieth century.

In reality if a man was to know all there is to know about this planet we call home we would consider him to be a genius among men. Yet even if it were possible to have all that knowledge we must also consider that this planet of ours is but a grain of sand in the vastness of the universe and that knowledge is extremely limited and miniscule leaving us right back were we started with speculation and faith.

Although I admire science and appreciate the strides it has taken us I personally have more faith in the Creator than I do in the sciences. And as I said before if I had a tendency to lean toward taste over sound it does not make the reverse wrong.

If it is not possible to know everything there is to know then I believe a foundation of faith is greater than a foundation of uncertainty to build my life upon. So I personal lean more toward faith than sciences yet have the utmost respect for both.

Irish

Arriving at faith

PREMISE #1. There is a Deity.

If we are a product of creation by a benevolent Deity I would assume he would make us aware of his presence. I would also assume that he has a deep interest in our well being and has an ultimate plan in creating us in the first place. That plan would entitle us meeting him and revealing our created destiny.

PREMISE #2. Spirits (souls or whatever) exist.

The premises here would intrinsically be spiritual connections between fellow souls and the soul’s creator. The characteristics would be an emotional bond between the invention and the inventor, love, respect and loyalty. And most of all hope for a purpose greater then being born, eating and breeding followed by death.

PREMISE #3. Angels (messengers, healers, etc.) exist.

Assuming that 1 and 2 exist, a being would need to exist to bridge the gap of understanding and comprehension between both Deity and souls. The characteristics of such beings would have to possess similar traits as love, respect and loyalty in order to complete it mission of messengers, healers, etc.

Is it irrational to think that He that created you did not want you to self distruct. And made a plan for your redemption. To free you from greed lust and envy wich will destroy your soul.
Christianity/Salvation is a free gift should you ever decide to except it.
Let me share an analogy for you.

Lets say you had a less than wholesome fascination with matches. While experimenting with them in the basement of an apartment building. A fire starts and is soon out of control. The building burns to the ground and claims the life of a couple of firefighters. You are arrested and stand accused before the judge.
The judge hands you down a sentence of say 10 years in hopes that you will grow to understand the harm you have caused and change your ways. I am shore you would understand that this was justice for your actions.
Now suppose that same judge was your father. And he knowing you better than anyone else decided that he was partially responsible for your faults. as he made you. After serving you the sentence he then steps down from the bench and has himself handcuffed. He turns to you and says,” I will serve your sentence for you in the hope that you will take the time to mend your ways”. I don’t believe you would find such a loving judge on this earth.
As for hell, the fire and brimstone I believe it is an analogy to describe the pain and suffering of being eternally separated from those you love and our Creator.
As a lie is a lie so is sin in Gods eyes. And every one of us will stand accused before the judge. I hope that when that day comes you will be able to say to Him ”But Father, Have you not already paid for my transgressions”.

This Pastor has guts!!

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance.
We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and call it pluralism.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of oppression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Amen!"
The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest.
In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively.
The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea.

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, "The Rest of the Story," and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.

What is being Christian? In a nutshell!

Man chose his own path in the Garden of Eden and severed his relationship with God in doing so. The price of his redemption was too high for him to pay (by human nature we would be unable to meet the standard required.) Though Jesus, God provided a legal loophole for reconciliation with our Creator. I believe Christ is the only way.

Deception was also in the works in the Garden, and so the great puzzle was dismantled for the individual to put it back together. The secret is within ones free will and the last few pieces are not given until acceptance of redemption. That is why the truth is not revealed until someone seeks those final pieces earnestly with their heart.
The Holy Spirit holds those final pieces so they can not be corrupted by the deceiver until they are delivered to the born again soul.

What is sin? I will try and give you the Readers Digest version.
Man (Adam) decided that he loved his woman (Eve) more than he loved the company of the Creator. (The original sin) and was cast out (Eden). Eve was deceived by a lie (serpent) but Adam fearing her loss, freely chose to break the one law God had given them. The result was a permanent separation from God.
Atonement from that point was totally under the law for Adam and his seed (us) as was given to the Jews.(Moses).
Now man was under law instead of grace. And because mankind could not truly comprehend the letter of the law nor understand the results of his flaws/sins against God.
A legal defense was needed (a loophole if you like). Jesus became that defense. And was qualified by the following reasons.

1. He was not of the seed of Adam. (virgin birth)
2. He was both wholly human (physically) and divine (spiritually).
3. He was without sin (flaw) and understood the laws of God.

Jesus did not come to take away from Gods law but to fulfill it. In essence He became the atonement/sacrifice to fulfill the letter of the law. The loophole gave us the defense to justify our existence before our Creator.
One would owe a dept of gratitude toward the lawyer for pleading our case without charge. So in this way it would not be totally free. However it is, or should be our natural response to grace.

Mans sees the law in a different light than his Creator. We tend look at sin/ wrong doings as gradients. One sin is greater than another. But God sees all sin as equally abhorrent and therefore not acceptable in His house (heaven).
Just as we have the right to tell people that comes into our house to remove their shoes first. It is not a question as to whether we agree with the rules. If your house guest refused to remove his shoes and stood at your door arguing the point you would be inclined to close the door in his/her face.
The result would be much the same, a separation between visitor and guest. That separation between man and God is what we refer to as hell.

There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:

1. He called everyone brother.
2. He liked Gospel.
3. He couldn't get a fair trial.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:

1. He went into His Father's business.
2. He lived at home until he was 33.
3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his Mother was sure He was God.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian:

1. He talked with His hands.
2. He had wine with His meals.
3. He used olive oil.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Californian:

1. He never cut His hair.
2. He walked around barefoot all the time.
3. He started a new religion.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was an American Indian:

1. He was at peace with nature.
2. He ate a lot of fish.
3. He talked about the Great Spirit.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Irish:

1. He never got married.
2. He was always telling stories
3. He loved green pastures
.

But the most compelling evidence of all - 3 proofs that Jesus was a WOMAN:

1. He fed a crowd at a moment's notice when there was no food.
2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it.
3. And even when He was dead, He had to get up because there was work to do.



Tom

For those of you who just thought you knew everything, here's a refresher course...............
Now you know everything!!!

The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute fo
bloodplasma.

No piece of paper can be folded in half more than seven (7) times.

Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.

You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television.

Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty (50) years of age or older.

The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum.

The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache.

American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by
eliminating one (1) olive from each salad served in first-class.

Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking
you up in the morning.

Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin.

Walt Disney was afraid of mice.

Pearls melt in vinegar.

The three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca Cola, and Budweiser, in that order.

It is possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs.

A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.

Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush be kept at least six (6) feet
away from a toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush. (I keep my toothbrush in the living room now!)

Richard Millhouse Nixon was the first U.S. president whose name contains all the letters from the word "criminal." The second? William Jefferson Clinton.

(Please don't tell me you're SURPRISED!?!!)

And the best for last....

Turtles can breathe through their butts.