Do all roads lead to God?

[Straw Dog]

I think every step is a beginning. And if there's an end, it's probably so distant that for the time being, it's none of our business.

So it goes.

 

[Quagmire]

So it goes.

What fun would it be if we actually knew where we were going?

 

[Nakosis]

Those people are usually pretty easy to spot: they aren't actually going anywhere. Usually they're just sitting on the side of the road in the rubbish, thinking they've reached their destination, and throwing cans at anybody who tries to point out to them that the mountain they think they're sitting on is actually a rubbish pile.

Maybe so, but people who talk with enough confidence get followers. I suppose that is the aggravating part. I'd like for people to understand that just because a person talks with confidence doesn't mean they actually have anything to back up that confidence.

I don't know maybe some think a pile of rubbish is better then no pile at all.

"I've got a pile of rubbish, what have you got?... Nothing, so don't expect me to believe you know what the hell you are talking about."

 

[Quagmire]

Maybe so, but people who talk with enough confidence get followers.

Which is why it's usually better to use your nose during the interview, rather than your ears or eyes (those can be fooled pretty easy).

I suppose that is the aggravating part. I'd like for people to understand that just because a person talks with confidence doesn't mean they actually have anything to back up that confidence.

If history hasn't taught people that, what chance do you have?

I don't know maybe some think a pile of rubbish is better then no pile at all.

I suppose it depends on whether you're looking for something to climb, or just someplace to hide a few things.

"I've got a pile of rubbish, what have you got?...

"The road, and clean sinuses."

". . .Nothing, so don't expect me to believe you know what the hell you are talking about."

"Okie dokie *walks away grateful that most of the garbage piles are downwind*".

 

[kjw47]

Unless, of course, those supposed utterances of that supposed god are all made up in an attempt to lead people astray and down a completely false path. In which case they don't find the one religion that has truth, but guaranteed falsehood.

Point is, you simply don't know that what you believe is the one and only "truth". In fact, you don't know there even is a one and only "truth" that anyone has a grasp on yet. The best any of us can do is to follow the path that suits each of us the best and fulfills us in our spiritual lives. To presume that the same path should suit all people is just absurd. Odd as this may sound, I've often compared religion to a pair of jeans. The same pair is not going to fit everyone. What may look just fine on you may fit me horrendously. It may be baggy and hang off my butt and bunch in places that make it uncomfortable. Likewise, a pair that looks great on me might split you where the sun don't shine and be highwater to boot. Now, as great as you think yours are, why on earth would I want to wear them when yours are so bad on me and mine are perfectly suited to me? Now apply this to religion.

Jesus didnt come here and start a religion so a mortal can say--only if it fits my way of reasoning. Jesus came and taught and showed the one single road that leads to entrance into Gods kingdom.
Those in Noahs day reasoned like your post.
Its simple to find the religion Jesus started--apply Jesus,s teachings to it and see if they actually teach what he did.

 

[Quagmire]

Jesus didnt come here and start a religion so a mortal can say--only if it fits my way of reasoning.

He didn't come here to start a new religion at all. People of later times started a new religion in his name. Not the same thing.

Jesus came and taught and showed the one single road that leads to entrance into Gods kingdom.
Those in Noahs day reasoned like your post.

And how do you know this? There's nothing in the Bible to indicate how the people of Noah's time "reasoned". What's it say about what you believe if you have to make things up in order to validate it?

Its simple to find the religion Jesus started--apply Jesus,s teachings to it and see if they actually teach what he did.

A better way is to sweep away all the debris that some of his supposed followers have buried it under and look at what's left.

 

[Astravalon]

Those in Noahs day reasoned like your post.

Not having lived in Noah's day, I wouldn't know -- do you have a verse you could share that suggests this?


-

 

[Quagmire]

Those in Noahs day reasoned like your post.

This is the entirety of what Gen. has to say about the people of Noah's time:

[Gen. 6.5] And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

That's it.

So in other words, anyone who thinks or believes differently from you qualifies as imagining "only evil continually".

That's a great debate defensive strategy, kjw47. You can make anything true that way:

You: "The sky is orange with purple polka dots"

Them: "Um no, it's blue"

You: "Those in Noahs day reasoned like your post. (end of discussion)"

 

[Pleroma]

It's also something that's been mis-represented, mis-quoted, and mis-understood by a lot of modern "esoteric" wanna-bes.

That's the junk food I was talking about. Didn't say there wasn't an actual road beneath it, just that a wise person will always watch where they're putting their foot.

The only ones who are authoritative in this field is the traditional scholars and not the modern esoteric wanna-bes. I only trust traditional scholars.

Again: you're talking about the road, I'm talking about the rubbish alongside the road (I think someone who was capable of telling the difference between the rubbish and the road would have gotten that).

Yes, there is a lot that has been misrepresented all over the internet and it only leads to fear and not the righteous path of God.

Irenaeus didn't get out much.

That quote was from a follower of Valentinian tradition. The only knowledge we had about the Gnostics was from Irenaeus Heresies.

 

[Straw Dog]

What fun would it be if we actually knew where we were going?

Well, we can see the mountaintop or the bend in the road. Meaning arises in the journey towards our goals with elation upon reaching them. After reaching the apex or going around the turn, we can gain a new perspective and direction to pursue with a new goal in mind and meaning to create. If the journey had a definitive ending then we would cease to create purpose upon reaching it. Sure, it would feel fantastic for a while, but eventually the euphoria would be drowned out by the sense of meaninglessness. Even the Buddha had to eventually stand up and pursue a new goal.

 

[Koldo]

Do all roads lead to God?

I could only answer this question if i knew where God is.

 

[kjw47]

He didn't come here to start a new religion at all. People of later times started a new religion in his name. Not the same thing.



And how do you know this? There's nothing in the Bible to indicate how the people of Noah's time "reasoned". What's it say about what you believe if you have to make things up in order to validate it?



A better way is to sweep away all the debris that some of his supposed followers have buried it under and look at what's left.

If Jesus didnt come here to start a new religion, then why did the pharisees call his new religion a sect( cult)?

The people of Noahs day reasoned falsely because they were mislead. Serving false gods who in reality is satan posing as the false gods, he poses as every one of them to mislead.

By the time one went through every religion that claims to be christian to sweep away the debris, it would take more than a lifetime--so by learning what Jesus taught and applying that to ones religion they can easily see if its his or not. Or see which one actually does listen to him, because there is only one that does.

 

[kjw47]

This is a recipe for disaster. The more one thinks about not sinning, the more one thinks about sinning. It is like thinking "I won't eat that cholcolate." The more you think about the chocolate, even negatively, the more likely it is that you will eat it.

If one listens to Gods son who taught--Man does not live by bread alone, but by every utterance of God.--- They would surely know that Jesus meant just that and they would surely take the time to learn every utterance and apply it to everyday life. Afterall anyone can say i love Jesus, but Jesus said the proof of that was by listening to him, these didnt listen-Matt 7:21-23

 

[Quagmire]

If Jesus didnt come here to start a new religion, then why did the pharisees call his new religion a sect( cult)?

Where in the Gospels did they do that?

The people of Noahs day reasoned falsely because they were mislead. Serving false gods who in reality is satan posing as the false gods, he poses as every one of them to mislead.

Why don't you rewrite all of Genesis while you're at it? Heck, might as well throw in a couple of car chases.

For someone who claims to revere the Bible you sure don't seem to respect it very much.

By the time one went through every religion that claims to be christian to sweep away the debris, it would take more than a lifetime--

Then maybe you should focus on your own.

 

[Me Myself]

If Jesus didnt come here to start a new religion, then why did the pharisees call his new religion a sect( cult)?

The Pharisees said a lot of things.

They also said Jesus was an agent of the devil for example.

 

[Me Myself]

Serving false gods who in reality is satan posing as the false gods, he poses as every one of them to mislead.

Wow! Satan is GOOD! I mean, he acts so well he mislead God when he said "no other GODS before me."

Let no one say the biblical god is omniscient.

 

[Quagmire]

Well, we can see the mountaintop or the bend in the road. Meaning arises in the journey towards our goals with elation upon reaching them. After reaching the apex or going around the turn, we can gain a new perspective and direction to pursue with a new goal in mind and meaning to create. If the journey had a definitive ending then we would cease to create purpose upon reaching it. Sure, it would feel fantastic for a while, but eventually the euphoria would be drowned out by the sense of meaninglessness. Even the Buddha had to eventually stand up and pursue a new goal.

I respectfully disagree: I think both the meaning and the elation are inherent in the journey itself. On the one hand, I would say that more often than not the things we think we see off in the distance turn out to be something else. On the other, most of the really worthwhile things we find along the way we wind up finding by serendipity.

Being too focused on the peaks off in the distance can cause us to miss what's right in front of us.

 

[Quagmire]

The only ones who are authoritative in this field is the traditional scholars and not the modern esoteric wanna-bes. I only trust traditional scholars.

I'm not sure I trust anyone else's maps, or my own ability to read them. To me, the old maps aren't there to tell us where to go, at most they're there to help us understand where we are.

Yes, there is a lot that has been misrepresented all over the internet and it only leads to fear and not the righteous path of God.

Not just the internet. Wanna-beism predates the computer age.

That quote was from a follower of Valentinian tradition. The only knowledge we had about the Gnostics was from Irenaeus Heresies.

Ah, sorry, I misunderstood.

 

[Draka]

Jesus didnt come here and start a religion so a mortal can say--only if it fits my way of reasoning. Jesus came and taught and showed the one single road that leads to entrance into Gods kingdom.
Those in Noahs day reasoned like your post.
Its simple to find the religion Jesus started--apply Jesus,s teachings to it and see if they actually teach what he did.

There is nothing that 1. verifies that the man you call Jesus did, in fact, exist as you purport him to have existed, (it may be possible that such a man existed, but divinity and such highly doubtful) and 2. sets his teachings apart from any other prophet/guru/buddha/or otherwise enlightened spiritual teacher's.

 

[kjw47]

Wow! Satan is GOOD! I mean, he acts so well he mislead God when he said "no other GODS before me."

Let no one say the biblical god is omniscient.

Satan didnt say that--The true God said that--Jesus said satan was the ruler of this world( system of things)