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What possibilities are you working on for Internet discussions?

Jim

Nets of Wonder
I see some wonderful possibilities in Internet discussions, for all of us in them, and for the good we can do online and offline, and I'm sure that there are even better possibilities that I haven't thought of yet, and even beyond anything I can imagine. Already in the last few days I've seen some wonderful things happen for me that I was sure would be impossible. One example of the possibilities I see is for us all to learn a lot more from each other, and to find a lot more encouragement and support in our discussions for whatever good we're doing and hoping to do, online and offline. I also see possibilities for only a few people scattered around the Internet to make a lot of difference in improving what kinds of behavior are popular in Internet discussions.

What possibilities are you working on for Internet discussions?
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
What possibilities are you working on for Internet discussions?

All humans have the capacity for peace and goodwill towards others....what they often lack is the will to put it into practice. It takes a tragedy to bring out the best in people but sometimes it brings out the worst in others.

Internet discussions are useful to aid understanding of what others believe. But I do not see that there will ever be consensus among us. Even Jesus said....

Matthew 10:34-39....
"Do not think I came to bring peace to the earth; I came to bring, not peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Indeed, a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever has greater affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me; and whoever has greater affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not accept his torture stake and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his soul will lose it, and whoever loses his soul for my sake will find it."

Division has to come because humans have to be divided into "sheep" and "goats"....between "wheat" and "weeds" and that involves choices on our part. There will be no peace among humankind until God has dealt with all opposers of his incoming Kingdom. Its not here yet because it is going to bring peace to the earth....flawed humans have never accomplished it and never will.
 

Shantanu

Well-Known Member
I see some wonderful possibilities in Internet discussions, for all of us in them, and for the good we can do online and offline, and I'm sure that there are even better possibilities that I haven't thought of yet, and even beyond anything I can imagine. Already in the last few days I've seen some wonderful things happen for me that I was sure would be impossible. One example of the possibilities I see is for us all to learn a lot more from each other, and to find a lot more encouragement and support in our discussions for whatever good we're doing and hoping to do, online and offline. I also see possibilities for only a few people scattered around the Internet to make a lot of difference in improving what kinds of behavior are popular in Internet discussions.

What possibilities are you working on for Internet discussions?
I am looking for assistance to help understand dharma, God and Consciousness, from my internet discussions so have been posting this morning accordingly. I realise that I still have not understood the entire gamut of Existence even though I have had various confirmations of the Nature of God and how my dharma is important to me so it must be derived from either God or from Consciousness as an attribute-less Entity. I do not perform my dharma to please God but nonetheless carry out my duties with utmost sincerity hoping that it will all come out good in the end in my trials and tribulations with the UK State, where I suffered persecution.
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
Internet discussions are useful to aid understanding of what others believe.
Have you learned anything about using Internet discussions that way, that might help others? Do you have any stories to tell about your experiences with that?
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
I am looking for assistance to help understand dharma, God and Consciousness, from my internet discussions so have been posting this morning accordingly. I realise that I still have not understood the entire gamut of Existence even though I have had various confirmations of the Nature of God and how my dharma is important to me so it must be derived from either God or from Consciousness as an attribute-less Entity. I do not perform my dharma to please God but nonetheless carry out my duties with utmost sincerity hoping that it will all come out good in the end in my trials and tribulations with the UK State, where I suffered persecution.
Are you saying "entire gamut of existence" as a reference to dharma, God and Consciousness, or does it have a wider meaning than that? Are you finding the assistance that you're looking for? Can you tell me any more about the kind of understanding that you're looking for? How to practice? Why to practice? How to think about dharma, God and Consciousness? I'm very interested in what you say about duties. What makes something a duty for you? Is it intuitive? Is it trusting what a teacher or your scriptures say about duties? Is it a vision for society? Some combination of those? Other? Why are they called "duties"? What is it about them that makes them duties? Do you have any explanation for what moves you to want to perform your duties?
 

Shantanu

Well-Known Member
Are you saying "entire gamut of existence" as a reference to dharma, God and Consciousness, or does it have a wider meaning than that?

That is indeed what I have been exploring.
Can you tell me any more about the kind of understanding that you're looking for? How to practice?
I needed someone to tell me what my dharma or duties and righteous actions are.
How to practice? Why to practice?
One lives so has to do something with one's time after all the mundane acts of looking after ones basic needs are met: so I practice satya-advaita as an advaitin. This means seeking God's assistance to help me clarify my mind of all the imponderables that aflict my mind during day to day living, facing State organised persecution.
I'm very interested in what you say about duties. What makes something a duty for you? Is it intuitive? Is it trusting what a teacher or your scriptures say about duties? Is it a vision for society? Some combination of those? Other? Why are they called "duties"? What is it about them that makes them duties? Do you have any explanation for what moves you to want to perform your duties?

Duties are only what God requires me to do in my life to withstand the persecution that the State of the United Kingdom has unleashed upon me: For this I do clock checking for messages: I go to my digital clock and if I see a 7 (1.15, 2.41, 3.04, 4.03, 5.20, 6.10, 7.00, 8.08, 9.07, 10.33, 11.32,etc, I take it as a guidance for me to do something like send an email or blog an item that are designed to stand up to my persecutors in dignity. That form of consulting God is the only duty to myself that I know.
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
Have you learned anything about using Internet discussions that way, that might help others? Do you have any stories to tell about your experiences with that?

What I find most satisfying in these discussions is dispelling the myths that surround the Bible's teachings. So many people have a smattering of Bible knowledge, but nothing close to a full understanding of what it teaches. The old saying, "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" proves true. Expanding on a person's knowledge can facilitate a new mindset. It can be the beginning of them starting on a new path of discovery.

The internet has opened up discussions that were not possible a few decades ago. Sites like this open up topics and expose more people to information, unfortunately not all of it accurate, but many are searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack. Finding that needle is possible for only one reason, outlined in the Bible at John 6:44...

"No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him....".

This statement from Jesus is the clincher for me. No one can come to Christ unless they are "drawn" by the Father.
Just pause for a moment and let that sink in. Then look at the situation we have today with the "haystack" as high as a skyscraper! Only God can lead a person to find the "needle".

According to the Bible, there are not many needles, but only one. Even those who believe that they have found "the truth".....unless God has led them there, it will be a sad delusion. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Matthew 7:21-23) But God allows it because he is separating people in this time of the end. There will only be "sheep" and "goats"......there is nothing in between...no fence to sit on. It requires decisions on our part.

So, what does that mean in a such a religiously divided world?

What do you think?
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
"No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him....".

This statement from Jesus is the clincher for me. No one can come to Christ unless they are "drawn" by the Father.
Just pause for a moment and let that sink in. Then look at the situation we have today with the "haystack" as high as a skyscraper! Only God can lead a person to find the "needle".

According to the Bible, there are not many needles, but only one. Even those who believe that they have found "the truth".....unless God has led them there, it will be a sad delusion. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Matthew 7:21-23) But God allows it because he is separating people in this time of the end. There will only be "sheep" and "goats"......there is nothing in between...no fence to sit on. It requires decisions on our part.

So, what does that mean in a such a religiously divided world?

What do you think?
What I think is that you just did something amazing and wonderful for me.
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
You might not like it. :D

It doesn't matter if I like it or not.....we all have to make decisions that either puts us "on side" with God or "off side" with him....a "sheep" or a "goat". Each person alive at the end of this world system will be in either one category or the other. There is nothing in between. So decisions must be made, just as they were in the days of Noah. (Matthew 24:37-39) Its life or death.

So, either way, helping someone to make a decision is what Christianity is all about. Its why we preach, as Jesus said.....

Matthew 10:32-39....

"Everyone, then, that confesses union with me before men, I will also confess union with him before my Father who is in the heavens; 33 but whoever disowns me before men, I will also disown him before my Father who is in the heavens. 34 Do not think I came to put peace upon the earth; I came to put, not peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a young wife against her mother-in-law. 36 Indeed, a man’s enemies will be persons of his own household. 37 He that has greater affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me; and he that has greater affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not accept his torture stake and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39 He that finds his soul will lose it, and he that loses his soul for my sake will find it."
(also Luke 12:51-53)

Jesus did not force his message on people but simply offered it on a "take-it-or-leave-it" basis. The decision about whether to act on that message is up to each one of us.
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
What I think is that you just did something amazing and wonderful for me.

"No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him....".

The Father draws us to the Son, how lucky is that!

Most great. :)

Regards Tony
 
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Jim

Nets of Wonder
@Deeje Don't take this as what Baha'is believe. It's just my own personal view. It looks to me like Baha'u'llah is saying that He is the Father, in the parable of the vineyard. Seeing your post with "No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him..." highlighted like that, from the last direction where I would have looked for it, was like seeing the heavens open up and God Himself saying that to me.
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
@Deeje Don't take this as what Baha'is believe. It's just my own personal view. It looks to me like Baha'u'llah is saying that He is the Father, in the parable of the vineyard. Seeing your post with "No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him..." highlighted like that, from the last direction where I would have looked for it, was like seeing the heavens open up and God Himself saying that to me.

But aren't you basing your assumptions about Baha'u'llah on his claim to be the returned Christ? What did he produce as evidence of his claims? Jesus had the power of God's spirit to heal the sick, miraculously feed thousands of people, and even raise the dead? Not only did he do this personally, but he was able to pass those gifts onto his apostles who in turn passed them on to others. Once the Christian congregations were established, then the gifts died with the apostles. How can you even compare them?
No prophet from God would be a Gentile....all were Jewish.

Can you tell me why Baha'u'llah has an elaborate earthly tomb when Jesus Christ does not? It seems to me as if Baha'is put a lot of trust in the words of a mere mortal man. I will wager that most people in western nations have never heard of Baha'u'llah....but who hasn't heard of Jesus Christ?

Jesus said that "the world will behold me no more" and yet according to Baha'i teachings, he appeared again in the flesh, only to die of a fever. As the perfect, sinless, son of God in heaven, who was transferred to life in human flesh, Jesus would never have been sick, nor would he have aged or died from natural causes. Those things came with the sin of Adam.

Jesus said that 'salvation originated with the Jews', which came through the specific lineage of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, not Ishmael. (not Islam) No biblical prophesy was fulfilled in the words or work of the Bab or Baha'u'llah......though I believe that Christ foretold that there would be false Messiahs.

You are free to accept him on face value but as a Christian, and a keen Bible student, I find no correlation of Baha'u'llah to Christ in any way. His credential do not stack up in my book. But to each his own.....
 

Jim

Nets of Wonder
@Deeje I'll discuss those questions with you if you'd like to, but I would rather find or start another thread for it.
 

Hockeycowboy

Witness for Jehovah
Premium Member
@Deeje Don't take this as what Baha'is believe. It's just my own personal view. It looks to me like Baha'u'llah is saying that He is the Father, in the parable of the vineyard. Seeing your post with "No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him..." highlighted like that, from the last direction where I would have looked for it, was like seeing the heavens open up and God Himself saying that to me.
Now wait.....don't you believe Baha'u'llah is Christ returned? Then how could he be the Father? Is he a Trinity, too?
 
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