Discussion 5/3: Porn and Lust - it's just a part of life

Fun Fact: Humans are the only species that look each other in the eye during intercourse (intimacy)

Lust

What is lust?

How can/do you deal with lust?

1. Self-denial
   Feel sufficiently guilty over the thoughts, avoided the opportunities for lust, and chose to discipline his wandering mind
   Encourages self-hatred and denial
2. Self-enhancement
   Admit that everyone is addicted
   Increase self-absorption

Porn

What is pornography?

Talking about porn:

What is wrong with porn?

It meets my physical needs

I don't molest others nor am I involved with prostitutes

It only effects me

I can consume anything I want to consume and it won't have any effect on me.
If true, how can advertising/marketing be so important?

Why do you view porn?

Why is porn a secretive act?

Is porn a good/effective way to alleviate feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, sexual desires?

What are the consequences?

How does porn affect relationships (specifically dating/marriage relationships)?

Does it just affect you?

What about couples watching porn together?

What does the Bible say?

First we must recall that God created men and women in His image (Gen. 1:27) as sexual beings.

Pornography erodes the dignity of men and women created in the image of God. (This is the disintegrating view) Pornography distorts God's design for sex by promoting sex apart from the marriage covenant (1 Cor. 7:2-3). Moreover, Scripture specifically condemns behaviors that result from pornography such as sexual exposure (Gen. 9:21-23), adultery (Lev. 18:20), bestiality (Lev. 18:23), homosexuality (Lev. 18:22 and 20:13), incest (Lev. 18:6-18), and prostitution (Deut. 23:17-18).

The Bible also warns against the misuse of sex. Premarital and extramarital sex is condemned (1 Cor. 6:13-18; 1 Thess. 4:3). Even thoughts of sexual immorality (often fed by pornographic material) are condemned (Matt. 5:27-28).

Christians must realize that pornography can have significant harmful effects such as: a comparison mentality, a performance-based sexuality, a feeling that only forbidden things are sexually satisfying, increased guilt, decreased self concept, and obsessional thinking.

Statistics

$57.0 billion world-wide - $12.0 billion US

Porn revenue is larger than all combined revenues of all professional football, baseball and basketball franchises.

US porn revenue exceeds the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC (6.2 billion)

Average age of first Internet exposure: 11 years old

Largest Internet consumer: 12-17 age group

80% of 15-17 yr have had multiple hard exposures

8-16 year olds having viewed porn online 90%

Men admitting to accessing porn at work 20%

40 million US adults regularly visit porn websites

Promise Keeper men viewed porn in last week 53%

Christians who said it is a major home problem 47%

Adults admitting to Internet sexual addiction 10%

72% male - 28% female visit websites

70% of women keep their cyber activities secret.

17% of all women struggle with porn addiction.

Women, far more than men, are likely to act out their behaviors in real life, such as having multiple partners, casual sex, or affairs.

Pervasive Disorders

1. Voyeurism
2. Objectification
3. Validation
4. Trophyism
5. Fear of true intimacy

Other Effects

Repeated exposure to porn results in a decreased satisfaction with one's sexual partner, with the partner's sexuality, with the partner's sexual curiosity, a decrease in the valuation of faithfulness and an increase in the importance of sex without attachment.

Pornography leaves the impression with its viewers that sex has no relationship to privacy; that it is unrelated to love, commitment or marriage; that bizarre forms of sex are the most gratifying; and that irresponsible sex has no adverse consequences.

Trivialization of rape as a criminal offense, exaggerated perceptions of the prevalence of most sexual practices, increased callousness toward female sexuality and concerns, dissatisfaction with sexual relationships and diminished caring for and trust in intimate partners.

Sources

The Power of Porn
http://www.veritas.org/3.0_media/talks/54

Pornography Statistics
http://www.familysafemedia.com/pornography_statistics.html

What does the Bible say about pornography?
http://www.gotquestions.org/pornography.html

Pornography's Effects on Adult and Child
http://mentalhealthlibrary.info/library/porn/pornlds/pornldsauthor/links/victorcline/porneffect.htm

Pornography: The Deconstruction of Human Sexuality - Part VI
http://www.nationalcoalition.org/culture/articles/ca050214.html

Pure Intimacy
http://www.pureintimacy.org/

Why Discipline Isn't Enough
http://www.pureintimacy.org/gr/intimacy/understanding/a0000123.cfm

Subtle Dangers of Pornography
http://www.pureintimacy.org/gr/intimacy/understanding/a0000121.cfm

Dangers and Disappointments of Pornography
http://www.pureintimacy.org/gr/intimacy/understanding/a0000133.cfm

Discussion 4/27: Judge Not? Or the contrary?

Why can't Christians just exercise their own faith, and leave alone those people who have other beliefs? After all, isn't it judgmental and unloving to criticize someone else's religious beliefs?

Because we live in an age of tolerance where almost anything goes, openly questioning or criticizing other people's belief systems can quickly get you labeled as judgmental, narrow-minded, bigoted, hateful, and even ignorant.

We can tolerate anything except the person who won't tolerate anything! No wonder our favorite Bible verse is Matthew 7:1, "Judge not that ye be not judged."

The new "unpardonable sin" is "judging." Hypocrites can flaunt their violations of the Word of God and yet parade unchallenged as Christians. No one dares call them hypocrites for ("Oh, Horrors!") that would be "judging them."

And with regard to Christianity, Matthew 7:1 is often quoted (or should I say "misquoted") to discourage Christians from putting other religious teachings and practices to the test.

Tell anyone nowadays that he or someone else is doing wrong and you will be immediately rebuked, "Don't Judge!" Is such a use of this verse proper?

Tolerance when it comes to personal relationships is a virtue, but tolerance when it comes to truth is a travesty.

Matthew 7:1-6

1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

Judging and Loving

The Bible clearly speaks out not against passing judgment in general, but against rendering inaccurate and unfair judgments (Prov. 24:23; 31:9; John 7:24). Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:15 that Christians are called to make "judgments about all things." Our judgment, though, should not be based on what God has not revealed, rather on what he has revealed and not on human wisdom alone (v. 13).

If we as Christians really want to follow our Lord's teaching to love our neighbors, we can't escape our responsibility to warn them about the spiritually destructive roads paved by non-Christian belief systems (Prov. 14:12). True love and compassion should move us believers to sound warning cries "" even in the face of opposition "" in order to avert countless lives from heading toward an eternity of doom.

It can't mean that we must give up all spiritual discernment in order to be "loving Christians." Five verses later Jesus says, "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine" (Matthew 7:6). This command assumes the exercise of spiritual discernment. A few verses later Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets...You will know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:15, 16, 20). Again, Jesus demands spiritual discernment. In Jesus' view, it is not "judging" to conclude that someone is a false prophet.

Is it, perhaps, our duty to keep such discerning conclusions to ourselves in order to avoid "judging"? Emphatically not! Matthew 7:1 does not teach that it is sinful to confront and, if necessary, publicly expose evil. If this were so, how could Jesus say, "And if you brother sins, go and reprove him...?" How could Jesus go on to say, "And if he refuses to listen...tell it to the church"? (Matthew 18:15, 17). How could Jesus' apostle, Paul, say, "Do you not judge those who are within the church?...Remove the wicked man from among yourselves" (1 Corinthians 5:12, 13).

It's time for Christians to stop being bound by such false interpretation and to start dealing with sin. "Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive with them" (Proverbs 28:4)

So what does Matthew 7:1 mean? In this context, Jesus is forbidding forming or expressing conclusions about others by those who won't see or deal with their own sins.

If, on the basis of Matthew 7:1, you refuse to form and express (when necessary) moral opinions, you are confessing your refusal to see and deal with your own sins. The refusal to exercise moral discernment is a confession of moral bankruptcy! May God embolden you to stop tolerating sin in yourself and others, to your hurt and to theirs!

We can judge qualifications, however we cannot judge qualities. Qualities are internal motivations known only by God Himself.

Contradictions

Although at first glance these passages may appear contradictory, a few basic considerations lead to a different conclusion:

1. most of the passages in the "Do Not Judge" column clearly refer to not judging people hypocritically or arbitrarily according to human rules or opinions (eg: see Matthew 7:1-6,15-22 ; Romans 14:1 cf v10,13 ; etc.). The passages in the "Do Judge" column are all examples of judging by or according to God's revealed standards in His Word.
2. Clearer passages
   John 7:24 states: "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (NKJV) . God's righteousness is revealed in His Word, so it follows we are to judge by it. Hence, it is clear from even this one passage that there is a superficial judging which is forbidden, and a godly judging which is commanded and commended. This confirms our findings above.

From our considerations above, we can conclude:

1. The judgment that is forbidden is hypocritical judgment.
2. The judgment that is commanded is judgment according to God's Word.

It is God's Word that judges, while we are to follow its verdict:

He has commanded us to judge/test those in the church according to the standards of His Word so that we should not be deceived ( 1 John 4:1 cf Matthew 24:23-25 ; Acts 17:11 ; 1 Corinthians 14:29 ; 2 Timothy 4:2-4 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 ; etc.). This is what we are seeking to faithfully do. In doing so we do not need to fear the accusation of "judge not" - for we seek to judge faithfully by His Word. Because we stand on God's Word, we are willing and able to be corrected and judged by it ourselves if shown to be wrong in our stance.

Those who criticize people who seek to judge by the standards given in God's Word seem oblivious to the fact that in their criticism they too are judging those they oppose by labeling them 'judgmental'! However, is this critical judgment being based upon God's Word, or upon those things by which we are forbidden to judge: traditions of men, party spirit, autonomous human opinion, reason or experience, etc.?!

Discussion 4/13: Passion & Purpose: Why get up?

List several reasons you get up and why they give you the motivation to get up in the morning.

What do you dream about?

"So what next? There is always something bigger."

What is your passion/purpose?

Does it matter if it does or doesn't?

Why live life with a purpose/passion?

"Life is but a brief second between two vast eternities, what will you do with that life?"

"I've seen more happy and content men on death row than in the big homes around here." ~ George Kettle

What's Next?

Determine, Record, and Pursue your Passion/Purpose

Unless you assume a God, the question of life's purpose is meaningless. ~Bertrand Russell, atheist

The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness.

Relationships, not achievements or the acquisition of things, are what matters most in life.

Busyness is a great enemy of relationships.

A Passion for Life

To live well means more than simply staying alive or being comfortable. Our pet animals enjoy that status. If life is to be experienced as our nature has prepared us, we must learn to live with passion; with a sense of focused, self-directed energy. The study of economics reminds us that life is a subjective process of learning, making choices, taking actions. The search for truth and the principled life occurs within each of us, or not at all.

To live with passion is to live an internally directed life that exhibits a fiery, creative, exploring spirit.

Your Purpose

It takes action on your part to find your purpose in life and then slot into that purpose. Everyone at some time will question the big picture "Why am I here?". Find your purpose and your life will take on a whole new dimension. There will be a reason to get up in the morning - despite the circumstances!

Your purpose is to:

1. Love God
2. Fulfill the plan He has for our life

The payoff is:

1. Great satisfaction
2. Seeing other lives changed for the better through you
3. A life without regrets
4. Eternal life in heaven
5. Internal peace and joy despite the circumstances
6. Hearing God say "Well done" when it's all over

Sources:

The Purpose Drive Life by Rick Warren

Your Purpose - Life Skills
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~austbua/future.htm

A Passion for Life
http://www.lewrockwell.com/shaffer/shaffer55.html

Discussion 4/6: Is Your God Real?

Can you prove God is real?

God cannot be contacted by physical means.

God cannot be substantiated in the psychological realm.

If God cannot be proved in either (and maybe any) way, why does 93% of Americans believe God does exist?

Seemingly, we can prove the existence of God to ourselves (but not to others by natural, philosophical or logical means).

How to prove God to yourself

The human spirit is similar in nature to the Spirit of God. Just as a light bulb shines when it is in contact with the generator through the transmission line, even so, when we contact God the Spirit with our human spirit, we get filled with God and God may shine through us. Once we touch God in this way, nobody can convince us that God does not exist. At that moment, we not only know that God exists but we believe and He is real to us. This is not blind faith, but seeing faith. It is no longer a philosophical question but a firsthand experience.

If you want to prove God's existence for yourself and begin to have a relationship with Him, you can do so right now by telling Him whatever is on your heart, in your own words. If you are sincere and open with Him, He will reveal Himself to you. You will never again say that nobody can prove God's existence, because God Himself will have proven Himself to you. You will have contacted Him for yourself, just as we have. Nobody can argue with our experience and your experience. If He is non-existent, there will be no answer. If He is real, you will get your answer, because He will reveal Himself to you.

Arguments:

Supernatural Design, Earth Age, Biblical Prophecies

Can you believe that a true life painting could exist without a painter? Or could a watch exist without someone to first design it? Could all the mysteries and intricacies of the biological world really come into being without a super-intelligent and wise Creator?

It is true to you based on your belief. Somebody is your friend because you believe he/she is, and that person is not your friend when you do not believe.

Excerpts - A Choice For:

God. real or not

Yes, there is a lot of dying, pain, injustice, etc in the world but God gave Man free will. Blaming God for all the mistakes people make isn't going to get anyone anywhere.

look around you, what do you see? i see pain and strife i see people struggling to make it, people killing others and no one helping the victim or their family. if god existed wouldn't he send something or someone to console us, wouldn't he do something, make it easier on us just a little bit, give us a break from all the pain and heartache. where is god when you truly need him if he does exist?

Why do you people bicker so inconclusively about this? You'll never know until you die, so go post "yes" in the suicide and tell us who's right when you get "there".

The real question is what is man? Does she have a part in creation or are we simply like a flower, come for a brief time and then gone for an eternity?

Why did humans make up god?Why is it that so many humans believe that they created God?

No one created God. He has always existed. If it does not sound logical then perhaps God did not intend for logic to be the means by which one looks at this issue. Some times faith is all that is needed.

Humans made up god to allay their fear of the unknown. (Coincidentally, God made up humans to allay His fear of the unknown.)

humans need something to believe in, because without belief there is nothing to build on, we all believe in something whether it be god/s or something else and most times its what keeps us going.

This still being the case, one cannot conclusively argue that God exists or doesn't exist. It is purely a matter of Faith.

Humans have always had the same mentality. To think for one second that logistically speaking the people in biblical times weren't as clever as today's modern standard is the root of this problem. Jesus and the whole thing could have been a sham, yes. He could have been some sort of magician or something. But again, wouldn't people have noticed? And would Christianity have spread so far?

Sources:

God. real or not
http://allphilosophy.com/topic/show/157

A choice for Why did humans make up god?
http://allphilosophy.com/post/show/315

Can You Prove God Is Real?
http://www.hightruth.com/faq/01real.html

How Do You Know God is real?
http://www.christian-faith.com/html/page/how_do_you_know

Either God is real, or He is not!
http://forums.atozteacherstuff.com/showthread.php?t=3071

IS GOD REAL, OR JUST MAKE BELIEVE?
http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Hope_Encouragement/f-j/IsGodReal.htm

Is-God-Real?
http://www.is-god-real.com/ ]]> http://www.jason1365.com/2005/04/06/is-your-god-real/feed/ 5 http://www.jason1365.com/2005/03/23/role-models/ http://www.jason1365.com/2005/03/23/role-models/#comments Thu, 24 Mar 2005 00:30:10 +0000 Jason1365 http://explicit/?p=122 Who was your hero growing up? Right now, who are your role models? What do our role models say about our priorities? Who's role model are you? What happens when our role models fall? Should we only surround ourselves with good examples? Knowing more about how my role models affect me, how will I alter my life?Seeing how I am an example to others, what does that mean that I should do differently tomorrow?

Discussion 3/23: Role Models

Stop:

Who was your hero growing up?

Think:

What did you admire about them?

How have your role models changed over time?

Right now, who are your role models?

1. Why?
2. Are they good role models?

Who are society's role models?

What do our role models say about our priorities?

Hoos (Who's) role model are you?

1. Siblings?
2. Friends?

Does that affect how you act when you are around them?

How you act when you are not around them?

Can someone be famous and not be a role model?

Can you not be a role model?

What happens when our role models fall?

Do we lose anything by putting faith into other people?

Looking up to other people?

How much of what we do everyday is based on other people's example?

Should we only surround ourselves with good examples?

If so, then how are we helping those in need of our example, if we don't associate with those people?

Grow:

Knowing more about how my role models affect me, how will I alter my life?

Seeing how I am an example to others, what does that mean that I should do differently tomorrow?

Discussion 3/16: The Bible

What is the Bible to you?

How do you see the Bible? What do you see the Bible as?
A book of good teachings?
The inerrant Word of God?
A good representation of God?

Who/What is God?

Can we understand God?

God can do no evil, knows all, cannot make a mistake, and has infinite power.

Is what you know about God only from your own experience?

If God is infinite and we are finite, how we can we even fathom that should be able to understand any of God, much less all of God that is revealed in the Bible?

Miracles

If God can create the world, then every other miracle is also possible. If creation from nothing is possible, then all other miracles would be "easier."

Noah and The Flood

Has Anyone Discovered Noah's Ark? No
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a001.html

Jonah

I can't believe that Jonah was in a fish for 3 days; his skin would have been disintegrated; he wouldn't have oxygen; digestion would have pushed him too far for him to be spit back out.

Luke 11:29
29As the crowds increased, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation."

If Jesus lied when talking about Jonah, then he either isn't God or isn't a God worthy of worship. If Jesus was mistaken about Jonah then Jesus wasn't God (because God cannot be mistaken) or Jesus wasn't God in the flesh.

The Bible

Contains 66 books, 1189 chapters
Written 40 men over a period of 1500 years

Interpretation

Why are there so many denominations?
Because we don't want to believe particular ideas, we want to fit God into our lifestyle, we feel like we should be able to logically and emotionally understand God's law/Word.

Who are we to judge what is important and not important to God?

How can you claim God is God but cannot recognize his power. If God is bigger than man, then why do you limit the possibilities for God. This is all about your view of God.

Bible Errancy

If the Bible is wrong, what does that mean?

Journal of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism: "If there be any mistakes in the Bible, there may as well be a thousand. If there be one falsehood in that book it did not come from the God of truth."

Anything that isn't what I want to hear are parts that don't apply/aren't true. I will interpret it to fit into my current lifestyle.

2 Timothy 3:16
16 All Scripture is Godbreathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

Luke 16:17
17 It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.

Matthew 5:18
18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Historical Evidence

The renowned Jewish archaeologist, Nelson Glueck, wrote: "It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference." cited by McDowell, Josh. The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict.

Prophecies?

Probability of fulfillment: 1 in 10x10^100

Additional Information:

The Bible Delivered to us Today

http://www.letusreason.org/Apolo21.htm

This Directory list articles on Bible Doctrines

http://www.letusreason.org/Bibdoct.htm

Why follow ONLY the Scripture?

http://www.letusreason.org/Doct41.htm

The Resurrection: a fact not easily Ignored

http://www.letusreason.org/Doct24.htm

Discussion 2/23: Religious Exclusivity

Are religions mutually exclusive?

Point: All religions are fundamentally the same but superficially different.

Counterpoint: All may be superficially the same but fundamentally different.

If certain religions believe that all are basically the same, then how can those practicing the relation get upset when one converts away to another religion?

The Arrogance of Christianity:

(from The Case for Faith)

"...isn't it grossly arrogant for Christians to claim Jesus is the one and only way to God? Why do Christians think they're justified in asserting that they're right and that everybody else in the world is wrong?"

"First, it's important to understand that Christianity is not the only religion hat claims exclusivity. For instance, Muslims radically claim exclusivity "" not just theologically, but also linguistically. Muslims believe that the sole, sufficient, and consummate miracle of Islam is the Koran and it's only recognizable in Arabic...

As for Buddhism, it was born when Gautama Buddha rejected two fundamental assertions of Hinduism "" the ultimate authority of the Vedas, which are their scriptures, and the caste system. Hinduism itself is absolutely uncompromising on two or three issues: the law of karma, which is the law of moral cause and effect...; the authority of the Vedas; and reincarnation."

"But I've heard Hindus say quite nobly that Hinduism is a very tolerant faith."

"...What it really means is that Hinduism allows you to practice your religion so long as it buys into their notion of truth, which is syncretistic." (Syncretism is the attempt to blend together different or even opposing beliefs.

"As for Sikhism, it came as a challenge to both Hinduism and Buddhism. Then there are the atheists -they reject the viewpoints of those who believe in God. And even Baha'ism, which claims to be a cosmic embrace of all religions, ends up excluding the exclusivists! Therefore, the statement that Christians are arrogant by claiming exclusivity ignore the reality that every other major religion also does.

Bah' Statement:

We [Bah' International Community] believe that all the world's major religions have proceeded from the same Source, worshiped alike by Bah', Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jew and Muslim... The core teachings of every religion for example, the teaching to love one's neighbor - are essentially the same, and we submit that they reflect one universal truth.
http://www.bic-un.bahai.org/88-0217.htm

What is your purpose for having a religion?

If truth, then truth requires exclusivity because truth and falsehood cannot coexist.

If to feel good about yourself, have a connection with others, have a way to explain complex human questions, then what you want is something that won't impose on your (or others) current beliefs, convictions, world view, or perspective. In which case any religion likely will provide the "feel-good" feeling you desire.

Prejudice (Intolerance):

The only thing that is illegitimate in America today is prejudice. If you can brand anything as prejudice that thing is then discounted. Prejudices moved from race to morality.

Atheist's Creed by Steve Turner

We today believe in Marx Freud and Darwin. We believe everything is O.K. as long as you don't hurt anyone to the best of your definition of hurt and to the best of your definition of knowledge. We believe in the therapy of sin. We believe that taboos are taboo. We believe that everything is getting better despite evidence to the contrary. The evidence must be investigated, and you can prove anything with evidence. We believe there's something in horoscopes, UFOs and bent spoons. Jesus was a good man, just like Buddha, Muhammad and ourselves. He was a good teacher, although we think his good morals were really bad. We believe that all religions are basically the same, at least the ones we read were. They all believe in love and goodness. They only differ on matters of creation, sin, heaven, hell, God and salvation. We believe that after death comes the nothing - because when you ask the dead what happens, they say,-- nothing. If death isn't the end, and if the dead have lied, then it's compulsory heaven for all- except Hitler, Stalin and Genghis Khan... We believe in total disarmament. We believe that there are direct links between warfare and bloodshed. We believe that man is essentially good, it's only his behavior that lets him down. This is the fault of society; Society is the fault of conditions; and conditions are the fault of society. We believe that each man should find the truth that is right for him and reality will adapt accordingly; the universe will re-adjust, history will alter. We believe that there is no absolute truth, except for the truth that there is no absolute truth. We believe in the rejection of creeds and the flowering of individual thought.

What if most of the world isn't going to go to heaven?

The Bible claims that many more will die and be condemned to hell than will enter heaven.

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) - The Narrow and Wide Gates
13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Luke 13:22-35 (NIV) - The Narrow Door
22Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone asked him, Lord, are only a few people going to be saved? He said to them, 24 Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, "Sir, open the door for us.'

Followup:

How To Be Sure of Heaven: Where will you spend Eternity if you die today?
http://www.heavensoft.com/ministry/heaven.htm

Sermon on the Mount: Narrow is the Way
http://www.ebibleteacher.com/children/lessons/narrow.htm

Only One Way: Jesus Is The Only Way
http://home.gwi.net/~maxswan/only_one_way.htm

Discussion 2/9: Truth & Morality: Absolute or Relative

What is Truth?

Is it possible to know what Truth is? Is it true that we exist? To think about the answer proves we exist. Existence proves the state of reality. And to think about yourself, proves reason. These are two axioms or undeniable facts; I exist, and I reason.

Truth : is an expression, symbol or statement that matches or corresponds to its object or referent. Truth must correspond to reality in order to be true.

Absolute Truth : true for all, at all times and places

Relative Truth : subject to the holder of truth.

Problems with Subjective Truth:

1. Relativism is self-defeating:
   The relativist believes that subjective truth is true for everyone, not just from them. Therefore, if a relativist thinks it is true for everyone, then he believes it is an absolute truth. Therefore, he is no longer a relativist.
2. Relativism is full of contradictions.
   If Billy Graham believed God exists and an Atheist believes God did not exist both would be right.
3. Relativism means no has ever been wrong.
   No one could ever be wrong since there is no standard for right and wrong.

Objections to Absolute Truth:

1. Some things are relative to others
2. No new truths or progress is possible.
3. Truth changes with our growth in knowledge.
4. Absolute truth is too narrow.
   Any Truth claim is narrow because truth by it nature means the other option is non-truth (LNC).
5. Absolute truth is dogmatic
   The claim of truth excludes non-truth.
6. How can you know something is true?
   Absolute Truth is true regardless of what we believe and think. Absolute truth is absolutely true no matter what evidence there is for it. Truth does not change just because we learn something about it.

Agnosticism

Total agnosticism assumes some knowledge about reality in order to deny any knowledge of reality.

What was the First Cause? How did the Universe begin? Is God a logical concept? Without God where did matter come from?

What is Moral Relativity?

The view that when it comes to questions of morality, there are no absolutes and no objective right or wrong; moral rules are merely personal preferences and/or the result of one's cultural, sexual or ethnic orientation

Arguments for Moral Relativism:

1. Disagreement: The moral relativist feels since cultures and individuals disagree on moral issues therefore there can be no moral norms that are right and wrong.
2. Tolerance: The Moral relativist embraces the view that one should not judge other cultures or individuals, for to do so would be intolerant.

The words; wrong, sin and good imply there exists an objective moral standard. Relativism denies any such standard.

Disagreement:

1. Disagreement does not prove relativism:
2. Disagreement disproves relativism:
3. Disagreement itself invalidates Relativism because disagreement requires someone to "be right"

Moral Relativism rejects all moral judgments:
killing people for fun is wrong; Stealing from people is a sin; Feeding the homeless is good

Tolerance:

1. Tolerance supports objective morality.
   If everybody ought to be tolerant, then tolerance becomes an objective. Tolerance presupposes that there is something good about being tolerant.
2. Relativism is a closed-minded intolerant position
   Relativism dogmatically asserts there is no moral truth. Tolerance is position that we should be open-minded to the positions of others. Relativism becomes a closed-minded system intolerant of those who claim to have "Truth"
3. Relativism is judgmental, exclusivist and partisan.
   The relativist claims that if you believe in objective moral truth you are wrong.
   Relativism excludes those who claim to have objective moral truth, therefore exclusive.
   Because relativism is exclusive, all non-relativists are automatically not members of the "Correct thinking" party, and therefore partisan.
4. Tolerance is either barbaric or self-refuting.

Sources:

Is Morality Relative?
http://www.truthnet.org/Christianity/Apologetics/Morality1/

Is Truth Objective or Subjective?
http://www.truthnet.org/Christianity/Apologetics/Truth2/
http://www.truthnet.org/apologetics/

Discussion 2/2: Meditation and Prayer

What is Meditation?

1. A state of extreme relaxation and concentration, in which the body is generally at rest and the mind quieted of surface thoughts
2. Discounting wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming and focusing the mind
3. Learning to live naturally and to be in contact and control over oneself.

Effects

1. Several side-effects have been reported, among these we find uncomfortable kinaesthetic sensations, mild dissociation and psychosis-like symptoms. A clinical study of twenty-seven long term meditators reports adverse effects such as depression, relaxation-induced anxiety and panic, paradoxical increases in tension, impaired reality testing, confusion, disorientation and feeling 'spaced out'. The tendency of meditation to disturb object-relations and release unconscious material implies that the beginning meditator should approach the practice with some moderation.

Certain religious practices can so stimulate the body's calm system or its flight system that activity in the related brain circuit starts to 'reverberate,' while simultaneously shutting down ever more of the other system. Different parts of the brain are activated, perceived by the mind as a higher state of consciousness.

In states of very high activity around one circuit, there can be a 'spillover,' such that the dormant system activates and goes 'on line' simultaneously with the other. This dual state can lead to a sense of 'tremendous release of energy' that may feel like 'oceanic bliss' or absorption into the object of contemplation. And extreme cases of both systems being activated can induce brain activities perceived by the mind as the 'Absolute Unity of Being,' or AUB. A mystic in the AUB state will experience either a divine being, such as God, or the cosmic void of nirvana, depending on whether there has been a predominantly ergotropic or trophotropic involvement.'

http://www.scienceandreligion.com/b_myst_1.html

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation

An effort to communicate with a God, or to some deity or deities, either to offer praise to the deity, to make a request of the deity, or simply to express one's thoughts and emotions to the deity

Why would/do you meditate/pray?

1. To relax from a busy daily routine
2. To gain insight into the nature of reality or of communing with one's God
3. To take oneself to another level of spiritual existence (enlightenment)
   Can we enter a level that is not already present within is (since we are only looking within)?
4. Enlightenment: must alienate yourself from yourself to understand you self-consciousness (to know your existence, you cannot be within your existence)
5. So what can we do to make ourselves more right minded. One way is to meditate. That allows us to cut off the conscious mind. Deprived of the sensory data that it thrives on the conscious gets bored and turns off. This allows us to enter the mind of our unconscious.
6. http://www.geocities.com/hairybobby2000/dreammed.html

Over ten months, 393 patients admitted to the CCU were randomized. While hospitalized, the first group received IP by participating Christians praying outside the hospital; the control group did not. The IP group had a significantly lower severity score These data suggest that intercessory prayer to the Judeo-Christian God has a beneficial therapeutic effect in patients admitted to a CCU.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=3393937

1. Christian: Meditates on the Word of God (the Bible)
2. Buddhist: Meditates on/about oneself