Why do people believe in astrology?

[badger6]

OK sorry.

If you have a relationship with God you will know when He is speaking to you. He speaks through the Holy Spirit, the Bible, the church, through prayer, through circumstances and even divine intervention. If you do not have one all you have to do is humble yourself and ask Him for one and He will do it.

I have taught this to my kids. If they have a genuine question they can pray about it and put it before God. In some way He will give them an answer and they will know it when he does. For each of us is different but God knows what each of us needs to be moved by Him so it isn't really a problem. It also isn't a formula so how He does it with me and someone else could be quite different. The end result is it will be a personal experience with God that each oif us can relate to. 

No you had it right. The second part was the question. The first part about asking god wasn't important.........

[Pappy13]

No CF got it right.

Well that's not what you asked.

My point was, that if god supposedly knows the future and knows what will happen. Is that 100% set in stone to happen ?

Yes, in the future, but not in the present.  It remains to be seen what will happen in the future in the present.  That's kinda awkward wording, but it's accurate.

[badger6]

Well that's not what you asked.

Yes it is !!!

If I could ask god right now this second, and he could answer me.

^^^Hypothetical Statement

Are you saying that he could tell me where I was going when I die, what my decisions will be, and everything else about the future with 100% accuracy ?

^^^Question

Yes, in the future, but not in the present.  It remains to be seen what will happen in the future in the present.  That's kinda awkward wording, but it's accurate.

Ha, ha, ha, that make no sense. If god can see the future and he sees that I'm going to hell, then I'm going to hell in the future. Right ? That should be a simple yes or no question !!!!

[Pappy13]

Are you saying that he could tell me where I was going when I die, what my decisions will be, and everything else about the future with 100% accuracy ?

You asked if he could tell you.

Ha, ha, ha, that make no sense. If god can see the future and he sees that I'm going to hell, then I'm going to hell in the future. Right ? That should be a simple yes or no question !!!!

Yes, in the FUTURE!!! That doesn't mean that today you are going to hell.  That hasn't been decided yet.  It won't be decided until the future.  You can't make the future today no matter how hard you try.

[badger6]

You asked if he could tell you.
Yes, in the FUTURE!!! That doesn't mean that today you are going to hell.  That hasn't been decided yet.  It won't be decided until the future.  You can't make the future today no matter how hard you try.

But if god sees the future and what he sees is 100% set in stone, then in fact, we may not know the future, but the future is set. What god sees for the future is gonna happen regardless, good or bad. If that is the case we can't change it.

[Pappy13]

But if god sees the future and what he sees is 100% set in stone, then in fact, we may not know the future, but the future is set. What god sees for the future is gonna happen regardless, good or bad. If that is the case we can't change it.

I tried.  I'm done.  Don't ever read up on Einstein's theory of relativity.  You won't understand it.

[badger6]

I tried.  I'm done.  Don't ever read up on Einstein's theory of relativity.  You won't understand it.

I didn't mean to wear you out, ha ha. Einstein's theory of relativity ? Come on man you know science and god is like oil and water  .

Dave, Sunstroke help me understand what Pappy is trying to say. Cause I can't wrap my head around it. Maybe I'm just stupid or something. Pappy is making me feel like Karl from Sling Blade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tqTWQiTlhKQ#t=53s

[Dave Gray]

I don't understand what he's trying to say.  If God can see the future, then a future exists.  If it already exists, how can you choose anything but what you will ultimately choose?

[badger6]

I don't understand what he's trying to say.  If God can see the future, then a future exists.  If it already exists, how can you choose anything but what you will ultimately choose?

Yes, I agree. If what god knows as the future is 100% gonna happen. There is no need to try to do anything. Free will has nothing to do with it on his end or with the final outcome. Maybe if I go back and read up no Nikola Tesla's death ray, I will find the answer  . No I'm not mocking or making fun of anyone or anything, just trying to be funny. Why is politics and religion got to be so serious ?

Maybe sunstroke understands better than us dave and will chime in.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Here is another paradox.  The story of Adam and Eve getting thrown out of Eden. 

Never mind the paradox of does god knowing in advance destroy free will, this one is worse.  If in fact God is all knowing and all powerful, then he is also a sadistic bastard with an extremely twisted and sick sense of humor.   

If God is all knowing, than at the time of creation, he knew I would eventually make this post.  He also knew the Holocaust would occur, the Kamire Rouge, Sept 11, the sinking of the Titanic, etc.  And while you may dismiss that all on the concept of free will of man, you can’t dismiss his own actions. 

When God put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden he knew they would eat from the tree of knowledge.  He knew it.  Even more so than my sister knows that if she gives my niece candy she will eat it. 

Here is what God did:  The equivalent of a mom handing her 3 year old toddler the child’s favorite candy bar and tell them they are prohibited from eating it.  And then when the child does eats it, severely punishing the child for eating the candy bar the mother knew would be eaten. 

But God gets worse.  At the time of creation he knew his people would eventually act up be acting as they were at the time of Noah.  That’s right at the time of creation God knew that the flood would be coming. And the flood was not some random act of free will by man like 9/11, it was the deliberate act of God.  And he knew he was gonna do it from day one.  Just like he knew he was gonna destroy Sodom and Gomorra. And knew he was gonna turn Lot’s wife into a pillar of salt. 

Only a very seriously sadistic parent would set up his children like that before they are even born.     

[Sunstroke]

If in fact God is all knowing and all powerful, then he is also a sadistic bastard with an extremely twisted and sick sense of humor. 

Well, you don't have to read too far into the Bible before you come across the little nugget about man being made in God's image... We are creatures of extreme duality, so why would we expect anything different from our model parent?

As far as the whole "free will" and "God knows everything in advance" topic goes, I'm not buying it for a second, and I put it to the test today. I specifically was going to order a particular Quiznos sub for dinner this evening, but then at the very last second, I blurted out the name of a completely different random sub off the menu. I am 99% certain that I juked God out of his sneakers with that one...

[badger6]

Well, you don't have to read too far into the Bible before you come across the little nugget about man being made in God's image... We are creatures of extreme duality, so why would we expect anything different from our model parent?

As far as the whole "free will" and "God knows everything in advance" topic goes, I'm not buying it for a second, and I put it to the test today. I specifically was going to order a particular Quiznos sub for dinner this evening, but then at the very last second, I blurted out the name of a completely different random sub off the menu. I am 99% certain that I juked God out of his sneakers with that one...

but, god wanted a meatball with double cheese and sausage, woooo  hooooo

[bsmooth]

If God see alls and knows all that will happen, there is no free will.
If there is free will, then God is not omnipotent.

It is simple, but too many religious believers want their cake and to eat it too.


A great book on this concept is called God's Debris by Scott Adams the creator of Dilbert.

[tepop84]

please explain dinosaurs too. 

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I tried.  I'm done.  Don't ever read up on Einstein's theory of relativity.  You won't understand it.

Huh?

I studied Einstein's theory of relativity in college.  It don't recall any inconsistant paradoxs or contriditions in the theory.

Understanding Einstein's theory of relativity is not particularly hard if you have a solid understanding of Newtonian Physics and intergral calculus.  Not saying it is simple but no harder than most advance physics concepts.  The problem is that many people try to understand the theory without the proper prequistes which is like trying to learn calculus without understanding algerba.