Jul 20, 2011 -- 9:56PM, Puresoul wrote:

People Who Lack Faith Require Solid Evidence Or Concrete Proof.  Doubt is stronger and more plentiful than anything else.  And that is why people take a stance against things like "The Fourth Way" or esoteric Christianity.

But those who belleve don't need to have everything backed up or referenced by archiological facts or anything like that.  FAITH is what we base our relationship with The Almighty CREATOR on. 

 

There are people who are concerned with truth, people for whom knowledge is more compelling than mere belief. However, not all people are so constituted.

Some people are driven by a simple will to believe. For such people, religion - by whatever fancy name it might go by - fulfills a basic desire to be religious. Their faith (the transparent admission that their beliefs cannot stand on their own two feet) is impregnable to fact, their belief impervious to mere truth. 

Jul 21, 2011 -- 2:35PM, Puresoul wrote:

Jul 21, 2011 -- 4:11AM, Namchuck wrote:

Jul 20, 2011 -- 9:56PM, Puresoul wrote:

People Who Lack Faith Require Solid Evidence Or Concrete Proof.  Doubt is stronger and more plentiful than anything else.  And that is why people take a stance against things like "The Fourth Way" or esoteric Christianity.

But those who belleve don't need to have everything backed up or referenced by archiological facts or anything like that.  FAITH is what we base our relationship with The Almighty CREATOR on. 

 

There are people who are concerned with truth, people for whom knowledge is more compelling than mere belief. However, not all people are so constituted.

Some people are driven by a simple will to believe. For such people, religion - by whatever fancy name it might go by - fulfills a basic desire to be religious. Their faith (the transparent admission that their beliefs cannot stand on their own two feet) is impregnable to fact, their belief impervious to mere truth. 

You misunderstood my point.  It's not that religion can't be proven at all.

I don't think I misunderstood your point at all.

Anyway, can religion be "proven" to any degree? And which one?

   But the individuals who REQUIRE Proof In Order To Believe Or Accept Something As Truth, Those Are Doubting Thomas', and they are the ones who lack faith.

I don't know that anyone is asking for 'proof'. There are those, like myself, who are simply skeptical about religious claims. While skepticism is not necessarily a negative position - I'm thinking in terms of what Goethe referred to as 'Thatige Skepsis', or "active doubt" - why should one believe until the evidence is favorable enough?

The reason why I am a skeptic, in the Goethean sense, rather than a religionist is because I think the idea of skepticism is immeasurably healthier and closer to the truth than any ideas proposed by religion, regardless of human fallibility in both camps. 

I have no problem with proving what I believe to be based on facts.  The Only Problem I Have Is When A Person Who Is Totally Closed Minded Says, "prove it to me", When They Knew From The Beginning That They Had No Intention On Listening To Reason.   It's like trying to change someone's sexual orientation or something like that (LOL).  HOW CAN YOU TRULY CONVERT A GAY MAN INTO A STRAIGHT MAN?...Samething goes for trying to explain religion to a Non-Believer.

Well, some religious people like to label people "Close Minded" only to mask the fact that the reasons they give for their beliefs are invariably so inadequate to the inquirer.

Jul 25, 2011 -- 6:13AM, BIRK wrote:

  Have you ever stopped taking in information in , long enough to compare how similar each path to God requires the intention to Love, "Oh so completely"?

Most religions are very prone to talking about love, but it seldom rises above the verbal level, as the history of religion amply testifies.

  Surrender all fear to unconditional Love.  This is the key to all wisdom that mankind has come up with so far.   It is that simple.

That's the kind of verbal expressions I have just referred to.

  The Hardest part is the knowing that you want to know. how to Love completely".

   Thats the cord only you can cut.

  I can't cut anyones cord. nor would I want to, until they're ready.

I think you're pulling mine. :)

  Contrary to popular belief, Prophets and Mystics are not here to save any body from anything.

Just as well, for if they were, they've failed miserably.

   We know The world is in perfect order, everywhere love is allowed to flourish..

One could debate that point with compelling evidence.

 

Jul 27, 2011 -- 7:13AM, BIRK wrote:

It will come to you when you want it most, and then forget that you wanted it.

Not quite sure what the "it" is you're referring to, BIRK, but if it's love, I've had, and have, my fair share.

Gurdjieff, an infamous charlatan, nut, and hoaxer.