The Christian Thought Process

[_Scottie]

How many times have you heard a Bible bashing EV and a True Blue Mormon go toe to toe over the nature of God and the trinity? Each side will start pulling out the laundry list of scriptures that "proves" that they are right. Most of these scriptures being a complete contradiction to each other.

Is the need to be right so overwhelmingly powerful that neither side can objectively look at this and say, "Hey, wait a minute...we are using the same set of scriptures and BOTH of us are right. So, doesn't that naturally mean that both of us are also wrong??"

I only use the trinity as an example. There are many teachings that Mormons view one way with their scriptural "evidence" in the Bible, and the EV that views it their way with their "evidence".

So, I put it out to the apologists. Do you believe that these EV's have misinterpreted the scriptures? Has the Bible been tainted in translation so it is no longer valid, except where it supports LDS doctrine? What is your explanation?

[_The Nehor]

The Holy Ghost is the only way of understanding the Bible....or any scripture. Once the debate begins people usually get angry. Once they get angry contention takes over and people focus on destroying each other. Then everyone always loses. Then they brag over who lost less.

[_Nephi]

"Hey, wait a minute...we are using the same set of scriptures and BOTH of us are right. So, doesn't that naturally mean that both of us are also wrong??"

This leads to the ideas of universalism, and no it does not lead to both being wrong. They are both right, which implies that there is more than on pathway back to God in life. What is interesting is that they are only right for individuals, and yet are wrong for others (like if we both need to get to City of Fake in the state of Delusion, just because I can take a boat, doesn't mean you can, but doesn't mean my boat is wrong).

This is why I think its funny that the church has made me a Ward Missionary. Though I love to go talk about the gospel with others, I am not quick to try to convert people, moreso that I just wanna talk about stuff. Many times I meet people who are not to be converted because they are on the proper path for themselves. They are RIGHT (for themselves), and if they were to take the path we are describing, they would all of a sudden be wrong (even though our path is right for us).

[_Scottie]

"Hey, wait a minute...we are using the same set of scriptures and BOTH of us are right. So, doesn't that naturally mean that both of us are also wrong??"

This leads to the ideas of universalism, and no it does not lead to both being wrong. They are both right, which implies that there is more than on pathway back to God in life. What is interesting is that they are only right for individuals, and yet are wrong for others (like if we both need to get to City of Fake in the state of Delusion, just because I can take a boat, doesn't mean you can, but doesn't mean my boat is wrong).

This is why I think its funny that the church has made me a Ward Missionary. Though I love to go talk about the gospel with others, I am not quick to try to convert people, moreso that I just wanna talk about stuff. Many times I meet people who are not to be converted because they are on the proper path for themselves. They are RIGHT (for themselves), and if they were to take the path we are describing, they would all of a sudden be wrong (even though our path is right for us).

No, both of you can't be right about the nature of the father, the son and the holy ghost. They are either 1 being in 3 manifestations or 3 separate, distinct beings.

[_The Dude]

The Holy Ghost is the only way of understanding the Bible....or any scripture. Once the debate begins people usually get angry. Once they get angry contention takes over and people focus on destroying each other. Then everyone always loses. Then they brag over who lost less.

So when the EV and the Mormon go toe to toe, we already know the Mormon will be the winner because his real Holy Ghost Trump's the EV's fake speaking-in-tongues holy ghost, riiiight? But then it's only fair to give the Mormons a weakness... hmmm....

I say the Mormons crush EVs, the J-Dubs cover Mormons, and the EVs cut J-Dubs. That way Bible-bashing is balanced -- Like a game of play rock-paper-scissors!

[_guy sajer]

How many times have you heard a Bible bashing EV and a True Blue Mormon go toe to toe over the nature of God and the trinity? Each side will start pulling out the laundry list of scriptures that "proves" that they are right. Most of these scriptures being a complete contradiction to each other.

Is the need to be right so overwhelmingly powerful that neither side can objectively look at this and say, "Hey, wait a minute...we are using the same set of scriptures and BOTH of us are right. So, doesn't that naturally mean that both of us are also wrong??"

I only use the trinity as an example. There are many teachings that Mormons view one way with their scriptural "evidence" in the Bible, and the EV that views it their way with their "evidence".

So, I put it out to the apologists. Do you believe that these EV's have misinterpreted the scriptures? Has the Bible been tainted in translation so it is no longer valid, except where it supports LDS doctrine? What is your explanation?

It's akin to two trekkies heatedly debating the physical properties of dilythium crystals. It's irrelevant who wins the argument, neither are right.

[_guy sajer]

How many times have you heard a Bible bashing EV and a True Blue Mormon go toe to toe over the nature of God and the trinity? Each side will start pulling out the laundry list of scriptures that "proves" that they are right. Most of these scriptures being a complete contradiction to each other.

Is the need to be right so overwhelmingly powerful that neither side can objectively look at this and say, "Hey, wait a minute...we are using the same set of scriptures and BOTH of us are right. So, doesn't that naturally mean that both of us are also wrong??"

I only use the trinity as an example. There are many teachings that Mormons view one way with their scriptural "evidence" in the Bible, and the EV that views it their way with their "evidence".

So, I put it out to the apologists. Do you believe that these EV's have misinterpreted the scriptures? Has the Bible been tainted in translation so it is no longer valid, except where it supports LDS doctrine? What is your explanation?

It's akin to two trekkies heatedly debating the physical properties of dilythium crystals. It's irrelevant who wins the argument, neither is right.

[_ozemc]

How many times have you heard a Bible bashing EV and a True Blue Mormon go toe to toe over the nature of God and the trinity? Each side will start pulling out the laundry list of scriptures that "proves" that they are right. Most of these scriptures being a complete contradiction to each other.

Is the need to be right so overwhelmingly powerful that neither side can objectively look at this and say, "Hey, wait a minute...we are using the same set of scriptures and BOTH of us are right. So, doesn't that naturally mean that both of us are also wrong??"

I only use the trinity as an example. There are many teachings that Mormons view one way with their scriptural "evidence" in the Bible, and the EV that views it their way with their "evidence".

So, I put it out to the apologists. Do you believe that these EV's have misinterpreted the scriptures? Has the Bible been tainted in translation so it is no longer valid, except where it supports LDS doctrine? What is your explanation?

I guess my explanation would be that The Bible is just a book, written by men, for men. Just like all the other scriptures out there.

They have some good ideas, and some bad ones as well, but, when you get right down to it, they are just someone's viewpoint of how God is, and how we can relate to Him.

I personally think that whoever or whatever God is, or the intelligence that created it all that we call God, is more magnificient, more awesome, more fantastic than anything that could be written down in a book on this tiny little planet that is not even the biggest planet in our own solar system.

Look to the stars. There's so much out there than we can't even begin to imagine, and we think that God is going to personally talk to people here? Or that he came down and wrestled with a man? Or, was once a man?

That, to me, makes no sense at all.

[_Calculus Crusader]

How many times have you heard a Bible bashing EV and a True Blue Mormon go toe to toe over the nature of God and the trinity? Each side will start pulling out the laundry list of scriptures that "proves" that they are right. Most of these scriptures being a complete contradiction to each other.

Is the need to be right so overwhelmingly powerful that neither side can objectively look at this and say, "Hey, wait a minute...we are using the same set of scriptures and BOTH of us are right. So, doesn't that naturally mean that both of us are also wrong??"

I only use the trinity as an example. There are many teachings that Mormons view one way with their scriptural "evidence" in the Bible, and the EV that views it their way with their "evidence".

So, I put it out to the apologists. Do you believe that these EV's have misinterpreted the scriptures? Has the Bible been tainted in translation so it is no longer valid, except where it supports LDS doctrine? What is your explanation?

It's simple; both Christologies are wrong. :)

[_Mercury]

This is why I think its funny that the church has made me a Ward Missionary.

Never once did I ever have a ward/stake missionary that wasn't a total creepy vibe emanating tool.

We always hated talking to them, having them take us out on splits, etc. Gawd I hated my mission.