2006-2-10 11:00:00
Good dialog on my last question. I'll make comments shortly.
I've been reading a few sites on floating cities and found one concise treatise outlining the evolution of the idea and who has been working on it. The paper can be downloaded at:
http://www.seastead.org/localres/floating-utopias/
I think the group would find it interesting.
I thought I would add a couple comments to Robin's question
Robin wrote:
Yesterday I was having a conversation with a group of women friends. Most of them are involved in pretty mainstream religions, attending church, reading the Bible, etc. One woman said she had been doing a Bible study and had come to the realization that Jesus/God (yes they are synonymous terms for this woman) expected and wanted us to bring any problem, no matter how trivial, to him first. She went so far as to say that it was a sin to do otherwise, (using 'sin' in the very traditional, Christian way.)
I spoke up and said that I thought that we were expected to do a much for ourselves as possible first ... not run directly for help without first trying to find a solution on our own. She countered, saying that that idea was man-made, and challenged me to find it anywhere in the Bible. So ... can anyone here help me with this? I went to Bible Gateway this morning and tried to search, but couldn't come up with any search terms that got me what I was looking for. Is this idea really supported by scripture, or is it like the 'personal savior' thing that people toss about, but can't be found in the Bible? I appreciate any help in finding an answer to this question.
Xavier is right in that in the ideal world we should be able to use reason and soul contact to decide what is either good or bad in our actions and approach. Unfortunately, we do not live in an ideal world and have to deal with those subject to the beast of authority on a regular basis.
So how do we deal with someone who is relying on an outer God?
Do we preach the inner?
We can but in almost all cases it will do little good.
What do we do then?
Unfortunately, the only way to influence them is to use the authority they accept. In this case it is the scriptures.
On the other hand, the good thing about using the scriptures as an authority is that they are a much better, more reliable authority than any preacher telling you what to believe. Still they are far from infallible and our ability to interpret them correctly is more fallible still.
So what do you do when challenged by a believer to prove something from the Bible? If you are not well versed in the Bible throw their words back at them.
In your case say: "Where does it say in the Bible that I'm supposed to bother God with the trivial details of my life?"
Now the shoe is on the other foot. She must now prove her point. Most of the time the person will be unable to and you can just say:
"Well, if the Bible does not support your view then why are you preaching to me about it?"
Or:
"It looks like the Bible says nothing contrary to what I am saying."
Then there is a chance she may quote a scripture. In this case you can just look at it and give your own interpretation.
For instance, she may say: "The Bible says Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil." Proverbs 3:5-7
You can then take the scripture and defend your point of view with it.
"I personally trust in the Lord to give me the wisdom to make trivial decisions without bothering him with little details. Trust is an attitude like prayer. The scriptures says to 'pray always' but no one literally does this. One can, however, always have a prayerful, as well as trusting, attitude."
You'll find that you can argue well with any expert, even if you know nothing about a subject if you just be the aggressor and force the other person to answer questions while you only answer what you please. Then you can take the data that he brings up and use it as reason directs.
Incidentally a scripture you could have used was the parable of the talents. The man who buried his talent and did not put it to use was condemned as slothful. Those who put the talents to use without asking the master for approval of all the details were rewarded.
When you're through changing, you're through. Bruce Barton
Copyright © 2006 by J J Dewey, All Rights Reserved