Monster Hurricane...

[Crackpot]

I know. If I had a better idea I’d do it. My problem is it seem that come a certain point education just stops. And that point happens way before any type of critical analysis begins.

[ex-khobar Andy]

Per Meade:

Interesting (to me) that the Bible confirms what you wrote; that people without God can have a functioning moral compass. Romans 2:14 is very clear.

I hadn't noticed Romans 2:14 (it's been a while) but

(ISV) For whenever gentiles, who do not possess the Law, do instinctively what the Law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the Law.

I think you're over-reading it a tad. I used ISV because KJV is a little dense here.

Nevertheless, thanks for that. There are self-professed Christians who tell us that iff Christian then morally superior. I know you don't think like that; but next time I meet one I shall throw Romans 2:14 at him.

[MajGenl.Meade]

There are self-professed Christians who tell us that if Christian then morally superior. I know you don't think like that; but next time I meet one I shall throw Romans 2:14 at him.

Welcome. Throw with force! Surely, an essential element of recognizing Christ as saviour is to admit that one is not morally superior but in the exact same condition as all others. Becoming a believer is not some badge of brilliant decision-making and clever self-congratulation. It is rather the opposite.

On 2:14, Albert Barnes seems representative of commentary: "The expression means clearly by the light of conscience and reason, and whatever other helps they may have without revelation. It denotes simply, in that state which is without the revealed will of God. In that condition they had many helps of tradition, conscience, reason, and the observation of the dealings of divine Providence, so that to a considerable extent they knew what was right and what was wrong" (My emphasis)

If non-theists were without morals, there would have been no national/secular moral codes anywhere outside of the Jewish law. And that just is not so. אמן

[BoSoxGal]

Speaking of a loving and benevolent entity - sure looks like he’s totally fucked his flock on Abaco and elsewhere on the Bahamas, where officials now warn the final Dorian death toll will be staggering.

Ah well - all gone to a better place after the brief agony of drowning in relentless storm surge. Thank ye, oh wise and loving Destroyer.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Why does anyone feel "better" about natural disasters by blaming a God they don't believe exists? [Or more likely, in the delusion that cynical hyperbole proves that God doesn't exist].

That seems to me to be as irrational and unpleasant as those who believe God diverts a storm onto some other poor bastard if they just pray hard enough.

[Joe Guy]

.......... אמן

That reminds me of a song I haven't heard in a while.

The chorus goes like this:

אמן אמן
אמן אמן אמן

[MajGenl.Meade]

I expect you heard it on a corner

[ex-khobar Andy]

BTW Meade I just noticed that when you quoted me five posts up from here, you silently corrected my 'iff' which was decent of you: there are those who put in a loud '(sic)' to make the point that they are aware of the error. In fact I actually purposely wrote 'iff' which is logicspeak for 'if and only if.'

I have to admit that I am totally nonplussed by the אמן אמן אמן exchange. My Hebrew is non existent although I did pick up the alphabet during a couple of weeks in Tel Aviv 25 years ago. Once you see a few signs like אל על = El Al and הילטון = Hilton you can figure it out pretty quickly. But when I put אמן אמן אמן into Google Translate it tells me it means Artist Artist Artist. So I am no wiser.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Oops! Sorry ex-kA - never heard of "iff". I must confess that before I save emails from my very good friend Brian on my PC, I correct his spelling and grammar. He'll never know. Sometimes I rearrange words he's written to improve flow and remove superfluous verbiage. It's an illness, I know.

I think you'll find one translation is "amen" - now you'll have Joe's song stuck in your head for days, just as I did.

[Joe Guy]

אמן