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To Bert, can I get this in a different thread, please? See, I feel a sudden urge to talk about this, but this thread is very good while being meant for something else entirely. Thank you. =)
Really depends on who you're talking to. There are some faiths that believe in God's plan (predestination...Calvinism?) and others that believe in free will. There's also a combination of the two, where a certain path may be planned, but based on your decision it can branch off one way or the other.
Hmm... I wonder what exact faith that priest was, then? I guess I just sort of figured that if all those slightly differing faiths were all branched from Christianity, that the result of that particular question would remain the same.
The only logical explanation is that God wanted them to die. Read the Old Testament, God basically wants everyone to die.
Oh, I have. I prefer that version to the New Testament. The New Testament seemed very plain to me, like it really had no style. In the Old Testament, they gave God a pretty cool character. He's vengeful, angry, sadistic and a bit crazy and he believes in fear over respect. That's the one thing I disagree with, though. I always liked the idea of respecting someone rather than fearing them.
However, if you follow the Old Testament, that response makes sense. The Rapture didn't have a specific date, did it? I don't think it did, but I read it a few years ago, so my mind's kind of fuzzy on that.
I'm sorry. I keep getting this thing off-track, but I really need to know this one. Am I right in saying that, at the minimum, about five billion people believe in the wrong faith? Because it's established, just in the basic fundamentals, that every religion cannot be right.
To start with, you have monotheistic versus polytheistic.
Then, you have Old Testament (Judaism) and New Testament (Christianity).
After that, you have the different types of the worshipped. You've got Animism (believing that everything has a spirit), Panentheism (believing that God exists in every part of nature), Pantheism (believing that the universe and God are the same) and last, you have Nontheism (not believing in a personal God).
Then, you have all the different types of religion. And, being that they're different enough to be their own religion, then they differ enough to be incorrect. Just to name a few:
I mean, there's bunches and bunches of religions out there. I like to believe one of them is correct, but what if nobody has created the religion that is an accurate depiction of a Creator? And, I swear to God, if anybody mentions Scientology, after this...
So, in the end, every religion passes on their religion as Hoyle. But, only one can be right. Rather than fighting about it, I always like to look through different religions and see if there's something in it that I can believe. It's kind of fun. You write down a bunch of religions on pieces of paper, put them in a hat and pull one out. Then, you study that religion for the day.
But, like I said, please move this to its own thing so that it doesn't clog up this post. Thank you.
Don't be so sure about that, Rob. James 4:14 says "You do not know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? It is a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away". You never know when God's gonna punch your ticket. It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27.
To Bert, can I get this in a different thread, please? See, I feel a sudden urge to talk about this, but this thread is very good while being meant for something else entirely. Thank you. =)
While trying my hardest not to sound like a dick -- and so often I do not even try at all -- we generally try to steer clear of those kinds of discussions, as they have a tendency to end poorly.
There are few groups of people more vocal than writers -- and between those who are totally adamant and earnest -- and those just seeking to be trolling smart-asses showing how clever they are -- threads of that sort seem to always go down in flames.
So while I will decline to start a unique thread for that discussion -- I would not prohibit you from doing so on your own -- but I would also encourage you to consider having a religious discussion on a board devoted to such topics.
It fear it might even be too late for this thread.
What do you say, screenrider? Can this thread be "saved"?
I fear it might even be too late for this thread. What do you say, screenrider? Can this thread be "saved"?
Anything is possible. Just to reiterate for anyone who's coming in late on this thread, my intention was to challenge fellow screenwriters to match my $10.00 pledge to the Red Cross specifically designated to the Haiti Disater relief fund. So far I count three other screenwriters, Pia, Sandra and Ledbetter. C'mon people, we can do better than that. It'd be nice to have a way to keep track of our contributions to this cause. If you've donated something maybe leave an "X" on this thread or something.
While trying my hardest not to sound like a dick -- and so often I do not even try at all -- we generally try to steer clear of those kinds of discussions, as they have a tendency to end poorly.
There are few groups of people more vocal than writers -- and between those who are totally adamant and earnest -- and those just seeking to be trolling smart-asses showing how clever they are -- threads of that sort seem to always go down in flames.
So while I will decline to start a unique thread for that discussion -- I would not prohibit you from doing so on your own -- but I would also encourage you to consider having a religious discussion on a board devoted to such topics.
It fear it might even be too late for this thread.
What do you say, screenrider? Can this thread be "saved"?
Well, I know that that other religion thread we had a month or two ago went well. But, it was specifically about Scientology, so this didn't really fit. And, I didn't really want to start my own because it began with quotes and people would have to go to another thread to understand the context.
In that case, no more religious-ness. And, I really would take it to a religious site, but you can't talk to them. You can talk and talk and talk and nothing will go through with them, in general, that is.
In other words, I'm still looking for a charity which will donate 85% to Haiti. Haven't found a worth one yet, but I think I will.
religion and politics usually get people fired up, which is fine. However, IMHO, I have never seen the need to discuss those subjects on a screenwriting site unless it somehow has something to do with writing.
And yes, screenrider, I did match your donation...
And personally I see nothing wrong with the discussion of God on this thread. It only seems natural to have questions like this after thousands of lives are lost in one fell swoop. Of course as Bert mentioned, there will be differences of opinions. But all in all, it makes for a good subplot.
There's nothing really wrong with it, but for those of us who's been around here for years (somehow that sounds sad ) we've seen these discussions blow up and like bert said, it never ends well.
There's nothing really wrong with it, but for those of us who's been around here for years (somehow that sounds sad ) we've seen these discussions blow up and like bert said, it never ends well.
And personally I see nothing wrong with the discussion of God on this thread.
The problem with bringing up God and religion in a non-religion site like SS is that you annoy those of us who know better.
Seriously though, you have to keep in mind that--if you are the religious type--that this is God's earthquake and he killed all those people. A hundred thousand of innocent men, women and children. Didn't he promise not to do this again after the flood?
These type of conversations can always descend into some form of dispute, but that can actually be quite riveting to read, yet devillish to moderate.
I think the prinicple rule of thumb is that we are all stating opinion, nothing more. A lot will post as though they are the authority, and so it goes from there that viewpoints must be defended, etc. It is possible, however, to eek out something of worth for our own writing, so I think the discussions are valid on that basis.
To be fair, I've seen reviews of scripts take the tone of superiority, and we see that the problem largely rests with an individual ego, as opposed to the actual subject matter, but I do concede certain topics are highly contentious.
In the spirit of the thread, I pledge to donate the $10, as it's desperate to think of the hardship suffered as we sit typing on computers worth cumulative thousands.
Seriously though, you have to keep in mind that--if you are the religious type--that this is God's earthquake and he killed all those people. A hundred thousand of innocent men, women and children. Didn't he promise not to do this again after the flood?
That's a natural reaction, Phil. I won't respond based on what I "think" but only by what I've read in the Bible. Fact: there is a devil. Fact: he's alive and well. Fact: he hates mankind to the core. Did he cause this? I dunno, maybe. He's the Prince of the power of the air. So he's obviously got some power. And for that reason yes, I believe God allowed him to do this.
Jesus said the thief does not come except to kill, steal and destroy. But Jesus came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. He also said in this world we will have tribulation. I believe he's trying to get our attention because let's face it, we've taken His 10 Commandments out of our parks, we won't allow our children to pray to Him in schools, we've taken Christ out of Christmas, and so on and so on.
And look what we got for it...3,500 babies aborted in the US every day,...45 murders a day, a woman is raped every 45 seconds, drug addiction, pornography, etc.
My final takeway is this...God said in Chronicles 7:14, "If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land". God is not a man that he should lie. We're living in a fallen world and reaping what we've been sowing. I know that sounds harsh, but it is what it is. IMO.
Will we ever get it? Most likely not. If you read Revelation you'll see that one day God is gonna let us have it our own way, and be left with no other alternative but to let the devil off his leash completely, and then we're really gonna be up a creek without a paddle. Jesus will be our only hope. Again, this is just my belief based on what I've read in the Bible.
And thanks to Andrew for donating 10.00 to the Haiti disaster fund. Let's keep those donations coming.
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) we've seen these discussions blow up and like bert said, it never ends well.