Comments on: Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead? (Part 4) http://powertochange.com Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:45:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Darren Hewer http://powertochange.com/experience/spiritual-growth/jesusrose4/comment-page-1/#comment-105326 Darren Hewer Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:27:17 +0000 http://thelife.com/?page_id=11705#comment-105326 Tom, thank you for your comments. I found many things you said interesting. For example, that while it would be rational for a person to "be convinced by reading this that jesus was really god" (I'm paraphrasing slightly, but I think accurately) nevertheless you remain unconvinced yourself. What arguments or reasons would you say are preventing you from concluding the same? You certainly have an effervescent vocabulary, but I'm afraid it may be obfuscating the lucidity of your communication! :) So please bear with me, but am I correct in concluding that your reference to beginning life as Paul but becoming Saul is referring to beginning life in a Christian family but at some point abandoning the Christian faith? Was it some sort of life experience that led you to become (as you say) a misanthrope? What about gnostic nihilism do you find more appealing than the Christian gospel? (To me, nihilism isn't the sort of position that anyone would adopt willingly, but only as a last resort.) Since it sounds like you're interested in thoughtful and somewhat enigmatic writing, I'd suggest taking a look at the work of philosophers Richard Swinburne (ex, his books 'Is there a God?' and 'Was Jesus God?') and/or William Lane Craig (ex, his books 'The Son Rises' or 'Reasonable Faith', or his website <a href="http://www.reasonablefaith.com" rel="nofollow">www.ReasonableFaith.com</a>). Tom, thank you for your comments. I found many things you said interesting. For example, that while it would be rational for a person to “be convinced by reading this that jesus was really god” (I’m paraphrasing slightly, but I think accurately) nevertheless you remain unconvinced yourself. What arguments or reasons would you say are preventing you from concluding the same?

You certainly have an effervescent vocabulary, but I’m afraid it may be obfuscating the lucidity of your communication! :) So please bear with me, but am I correct in concluding that your reference to beginning life as Paul but becoming Saul is referring to beginning life in a Christian family but at some point abandoning the Christian faith? Was it some sort of life experience that led you to become (as you say) a misanthrope? What about gnostic nihilism do you find more appealing than the Christian gospel? (To me, nihilism isn’t the sort of position that anyone would adopt willingly, but only as a last resort.)

Since it sounds like you’re interested in thoughtful and somewhat enigmatic writing, I’d suggest taking a look at the work of philosophers Richard Swinburne (ex, his books ‘Is there a God?’ and ‘Was Jesus God?’) and/or William Lane Craig (ex, his books ‘The Son Rises’ or ‘Reasonable Faith’, or his website http://www.ReasonableFaith.com).

]]> By: tom http://powertochange.com/experience/spiritual-growth/jesusrose4/comment-page-1/#comment-105209 tom Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:18:49 +0000 http://thelife.com/?page_id=11705#comment-105209 interesting. there are some logical fallacies in your overall argument but i'm willing to concede it may just be a matter of semantics so i won't bother scribing a diatribe that probably couldn't be appreciated here anyway. i can see how one might be convinced by reading this that jesus was really god... but in that case, they are probably already looking for religion anyway and this is the little push over the edge they need to embrace it without feeling silly. target audience and all, you know? i began life as paul and was blinded by my own divinity to become saul. it's funny, i really didn't think it was conceivable that i'd ever be on the other side, but i like it here. for the first time in my life, i feel free in my decisions, alone with my thoughts, and do not live in abject fear 24/7. that's all i've really been after the whole time, i think. the only way a misanthrope can live! a decently-written article. you about covered what i'd expect any christian website to cover but i can't help but feel somewhat disappointed. i wanted you to convince me, but maybe that's impossible. i suppose i at least wanted you to give my gnostic nihilism a run for its money! interesting. there are some logical fallacies in your overall argument but i’m willing to concede it may just be a matter of semantics so i won’t bother scribing a diatribe that probably couldn’t be appreciated here anyway. i can see how one might be convinced by reading this that jesus was really god… but in that case, they are probably already looking for religion anyway and this is the little push over the edge they need to embrace it without feeling silly. target audience and all, you know?

i began life as paul and was blinded by my own divinity to become saul. it’s funny, i really didn’t think it was conceivable that i’d ever be on the other side, but i like it here. for the first time in my life, i feel free in my decisions, alone with my thoughts, and do not live in abject fear 24/7. that’s all i’ve really been after the whole time, i think. the only way a misanthrope can live!

a decently-written article. you about covered what i’d expect any christian website to cover but i can’t help but feel somewhat disappointed. i wanted you to convince me, but maybe that’s impossible. i suppose i at least wanted you to give my gnostic nihilism a run for its money!

]]>