Yes, that's what Einstein said as well. The reason that revelations is vague is EXACTLY why there is no absolute. God was not ABSOLUTELY sure what would happen. The universe is set up on probabilites and man has free will. So there is 99.9% chance that man will destroy himself....

Now, you can say that 99.9% is absolute or you can say its relative. Its so darn probable that its absolute...however, it is not 100% absolute.

There is an intrinsic randomness to the universe.

Anyway, do you believe in FREE will. If you believe in absolute reality...than by defintion, you CANNOT believe in Free Will. It is plain that God says there is free will. Free will means that at anytime the reality can change because the human persona is "free" to do whatever they want. That free will can change the future or can change what will happen or what will be done.

God does not need a "perfect" bible. The world is not perfect. The world is not absolute. Why? I have no idea...you will have to ask god. He has made is much more complex than something that can be "absolute" calculated or determined. Its relativistic.

And yes, we are all subject to our interpretation of reality. Someone could get up tommarow and build a bomb and kill a million people or that person could just go to work. I don't know what they are going to do or what you are going to do, God doesn't know either. He gave us free will.

Time is the relativity factor.

At any single time event, probability becomes 100%. So in essence, the next second is 100% ABSOLUTE. What each of us is going to do in the next second is done. No way, we can be here and 10 miles away at the same time.

Actually my way of looking at the world is complicated...I believe gods way is even more complicated than even my simply mind can wrap around it.

However, reconcile this to me if you can given your understanding....since my knowledge of the bible is probably much weaker.

In the first testament, god said we should not eat pork and lots of other things that are normally prescribed to the Jews. However, christians do not abide by the no pork rule or any of these things in the original bible. Why is this? And since God is absolute, and the bible is absolute and perfect, this seems like a mistake to me. I'm sure it must explain this in the new testament that we should ignore everything written previously as an error or change or some kind.

Are you saying only the new testament is "absolute" or is the old testament "absolute" as well?

Paul, I've been tossing getting one of your planes, but now I know you are a soundly-saved believer, I want to support you even more! But seriously, I'm very encouraged to see this discussion. I think people just have a lot of questions (not to mention an unregenerated heart) and a lot of poor, POOR research is tossed at them via History Channel or college professors. They'll believe anything to validify their disbelief in Christ's resurrection. I think my eyes have been widened to the reality and the potency of the resurrection. I mean, it all rises and falls on this one issue! If he never rose from the dead, if he's still in some tomb, well, we don't have anything left!

I would urge and challenge any skeptics to look into the resurrection more, with arguments on both sides of the issue. We like to get all of the "facts" and rhetoric from one side as to why not believe, but why don't we give that same attention to the opposing side and make an informed decision then? Let's be logical, systematic and thorough in what we are going to believe as fact. It's a mighty large gamble we are making on frivolous research, a gamble for eternity.

Absolute truth does exist in facts. The scientific method (not related to religion) proves theories to be facts or not. These facts exist on earth, in space, on other planets and no condition or belief can make a fact untrue (unless youre a christian I guess).

What is good, how do we know what good is? Why does the dumbest animal feed its young? I believe we are born with a general sence of right and wrong. Doing whats right and good is the best thing for your mind and health. Going back as far as anyone can tell and regardless of the religion of the day, people have known right from wrong. The idea that we need Jesus or Christianity to tell us whats right or wrong is (as usual) insulting to other religions and simply not true (as usual).

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If jesus existed and rose from the dead and there is evidance or proof of this then why would anyone question anything about him? Ohh becasue there is no proof beyond the BS spewed forth from Christians.... all non-sence.

The sun will continue to expand until it literally encompases and consumes the earth... how does jesus or Chritianty tackel that question?

Does it mean that God wants to burn up and kill everything on the planet including the planet itself? What about all the good chritians who will die in the process? Paul, you will not live forever, this is your one any only life, dont waste it believing stupid non-sence.... enjoy it... Only the rich and powerful want you to believe this BS about Jesus to keep you in line... Why cant you see this truth!!!!?!!!

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Hi Folks,

Paul, thank you for allowing me to join your site and for standing strong for Christ. Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised to find this content along with your magnificent profile designs. Well done, good and faithful servant!

If you are meeting resistance, you are doing something right! There is a reason humans cannot fully understand and struggle with many concepts in the Bible. We are not God. Paul tells us in Romans "There is not one righteous. No, not one." We are all sinners who cannot live the way God originally commanded His chosen people, Isreal. Our only fate is death.

Jesus came to reconcile God's chosen to Him, and to open the way to God for everyone, because Isreal thought they were doing it right, but were not. A lot of them were led astray by humans who thought they knew the real truth, too, but did not. Read the parables of Jesus' teaching with a good study Bible. (Like your John study - hey try BSF International - they are doing John this year).

God wants a relationship with those he calls. He uses the Holy Spirit to instruct and guide us, but only by focusing on Him and Jesus' teaching do we grow in our faith. It is a process that takes a lifetime and it is unique for every individual.

Please do not completely dismiss this stuff, Mr. Mojo. I believe if you truly search with an open heart and mind you will find what you seek. I would be glad to share my testimony, but a forum like this is not conducive to that type of interaction.

Vaya Con Dios,

-J.

Thanks for this site Paul. It is great to see a forum like this. I have to wonder about folks who come to a forum like this and do nothing but argue and demean. Do they honestly think they are going to change your mind, or anyone else's?

Regarding the reliability of the Bible, I believe that it really does depend on what it is you are looking for. Does realiable mean 100% historically accurate? Does it mean that any question you have can be answered, in black and white, within it's pages?

I am by no means a biblical scholar, but I know enough to understand that the New Testament was written by contemporaries of Jesus, and that most of it can be independantly verified. I also realize that there have been many different translations done, by men, and for various reasons, since it's original writing. This fascinates me, and our pastor has given many sermons on the specific words used by Jesus, and what they meant in the original language, and to the target audience of the day. Jesus would use very specific words in many different languages, that would have very specific cultural significance to his audience. Some of this gets lost in translation to modern day English, and it varies depending on which version of the Bible you read. (I happen to read my NIV Study Bible, and it has tons of reference material in additional to the text.).

As for the Old Testament, I think you have to understand what you are reading, and who it was meant for. I do not happen to believe that Genesis can be taken 100% literally, in part because there just wouldn't have been anyone present to record much of what happened. I think it is largely symbolic. Later in the OT, the stories become better documented, and I believe they are more closely historical.

I also think that much of the animosity towards religion stems from some of the problems with "Organized Religion" which has been corrupted to varying degrees by men throughout the ages.

Anyway, I appreciate your keeping this forum, and I want to thank you for the Mojo 40 kit that I just received in the mail today.

Correction...Other religions do NOT claim Jesus as the "One and Only Begotton". My mistake.