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It isn't a question of somebody deciding someone else's intelligence.
But people of lower intelligence can't think deeply about a topic as complex as religion.
But perhaps they can understand God quite well. Jesus said this man was wise.
Luke 18
The Pharisee and the Publican
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be [f]merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
What brought most christians to their faith originally was simply that their parents got them into the habit.
The sun and moon represent our parents. The point is that sometimes we have to find the faith on our own rather than look to another person's. That is why the truly faithful are descendants of Abraham's seed. Abraham left his father. In other words, left the "temple" of religion.
That's why I am free to worship God in any man-made temple. I left the spiritual temple behind. Jesus broke the veil for anyone who has ears to hear.
But perhaps they can understand God quite well. Jesus said this man was wise.
Luke 18
The Pharisee and the Publican
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be [f]merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
As that wise philosopher and noted wise man, Groucho Marx, once said, "you have a lot to be modest about."
But perhaps they can understand God quite well. Jesus said this man was wise.
Luke 18
The Pharisee and the Publican
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be [f]merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Quoting scripture is meaningless to an atheist. You just wasted my time.
The sun and moon represent our parents. The point is that sometimes we have to find the faith on our own rather than look to another person's. That is why the truly faithful are descendants of Abraham's seed. Abraham left his father. In other words, left the "temple" of religion.
That's why I am free to worship God in any man-made temple. I left the spiritual temple behind. Jesus broke the veil for anyone who has ears to hear.
Same as above to you. Telling an atheist about Abraham, etc., is a waste of your time and mine.
It's just a story. I'm sorry that you can't grasp that concept.
I don't care to hear stories. Most of us atheists are uninterested in hearing your bible stories. Most of us heard them in Sunday school when we were children. And frankly, you're not half as good a teacher as my old Sunday school teachers.
But perhaps they can understand God quite well. Jesus said this man was wise.
Luke 18
The Pharisee and the Publican
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be [f]merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Taking all the toxic religious bias out of that little parable (which Jesus didn't say because it is only in Luke, so Luke made it up), a human equivalent would be those who do not parade about declaring how thankful they are that they are wise, and learned against those who beat their breats because they are dim.
The dim should ask 'help me to be learned' and the wise will say 'I will help'. because you won't get it (or any exaltation, other than conceit about ones' Faith -based dimness - which we get a bit of) from a god, of course. Nor a religion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OzzyRules
It's just a story. I'm sorry that you can't grasp that concept.
I get it - and I'm happy that you found what suits you. I think you could do better - and you may, in time.
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