Dualism (Identity)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Wednesday, March 25, 2015, 19:33 (3312 days ago) @ dhw

TONY: I'm not the judge, but I would assume that anyone that removed the pagan teachings from their doctrine (i.e. Heaven/Hell afterlife, trinitarian godhead, and other such stuff) and spent some time studying the bible as it is, would quickly realize what the intent was. 
> 
> What do you mean by “the bible as it is”? There are different translations and different interpretations of the words. You ARE judging: you are telling us that your version is right and other people's is wrong. Is the St James' version of the verse in Luke the work of Satan, then? And if someone prays to God or Christ on Easter Day, do God and Christ become pagan gods because it's actually Mumbo-Jumbo Day? (To set the personal record straight, I say let ‘em worship Mumbo-Jumbo, so long as their beliefs are beneficial to themselves and others - but we should keep this discussion within the framework of your own creed.)
> -Even in the many, many different translations there are numerous common elements. When those elements are understood as a cohesive whole instead of people trying to cherry pick commas to prove an otherwise scriptural doctrine, the meaning and intent is crystal clear. You, by focusing on that one passage completely ignore the books of Daniel, Isaiah (Read CH 65), Psalms (37:29, 72:16) Revelation 21, etc. The list is long and plentiful The point is, you can choose to understand that however you want, but if you are ignoring the greater majority of the bible in order to interpret one line the way you want, then you are not really being honest.- 
> TONY: I am merely telling you what is in the bible. 
> 
> No, you are telling me your interpretation of what is in the Bible. Here you have glossed over the parable in Luke 16, the verse in Luke 23.43, and the contradiction between Psalm 146 and your theory of the backup memory stick. We have disagreed elsewhere on Deuteronomy and other parts of the Bible, as do many scholars, and if we add discrepancies between translations, I still say no version can claim to be THE version.
> -Negative. I am telling you what is in the bible. Any version you pick up, when taken as a whole, will tell you the same thing. -
 -> Dhw: [...]if you prosecute my beloved Mrs X for believing she has a conscious soul that might go to heaven when she dies, I shall defend her by informing the court that your view of the law depends on a few words in the Bible, of which there is nobody on this earth who is capable of offering a definitive interpretation [...]
> TONY: So, in your eyes, participating in celebrations that honor pagan gods is not a direct contradiction of the 1st of the 10 commandments? Praying to Mary Magdalene/Crucifix is not a violation of the 2nd?
> 
> I don't know why worshipping God and Christ at Easter counts as worshipping pagan gods, but yes, as phrased by you, these would be violations. That is not the point at issue here. We are discussing NDEs and your belief that they are an attempt by Satan to turn patients away from what you say is the Bible's teaching that there is no life after death until God puts a memory stick into the skeleton. I have challenged this interpretation, which you based on a couple of sentences in Ecclesiastes, a psalm which contradicts your own theory, and another psalm which was a false reference. I have offered you two passages in the Bible which suggest the opposite of what you claim, and I have pointed out that the tale of Jesus himself is a prime example of a conscious spirit surviving the death of the body. Your response is to grumble about Catholics praying to a crucifix! 
> -John 17:3-
> On an overall level, I dispute almost all of your basic premises, but I am doing my best to stay within your own theistic framework to test some of those premises, as detailed above. I need to add, though, that I'm quite sure you would not espouse any cause you felt was not beneficial to yourself and others, and I do admire the steadfastness of your faith and am grateful for the trouble you take to explain it.

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What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.