Jonathan H. B. Lobl

In my younger days, I would have gone. Not now.

If we are talking about legal responsibility, no. An unconscious person is not responsible for anything. If we are talking philosophic responsibility -- What does that mean in this context?

(It's been my experience to observe the odd coincidence that, all too often, those that deny His existence, tend to think they have no faults.) That is what you said. I felt insulted and responded. Shall we end it?

I find it so. Of course, when it's non-belief that is being called delusional -- the insult shows itself for what it is. Thank you for understanding.

Does the soul have a use?

My delusion? You mean my preference for what's real? Oh. Ouch.

No. God's forgiveness. Never mind. God would first have to exist. Then it would have to matter.

Then who -- or what -- does the forgiving? And what difference does it make?

That is not my experience or my observation. The godless are well aware of their short comings. They simply don't go to God -- or Santa -- or the Easter Bunny -- for forgiveness. This is like saying that the deaths caused by war are fewer than the deaths caused by disease. It's nothing but a distraction and a change of subject.

My only concern is that your path makes you happy. You found the path that's right for you. I'm pleased.

In my opinion, "letting go" and "forgiveness" have over-lap; but they are not the same.

Is "letting go" the same as "forgiveness?"

Saudi Arabia and IS are Sunni. Iran is Shia. We live in interesting times.

The politics are a little thicker than that. Saudi Arabia controls Mecca and Medina. Of course, there is all that money.

Unless we are using a Pantheist framework. In which case, "the Kingdom of God" is everything -- which we do not need to enter. Or a Christian can go to the Gospels -- where Jesus says "the Kingdom of God" is "within."

And the Kingdom of God? Is this metaphor? Or are we talking about Heaven?

Maybe so. we were discussing "forgiveness."

I was thinking along similar lines. Suppose I come along in the dead of night and break your window. Nobody knows it was me. It counts for nothing if I get God's forgiveness. -- if I don't get your forgiveness.

If we offend against each other -- What does God's forgiveness count for?

The hole is now deeper. Did God use the pastor's "mistake" to lead Ben to the Lord? Then how is it a mistake if it did God's will? If it was part of God's plan, it wasn't a mistake at all. Some context.

There are a lot of invisible assumptions in that question. It's a whole world view.

It gives fresh meaning to "bully pulpit."

What is the difference between a Christian "extremist" and a Muslim "extremist?" Different books. My guess is that Ben is now a closet Anti-Theist. Atheism is a simple lack of belief. Anti-Theism is the positive belief that God does not exist. Anti-Theists are forced into existence, by people just like this pastor. They are made, not born.

They are.

"Spare the rod; spoil the child." The pastor has a scriptural and cultural foundation.