Jonathan H. B. Lobl

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Everything posted by Jonathan H. B. Lobl

  1. Job 10:22 a land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  2. I'm going to split a few hairs with you over this. Their ideas are silly. The people themselves are deeply conditioned. Deep conditioning is not silly. It's what happens when a religious culture can't tell the difference between symbolic representations of reality -- and reality. If people want to spend their days, working out the hidden mathematics of Bible Hebrew -- it's their time to waste. Well, that's a little harsh. If it makes them happy, then so be it. Everybody needs a hobby. Ave Satanus.
  3. I followed your link. This blend of Scripture, Kabbalah, Tarot, gematria and physics is not proof of anything. Alright. You believe. I don't argue with what people believe. It is not in any way objective proof for God's existence. Something which you did not define. In any event, this esoteric soup is not evidence.
  4. That's it then. So many come to this board to preach some message or other, then wander off. Some come here looking for a following. Some just do drive by preaching. Good riddance to them.
  5. Do you have anything to offer beside bald assertions; unsupported by anything?
  6. It's a sad thing to be a moderate. We end up being hated by all the extremists. This much I have figured out. If we are not all free to be our selves, then we are all in danger. The pendulum swings. The wheel turns. Power shifts.
  7. I am a poor, miserable choice to be an advocate for the religious. Still, as the saying goes -- there comes a time when we must set aside our values and do what's right. The manuals of mental disorder do not list religion or religious belief. No. Religious belief is not a form of mental illness. I shouldn't have to say this. History is filled with highly intelligent, brilliant minds that were -- are -- deeply religious. I've met a few of them. Being religious is not the same as being weak minded. For that matter, I used to be religious. I think my understanding of such things has improved. In truth, I'm not actually smarter than I was then. We have such a small planet. We have to find ways to share it and live with each other. That includes living with disagreement.
  8. Job 3:4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations Job 3:9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day: In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  9. I enjoy Bible symbolism in the same way that I enjoy poetry. I do not confuse Bible symbolism for reality. I do not use Bible symbolism to explain reality. That is because Bible symbolism is not reality. I take a statement like -- God is Light -- or -- God is Love -- to be symbolic statements. These symbolic statements have nothing to do with reality. Your confusion stems from the fact that you disdain distinctions. You have been clear on that, these many years. Yes, I have quoted passages about Light as a symbol for God. That is the point of this thread. Symbolic representation of God. Not the actual existence of God. Small wonder that you were confused.
  10. Do you really want to argue with Dan's beliefs? You know he's only going to throw more Bible Scripture at you.
  11. We must first define God. This is one reason that I've lost my taste for religious arguments. What does it really count for, when I define the God that I don't believe in? Trying to prove or disprove an undefined God is futile. Still the arguments wage on. So much heat. So little light. No pun intended.
  12. If you really want to do this. Alright. Small bites and strictly my own Agnostic opinion. Is God real? I want to be clear on the meaning of real. Something is real when it has independent, objective, existence. Is God real? We have no objective, verifiable facts about God. Nothing at all. God could be real. We have no good reason to suppose that this is so. In my opinion, God is a fantasy. Or a personification. I don't want to make those distinctions now. Later, if you like. Is God Light? No. This is confusing a symbolic representation with reality. Light is real. Light is a symbolic representation of God, which is not real. As symbolism for God goes; Light is a lot more sophisticated than an old man in the sky. Thanks to physics, we actually know a lot about Light. Is Light a particle or a wave? The correct answer is "Yes."
  13. You want Genesis to make sense? Let's have a look. Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations The Earth is a six day construction project. The stars -- the rest of the Universe -- were an after thought. "He made the stars also." Galaxies beyond counting. Billions of light years away. Billions of stars in the galaxies. "He made the stars also." For that matter, the Moon is not a light. It reflects the Sun's light. Then again, light does not need to be separated from darkness. That's not how it works. All of this is beside the point. When I started this thread, I was thinking about the symbolism of God as Light. That was the focus of my intent. It still is. I find Light symbolism interesting. Poetry. Not science.
  14. 2 Samuel 22:29 For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations 2 Samuel 23:4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  15. The Lighter Side of Covid Doomsday Because we need a laugh
  16. Images of Light and Dark in Scripture I think this can be a fun thread, without reference to personal belief. Two from the King James version. (BibleGateway.Com) Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations Jeremiah 4:23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  17. In my younger days, I thought that there was something romantic about working for a lost cause. I don't know if I have become wiser, or just more tired. I don't do that any more. I have lowered my expectations. I am not going to end suffering in the world. I still donate blood. In the end, it's the small things that matter. I make the world a better place when I take a shower. At least it's a better place for the people around me. It's easy to love humanity. Dealing with people is more difficult.
  18. Most of the time, when I see mention of critical thinking skills, the context is religion. As you say, official narrative. I think the same applies to government propaganda, political party propaganda -- and various personality cults. The rabbit hole is deep. Commercial advertising for laundry detergent, breakfast cereal, fast food...... The sheep do love their shepherds.
  19. Did you see my last exchange with the stupid troll? His only reason for being here is to get us angry and upset.
  20. He's just a stupid troll, looking to stir up conflict on the board and get us all upset.