Waiting until marriage......

[LaParkaYourCar 0]

SP, honestly dude, I get more and more worried about your literal interpretation of the bible everyday.  You do realize that the Bible itself tells of how it could be corupted since it was written by men, right.  I mean, in biblical times, you HAD to have as many kids as possible for the survival of the people.  You shouldn't eat pork and shell fish and such because you might die from it.  The writers of the bible put their own beliefs intertwined with what God told them.  Its in there.  It is very dangerous to hold on so dearly to the bible as a literal interpretation of what you should do as it is clearly there as a guide, not a rule book of yes and no'...more of a map of what way you should try to go. 

 

I don't know if you study on your own or not, but it sounds like (and this is only from your post that I have read) that who ever is doing the teaching is casually jumping over the parts that say "DON'T TAKE ALL THIS LITERALLY, I GAVE YOU CHOICE AND COMMON SENSE...USE IT"...

It's also part of his denomination. I, personally, just can't believe in predestination and literally intrepreting the Bible.

But it is impossible to really literally interpret the entire bible seeing as it says one thing and later on says that the day of that is gone, this is the new law. So either you disregard the entire old testement (which does away with the whole 10 commandments and that whole homosexuality is wrong thing that the church seems to cling to now) and believe in the New and teachings of Christ, or you admit that somethings are not to be taken literally and that God gave us free will for a reason. You can't preach peace and love while saying that if you do go to war its make sure to kill everyone and its cool to rape the defeated's wives and children. You have to say that one of those things aren't the way to go...and dear god I hope you choose the second one.

 

False prophecy was one of the major things the Bible says to be aware of as well as pointing out that evil will know every bit of the bible and will hide from you what you truly need. The most important part that of the Bible is Love is above all and God put you here to live life. The bible is full of stories that say "Hey, don't fuck up like this guy" or "Try doing what he did...that might help."

Actually Homosexuality is spoken against in the New Testament too so that's not thrown away when we're not under the old law.

 

The OT is not useless. In fact without it the rest wouldn't make sense.

[Ripper 0]

The whole anti christ thing proves that even in the new testament john was adding in his own 2 cents.

I'm not sure what you meant by that.

 

Anti-Christs were just those who actively spoke out against Christ or tried to discredit him. John even said many have already come.

I mean the whole, BIG OL" anti christ with 666 across his forehead, ultimate evil, mighty nation shall fall end of days stuff.

 

You do know that he was just taking shots at Nero Ceasar, right.

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

Man... I said I can not literally interpret the Bible. I agree with you.

[LaParkaYourCar 0]

The whole anti christ thing proves that even in the new testament john was adding in his own 2 cents.

I'm not sure what you meant by that.

 

Anti-Christs were just those who actively spoke out against Christ or tried to discredit him. John even said many have already come.

I mean the whole, BIG OL" anti christ with 666 across his forehead, ultimate evil, mighty nation shall fall end of days stuff.

 

You do know that he was just taking shots at Nero Ceasar, right.

Yes I know that Revelation is all about the Roman Empire and basically it's a book to get the hopes up of the persecuted Christians.

 

The whole thing is basically a encrypted message to the Christians that everything will be alright and that Rome will fail and not what most people make it out to be.

[Ripper 0]

SP, honestly dude, I get more and more worried about your literal interpretation of the bible everyday.  You do realize that the Bible itself tells of how it could be corupted since it was written by men, right.  I mean, in biblical times, you HAD to have as many kids as possible for the survival of the people.  You shouldn't eat pork and shell fish and such because you might die from it.  The writers of the bible put their own beliefs intertwined with what God told them.  Its in there.  It is very dangerous to hold on so dearly to the bible as a literal interpretation of what you should do as it is clearly there as a guide, not a rule book of yes and no'...more of a map of what way you should try to go. 

 

I don't know if you study on your own or not, but it sounds like (and this is only from your post that I have read) that who ever is doing the teaching is casually jumping over the parts that say "DON'T TAKE ALL THIS LITERALLY, I GAVE YOU CHOICE AND COMMON SENSE...USE IT"...

It's also part of his denomination. I, personally, just can't believe in predestination and literally intrepreting the Bible.

But it is impossible to really literally interpret the entire bible seeing as it says one thing and later on says that the day of that is gone, this is the new law. So either you disregard the entire old testement (which does away with the whole 10 commandments and that whole homosexuality is wrong thing that the church seems to cling to now) and believe in the New and teachings of Christ, or you admit that somethings are not to be taken literally and that God gave us free will for a reason. You can't preach peace and love while saying that if you do go to war its make sure to kill everyone and its cool to rape the defeated's wives and children. You have to say that one of those things aren't the way to go...and dear god I hope you choose the second one.

 

False prophecy was one of the major things the Bible says to be aware of as well as pointing out that evil will know every bit of the bible and will hide from you what you truly need. The most important part that of the Bible is Love is above all and God put you here to live life. The bible is full of stories that say "Hey, don't fuck up like this guy" or "Try doing what he did...that might help."

Actually Homosexuality is spoken against in the New Testament too so that's not thrown away when we're not under the old law.

 

The OT is not useless. In fact without it the rest wouldn't make sense.

I know, I am saying that the Old testament is very useful. Its just that you can't say that the entire bible is meant to be taken literally, or that certain parts are obviously meant to be taken literally and others aren't when even those parts or usually undercut by later writings.

 

And if I'm not confused, the only time that Homosexuality is mentioned in the NT is when Paul was writing some of his letters to Timothy...and basically he was still holding on to the old law. If Jesus said that above all things is Love, how does two homosexuals in love not supercede the "abomination" that it was called in the OT.

[Ripper 0]

Man... I said I can not literally interpret the Bible. I agree with you.

I know, I was refering to the part about it being his denomination. I see how it came out wrong. Sorry bout that.

[TSA09 0]

If I'm not mistaken the bible also encourages slavery. So if you don't own a slave you have just gone against God's Will.

 

I'm a Catholic, however, I also have the ability to think for myself and use common sense on matters. I don't follow the bible but I do believe in a few things. The whole sex thing though is something I choose not to believe in because I do believe God gave everyone free will and it should be left to the judgement of the individual. Unless you want all these kids you will use protection and birth control pills. Of course I'm addicted to sex, so right there makes me bad. But at least I'm satisfied

[LaParkaYourCar 0]

SP, honestly dude, I get more and more worried about your literal interpretation of the bible everyday.  You do realize that the Bible itself tells of how it could be corupted since it was written by men, right.  I mean, in biblical times, you HAD to have as many kids as possible for the survival of the people.  You shouldn't eat pork and shell fish and such because you might die from it.  The writers of the bible put their own beliefs intertwined with what God told them.  Its in there.  It is very dangerous to hold on so dearly to the bible as a literal interpretation of what you should do as it is clearly there as a guide, not a rule book of yes and no'...more of a map of what way you should try to go. 

 

I don't know if you study on your own or not, but it sounds like (and this is only from your post that I have read) that who ever is doing the teaching is casually jumping over the parts that say "DON'T TAKE ALL THIS LITERALLY, I GAVE YOU CHOICE AND COMMON SENSE...USE IT"...

It's also part of his denomination. I, personally, just can't believe in predestination and literally intrepreting the Bible.

But it is impossible to really literally interpret the entire bible seeing as it says one thing and later on says that the day of that is gone, this is the new law. So either you disregard the entire old testement (which does away with the whole 10 commandments and that whole homosexuality is wrong thing that the church seems to cling to now) and believe in the New and teachings of Christ, or you admit that somethings are not to be taken literally and that God gave us free will for a reason. You can't preach peace and love while saying that if you do go to war its make sure to kill everyone and its cool to rape the defeated's wives and children. You have to say that one of those things aren't the way to go...and dear god I hope you choose the second one.

 

False prophecy was one of the major things the Bible says to be aware of as well as pointing out that evil will know every bit of the bible and will hide from you what you truly need. The most important part that of the Bible is Love is above all and God put you here to live life. The bible is full of stories that say "Hey, don't fuck up like this guy" or "Try doing what he did...that might help."

Actually Homosexuality is spoken against in the New Testament too so that's not thrown away when we're not under the old law.

 

The OT is not useless. In fact without it the rest wouldn't make sense.

I know, I am saying that the Old testament is very useful. Its just that you can't say that the entire bible is meant to be taken literally, or that certain parts are obviously meant to be taken literally and others aren't when even those parts or usually undercut by later writings.

 

And if I'm not confused, the only time that Homosexuality is mentioned in the NT is when Paul was writing some of his letters to Timothy...and basically he was still holding on to the old law. If Jesus said that above all things is Love, how does two homosexuals in love not supercede the "abomination" that it was called in the OT.

No homosexuality is also spoken against in the Corinthian letters and a couple of other places too. It's always mentioned in a list of wicked people who will not inherit the kingdom of God.

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

No prob, Rip.

[LaParkaYourCar 0]

If I'm not mistaken the bible also encourages slavery. So if you don't own a slave you have just gone against God's Will.

Actually the point of that was to slowly destroy slavery from the inside out. Because the verses on that told them to treat their slaves right and to love them. Basically things that would plant the seeds of change.

 

That was because Jesus did not come to make drastic social change. If the Bible outright said to abolish slavery it would have probably turned most of the people of that time away.

[Guest SP-1]

You can certainly take the Bible literally. Part of taking it literally is to take it in a linear fashion as well. The Law is still something to be respected and the Ten Commandments are the best guideline for behavior yet.

 

What happened with Christ is this:

 

Christ is the focal point of the entire Bible. The Old Testament looks toward the Savior, and the New Testament looks back to Him. God was working towards the earthly arrival of Himself throughout the Old Testament (both Mary and Joseph's bloodlines trace back to David, and David traces back to the beginning, naturally). In order to hold things over until Sin was ultimately handled in Christ, God establishes the old covenant of sacrifice (a covenant that Christ would be the ultimate user of so that it wouldn't need to ever be done again). God hands down the 10 commandments to Moses because those are the ten most basic things that the rest of the problems stem from. Follow that and you'll be alright, but if you DO screw up (which you will), make a sacrifice and it'll be taken care of. This is the guideline of how to live right. This is The Law.

 

Fast forward to the Cross. A part of God Himself is nailed to the cross, his blood spilled. He knew he'd be there, He chose to wind up there, because only His blood would be enough to pay the sacrifice cost in FULL, forever, and handle sin once and for all. While he ministered, God basically went back and said, "Alright, we got this far. I took the ultimate sacrifice on myself, your sins are paid for. The old covenant has been fully fulfilled. Now, here's how to make things right. You have a choice, that's only fair. Accept me in faith and all I have to give is yours. I have a room for you in Heaven. If you claim to be with me, then my Spirit will nudge you to live by the two most basic things, even more basic than the ten commandments. Love God, and Love your neighbor as yourself. Don't continue to pursue sin because if you do it blatantly you obviously haven't chosen me. Or, you can choose to reject me and the greatest offer in the Universe. You have free will, those are the two basic choices."

 

That's the gospel in a nutshell. The law is and always will be the proper way to live. In it's most basic form, if you truly Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself, everything you do will flow out of that center and you'll be ok. Part of loving God is knowing what's right and what's not, and those things are established in His Word. You can believe it or not. I wish everyone would because I know what it's like on the other side of the fence, living with God.

 

But I'm also not some idiotic anti-Jew, fundamentalist either. The second half of that simple guideline is, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' and that applies whether they hate you or love you, whether they believe or don't.

 

In Romans, Paul wrote under the guidance of the Spirit: For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Is God the God of jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles, too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Fo we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. (Romans 3:28-31)

 

Justified by faith alone. in James, when he speaks of the dynamic between faith and works, he's talking about a progression of character. If you truly believe and you truly have the Spirit in you, you will change and want to live apart from sinful actions. That's why fruits of the spirit are talked about. If it's there, rooted in your heart, it will grow with your faith and you will bear it's fruit in your living.

[Ripper 0]

Thats all well and good, and that is pretty much a summation of it all. But as I said before, from reading your post (and I understand that of all places, post on a internet messageboard are the last place you can get a read on someones actions) your beliefs seem to flow into the side of blind faith, ignoring some of the more basic tenants of existance by saying "If God wants it so, so shall it be." God also gives us trials and tribulations in life so that we will be tested. Yet when I read you say things like, "There's no way I'll have a bad marriage because god will give me the woman I need" or "My wife won't get pregnant unless god wants us to have the baby." we are talking borderline scary blind obidience that even the Bible spoke against. You are suppose to investigate, ask questions and explore the best possible means to overcome each problem, not sit back, cross you arms and say "God will get me through this too." God put you here to live, not for him to have something to guide around like a puppet.

 

The even worse part of it is that you are putting yourself into a position where you could easily be cursing the very thing that you modeled your lifestyle after. If you do marry and the woman cheats on you, who will you be left to blame but God? If you and your wife do become pregnant without the money to properly raise a healthy child, you have painted yourself into a corner and will have no one to blame but God. You should really be seeing life as it is. A series of goods and bads...experiences that you were meant to have and learn by. Not as God rewarding you and only allowing the "right wife" to come into your life or for you to have your kids at "the right time".

 

Wow...I really need to go post something pointless and make bad attempts at being funny. I have been way to serious today.

[Guest SP-1]

I never said I'd have a perfect marriage. Nobody does. of course we'll have our ups and downs, but we'll also have our focused where it should be: on God. The OT is full of God closing and opening wombs when He was ready for someone to be blessed with a Child. I see no evidence biblically that he suddenly lost that ability somewhere down the line. Some couples never have children, and a condom or shooting blanks has nothing to do with it.

 

Blind faith is required often. we don't always see the inner workings or why why's and when's. There's a balance between practicality and just trusting God to be there. Everything here is just a shadow of what's REALLY going on.

 

At the end of the day, it's a simple difference of trust. Some people trust God fully. Some don't. I do. He's in control either way.

[Guest The Old Me]

God will not mold your life for you. You must mold it yourself. God will not protect you from everything that is wrong in this world. He will not secretly watch over your marriage (trust ME) or your child and block them from harm. Having faith can be good, but you must always depend on yourself first.

[Guest SP-1]

I disagree. I don't look at it from a worldly view. I look at it as someone in communion with Christ. Someone with His Spirit counseling me inside. Someone who communicates with God all the time, and who trust Him. His word is full of evidence of destiny (Jesus' bloodline comes to mind), his Sovereign control over things (Wombs being opened and closed, Daniel surviving being thrown into a furnace, etc.), and his faithfulness (sure, the Israelites wandered for 40 years, but they were refined and the promised land was delivered to them when God was ready for it to be).

 

Some people don't believe. Don't trust Him. I do. More often than not, it's the listening to ourselves that screws up our marriages, destroys our families, and makes us miserable. Shite happens. Sometimes it's our fault. Sometimes it isn't. But if your focus is on the right place (God), you WILL see it through. Maybe not the way you want to, but always eventually to a greater good, in the perfect way God needs it to.

[Ripper 0]

I never said I'd have a perfect marriage. Nobody does. of course we'll have our ups and downs, but we'll also have our focused where it should be: on God. The OT is full of God closing and opening wombs when He was ready for someone to be blessed with a Child. I see no evidence biblically that he suddenly lost that ability somewhere down the line. Some couples never have children, and a condom or shooting blanks has nothing to do with it.

 

Blind faith is required often. we don't always see the inner workings or why why's and when's. There's a balance between practicality and just trusting God to be there. Everything here is just a shadow of what's REALLY going on.

 

At the end of the day, it's a simple difference of trust. Some people trust God fully. Some don't. I do. He's in control either way.

I know you never said that you would have perfect marrige. But you do operate on the belief that there isn't a chance that you won't marry a maniplutive woman that could do and say whatever she feels you need to hear to take you down for whatever reason. The divorce rate in America isn't high because they didn't let God choose thier path. Its high because people find out things about people after marrige that weren't apparent in the courting stage of the relationship. Good people fall in love with and marry bad people or people just plain not meant for them all the time. And if this happens to you (and I hope it doesn't) it won't Gods fault or your own. It is life. There is a chance it will happen just as much as there is one that it won't. Your faith does not protect you from the facts and laws of life. It has never claimed to. It points you to a path. That path might have all types of traps and dangers on it, but it but it will be the path that you have chosen. And if it turns out to be a horrible mistake, you seem(like I said) to have painted yourself into a corner with this "God will provide her to me" type of thinking as you will have no one to blame but God.

[Guest SP-1]

I don't think I've painted myself into a corner. You're free to believe it, but I've never felt quite so free to concentrate on the important things in life. Before I became a Christian, I had no direction and no money. I leave this coming Wednesday for college, which is completely paid for, and I'm pretty much taken care of.

 

As for marrying a manipulative woman, I highly doubt it. I tend to read people pretty well, and I'd have no part of that. If she's not somewhere near my personality and relationship with God, then she's not for me. It's not a blind standard. God wired us a certain way and I know what kind of woman I'm attracted to. I'm not roping myself in with someone that I sense those qualities in. It'll be a pretty long courtship/engagement.

 

Especially if I meet her in school. I'm not getting married until I'm at least between Undergrad and Seminary.

[Guest The Old Me]

That all sounds good SP, and sometimes I wish that I could see the world through glasses similar to yours. But you CAN'T always read people. Some will deceive you, and you will not see right through it. Some things in life you cannot plan, sometimes they just happen.

[Guest SP-1]

That's why it will be quite a long courtship and engagement. I'm not getting married after six months. it'll be a year or two, most likely. I'm a firm believer that you haven't really seen someone until you've seen them at their worst.

[Guest The Old Me]

That's why it will be quite a long courtship and engagement. I'm not getting married after six months. it'll be a year or two, most likely. I'm a firm believer that you haven't really seen someone until you've seen them at their worst.

I agree, but I know people that have waited 2-3 years before getting married, and the persons "true side" did not come out for another 4 years after that. I'm not saying their's anything wrong with faith, but sometimes you need to put things in your own hands in order to take charge.

[Guest SweetNSexyDiva]

Wow, never know posting this thread would cause so much convo!

[TSA09 0]

It's mostly just bible references now. It is slowly turning into bible thumping.

[Guest Choken One]

Slowy?

 

SP has hammered the point across...

 

"LOVE THY LORD! BECAUSE THIS BOOK TELLS YOU TOO...TURN TO CHAPTER ---- AND YE SHALL RECIEVE THY WORD"

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Well, after reading this thread, I've noticed something, SP and I have the EXACT opposite viewpoints on life, faith, etc.

 

With my plan, you completely remove God, the afterlife, souls, and all of the extraneous metaphysical what-have-you, and replace it with faith in oneself and one's abilities.

 

Considering we've got one life to live before we're nonexistent, might as well make it worthwhile. Love thyself, and thy neighbor if you want. Don't have to, but you can. You can want to hit your neighbor with a reallyfuckin'big brick if you want, and even do so if it's called for. There's consequences of course, but morally you're fine.

 

Indulgence..go for it. No reason to be ashamed to feel good.

 

It all boils down to whether you think there's something tending the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't. We're meat and that's it. So it would be prudent to focus all of the love and faith on yourself, since this is your only chance.

 

...but not buying into god doesn't mean you're empty, in fact, quite the opposite. All that devotion and energy is contained, not blatantly exposed in sermon and metaphor.

[Guest SP-1]

Wait, let me get this straight. By respecting other people's views, acknowledging that their views are different than my own, and explaining my views and why I have them (the Bible is something that my views are drawn from, so quoting it is merely a support for my explanations), I'm "Bible Thumping"?

 

Nowhere did I try to force my views on anyone. I merely explained why I agree with and support two CHRISTIANS whom the article in question focused on, who likely also draw their decisions and views from the same Bible that I draw mine from. No different than someone saying they like to clean their house a certain way and then quoting an article from GOOD HOUSEKEEPING that supports their method of cleaning.

 

Of course, I should know by now that if you're a Christian, TSM does not allow you to offer any kind of support or reason for your views. Any such actions will automatically be construed as Bible Thumping and Violent Force upon the entire board community. One of these days, I'll learn.

 

No . . . no, I won't. I will not be cowed by ignorance and people just waiting for an opportunity to go after a Christian. Say what you want, I'm going to continue saying what I will and supporting it with the source from which I draw my lifestyle and opinions. If you see it as anything more than that, that's your problem. Not mine.

[KanadianKrusty 0]

With my plan, you completely remove God, the afterlife, souls, and all of the extraneous metaphysical what-have-you, and replace it with faith in oneself and one's abilities.

 

Considering we've got one life to live before we're nonexistent, might as well make it worthwhile. Love thyself, and thy neighbor if you want. Don't have to, but you can. You can want to hit your neighbor with a reallyfuckin'big brick if you want, and even do so if it's called for. There's consequences of course, but morally you're fine.

 

Indulgence..go for it. No reason to be ashamed to feel good.

 

It all boils down to whether you think there's something tending the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't. We're meat and that's it. So it would be prudent to focus all of the love and faith on yourself, since this is your only chance.

 

...but not buying into god doesn't mean you're empty, in fact, quite the opposite. All that devotion and energy is contained, not blatantly exposed in sermon and metaphor.

AoO is the fucking man, that's going in my "quotes" file.

[Guest SweetNSexyDiva]

Wait, let me get this straight. By respecting other people's views, acknowledging that their views are different than my own, and explaining my views and why I have them (the Bible is something that my views are drawn from, so quoting it is merely a support for my explanations), I'm "Bible Thumping"?

 

Nowhere did I try to force my views on anyone. I merely explained why I agree with and support two CHRISTIANS whom the article in question focused on, who likely also draw their decisions and views from the same Bible that I draw mine from. No different than someone saying they like to clean their house a certain way and then quoting an article from GOOD HOUSEKEEPING that supports their method of cleaning.

 

Of course, I should know by now that if you're a Christian, TSM does not allow you to offer any kind of support or reason for your views. Any such actions will automatically be construed as Bible Thumping and Violent Force upon the entire board community. One of these days, I'll learn.

 

No . . . no, I won't. I will not be cowed by ignorance and people just waiting for an opportunity to go after a Christian. Say what you want, I'm going to continue saying what I will and supporting it with the source from which I draw my lifestyle and opinions. If you see it as anything more than that, that's your problem. Not mine.

Even if people are opposed to your views.... or if they agree.... You have a right to believe what you believe and express how you feel just like anyone else. And ultimately... you know you will get rewarded for your beliefs.... right? At the risk of being bombarded with protests and criticism.... I do believe in God. I am not perfect and have definitely been a hypocrite at times, but I feel that those who don't believe in God do have an emptiness even if you say you feel fulfilled.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Wait, let me get this straight. By respecting other people's views, acknowledging that their views are different than my own, and explaining my views and why I have them (the Bible is something that my views are drawn from, so quoting it is merely a support for my explanations), I'm "Bible Thumping"?

 

Nowhere did I try to force my views on anyone. I merely explained why I agree with and support two CHRISTIANS whom the article in question focused on, who likely also draw their decisions and views from the same Bible that I draw mine from. No different than someone saying they like to clean their house a certain way and then quoting an article from GOOD HOUSEKEEPING that supports their method of cleaning.

 

Of course, I should know by now that if you're a Christian, TSM does not allow you to offer any kind of support or reason for your views. Any such actions will automatically be construed as Bible Thumping and Violent Force upon the entire board community. One of these days, I'll learn.

 

No . . . no, I won't. I will not be cowed by ignorance and people just waiting for an opportunity to go after a Christian. Say what you want, I'm going to continue saying what I will and supporting it with the source from which I draw my lifestyle and opinions. If you see it as anything more than that, that's your problem. Not mine.

You'll notice, SP, that the only one accusing you of being a bible beater is TSA, who posts only about her favvvvvvvowite boyfwiend, and Choken, who strikes me as a dunce. I doubt you're under enough spiritual distress to warrant a martyr-complex diatribe like your last post. We know you're a christian. Huzzah. Please, by all means, continue being one, just the same as I won't. Everyone on here worth a shit realizes that we can look at god and jesus however we want, so there's no reason to pout.

 

TSM is NOT ancient rome, and as much as some of us would like to, I doubt you get fed to lions.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

but I feel that those who don't believe in God do have an emptiness even if you say you feel fulfilled.

 

Well, then you'd be wrong. If you mean there's an emptiness where most folks keep their dogmatic sludge, then yes, I suppose you're right. I just like to replace proofless bullshit with something I feel is worthwhile.

[Guest SweetNSexyDiva]

but I feel that those who don't believe in God do have an emptiness even if you say you feel fulfilled.

 

Well, then you'd be wrong. If you mean there's an emptiness where most folks keep their dogmatic sludge, then yes, I suppose you're right. I just like to replace proofless bullshit with something I feel is worthwhile.

And while you don't think it is worthwhile, I believe it is truly important... thus continuing the theme that we each have a right to believe in what we believe in.