Doug, I hope you can understand that sometimes tone and attitude do not translate accurately on the internet or in emails.
I don't know if this is a continuation of your ad hominem and diagnosis of my pysche, or if you really do feel hostility from me. If you really do feel this way, I hope you can understand I am here for the same reason as you say you are, to seek fellowship with other likeminded, amateur polemicists, and to discuss matters of faith.
I notice your website has it's own message board, perhaps you should post there if you are only seeking agreement.
hopeofzion wrote:GoodK,
Is it possible that you may be guilty of what you accuse me of. Are you being humble? Or is your attitude one of arrogance and someone who thinks they have the answer already? You be the judge.
Humility is not the goal of my posts, but it was hardly arrogant to question your unfalsifiable claims and point out the arrogance in your comments.
I seek clarity, not agreement.
hopeofzion wrote:I came here in peace, seeking fellowship with fellow believers to discuss matters of faith without contention. I did not come here to be drawn into endless debates with
those who feel that I (and my beliefs) are quite beneath them. If this is NOT how you feel, then your attitude/words betray your true nature.
Like I said, it is hard to determine someone's attitude in an internet discussion board. It is even harder to diagnose them pyschologically. You have attempted to do both in this thread, and have failed miserably.
hopeofzion wrote:This interaction did NOT begin by me responding to a post of yours, trying to convince you that you were wrong, or that you should believe as I do. Rather, you responded to my post, which was in no way a challenge to those who don't even believe in the Scriptures. It was an attempt at a peaceful discussion with those that do believe in them. That does not mean I wouldn't welcome discussion with those who are not Believers, but I will not engage those who seem hostile, as it is useless.
Yes. You must be correct. I butted into a conversation I had no business being a part of. Perhaps that is why I participate here, so I can interject my unwelcomed opinions at will. But like I said, I simply asked for clarity on one of your opinion, which apparently translated to a solicitation for some rather lengthy responses offering nothing clarifying about your assertions.
hopeofzion wrote:GoodK - What is the absolute truth in this case is that you know nothing about me, whatsoever, and so your pronounced judgments upon me are quite meaningless. You don't know what I have been through, what I know, the mistakes I have made, the things I have suffered, the experiences I have had, what kind of person I am, or how and why I believe as I do. I suggest to you that it is entirely possible for someone to believe in God, the Scriptures, and to have a personal relationship with Him, and not be either crazy or an idiot. Until you deliver yourself from that belief, we have no basis for a discussion.
You are certainly correct. I do not know anything about you personally. Neither do you know anything about me. Apparently you are missing the priceless irony here, so here is your original diagnosis of me, which warranted my diagnosis of you:
hopeofzion wrote:
A teacher cannot teach anything at all to the student who will not invest in, or care anything for what they have to teach. When you are hungry, you will eat. Not before. you're a big girl. I cannot force feed you....
In fact, I wonder why you are even here on a Mormon discussion board. Not that I have any desire for you to go. Not that you don't have a right to be here, or to question anything you wish. And not because I feel the least bit threatened by your challenges. But I have honestly never really understood why any person would devote even one ounce of their time or energy arguing and debating about something they choose not to believe in, with people who do choose to believe in it. Except they have experienced some personal injury, or are angry over something in their past, which drives them. Sometimes we feel compelled to confront wrongs, or speak our mind. This isn't always wrong, but I would recount the native american parable about two wolves within us (we choose which one to feed). Instead of dealing with what is really driving going on inside, which needs to be dealt with in order to bring them true peace so that they can move on, some tend to externalize the problem, and channel their energies at other people, blaming religion, government, a church, a race, a belief system, or whatever. I am not the least bit interested in trying to prove anything to you, because you're not interested in proofs, and so it would be a futile exercise.
If there is a textbook case of arrogance, this is it.
hopeofzion wrote:
You'll simply have to excuse the fact that I don't choose to expend time and energy trying to convince someone who is already hostile and clearly cannot be convinced by any argument, no matter how good. I've been through that process too many times already. A mind that is made up cannot be dislodged from its purpose. You have already belittled and tried to diminish a very precious testimony I shared, and you claim to be offended by the very notion that I (or others) could have a personal interaction or receive enlightenment directly from God. What is more is there to talk about?
Perhaps one day in the future, when you are less angry and more open, we can talk again.
Here you go, using the ad hominem and pretending like you have priceless gems of truth, that just aren't worth sharing with the likes of angry atheists.
No one that has read this thread could possibly make such a leap of faith as to assume you have something compelling supporting your claims.
If you did, you would have stated them already.
You will simply have to excuse the fact that when you say things like :
hopeofzion wrote:
Not that I am a prophet.
What I feel I can share and believe to be true with all my heart is this: That God really loves them, and He is about to do something that will bring many of them out of a form of bondage, which many of them are in, (those who will), and draw them into a much closer relationship with Himself.
And this is all a part of the work of the Father... where he will draw all that are His into ONE, even the lost tribes of Israel. Zion!
But there are just a couple of things about the LDS I do know, that the Lord has shared with me.
then I will continue thinking your beliefs are beneath me, and intellectuals, at least until you can explain them better.
I will also post responses, like I did here, asking you where you derive such seemingly silly and unreasonable beliefs.
Maybe when you decide to answer with substance instead of ad hominems and 'you're a meanie' then I can begin to understand them.