Thursday, April 14, 2011

A Paradox

One story is a lie. The other story is true. Yet they are both the same story. How can this be?

Child of God provided me with a link to a video of a Muslim man who was sent to America to convert everyone to Islam. A series of events led to his seeing a vision of God. He became a Christian. He now seeks to convert Muslims to Christianity. Child of God believes that this story is true.

There was a young boy who wanted to know god. He was confused about religion. He prayed and god appeared to him. This boy became a prophet and did many mighty miracles to further the cause of the risen lord. This boys name was Joseph Smith. Child of God does not believe that this story is true.

The first story is true. The second story is false. How can this be if they are the same: a person seeking god and finding him?

I have no idea...

Go ask Child of God.

6 comments:

Andrew Hall said...

I wonder if the now Christian-once-Muslim fellow were to travel to India would he convert to Hindusim?

Dinahsoar said...

My reply to you is there is one true God and the rest are false or lesser gods.

We are all capable of being deceived. For example, we fall in love, believe the other person loves us too. Then we discover they did/do not love us.

There is no test that can prove love--it is something we 'feel' in our heart and the truth of it is revealed by the behavior of the object of our love-- just as there is no test that can prove which God is the true god or if there is even any such thing as a supreme God.

It requires faith. Some of us place our faith in the god of the Jews: Yahweh. That is who I worship.

Others choose the gods of Hinduism.

Others choose the gods of the Mormon cult/faith, and on and on.

All of these gods cannot be the supreme god.

And others who believe there is no god at all believe that by faith too, since they cannot prove there is no god.

We all walk by faith.

I respect your choice to be an atheist, just as I respect the choices of others to choose whom they serve.

And I respect the fact that a person can believe one way, and later believe himself to be wrong and change his belief.

When we die it will all be revealed. But while we live we must live according to the dictate of our conscience.

Mormon411 said...

Great question, Andy.

@?Dinahsoar, love is a very powerful emotion. I never felt that way about god, ever. Not even as a believer. If someone claims to feel that strongly about god, I can't deny that they do.

I agree with almost everything you said. The only part I would correct you on is the part about atheists having faith. I don't believe, so therefore, no faith is required. Do you have faith that the Flying Spaghetti Monster is not real? Of course not. That is the same way I don't have faith that god exists.

If you are both religious and tolerant, then thumbs up to you!

Dinahsoar said...

Re: the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM)

I guess we'd have to define faith. Simply put, to me faith is a strong belief, i.e. confidence.

I am confident that the FSM is not real.

I place my confidence, my faith in that belief that he is not real.

Hence, that is what I mean when I say it takes faith to believe there is no god just as much as it takes faith to believe there is a god.

I am confident God is and that he is Yahweh. You are confident that god does not exist.

I have no problem with that.

And I believe we each should be allowed to examine the choices and decide for ourselves what we believe, what we will place our confidence in.

I find your blog very interesting.

I've never had any faith/confidence in the Mormon teachings. Nor in many other teachings/beliefs that I have examined.

The one I do have confidence in and follow is what I practice.

I am glad we all have the free will and the freedom to choose.

It is bondage otherwise. I refuse to be in bondage to anything or anyone.

I love what Jesus proclaimed:

'you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free'.

As a follower of Jesus, anytime another who claims to follow him and tries to put me into the bondage of their interpretation of his teachings I reject what they say.

As well, those who would try to put me into bondage and force me to believe what they believe I will rebuff as well.

Free will to believe as I choose is an inalienable right.

And it follows I have no right to force another to believe as I believe.

Exhalted Outcast said...

Interesting....

I do have one question though; since we cannot prove or disprove the existence of a supreme being. And, since all teachings, etc. are all the writings of fallible men, how can one honestly have faith in something that is obviously fictional?

The equivalent would be to have faith in Darth Vader as the true savior of the world. He was created and only exists in literature and media. Therefore his existence is something we should put our faith in?

Not sure I can get behind that logic...

Mormon411 said...

My fictional being of choice to compare "god" to is Peter Pan. Captain Hook is Satan. How can you know, for 100% sure, that Peter Pan isn't the saviour of the world? He has touched my heart and I know he is. You can know him too. Just let his spirit touch your heart. I promise you will find him.