Do those who seek the truth really find God?
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Frogsterking
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Do those who seek the truth really find God?
An interesting point I came across at the end of the Millican vs. Craig debate was at the end when Millican denied the logic of earth as a place for beings to reject or accept God. He compared the finding of God as a coin flip rather than a choice. He also discussed how he had investigated into God with an open mind but could not find enough evidence for God's existence. It made me wonder whether those who seek the truth really find God?
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Gman
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Re: Do those who seek the truth really find God?
Yes.... And much more.Frogsterking wrote: It made me wonder whether those who seek the truth really find God?
Luke 15:11-32
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
The heart cannot rejoice in what the mind rejects as false - Galileo
We learn from history that we do not learn from history - Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. -Philippians 4:8
We learn from history that we do not learn from history - Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. -Philippians 4:8
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Gman
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Re: Do those who seek the truth really find God?
How do you find Him?
Jeremiah 29:13
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
The heart cannot rejoice in what the mind rejects as false - Galileo
We learn from history that we do not learn from history - Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. -Philippians 4:8
We learn from history that we do not learn from history - Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. -Philippians 4:8
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Proinsias
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Re: Do those who seek the truth really find God?
Some do, some don't.
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Echoside
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Re: Do those who seek the truth really find God?
This kind of discussion can easily devolve into a "he said she said" scenario. How do we know he was using an "open mind"? I can think of many atheists who reject God for irrational reasons, but in the same breath declare themselves free from religious "mind control."Frogsterking wrote: He also discussed how he had investigated into God with an open mind but could not find enough evidence for God's existence. It made me wonder whether those who seek the truth really find God?
Some people have unrealistic expectations. They want God to do spiritual gymnastics for them and appear when they call like he is subject to our authority. This is not the case.
Do those who seek the truth really find God? I cannot know the minds of everyone on the planet, but I do know the being that does. As for myself, I searched and found after about 6 years.
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Danieltwotwenty
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Re: Do those who seek the truth really find God?
Echoside wrote:This kind of discussion can easily devolve into a "he said she said" scenario. How do we know he was using an "open mind"? I can think of many atheists who reject God for irrational reasons, but in the same breath declare themselves free from religious "mind control."Frogsterking wrote: He also discussed how he had investigated into God with an open mind but could not find enough evidence for God's existence. It made me wonder whether those who seek the truth really find God?
Some people have unrealistic expectations. They want God to do spiritual gymnastics for them and appear when they call like he is subject to our authority. This is not the case.
Do those who seek the truth really find God? I cannot know the minds of everyone on the planet, but I do know the being that does. As for myself, I searched and found after about 6 years.
I agree with Echoside, it took me the better part of 25 years to find God and like you said at first I was looking for huge miracles and a booming voice.
I have found God to be much more subtler than that in my own walk, for example just the other day I got a friend request on facebook from an atheist who had mocked me and slandered what I believe on another friends page where I had been having a debate about some God issues, now for days before that I had been praying to God if this is where he wants me as I had been frustrated with the insults and felt I was starting to react badly to them, well I guess I got my sign as this person wanted to continue our conversation and promised he would not throw insults this time.
Praise be to God
Dan
Last edited by Danieltwotwenty on Mon Jan 16, 2012 2:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1Tim1:15-17
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.Amen.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.Amen.
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Frogsterking
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jlay
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Re: Do those who seek the truth really find God?
How would someone who rejects God's existence say that finding Him is a coin flip? That is laced with contradiction.
-“The Bible treated allegorically becomes putty in the hands of the exegete.” John Walvoord
"I'm not saying scientists don't overstate their results. They do. And it's understandable, too...If you spend years working toward a certain goal and make no progress, of course you are going to spin your results in a positive light." Ivellious
"I'm not saying scientists don't overstate their results. They do. And it's understandable, too...If you spend years working toward a certain goal and make no progress, of course you are going to spin your results in a positive light." Ivellious
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Furstentum Liechtenstein
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Re: Do those who seek the truth really find God?
Wrong answer! This guy got it right:Proinsias wrote:Some do, some don't.
...and this guy:Gman wrote:How do you find Him?
<A class=lbsBibleRef href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Jeremiah%2029.13" target=_blank lbsReference="Jeremiah 29.13|NASB" data-reference="Jeremiah 29.13" data-version="NASB">Jeremiah 29:13</A>
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
jlay wrote:How would someone who rejects God's existence say that finding Him is a coin flip? That is laced with contradiction.
Hold everything lightly. If you don't, it will hurt when God pries your fingers loose as He takes it from you. -Corrie Ten Boom
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If they had a social gospel in the days of the prodigal son, somebody would have given him a bed and a sandwich and he never would have gone home.
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If they had a social gospel in the days of the prodigal son, somebody would have given him a bed and a sandwich and he never would have gone home.
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StMonicaGuideMe
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Re: Do those who seek the truth really find God?
He promises so, but there is no definitive timeline on it 
We must note, however, that many are shown the existence or truth of God, but they REJECT it for supposed "reasons".
My most profound experiences with God have been the quietest and softest moments, whispers during everyday life, reminders of how much He loves us. It usually happens in moments where things are going badly and then one little thing occurs that radically alters how bad it was, so much to the point where it will get a little more tolerable AND at the same time, give me insight into how lucky I was even when things were bad. It's as if He says "child, why do you worry? Do you not trust me? I will provide for all of your needs".
We must note, however, that many are shown the existence or truth of God, but they REJECT it for supposed "reasons". My most profound experiences with God have been the quietest and softest moments, whispers during everyday life, reminders of how much He loves us. It usually happens in moments where things are going badly and then one little thing occurs that radically alters how bad it was, so much to the point where it will get a little more tolerable AND at the same time, give me insight into how lucky I was even when things were bad. It's as if He says "child, why do you worry? Do you not trust me? I will provide for all of your needs".
To sustain the belief that there is no God, atheism has to demonstrate infinite knowledge, which is tantamount to saying, “I have infinite knowledge that there is no being in existence with infinite knowledge".