Christian Intelligence

[Motar]

"If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you, brains and all." (C. S. Lewis) Lewis identifies the "whole-being" aspect of Christianity, which is more than intellectual assent or an emotional experience or doing good.

The teachings of Christ support this:

"One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” (Luke 10:25-28 NIV)

Christianity is an inner life and lifestyle authorized and empowered by Christ.

 

[cj44]

"I will read it twice just because it will be so disagreeable which is a nice change from the agreeable stuff I read all day. I am an old time christian, recently self discovered after some decades of erroneous direction by crafty scribes and their crafty demon ancestors"

Now this interests me and I do hope you offer further explanation.

 

[MHz]

I like Sal's answer.

Okay, something similar to this, right? I was thinking more along the lines of being able to 'see' that the ones killes by a sword in one verse in Revelation can and is the subject of a whole chapter in the OT.

1Co:13:13:
And now abideth faith,
hope,
charity,
these three;
but the greatest of these is charity.

 

[cj44]

Motar: Indeed, but how many comprehend what is being said here?
"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." An impossibility is requested. Once the person sees and acknowledges his/her inability to do what is required, then and only then is there hope. How many pharisees walked away from Jesus' teaching and thought that they do the very will of God.

 

[Motar]

Cliffy: God will determine who he chooses. We have no ability "to connect to the source". Though, I should query what you are defining as source. It is always God seeking us. We, the lost sheep do not seek him first. You give abominable mankind too much credit. Now here I shall sound like a pompous elitist and that is why I rarely give way to open discussion on the matter. I find it difficult to communicate the fact that we humans have no inclination whatsoever to seek God. Rather, we run from him so fast that he only catches a glimpse of our after burners. That, perhaps is not the offensive part of the debate. Here is where some think I go madcap. God chooses us. Not the other way around. We have NOTHING to do with knowing God and if we do not come to know him on His terms, we fool ourselves completely. See, we do not recognize or acknowledge our deplorable state. Rather we esteem our knowledge and fancy ourselves deep thinkers. Oh that we would only know our thoughts on the matter of Holiness are pure rubbish. So, when I tell you that yes, God saved a wretched sinner like me - I mean a wretched sinner. A filthy, fuming, proud double faced fink. Now - we may imagine I am a "black" devil - the sort involved in gambling, drink and smut. I tell you I am worse off. I am rather a white devil! No! Rather a Platinum devil - was full of every pride known to mankind. Could nearly outrun Satan himself for the prize. Now, I am here to tell you. There was not so much as a morsel of goodness within me that I should seek the Lord. He grabbed me even against my beautiful polished self will and brought me before his judgement and mercy. I had NOTHING to do with it.

Dark B: Holy cow. You may not want to read my next thread as I think you may strongly disagree. Yikes!

Calvinism has been discussed in a previous thread, cj.

 

[cj44]

Okay, something similar to this, right? I was thinking more along the lines of being able to 'see' that the ones killes by a sword in one verse in Revelation can and is the subject of a whole chapter in the OT.

1Co:13:13:
And now abideth faith,
hope,
charity,
these three;
but the greatest of these is charity.

Yes. We can't run about screaming, "Oh, I am a Christian. Believe this way! Do as I do. Then we chop our neighbor off at the knees, tell him he's a jerk, run him off the road with our Range Rover, spit in the eye of the needy, and lay our pretty little head down at night and tell God how good we are." I can only imagine the hot mess many of us will be in on the day of judgment.

 

[Sal]

You and I grow and are educated the same way as a plant, by the light of the sun, Jesus.

um, I thought you were an atheist and thought all of us believers were deluded... I am confused DB. Enlighten me.

 

[cj44]

Motar: "Calvinism has been discussed in a previous thread, cj." I do not wish to get into the nuance of theological points. All I am saying is it is indeed good news when one realizes he/she is a sinner.

 

[Motar]

"The influence of the Bible on millions of those who have put their trust in it is an attested fact of history. Many who have been moral wrecks and victims of drink and drugs have been marvelously redeemed through the power of the Word of God. They have been made new into intelligent, useful citizens and members of the church. The power of Scripture is described in Hebrews 4:12. “The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (J. V. McGee)

Another witness to the influence of Christ on human intelligence.

 

[MHz]

Or, ..."The influence of the Bible on millions of those who have put their trust in 'the ones that say they understand every word in it' and that they have no ill intent on 'the flock'. By those standards the Clergy part of the Church should have been extinct by the end of the Middle Ages. By about that time the flock had been given permission by the Church to even learn to read, mostly for the bills they would get every payday rather than it being about the bible learning thing. For all intensive purposes they still leave it to 'the experts'. If the flock confronted then then it wouldn't be a very good deception and if 2/3 are fooled and they are fairly bight then the deception also has to be pretty good. It would certainly explain why they are so intent on changing the ending from being literal to being figurative. They can build the machines that will kill billion of people, they can't find anybody willing to pull the trigger.

 

[cj44]

"The influence of the Bible on millions of those who have put their trust in it is an attested fact of history. Many who have been moral wrecks and victims of drink and drugs have been marvelously redeemed through the power of the Word of God. They have been made new into intelligent, useful citizens and members of the church. The power of Scripture is described in Hebrews 4:12. “The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (J. V. McGee)

Another witness to the influence of Christ on human intelligence.

I wildly agree.

MHZ: What do you mean? "It would certainly explain why they are so intent on changing the ending from being literal to being figurative."

Changing what ending? Who is changing it? Do you speak of Revelation? Pre-Millennial or Post Millennial etc.?

 

[Motar]

In what way(s) does Christianity sharpen intelligence? In what way(s) is Christianity an education itself?

Aesthetic Intelligence = Appreciation of form, design and relationships Theory of Social Intelligence

"All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” (Luke 21:4-6 NIV)

Jesus points out the beauty of a generous soul to his students who are mesmerized by the attraction of a building and its contents. Here, Christ emphasizes a spiritual aesthetic to his earth-bound audience.

In what other ways does Christianity contribute to aesthetic intelligence?

 

[Sal]

"If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you, brains and all." (C. S. Lewis)

becoming human takes the whole being, brains and all but mostly just requires honest reflection

that's all that is needed, we are from god and therefore all that is required is within...there are many atheists who are far more Christ like in behaviour than many who profess Christianity

I have no problem with Christians that I know personally but then I am choosey about whom I allow into my life. Belief is not an issue for me, behaviour is and behaviour comes from the heart.

 

[MHz]

MHZ: What do you mean? "It would certainly explain why they are so intent on changing the ending from being literal to being figurative."

If you accept the literal meaning of these few verses and the chapter they come from as a cornerstone to what the events the last tribulation end up bringing. By changing it from death as we know it it will be a something that exists only in the mind, all people born still die.

Eze:37:12-14:
Therefore prophesy and say unto them,
Thus saith the Lord GOD;
Behold,
O my people,
I will open your graves,
and cause you to come up out of your graves,
and bring you into the land of Israel.
And ye shall know that I am the LORD,
when I have opened your graves,
O my people,
and brought you up out of your graves,
And shall put my spirit in you,
and ye shall live,
and I shall place you in your own land:
then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it,
and performed it,
saith the LORD.

Changing what ending? Who is changing it? Do you speak of Revelation? Pre-Millennial or Post Millennial etc.?

All of that and more, Revelation starts 3 1/2 years before the return at which time some people gain immortality and their first lesson is what fire from God will look like should they ever decide to 'sin'. They move that lesson to the top of the list and 'pin-it' so when they begin to teach the ones that missed that lesson they can do it like it was only yesterday. All their students pass with 100% grades for eternity. That part has a tendency to stray from what the many passages actually say. I suppose they could say they are trying to make the real ending come as an even bigger surprise than God himself intended. Liars, right to the bitter end.

An industrious person would take advantage of that and make a game that could be on the shelves this vert Xmas. Shakee Doctrine wher you put all the passages into a jar and shake them up and trow them at a timeline etched into the floor. You reap what you sow so it is only true if you can do it twice while betting max.

In what way(s) does Christianity sharpen intelligence? In what way(s) is Christianity an education itself?

The same steps used to explore and compare and sort into context all the various prophecies and events and understand the why in the first place can be used as a tool anything you investigate anything with a lot of 'data' and many different moving parts that are all somehow interactive down to it being a singular event in all. By that time the judge has fallen asleep and your speeding ticket is voided.

First and most important lesson, if you make a mistrake any bigger than not dotting every k they will hand you for eternity from the nearest object with enough height. (spot all 3 for 1 extra point)

 

[cj44]

becoming human takes the whole being, brains and all but mostly just requires honest reflection

that's all that is needed, we are from god and therefore all that is required is within...there are many atheists who are far more Christ like in behaviour than many who profess Christianity

I have no problem with Christians that I know personally but then I am choosey about whom I allow into my life. Belief is not an issue for me, behaviour is and behaviour comes from the heart.

I must consider what actually is "within". I cannot escape conscience and the reality of lawlessness amongst mankind. Hatred, jealously, strife etc. are the works of humans. If we are "good", we would live in a peaceful world. No doubt kindness is exhibited by theists and atheists alike.

 

[Sal]

I must consider what actually is "within". I cannot escape conscience and the reality of lawlessness amongst mankind. Hatred, jealously, strife etc. are the works of humans.

good point...and even people who are fundamentally good will do evil (politicians) when placed in a position of power or within a corrupt system

If we are "good", we would live in a peaceful world.

There are many good people and the world has progressed further toward "the good" (generally speaking) but it is a slow move forward sometimes with many steps back

if people could catch the concept of reaping what we sow, and understand what we put forth is what comes back, it would help

No doubt kindness is exhibited by theists and atheists alike.

I find kindness/goodness is exhibited by reflective people in general....anger and malice by those who don't go inward much.

 

[Spade]

Burke Lecture: John Shelby Spong - YouTube

 

[darkbeaver]

um, I thought you were an atheist and thought all of us believers were deluded... I am confused DB. Enlighten me.

Christ (the spirit or force or digital schematic) has been at large in the universe since matter (mother) gave birth to it, the son/sun, christ was not discovered two thousand years ago he was really hidden with the bibles wide circulation he was effectively buried and all but forgotten. Christ is a solar god in a long line of solar gods all with the super powers of suns, the bearers of light (reason and the self conscience mind) Mind over matter, Jesus is mind his mother Mary, Veronica etc was matter or mater or mudder, mother nature etc. All literally older than the hills. Nothing was started two thousand years ago that anyone would want to join.

Todays christians drive arround in stolen unlicensed vehicles.

 

[Sal]

Christ (the spirit or force or digital schematic) has been at large in the universe since matter (mother) gave birth to it, the son/sun, christ was not discovered two thousand years ago he was really hidden with the bibles wide circulation he was effectively buried and all but forgotten. Christ is a solar god in a long line of solar gods all with the super powers of suns, the bearers of light (reason and the self conscience mind) Mind over matter, Jesus is mind his mother Mary, Veronica etc was matter or mater or mudder, mother nature etc. All literally older than the hills. Nothing was started two thousand years ago that anyone would want to join.

Todays christians drive arround in stolen unlicensed vehicles.

okay, good stuff

 

[cj44]

Christ (the spirit or force or digital schematic) has been at large in the universe since matter (mother) gave birth to it, the son/sun, christ was not discovered two thousand years ago he was really hidden with the bibles wide circulation he was effectively buried and all but forgotten. Christ is a solar god in a long line of solar gods all with the super powers of suns, the bearers of light (reason and the self conscience mind) Mind over matter, Jesus is mind his mother Mary, Veronica etc was matter or mater or mudder, mother nature etc. All literally older than the hills. Nothing was started two thousand years ago that anyone would want to join.

Todays christians drive arround in stolen unlicensed vehicles.

DarkB: How did you arrive at this idea? How do "today's Christians" misrepresent Jesus - as you suggest? I am curious & hope you will further explain. Do you believe Jesus is just one of many with no particular difference? Where did these solar gods come from? Also, please explain what super powers the suns have.
Thanks