Search found 318 matches

by Fred
Tue Mar 01, 2016 6:22 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1385850

Re: Figuring Out Religion

Fair enough if you do not believe.  So then why do you care what I believe, or what manner of Scripture interpretation I use? Yes, fair enough. I'll stop posting in this forum if you will. Otherwise, when I get bored and have nothing better to do I can't resist the temptation to post a response to ...
by Fred
Tue Mar 01, 2016 6:06 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1385850

Re: Figuring Out Religion

Fair enough if you do not believe.  So then why do you care what I believe, or what manner of Scripture interpretation I use? Yes, fair enough. I'll stop posting in this forum if you will. Otherwise, when I get bored and have nothing better to do I can't resist the temptation to post a response to ...
by Fred
Tue Mar 01, 2016 6:00 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1385850

Re: Figuring Out Religion

How do the advocates of Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide square the words of the Gospel, especially when considering that with Luther's doctrine he directly contradicts Christ, as illustrated below? Do Lutherans accept the passage from James below? Did Luther think these passages were corruptions inser...
by Fred
Tue Mar 01, 2016 5:54 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1385850

Re: Figuring Out Religion

The NT was written in large part by the apostles in order to record Jesus' teachings before those who had heard it died, written by those who heard Jesus' words directly, or "interviewed" those who had heard Him, plus the things God wanted written where the author is not known for sure (e.g. Hebrew...
by Fred
Tue Mar 01, 2016 5:37 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1385850

Re: Figuring Out Religion

And since the NT is inspired by God, what is the issue here?  I think you already knew I didn't believe the NT is inspired by God. If I might make another observation about you it is that I think when you read the Bible you read it through an LCMS lens and don't really think for yourself about what...
by Fred
Tue Mar 01, 2016 4:59 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1385850

Re: Figuring Out Religion

We reject the doctrine which under the name of science has gained wide popularity in the Church of our day that Holy Scripture is not in all its parts the Word of God, but in part the Word of God and in part the word of man and hence does, or at least, might contain error. We reject this erroneous ...
by Fred
Tue Mar 01, 2016 4:52 pm
Forum: Bonds
Topic: Maximum Bond Upside
Replies: 278
Views: 161414

Re: Maximum Bond Upside

Any thoughts? Only that I'm in no position to criticize. Many's the time I considered the same, like every time TLT breaches 130. (I'm holding bonds directly, but TLT is a convenient and simple gauge). After Craig said he'd sell at 1%, I really got the bug. FWIW. The reason I don't comment much on ...
by Fred
Tue Mar 01, 2016 4:43 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1385850

Re: Figuring Out Religion

We reject the doctrine which under the name of science has gained wide popularity in the Church of our day that Holy Scripture is not in all its parts the Word of God, but in part the Word of God and in part the word of man and hence does, or at least, might contain error. We reject this erroneous ...
by Fred
Mon Feb 29, 2016 6:21 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Pope Francis / Catholic Church
Replies: 13
Views: 7847

Re: Pope Francis / Catholic Church

A more interesting story is why his predecessor resigned... Two of the forces at play, in my view... "At the launch of the book in Brussels this week, the cardinal said he was part of a secret club of cardinals opposed to Pope Benedict XVI." "He called it a "mafia" club that bore the name of St. Ga...
by Fred
Mon Feb 29, 2016 5:24 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1385850

Re: Figuring Out Religion

1. The Bible is a book of verifiable facts. Though the events, places and people cited in the Bible represent ancient history, their existence can be confirmed to a significant degree. It is not a theological book only; nor is it merely a book of wise sayings, like many other so-called “holy” books...
by Fred
Sun Feb 28, 2016 1:00 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1385850

Re: Figuring Out Religion

I think a better way to say it might be that the Bible contains "some testable claims". As in "it rained for forty days and nights" - it's possible that we might be able to check this claim out in some way and find out whether or not it actually happened as claimed. But, the big stuff isn't like th...
by Fred
Sat Feb 27, 2016 6:53 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1385850

Re: Figuring Out Religion

Maybe it would be of more interest to you to go back and read the Thomas Aquinas link that murphy_p_t posted.  Much heavier on logic.  Much more stuff to chew on. I'm not interested in Thomas Aquinas' arguments for the existence of God or anybody else's. If God wanted to prove that he existed, he c...
by Fred
Sat Feb 27, 2016 6:35 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1385850

Re: Figuring Out Religion

Thank you Fred, but as I've said before, there is much more to knowledge than reason.  That's not what the quote said. It said that the Bible is a book of verifiable facts. Do you really want to go through a list of "verifiable facts" in the Bible? Feel free to present them for us. I know there are...
by Fred
Sat Feb 27, 2016 6:15 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Figuring Out Religion
Replies: 4052
Views: 1385850

Re: Figuring Out Religion

This is an interesting pamphlet on "What Happens When I Die?".  See the Dropbox link for the pdf. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ndsz5kqawqspoup/What%20Happens%20When%20I%20Die%3F.pdf?dl=0 Topics covered: * How can I be sure the Bible is accurate?  Seven reasons. * What happens to us physically and spir...
by Fred
Sat Feb 27, 2016 1:37 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Define "Tracking Error"
Replies: 6
Views: 2696

Re: Define "Tracking Error"

It isn't really accurate to say that PP has a tracking error, as it is not intended to follow the behavior of a known benchmark. That is shorthand for "when gold isn't helping the returns, the PP often does much worse than 100% stocks (or whatever mental benchmark the person is referring to)". Thes...
by Fred
Fri Feb 26, 2016 6:26 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Thoughts on gay rights?
Replies: 210
Views: 71416

Re: Thoughts on gay rights?

Nan u, nan u.  ;)  I kind of hate to say this on a thread about gay rights, but I love you dude.  There is always hope.  ;D Well, I love you too man, in a "hate religion but love the religious" kind of way (not so sure about some Muslims though). But since you still have a personal relationship wit...
by Fred
Fri Feb 26, 2016 5:57 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Thoughts on gay rights?
Replies: 210
Views: 71416

Re: Thoughts on gay rights?

Nan u, nan u.  ;)  I kind of hate to say this on a thread about gay rights, but I love you dude.  There is always hope.  ;D Well, I love you too man, in a "hate religion but love the religious" kind of way (not so sure about some Muslims though). But since you still have a personal relationship wit...
by Fred
Thu Feb 25, 2016 7:00 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Thoughts on gay rights?
Replies: 210
Views: 71416

Re: Thoughts on gay rights?

Forgive my vulgarity, but me and my fellow software developers at work joke about how the ultimate goal of our employer is for us to bend over and........ just use your imagination. So maybe it's just the way we are all being programmed nowadays. In regards to homosexuals, I understand that stimula...
by Fred
Thu Feb 25, 2016 6:55 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Thoughts on gay rights?
Replies: 210
Views: 71416

Re: Thoughts on gay rights?

And then there is Mountaineer's post about burning incense upon the mountains. Maybe he can explain it to us. "Original sin" I suspect. Perhaps the ESV is a bit clearer? ... M Isaiah 65:5-7 English Standard Version (ESV) 5 who say, “Keep to yourself,     do not come near me, for I am too holy for y...
by Fred
Thu Feb 25, 2016 6:27 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Thoughts on gay rights?
Replies: 210
Views: 71416

Re: Thoughts on gay rights?

I don't get this. What is wrong with the usual way? Forgive my vulgarity, but me and my fellow software developers at work joke about how the ultimate goal of our employer is for us to bend over and........ just use your imagination. So maybe it's just the way we are all being programmed nowadays. ...
by Fred
Thu Feb 25, 2016 4:25 pm
Forum: Permanent Portfolio Discussion
Topic: Define "Tracking Error"
Replies: 6
Views: 2696

Define "Tracking Error"

I have been hearing this in regards to the PP that it has a "tracking error". I understand this to mean that it doesn't follow the behavior of a known benchmark, like an Index Fund.

I get that, but why is this considered an "error"?
by Fred
Thu Feb 25, 2016 4:05 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Thoughts on gay rights?
Replies: 210
Views: 71416

Re: Thoughts on gay rights?

Here's an article written by a daughter of a gay father who died of AIDS in Canada.  She was saying how they are not allowed to voice their opinions about homosexuality anymore because it is politically incorrect.  It's a viewpoint I had never considered before.  http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2...
by Fred
Tue Feb 23, 2016 7:42 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Thoughts on gay rights?
Replies: 210
Views: 71416

Re: Thoughts on gay rights?

And I am. As well as polyandry and group marriages. Okay, now we are getting somewhere. Do you think this should be the universal law on planet earth? As long as it's between consenting adults and doesn't hurt anybody it should be allowed? If a group of people went off to live on an island because ...
by Fred
Tue Feb 23, 2016 7:29 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Thoughts on gay rights?
Replies: 210
Views: 71416

Re: Thoughts on gay rights?

Can you really not see the huge difference between homosexuality and pedophilia? One involves consenting adults, and the other doesn't, and that's a major difference between them. If "consenting adults" is the line you draw then I think you would have to be in favor of legally allowing polygamy. If...
by Fred
Tue Feb 23, 2016 6:26 pm
Forum: Other Discussions
Topic: Pope Francis / Catholic Church
Replies: 13
Views: 7847

Re: Pope Francis / Catholic Church

Pope Francis garners a substantial amount of press. How has this impacted your view of the Church? Would this cause you to be open to exploring the claims of the Catholic Church further and/or move closer to the Church? I extensively examined the claims of the Catholic church to the point of actual...