Thank you, Steve, for your civil and thoughtful response. If I may, I'll try to respond.
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Originally Posted by Sailor Steve
Fixed. You believe, and for all I know you may be right, but you only "know" that which you can actually prove. Otherwise it's only belief.
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Yes, Steve, it is belief. If we could prove it, there would be no need for belief. If Christ came down to Central Park, cured the sick, and raised the dead live on CNN, there would be no need for belief. And no more free will to believe or not.
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Originally Posted by Sailor Steve
I did believe, and for a very long time. I slowly came to realize that my life was no better and no worse than it ever was.
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I have no way of knowing what you formerly believed, but I suspect it was different from the belief that has changed my life. Or maybe my life was more in need of changing.
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Originally Posted by Sailor Steve
As for goodies, a great many different faiths have taught since long before Christ that happiness doesn't come from possessions.
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Of course there are, although I think "a great many" is a stretch. I can only speak from personal knowledge of the transforming power of Christ. Formerly, I followed the teachings of the Buddha, which is a powerful moral philosophy with much in common with the teachings of Jesus. But I never found a God in Buddhism.
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Originally Posted by Sailor Steve
While we're on the subject, if you truly believe what Christ taught, why do you play videogames? Why isn't every word that comes out of your keyboard praising God?
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First, Jesus never had a problem with people having a good time. His first public miracle was done to keep a party going! (How cool is that?) It is rather the pursuit of good times, to the exclusion of caring for others, that gets us off the track. Second, and more important, if people don't see the impact of Christ in my actions (and too often, I'm sure they don't), my words won't carry much weight. St Francis said: "Preach Christ crucified. Use words when required." My OP was to share the joy I was feeling, not to preach.