One question for Christians and one for Muslims neither can answer

I stand by what I said. Belief is a choice it is a decision you make. Some people aren't convinced to make this decision or that decision but I doubt that will work on you.

If you're waiting on someone to present you some profound revelation I'm sorry you're going to be waiting a long time.

I would advise you to go on about your life. Don't worry with being convinced.

I imagine it's difficult being an atheist in a religious family I know a little bit about that I'm a gay person in a Catholic Family.

Everyone is trying to convince you.

But I would tell you the best thing that you do is to tell these people exactly what I told you. That the belief is a choice and you choose not to.

 

If we are known before we are born and formed, by God.
How is it we have free will?
We can't change that which was formed in the womb. If we do, God didn't know what it formed or God doesn't have omniscience to know every human.

 

I agree. But I wouldn't limit it to simply male/female relationships.

 

One can love one's spouse deeply and be totally committed to them as a life partner and still feel the pangs of lust for them at times. This is not demeaning. It's natural. There's nothing wrong with loving them for the wonderful companions they are and still be responsive to & sharing in the raw physical drives that reside in each of us.

 

This in fact, in my experience is a critical factor in a long term relationship/marriage.

 

How old are you? I'm talking about the kind of love it takes to stick it out when you want to give up, over money, sickness, infidelity, and other assorted calamities. I am talking about an act of will, not warm fuzzy feelings that may not even be found when you're about ready to give up. Paul has a good definition of love but I am sure you know everything already so I'll stop there.

 

So you think love is a feeling?

 

Benevolent? Are you serious?

 

I already explained this, read the thread, and yes, you can change what was formed in the womb when you scrape it out with a coathanger.

Still don't think you have free will?

 

Why WOULDN'T they?

Does the parent who doesn't want their teenagers drinking liquor, drink liquor in front of them? (you know the answer .... and what we say about such people. hint: they're not good parents).

 

What happened to God's Plan? What happened to this god deciding everything that would ever happen in your life?

 

Yes...I "Feel" it so I suppose it is. I do however wonder why you seem to think you understand it so well.....How Old Are You and what experience guides your understanding?

 

You know, I really would tell you but I have made the mistake of spilling my guts on the internet before only to be subjected to sneering condescension from certain corners. Believe me, I am not the first or the only one to have ever said this.

 

I see....okay, I have been married three times, had four kids (actually three I think) been in love several times and in lust more than I can remember. I was the vocalist and Bass player in a very popular heavy metal band and was not exactly a puritan youth. I have cheated and been cheated on in marriage and now have the best marriage any man could dream up to a beautiful and buxom blonds who truly loves me and I cannot possibly live without. I'm pretty sure I know what I have felt.

 

Probably not the best argument for wisdom-in-love

 

Actually it is.

 

My wife and I have endured nearly every hardship you can imagine, from health issues to financial issues and everything in between. If we'd have had to count on feelings to guide us we'd have given up. There was simply no choice but to see it through no matter what, and it took some time to get clear of all of that but today we are as whole as anybody could expect and we have all of the feelings you have.

I hope it works out for you this time.

 

I would dispute that, most enthusiastically.

When it comes to relationships, most of us prefer to take our advice from those who've demonstrated their ability to, a) make a wise choice the first time, and b) stick out all the challenges.

 

This is wisdom.

I doff my hat to you, Sir.

 

Since this thread is not dropping, let me tell whoever stumbles on this comment that I asked this question from being a witness to a child born out of wedlock.

True story: my cousin concealed her pregnancy from everyone up until she gave birth to a girl in her bedroom. My uncle and aunt tracked down the father and had the two of them get married so they would not be "living in sin". I cannot say weather my cousin is happily married as we don't talk as much as we used to, but I don't approve of my aunt and uncle pressuring her to marry him. There were other factors involved like making sure the child had a proper family, but I don't know if I would have done the same.

 

God formed that being that was scraped out, knowing it would be scraped out.
We don't have free will, per an omniscient being. Impossible to have, in fact.

Matter of fact, God itself, scrapes out the being from time to time. We call them miscarriages.

 

No need to get rude. The original question I responded to specifically mentioned both love and lust. I was responding to that question. Your kind of love is of course crucial to a spousal relationship. We have no argument here.

 

I see....so you believe a lack of real life experience and life lessons lead to better understanding of complex situations? Do you gain it from books, movies....maybe Grandpas stories?

 

Some people take religion way to seriously. I generally don't participate in organized religion for that very reason.

Pity you lost interest in the discussion we were having, I found it interesting.

 

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