its funny how they call this christian fiction... Showing 201-250 of 1,587

[[deleted user]]

Wiser? Less ridiculous? Uhh, the Word of God is the wisest Book in existence!! What do you mean, "wiser"? And how is it "ridiculous"?

[Shaun]

Kendra wrote: "Hazel, you accuse me of not choosing to believe in God - something I didn't do until I was 12 years old. 12 years growing up in a preacher's home seems like a long time to me, don't you agree?

..."

Speaking for myself, I was raised in a loving, Christian household, attended sunday school twice a week, attended school in a country in which communal worship is compulsory, joined organisations with a strong christian link such as the Cubs and Scouts and the Saint John Ambulance Brigade, went to a church youthclub, was surrounded by peers for whom christian belief was the norm, and had no negative experiences that might have led me to rebel against the church.

Still, at the age of 11, looked closely at what I was being taught and thought "Isn't this all just a little bit silly?".

27 years later I have yet to see anything to convince me otherwise.

[[deleted user]]

What, may I ask, would convince you? Your mind is made up already! You don't want to believe that it's possible that God - the Father and Creator - does exist.

[[deleted user]]

You all make me so sad. I'll be praying for you.

[Will]

Kendra wrote: "Wiser? Less ridiculous? Uhh, the Word of God is the wisest Book in existence!! What do you mean, "wiser"? And how is it "ridiculous"?"

If you can't read the bible and see how ridiculous it is, then you are truly brainwashed.

23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!” 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. 25 And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.

One of my favorites. Gives me a laugh every time. So wise of God to kill a bunch of children for calling an old man "baldy."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah5xFM...

[Will]

Please watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rwioe...

[Shaun]

Kendra wrote: "What, may I ask, would convince you? Your mind is made up already! You don't want to believe that it's possible that God - the Father and Creator - does exist."

Au contraie - I'd love to believe in a kind and loving god*. I'd love to have faith that there was a big friendly guy up there who, despite all the bad things that are happening in the world, is going to make it all better when I leave this one.

But belief isn't something I can turn on or off, like a lightbulb. I can no more suddenly decide to believe in the Christian God (or rather *your* sects particular version of that particular god) than you can suddenly decide to believe in the teachings of Mohammed.

It would take evidence. I won't demand proof, since a good scientist accepts that some things cannot be proven, but just a simple accumulation of evidence that the way things are can only be explained by the presence of some great and powerful being outside of humanity instead of by perfectly explicable observable, testable natural phenomena.

Can you give me that, Kendra? Or, can your God give me that? In the Bible there are plenty of instances of God intervening personally to save just one small sinner, why not me? For an omnipotent being, it would be of no effort at all to give me just a tiny nudge, a tiny hint, something that only he and I share but that shows me that the world is not without his guidance. It would be so massively easy for him to do that I can only conclude that if he exists, he doesn't *want* me to believe in him.

And if I did, which him? It's so confusing! If I believe in the one that the Catholics believe in and the Protestants are right, what will become of me? Am I supposed to follow Jesus's example and provide free alcohol to my friends, or be a good methodist and eschew the demon drink? Am I, like Jesus, supposed to love the sinner? Or am I supposed to be picketing the funerals of dead servicemen with a sign that says "God Hates Fags"?

But I'll tell you what, Kendra, I will make you a deal. A solemn promise. I am absolutely sincere in this. I WILL convert to Christianity on the day that every Christian agrees a single version of the bible to follow. Does that seem fair? When the Christians of the world agree on ONE creed, I shall follow it. Even if it is abhorrent to me in its treatment of women, or minorities, or bisexuals, when every Christian is following the same faith, I shall join it. Is that too much to ask?

*(IE, not the one described in the Old Testament, frankly)

[[deleted user]]

Shaun wrote: "Kendra wrote: "What, may I ask, would convince you? Your mind is made up already! You don't want to believe that it's possible that God - the Father and Creator - does exist."

Au contraie - I'd ..."

Do you realize what you just told me? You just agreed to believe IF ALL the Christians believe the same Bible. But do you know how impossible that is? There are so many kinds of beliefs - and many people call themselves "Christian" when they don't follow Christ. What does that say about them? Does that mean they are Christians after all? I think not. It takes very real *FAITH, not some deal you make with me or anyone else.

Do you also realize that in making a deal with me - a mere human being - you are also making a deal with God (even if you aren't speaking TO HIM)? You are telling Him that He has to do things YOUR way if He wants you to become a believer. You want to place before Him an impossible task - and it is truly impossible, because there are so many religions and beliefs in the world, and people are not willing to admit they are wrong (I shoud know, I'm human, too).

BTW: "ALL THE CHRISTIANS" could be millions! There are far too many people who claim to be "Christians".

[[deleted user]]

Molly wrote: "Kendra wrote: "Ah, but they did have a knowledge. God told them NOT to eat of that fruit, but they still did. A parent doesn't always tell their child "why" they should not do something, but they..."

Satan (the Snake) told them that what God said was not true. He lied to them, and they in turn disobeyed God. They didn't have to know what "right" and "wrong" meant at the time. They just needed to do as God commanded them to do.

[[deleted user]]

Will wrote: "Kendra wrote: "Wiser? Less ridiculous? Uhh, the Word of God is the wisest Book in existence!! What do you mean, "wiser"? And how is it "ridiculous"?"

If you can't read the bible and see how ri..."

What version of the Bible are you using?

[Mary]

Will wrote: "Kendra wrote: "Wiser? Less ridiculous? Uhh, the Word of God is the wisest Book in existence!! What do you mean, "wiser"? And how is it "ridiculous"?"

If you can't read the bible and see how ri..."

There WAS a whole lot of smoting and smiting going on in the Old Testament. There is actually a book called Thomas' Book on the Infancy of Jesus. It was very popular in the 2nd century. In one instance Jesus is mad at a playmate and Jesus kills him by pushing the child off the roof. He does resurrect him afterwards, but it showed Jesus had some imperfections.

What I find interesting is that so many of the people I know who are very devout Christians are also very ignorant about the history of the Bible and the Bible itself. They do not know there are 4 different creation stories. They do not know there are actually 613 commandment in the Torah. One says a rapist must marry the woman he rapes. Another says you may not eat creatures that live in the water except for fish; nor can you eat meat and milk together. You cannot crossbreed animals, etc. We were born with brains and I cannot believe that if God created me he did not intend for me to use my brain. The Bible is not inerrant nor literal.

[Will]

You would think God could at least warn Adam and Eve that there's a talking snake wondering around that will try to trick them, but nahhhhh, God loves messing with his creation!

It's silly that we are even talking about this like it's even remotely possible. Surely you don't think the the Bible is inerrant? At least be rational enough to admit it's mostly just stories.

[Mary]

"Satan (the Snake) told them that what God said was not true. He lied to them, and they in turn disobeyed God. They didn't have to know what "right" and "wrong" meant at the time. They just needed to do as God commanded them to do."

I always wondered if Satan exists, then how do people who claim to hear God speak to them not know that Satan is not tricking them?

[[deleted user]]

Mary wrote: "Will wrote: "Kendra wrote: "Wiser? Less ridiculous? Uhh, the Word of God is the wisest Book in existence!! What do you mean, "wiser"? And how is it "ridiculous"?"

If you can't read the bible a..."

Mary (do you mind if I call you "Mary"?) you mjust contradicted yourself. You said that God commanded these things, but then you went and said that IF God did so, He is not a loving God. But the Bible says that GOD IS LOVE. God cannot be LOVE and do/say things that go against what LOVE stands for.

[Shaun]

Kendra wrote: "Shaun wrote: "Kendra wrote: "What, may I ask, would convince you? Your mind is made up already! You don't want to believe that it's possible that God - the Father and Creator - does exist."

Au..."

Wait, so not all Christians believe the same thing? So how do I know which Christians to follow? What happens if I follow the wrong ones? How do *you* know you are the right ones, and not those papists down the street, or those Quakers around the corner, or those Methodists, or those...

As for my deal - I am only asking him to do something that (a) would cost him, effectually, zero effort and (b) he has (according to the bible) done many, many times before and (c) would bring a stray back to his flock, something that Jesus seemed pretty keen on.

After all, he must know (being omnicognizant and all) how corrupted his message has become after a couple of thousand years of imperfect human interpretation (and misinterpretation, accidental and otherwise). Surely he must recognise, as you have, that Christianity is hopelessly tied up in knots, so that the outsider has no way of seeing the truth.

Doesn't he want us to see the truth? Why not get the whole mess straightened out? How many good people are being condemned to hell not because they are unwilling to beleive, but because, in all good faith, they backed the wrong horse?

And finally - He's an omnipotent being. The word impossible literally has no meaning to him. If he wanted to, he could get Christianity back on track with the twinkling of one nebula-sized eye. Instead he allows so many to be lost.

He is described as a shepherd, but he is a shepherd whose flock has scattered, with a dozen different sheep wearing bells running off in different directions and the others not knowing which to follow. A shepherd that stands back whilst the vast majority of his flock blindly follows its belled-leader over a cliff. Only those few sheep that, completely at random, chose to follow the right bell, wind up back safe in the pen and the shepherd, who allegedly loves these sheep, simply stands back and watches them fall.

(And that's ignoring the fact that a good portion of the sheep within his care have, through no fault of their own, been inflicted with horrible diseases he makes no effort to cure, left to starve when he could bring them food, been ripped apart by wolves he has made no effort to stop... but I digress)

That's a pretty lousy shepherd, by any definition.

[Will]

Kendra wrote: "What version of the Bible are you using?"

That one was from the NIV, the most popular among Christians in America today, but, just in case, I'll give you the KJV of it:

23And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

24And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

25And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

[Mary]

"Mary (do you mind if I call you "Mary"?) you mjust contradicted yourself. You said that God commanded these things, but then you went and said that IF God did so, He is not a loving God. But the Bible says that GOD IS LOVE. God cannot be LOVE and do/say things that go against what LOVE stands for."

You can call me Mary . I did not contradict myself. I said the Bible has 613 commandments. I do not believe God commanded everything written in the Bible.

[Will]

28 If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, 29 he shall pay her father fifty shekels[a] of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.

Deuteronomy 22:28-29 (New International Version)

Awww, such a wise book! I've been single for a while and could use a wife to own as my property (according to Scripture), so, I should just go out and rape one! Then I can marry her against her will after I've violated her against her will! Thank you God for your wisdom in this matter in helping me select a bride!

[Shaun]

Kendra wrote: "Mary (do you mind if I call you "Mary"?) you mjust contradicted yourself..."

Not at all. What Mary did was point out that *the bible* contradicts itself.

On the one hand, God is love. On the other hand, God sends an angel of death to slay innocent babies just because they live in a kingdom whose king won't do as God's representative asks.

On the one hand, God is love. On the other hand, God incinerates a city with such violent force that innocent bystanders who are looking in the wrong direction get turned into a condiment.

On the one hand, God is love. On the other hand, God drowns an entire world, including, one must assume, countless newborn babies.

On the one hand, God is love. On the other, he will torture forever in a lake of fire anyone that - even through ignorance - doesn't accept his son as their savior.

These are astonishing acts of love.

[[deleted user]]

Shaun wrote: "Kendra wrote: "Mary (do you mind if I call you "Mary"?) you mjust contradicted yourself..."

Not at all. What Mary did was point out that *the bible* contradicts itself.

On the one hand, God is l..."

Hmm. You raise some good points. Kind of. See, God is love, but He loves us so much that he punishes us for our sin. Parents punish their children, don't they? Same idea.

God doesn't throw people into the lake of fire unless they have expended their time on Earth - their opportunity to turn to Him is over by that time.

He doesn't allow babies to go to Hell. They don't know right from wrong (as stated somewhere above). But all of those people - all of those GROWN PEOPLE - who KNEW the difference between right and wrong - deserved to be punished. And that is how He did it.

You are ignoring one fact here: God gives us the opportunity to change for the better/turn our life over to Him--but if we do not, then He must punish us.

My TBI 9 years ago....it could have been a punishment, it could have been something that the Devil did to me and my family in an attempt to weaken us; it could have also just been the beginning of a lesson. I truly believe it was the last option. God is trying to teach my family and I a lesson. Probably several, actually.

[[deleted user]]

Will wrote: "28 If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, 29 he shall pay her father fifty shekels[a] of silver. He must marry the young woman, fo..."

Will, that's totally disgusting! And that is NOT the Word of God. God DOES NOT want men to rape women, or people to kill, or steal, or anything of the kind. He wrote the 10 Commandments - total contradiction to those!

[Mary]

"Hmm. You raise some good points. Kind of. See, God is love, but He loves us so much that he punishes us for our sin. Parents punish their children, don't they? Same idea. "

Discipline means "to teach." There is no point in turning your children into a pillar of salt since they will be too dead to learn their lesson. God is also not consistent in his punishment. When David orders Uriah to the front lines so they he will be killed and then David can have Bathsheba, God did not kill David. The only punishment was he did not get to build the temple. Abraham married his sister (Gen 12:13), lied and denied her twice to save himself (Gen 12:11-19, 20:2-5), seduced her handmaid (Gen 16:1-4), drove one child and its mother into the desert to starve (Gen 21:14), drove out his other
children and their mothers (Gen 25:6), was willing to butcher his other child to please God (Gen 22). He was counted righteous because he believed (Gen 15:6). Yet God did not punish him, he made him the father of all nations.

[Will]

Kendra, if you didn't watch this, please do, seriously.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rwioe...

If you did watch it, was anything that was said to that child wrong in your view?

[Mary]

Kendra wrote: "Will wrote: "28 If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, 29 he shall pay her father fifty shekels[a] of silver. He must marry the yo..."

Please read the Bible. That is most certainly in there. If the Bible is the word of God, then he said a man who rapes a woman must marry her.

[Will]

Kendra wrote: "Will, that's totally disgusting! And that is NOT the Word of God. God DOES NOT want men to rape women, or people to kill, or steal, or anything of the kind. He wrote the 10 Commandments - total contradiction to those! "

I agree, it is disgusting!

did you know that that is in the Bible? I was quoting directly from Deuteronomy! It is the commandments God gives along with the 10 (He gave 113 commandments total).

It's good to know you find some things in the Bible disgusting as well

[Xdyj]

Molly wrote: "As an agnostic, there are things I enjoy about this book, but I just can't stand the main characters. I like the idea of a story taking place during the rise of the anti-christ, the years of tribul..."

Agreed. I've seen better works with similar premise written by non-fundamentalist.

[[deleted user]]

Will wrote: "Kendra wrote: "Will, that's totally disgusting! And that is NOT the Word of God. God DOES NOT want men to rape women, or people to kill, or steal, or anything of the kind. He wrote the 10 Commandme..."

Will, don't go saying that you took this from a KJV Bible, because I KNOW you didn't. I have never seen such a thing in the B ible before. My dad is a pastor! For crying out loud, he taught me what I know about the Bible (lots of things, but not nearly enough.)

[[deleted user]]

Xox wrote: "Will wrote: "You would think God could at least warn Adam and Eve that there's a talking snake wondering around that will try to trick them, but nahhhhh, God loves messing with his creation!

It's ..."

Xox, God knows everything. He knew that Adam and Eve would sin in the garden, but He made a decision: He trusted them. But did they listen to Him? Did they go to Him immediately and admit what they ahd done? Nope. They tried to hide after wards. But God - Who knows everything found them anyway.

And, as a result, man (Adam and Eve) was sent out of the Garden of Eden - away from the Tree of Life that was also there, and they had to "make due".

[Mary]

Deuteronomy 22:28-29

King James Version (KJV)

28If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;

29Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.

[Mary]

"Xox, God knows everything. He knew that Adam and Eve would sin in the garden, but He made a decision: He trusted them. But did they listen to Him? Did they go to Him immediately and admit what they ahd done? Nope. They tried to hide after wards. But God - Who knows everything found them anyway."

If God knows everything, he knew not to trust them. So why did he?

[[deleted user]]

I'm not ignoring you, Mary. But here is a verse that I believe is very true and very real and tells it all.

"Blessed is he who has not seen et believes"

[[deleted user]]

"et" is supposed to be "yet"

[Will]

Yes, I apologize I didn't use the almighty KJV (which is just a "version" I hope you know). Mary was kind enough to post the KJV of those verses, and as you can see, it says the same thing.

[[deleted user]]

Will wrote: "Yes, I apologize I didn't use the almighty KJV (which is just a "version" I hope you know). Mary was kind enough to post the KJV of those verses, and as you can see, it says the same thing."

Don't mock the KJV, please. It is what I have found to be the most accurate version around. Many of the other versions do not use the same terms, simply because it's "easier". Just because it's "easier' doesn't mean it's "right". Not to mention that many of those versions change things so that they are not comprehendable in the way they should be.

[[deleted user]]

Mary wrote: ""Xox, God knows everything. He knew that Adam and Eve would sin in the garden, but He made a decision: He trusted them. But did they listen to Him? Did they go to Him immediately and admit what the..."

Mary, I don't know why God allowed them to commit that first sin. I'm not God, and I don't know HIM. Perhaps I could better understand Him if I'd lived in "that time", but I didn't (He knew I'd have a TBI, so that's probably why He put me in this time - born in 1984, operated on in 2003.

[Will]

Kendra wrote: "It is what I have found to be the most accurate version around."

Based on what? Your holy KJV version doesn't hold a candle to the original Greek and Hebrew. Perhaps you should be condemning the KJV in place of the original language. And KJV wasn't made until 1611, are you saying all of the previous translations were wrong? lol

[Mary]

"Don't mock the KJV, please. It is what I have found to be the most accurate version around. Many of the other versions do not use the same terms, simply because it's "easier". Just because it's "easier' doesn't mean it's "right". Not to mention that many of those versions change things so that they are not comprehendable in the way they should be."

It does not matter what version you read, they all say the same thing about a man marrying a woman he has raped.

[Will]

Kendra wrote: ""Blessed is he who has not seen yet believes""

And how is that a good thing? Why don't you apply that to Mohammad, or aliens, or Elvis still being alive?

[[deleted user]]

Mary wrote: "Deuteronomy 22:28-29

King James Version (KJV)

28If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;

29Then the man that l..."
Well then, I stand corrected. (yes, I even admitted that much!) It is in the Bible, but I believe that what it means is that God wants that man to do something about what he did to that woman. To do "right".

[Mary]

"Mary, I don't know why God allowed them to commit that first sin. I'm not God, and I don't know HIM. Perhaps I could better understand Him if I'd lived in "that time", but I didn't (He knew I'd have a TBI, so that's probably why He put me in this time - born in 1984, operated on in 2003."

...and yet you are so sure that only Christians (real Christians btw) are going to heaven. I believe there is something beyond this life. I have had too many experiences in my life that lead me to believe this. I believe the soul is something that imbues life and is created of some type of energy. The scientific law of Conservation of Energy says that the amount of energy remains constant over time. So...when the soul leaves the body it is converted to something else or goes somewhere else besides the body. It might go into a new body being born and therefore the Hindus might be right. It might just hang around in the atmosphere or it might move to an alternate universe (similar to Plato's World of Copies). I do not believe there is some old man sitting on a throne with a long white beard pronouncing judgment on a race he created who knows everything but then also lets us decide. If there is free-will, he doesn't know everything. If there is predetermination, what is the point?

[Will]

Mary wrote: "I believe the soul is..."

What soul?

[Mary]

I feel that if there is a God, she is a woman - you know creator and all that .

[[deleted user]]

You know, you are all just so....so hard to take!! You don't listen, because you think only you are right. You accuse me of thinking that same thing, yet I have proof of that. BUT....I NEED to do some researching. I do not know the Bible as well as I would like, and I need to look up some verses and information. So, therefore, I am leaving and going to get ready for bed. I have a fairly early day tomorrow.

[Mary]

Will wrote: "Mary wrote: "I believe the soul is..."

What soul?"

There is something that animates us. Call it what you like; that is just semantics. I have given birth to three children and I can tell you from MY experience that something happens during the third trimester - something that takes a bunch of cells and nerve endings and turns it into something...more. Our beliefs are shaped by our own experiences. Your experiences have led you to believe there is nothing but the now. Who am I to tell you different? By the same token, my experiences tell me there is something more. I do not know what it is, but I think it is there.

[Xdyj]

Shaun wrote: "Kendra wrote: "What, may I ask, would convince you? Your mind is made up already! You don't want to believe that it's possible that God - the Father and Creator - does exist."

Au contraie - I'd ..."

Personally I think it's a very good thing that Christians do not completely agree with each other on their creeds, because it probably makes contemporary Christian-majority countries more unlikely to fall back to theocracy and also enables reforms within Christianity that make it more tolerant and more friendly to underprivileged people.

[Mary]

Kendra wrote: "You know, you are all just so....so hard to take!! You don't listen, because you think only you are right. You accuse me of thinking that same thing, yet I have proof of that. BUT....I NEED ..."

The problem with insisting on a literal, inerrant interpretation of the Bible is that one's faith is contingent upon everything being true. Theologians have been twisting themselves into knots for centuries trying to explain the many inconsistencies in the Bible. So we have people who insist that the world was created in 144 hours (he rested on the 7th day) and is only 6,000 years old. This flies in the face of science, yet they would have us deny the evidence we have in order to hang on to their faith. I feel that faith must be pretty thin if you have to cram a square peg into a round hole to justify it.

[Will]

Kendra wrote: "You know, you are all just so....so hard to take!! You don't listen, because you think only you are right."

No, Kendra, that is your position. I was a devout Christian since a child (until about 19 when I started to become a "bad" Christian--basically still a believer, but in "sin," and then until around 22 when I actually started to question my beliefs and seek to know if they were true or not). My parents used to think I'd become a preacher. I went to Church several times a week, went to Christian schools, I've read the Bible several times, etc. I've been exactly where you are. Perhaps you take the position that my parents take now (that I was never a "true" Christian; yet, how insulting!), or perhaps you would say that I know the truth, but am only lying to myself? What do you think? I suppose I was either wrong then, or am wrong now, but what led me to my position now? Was it the "devil" influencing my thoughts? Yet, I was genuinely seeking answers. The Bible encourages this kind of questioning and seeking. "Seek, and ye shall find." Yet, I sought, genuinely, and I did not find. Well, I found logic, rationality, and skepticism, but I doubt that is what Jesus was referring to.

Perhaps you should start at the beginning. Read the Bible, but this time, read it asking yourself, "is this what an all-powerful God would give his only creation as the only book to go by?" And consider the words of Epicurus, seriously:

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?

[Mary]

"And obviously, there is no evidence that human could survive after the brain stop functioning. So there is no evidence of afterlife. There is no evidence for soul either. Your body will start to decade, relieving gas, and started to decompose after the brain stop functioning. That's what happen."

I am not saying a human BODY can survive when the brain stops functioning. I am saying I have seen evidence that something survives beyond death. I have SEEN my father after he died (several times). So did my mother. We are not prone to hysterics. We are rationale, logical, educated people. Do I discount this evidence because I must have been hallucinating?

[Will]

Mary wrote: "Do I discount this evidence because I must have been hallucinating?"

That is exactly what you do. Why haven't I seen my sister since she's died? What makes your father more special than my sister that you get to see your dad, but I can't see my sister anymore? Maybe it's because you didn't actually see your father. Isn't that the most logical answer? Consider how easy it is for the human brain to be manipulated (hallucinations are actually extremely common), and observe:

Take a look at squares A and B. They are the exact same shade of color.




Hard to believe, right? Here there is a bridge drawn to the two squares revealing the two colors to be the exact same shade.



I don't doubt that you saw your father after he was dead, but is what you saw based on reality, did he actually manifest himself here? Why is it so hard to believe the logical answer? That what you saw was a response to chemicals in your brain, just like everything else that you experience. I know that might seem like a dull explanation, but it's actually a really beautiful and complex process that happens in the brain. You wanted to see your father again, I'm sure. So wouldn't your brain do everything in its power to help you accomplish this? Isn't seeing things that aren't there precisely within the brain's abilities?

[Mary]

"That's not evidence. That's projection. You missed your father and you "see" him. I saw some of my dead friends too, in dreams. That's my brain creating images, not the real persons after they died."

If I see it (not in dreams btw), it is evidence. Evidence of what is merely the interpretation. My father is not the only one I have seen (some I have no clue who they were). You have not had these same experiences so it is easy for you to dismiss them. I have, so it is not quite so easy for me. My logical brain tells me the same thing you are saying...that I WANTED to see my father therefore I did. However in the grand scheme of things what does it matter? Either I am right or I am wrong and I will still die. If there is nothing, then I won't know it. If there is something...well...that would be pretty cool.