Posted on 12/10/2004 7:08:12 AM PST by Michael_Michaelangelo
NEW YORK -- A British philosophy professor who has been a leading champion of atheism for more than a half-century has changed his mind. He now believes in God -- more or less -- based on scientific evidence, and says so on a video released Thursday.
At age 81, after decades of insisting belief is a mistake, Antony Flew has concluded that some sort of intelligence or first cause must have created the universe. A super-intelligence is the only good explanation for the origin of life and the complexity of nature, Flew said in a telephone interview from England.
(Excerpt) Read more at nynewsday.com ...
1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them , Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. --Matt 20:1-16
I didn't notice any, but maybe I've been on FR too long.
Yes, God's Word clearly states that all who reject God will spend eternity in Hell.
Nobody from a scientific perspective "knows" the answer to this one, and I suspect nobody ever will.
Thank you for your kind reply.
I'm afraid there might have been a little of the "if you don't see it, it is because you don't want to see it" in my attitude and I apologize for that. It comes from the continual assaults on Christianity in the world, in Hollywood and all the USA today.
You are correct there are different views out there, different gods, different beliefs. I do believe mine is the correct one or I would be searching for the true one. Some believe in a god with a different name but I sometimes feel it is the same God as mine.
Yet, we are commissioned to spread the word all over the world. God's favored people, the Jews, have been the recipient of many attempts by God to get them to be faithful to him and put aside their other gods. They have been banished, persecuted and then forgiven time and again because He so loved them. Yet, they still to this day deny His Son is the Savior and feel the Savior has yet to come.
So, we who do believe should heed the outcome of installing other gods in place of God. He does not accept it and it is an affront to Him. Therefore, we have understanding that all do not yet believe, but we know that the only way to Heaven is through God's Son, Jesus.
They deny Jesus at their own risk.
I heard someone say today,,,
I am not where I want to be, I am not where I ought to be, I am not where I am going to be, but thank God, I'm not where I used to be.
Very appropriate timing I would say.
just because some moron posts some idiotic website on the internet doesn't make it factual...
and if you had ever been in combat you would have known better...
don't insult my intelligence with such garbage...
yea right...
and when you meet your Maker try and sell that BS to Him...
My answer is that if it were not for Christ, we would all be condemned to death. Why God chooses some and not others is a mystery to me.
I thought it was human free will in accepting or rejecting Christ that determined Heaven or Hell.
I can understand your point though. He doesn't do what I would do. I imagine he doesn't do what you want him to do either. However, even if God doesn't conform to what I think or what you think it doesn't make him less God
It seems you don't care for the idea of eternal Hell either. Does it bother you that 2 million Khmer victims will go to Hell but some of their murderers will go to Heaven? That is what Scripture says will happen, correct?
And what about the Cambodian children? Will they go to Hell too, or do they go to Heaven while their parents are in Hell forever?
Does that inner voice that tells you right from wrong tell you this is loving and merciful?
Then why did you say that the fate of the 2 million Khmer victims, who were overwhelmingly nonchristian, was known only to God?
Scripture says the Khmer victims are going to Hell, right?
Also, I still haven't got an answer as to what Scripture says happens to the child victims of the Khmer.
Luke 23:32-43
Oh come on. They called out to the God they worshipped in life, just like you would.
You don't seem willing to admit to the unpleasant things that follow from Scripture. It's easy to cheer an Arafat or Hitler going to Hell. It's not quite so easy with the Khmer victims.
I don't know that the two criminals hanging on either side of Jesus Christ of Nazareth had ever been religious, except perhaps to worship their own lusts, but one rejected the Savior and the other cried out to Him for salvation. I cannot explain it, except to say that God says in His Word that He puts a knowledge of Himself in the heart of every man. I encourage you to read the first chapter of Romans, beginning at verse 19.
Jesus Christ of Nazareth spoke much more about Hell than He ever did of Heaven. His dire warnings are crystal clear and would only be dimmed by my attempts to explain them.
Suffice it to say, Hell is a place to be avoided.
Psalms 111:10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
No one has any trouble explaining or justifying the kind, loving aspects of Scripture. The Golden Rule, for example, is consistent with a loving God.
Contrast that with difficulty folks are having with explaining or justifying Hell for the Khmer victims.
No matter how anyone tries to avoid the issue, an eternal Hell for any human soul flat out contradicts an infinitely loving Father.
I see no way to reconcile the two contradictory positions.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth died on a cross and three days later rose from the grave?
Volley bump!
Yes.
and three days later rose from the grave?
I don't know, but if I had to pick yes or no, I lean to yes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.