From: pharvey@mipos3.intel.com (Paul Harvey)
Subject: Re: Sean: TESTIMONY CALLOUT!  Happy?
Organization: worlds above, worlds below, no one in the world like John M!
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 23:25:35 GMT

In article <1992Sep4.201752.26155@en.ecn.purdue.edu> 
muehlhau@en.ecn.purdue.edu (John Muehlhausen) writes:
>So now I ask... I am not going to search back through all newsgroups
>everywhere, because the chance of hitting on what I want is not very good.

No, you don't want to search for the one true way, you want it to come to
you and hit you over the head with a hammer. Switching to another newsgroup
would be just too much work, not to mention going to a library. Why even
switching channels with the remote control is just too much of a chore, just
leave it on MTV, why bother. I mean g soc.religion.islam, that's so hard to
type and they probably post in Arabic or something, huh? Why can't those
muslims use good old Christian English like Jesus? And then you have to go
through the chore of actually reading and understanding the posts which are so
intellectual and you have to hit the space bar to go to the next page. I agree,
that is much too much work, why bother when you can get all the religion you
need on UHF, but then again you have to use the remote control, oh why is
life so complicated?

> - What are your beliefs

You think I'm letting you in on this deal so easily? Keep dreaming dreamer!

> - How have your religious (or non-r) views changed your life for the better

You can't imagine the rewards. It's way beyond your wildest dreams!

> - What external (not psychological) evidence is there IN YOUR OWN LIFE?

Everything is better! Even the toaster works!

> - What internal (inner-man) evidence is there?

I'm oozing with confidence of my massively large inner MAN! Women beg just to
kiss my feet!

> - Why do you hold to your views?

Because the rewards are unbelievable! Just wait, you'll see.

> - What will become of those who don't hold your views?

Do you think I really give an egotistical flying ph*ck? Hey, it's their loss!

> - If there was no recorded history, how would that affect your views?

Are you serious, what's history? Are you saying the 60's or something?

> - Are you 100% positive that you would spend eternity in paradise if
>   you died right now?

Absolutely 100% positive. My massive inner MAN assures me so!

> - Anything else...

Nope, let me know if you're interested, I can get you in on a special deal,
but only for the next two weeks, better hurry so you don't miss out on the
deal. I'm telling you, what it does for your inner MAN is amazing! I'm talking
maxi-cat-super-large!

>>	   Christians --  approx 1.2 billion
>I would say much less than that who are sincere Christians

Yes, you would know.

>>Newsflash --- world's fastest growing religion:  ISLAM.
>This does not suprise me -- it has been made very clear that the
>current translations of the Qur'an are scientifically palatable,
>which would account for growth in an increasingly technological
>world community.

Yes, but this islam stuff, it's so inaccessable, isn't it? When are they gonna
take over UHF? When are they gonna go door to door?

>One cannot measure the meeting of spiritual needs outside of oneself.
>A spike in Islam does not have to be because it is true (there have been
>other such spikes).

No, the only true measure of a religion is if it makes your inner MAN maxi-
large! I'm talking maximum male Schwartzenegger/Stallone confidence!

>I like Islam.  It is full of human wisdom and good values.  It is missing
>the narrow path back to God, however, which is Jesus Christ.  Because of
>that, though it is much in the eyes of the world, it is nothing in comparison
>to genuine Christianity.

Newsflash: Islam has the "narrow" path back to God of Jesus Christ! 
Christianity is a subset of Islam! Islam has all the Christian books, and more!

>It never ceases to amaze me how many people who have no concrete views are
>ready to offer that others have them, and for good reason. :-)  You are not
>really in a position to discuss this, as you don't have any concrete views.

Right, only you have true concrete views! And people who follow you, of course!

>Without exception Christianity is the only "religion" which recognizes that
>man, of himself, cannot please God or be reunited with Him.  I know you
>know this, but it is still the most amazing fact about Christianity and one
>that makes it truly unique.

Another one of those "concrete" views, I'm sure! It's amazing the statements
you can make when you beleive your views are set in concrete! Just wait 'till
you get your own maxi-massive-super-large inner MAN!

>The assurance that the Buddhist monk is missing is the assurance that even if
>he didn't burn himself alive he would still be righteous through God's grace.

You don't understand, this test of fire is a very "narrow" path back to God.
It is only by taking the test and passing that you can return to God. Now do
you see what a true narrow path is? None of this backing out of the test here!
Only those with maxi inner MAN can apply here! Are you ready?

>He can't have this assurance because he does not have Christ.  I would say
>that burning yourself alive is certainly a last ditch effort to please God.
>I would call this a strong, but unwarranted conviction (or foolishness...)
>I don't think I would put that in the same category as faith.
>If you asked this individual if they were 100% without a shadow of a doubt
>sure that they would spend eternity in paradise with God he would have
>said "no".

What! Your ignorance is showing again. No person who chooses the extremely
narrow path back to God of the fire test would say no! Do you have any idea
of the courage and faith in God required of this test? One does not just try
it out on a weekend, one spends his whole life in preparation for this test,
starting with the cold shower test. The key is that you assume the lotus 
position and the smile of buddha and you do not even flinch while you are 
burning, you feel no pain if you are worthy and properly prepared with 100% 
assurance in God. You can try the same in a cold shower to see if you have
a little assurance in God, or do you have some doubts? But if you fail and 
flinch or scream and you are Buddhist, you are assured of reincarnation so that
you can try again in the next life, until you get it right. This is no game 
John, this is the ultimate NARROW path to God. It is not a last ditch effort 
to please God, it is a test that you have 100% assurance that you will spend 
eternity in paradise with God. It is only this 100% assurance that allows you 
to pass. If you have only 99.999999%, you will fail and die. When you nod
your head to signal to the guy with the tank of petro that you are ready, you
are saying loudly, YES, I have 100% without a shadow of a doubt faith that I
will spend eternity in paradise with God! Now John, where would you put
yourself on this scale? Are you ready for the test? Or perhaps you'd like to
practice a little first with a cold shower? Or maybe settle for a path that
is not quite that narrow? What's the matter, is that inner MAN shrinking?

>>You TRY and win an argument with an Islamic missionary. Good luck!!

>I'm sure we'll here from some. :-)

You have to go looking for Islam and the one true way, it will not come to you!

>I am not nearly as stupid as you want to think. :-)

You said it, not me! Check out a library sometime and do yourself a favor.

>These things are what I meant by "the other end" (ignoring reason).

Oh, I see, the other end huh, a little backfield work?

>I should have elaborated.

Well, be careful now, you don't have to incriminate yourself you know.

>Do you only discredit me in front of yourself or do you want everyone to
>think that I have nothing worth listening to? 

What are these words you speak? Is you inner MAN shrinking again?

>I would say that Christianity is unusually balanced...

Having problems with ideas set in concrete again?
Xref: sparky talk.religion.misc:15690 alt.atheism:16569