Jesus has forgiven my sins and you make me look incredibly wise. ”

Hahaha!
And the delusion has a firm grasp!

Jesus doesn’t exist! How can he forgive sins, which is a victimless crime?

And you buying into a belief without any logical justification hardly makes you look wise, but I expect nothing less than irrationalism coming from a xian. :D :D You lose, but don’t know it… it’s still an ego rush over here on this side. :P

Jesus has forgiven my sins and you make me look incredibly wise.

Since Jesus is fictional, as well as the buybull mythology, I don’t think you have much to worry about other than looking like a fool in the forums.

You are quite right when you say:
“Quote from mattstarrs:
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
This is Jesus talking, right? That’s an awfully funny thing for Jesus to say. Was Jesus not the man who preached to the prostitutes and the unclean?
Please correct me if I’m wrong.”

Your error is not in what you say I said, nor in what you say that Jesus said. Your error is to assume that Jesus was referring to the the prostitutes and unclean (sinners) as dogs and swine. It was not the unclean nor was it sinners that Jesus opposed in the Gospel records. It was the hypocrites. Those that jesus healed and blessed were all sinners. Those that Jesus rebuked all had this in common: They considered themselves right.

Hypocrisy is the enemy that Jesus despised the most.

He warns us about doing exactly what I have done here with Mushy.

First describe a scenario is described that is not consistent with the milieu Jesus was describing. It says:

What would happen if we get down on our knees and pray to God in this way:

We pray sincerely, knowing that when God answers this completely heartfelt, unselfish, non-materialistic prayer, it will glorify God and help millions of people in remarkable ways.
Will anything happen? No. Of course not.

How can you “pray sincerely”, saying that you are praying in faith, yet believing that nothing will happen? If I can see through your hypocrisy why can’t you?

Here is the scripture quoted:

Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Firstly, Ask, seek and knock, in the original greek language are in the perfect present tense, which means that they should literally read “Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking”. This suggests that there will be a time lapse between ask and receive.

Secondly, Jesus is addressing those whom God is their Father. Not everyone can claim God as their father. Jesus told the hypocrites of His day that their father was the devil. Infact, the start of the discourse that the promise was taken from says”:

Matthew 5
1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

If you are not a disciple, he is not talking to you.

Thirdly, This passage was taken from “the Sermon on the Mount”, a discourse which spans several chapters. The first of which goes to great lengths to point out that the standard required for an individual to be in right standing with God, their righteousness must exceed that of the most righteous that they knew. In fact Jesus raised the bar for morality so high that it was literally unattainable for any of us. Until we fulfill the demands of chapter 5 we are ineligible for the promises of chapter 7.

Also, it should be noted the verses which immediately preceed the verse quoted say:

3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

6Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Which really is suggesting that I do myself no favours by discussing this with you.

That’s funny. You referenced 2 bible verses (without giving the exact verses) and say ‘there’s plenty more’, and this is your idea of ‘clearly laid out’? Read all the verses listed here at proof#1 of GodIsImaginary where Jesus clearly explains how prayer through him works. Does it work this way? I think not. So don’t try to sell anyone on your ‘clearly stated’ statement; the Bible is endlessly contradictory as I have just demonstrated with your help.

I cannot disprove a negative.
One only needs to look at the fact that there is no evidence for prayer *whatsoever* to show that, logically, it’s ridiculous.

I have no evidence of a beanstalk that can grow to the clouds, does that mean that one can?