why did God allow Lucifer to interact with man?

This is a thoroughly debatable conclusion. You don't hear fruit but you can taste it smell it and see it. Does it strike you as odd that this is written supposedly by a man struck by direct revelation? Looks like a power grab to me. No preacher came to him as he saw a light that blinded him. We believe to see and we see to believe.

You have a good talent for appreciating metaphor but our perspective is dimmed by dogma.

 

I have only asked for people to show some sort of support for what they are stating so that I know I am not just discussing what someone has entirely pulled out of their rear ends and has just thrown it out at me as though it is researchable knowledge. This is the internet and people can and will say things based on an epiphany they had in thier mom's basement after a bong hit and speak on it as though it is common knowledge amongst the well informed. I will not apologize for asking for some kind of supporting info when it comes to info I've never heard before.

Furthermore all this sort of construct of the mind and metaphoric symbolism kind of talk is fine but if you've been following this thread you will see that I am trying to sort through the confusion because I have had direct contact with a being that was NOT a symbol or a metaphor and it was not a being invented to explain away some sort of internal struggle or question.

Despite all of that kind of talk, this being exists, with it's own character and nature and intelligence and I did not get the impression that this nature would change depending on how one chose to see it. I instead think the individual experiencing this being would be changed and not in a metaphorical or anecdotal sense.

I am only posing the questions I have so that I can try to get a better understand if it is possible as to what or who god is. I don't have all the answers but I do have one. There IS A GOD. I am not saying it is the christian god or the muslim god or that there is even a difference between them. I am hoping to one day have a better understanding and to get there I am asking questions and considering everyone's ideas that are being presented to me.

If I can have my original question answered to my satisfaction (perhaps it has been and I'm just too dense) then I may be able to move past it and even christianity by process of elimination. I am not here to support or refute christianity. I am only trying to get a better perspective of this puzzle by checking out the various pieces using questions like this. Basically if you are a christian, buddhist, witch or whatever I am not in opposition to your philosophy either way. If I'm not allowed to question what is being said though then I will have to avoid using this forum as a tool in my search for answers.

 

I understand. May I say to you then that no matter the level of your research the only truth that you will know is the truth that you accept or the truth that rings true to you.

Who else saw this being? I posit it a reflection of the contents of your own mind and not an alien presence.

And how were you changed?

And you are a reflection of that god being created in the likeness and image of it, male and female creative principle.

Well answers have been offered. The way you put your question assumes that the claim that lucifer exists or interacts with man is correct, asking simply why? I have tried to suggest to you the reason the symbols were written down to begin with. The bible reflects the history of the inner man.
The reason that the purpose for such a thing escapes casual observation is because there isn't one, or none that is beyond the workings of our own psyche.

I am not trying to poo poo your efforts. I have been a devotee of god for 40years and in all that time I have never seen anything close to evil. All I have witnessed ever is love, or the call for it. Think about this well. If a creature called lucifer does exist in the manner that is claimed, nothing about him leads to your salvation.

 

yes you can taste, smell, and see fruit. this goes as far to say that the senses used for discerning the sons of god aren't so specific. but as far as having faith, there is not much debating that it comes from hearing. that is -- the direct transferrence of language and information. the twelve apostles received faith from hearing when Jesus spoke to them. the 120 received faith from hearing peter spoke to them. and any disciple following that received faith from hearing someone who is already a disciple speak. we believe, and then we can see.

 

did i offend you mothman?

 

We see to believe as we look for what we believe.
Decent response. Still dogmatic. As far as not much being debatable, I can offer considerable debate and whereas you must have thought much on this, so have I.
And Thomas? What about reading? What about the fact that faith is the assurance of things not beheld?

Hearing is not just hearing sounds but comprehension. Let he who has ears to hear let him hear.

And not the least, you leave out the possibility of direct revelation. I have heard countless testimonies of those who have been called out of their normal routine by the direct urgings of god.

 

I have something to add about the role of the senses Desos.

To repent is to reorient the pentacle of the five senses to seek only god and his kingdom.

 

I know we've discussed this before but I don't remember if I asked, how do you decide which words were actually said by Jesus and who were these later Christians that made up what Jesus said and when did they do it?

 

I also started from the belief that there is a God. Not because I was told there was but because I knew him as a child and only later connected the term God to him.

As for the "Gentleman" you met, it very well could have been God but the Bible also says; "Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light.", so we need to "Make sure of all things; hold fast to what is fine." (2 Corinthians 11:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Just saying.

 

That would suck to think your communicating with God and its really the Devil!

 

so then faith is the hope of that which cannot be perceived that is obtained by that which can be perceived.

 

Surely! Faith without works is dead.

 

matthew 5: 14-16

isa 58:6-14

 

people dwelling together in unity is the power of the gospel. psalms 133

 

because god granted humans free well. or maybe he likes seeing people fuck up