INTELLIGENCE IS HIGHLY SOUGHT BUT PEOPLE POSSESSING INTELLIGENCE SHOULD HAVE NO NEED TO SEEK IT. Too Often People Look For Fulfillment In The Wrong Places, For Those Who Possess Intelligence Already Have it And Do Not Need To Seek It. Oddly enough buffoons, dimwits and eggheads get off on IQ tests.

How does a person of low intelligence think?

Harry Riches, answer requested by anonymous

There are two kinds of thinking that people use. One is the rational kind that is borne out of abstraction. The other is pictorial, where the person thinks as a child thinks. Many of us think pictorially without realizing that we are doing so. This occurs when we unconsciously seem to intuitively know the answer to a problem.

The speed of our subconscious is such that we look at a situation and immediately we see what is required to provide a solution, without having to give the issue a second thought.

Intellectually, when we have to nut-out a problem, this will require us thinking consciously and working out what the answer may be. This is what happens when we are particularly dealing with equations, or pondering the meaning of words and methodically processing information to arrive at a conclusion, either through deductive or inductive logic.

Savants like Kim Peek (modelled upon by Dustin Hoffman in the film “Rain Man”) demonstrate amazing recall of what they have read. Recalling what has been read without actually utilizing that information for purposes of industry or progress in scientific advancement and understanding of life is not exercising intelligence. Unfortunately, too many individuals think regurgitating information is exercising intelligence.

Intelligence is the ability to process information and solve problems. People who are practiced as processing information and solving problems demonstrate they are exercising intelligence. Unfortunately, what is called an intelligence quotient is often overrated, because the tests done to achieve the ratings deal with specific criteria and do not take into account other significant factors that have to do with a person’s language or way of thinking. Culture plays a major part in intelligence tests and results, as does a person’s behavior—emotions, attitudes and character.

There is ample evidence that significant breakthroughs in scientific discovery have come by accident. And when it comes to creativity, Picasso said in respect to his genius:

I don’t have a clue. Ideas are simply starting points. I can rarely set them down as they come to my mind. As soon as I start to work, others well up in my pen. To know what you’re going to draw, you have to begin drawing… When I find myself facing a blank page, that’s always going through my head. What I capture in spite of myself interests me more than my own ideas

When speaking of the talented painter Henri-Émile-Benoît Matisse, Picasso said:

Matisse does a drawing, then he recopies it. He recopies it five times, ten times, each time with cleaner lines. He is persuaded that the last one, the most spare, is the best, the purest, the definitive one; and yet, usually it’s the first. When it comes to drawing, nothing is better than the first sketch.

When a person is assessed to having a low IQ, what is overlooked is that person probably thinks pictorially from within his or her subconsciousness rather than in abstract symbols consciously.

We Have Intelligence For A Reason But Tragically Most People Have Been Duped

CANNABIS: MEDICINE FOR DOPES OR DO DOPES DESTROY GOOD MEDICINE WHEN THEY REJECT WEED. References In The Bible Suggest That Cannabis Could Have Been A Weed Of Choice When It Came To Certain Activities. When all said and done, Peter was told not to forbid consuming what God had created.

Are there any religious quotes that support the use of drugs like cannabis?

Happy Riches, Answer requested by Kathryn Doyle

The Bible speaks of herbs being in the land that was given to Abraham and his descendants. Mandrake grew in that land.

• For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs: But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: A land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. (Deuteronomy 11:10–12)

• In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Give me, I pray, some of your son’s mandrakes.” But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?” Rachel said, “Then he may lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.” When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him, and said, “You must come in to me; for I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night. (Genesis 30:14–16)

• The mandrakes give forth fragrance, and over our doors are all choice fruits, new as well as old, which I have laid up for you, O my beloved. (Song of Solomon 7:13)

The Mandrake plant was believed to contain special properties. The Bible verses in Genesis and the Song of Solomon suggest they were aphrodisiacs or possessed a special potency that caused a woman to get pregnant.

However, there is a question over whether the mandrakes referred to within the Bible are actually what are known as mandrakes today. The mandrakes referred to in the Song of Solomon are fragrant. The mandrake plant is fetid not fragrant. Moreover, the mandrake plant that belongs to the nightshade family is poisonous.

Pharmacologically, they are the most powerful known anticholinergics in existence, meaning they inhibit the neurological signals transmitted by the endogenous neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Symptoms of overdose may include mouth dryness, dilated pupils, ataxia, urinary retention, hallucinations, convulsions, coma, and death.

Given that the Song of Solomon speaks of the mandrake plant as being fragrant, there is the possibility that this plant could be a reference to cannabis. Many people point to this fact, also what is written in the book of Revelation about leaves for healing to justify the use of cannabis.

• In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2)

For Christians to deny the medicinal property of medical marijuana in alleviating pain and preventing epilepsy, and yet use medicine themselves that is made from plants, does seem hypocritical.

More to the point, the Bible teaches that the Lord our God is our healer. Of course, individual situations are different and each person has to account for the genes they inherit from their parents. Nevertheless, there are examples of people overcoming disabilities through repentance from dead works, faith and healthy eating.

Some support can be found in the Bible for the use of herbs. Whether this support can be used as an article of faith to justify smoking dope as a panacea for healing, may be drawing a long bow. From what I have seen of dope smokers, they should not drive cars and extended usage causes problems in reaction times. One ex-senior lecturer told me that his inability to focus was the product of smoking cannabis (actually, hashish) for fun.

From my experience with dope, I would suggest that getting high on weed is not something that is required when a person can enjoy the presence of the Spirit of God. When we are totally immersed in the presence of God, pain disappears. But on a scale from 1–100, most Christians’ faith would have to be less than ten; their experience of God is less still.

Ten Faith Comes To Those Who Walk In The Ways Of God Not The World

CHRISTIANITY IS A DIVIDED CULTURE AND PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT IDENTITIES. Seeing One Person Who Claims To Be Christian Is Not Exactly The Same As Seeing Every Person Who Claims To Be Christian. Besides many people claim to be Christians but they are not really Christians at all.

How could Christianity have avoided schism?

Happy Riches Answer requested by Josh Bush

Christianity is often viewed the same as the other world’s cultures. Christendom is one of the many cultures of the world. Christendom is a culture that incorporates a distorted expression of values that is purported to be Christian. Christendom being part of the world system is an incorporation of aspects of what is written in the Bible within Babylonian religion that has rites, rituals, symbolism and myths that have nothing to do with being a Christian.

In the book of Revelation, there is a message given to seven churches. If we accept this as a chronological statement of church ages from the early church to the church prior to the Second Advent, we learn how Christians could have walked in unity, but did not.

‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false; I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. (Revelation 2:2–4)

The reason the church became the institution that was known as the Catholic Church (and later the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches) appears to be because those who professed a belief in Lord Jesus Christ fell away from pursuing a relationship with the Savior that was birthed by the Spirit of God and founded in the truth of experiencing the Divine (John 4:24). When people depart from the truth for personal ambition, there will always be schisms, because of idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit (Galatians 5:20).

The True Church Is Not Of This World For The Kingdom Of God Exists In Our Spirit

The True Church Is Not Of This World For The Kingdom Of God Exists In Our Spirit

RELIGION, ATHEISM, POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES, THE PROPHET AND MESSIAH JESUS HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON SURELY. The Case May Be Hard To Argue But Every One Of Those Names Is Subject To Death. Political ideologies die, atheism will die, religion dies once it reaches a threshold, the prophet died and so did the Messiah before He rose from the dead.

People use religion or atheism or political ideologies, etc., to practice evil. What does the Prophet and Messiah Jesus teach us about this hypocrisy?

We don’t see Jesus trying to convince people to believe in His Father’s Existence. But we do see Jesus questioning hypocrisy and evil behind motives disguised with respectability.

What else do you know or see it yourself about this hypocrisy or about pharisaism disguising evil?

Happy Riches Answer requested by William Rocha Lacerda

People do use religion as a means to control those who are not as worldly-wise as themselves. Instead of educating everyone, the ruling elite see an advantage in having a class of people who are ignorant of how to get things done and be successful. This way they can have slaves. Nothing like a well-behaved slave to do one’s beckoning or have the honor of being the groom of the stool.

People adopt various philosophical worldviews to justify their actions. But not all authority is evil. Authority carries with it responsibility. Those in authority usually understand this and do their best to fulfill their responsibilities. National leaders are all called into account if they do not fulfill their responsibilities. Some national leaders appear to have a misconception of what responsibilities are required of them and reside over genocide. Those who are responsible for the following genocides may be held up as an example by some of what to expect of those who claim they have no fear of eternal punishment because God does not exist.

• Bosnia-Herzegovina: 1992-1995 - 200,000 Deaths
• Rwanda: 1994 - 800,000 Deaths
• Pol Pot in Cambodia: 1975-1979 - 2,000,000 Deaths
• Nazi Holocaust: 1938-1945 - 6,000,000 Deaths
• Rape of Nanking: 1937-1938 - 300,000 Deaths
• Stalin's Forced Famine: 1932-1933 - 7,000,000 Deaths
• Armenians in Turkey: 1915-1918 - 1,500,000 Deaths

Unlike assuming total authority and ordering mass executions, hypocrisy occurs when one makes out one is better than others but then does the very thing one criticizes others of doing. For instance, there is a community that consists of individuals who claim nobody has any right to question what they do. Instead, Christians ought to be exterminated and have no right to live in accordance to the Word of God. These are hypocrites of the highest order. Often they claim they believe in God. Mostly, today, the loudest of these hypocrites are those who claim God is dead and only fools believe that there is an existence after death.

You say that Jesus did not try to convince people of the Father’s existence. From my reading of the gospels, Jesus does not appear to try to convince people of anything really. Jesus merely declared the good news of the Kingdom of God. His declaration was backed up with supernatural works that attested to His authority.

• God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10:38)

When Jesus was confronted with the hypocrites, knowing that they were practicing Talmudic Judaism which disregards the Tanakh, He had no qualms at calling them for what they were. For they were poseurs who loved the admiration of those struggling to comply with the laws of the Jewish religion. These laws were even more than what was required by the Torah. They placed unnecessary burdens upon people. The hypocrites, of course, were true to form. Like leopards, whose spots do not change, hypocrites are not too hard to spot, for with forked tongues and devious plans, they assert they are more noble than others. Hypocrites say what other people should do and genuflect with make-believe gestures, for they have no intention themselves of doing what they say others should do.

• One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying this you reproach us also.” And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! for you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. (Luke 11:45–46)

Lawyers existed two thousand years ago. From what we read in the book of the Luke, it appears that the human justice system has not changed. People are corrupt and practice corruption, while making out they are good citizens—even gladly receiving knighthoods. This has been evidenced in the Jimmy Savile scandal. Savile ran a pedophile ring and enjoyed the favor of Prime Ministers, top politicians, judges, police chiefs and royalty.

• Woe to you lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.

When Jesus says, “Woe to you lawyers,” He means your regret is going to be such that there will be nothing you will be able to do to escape eternal punishment for the evil that you do. For lawyers claim to uphold the law, but in fact abuse the law with the aid of lawmakers. Lawyers will get rapists (of underage teenage girls) off on a technicality and congratulate themselves for being so smart—even though injustices have been executed.

Religious hypocrisy is common. But so is the hypocrisy by the majority of those who enjoy the privileges of being part of the education/justice/governmental system of this world.

The Ten Commandments Were Designed For You To Enjoy And Possess Life

CHRISTIANS ACCEPTING GAY PEOPLE, OTHER RELIGIONS AND NON-BELIEVERS IS A GOOD THING OR NOT? Ironically, We Are Informed That God Accepts Us As We Are, Yet The Bible Tells Us That We Have To Be Transformed From Having A Worldly Mindset To A Godly Mindset. The mindset of God is different to the thinking and ways that people in the world deem as acceptable.

Can I be a Christian and accept gay people, other religions and non-believers?

New church goer here. I like Christian ideals but the people at church seem to think of Gays, Muslims, and non believers as bad people and there doesn't seem to be much tolerance. Essentially they think others are plain wrong. I don't agree but they said to not believe that is to not be Christian.

Happy Riches Answer requested by Thomas Cheung

In the Bible, Christians are informed that they are no longer to regard other people from a human perspective but from God’s point of view.

• From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view, we regard him thus no longer. (2 Corinthians 5:16)

How we see God’s point of view may be different to how other people think God sees matters. The Bible is the handbook for Christians to learn what is required of them. This being the case, Christians are informed not to go beyond what is written in the Old Testament.

• I have applied all this to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brethren, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (1 Cor.4:6)

• For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

At the time when the Apostle Paul was writing the above to the churches of Corinth and Rome, the writings to which he was referring were those that made up the Old Testament (the Tanakh).

There is only one God. What He requires of people is stated in the Old Testament. What is also quite clear is that people have freewill and this is what enables them to choose to do evil by rejecting God’s requirements for righteousness (doing what is right) and conforming to what is true.

Therefore, as a Christian, when one talks of acceptance, if you are asking whether a Christian is to conform to the lifestyles of those who reject the purposes of the Eternal God and accept the false gods of other people’s views, the answer is no! Why should I become a pedophile just because someone else thinks pedophilia is acceptable? Why should I endorse someone else’s desire to rape other people?

People have freewill to do what they like, but I do not have to accept their ways, the same as they do not have to accept God’s ways. This is the teaching of the Bible. You have freewill and after death comes judgment for what you say and do with your life on this Earth. If you disagree with that, then that is your decision. Just do not force other people to conform to your ideas. God gives us freewill to choose whether we will obey His laws, the same as we have freewill to obey the laws of the land.

The Ten Commandments Were Designed For You To Enjoy And Possess Life

ATHEISTS HAVE A QUANDARY ON THEIR HANDS AS THEY APPROACH DEATH, BECAUSE IF THEY ARE WRONG, ETERNAL PUNISHMENT BECKONS FOR REJECTING THE TRUTH, BUT IF THEY ARE RIGHT, THERE IS NO MEANING IN LIFE. The Problem For Atheists Has To Do With Being Conceited And Arrogant. Ignorant people exist to be enlightened, but why should anyone care, God does!

If atheists are proven wrong, how will they explain to God why they never bothered believing in him?

A lot of answers right now are assuming he doesn’t exist, which is the very opposite of the point of this question.

Let us assume this is a Christian God but feel free to answer abstractly.

Harry Riches, answer requested by Anonymous

Each atheist will have his or here own explanation, I expect. Many, no doubt, believe that they do not really care what happens to them when they die, therefore they will do what they like—even if it will be too late. Others may argue it was not their fault they believed the lie that God did not exist.
One thing that each atheist will have to explain, since they did not create life, is why did they not seek the One who Created it, rather than ignoring the right that they had to do so.
You can show an atheist the archaeological evidence of the Exodus, Noah’s Ark, and provide numerous reasons why the theory of evolution does not hold, even showing how ancient societies had more knowledge than is possessed today, but they will reject the truth. Why? Because the atheist wants to believe what he or she wants to believe.
What many atheists do not realize is that those who hold the purse strings that control the governments of this world are not atheists, even though they promote atheism. They are Luciferians and believe that they are born to rule.
Those Who Are Earnest In Their Quest For The Truth Consider Everything

IMMATURE THOUGHT IS OFTEN PRESENTED BY UNENLIGHTENED INDIVIDUALS WHO THINK THEY ARE BEING INTELLIGENT BY ASKING IGNORANT QUESTIONS THAT BELIE THEIR OWN HANGUPS. Still We Suffer These Lightweights In The Hope That For Their Own Sake They Realize That The Issue Of Death Needs To Be Addressed Before They Die. The greatest fallacy of all is that mortal beings think there is purpose in being born to die.

How do Christians cope with hundreds of logical fallacies and inaccuracies displayed in the Bible?

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Bib...

Happy Riches answer requested by anonymous
Logic is an interesting means of deduction. Really though, logic is merely a means of getting from one idea to another idea and reaching a conclusion. The trouble with logic is it is merely a methodology for thinking. Begin with the wrong premise and regardless of how thorough a person’s PhD thesis may appear, it will always arrive at the wrong conclusion, this is one of the reasons why there are so many questions left unanswered for further investigation. But we are talking about logic not writing a thesis for a doctorate.
I agree there is much fallacy written within theological discourse. Just as there is whenever men apply their imagination to creating any form of philosophy rather than attending to the facts of a matter.
For instance, let us assume the Universe is four billion years old. Now we will call that a fact. From there on whatever we say has to be correct. The logic will hold up.
Let us assume that the atmosphere is heating up as a consequence of humans breathing out too much carbon dioxide. Forget about the fact the that deserts will begin to disappear because there will be more plant life. For our method for proving that breathing produces carbon dioxide will be logically correct, therefore human population reduction is required.
As far as the Bible is concerned, let us assume that we do not understand it, and accept that we just might be morons that possess the IQ of a 12 year old, if we do not. We know that can always throw the Bible in the bin, or we can read it and say it is fallacious. However, we can also seek the premise that the thesis of the Bible is founded upon.
The underlying thesis within the Bible is quite simple really. You were born to die: what are you going to do to overcome death?
Now you may consider that an illogical fallacy. A scientifically minded person might do some research into what one’s parents’ grandparents’ grandparents might have to say about this idea of death. Since there is only a tombstone acknowledging that they once existed, one could say that this is pure nonsense and come up with some other idea. Or, one could say death is really a universal phenomenon after all and conclude that we are born to die.
One might decide to read a book that is presented to them which supposedly has the answers to the reason why people are born to die. But since someone else said it was nonsense, why bother?
The Bible, which many delight in claiming has logical fallacies, says that after death comes judgment, and the reason people die is because they violate the personal rights of other people when they bear false witness, steal, hate, and commit sexual violations—also when they refuse to acknowledge the source of life, the Creator.Since I am told that the premise of God existing is an illogical fallacy, because God does not exist, am I to believe the person(s) who tell me this?
What a dilemma I am faced with. Who shall I believe? Another loser like myself who is born to die? Or shall I take note of the witness of millions of people throughout the ages, who have testified that God lives and there is a hope for us all.?
The hope to which millions of people attest is found in the Bible. Even though the Bible is full of paradoxes, it is written to see whether people genuinely desire to know the truth or not. The person of Whom the Bible testifies is the Savior of the world. He says that throwing pearls before swine is a waste of time and so is giving dogs what is holy, therefore we read:

• At that time Jesus declared, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. (Matthew 11:25–26)

What some people think is trash, often really is treasure. For instance, an engineer wrote to me just yesterday and informed me that he was once a Catholic and had learned about Jesus, but he has moved on from that now. He believes in aliens from outer space and greys, even though he has never seen one. Whereas, I have met the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, seen Lucifer and many other creatures that are not of biological origin, including angels and demons of different descriptions and sizes.
The Bible states that the Creation is subjected to futility by the Lord God until the revealing of the Sons of God (Romans 8:20), who are people that have chosen to do the will of God and have been empowered by the Holy Spirit.

• For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:20-23)

Now you can disagree with that. You are quite free to do so. Those of us who have actually come to know Lord Jesus Christ understand that there is more to life other than being born only to die as a biological being.
Life is full of paradoxes (illogical fallacies). The Bible merely records many of them.
Working Out A Philosophy For Life Is Pointless If The Truth Is Cast Aside