Pleased to see that the Bad Boy was active yesterday. Hasn't posted for over a month though so here's to hoping he gets back on here posting just like he was sooner rather than later.
BadBoyBubby, always enjoyed his posts as he usually gave a different and very original view of things (bit like Bigmick). Hope he starts to post again soon.
Awww... Thanks for the sentiment folks - I genuinely appreciate the posts (and PMs); believe me when I say that they have been greatly appreciated. Bring tears to a glass eye that would.
Different and original but a true story and very apt: About six weeks back I answered a knock to the door from what turned out to be two 'Jehovah's Witnesses'. Two really nice (and genuine) ladies who wanted to share, with me, the message of how wonderful the Messiah/Lord was. Now, normally, I wouldn't and couldn't be arsed listening to such nonsense but this day, for some reason [probably boredom], I 'bit' and humoured them.
"God is Omniscient, Omnipotent, Loving and can save even the most lost of lost people I've been told: is that correct?" I asked them.
"Yes, without a doubt" I was told. "He can change everything" they said. So naturally enough (and in great detail) I offered my take [things which are true and accurate btw] and I also paraphrased Epicurus...
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?"Their answer? [Remember that they told me earlier that God is, indeed, Omniscient, Omnipotent, Loving and that can save even the most lost of lost people] Their answer? "All the evil, all the bad, everything that was 'wrong' with the world... down to 'man'"
I asked then to confirm what they were saying... that everything 'good' was down to God but everything 'bad' was down to Man. "Yes... that's basically it" they confirmed.
Usually, when confronted with such crass hypocrisy , I'd bite and go all kinds of ape-sh*t... arguing, mocking, falling-out (even fighting) with folk but for some reason I, very politely, thanked them for their time and took my leave. For you see; the realisation had dawned on me that I'd said all I could and I'd been clear, eloquent and honest on every subject we had spoken about.
So... instead of biting; instead of getting upset, rowing, or 'fighting' and instead of repeating myself - I withdrew and had me a good giggle (from afar) at the sight of those, genuinely, good ladies squirming as they looked for a 'way out' of their initial 'promises' and wriggling so as not to look like hypocrites.
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The truth is; although I'll never say never (to actively contributing again) folks; for now - I'm tranquil and 'enjoying' what I'm seeing, from afar, too much to spoil things.
Thanks again for the kind support folks.