Connecting to server...
Looking for someone you can chat with. Hang on.
You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Stranger: hi!
You: hello
Stranger: hey
Stranger: who are you
You: ever wonder how you could tell if the person on the other side of this chat is a bot or not?
You: I'm just a person
Stranger: not really. a bot would have a hard time coming up with such creative responses
Stranger: yes but who ARE you? o.O
You: a student
Stranger: same here!
Stranger: high five!
You: *high fives*
Stranger: university?
You: yes, you?
Stranger: yep
Stranger: major?
You: philosophy
You: university of toronto, actually
You: you?
Stranger: wow. in that case you ever wonder if everyone you talk to in real life is a chat bot or not?
You: nah
Stranger: uc berkeley
You: I've studied too much philosophy of language and mind
You: what do you take there?
Stranger: mechanical engineering
You: how is it?
Stranger: someday we'll make robots that can trick you philosophy majors
You: heh
You: one of these days
Stranger: its good. will get me a job anyways
Stranger: do philosophy majors believe in God? o.O
You: some of them do
You: I'm an atheist
Stranger: so you're hardcore religious
Stranger: nice
You: hmm
You: yeah
You: you don't seem to be a bot
Stranger: clearly
You: I assume you're familiar with the turing test
Stranger: itd be hard to believe that there isnt SOME sort of sentient being dont you think?
You: other than myself, you mean?
Stranger: ive herad about it
You: or on the other side of the chat?
Stranger: out there in the starry night sky. some sort of creator
You: it's a possibility
You: not a very likely one, in my opinion
You: if there is a god, it definitely isn't one who performs miracles, and intervenes in human affairs
Stranger: whys that?
You: well, the idea of an intervening god is indestinguishable from any type of natural occurance
Stranger: what about a God who has human emotions?
You: unlikely
You: especially if god's supposed to be perfect
Stranger: what about a God that loves you
You: I have family and friends for that
Stranger: what about a God that loves you no matter how many mistakes you make or how many times you do wrong?
You: why would I want that to be the case?
You: there would be no incentive to live a good life
Stranger: how come?
You: we can justify some things on the basis of wanting to self-improve
Stranger: if you have a girlfriend, you want to do nice things for her because you care about her dont you?
You: yes, but that caring is a two-way street
You: you can't care for something that doesn't care for you back
Stranger: so you don't think God cares about you?
You: and if their opinion of you doesn't change, no matter what you do, how can you know they care?
You: well
You: I don't think there is a god
Stranger: well we're just saying hypothetical for now
You: but if there is, it does a poor job of showing how it cares
You: no phone calls?
You: not even a letter?
Stranger: he wrote a whole book for you
You: did he, now?
You: he didn't dedicate it to me
You: or include me in it
Stranger: yes yes inspired people blah blah blah whatever. besides that, God does try to reveal to you that he cares about you even now
Stranger: and he wrote the Bible for all of humanity so that we may know his intentions and his heart, and his ultimate goal for us
You: have you read the old testament?
Stranger: yeah. sure is a lot of judgement in there huh
You: why do the different texts on god vary so much?
Stranger: how do they vary
You: why is the old testament god vengeful, and the new testament god a bit more relaxed?
You: surely, they aren't different gods
You: and assuming it's the word of god, the interpretations or transcriptions can't be flawed
Stranger: all the prophets revealed God's word, and God always said that even though he did these things to israel, that he would one day send his son to bring them back and he would reappoint them as recievers of his kingdom.
Stranger: Jesus came to cancel out the laws of moses that were set for israel, and enter humanity into a new covenant
Stranger: its the same God
You: so god changed his mind?
Stranger: he never did. it was all a part of his plan the whole time as he clearly stated in the old testament
You: this is the god who allegedly drowned the entire world, when he thought his children were becoming a bit too raucious
Stranger: yes?
Stranger: what about it
Stranger: God even says in the new testament that he disciplines those he loves
You: how can you say that god loves us all, when the old testament clearly shows that god loves a select few?
Stranger: but it was for the ultimate goal of making those he loves better so that they can be with him later
You: how does drowning a person make them better?
Stranger: he loved everyone even in the old testament. the reason he focused on israel back then was because he saw abraham was good and entered into a covenent with abraham.
You: so there were no good people, save for the descendants of abraham?
Stranger: after Jesus christ, all mankind is entered into a covenent with him showing his ultimate goals of rescuing all of humanity again
Stranger: hey you gotta give me time to answer all your questions or do you even care about the responses?
You: why the change in plans?
Stranger: how is that a change in plan. his one plan from the garden of eden was to get humanity back to him again
Stranger: the course of the old and new testaments is just the path to get us there
You: and he did that by selecting an individual from many, and promoting them to a special favored status?
You: this doesn't sound like a god who loves all mankind
Stranger: god's plan goes through all time. if you understand the implications from the beginning to the end you wouldn't see it that way
You: so the casualties of god's plan just have to suck it up?
Stranger: you will not understand God's heart or how much he cares about you unless you honestly search for him with your heart. all you are doing is trying to pick arguments at little things taken out of context. your arguments are definitely not worth the degree you're getting
You: I hate to pull such a philosophy 101 argument on you, but why?
You: why is there any evil in a world presided over by an all-loving god?
Stranger: because being in God's kingdom and in his presence is more amazing than I really know how to describe
You: that... doesn't really answer the question
You: why does god let people die in horrible disasters?
You: take away parents from their children?
Stranger: that was to answer that the causality of god's plan is to just have to suck it up
You: give people horrible diseases?
Stranger: The bible doesn't give an actual solid reason for why there is suffering. theres a lot of different situations, but ultimately God suffers with us
You: so god is powerless to stop the suffering?
You: or he chooses not to?
Stranger: God could turn the earth into a utopia. but then who would bother to learn to love him?
Stranger: its a chicken and egg thing
You: more people than currently bother, probably
Stranger: we go to him because we need him, but then after we meet him, we stay there because his love is so amazing and good
You: so god abuses us so we must love him?
Stranger: someday when you actually want to learn who God is and to actually meet him through actually searching with an honest heart things will clear up for you instantly
You: I'm sorry if I come off sounding cynical... I'm really not
You: I wasn't born, or raised, an atheist
You: it's a decision I've come to from carefully examining the world around me, and what I find to be important
Stranger: you don't come off as someonen actually trying to find god, more just someone practicing all the great anti christianity questions that hes learned or come up with
You: and I've always found it more satisfied to be loved by those around me, than by those who I cannot know exist
You: oh
You: trust me
You: they're not anti-christian
You: they're anti-religion
Stranger: you will find God if you do that careful examination of God's word
Stranger: well there is something more satisfying than just the love of those around you
Stranger: when you feel necessary to find that greater love, God will be waiting for you. and he will forgive you even though you reject him now
You: don't get me wrong, I don't reject god
You: I don't believe in god, but I'm very open minded about such things
You: of course, part of my problem is the ambiguity surrounding what god actually is
You: take this conversation, for example
You: god has had several incarnations
Stranger: hm?
You: as a being in the world that influences events and watches over humanity
You: as an abstract feeling of love, that one can find through introspection
You: so... what is god?
You: when you refer to "God", what do you mean?
Stranger: its not through pure introspection that ive come to love God. hes made his love known to me very clearly through my life
You: is it a feeling you have?
You: a being that exists?
You: an abstract concept?
You: but how
You: what are these clear examples?
You: how can you know that it really is god, and not something else, unless you know what god is?
Stranger: he's revealed his heart to me. and the things that have occurred in my life I know you will call coincidence, even the miracles
You: but how do you know that it's god doing it?
Stranger: and thats the whole point. thats what God wants you to do. he wants you to really KNOW him. not just think about him, but to be in relationship with him.
You: how do you know you just aren't a content individual?
Stranger: and that is something you have to get yourself
You: but how can I know that which hides from me?
You: how does one go about looking for, or finding, god
Stranger: thats the mystery of God. he will make it known to you even through your eyes are blinded
You: in non-vague terms?
Stranger: pick up a bible and read the gospel of John
You: but my eyes aren't blinded
You: they're very capable of seeing
Stranger: you have to learn who God is first. who Jesus Christ is. After that, the only way anyone knows God is through God turning on the light
You: if only somebody would show me where to look
You: alright
You: but you haven't answered my original question
You: how do you learn who god is?
You: in a non-vague way?
Stranger: read the bible and learn the truth about who he is. The holy spirit will chagne your heart as no human is capable of doing that
Stranger: God is my lord and savior
Stranger: oh you siad how do you learn
You: if you wanted to observe Pluto, there would be a very specific set of directions for how you could do about doing that
You: same if you wanted to observe the wave-particle duality of a photon
You: how does one go about finding god?
Stranger: You learn about God by reading his word. You aren't capable of knowing him on a personal level unless he gives that to you. and he wants to give that to you, but you have to honestly be searching for him. thats how
You: you're assuming I haven't tried
Stranger: and to be honestly searching for him means to seek him with an honest heart.
You: are you saying god's hiding from me because I haven't tried hard enough?
Stranger: no. in fact i believe you've tried very hard and im sure you were very honest about it
You: so then, why no god?
Stranger: but I guess there is more that God wants you to learn perhaps. I can't say for certain because that is God's plan for you. not mine
You: so it's me, then?
Stranger: did you read any of the gospels and just take it in? or do you keep nitpicking at everything
You: for some reason or another, I'm deficient
You: and so god chooses to hide himself
You: and that's "love"
Stranger: again you are being short sighted. God's plan is so much greater than you are capable of coming up with yourself
You: so if god's plan is so mysterious, how does anybody know that god loves them?
You: how could they know?
Stranger: the Holy Spirit reveals it to you
You: when?
Stranger: that'd be too easy
You: here's a question: if the plan is so mysterious, how did you figure it out?
Stranger: I spent a long time seeking after an answer. cursing the sky because I just couldn't accept him, that sort of thing
Stranger: other people find God like in a single moment
You: so did you figure it out?
You: or did you receive the answer?
You: how can you even be sure it _is_ the answer?
Stranger: the bible says it clearly, the people of this world have been blinded by the ruler of this world. his revelation to us is through God himself
You: this plan sounds mighty-complicated
You: which ruler?
Stranger: im not going to sugarcoat things and say oh you were doing great, theres nothing deficient with you, just keep it up slugger! there is something wrong
Stranger: ruler of the world means satan
Stranger: thats how the bible refers to him again and again
You: so the all-powerful god can't even cut through the satan-fog?
Stranger: again you are going to start nit picking at the little things without trying to see the bigger picture
You: no offense, but this plan has more twists than an M. Night Shyamalan movie
You: I don't know what the bigger picture is
Stranger: if you're going to mock him every step of the way instead of trying to comprehend the great things that he has done for you in your life why would he bother revealing himself to you
You: what great things?
You: can you give me a specific example?
You: something verifiable?
You: it doesn't even have to be verifiable
You: just specific
Stranger: you think you're alive because you're awesome? or that you go to a good university without some semblence of grace from God?
Stranger: that you have family that care about you?
Stranger: God put those people there to take care of you
You: no, I think I'm alive because of billions of years of evolution, and (more immediately) my parents
You: I go to a good university because I worked hard to get in, and pay a lot of money to stay there
Stranger: God has lead you through all the different things in your life even though you didn't care or acknowledge him because his ultimate goal is so you can see that when you actually know him
Stranger: you wouldn't be breathing if it wasn't for God. thats really not a point worth arguing
You: so then how am I ever to tell the difference between god and my free will?
You: how is god distinct from nature?
Stranger: sigh -.-
Stranger: you have my answer
Stranger: to all of your questions
You: unfortunately
You: they might be sufficient for a believer
You: but a believer I am not
You: I require evidence, and failing that, reason
Stranger: and I am not able to convert you. no human is. our job is only to provide you with the information. the rest is between you and God
Stranger: for you to actually go and learn what faith is. I can't give you faith
You: god could, presumably
Stranger: yes
Stranger: okay. I think you will be fine
You: unfortunately, from what you've described, there's no way for me to tell the difference between god, and a person working at the UofT admission's office
Stranger: read the gospel of john... try praying even. see where it takes you
You: I will never stop studying religion
You: it fascinates me
Stranger: it doesnt matter if what ive described isnt fully there. just go
Stranger: I'll pray for you
You: that's kind
You: I wish you happiness as well
Stranger: thank you
You: have a good night
You: it was nice chatting
Stranger: im glad omegle had a decent conversation haha
Stranger: night
You have disconnected.
