I think personal religious experiences provide evidence but only for the one who experiences them. The problem I have with personal experiences in a forum like this when they are not shared. Not everyone has these experiences.

If both Eliz33 and I knew belonging and experienced being truly loved by God, then we could discuss that experience meaningfully with each other. Maybe she thinks it means something different from what I think it means.

But since I don't share Eliz33's personal experience, then using it in an argument is a conversation killer. Eliz33 can only defend her personal experience by saying that she experienced it. It's properly basic and needs no further argumentation from her. The only challenge I can make to her is that she is mistaken in her own experience (how much I must know about the minds of others!), deluded, or lying.

The same thing will happen, of course, if she talks with a Muslim who says that he read the Quran in Arabic and experienced Allah speaking to him through those words. The only civil thing Eliz33 can do at that point is to change the subject.

To what extent should we disregard subjective internal experiences? Are they less true simply because we cannot "prove" them? Are we justified in distrusting our own personal experiences? Is a subjective, internal experience not the best way to experience those big truths? How would a hidden God communicate with us? Why are we able to have those feelings and experiences?

I am not arguing or even disagreeing with you at all, just speculating out loud.

Don't give up hope, my friend - God sees the longing in your heart. He loves you still.

This:

Or, is it a knowing of belonging and being truly, deeply loved and loving deeply in return?

Sounds like a subjective internal experience. I tried it and it didn't work for me. I'm glad it works for you.

But what is that Utopia you speak of? A society of material beings buzzing along in peace and productivity? Or, is it a knowing of belonging and being truly, deeply loved and loving deeply in return? (I'm not talking about romantic love, per se.) Christianity does seem to fail if you are looking for a utopia like (or something like) the former. If you are expecting something like the latter, then Christianity alone offers it and succeeds, even now, in the midst of sinful humanity.

Thanks. Appreciate it :)

It was probably from one of these two Wikipedia entries: The Bible and Slavery or Judaism and Slavery.

Where did u get ur information on how Jews enslaved Jews and non Jews and there were two sets of rules for treating the slaves? I would be interested in looking at this resource. Ive tried looking for references to how modern definitions of slavery compare to what would have ben considered slavery within other times and cultures as well as within the Bible. one of the speakers I listened to yesterday was the president of the carmelite ngo for the UN and she talked about their efforts to combat modern day slavery. im even more interested in this subject now that I have that on my mind.

Be patient! What is a few millennia in the grand scheme of things?

This is what all people who propose Ultimate Truth or Big Solutions say. Just wait! The idea has never been tried! It failed because of imperfect people. And so forth.

The Marxists say this same thing.

Christianity fails for now. Maybe because of the sinful human race. Maybe it will succeed in the end. But what we know is that Christianity fails for now. I'll be happy to believe it when it succeeds and the real Utopia arrives.

Well, a logical answer given Paul's letter would be non-Christians.

However, according to Wikipedia the letter was used historically by Christians to bolster the legitimacy of slavery as well.

Also see: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1509909?seq=1