Williams 2 cents:
Quote
According to Arminianism the "good news" for mankind is that one’s eternal destiny hinges entirely on one thing. We are the master and God is the puppet. We can handle Him and use Him as we will and when and where we will.

William,

That is called a “Straw man” statement, and is not close to hardly what Arminianism portrays as ‘the Gospel’. On the other hand, Calvinism clearly does have one sole focus... and it clearly does live and breathe to add a disclaimer to John 3:16. And that is not a Straw Man argument. And no, I am not saying that Arminianism claims John 3:16 to be the whole Gospel. Pilgrim often states “context, context...” and I think that Calvinists are the biggest offenders of such.

Pilgrim,

You stated that Calvinism was the first doctrine of the true Church. You and others that share your faith state impossible statements as ‘fact’. If I were to hold up the color purple, you would tell me it’s green. For instance, you state Calvinism has won the debate. There are hordes who state Calvinism lost.

It was Augustine who developed the doctrine of Original Sin... which he based upon his subjective understanding of Scripture, influenced by his Gnostic ascetism and his struggle/angst with his libido and the opposite sex. His words and ideas were used as support for torturing heretics... and for priests ordered to desert their wives and children... which can be supported by the Bible... or not.

The Bible may state that there is “ONE DOCTRINE”... but clearly there are many and the list gets longer every day. I dispute that there ever was One Doctrine... as there is evidence to the contrary. The Bible has been used to support a myriad of ‘true’ statements that are in total opposition to each other. No... I do not believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, as there are facts and evidence to the contrary. Facts and evidence that I doubt you would honestly consider for reasons I do understand. And yes, that leaves me with a pair of scissors and Jefferson’s Bible to wonder about, and Tom Paine.... with the Augustine quote about ‘picking and choosing’... which he himself did.

I am sure that those told the Koran is the Word of God, are also expected never to investigate the truth of that claim... same goes for the Book of Mormon.