Thread for Religious Debate.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I just watched "Oh God!" on HBO. Old movie from the 70s, starring John Denver. Pretty good.

[Welshcookie 17]

That reminds me of that woman who was on trading spouses..can't remember which one. Everything was unGodly to her...she was a God warrior, lol

the God warrior video

*sigh*...I remember the "God Warrior" thread....happy memories....

[Peggy 1]

hehehehe...its like that in Georgia too!

I know. As it is in TN. I just like to make fun of Alabama. Not sure why, I just like to do it...

So why do you like to do it?

Dont you know your not suppose to make fun of people

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

hehehehe...its like that in Georgia too!

I know. As it is in TN. I just like to make fun of Alabama. Not sure why, I just like to do it...

So why do you like to do it?

Dont you know your not suppose to make fun of people

I know. I'll try to be better.

[Tiksman 0]

hehehehe...its like that in Georgia too!

I know. As it is in TN. I just like to make fun of Alabama. Not sure why, I just like to do it...

So why do you like to do it?

Dont you know your not suppose to make fun of people

I know. I'll try to be better.

HAHAHAHA

So true, If there is a major traffic jam here in Atlanta we just say Must be because of Alabama Drivers...

[Peggy 1]

hehehehe...its like that in Georgia too!

I know. As it is in TN. I just like to make fun of Alabama. Not sure why, I just like to do it...

So why do you like to do it?

Dont you know your not suppose to make fun of people

I know. I'll try to be better.

Thats better. Your going to be a great daddy

[mawilson 2,133]

I believe that all of us are bound by a power bigger than us (like a giant web connecting every living thing to every other living thing), which we don't have the brainpower to understand. I believe this power can be harnessed for good purposes.

I think that when we're born, the life forces within us come out like little waves on a sea of life, filling the bodies we inhabit, and that when we die, the waves filling us retreat back into the massive ocean of life force once again, constantly recycled in different living beings but - like water - never in the same combination.

I believe in being good, and I believe that if one does something that is bad, it will richochet around this great big net of life, and hit us straight back in the face again. I believe that yin and yang balance each other, that things do eventually come back to the middle, and that people need to try very hard, the world over, to love and care for those closest to them, and spread understanding, love, patience and care around wherever they go, no matter what they believe in.

Awww JayJay that was beautiful

[Sister Fracas 5]

Well ok...since you asked....let's start at the beginning...but in a nutshell...

I was baptized Lutheran, but was never really educated in the teaching as a child. I spent more time with my Grandmother, going to Catholic masses and became interested in the ritualism and pomp of the church. In my early teens I was back at the Lutheran church, trying to learn more about their ideas...was bored. In my late teens and early 20's the Non-denominational Born Agains got me saved and tried to make me into an evangelical. It wasn't going to happen. The message of "either you are with us or you are buring in hell" left a sour sour taste in my mouth. Living in the south at the time, there was a little Baptist thrown in there for a VERY short time. Back up north now and attending a Catholic university, it was required that I study religion. I chose to study Eastern philosophies and learned a weensy bit about Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism. I found a lot of the ideas very refreshing. Not being religions, but philosophies of life....very peaceful philosophies. I dabbled in Nichiren Buddhism, but it wasn't quite right for me. I should have stuck around the Eastern philosophies though and found a better fit. I should have delved deeper. I went back to Catholicism...but not for the right reason. I went because I had lost my Grandmother, who meant so much to me, and I saw the religion as a way to be close to her, to take the spiritual path she had taken. But it wasn't right for me either. Then I decided, well, if all of these things don't fit me, I must be an agnostic...

At this point, I'm digging back into Buddhism a little deeper, a different sect. But I'd also like to learn more about Native American spirituality because I believe they hold a lot of similiar philosophies of Eastern "religions", about Paganism, and maybe even Wiccan. I'd like to know more before I say...I'm THIS! I believe we are connected to everything around us, on this planet and we have a responsibility make an effort not to hurt people, animals, and the land around us.....a hippy thought I know....

People are born into religions and many believe that's where they have to live their lives. But how do they know it's right for them unless they learn more about what's out there? Otherwise, why would we see so many non-practicing members of any religion?? They must not have really found, nor are they actively trying to find the "right fit".

[Traviesa 0]

My belief as a Christian is that every living and non-living thing on earth and around the earth were created by God. God created human beings with a mind to exercise their free will and a heart to choose Him. As human beings have continued throughout the years to grow in knowledge God adapted, or evolved us and our surroundings, to better suit our ever-expanding knowledge and physical needs. He has provided everything we need to sustain life (food, water, plants to balance the air), set us exactly the distance we needed to be from the sun to give us warmth in the summer and cool in the winter, so the cycle of life can continue for all living things. Any closer and we would be burned to death, any further away and we would freeze. God recognized that human beings would not be perfect, since he had given them the mind to exercise their free will. Even the established law would not be enough to lead anyone to salvation. That is why He sent Jesus to die for the sins of mankind. In doing so, He washed clean every human being that had lived, was living, or was to be living. That gift of forgiveness is available to all who will accept it and believe in Him, choose to follow Him, and obey His instructions to repent of your life of sin, confess your belief in Him, and be baptised-immersed in a watery grave, which symbolizes death to your old self, after which you come up out of the water a new creation. God gave us the church so that Christians could commune together and worship and have fellowship. God wants us to realize that nothing we can do can get us to Heaven. They tried that a long long time ago, and it didn't work-everyone fell short of what God expected, no amount of sacrificing could make up for it, that is why God sent Jesus. That's why they did away with the old law, and established the new covenant-the covenant of grace and mercy, which is a free gift. Of course, once you have accepted that gift you are compelled to live a new life-to avoid sin and live a Godly existence. Only once you have put on Jesus in baptism are you Heaven-bound. After that, you try not to sin, but if you do, you are forgiven. You try to use your spiritual gifts to bring glory to God, but if you fall short, it's ok. Once you are in His hand, nothing can pluck you from it. The greatest command for a Christian is to love one another. Christianity is not beating the Word of God into people, but rather, loving them to God, allowing them to see in your life something that's missing in theirs. Allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you. And if I'm wrong? Well, it has done me no harm to this point to follow God. I have made wonderful friends through the church, I have had faith through difficult times, and I have hope in my heart and soul for tomorrow. I feel that even if I were to die right now, it's ok. I'm off to a better place. That is how you can tell the difference between funerals. The non-believers cry and weep because there is a sense of finality-their grief is all they're left with. Christians are sad, but realize that the departed is off to a better place. I recently saw this at my aunt's funeral. Of course, there was sadness. But we all were able to focus on celebrating her life, and being thankful that God called her out of her pain to a better place. Same with when my sister died. And of course, the other side is what if we just die and that's it? Well, if I die I die. I'm no worse off for living my life as a Christian than I would be if I had not.

[Sister Fracas 5]

"If I'm wrong, I'll just rot, but if you're wrong, you'll go to hell" is a typical example of not accepting/respecting another's choice of faith... *sigh*

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

"If I'm wrong, I'll just rot, but if you're wrong, you'll go to hell" is a typical example of not accepting/respecting another's choice of faith... *sigh*

The way I see it, one can respect anothers right to choose their beliefs, but one has no right to expect another to respect their actual beliefs.

I may not respect your beliefs, but I do respect your right to believe what you wish. The latter does not require the former.

JMHO.

[Sister Fracas 5]

"If I'm wrong, I'll just rot, but if you're wrong, you'll go to hell" is a typical example of not accepting/respecting another's choice of faith... *sigh*

The way I see it, one can respect anothers right to choose their beliefs, but one has no right to expect another to respect their actual beliefs.

I may not respect your beliefs, but I do respect your right to believe what you wish. The latter does not require the former.

JMHO.

Yes, I said "choice" of faith, not actual faith... By saying you'll burn in hell if you don't believe as I do, is a slap in the face. Why can't people just accept that people don't have to believe as they do, and be happy in their own faith??? Why can't they just say....I believe in heaven, and if you don't....fine. I know someone who has said about a Jewish friend, oh, they aren't going to heaven, it's so terrible, they have to be saved...well for crissake...they don't need to believe in it, they are happy they way they are, leave them alone. Ya know?

Edited February 6, 2006 by Frances

[CarolineM 0]

I grew up going to church until I was in High School - methodist church. I was baptized, whent through communiion, confirmation - all that.

once I was in HS, my parents gave me the power to choose...I chose to stop going.

I do want to give my kids the same choice. I want to expose them to it until they are in HS, and then let them chose.

I, btw, don't go to church. Mainly because my soccer games are on sunday mornings - and I don't miss soccer. I don't think that you have to go to church to be religious or beleive. In fact, part of me thinks churches are silly....they tell what and how to believe and I don't agree with that. I like the foundation, but then I like to form my own opinions.

[Traviesa 0]

Yes, I said "choice" of faith, not actual faith... By saying you'll burn in hell if you don't believe as I do, is a slap in the face. Why can't people just accept that people don't have to believe as they do, and be happy in their own faith???

I'm not sure if it was my post you were referring to. I never actually said anyone was going to burn in Hell. I never actually mentioned Hell. But now that you've brought it up I'll add in my thoughts on Hell. I don't believe in the Hell that is figuratively presented as fire and brimstone, big red guy with a pitchfork, etc. God describes Hell as total separation and being cut off from him. For all I know, that means you just die. That's the end for you. I don't really know. That's just what I believe. I don't believe anyone's going to a place of fire. I DO believe that imagery was presented to give people of not so sophisticated intelligence something to fear. And my question now is....if people don't believe in Heaven or Hell, or don't believe people actually go there, why do they get so upset when we talk about it? If it doesn't exist, there's nothing to worry about, right??

[Welshcookie 17]

That gift of forgiveness is available to all who will accept it and believe in Him, choose to follow Him, and obey His instructions to repent of your life of sin, confess your belief in Him, and be baptised-immersed in a watery grave, which symbolizes death to your old self,

Only once you have put on Jesus in baptism are you Heaven-bound. After that, you try not to sin, but if you do, you are forgiven. You try to use your spiritual gifts to bring glory to God, but if you fall short, it's ok. Once you are in His hand, nothing can pluck you from it.

So I guess I still have my ticket to heaven?? I was a born again, fully bapstised christian once.....

That is how you can tell the difference between funerals. The non-believers cry and weep because there is a sense of finality-their grief is all they're left with. Christians are sad, but realize that the departed is off to a better place.

I cried and wept at my brothers funeral because he was a good man (a christian also, I introduced him to 'the church') and he didn't deserve to die the way he did....a loving God?? not in my eyes.....