Bye Bye Organized Religion

[tldagent]

Originally Posted by Red Blaze

How will the world be like if religion is "banned"? We (maybe not in our life time) will find out. Why and How do I know (Or believe)? It's in the bible in the book of Revelation. Symbolically, of course. The government will turn on religion. In Revelation, the 7 headed beast (symbolic for The Government, and it doesn't mean the U.S. government. Every government in the world.) attacks the prostitute (symbolic for religion). But wait, I can hear you. Why is religion being symbolized as a prostitute? That's something that goes way into detail, and no where near this topic. But for you to understand, read the bible carefully.

Say no more. I understand.

Originally Posted by Red Blaze

What does that mean? This means that there's great persecution coming for everyone. Churches, Door to door preaching, and so on and so forth.

They've been talking about that for centuries. The only persecution being done is the persecution we do to each other.

Originally Posted by Red Blaze

Can't wait for that day to come? Much worse (for the unfaithful) will happen after that. Be careful what you wish for.

Unfaithful? In what, a doctrine written and prescribed by men?

Originally Posted by Red Blaze

As I type this, I'm thinking. Who'll really listen? (Matthew 7:24-27) Ah, how history loves to repeat itself.

Mind you, those are Jesus's words. Oh, but people don't believe what they haven't seen, right? And they want proof? Look around you! You really believe everything is done by evolution? That's like believing a painting has no artist. God is watching us, my friend. Call us nut jobs all you'd like. You're just helping in fulfilling a prophecy.

Those are the words of Jesus interpreted by MEN. Don't you see? One man saw an angel, another a boy dressed in white and yet another saw 3 angels... it's open to interpretation.

In school, our teacher had us all sit in our chairs in a circle and then she whispered a short story into the ear of chair number one and asked that the story be whispered from one chair to the next until the entire room had heard the story. Well, by the time the story got to the last person in the circle the entire story changed... That's all in ONE Hour of ONE DAY. You're talking about thousands of years of stories coupled with politics and men.

And please, the prophecies are prophesies of humans that have always searched. It wasn't that long ago the sun was worshiped as being God.

Oh well, I'm not trying to change anyone or anyone's thought and certainly not trying to shove a magic pill of salvation down anyones throat. Religion was created by man and likewise divides man and if your religion lives for the end of times, no doubt you will eventually create them. Live for love not death and destruction!!! My God!

Peace!

[smacklan]

Funny stuff tldagent...sounds just like all the other's before you for the last 2000 years, but hey, it's not me you will ultimately answer to so good luck with your position, you're gonna need it

[tldagent]

Originally Posted by smacklan

Funny stuff tldagent...sounds just like all the other's before you for the last 2000 years, but hey, it's not me you will ultimately answer to so good luck with your position, you're gonna need it

Are you condemning me? Is this some sort of Christian bread burning? I thought Jesus taught that you don't judge another. By the sounds of it you've judged not only me but others who don't prescribe to your beliefs. This is certainly not characteristic of the Jesus in the bible, (words in red). Onward Christian soldier!

For me, I'll turn the other cheek, walk the second mile, forgive seventy times seven and hope that we don't have to endure another Crusade or another slaying of each other as dictated by a mythological god to some self proclaimed... whatever you wish to call it.

BTW, If you have any of this proof I ask that you bring it. This obviously isn't the forum to get into this but I'll believe and repent. All I seek is absolute truth and if you have it, I'm all ears. Not mythology but proof.

Love ye one another! Peace.

ADDED: I'll let this rest now. If you want to discuss it in more depth, feel free to PM me. There's really no point in discussing something like this any further on this forum and I apologize if I've offended anyone.

[iogames]

man if I live 2000 years I will hear/see the same chat all time... 'me good, u going to hell...'

[Red Blaze]

Originally Posted by tldagent

[...]Unfaithful? In what, a doctrine written and prescribed by men?
[...]Those are the words of Jesus interpreted by MEN. Don't you see? One man saw an angel, another a boy dressed in white and yet another saw 3 angels... it's open to interpretation.

In school, our teacher had us all sit in our chairs in a circle and then she whispered a short story into the ear of chair number one and asked that the story be whispered from one chair to the next until the entire room had heard the story. Well, by the time the story got to the last person in the circle the entire story changed... That's all in ONE Hour of ONE DAY. You're talking about thousands of years of stories coupled with politics and men.

And please, the prophecies are prophesies of humans that have always searched. It wasn't that long ago the sun was worshiped as being God.

tldagent, you're right. To a point. It is open to interpretation, but what makes most sense? Granted, the bible was written by men, however inspired by God. You know how a boss has his secretary, or someone else writing for him? Same deal. Read any book, and compare it with the bible. Just any other book has a pretty big chance to contradict itself. I have yet discovered the Bible to contradict itself.

If the Bible says "Love Thy Neighbor" and then says "Kill who doesn't believe", hey, there's something wrong there.

The Bible also stated not to worship anything, or anyone. That includes the Sun.

Now, I apologize if I made it seem like I was judging you, because it's true we're no one to judge each other. I can't tell you, "Oh you're going to hell" because I might end up sinning the next day. Not that I believe in "Hell", btw. No such thing. Same goes for Heaven. Again, something off topic. "Don't judge if you don't want to be judged."

I also agree that this should be left alone, because some people don't know how to discuss. Just argue. And Jesus didn't argue.

Note to Smacklan, if you feel like you're in your feet, careful not to fall. It's actually stated on the Bible that if you're so sure, you should help. Not just stand back and "condemn".

[tldagent]

Good post Red Blaze! I'd be more than happy to discuss at anytime just not here. Thank you though for the thoughtful and considerate post.

[iogames]

then how you explain that I became a christian missionary without being christian

p.s. dang mosquitoes! I hasn't seen one the last 20 years

[Ohiosweetheart]

Originally Posted by tldagent

Christianity came from Paul not from Jesus. Read Acts.

Christianity didn't "come from" anyone. The very definition of the word "Christian" means to be Christ-like. To live like Christ. To follow His example. I will say again - To be a Christian is not a religoin, nor a philosophy, nor a denomination. To be a Christian is to have a relationship with God and to attempt to live a Christ-like life. Period.

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Originally Posted by tldagent

..........I'll let this rest now. If you want to discuss it in more depth, feel free to PM me. There's really no point in discussing something like this any further on this forum and I apologize if I've offended anyone.

You've not offended anyone, least of all me. But everything that you've said here all come from a man - you. The same as you say all the words of the Bible come from men. Who would I be more apt to believe?

[smacklan]

Originally Posted by Red Blaze

Note to Smacklan, if you feel like you're in your feet, careful not to fall. It's actually stated on the Bible that if you're so sure, you should help. Not just stand back and "condemn".

I'm not "condemning" anyone...if anything they are condemning themselves with their own actions and words. They aren't my rules or yours, they are God's and He is very clear in what will condemn you in His eyes...and what will redeem you to Him as well! I always find it quite interesting, to say the least, in these type discussions that those that don't believe seem to think they have some sort of authority to try and "teach" those of us that do believe about our own faith. I personally have spent decades earnestly studying it and growing closer to God through His spirit during that time...I respect your right to your opinion but I'm really not swayed by it

@Peggy - well said, I will put my trust in what I know to be the truth also

[Se?or Ramos]

As an atheist, my argument is never whether or not there is a God, but instead, what would I be willing to risk in order to stand up for what it is I truly believe in? In other words, I have my own unique beliefs, and they do not include God or Jesus (picking a deity out of a hat I suppose). I am not to judge my own life. I'll let the Cosmos do that and I will live to the best and most honest of my ability. If the Cosmos are God, and God decides that my deeds do not deem me fit for a reward, then so be it. More simply put? I would rather be punished for what I believe than be rewarded for what someone else believes. That could lead to another mini-rant about accepting each other for our differences rather than this spiritual hierarchy that "non-believers" are unfairly pushed to the bottom of just because our life experiences were different than "believers".

EDIT: And I've always had a genuine curiosity of the idea that God is like our unconditionally loving father. My uconditionally loving father didn't send me to hell for fornicating before marriage and not apologizing to him... do you see where my quandry is? I just don't see why the punishment has be as swift and important as the reward? Should the reward be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow (heaven) or the rainbow itself (life)?