Misc All Things Religious

[Deleted member 527]

You will stand before God and give an account of how you voted and who you supported. I would not want to stand before God and have to tell him I voted for someone who supported killing his unborn children. That's why we Christians support Republican candidates. Always will...

Paul slaughtered many Christians before he was saved. So look at him as like a politician at first. I don’t look to go and spread Gods word. God will open their eyes if he wants someone to witness to them. As I said before I believe but we were raised to believe in Jesus just as other nations were raised to believe in their God. God said he would call his people unto him. It’s not us calling them to God. Talking any religion or beliefs is a slippery slope. I have always heard and seen those that put the fish or claim Christianity is the ones to watch out for. As he said in Luke. The man that stood on e corner and yelled I’m not like that man found no favor with God. Humble and letting the spirit work is my belief.

 

[Downeastnc]

Way way off, God will never MAKE you believe in him (it is called free will) but a dictator can and will

Condemning someone to a literal eternity in hell because they wont believe in you is pretty petty, especially for a all powerful being who can prove its existence to every person if they so choose to.....instead they expect people to believe in them with no real proof. Fear is a great motivator, I was raised in the church, when I begin to question whether god was real or not my fear of going to hell for even thinking those thoughts was huge, its was very hard to shake the indoctrination I was programmed so hard that I was doomed to hell that it kept my 13 yr old self awake all night for many many nights as I wrestled with things in my mind as to how I felt there was no way god was real yet the fear of hell felt very real. Ultimately that is one of the things that helped me realize religion is about control.

God(s) are a construct of man, in the beginning gods explained the unexplained, then men found they could use god to control the masses and it was all downhill from there.

 

[Deleted member 1449]

But God has revealed himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ miracles were intended to prove just that and there is strong extra biblical evidence in support of those miracles, including the greatest miracle of all—the resurrection.

Every religion but one is a construct of man, no doubt. But why is that?Rather than evidence for atheism, I believe it is strong affirmation of the existence of God. We were created to worship God, but our worship has been corrupted since the fall. But we still have this innate desire to worship. Some worship other so called gods, some worship idols. We all worship someone or something. The question is who or what are you worshipping?

What's truly petty is how we have exchanged the worship of God for something else that does not deserve our worship.

 

[Deleted member 1449]

Genesis 34 is very challenging. It includes the rape of a young girl; the subsequent slaughter of all the men in the village where the assault occurred; and a deceitful plan by God's people for the slaughter. What are we supposed to make of all of this?

 

[Downeastnc]

But God has revealed himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ miracles were intended to prove just that and there is strong extra biblical evidence in support of those miracles, including the greatest miracle of all—the resurrection.

Every religion but one is a construct of man, no doubt. But why is that?Rather than evidence for atheism, I believe it is strong affirmation of the existence of God. We were created to worship God, but our worship has been corrupted since the fall. But we still have this innate desire to worship. Some worship other so called gods, some worship idols. We all worship someone or something. The question is who or what are you worshipping?

What's truly petty is how we have exchanged the worship of God for something else that does not deserve our worship.

Thus the crux of the problem, every single religion believes this.....and they are all as certain as you are they have the one "true" religion....the irony at least from us atheist POV is that your all wrong

The ex Mormon folks talk about their shelf of faith and how when they heard something that made them doubt their beliefs they were to put it on the shelf where there faith would support it, the ex mormons (and everyone that walks away from religion ) have a moment when the doubts and questions exceed what their shelf of faith could support and it breaks causing them to lose their religion, and they refer to it as the thing that broke their shelf.....for me the fact that there are literally thousands of religions is just further proof that gods are constructs of man tailored to fit the role that particular society needs, its one of my shelf breakers.....we are raised in our religions for the most part, I was, I am certain that if I was never taught to believe the things I was taught at a young age I would never have become religious as a adult. We raised our son that way, we made it a point to not tell him how we believed when he was little and still tell him he should think and explore things regarding religion on his own. We answered the questioned he had the best we could and I have no doubt that even with not trying to influence him we have.

Our neighbors are pretty religious and their sons go to a Christian School and the younger one who is just now 16 told my son (17) he didn't believe in any of it and was worried how his family was going to handle it if he "came out" as a atheist, my son asked me for advice and I told him I couldn't be involved at all and as far as I know the boy still in the atheist closest. At the end of the day its way easier to just pretend to be religious in the south for family sake and I think there is a lot of that going on. I got lucky my wife is also a atheist but I know a lot of families where there is tension around beliefs.

 

[Deleted member 1449]

Thus the crux of the problem, every single religion believes this.....and they are all as certain as you are they have the one "true" religion....the irony at least from us atheist POV is that your all wrong

I get it. But the difference is Jesus Christ. The claims that the Bible makes about Jesus are supported from additional sources. There is at least strong evidence in favor of Christianity that is not found in other religions.

 

[accu35]

Different subject. When does the age for accountability start for children? I know God loves all the children of the world, including adults lol but this conversation has been going on in my house for a while now.

 

[Downeastnc]

I get it. But the difference is Jesus Christ. The claims that the Bible makes about Jesus are supported from additional sources. There is at least strong evidence in favor of Christianity that is not found in other religions.

Well I would argue there is as much support for Muhammad or Budda or the Hindu gods etc, all have extensive dogma and source materials....as someone on the outside looking in without a bias for one over the other there really does not appear to be much difference in the validity of any one religion especially the main ones.

 

[Bham 99]

Well I would argue there is as much support for Muhammad or Budda or the Hindu gods etc, all have extensive dogma and source materials....as someone on the outside looking in without a bias for one over the other there really does not appear to be much difference in the validity of any one religion especially the main ones.

The difference is the radical power to change your life for the better that's not based on doing good works like other religions.

 

[Deleted member 1449]

Well I would argue there is as much support for Muhammad or Budda or the Hindu gods etc, all have extensive dogma and source materials....as someone on the outside looking in without a bias for one over the other there really does not appear to be much difference in the validity of any one religion especially the main ones.

But to my knowledge Buddha nor Muhammad claimed divinity. The Hindu gods are altogether a different animal—basically idols and literally millions of them.

Only Jesus claimed divinity and his claims were supported by his miracles. We know from extra biblical sources that Jesus was considered a great healer:miracle worker, though the Jews attributed by miracles to magic/Satan.

 

[Cad Wedge NC]

Paul slaughtered many Christians before he was saved. So look at him as like a politician at first. I don’t look to go and spread Gods word. God will open their eyes if he wants someone to witness to them. As I said before I believe but we were raised to believe in Jesus just as other nations were raised to believe in their God. God said he would call his people unto him. It’s not us calling them to God. Talking any religion or beliefs is a slippery slope. I have always heard and seen those that put the fish or claim Christianity is the ones to watch out for. As he said in Luke. The man that stood on e corner and yelled I’m not like that man found no favor with God. Humble and letting the spirit work is my belief.

We were given a task... Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every nation, kindred, and tongue. God doesn't expect us to sit on our duffs while folks are dying and going to Hell.

 

[Cad Wedge NC]

Different subject. When does the age for accountability start for children? I know God loves all the children of the world, including adults lol but this conversation has been going on in my house for a while now.

It is different for every child. Some mentally handicap children may never reach the age to make that choice. However, it is widely accepted as being around 12 years of age. Mostly due to Jesus being 12 years old when he began to start his teaching.

 

[Deleted member 527]

This is why Christianity is to me a division to a lot of the world. Why a lot of people are called bible thumpers. As I once was in my younger days. Christians go out saying our beliefs are rights yours are wrong. Telling people they are going to hell if they don’t believe. Which makes many claim they believe by fear. Christianity has many many holes but does have more proof it’s real than others but Christianity also keeps changing. As a Christian I wonder at times do I worship a God that uses fear to make me believe in him? Would God really send a younger adult to hell when they were raised as another belief system? Jews don’t believe in him yet they are his chosen ones? Someone is raised as non Christian and is a really good person but never heard of Jesus. So he goes to Hell for doing nothing wrong? Thankfully we don’t have judges like that in courts. It’s all questions one day will be answered. Hopefully sooner rather than later. At the pace Christianity is disappearing there will not be many not going to hell in future generations. So if he waits another 100 years did he create all these people knowing they would go to Hell? Pretty sad if did. We all have our beliefs and I’m not going to push my Christianity on anyone. If the time is right to discuss it I will but not one Christian can win someone by telling them they are going to hell. Eventually that will backfire. Fear is not saving people in my eyes.

 

[Deleted member 1449]

Sadly, a lot of Christians have missed the mark on how to make disciples. While I certainly believe in a literal hell that lasts for eternity, that has never been the chief mark of evangelism.

Jesus never said, “Go into all the earth scaring the hell out of people.” He said, “As you go, make disciples of all people, teaching them all that I have commanded you.” Furthermore, almost all of Jesus’ warnings about hell were issued to religious hypocrites; people who claimed to know God but proved otherwise.

Beyond the Great Commission, there are no commands in the NT regarding evangelism. The NT nowhere says, “Go scare the hell out of people.” But the NT does command Christians repeatedly to live and grow in Christ-likeness. And in the first three centuries of church history, Christians grew exponentially by doing just that. Their lives were so different and so Christ-like that they literally won the Roman Empire to Christ.

Unfortunately, we have lost sight of what genuine Christ-likeness and genuine discipleship looks like. Rather than Christ-like, much of modern evangelism looks like angry Pharisees.

 

[Rain Cold]

Sadly, a lot of Christians have missed the mark on how to make disciples. While I certainly believe in a literal hell that lasts for eternity, that has never been the chief mark of evangelism.

Jesus never said, “Go into all the earth scaring the hell out of people.” He said, “As you go, make disciples of all people, teaching them all that I have commanded you.” Furthermore, almost all of Jesus’ warnings about hell were issued to religious hypocrites; people who claimed to know God but proved otherwise.

Beyond the Great Commission, there are no commands in the NT regarding evangelism. The NT nowhere says, “Go scare the hell out of people.” But the NT does command Christians repeatedly to live and grow in Christ-likeness. And in the first three centuries of church history, Christians grew exponentially by doing just that. Their lives were so different and so Christ-like that they literally won the Roman Empire to Christ.

Unfortunately, we have lost sight of what genuine Christ-likeness and genuine discipleship looks like. Rather than Christ-like, much of modern evangelism looks like angry Pharisees.

That's a good post and hits the mark. I do think it's fair to point out that Jesus had a lot to say about Hell. And I do think in many churches nowadays, because of the desire for inclusiveness and to placate all (or many) viewpoints, and because of the constant negative perception associated with the term "evangelicals", the message of Hell and the penalty for sin, and even sin itself, is watered down or shied away from. There's this growing notion of not wanting to offend anyone, even in the church. Unfortunately, it creates a watered-down, modernized Gospel.

To be Christ-like is to strive for holiness, which requires a hatred of sin and an understanding of its penalty. It's a message that needs to be of more frequent focus. Jesus offended. Sin offends God. A sinful world gets offended and defensive when sin is exposed.

None of that means going around from some imagined moral high ground, riding a white stallion, casting judgment upon the world. The Gospel should be shared with a spirit of love. But all of it should be, even the difficult, sad, and scary parts. I know you're not saying otherwise, but I just wanted to add that point.

 

[Cad Wedge NC]

Sadly, a lot of Christians have missed the mark on how to make disciples. While I certainly believe in a literal hell that lasts for eternity, that has never been the chief mark of evangelism.

Jesus never said, “Go into all the earth scaring the hell out of people.” He said, “As you go, make disciples of all people, teaching them all that I have commanded you.” Furthermore, almost all of Jesus’ warnings about hell were issued to religious hypocrites; people who claimed to know God but proved otherwise.

Beyond the Great Commission, there are no commands in the NT regarding evangelism. The NT nowhere says, “Go scare the hell out of people.” But the NT does command Christians repeatedly to live and grow in Christ-likeness. And in the first three centuries of church history, Christians grew exponentially by doing just that. Their lives were so different and so Christ-like that they literally won the Roman Empire to Christ.

Unfortunately, we have lost sight of what genuine Christ-likeness and genuine discipleship looks like. Rather than Christ-like, much of modern evangelism looks like angry Pharisees.

There are many passages in the Bible that tell us to fear God. Here are just a couple.... Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Matt 10:28 fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. The fear of dying and going to Hell is what brought me to Christ. Sorry to be so blunt, but the fear of the punishment is what keeps us obedient even when it comes to abiding by our earthly laws. And yes, Hell is a very scary place. If people were able to get a glimpse of what it is really like, they would probably lose their mind. It's that horrible. Bottom line is that we should make decisions concerning our soul with "fear and trembling".

 

[Downeastnc]

There are many passages in the Bible that tell us to fear God. Here are just a couple.... Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Matt 10:28 fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. The fear of dying and going to Hell is what brought me to Christ. Sorry to be so blunt, but the fear of the punishment is what keeps us obedient even when it comes to abiding by our earthly laws. And yes, Hell is a very scary place. If people were able to get a glimpse of what it is really like, they would probably lose their mind. It's that horrible. Bottom line is that we should make decisions concerning our soul with "fear and trembling".

Why would a god want you to fear them? Also why would I worship any god that would do that to anyone, screw a god like that. Obey me or burn in this horrible existence for eternity....this is made especially worse since that god is not even real.....imagine spending your entire life living in fear of something that does not even exist.....

 

[Cad Wedge NC]

Why would a god want you to fear them? Also why would I worship any god that would do that to anyone, screw a god like that. Obey me or burn in this horrible existence for eternity....this is made especially worse since that god is not even real.....imagine spending your entire life living in fear of something that does not even exist.....

When I am nearing the end of my life and I look back on my years, I will not regret one minute of serving my God. I have had a wonderful life. I have had my prayers answered and I have been fortunate enough to have heard that "still small voice" more than once. Oh, don't get me wrong, God has chastened me on more than several occasions. However, I welcomed this with gratitude and I understood why.
The difference between you and me is this .... When you are nearing the end of your life, and you face your mortality, you will ponder these two words..... "What If....." It will not matter how much money you have, or how good of a life you have lived.
Psalm 14:1 ....The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
I know you don't believe it now, but one day you will. Romans 14:11 says "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God".

 

[Downeastnc]

When I am nearing the end of my life and I look back on my years, I will not regret one minute of serving my God. I have had a wonderful life. I have had my prayers answered and I have been fortunate enough to have heard that "still small voice" more than once. Oh, don't get me wrong, God has chastened me on more than several occasions. However, I welcomed this with gratitude and I understood why.
The difference between you and me is this .... When you are nearing the end of your life, and you face your mortality, you will ponder these two words..... "What If....." It will not matter how much money you have, or how good of a life you have lived.
Psalm 14:1 ....The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
I know you don't believe it now, but one day you will. Romans 14:11 says "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God".

I wont be asking "what if", I know there is no god, at least as conceived by man, I admit however that my atheism while it is rooted strongly in science and logic leaves a tiny bit of room for there to be some form of a higher intelligence/being/power....I am 100% convinced if such a power exist it is not in the form of your Christian god or any other god any person on earth believes in, but regardless of how miniscule the possibility that such a thing exist I must include the .00001% chance it does.

 

[GaWx]

This is why Christianity is to me a division to a lot of the world. Why a lot of people are called bible thumpers. As I once was in my younger days. Christians go out saying our beliefs are rights yours are wrong. Telling people they are going to hell if they don’t believe. Which makes many claim they believe by fear. Christianity has many many holes but does have more proof it’s real than others but Christianity also keeps changing. As a Christian I wonder at times do I worship a God that uses fear to make me believe in him? Would God really send a younger adult to hell when they were raised as another belief system? Jews don’t believe in him yet they are his chosen ones? Someone is raised as non Christian and is a really good person but never heard of Jesus. So he goes to Hell for doing nothing wrong? Thankfully we don’t have judges like that in courts. It’s all questions one day will be answered. Hopefully sooner rather than later. At the pace Christianity is disappearing there will not be many not going to hell in future generations. So if he waits another 100 years did he create all these people knowing they would go to Hell? Pretty sad if did. We all have our beliefs and I’m not going to push my Christianity on anyone. If the time is right to discuss it I will but not one Christian can win someone by telling them they are going to hell. Eventually that will backfire. Fear is not saving people in my eyes.

Regarding what I bolded: This is 100% false. From where did you get that info? Judaism is the first monotheistic religion. Actually, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the three major monotheistic religions, all believe in and worship the same almighty creator. I assume most people know this from basic history, even if they aren't a member of any of these three religions.