My Problem With Religion

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Lots of death threats get sent over the internet. But frankly, Timm, I'd happily serve as a character witness for you if anyone ever accused you of doing those sorts of things.

I tell ya- after the exhibit was over, they were planning to slice up the statue so people could have a taste of the Body of Christ. Maybe that's why the Catholics (of which I was once) are so mad-- realizing the hotel's Communion would kick their Communion's ass. Stale wafer? Or chocolate? Which do you think is closer to a taste of Heaven?

i'd rather have the chocolate...you weren't supposed to chew, so at least the chocolate would melt so you don't choke.

Originally Posted by timmgirvan

P: what??? there aren't any Christian scientists?? The question everyone(expect the people I was talking about in Romans 2) has to answer is: What are you gonna do about Jesus? 2) It's gotta be answered while you're still kickin 3) Faith,Bible,Study, and experience(some of it is even empirical)

How did you come to the conclusion that the question is "what are we supposed to do about Jesus"? What happens to people that never get to read the bible? How did you come to the conclusion that it has to be while you are alive (and what about all the babies that never have a chance to answer that question because they die)? And when you answer this how did you determine that the bible says this is so. Purgatory... where does this idea now stand with all the Christian faiths? Study just the bible, which version, which childrens bibles are more to the real stuff? Who wrote the interpretation of the " best childrens bibles" and how did they come to believe what they were writing was the truth? Were they guided by God in their writings, or did they reason based on what they had read and gave their best honest interpretation?

I got tons more.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Though right now I'm praying to God that I won't yarf up everything I ate tonight (note to self: do NOT follow movie popcorn with two glasses of red wine).

lay on your right side, helps empty the stomach....i think it's white wine with popcorn! lol

[timmgirvan]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Though right now I'm praying to God that I won't yarf up everything I ate tonight (note to self: do NOT follow movie popcorn with two glasses of red wine).

GR: hope you don't get too sick! That reminds me of the time I went on a liquid fast for 5 weeks for losing weight. So on New Years eve...I treated myself to 8oz of wine and a small bowl of popcorn.....spent 4hrs walking around cuz of the "spins"

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by pgardn

How did you come to the conclusion that the question is "what are we supposed to do about Jesus"? What happens to people that never get to read the bible? How did you come to the conclusion that it has to be while you are alive (and what about all the babies that never have a chance to answer that question because they die)? And when you answer this how did you determine that the bible says this is so. Purgatory... where does this idea now stand with all the Christian faiths? Study just the bible, which version, which childrens bibles are more to the real stuff? Who wrote the interpretation of the " best childrens bibles" and how did they come to believe what they were writing was the truth? Were they guided by God in their writings, or did they reason based on what they had read and gave their best honest interpretation?

I got tons more.

That's exactly why I think it is more important to be a good person than to believe in a higher power...There are jungle cultures right now who have no clue about Jesus or organized religion....Obviously they get a pass right? So how will a "higher power" judge them....Well I would bet that it is based on the totality of their life----if and its an if there is an afterlife.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

You Deist, you-- well, if it worked for the Founding Fathers...

No kidding about the Catholic thing- I have a friend of 20 some years in Florida who told me she doesn't think Catholics are going to heaven because "They're more concerned with doing good deeds than with their relationship to Christ." Sigh...

ben franklin is my hero...and it cracks me up when the whole we are a christian nation look at the founding fathers dialogue starts. t jefferson was accused of being an atheist back then, now he's been redeemed i guess.

[timmgirvan]

Originally Posted by pgardn

How did you come to the conclusion that the question is "what are we supposed to do about Jesus"? What happens to people that never get to read the bible? How did you come to the conclusion that it has to be while you are alive (and what about all the babies that never have a chance to answer that question because they die)? And when you answer this how did you determine that the bible says this is so. Purgatory... where does this idea now stand with all the Christian faiths? Study just the bible, which version, which childrens bibles are more to the real stuff? Who wrote the interpretation of the " best childrens bibles" and how did they come to believe what they were writing was the truth? Were they guided by God in their writings, or did they reason based on what they had read and gave their best honest interpretation?

I got tons more.

You didnt read Romans 2 yet! A little at a time,P...I'm spoon-feeding you

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Danzig

ben franklin is my hero...and it cracks me up when the whole we are a christian nation look at the founding fathers dialogue starts. t jefferson was accused of being an atheist back then, now he's been redeemed i guess.

Since you brought up Old Ben- in his own words....

To Ezra Stiles, 9 March 1790 (B 12:185-6):

"You desire to know something of my religion. It is the first time I have been questioned upon it. But I cannot take your curiosity amiss, and shall endeavor in a few words to gratify it. Here is my creed. I believe in one God, the creator of the universe. That he governs by his providence. That he ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable service we render to him is doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever sect I meet with them.

As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think his system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupting changes, and I have, with most of the present dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble. I see no harm, however, in its being believed, if that belief has the good consequences, as probably it has, of making his doctrines more respected and more observed; especially as I do not perceive that the Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the unbelievers in his government of the world with any peculiar marks of his displeasure."

[timmgirvan]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

That's exactly why I think it is more important to be a good person than to believe in a higher power...There are jungle cultures right now who have no clue about Jesus or organized religion....Obviously they get a pass right? So how will a "higher power" judge them....Well I would bet that it is based on the totality of their life----if and its an if there is an afterlife.

Repeat after me....reads Romans Chapter 2 in the New Testament. I think it's 15-17 that tells you the answer.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by timmgirvan

Repeat after me....reads Romans Chapter 2 in the New Testament. I think it's 15-17 that tells you the answer.

Tim my man, I don't have my bible handy---can you sum up.

[timmgirvan]

Randall: I be right back!

Originally Posted by timmgirvan

You didnt read Romans 2 yet! A little at a time,P...I'm spoon-feeding you

Which version? King James... its all the same?

I want to read the Hebrew version. The oldest stuff I can get my hands on. But you will have to teach me how to read it. The oldest stuff is most likely to be the real word? right? The least altered... I mean English is so new. And it changes so much.

[timmgirvan]

Originally Posted by pgardn

Which version? King James... its all the same?

I want to read the Hebrew version. The oldest stuff I can get my hands on. But you will have to teach me how to read it. The oldest stuff is most likely to be the real word? right? The least altered... I mean English is so new. And it changes so much.

P: they have these places called bookstores....Hebrew,Greek dictionaries and all kinds of explanatory guides!

[GenuineRisk]

Oh my God(dess)- if you haven't read the comments on the link I posted, scroll down. Some of them are hilarious. Highlights:

"I guess a Jesus made entirely from Peeps would be unacceptable?"

"Unacceptably delicious."

And:

"Do you think Chocolate Jesus had a caramel center or peanut butter??"

"If you made a white chocolate statue of Jesus with a liquid cherry center then you could use a toothpick to add the stigmata yourself."

I only wish I were that clever... now I'm sick to my stomach AND envious...

[randallscott35]

Nicole, you need an avatar. That is all.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Nicole, you need an avatar. That is all.

Yeah, but being a Libra, it'll take me forever to decide on one...

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Oh my God(dess)- if you haven't read the comments on the link I posted, scroll down. Some of them are hilarious. Highlights:

"I guess a Jesus made entirely from Peeps would be unacceptable?"

"Unacceptably delicious."

And:

"Do you think Chocolate Jesus had a caramel center or peanut butter??"

"If you made a white chocolate statue of Jesus with a liquid cherry center then you could use a toothpick to add the stigmata yourself."

I only wish I were that clever... now I'm sick to my stomach AND envious...

i'll have to go read it, but from what i read here from you, they were listening in at my dinner table the other night...

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Yeah, but being a Libra, it'll take me forever to decide on one...

Can we start a thread for your avatar and include ones we think would work for you? Would be a fun thread.

[timmgirvan]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Tim my man, I don't have my bible handy---can you sum up.

OK...in summation Romans 2:12-16....Everyone who sins under the Law willed be judged by the Law....not the hearers of the Law,but the doers will be justified....and the Gentiles will be justified(anyone who is not a Jew)...If you don't have the Law, then instinctively you are the Law....meaning holding to the laws of the society you live in...by doing the right things in their hearts they are accused or defended by those laws thereby finding salvation or Hell...to put it in perspective

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i'll have to go read it, but from what i read here from you, they were listening in at my dinner table the other night...

Great. Now I'm envious of your dinner conversation, too. And that's one of the deadly sins, right? (Envy, not dinner conversation) Man!