Zone1 Agnostics: Are you seekers of or indifferent to God?

[GLASNOST]

The primary mission of the Church is to teach.

It's to indoctrinate and control through fear Meri

~S~

In other words ..... to seek converts by way of alarm.

 

[GLASNOST]

What qualifications does the Church have that a normal person doesn't.?

A "normal person" may lie and cheat us but he/she knows he is lying and cheating. "The Church" does not.

 

[BreezeWood]

Yet I am the exact opposite. But I am curious. What is it about the thread topic that disturbs you? When a thread or a post disturbs someone, instead of ignoring the topic and/or simply moving on to the next thread, the need is to attack and insult the poster.

those that bait a hook to purposely impose their views - meriweather

The primary mission of the Church is to teach.

is used to instruct their false pretenses from public law and jurisprudence.

 

[luiza]

those that bait a hook to purposely impose their views - meriweather

Leave the Berriberries to bathe in their self love and hopes of their future .

But force them somehow to stop constantly parading their Cult beliefs .

They are at best Misinformation , and at worst, bare faced lies .

As a Cult they move closer to extinction year on year and I guess there will soon come a time when we look back at them as misguided but largely well intentioned fools .

In our terms rather like the Wombles or Teletubbies --- nice, albeit dangerous , entertainment for kids .

 

[sealybobo]

It takes about eighty hours to read the Bible cover to cover. (There are 8,760 hours in a year)

From whose perspective do people read the Bible? After reading a Bible passage, how long does it take to discern the reality of God in that passage? Ever try to read the Bible from God's point of view or perspective?

What would make God 'real'? What did Biblical authors miss?

You can't possibly read the bible in 8 hours and comprehend what you read. It's out there. If you think you can, perhaps you've already been told/taught by someone else how to interpret it.

I was told it was the word of God. Doesn't seem to be to me. Seems like MEN in antiquity wrote it.

 

[GLASNOST]

..... perhaps you've already been told/taught by someone else how to interpret it.

I'm willing to bet on it.

I was told it was the word of God. Doesn't seem to be to me. Seems like MEN in antiquity wrote it.

How unfair of you to use logic and facts in a debate about the bible! ............
But then again maybe we common earthlings just need the heavenly scripture interpreted for us?



Or maybe we "should keep our mouths shut"?

 

[Moonglow]

I need no God or religion to exist..

 

[Meriweather]

It's to indoctrinate and control through fear Meri

What has the Church taught you to fear? In the Church's (Christ's ) teachings I have found hope and great expectations--also love and a way of living that brings peace and joy. What is there to fear and who in the Church has taught you this fear?

 

[Meriweather]

What qualifications does the Church have that a normal person doesn't.?

Does the normal person spend years in studying, researching, and learning scripture and faith? Is the normal person fascinated and enthusiastic about studying the Bible, the histories of faithful people, and putting what they have learned into practice? Do they have time to experiment with the wide variety of teachings? What is true of almost all of us without exception is that we are a very busy people. How many have the time, the energy, the interest, and the enthusiasm to delve deeply into scripture and the history of their faith?

In short, the normal person is capable of learning, trying out, etc. all the Church has learned. But how many have the time or can take the time? A more interesting question: What qualifications do you believe normal people have, normal people do, normal people say? What qualifications are needed?

 

[sparky]

What has the Church taught you to fear?

First off, when we say 'the church' in reference to religion, you need to acknowledge there's some 3000 religions all proclaiming their 'god' or 'gods' the true one Meri.

When you get your head around the fact that religion is entirely a man made manifestation expressed through the filters of human greed and lust for power , you'll see how antithetical it is to faith

religion and faith are in two different places in the dictionary, with a very wide distinction from each other, and for good reason

~S~

 

[westwall]

Does the normal person spend years in studying, researching, and learning scripture and faith? Is the normal person fascinated and enthusiastic about studying the Bible, the histories of faithful people, and putting what they have learned into practice? Do they have time to experiment with the wide variety of teachings? What is true of almost all of us without exception is that we are a very busy people. How many have the time, the energy, the interest, and the enthusiasm to delve deeply into scripture and the history of their faith?

In short, the normal person is capable of learning, trying out, etc. all the Church has learned. But how many have the time or can take the time? A more interesting question: What qualifications do you believe normal people have, normal people do, normal people say? What qualifications are needed?

Some do. Yes. Furthermore normal people interact with the planet so get to become far more intimate with reality of life.

Far more than a person who has spent their life removed from the world locked in a life of mere reading and thinking.

 

[Meriweather]

In other words ..... to seek converts by way of alarm.

I have not seen the Catholic Church do this. Do you have a specific example?

 

[Meriweather]

A "normal person" may lie and cheat us but he/she knows he is lying and cheating. "The Church" does not.

Let's take a further look at this. Let's take one example of the Church lying and cheating without being aware of it.

 

[TNHarley]

If no god exists, IDC.
If one does exist, I hope it isnt the abrahamic god. What a piece of work that one is lolz

 

[sparky]

Let's take one example of the Church lying and cheating without being aware of it.

purgatory

~S~

 

[Meriweather]

You can't possibly read the bible in 8 hours and comprehend what you read. It's out there. If you think you can, perhaps you've already been told/taught by someone else how to interpret it.

Yes! You get it! While it may take eighty hours to read, it takes so much more time to investigate, study, research and try out. One teacher is not enough, and one has to keep seeking out more. One of my best teachers was an atheist Jew. I read a lot of material written by Jewish rabbis. And I've struggled through writings of Saint John of the Cross. There is a lot out there, both written and from teachers of the faith.

I was told it was the word of God. Doesn't seem to be to me. Seems like MEN in antiquity wrote it.

And that is one of the differences in our personal histories. I was told it was written by men when encountering God and His words in our midst. This is why etymology became so vital to my own stories. What was written in Hebrew, Greek, Latin and translated into an ever evolving English language can change the meaning/intent of the original authors and what those authors were trying to convey to their original audience. We are well outside that original audience, and oftentimes a bit far away from the original language(s) they used.

 

[GLASNOST]

Let's take a further look at this. Let's take one example of the Church lying and cheating without being aware of it.

THE BIBLE and those who quote it.

 

[Meriweather]

I'm willing to bet on it.

A bet you would lose. Teachers (whether those who write or those who speak) have different perspectives and different approaches.

But then again maybe we common earthlings just need the heavenly scripture interpreted for us?

Depends. If someone wants only one interpretation/perspective why not hole up somewhere by oneself with the Bible and interpret away to one's own heart's desire.

Others are after as many interpretations/perspectives as can be gathered and studied.

 

[GLASNOST]

..... it takes so much more time to ..... try it out.

I keep throwing my poodle up in the air but he just won't fly. Maybe i just need to keep "trying it out".

 

[Meriweather]

I need no God or religion to exist..

The same can be said about a lot of things. No one needs, siblings, friends, teachers, flowers, pets to exist. But if one truly wants to live all existence has to offer, some of these extras to existence are good.