Zone1 New poll shows Americans' confidence and belief in the Bible is at all-time low

[Weatherman2020]

“Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food…

President’s 2021 Budget Would Cut Food Assistance for Millions and Radically Restructure SNAP | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

President Trump’s 2021 budget proposes to cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) by more than $180 billion — nearly 30 percent — over the next ten years...

www.cbpp.org

It was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…

Georgia bans giving water to voters in line under sweeping restrictions

Georgia on Thursday enacted broad voting restrictions championed by Republicans that activists said aimed to curtail the influence of Black voters who were instrumental in state elections that helped Democrats win the White House and narrow control of the U.S. Senate.

www.reuters.com

I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/06/18/a-secret-recording-captures-the-sounds-of-crying-children-separated-from-parents-at-the-border/

Trump Virtually Cuts Off Refugees as He Unleashes a Tirade on Immigrants (Published 2020)

The Trump administration said it would lower the annual cap on refugees further into rock-bottom record territory as President Trump pursues pre-election xenophobic attacks.

www.nytimes.com

I was naked and you gave me clothing,


I was sick and you took care of me,

The Quality of Your Health Care Increasingly Depends on Whether You Live in a Red or Blue State

This is America in 2018.

slate.com

I was in prison and you visited me.’”

Supreme Court Rules that Texas Must Allow Death-Row Prisoner’s Pastor to Touch and Pray Over Him During His Execution

On March 24, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed lower court orders that had denied a Texas death-row prisoner’s request for his pastor to touch him and…

deathpenaltyinfo.org

They are authoritarian. I suspect that has more to do with how they treat people than an absence of faith.

Thanks. You totally prove my point. The Christian faith is about individuals. You look up to your god of government to do everything for you.

You think Paul whined in Rome that the government needed to do more?

 

[Weatherman2020]

Nope. You're playing Ostrich.

John 3:16

 

[JustAGuy1]

It has absolutely nothing to do with intelligence because everyone here does possess that in spades. Surada and I offer, not a "smarter" perspective but a different perspective. Approaching the same information from a different angle makes us dissimilar, not smarter.

"Saved" is not a term I give much--if any--attention. We are a redeemed people. Have faith in that.

One cannot be redeemed by denying most of what the Bible says about being saved or redeemed. If you don't believe Jesus paid the price for your sin you cannot be "redeemed".

He was born of a Virgin.
He lived a sinless life.
He was crucified and died for us.
He rose from the Grave on the 3rd day.

If don't believe in even one of those you are not redeemed or saved.

 

[surada]

John 3:16

John 3:16 has nothing to do with the Scofield heresy.

 

[Coyote]

Again I enjoy discussing religion with atheists who think they’re theologians, but Smith’s invented a Jesus that denies the basic fundamentals of what a Christian is and what salvation is. But that’s for a different thread.

I’m not an atheist. That is strike one. Second who exactly gets to decide who is and isn’t Christian? For many it is as simple as a belief in the divinity of Christ. For other’s it requires a complex hierarchical structure to define it. Still others focus on select portions of the Bible for their truth. At one point in history Protestants and off shoots, like Baptists, were considered heresies and not Christian.

 

[Coyote]

Thanks. You totally prove my point. The Christian faith is about individuals. You look up to your god of government to do everything for you.

You think Paul whined in Rome that the government needed to do more?

Elected governments are supposed to represent the voice and will of the people…otherwise why do YOU utilize the government when it suits your particular religious objectives instead of individuals?

 

[SmokeALib]

The Bible is a history book, no different than, say, a book describing the revolutionary war.
The old testament was written by Moses for the most part - later translated from Hebrew to Greek.
The new testament was written in Greek - by several people who lived during and after the time Jesus walked the earth.
Whether one chooses to believe this history didn't happen is, well, on them. But that fact doesn't change history.

 

[surada]

The Bible is a history book, no different than, say, a book describing the revolutionary war.
The old testament was written by Moses for the most part - later translated from Hebrew to Greek.
The new testament was written in Greek - by several people who lived during and after the time Jesus walked the earth.
Whether one chooses to believe this history didn't happen is, well, on them. But that fact doesn't change history.

Nope. The old testament was written over 800 years after the death of Moses by many authors who borrowed from Sumer, Egypt and the Canaanites at Ras Shamra.

 

[Weatherman2020]

Elected governments are supposed to represent the voice and will of the people…otherwise why do YOU utilize the government when it suits your particular religious objectives instead of individuals?

Yes they are. And America is currently suffering because it is not.

 

[Meriweather]

But you want to pick a new one, um, okay, let's take Elisha and the Bears... It's a brief account, but Elisha just succeeded Elijah as the Prophet of the lord, and some children were making fun of his bald head, because he wasn't just the Hair Club President, he was also a client.

Well, Elisha cursed the children, and two she-bears appeared and mauled 42 of them to death. Because God loves you.

Great selection!

First, we have the Hebrew words to consider. The same words were often used to describe people with no moral compass. Instead of picturing little boys, picture those old enough to know better but are acting childish.

Second, Rabbis look at the scriptures before these verses. Elisha had just purified a local spring. Who would be against this? People who made a living hauling fresh water to their community. Basically, there was a cartel of young men with no moral compass furious with Elisha for cutting into their riches.

As I recall, the insult of calling someone bald at that time was the same as saying Elisha's God, Elisha's beliefs meant nothing and were no more valid than a bald head.

Were the bears literal or not? One rabbi noted the irony of a prophet not acting in the way a prophet should act--nor were two bears acting in a way two bears normally act. Could it be Elisha's depriving them of selling water (their livelihood) destroyed forty-two young men?

Whether forty-two were destroyed by bears or no other way to sustain themselves except by hauling water, it appears most Rabbis believe Elisha's curse was wrong and went too far. It is noted in later verses that Elisha was indeed punished for calling down such a curse.

 

[surada]

Great selection!

First, we have the Hebrew words to consider. The same words were often used to describe people with no moral compass. Instead of picturing little boys, picture those old enough to know better but are acting childish.

Second, Rabbis look at the scriptures before these verses. Elisha had just purified a local spring. Who would be against this? People who made a living hauling fresh water to their community. Basically, there was a cartel of young men with no moral compass furious with Elisha for cutting into their riches.

As I recall, the insult of calling someone bald at that time was the same as saying Elisha's God, Elisha's beliefs meant nothing and were no more valid than a bald head.

Were the bears literal or not? One rabbi noted the irony of a prophet not acting in the way a prophet should act--nor were two bears acting in a way two bears normally act. Could it be Elisha's depriving them of selling water (their livelihood) destroyed forty-two young men?

Whether forty-two were destroyed by bears or no other way to sustain themselves except by hauling water, it appears most Rabbis believe Elisha's curse was wrong and went too far. It is noted in later verses that Elisha was indeed punished for calling down such a curse.

Wow. Way to justify such a horror story.

 

[Weatherman2020]

I’m not an atheist. That is strike one. Second who exactly gets to decide who is and isn’t Christian? For many it is as simple as a belief in the divinity of Christ. For other’s it requires a complex hierarchical structure to define it. Still others focus on select portions of the Bible for their truth. At one point in history Protestants and off shoots, like Baptists, were considered heresies and not Christian.

A belief that must show outward signs of being a believer. Bible says so.
Whether it’s becoming a believer hanging on a cross and ask to be remembered by Jesus or what one does with their life.
Anyone can claim to be a Christian. Carter is. Obama is not. It’s in what they do in their spare time.

 

[surada]

A belief that must show outward signs of being a believer. Bible says so.
Whether it’s becoming a believer hanging on a cross and ask to be remembered by Jesus or what one does with their life.
Anyone can claim to be a Christian. Carter is. Obama is not. It’s in what they do in their spare time.

Now you think you're God.

 

[Weatherman2020]

Now you think you're God.

Just because you lack the gift of discernment doesn’t mean everyone else has.
Too bad more Germans didn’t have discernment in the 1930’s.

 

[surada]

Just because you lack the gift of discernment doesn’t mean everyone else has.
Too bad more Germans didn’t have discernment in the 1930’s.

Hitler was a populist and a demagogue... Those con artists can always inspire the mob.

 

[Coyote]

Yes they are. And America is currently suffering because it is not.

So then it’s appropriate for the government to act on tbe will of the people.

 

[Coyote]

A belief that must show outward signs of being a believer. Bible says so.
Whether it’s becoming a believer hanging on a cross and ask to be remembered by Jesus or what one does with their life.
Anyone can claim to be a Christian. Carter is. Obama is not. It’s in what they do in their spare time.

They are both Christians.

 

[Meriweather]

Wow. Way to justify such a horror story.

Bear attacks are extremely rare. When they do attack, there are generally only one or two people in the vicinity. Further, bears do not hunt in pairs. Elisha was a prophet who called down a curse--not the way prophets usually act, and he was punished for calling for that curse.

 

[Weatherman2020]

So then it’s appropriate for the government to act on tbe will of the people.

Irrelevant topic to the thread. A state of decay is occurring in society while we are seeing people turn away from God.

 

[Weatherman2020]

They are both Christians.

The late great coach John Wooden once said “If I’m ever tried for being a Christian, I hope there’s enough evidence to convict me.”