Zone1 The Great Difficulty Of Being Religious.....

[Trickster]

Christian humor. However, our curiosity is genuine.

Ah yes. The first two things I think of when I hear the word "Christian" are definitely humor and curiousity. Not. Morelike boring and closed-mimded.

What draws people to any website or forum is interest. I have no interest in a flat earth, unicorns and other things I have no belief in, mountain climbing, etc.

Weeeeell...

Nevermind. Lmao.

so I dismiss the idea of going to any of these sites. Based on that, I'm curious as to why people with no belief and no interest in God come here because, based on my own interests and non-interests, I can't figure it out.

The Devil tempted you.

 

[Meriweather]

My position is that one cannot be both happy and religious. I have never met a happy Christian, Muslim or Jew.

Meet more people. Also, to coin an old story: An atheist decided he wanted to explore religion. He began walking and fell in step with some on their way to a religious rite. "I'm new here," he said, "and an atheist. What kind of people are in your community?" The person of faith asked, "What kind of people are in your atheist community?" The atheists said, "The worst sort, selfish, unhappy, never a kind word to anyone."

"Well," the person of faith answered, "You're going to find the same kind of people here." So the atheist traveled on. Soon another atheist fell into step with the person of faith and asked the same question: "What kind of people will be here?" The answer was the same. "What kind of people are in your atheist community?" This atheist said, "Oh, the best kind! They are helpful and loving. Never a bad word to say about anyone."

"Well," the person of faith answered, "You're going to find exactly the same kind of people right here!"

 

[Meriweather]

Chrstians believe life is suffering and that real joy comes after death or in "afterlife" as they call it. With these premises one can never be truly happy.

Catholics, Orthodox, and I am certain many other denominations believe that one enters into God's kingdom in the here and now. God's kingdom, whether on earth or in heaven, is a life of joy...even in the sorrowful stretches.

 

[Trickster]

Catholics, Orthodox, and I am certain many other denominations believe that one enters into God's kingdom in the here and now. God's kingdom, whether on earth or in heaven, is a life of joy...even in the sorrowful stretches.

So, why is the ideal Jesus on the cross, abused,bruised and dead and Mother Teresa poor, sick and lonely rather than Eve holding out the apple to Adam?

 

[Meriweather]

Ooor maybe God sent us to help you?

You know God and have experiences of him!? Then you are probably aware the Lord is already our help. Tell us your story, expand the horizons.

 

[Trickster]

You know God and have experiences of him!? Then you are probably aware the Lord is already our help. Tell us your story, expand the horizons.

What the hell is God?

If you first define it. I will answer

 

[Meriweather]

Ah yes. The first two things I think of when I hear the word "Christian" are definitely humor and curiousity. Not. Morelike boring and closed-mimded.

You need to meet more Christians. My best friend since high school and I were of two different Christian denominations. The funniest and most fun-loving person one could ever hope to meet. We had such great times.

The Devil tempted you.

He has no interest in me. Like you, he finds Christians boring.

 

[Trickster]

You need to meet more Christians. My best friend since high school and I were of two different Christian denominations. The funniest and most fun-loving person one could ever hope to meet. We had such great times.

Funny and loving, sure. Happy? No.

As for meeting more Christians... For the love of God, please no.

He has no interest in me. Like you, he finds Christians boring.

I kinda like that Satan guy now.

 

[Meriweather]

So, why is the ideal Jesus on the cross, abused,bruised and dead and Mother Teresa poor, sick and lonely rather than Eve holding out the apple to Adam?

The ideal Jesus is the Resurrection. The cross is also a symbol of what the earth and what some people on earth bring upon others. Can you imagine pummeling someone, whipping them with bones and sharp objects, then nailing them--naked--to a cross for all to see? Some people were cruel then; some today are just as cruel. Jesus conquered the cross, and that is what Christians remember. The cross has been conquered.

As for Mother Teresa, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross all spoke of desert experiences. All had high experiences as well. From experience, I remind people of what Jesus said: Blessed are those who have not seen yet believe. Mountaintop experiences are unforgettable, speak of what is before us, but the knowing the contrasts between the mountaintop and the desert one also knows fully the greater bleakness.

 

[Meriweather]

What the hell is God?

If you first define it. I will answer

God is who He is, or as He put it, I am who I am. To define this further, He is a being beyond the greatest love imaginable. Think of everyone you know. Is there anyone who always loves you fully, beyond the capacity of who you are and what you can contain? God loves everyone to that great extent, because that is who God is.

 

[Meriweather]

I kinda like that Satan guy now.

He'll meet you at your cross. He's the one with the whip and the nails, stripping you naked.

 

[Trickster]

He'll meet you at your cross. He's the one with the whip and the nails, stripping you naked.

Sounds like a Rihanna song.

 

[Meriweather]

Sounds like a Rihanna song.

Not familiar with Rihanna...

 

[Donald H]

Chapter and verse please.

Only literal truths in the bible for the truly faithful who haven't been backsliders who have already accepted allegorical truths. See Genesis. See the big fish story.

 

[Donald H]

You have no evidence. I do. See?

The first Christians who witnessed the supernatural acts performed by Jesus - which included controlling matter, controlling nature, healing physical deformities, healing diseases, raising the dead and resurrecting himself from death - worshiped Jesus as God because they witnessed those miracles. Non-Christian historians recorded that the first Christians worshiped Jesus as God because he performed supernatural feats. 24,000 written manuscripts documented the supernatural feats Jesus performed and the first Christians witnessed. The Babylonian Talmud confirms Jewish religious leaders put Jesus to death for sorcery and for leading Israel into apostasy. There are no opposing accounts that document that Jesus did not perform any supernatural acts. There are no opposing accounts that argue Jesus wasn't put to death for performing sorcery and inciting Israel to apostasy. There are no opposing accounts which document Jesus wasn't resurrected. There are no opposing accounts that the first Christians didn't witness Jesus performing supernatural acts. There are no opposing accounts that document the first Christians didn't worship Jesus as God.

Excellent! You're ready to separate the literal truths in the bibles, from the stories that you have declared to be alleorical and bogus!

Can we start with one that you have found difficult in the past? Jonah and the big fish?

 

[Ace Nova]

Seems difficult for you to answer a direct queston.


"Tithing and sacrifices are a form of "redistribution of wealth".


So that is what you favor?




Here's another one: who'd you vote for?

"Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and give God what is God's"

What does that mean? To me it means to pay my taxes (I pay a lot of taxes annually) and to live a life in accordance to the primary messages/teachings of both the Old and New Testaments.

"Loving God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind" allows us to:

Use our emotions, affections and desires in a way that manifests God's love in our lives (HEART)

Be Truly passionate, giving us strength from within that manifests itself in our works (SOUL)

Study, learn and truly understand through knowledge and wisdom what God's ways are for us. (MIND)


Then using these gifts to "Love our neighbors as ourselves", living a life respecting others, not judging, helping others, showing mercy and forgiveness.

 

[Donald H]

Your kind is militant atheists who condemn respect for people of faith. I think it's important for you to own what you are.

I respect people of faith until they lie about the contents of their bibles.
The question raised with that is going to be answered as soon as we begin our task of separating the wheat from the holy chaff.

"...The combating of religion cannot be confined to abstract ideological preaching, and it must not be reduced to such preaching. It must be linked up with the concrete practice of the class movement, which aims at eliminating the social roots of religion..." Vladimir Lenin

Sayeth me too!

 

[ding]

Whar are you talking about, silly goose?

I'm talking about the logical conclusion of your attempts to subordinate religion.

The Socialist Phenomenon

 

[ding]

There is that Christian condescension again.

I'm surprised you didn't implode from the irony of your statement.

 

[Woodznutz]

Or, perhaps God draws them, not necessarily for their sake, but for our own.

They are amusing.