The Faith & Religion mega Thread

If we* keep remaking all the "superheroes" "stories,,," eventually most of us could all like (or make) one of each???



As a kid moving out on my own I remember thinking how easy life was when I didn't make the rules, even asked my mom to help with the budget, wake up calls and still punish me if need be... when I die so will my memories.

How's your threshold for pain?
Add: http://peanuts.wikia.com/wiki/Linus'_security_blanket


[COLOR="Red"]Charity without science?[/strike]

Originally Posted by Fixit7 A troubled man was standing at the top of the Empire State Building, and finally decided to jump off, ending his own life. After he had fallen awhile and was only 100 stories off the ground, he realized he made a mistake. It was wrong to commit suicide and he knew it. He said, "Oh God if you hear me...I am sorry for the foolish mistake I made by jumping off this building. I repent and would like to know if you forgive me?" A voice came back, "Of course I forgive you. Don't think a thing about it. I will never bring it up again. And by the way, I will see you in just a minute." God forgave the man for jumping off the building, but the man will still fall to the ground.

Firstly I do know that this is "just a humorous joke. But here's where I think differently about this. That almost comes across as when I told my kids, "I warned ya ..." (Fortunately I've never had to say that about any tragic situation)

I've always liked the poem Footprints. Because however you consider God, the perception there is that God traveled with a person throughout the entire timeline of their life. And the confusion on that person's part about the critical times in their life where they only saw the one set of footprints, God responded to 'their child' that they love them and would never leave them, and it was during those tormented times of their life that the single set of footprints was instead God carrying the person.

Perhaps the despondent man there could've received guidance in some form versus being left alone until it was too late. And to that, I go back to the examples of my children. I "guided" them in life so that they didn't end up jumping off a building in despair. That, along with other things was and is my solemn responsibility as a parent. If you're God, then I submit that you have a similar responsibility.

A man was standing on top of a building.
He was being persecuted by christians because he was gay.

A woman was standing on top of a building.
She was pregnant and being persecuted by christians because she was raped and could not and did not want to raise the child in her body.

Gays and Women are 2nd class citizens in right wing christian philosophy.
They are no better than the right wing muslims whom they profess to disclaim as unbelievers and heretics.

Ask any professed christian who posted in this thread on how they stand with gay marriage and womens rights to their own bodies.

You won't like what you hear, or the crickets will start chirping.
I have found the so called christians, to be in fact, very unchristian.

They would rather be judgemental. It fits their phobias and insecurities.

Originally Posted by rokytnji A man was standing on top of a building. He was being persecuted by christians because he was gay. A woman was standing on top of a building. She was pregnant and being persecuted by christians because she was raped and could not and did not want to raise the child in her body. Gays and Women are 2nd class citizens in right wing christian philosophy. They are no better than the right wing muslims whom they profess to disclaim as unbelievers and heretics. Ask any professed christian who posted in this thread on how they stand with gay marriage and womens rights to their own bodies. You won't like what you hear, or the crickets will start chirping. I have found the so called christians, to be in fact, very unchristian. They would rather be judgemental. It fits their phobias and insecurities.

Someone who persecutes others is not a Christian.

There will always be some Christians who do not live the Christian life.

And you will find un christians that live better lives than Christians.

ALL people are imperfect.

As the saying goes, "Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners."

I think you are lumping all Christians in with the bad ones.

Just as most Muslims are not terrorists.

Are we all extremists, at some points, for some things but learning? (I.e: another definition for evolving! )

Originally Posted by Fixit7 Someone who persecutes others is not a Christian. There will always be some Christians who do not live the Christian life. And you will find un christians that live better lives than Christians. ALL people are imperfect. As the saying goes, "Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners." I think you are lumping all Christians in with the bad ones. Just as most Muslims are not terrorists.

I very much like your open mindedness and basic thoughtfulness regarding others however any definition of "Christian" must recognize that at least since the time of Constantine, and likely before, Christianity is an Organized Religion, an Institution with a hierarchy of elites, whether Priests, Ministers, Bishops or Popes in a position of great power. These elites speak for the whole in matters of policy as well as tenets of Faith. Though Christianity was fractured by The Protestant Reformation, the term still applies to all who claim to believe Jesus Christ was the Son of God, now, even if they totally ignore his alleged teachings and lifestyle.

It is far too convenient when one considers Witch Burning, The Albigensian Heresy, The Inquisition and imprisonment and torture of heretics for close to 2000 years (it is still going on and justified by many Christians all over the world... Sarah Palin comes to mind) to simply shrug off the claim as "they must not be real Christians". It is and always has been an inclusive term. Not owning these facts, even if part of some wicked growth process, is rather Ostrich-like, IMHO. In fact it is exactly that facility to deny claim to Humanity and designate some as Other that made these atrocities possible.

This is not to say that Christians haven't also done great good because that is an equally myopic view. However it is selective vision in the extreme to not see both. As an Institution it appears to me that Christianity in all forms has utterly failed to live up to it's most basic terms as I have seen nobody, not one person, even vaguely espouse what Jesus Christ is alleged to have stood for, let alone live it. This could possibly exclude some Monks, but I have never met one. It is an enigma to me that people continue to call themselves "Christians" in light of this, unless the only real requirement is declaring that any individual's interpretation of Christ is their saviour. With such incredible diversity, that still makes it a term without any solid definition as far as I can tell. The same is true of Muslims of whom I only know a handful but know of many. Since this applies to most other Organized Religions as well, it seems to me there lies the problem - organization into a powerful cabal and as we all should know, power corrupts.

As an Institution it appears to me that Christianity in all forms has utterly failed to live up to it's most basic terms as I have seen nobody, not one person, even vaguely espouse what Jesus Christ is alleged to have stood for, let alone live it. This could possibly exclude some Monks, but I have never met one.

It's a shame you feel that way.

Maybe you have had some bad experiences with Christians.

I have belonged to a number of Christian churches.

If you came as a guest to any of them, I feel you would change your view.

My current church feeds the homeless, has missions in Africa, a job search ministry,grief support groups and many other activities that help others.

Christians started most hospitals and many colleges etc.

Christians headed the movement to stop slavery.

One of our tenents is to become Christlike.

We help whoever is in need.

You seem a decent sort, Fixit7, and I have met a few but I think my Father was right that idealogical concerns... (religion and politics) are dangerous subjects even for friends. I'm actually not sure why this needs to be so but apparently it is. Sacred Cows, perhaps.

Of course I have had some bad experiences with some Christians but also many good ones. As I stated I truly am aware of how much good has been done by organized religion and I have been a guest at 4 denominations out of deference to frienda/colleaguea. I remain unchanged. My position is that while on a global scale it is impossible to even guess at how the balance sheet looks, on a personal level the price of the good is just too high. IMHO teaching children from birth to come to conclusions without any evidence is a mind killer and I suspect, since one major function of organized religion, though less obligatory since Separation of Church and State, was to keep "the great unwashed" satisfied with "pie in the sky", preventing revolts. I have no problem with the basic transaction of the Social Contract, until and unless it creates complacency and apathy. Living in a democracy is rendered useless if subjugation and the acceptance of it, starts at birth.

Unless one wishes to emulate domesticated animals, service should only be given by consent and that consent should be based on Reason, not Faith, or we are vulnerable to all manner of cons and manipulations, not to mention repression and outright atrocity. Therefore, on a personal level, I must reject Faith and Organized religion and just attempt to be a man of Principles, no matter how hard it gets.

Therefore, on a personal level, I must reject Faith and Organized religion and just attempt to be a man of Principles, no matter how hard it gets.

That's an excellent attitude.

Originally Posted by Fixit7 Someone who persecutes others is not a Christian. There will always be some Christians who do not live the Christian life. And you will find un christians that live better lives than Christians. ALL people are imperfect. As the saying goes, "Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners." I think you are lumping all Christians in with the bad ones. Just as most Muslims are not terrorists.

I live in Texas also. Ruled by christian politicians. Laws enacted by christians. Cop cars driving around with crosses on them. I am not not lumping anything. Just stating the facts.

A guy with a turban is a nervous citizen in this state. I have friends that ride motorcycle from the middle east. So I speak from personal real life knowledge.

If any lumping is going on. It's christian.

Define cult. But,,, as an outsider, a leader or follower so three answers two outside yourself... now step back? (First can or WILL you or do we need "unthinkable space to travel"?)

Edit\add: had to add will (no pun) for all the piggies!

Tomorrow, Sunday 20 March, is the Spring Equinox (or the Autumn Equinox if you're south of the line). I wish all Pagans (and everyone else, for that matter) a happy day.

I do find it telling that the percentage of true non-believers is about 64% and believers is 35% per the small sample of those who have chosen to vote.

Originally Posted by Fixit7 Someone who persecutes others is not a Christian. There will always be some Christians who do not live the Christian life. And you will find un christians that live better lives than Christians. ALL people are imperfect. As the saying goes, "Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners." I think you are lumping all Christians in with the bad ones. Just as most Muslims are not terrorists.

So, who defines who the real Christians are and who the "un-Christians"?
From a logical point of view, shouldn't be those the real Christians that follow his teachings to the letter?

No one is perfect.

Humans are flawed.

The bible tells Christians to be a light to the world.

Their loving actions would show that.