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Discussion: What's Your Religion?
Member Since: 12/15/2011
Posts: 1,698
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Quote:
Originally posted by GaGaFan
If you look at, for example, the Jesus quote you brought up about bringing a sword IN CONTEXT of the rest of the passage, it is abundantly clear that he is referring to the immorality of the people of the day that was running rampant.
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Unfortunately, many people don't see it that way. I agree Jesus definitely wouldn't run around and encourage revolt, but throughout history that has been an unfortunately common interpretation.
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Banned
Member Since: 6/24/2012
Posts: 691
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Know It All
Then what good is the Bible at all?
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lmao right..
You know that guy that just murdered all those children in Conneticut?
He could have argued that a "metaphor" in the bible told him to do it and these christians would argue against it.
who would be more right?
Who's "interpretation of the metaphors" would be wrong.
It all boils down to their own opinions about things that directly contradict their religion, so they say everything is a "metaphor" and "not what it really means" to fit into their opinions and so that they won't be a bad christian.
MessT.
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Member Since: 4/23/2012
Posts: 3,895
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I don't believe in religion, because honestly, I think they're only laws for a society which does not exist in this way anymore. I don't believe in a god as a higher deity either, I believe God is something that comes from the inside, some inner strength and some connection to the universe as a whole. Because in the end, we are only part of the nature, the planet, the universe and there has to be some sort of energy that holds this together and that created this whole thing and I think we can somehow feel that we are part of that. That's why mediation and praying helps, because we channel our inner strength. So basically, I see spirituality in a more abstract way. And in the end, mediating helps to get to know yourself better and makes you calmer, so you will become a better person eventually.
I don't believe in life after death in the literal way either, but I believe that every human being changed the world and the course of the universe and that is our legacy. If we have done cruel things which disrupted the balance of nature (such as senseless killing, hate, inequality), we left a bad legacy.
That's how I understand it.
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Member Since: 4/20/2012
Posts: 11,335
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Know It All
Yes, I recognize that Jesus' message was overwhelmingly positive, and I rather like the majority of what he said (I don't hate Jesus at all). That post was in response to the assertion that it was only positive (which it wasn't). That's not hypocrisy, however. It's honesty.
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Jesus WAS human. He lived without sin, but he still had harsh views like every human and every true Christian does. It just makes him even more wonderful.
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Member Since: 12/15/2011
Posts: 1,698
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Quote:
Originally posted by MissBreakaway
I don't believe in religion, because honestly, I think they're only laws for a society which does not exist in this way anymore. I don't believe in a god as a higher deity either, I believe God is something that comes from the inside, some inner strength and some connection to the universe as a whole. Because in the end, we are only part of the nature, the planet, the universe and there has to be some sort of energy that holds this together and that created this whole thing and I think we can somehow feel that we are part of that. That's why mediation and praying helps, because we channel our inner strength. So basically, I see spirituality in a more abstract way. And in the end, mediating helps to get to know yourself better and makes you calmer, so you will become a better person eventually.
I don't believe in life after death in the literal way either, but I believe that every human being changed the world and the course of the universe and that is our legacy. If we have done cruel things which disrupted the balance of nature (such as senseless killing, hate, inequality), we left a bad legacy.
That's how I understand it.
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That's rather intriguing.
Quote:
Originally posted by J03Y
Jesus WAS human. He lived without sin, but he still had harsh views like every human and every true Christian does. It just makes him even more wonderful.
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Yes. I fully agree.
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Member Since: 2/16/2012
Posts: 8,740
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What about all the sexist mess in the New Testament?
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Member Since: 9/16/2006
Posts: 4,993
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Quote:
Originally posted by Fujin
"So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds."
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
-New Testament
Such a loving and kind Lord.
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Here
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In Revelation 3:18-29, Jesus dictates a letter to the Apostle of John to send to the church in Thyatira. There is a problem in the church that Jesus wants to warn them about. Apparently some woman teacher, whom Jesus calls Jezebel, was leading the church members into sexual immorality. Jesus says, "I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead."
This seems rather severe for a loving and merciful Jesus. Especially the killing of innocent children who were not guilty of the immorality. This is not the Jesus that I heard about in church. Apparently, it was not the Jesus that the churches in Thyatira and the surrounding area knew either. Because Jesus then goes on to say, "Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds." (Rev. 2:21-23) This is the lessons that Jesus wanted His church to learn. It is the lesson that He still wants His church to learn.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (Proverbs 1:7)
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Member Since: 7/23/2010
Posts: 6,705
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Member Since: 8/1/2012
Posts: 8,763
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Quote:
Originally posted by fabbriche
That's the Old Testament. That was the law before Jesus. When Jesus came, He preached about kindness, to love your neighbor as you love God and forgive your enemies, that's why the high priests of the time thought Jesus was going against God's law and why they crucified him. The Old Testament is merely a background which predates the beginning of the history of the Jewish nation until the coming of the Messiah. Christian doctrines don't revolve much around it but in the New Testament. What Jesus preached, that's the embodiment of the true Christian beliefs.
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Exactly. New Testament makes basically the difference between Christianity and Judaism.
Dont forget that these books were written thousands years ago, when the world was different - there was no police or organs to effectivelly protect so many people or punish them, so fear of greater power was used to make them respect at least some basic rules (to avoid/ reduce the ammount of crimes like murders, theft, rape etc). It was common for ancient societies that every code of laws was shielded by religion (look at Hammurabis code, The Law of the Twelve Tables for example), to make sure that people will treat them with more respect. It served its purpose well.
But the basic message of the Bible/Christianity - love your neighbor and treat everyone with respect have place also in todays world.
Quote:
Originally posted by Fujin
lmao right..
You know that guy that just murdered all those children in Conneticut?
He could have argued that a "metaphor" in the bible told him to do it and these christians would argue against it.
who would be more right?
Who's "interpretation of the metaphors" would be wrong.
It all boils down to their own opinions about things that directly contradict their religion, so they say everything is a "metaphor" and "not what it really means" to fit into their opinions and so that they won't be a bad christian.
MessT.
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Educate yourself, ignorant.
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Member Since: 12/21/2010
Posts: 51,088
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Christianity, leaning towards Roman Catholic, with Marianne Williamson and ACOM as my spiritual guides.
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Member Since: 12/15/2011
Posts: 1,698
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Quote:
Originally posted by fabbriche
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I wouldn't say anyone is "right" or "wrong". Not even extremists are "wrong". Everyone's interpretation of the Bible, Qur'an, etc., is just different. Unfortunately, many people aren't willing to concede that different is okay, and as a result millions of people have died and will likely continue to die in the name of religion.
Quote:
Originally posted by Bríseis
Exactly. New Testament makes basically the difference between Christianity and Judaism.
Dont forget that these books were written thousands years ago, when the world was different - there was no police or organs to effectivelly protect so many people or punish them, so fear of greater power was used to make them respect at least some basic rules (to avoid/ reduce the ammount of crimes like murders, theft, rape etc). Its common for all religions of ancient world - every code of laws was shielded by religion in those times (look at Hammurabis code, The Law of the Twelve Tables for example), to make sure that people will treat them with more respect. It served its purpose well.
But the basic message of the Bible/Christianity - love your neighbor and threat everyone with respect have place also in todays world.
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Yes, I agree, but if you're going to pick out the parts of the Bible you like most, why hold on to it at all? You don't need it to be a moral and happy individual.
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Member Since: 2/24/2012
Posts: 30,779
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Banned
Member Since: 6/24/2012
Posts: 691
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bríseis
Educate yourself, ignorant.
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Enjoy that WP.
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Member Since: 8/1/2012
Posts: 8,763
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Know It All
Yes, I agree, but if you're going to pick out the parts of the Bible you like most, why hold on to it at all? You don't need it to be a moral and happy individual.
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Not to pic what you like the most, just look at the text critically and take into account that times are different now is enough.
The basic message from Bible is in fact still the same - its love, and there cant be anything wrong when you will follow message of love and take your intelligence and morals into account.
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Member Since: 8/25/2012
Posts: 30,317
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Member Since: 8/1/2012
Posts: 8,763
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Quote:
Originally posted by Fujin
Enjoy that WP.
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no regrets
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Member Since: 12/15/2011
Posts: 1,698
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bríseis
Not to pic what you like the most, just look at the text critically and take into account that times are different now is enough.
The basic message from Bible is in fact still the same - its love, and there cant be anything wrong when you will follow message of love and take your intelligence and morals into account.
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But couldn't you arrive at that same conclusion on your own? Isn't it more fulfilling to know you do good things simply because you're a good person? And not because you're merely adhering to the checklist of an ancient book?
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Member Since: 12/7/2011
Posts: 18,969
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bríseis
But the basic message of the Bible/Christianity - love your neighbor and treat everyone with respect have place also in todays world.
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You do realized that Jesus was a Buddhist monk right?
Christianity derived from Buddhism.
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Banned
Member Since: 6/24/2012
Posts: 691
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mong Mong
You do realized that Jesus was a Buddhist monk right?
Christianity derived from Buddhism.
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Gyal don't get them started.
Jesus was a bearded white man with blue eyes and a good Chrstian.
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Member Since: 4/9/2012
Posts: 16,749
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