Bible Beaters Beware...

[Charlie]

ah yes...religious visions. I'm sorry, I do not share your beliefs. When people start doing stuff in the name of God or because they are following God's will is when I get real sceptical.

No need to get all defensive.

What were you saying about the difference in hating homos and God...?

Dude, he's Canadian.

Fags are like their national bird now.

-Charlie

[Digitalwave]

ah yes...religious visions. I'm sorry, I do not share your beliefs. When people start doing stuff in the name of God or because they are following God's will is when I get real sceptical.

No need to get all defensive.

What were you saying about the difference in hating homos and God...?

Dude, he's Canadian.

Fags are like their national bird now.

-Charlie

Ah yes, didn't notice that. Thanks for making everything make sense Charlie.

[matt_spoon]

WOOHOO, Someone's a college freshman atheist!

What's next, quoting from Marx, a Che t-shirt?

-Charlie

rofl.. stupid commies. ;)

The proletariat will rise someday. You'll see. ;)

Hey, that's what Bob Dole said about his dick.

And see what happened. It's possible.


Vote Bob Dole.

Best post. Ever. Ever ever.

[e30matt on Spoon's computer, btw.]

























[too lazy to sign out and back in as myself]























[yay]

[RCWells]

Religion is a manmade construct. Christianity is simply following Christ's example for living. It goes way deeper than being a good person. The whole of God's message is one of Grace through Faith in his Son Jesus Christ. You CANNOT earn your way into Heaven by works. Period. So, the argument of Christians living a certain way, or demanding of others to do the same is for naught. It is NOT about the way you live.

Some bottle Christianity up and label it as a hypocritcal vehicle to impose it's will upon others. Nonsense. There are Christians that earn that label by virtue of their own actions vs. their peious attitudes and language towards others. Jesus' teachings were not of that cloth. They were of the fruits of the Spirit: Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Faithfulness Gentleness and Self-Control. Unfortunately, there are those "Christians" that judge others without looking at themselves before speaking out. God said for us not to judge, lest WE be judged ourselves, for we have ALL sinned, and fallen short of the Glory of God. So NONE OF US are above sin.

That said, there is an innate knowledge of right and wrong within us all. Some choose to ignore that and proceed in life on a path of self-indulgence, self-gratification, etc. True Christianity is of a self-LESS nature. That is exactly what Christ himself did for us. He gave everything for us, so that our debt may be forgiven. That is the most unselfish thing I can possibly fathom. So, as a result of believing in him and his life/death/life, we desire to live a life that is pleasing to HIM, we DESIRE to do that, we are not REQUIRED to do that.

And for me, trying to live a life that is pleasing to God, is worth more than a life lived to please myself. I have done it both ways guys, and I made my choice.

Now, you make yours, as it IS yours to make. As for me and my house, we will Praise the Lord.

BUT this doesn't make me perfect or better than anybody, or without sin, etc. I still screw up all the time. I am a sinner like everybody else, but I do try.

[h0lmes]

Also, I do not think that God looks upon homosexuals like the majority of the Christian right does. In Gods eyes, homosexuals are no different then everybody else. They are sinners just like you and me and they can be forgiven just like you and me.

The Bible talks a lot about homosexuality, directly. Here are some passages for you to read: Genesis 19:4-29, 1st Corinthians 6:9-11, Romans 1:26-27

Leviticus 18:22 "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman: that is detestable."

The Bible is pretty clear that God is against homosexuality.

I didn't say that God wasnt againt homosexuality I was just pointing out that many members of the religious right are hipocritical because they are intolerant of homosexuality and they single out homosexuals yet in Gods eyes homosexuals are the same as anybody else in the world and you and me are just as much sinners as they are.

[Digitalwave]

Also, I do not think that God looks upon homosexuals like the majority of the Christian right does. In Gods eyes, homosexuals are no different then everybody else. They are sinners just like you and me and they can be forgiven just like you and me.

The Bible talks a lot about homosexuality, directly. Here are some passages for you to read: Genesis 19:4-29, 1st Corinthians 6:9-11, Romans 1:26-27

Leviticus 18:22 "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman: that is detestable."

The Bible is pretty clear that God is against homosexuality.

I didn't say that God wasnt againt homosexuality I was just pointing out that many members of the religious right are hipocritical because they are intolerant of homosexuality and they single out homosexuals yet in Gods eyes homosexuals are the same as anybody else in the world and you and me are just as much sinners as they are.

Very true. I see your point.

[flippyfloppy]

I am very unique in the way I think because I am a Christian yet I interprate my religion very liberally. For one, I dont think that going to church and reading the bible everyday makes you a Christian.

Then you are not a true christian. Christians follow the bible which says you have to "keep holy the sabbath." So you are one of those so call christans that pick an chose what fits their life style. I'd label you as agnostic, you beleive in god but not going to chuch.

[EverWiser]

Oh hell, God-damn, let's dive in...

The fact that every religion has at its core the same basic do's and do-not's will tell you that there is not a single "True" religion. Christianity, in all its forms and various denominations, is simply putting a "kinder" face on a vengeful (Old Testament) God. The Catholic religion left out various writings/books of the Bible to tailor it to their political needs. Since nearly all of the various forms of Christianity use the same Bible as the Catholics AND the Catholics modified the original writings to fulfill their own purposes, NONE of the forms of Christianity are legitimate; period. Hell, to try and convert more "pagans" or "polytheists" they hijacked pagan holidays to make it easier to convert them to Christianity. Day after "All Hallow's Eve" is "All Saints Day". Spring Fertility/Equinox is now Easter, etc.

Not to just pick on the Christians, the Islamic religions are just as screwed up. Take the same basic building blocks that all religions use and then throw in the male-dominated opinions of the Aribic/Muslim world and then take it a step further (as the Dark Age Christians did) and say that all who do not believe your way either need to be converted (Christian way) or eliminated (Muslim way).

The Jews (lets face it, according to them all Christianity grew out of Judeism) are just as bad as well...Take the Old Testament at its core: the 10 commandments. "Make no idols or false images": how many religious symbols do the various religions bow down and in effect pray to? The Catholics have a symbol for everything; from saints, to Jesus, to the virgin Mother. Muslims have their mosques and towns plastered with the pictures of their religious "clerics" who they revere like God. The Jews have various religious symbols they use...How about, "Keep the Sabbath Holy and conduct no business on the Sabbath"...How many different "religious" people work on Sunday? How many do their shopping on Sunday? Who the hell determined that "Sunday" was the original Sabbath day?

Let's look at Judeism, they were a race of slaves being ruled over by masters with dozens, if not hundreds, of Gods. "Well Pharoah, we have ONE God and he is greater than all of your gods." It was simply "one-up-manship" by a repressed people...

If there is any single religion that is closest to being "true" it would be the Budhists simply because they require a person to respect all things and to know themselves and work "in harmony" with the people and world around them (that earlier mentioned, "don't be an asshole religion").

All that being said, it's all about attitude. If the only way you can cope with everyday bullshit and keep your life and family together is to join with other like-minded "believers" and practice a religion, GREAT! Don't let anyone else talk you out of it if it works for you (provided your religion isn't about "killing the infidels!). I'm not bothered by religion or religious people; my life is still mine to live. If having a "collective" conscience or morality present in this country keeps my kids safer, then I say keep the religion coming. I don't have to practice it or follow it; no one does, but if it turns even one person around and makes them a better (and less dangerous) person, GREAT!

[h0lmes]

I am very unique in the way I think because I am a Christian yet I interprate my religion very liberally. For one, I dont think that going to church and reading the bible everyday makes you a Christian.

Then you are not a true christian. Christians follow the bible which says you have to "keep holy the sabbath." So you are one of those so call christans that pick an chose what fits their life style. I'd label you as agnostic, you beleive in god but not going to chuch.

So basically you are saying that a Christian living in a country where Christianity is forbidden is not a Christian simply because they do not read the Bible or go to church? You are very wrong. There are many different sects of Christianity that have grown out of someones personal interpretation of Christianity but they all share 1 common characteristic, the most important one, and that is the universal belief that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Mormonism is a perfect example of this. There are many differences between Mormonism and traditional Christianity and many Christians attack Mormons because of their beliefs. In the end, however, Mormons still believe that Jesus Christ is Savior. I never said I didn't believe in going to Church, in fact I am a member of a Church and I just got back from a mission trip with that church. I'd label you as an intolerant Christian extremist. Basically, you give Christianity a bad name and its people like you that are responsible for the division of our country today. America Bless God.

[Matto]

I am very unique in the way I think because I am a Christian yet I interprate my religion very liberally. For one, I dont think that going to church and reading the bible everyday makes you a Christian.

Then you are not a true christian. Christians follow the bible which says you have to "keep holy the sabbath." So you are one of those so call christans that pick an chose what fits their life style. I'd label you as agnostic, you beleive in god but not going to chuch.

Several times Jesus was accused of violating the sabbath, The sabbath is a day of rest and a day to worship God. The Pharasies had layed out specifics people were not supposed to do and what they could do on the sabbath day, all those rules where nothing that God had specified. He said don't work and non of your children or servants should work. So that leaves us with no working on the sabbath. Read the first part of Luke 16 and think about what Jesus is saying about the Sabbath.

And God was not a creation of the Isrealites to one up the Egyptians. Pay attention to your history.

Christianity is not a spin off from Judaism it is the fulfilment of of what Judaism is based on.

[EverWiser]

Several times Jesus was accused of violating the sabbath, The sabbath is a day of rest and a day to worship God. The Pharasies had layed out specifics people were not supposed to do and what they could do on the sabbath day, all those rules where nothing that God had specified. He said don't work and non of your children or servants should work. So that leaves us with no working on the sabbath. Read the first part of Luke 16 and think about what Jesus is saying about the Sabbath.

And God was not a creation of the Isrealites to one up the Egyptians. Pay attention to your history.

Christianity is not a spin off from Judaism it is the fulfilment of of what Judaism is based on.

So are you saying that the Pharasies altered the 10 Commandments? Pay attention to what/whose history? Have you got writings from those times? Do you know what library a person can visit to learn this "history"? They're not just one-upping the Egyptians; they were monotheistically one-upping everyone.

You missed my point...I'm not trying to talk you out of your beliefs. I was highlighting discrepancies in various religions that preclude me from subscribing to anyone's religion. It doesn't matter to me if you can nay-say "some" of what I posted because you can't nay-say "all" of what I posted. That's why there is no religion on this planet that was handed down by "a" or "any" God. It all has come from men and men are and always will be fallible and will always have they're own agendas.

I'm also not nay-saying all the good that's done "in God's name", but there is also far too much evil that is justified "in God's name". That evil is justified by the very men that claim to be "servants of God" when actually they are nothing more than servants of other men.

[bwanac]

Oh hell, God-damn, let's dive in...

The fact that every religion has at its core the same basic do's and do-not's will tell you that there is not a single "True" religion. Christianity, in all its forms and various denominations, is simply putting a "kinder" face on a vengeful (Old Testament) God. The Catholic religion left out various writings/books of the Bible to tailor it to their political needs. Since nearly all of the various for ... ave to practice it or follow it; no one does, but if it turns even one person around and makes them a better (and less dangerous) person, GREAT!

Nice. ;)

[Digitalwave]

I am very unique in the way I think because I am a Christian yet I interprate my religion very liberally. For one, I dont think that going to church and reading the bible everyday makes you a Christian.

Then you are not a true christian. Christians follow the bible which says you have to "keep holy the sabbath." So you are one of those so call christans that pick an chose what fits their life style. I'd label you as agnostic, you beleive in god but not going to chuch.

Breaking any of the Ten Commandments does turn you into a 'fake Christian.' A true Christian just accepts Jesus Christ as his savior, regardless of how often he or she either knowingly or unknowingly sins against God.

[Kristuphir]

I think that Jesus was a good guy who showed other people what it is to be a good guy, and died for it. That sucks, but many thousands have done the same before and since with little consequence - in this world of "douchebags," as someone put it, it's gonna happen

I also think that...oh wait, never mind:

Oh hell, God-damn, let's dive in...

The fact that every religion has at its core the same basic do's and do-not's will tell you that there is not a single "True" religion. Christianity, in all its forms and various denominations, is simply putting a "kinder" face on a vengeful (Old Testament) God. The Catholic religion left out various writings/books of the Bible to tailor it to their political needs. Since nearly all of the various forms of Christianity use the same Bible as the Catholics AND the Catholics modified the original writings to fulfill their own purposes, NONE of the forms of Christianity are legitimate; period. Hell, to try and convert more "pagans" or "polytheists" they hijacked pagan holidays to make it easier to convert them to Christianity. Day after "All Hallow's Eve" is "All Saints Day". Spring Fertility/Equinox is now Easter, etc.

Not to just pick on the Christians, the Islamic religions are just as screwed up. Take the same basic building blocks that all religions use and then throw in the male-dominated opinions of the Aribic/Muslim world and then take it a step further (as the Dark Age Christians did) and say that all who do not believe your way either need to be converted (Christian way) or eliminated (Muslim way).

The Jews (lets face it, according to them all Christianity grew out of Judeism) are just as bad as well...Take the Old Testament at its core: the 10 commandments. "Make no idols or false images": how many religious symbols do the various religions bow down and in effect pray to? The Catholics have a symbol for everything; from saints, to Jesus, to the virgin Mother. Muslims have their mosques and towns plastered with the pictures of their religious "clerics" who they revere like God. The Jews have various religious symbols they use...How about, "Keep the Sabbath Holy and conduct no business on the Sabbath"...How many different "religious" people work on Sunday? How many do their shopping on Sunday? Who the hell determined that "Sunday" was the original Sabbath day?

Let's look at Judeism, they were a race of slaves being ruled over by masters with dozens, if not hundreds, of Gods. "Well Pharoah, we have ONE God and he is greater than all of your gods." It was simply "one-up-manship" by a repressed people...

If there is any single religion that is closest to being "true" it would be the Budhists simply because they require a person to respect all things and to know themselves and work "in harmony" with the people and world around them (that earlier mentioned, "don't be an asshole religion").

All that being said, it's all about attitude. If the only way you can cope with everyday bullshit and keep your life and family together is to join with other like-minded "believers" and practice a religion, GREAT! Don't let anyone else talk you out of it if it works for you (provided your religion isn't about "killing the infidels!). I'm not bothered by religion or religious people; my life is still mine to live. If having a "collective" conscience or morality present in this country keeps my kids safer, then I say keep the religion coming. I don't have to practice it or follow it; no one does, but if it turns even one person around and makes them a better (and less dangerous) person, GREAT!

Everyone live life how they're comfortable with it, unless the way you live is going to hurt someone else. I feel very comfortable in saying that since, although I am not a Christian or a member of any other religion, I like to think I know basic right from basic wrong. However, the MINUTE you start thinking your beliefs entitle you to do something with obvious negative consequences for other people (anywhere from "telling two people who love each other that they are dirty and don't have the same rights as two other people who love each other" to "destroying the lives and bodies of hundreds with four bombs in a subway"), guess what? you need to take another look, and try thinking for yourself. Oh yeah, and no special privileges (faith-based initiative bullshit).

I love these people who read in a book that homosexuality is wrong. You know what? Honestly, that slim percentage of flaming-gay types with the lithp and the airs irritate the hell out of me, and the thought of anal sex with another man grosses me out pretty bad...

...but so the fuck what? No one's making *me* do it. If they were, *then* it would be wrong. I have no idea why anyone thinks it's wrong for someone to be different than they are. And I'm sorry, but if you think things because some big spirit in the sky told a guy 2000 years ago who was probably high on mushrooms to write them down and pass them through centuries of translation, reinterpretation, and the aforementioned politically-motivated meddling, all I can say is...please.

You know what a great way to have a religious vision is? Drugs, or so I hear. I don't do any, nor do I drink too much, bang every slutty chick that walks around the corner, etc. It's just a personal choice - no one needs to tell me.[/b]

[RCWells]

If you paint the elephant blue, you can see right through it. And only roll the logs on Tuesdays, because they are on sale then, and if you want to go to the airport, make sure to wear your grocery bags so that they will know who you are and where to find you. Okay? Okay. If you have any more questions, please direct them to Citizen Kane as he is the only one with all the answers. Nevermind all the flotsam and jetsam that is thrown about around the neighborhood, the garbage truck runs at least once a week where I am and I suppose if you live anywhere near the Joneses, then they will take yours also, even if you didn't pay your bill. So put it out there and love it man, cuz it's all the garbage you got in this world, love it good. Show everybody how much you learned in Kindergarten with Miss Lulu. She was a good lady to show you the way. What a good lady she was. So take your train ticket, roll it up, and put it away cuz we are gonna fly this one to the other side. And over there we can do what we want to do without guilt or oppression, cuz that's how we do it over there. That's how we do it. It's gonna be GRAND fellas, just GRAND! Bring all your friends and we'll have a swell time, just tell 'em to pack their own pockets with what they need to make sure that the trip is worthwhile for them and please make sure we don't run out of mustard.