Originally posted by zucchiniIf I or anybody has already believed, then we already HAVE EVERLASTING life(John 6:47). The ememy wants us to believe that you can lose that! But we can't, not if it's EVERlasting life.
I believed it deeply. I wanted to believe it.
When I believe, God is now my Father. If I sinned(offended) against my dad (Albert Sr.). Is he still my father? Well yes, he's still my father, but we don't have fellowship(or getting along) because of my sin. But we still have a relationship!
It's the same with God. When I do somethig wrong, God is STILL my Father, but we aren't getting along(fellowship),, because of my sin. But we still HAVE a relationship!
That's why we need to confess our sins TO HIM and not anyone else(I John 1:9) and He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and He WILL clean us again and again and again from all unrighteousness.
Then we would be getting along again(in fellowship). ( that passage is teaching us how to be in FELLOWSHIP with Him). He is very merciful and extremely patient! Praise God!!!
your friend,
Albert
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Originally posted by PuppeteerI didn't post my story as an invitation for people to preach at me. I shared it because I thought others might find it interesting.
...
You're preaching to me about something that I don't believe (and which I have spent several thousand hours studying), so it stopped being a discussion.
Dont bother preaching, as I won't bother to read it.
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Originally posted by Puppeteeralbert, please!
He is very merciful and extremely patient! Praise God!!!
i'm sure your intent is a good one, but please post your story of how you came to follow christ.
your example may move others more readily than any number of praise god's directed at individuals.
besides, i have generally liked your posts and would be interested to know how you developed your views.
great story, btw zucchini! the bit about "Religion is good to the extent that it does good. I judge people by what they do, and what they think, not by what religion they are." really resonates with me.
in friendship,
prad
I find talk of religion very sensitive, in fact I find it pretty offensive.
Its not that I don't believe in god, I do. Its not that i don't agree with some of what religion preaches either
I just hate religion itself, not the beliefs of it. Religion is one of the biigest destroyers of mankind. The majority of wars, hatred, oppression is caused by religion. Not God, not Jesus Christ, not Allah or anyone else. Just the people who want to force their beliefs down other peoples throats.
Originally posted by eyeqpcWhat kinds of things would make a particular religion attractive to you?
I find talk of religion very sensitive, in fact I find it pretty offensive.
Its not that I don't believe in god, I do. Its not that i don't agree with some of what religion preaches either
I just hate religion itself, not the beliefs of it. Religion is one of the biigest destroyers of mankind. The majority of wars, hatred, oppression is caused by reli ...[text shortened]... llah or anyone else. Just the people who want to force their beliefs down other peoples throats.
Originally posted by eyeqpci think things are starting to change may be on this thread at least. people are telling their own stories. they really are very interesting and may help give us all an idea of how people got to where they are now.
I find talk of religion very sensitive, in fact I find it pretty offensive.
please feel free to contribute yours which sounds like it will be interesting since you are not blaming religion but what some people have done to it.
in friendship,
prad
Originally posted by kirksey957Nothing at all. I have my beliefs and I am happy with that. I won't force them down anyones throats.
What kinds of things would make a particular religion attractive to you?
I hate all forms of religion as it opens up the floodgates for people to start preaching to each other what is right and what is wrong, and often disagreeing with each other.
I do what I feel within my heart is right and avoid doing things that are wrong and hurtful to others not someone elses opinion of what is right and wrong.
I find there are many good ideas in different religious beliefs, and I am happy to take the good where I find it and leave the rest behind.
My immediate family (my wife, our children and our parents) include three types of Christian, a Buddhist, and two types of atheist.
We all agree that bettering yourself and improving your family and community are very important values. We would have great difficulty getting along if it were important to each of us that the others hold the same religious beliefs! We have a very nice family, but it has taken time and understanding to nurture this, it didn't just happen. If we hadn't learned to respect each other's differences, I doubt we would have been able to build close relationships, and our lives would be a little darker.
Perhaps this is another type of story people could tell here: Do you have a family with very different religious traditions? How do people reconcile them?
What's so offensive by saying that God is merciful and He loves us so much?
Do you ever offend anyone?
If you do, do you do it because of your anger or possible hatred or do you do it because you care?
I care and pray for you and your families, that He will bless you and keep you safe.
your friend,
Albert
Originally posted by eyeqpcBuddha didn't force anyone to become Buddhist. The ten commandments of Christianity, Thou Shall Not Kill etc, in Buddhism, are more like "Try not to kill", "try not to be harmful". He provided a method to liberate ourselves from all suffering. If this is not what we want, we do not need to walk the path.
Nothing at all. I have my beliefs and I am happy with that. I won't force them down anyones throats.
I hate all forms of religion as it opens up the floodgates for people to start preaching to each other what is right and what is wrong, and often disagreeing with each other.
I do what I feel within my heart is right and avoid doing things that are wrong and hurtful to others not someone elses opinion of what is right and wrong.
Now, because of Buddha Shakyamuni, we now have thousands of Buddhas and millions of disciples, all looking to improve themselves for the benefit of others. They have found a way to live their life that is comfortable.
There are millions of Christians who are the same. Living life a way they are comfortable living with. There are millions of Hindus, Muslims, Jews and so on, all living life the way they feel most comfortable living with it. Even those that do not follow a particular line of belief, do so because they are more comfortable living like that.
It is not the line of belief that is to blame. Religion brings so many people so much happiness and faith. It is when we value religion, place worth on it and other religions also, is when we start to walk on thin ice. Sharing your views with others is hardly harmful, it is only when we challenge them. So we believe in God, it does not mean everybody is comfortable living with that belief, so telling people it is the only way to think will obviously upset some! So we believe that Buddha's path to liberation and enlightenment is a very great path to walk, it does not mean it is comfortable for everyone to walk it.
We should keep our views to ourselves, unless others are willing to know of them (such as in a debate).
Originally posted by DreamlaX... and out of government.
We should keep our views to ourselves...
(which comes back to the stated topic of this thread)
I find I discuss religion when I am trying to understand another person's (or group's) views. I find it tends toward argument as soon as it becomes political (or, less often, preaching). I do believe that a great many religious people in my country (USA) want their religious beliefs to become the basis for civil law. And I think this is patently dangerous.
I see no problem with governement officials (individuals) having faith or a relgion. But I think all sorts of trouble arises when they use their positions to empower their own religion, especially trying to move their religious tenets to the level of law.
If what I want to do is valuable, shouldn't I be able to convince others of that value, without forcing them to accept my religious beliefs?
Originally posted by pradtfI was never very religious. My parents were very casual about religion. I think they're Methodists officially, but they have never attended church. They took me to Sunday school briefly when I was younger, but apart from weddings I haven't been inside a church since then. Also, I had the great fortune of being raised in a northern state, so I wasn't spoon fed a lot of christian propoganda as I grew up. But I wasn't an atheist either, I just never really thought much about religion. It wasn't until I was in high school, around 16 years old, that I consciously decided that religion was all a bunch of garbage. I've been an atheist since then.
it is curious that some people were unreligous and 'discovered' religion - i seem to recall ivanhoe, pcaspian, huntingbear saying so, though there are no doubt more.
it is curious that some people were religous and 'undiscovered' religion - i seem to recall ncrosby and svw saying so, though there are no doubt more.
just as a change of pace, it might ...[text shortened]... debating the existence of something that either does or doesn't exist.
in friendship,
prad
Originally posted by eyeqpcI agree entirely. This was more or less the point I was trying to make when I started this thread. We should use religion to give focus to our belief, rather than allowing religious leaders to use us as pawns in their power games.
I find talk of religion very sensitive, in fact I find it pretty offensive.
Its not that I don't believe in god, I do. Its not that i don't agree with some of what religion preaches either
I just hate religion itself, not the beliefs of it. Religion is one of the biigest destroyers of mankind. The majority of wars, hatred, oppression is caused by reli ...[text shortened]... llah or anyone else. Just the people who want to force their beliefs down other peoples throats.
Surley it must be possible for us to focus on peaceful coexistence, rather than denounce people because they eat pork, or beef, or won't work on Saturday. We are all entitled to our beliefs.
Just as an aside, I note with interest that the only people on RHP who attempt to preach their faith to others are christians. This may just be because many RHP members are American. Although I find it reflects my personal experience in the real world. None of my jewish, moslem or hindu friends try to convert me, but most of my firends who are practising christians do. They know my beliefs, but have no respect for them.
Why can we not just treat others with the respect we expect from them?