Bgood, Christianity is not about being good. It's about recognizing one can't be good. It's about recognizing that one has violated the purpose of God, and that only God can resolve one's delemma. Once one has repented and put one's trust in Jesus (who is God, that's why He's qualified) for resolution, one then does good out of gratitude for being saved from Man's future judgement of suppressing the obvious.

(March 10, 2012 at 12:39 am)black36 Wrote: Bgood, Christianity is not about being good. It's about recognizing one can't be good. It's about recognizing that one has violated the purpose of God, and that only God can resolve one's delemma. Once one has repented and put one's trust in Jesus (who is God, that's why He's qualified) for resolution, one then does good out of gratitude for being saved from Man's future judgement of suppressing the obvious.

Well, that sounds pretty morbid and negative to me. Plus you don't have to educate me on the tenets of Christian belief. I was born and raised as an Irish Catholic and went through all the rituals. I read the Bible and studied Christian theology in college, St. Thomas Aquinas, Occam's Razor, Jesuits, Martin Luther, Calvinism, etc., etc. I know the story. I don't believe it anymore. It WAS a painful process. I loved Jesus but not the hypocrisy in the churches. I still have an affinity for St. Francis of Asissi because I studied his life in depth and he seemed to embody the Christian ideal most thoroughly. But unfortunately, he was a huge exception. I love Christian artwork and architecture but I don't agree with it's theology. It is ancient psychological propaganda in my enlighened eyes. I love Buddha because he is down to earth, says all the good things Jesus said and much more, and is highly misunderstood by European minds. Eastern traditions with yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, karate, understand the mind /body relationship better than anyone else. This helps me in a very tangible way. Peace to you. I hope only to enlighten you, not piss you off! lol

"I love Buddha because he is down to earth, says all the good things Jesus said and much more,"

2 Timothy 4:3
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers"

Bgood, What gives you the confidence that Buddah is correct?

(March 10, 2012 at 1:01 am)black36 Wrote: "I love Buddha because he is down to earth, says all the good things Jesus said and much more,"

2 Timothy 4:3
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers"

Bgood, What gives you the confidence that Buddah is correct?

First off you should be well aware that Buddha lived 500 years before Jesus Christ was "miraculously" concieved by the Virgin Mary. I am confident in what the Buddha teaches because it IS sound. Read it for yourself and try to dispute it! Everything he says is good advice. His predecessors/contemporaries were Confuscious and Lao Tzu. Why do you not believe the Orient possessed any real wisdom?? Don't Asians score best in academic tests to this very day? Americans are dumb as shit. Open your eyes to new diensions. The bible is not truth, it is a travesty of truth.

Two one legged men in an arse kicking contest. Let's enjoy.

" Why do you not believe the Orient possessed any real wisdom?? Don't Asians score best in academic tests to this very day?"

So, Buddism is reliable because Asian families in many cases are culturally very hard on their children in terms of academic success. Is that right?

You do realize, BGood, that a few of those things you mentioned were developed for explicit use in hurting other people, preparations for war. I think you're suffering from asian fixation.

(March 10, 2012 at 12:39 am)black36 Wrote: Bgood, Christianity is not about being good. It's about recognizing one can't be good.

Disagree. People can be good. If not why does God repeatedly call for our repentance. Don't they repent in order to turn toward good?

Chad, Even within Christianity, this is debated. Most simply put: An Arminian would agree with you, and a Calvinist would not. Personally, based on what I read in scripture, I dont think one is ever willing to repent, unless God gives one the desire to do so.

Also, I see a difference in being good, and having the ability to do good.