Things I learned in church

[Mystical]

Its impossible to throw out what the Bible says and yet uphold the tenement of Jesus. Try again Ron.

[Esquilax]

For the sake of argument, and "observation"... why couldn't your "Baptist" minister be a person w/o a soul? Just because he says he's religious doesn't mean he represents the entire Protestant establishment. Maybe he's a plant trying to keep you away from God? He certainly wouldn't get many people away from the Catholic religion! But, I'm sure you already knew all that [op hogwash] was atypical. Right?

Look, I'm getting pretty tired of hearing this stuff from you theists. And it's always the vaguest of definitions over what classifies as religions/not religious, which (mystically!) happens to conform one hundred percent with what the poster believes, in the former case.

But we all know why you'll never post a list of criteria for who is religious and who isn't, don't we? It's because doing so would make you accountable to those criterion, instead of being able to tapdance and change up the list according to whatever will keep you from having to answer tough questions. Well, that and so nobody will see how your list of things that makes a person religious differs from another christian's list... so it's not as definitive as you'd have us believe.

Which brings us to "answers". If indeed you are looking for them. You have to think more like God. Throw out completely everything you know about religion, and man's involvement in it! There's a start.

Does thinking like god mean thinking like you? I know what your staid, boring answer will be: "no, no, much more moral than I!" But what percentage of god's positions on various issues are identical to your own?

I'm willing to bet it's one hundred percent.

Jesus said, "The kingdom is within." [and] "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

If the kingdom is within me, if this is seriously just about personal experience and reflection, then my bullshit meter regarding this entire post has just taken on divine importance. Who are you to question god on this, dude?

[Cinjin]

For the sake of argument, and "observation"... why couldn't your "Baptist" minister be a person w/o a soul? Just because he says he's religious doesn't mean he represents the entire Protestant establishment. Maybe he's a plant trying to keep you away from God? He certainly wouldn't get many people away from the Catholic religion! But, I'm sure you already knew all that [op hogwash] was atypical. Right?

That is the most awesomely ridiculous thing I might have ever heard from a christian!
Yeah, I'm sure there's a conspiracy to plant soulless men in baptist churches to sway .01% of the congregation away from god over a period of time that may take decades. Holy fuck, that is stupid.

Which brings us to "answers". If indeed you are looking for them. You have to think more like God. Throw out completely everything you know about religion, and man's involvement in it! There's a start.

OMG ... the Catholic church is THEE MOST dogmatic of all of 'em. The catholic church wrote the damn book on upholding the ridiculous traditions of a religion. Are you for real?! Are we being punked?!?

[T.J.]

It depends on what you are looking for. Do you want answers, including your op? Or is this, and your op just observation, or bashing?

It started as an observation of things that disturbed me and the irony in a couple of the quotes listed. I fail to see where any of it constitutes bashing. On the first page of the thread I commend the church for encouraging people doing actual research on the other religions we were studying at the time, and by research I mean they actually wanted you to go on the internet and read this stuff on Wikipedia and other sites you can find credited sources on.

For the sake of argument, and "observation"... why couldn't your "Baptist" minister be a person w/o a soul? Just because he says he's religious doesn't mean he represents the entire Protestant establishment. Maybe he's a plant trying to keep you away from God? He certainly wouldn't get many people away from the Catholic religion! But, I'm sure you already knew all that [op hogwash] was atypical. Right?

I never implied he represented an entire establishment of anything, though it's interesting that you suggest he's trying to steer me away from God after suggesting he's soulless. Are people without souls bad now? Because that kind of contradicts the point being made that I was originally addressing that made the claim Adam's family mated with such individuals. Additionally, what he said is biblical and can be supported by the bible as was also pointed out in this thread earlier.

If you are "bashing" in your [op].... more realistic and representative quotes and practices would at least inspire debate....but then maybe some humble pie on your part, for unjustified bashing? But you knew that. And it would've been boring too. Right?

You know your tone and the way you're carrying yourself right now doesn't help your cause, right?

Which brings us to "answers". If indeed you are looking for them. You have to think more like God. Throw out completely everything you know about religion, and man's involvement in it! There's a start.

Isn't God beyond our comprehension? How am I supposed to think like something that cannot be measured?

Jesus said, "The kingdom is within." [and] "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Just.... You & God! Because, in the end? That's all there will be.

You ask me to forget everything I know about religion in order to think like God, then cite two separate bible passages from the religion I'm supposed to forget?

[Bob Kelso]

This thread has been amazing; I loved the bit where Drich couldn't spell his profession almost as much as where Rondee gave advice on throwing out everything we know about religion including man made involvements and then followed up this gem by quoting a bible verse... a man made involvement about what a man said.

[ronedee]

It started as an observation of things that disturbed me and the irony in a couple of the quotes listed. I fail to see where any of it constitutes bashing. On the first page of the thread I commend the church for encouraging people doing actual research on the other religions we were studying at the time, and by research I mean they actually wanted you to go on the internet and read this stuff on Wikipedia and other sites you can find credited sources on.

But "they" wanted me? Did you do it? I wouldn't have. God's not on the internet!

I never implied he represented an entire establishment of anything, though it's interesting that you suggest he's trying to steer me away from God after suggesting he's soulless. Are people without souls bad now? Because that kind of contradicts the point being made that I was originally addressing that made the claim Adam's family mated with such individuals. Additionally, what he said is biblical and can be supported by the bible as was also pointed out in this thread earlier.

I said "for the sake of argument". "Souless" was your words. I believe that we all have a soul. What good is it doing, would be my question.

You know your tone and the way you're carrying yourself right now doesn't help your cause, right?

Sorry about my tone...maybe I took yours from the op wrong! Plus, I have no "cause".

Isn't God beyond our comprehension? How am I supposed to think like something that cannot be measured?

Maybe beyond your comprehension. But also, I can't understand everything. Just the important things.

You ask me to forget everything I know about religion in order to think like God, then cite two separate bible passages from the religion I'm supposed to forget?

LOL! I knew this was coming right after I wrote it. But, I meant what "men" deem as religion. Heck... anything can be a religion! There's a Jedi religion!

Jesus has the answer. And to call Him a religion is slighting His whole purpose. We contact the Lord one on one...we don't need groups of men making us do things, or telling us anything! Especially, someone like your Baptist minister, if he exists... who is further from God than you are!

---

That is the most awesomely ridiculous thing I might have ever heard from a christian!
Yeah, I'm sure there's a conspiracy to plant soulless men in baptist churches to sway .01% of the congregation away from god over a period of time that may take decades. Holy fuck, that is stupid.

I'm glad to entertain you! But, I do have TWO WORDS for you:

Jim Jones

.... can I get you some kool-aid?

[Doubting Thomas]

Which brings us to "answers". If indeed you are looking for them. You have to think more like God.

Unfortunately Christians claim that God's mind is unknowable.

[T.J.]

But "they" wanted me? Did you do it? I wouldn't have. God's not on the internet!

Way to miss the point completely.

I said "for the sake of argument". "Souless" was your words. I believe that we all have a soul. What good is it doing, would be my question.

Then let's go to your other point. Him being a 'false prophet' is what you're getting at, correct?

Sorry about my tone...maybe I took yours from the op wrong! Plus, I have no "cause".

Replace cause with argument then, or whatever it is you're doing right now.

Maybe beyond your comprehension. But also, I can't understand everything. Just the important things.

So, in general God is not beyond human comprehension. A large sum of Christians got that part wrong?

LOL! I knew this was coming right after I wrote it. But, I meant what "men" deem as religion. Heck... anything can be a religion! There's a Jedi religion!

Jesus has the answer. And to call Him a religion is slighting His whole purpose. We contact the Lord one on one...we don't need groups of men making us do things, or telling us anything! Especially, someone like your Baptist minister, if he exists... who is further from God than you are!

What would you call a group that follows a leader who talks about leaving behind your old life and to follow him?

[Bucky Ball]

What would you call a group that follows a leader who talks about leaving behind your old life and to follow him?

The Charles Manson family ?

[Godscreated]

I can't see that you learned much at all in church.

GC