[Serious] For former Christians only, why did you leave your faith?

[tjdisc]

A good way to live as if you own nothing is to give all of your possessions to the poor. Just sayin'.

Let's be realistic. If Christians were to follow Jesus' teachings they would not go to work, they would not have insurance, savings accounts, or planning for retirement. Instead, they would be devoted to waiting for the coming of God’s kingdom which would be more important to them than their own physical needs, family, and personal future on this earth.

Hard to argue.  I'm not there yet but with God all things become possible.

[tjdisc]

Let's be realistic. If Christians were to follow Jesus' teachings they would not go to work, they would not have insurance, savings accounts, or planning for retirement. Instead, they would be devoted to waiting for the coming of God’s kingdom which would be more important to them than their own physical needs, family, and personal future on this earth.

Hard to argue.  I'm not there yet but with God all things become possible.

Although it's not really "waiting for God's kingdom" God's kingdom becomes reality in the believer's life (as Jesus stated - kingdom is within you) in the here and now.

[Angrboda]

Hard to argue.  I'm not there yet but with God all things become possible.

Although it's not really "waiting for God's kingdom" God's kingdom becomes reality in the believer's life (as Jesus stated - kingdom is within you) in the here and now.

It has that much in common with many psychiatric disorders.

[h4ym4n]

Let's be realistic. If Christians were to follow Jesus' teachings they would not go to work, they would not have insurance, savings accounts, or planning for retirement. Instead, they would be devoted to waiting for the coming of God’s kingdom which would be more important to them than their own physical needs, family, and personal future on this earth.

Hard to argue.  I'm not there yet but with God all things become possible.

There are no human souls in gods kingdom/heaven to date, right?

[tjdisc]

Hard to argue.  I'm not there yet but with God all things become possible.

There are no human souls in gods kingdom/heaven to date, right?

Really not sure.   Is "heaven" outside of the dimension of time?

[Neo-Scholastic]

We can study.  We can inquire of Him.  It's not some mystery or God some unreachable deity.  Working within what He states, we can KNOW Him more and more each day.

Oh, and while we're at it, traditional theology generally holds that such understanding is unreachable, thus the negative way. So not only are your assertions questionable, they're not even consistent with mainstream religious thought.

I have no idea how common or popular the negative way is. While it works for the more mystical and/or esoteric speculations of someone like me, most evangelical types do want and seem to need doctrinal certainties. I get push back from those types, too, not just on AF from skeptic. I would not call the negative way mainstream even if it it is a well established path within the Christian religion.

[Gwaithmir]

Let's be realistic. If Christians were to follow Jesus' teachings they would not go to work, they would not have insurance, savings accounts, or planning for retirement. Instead, they would be devoted to waiting for the coming of God’s kingdom which would be more important to them than their own physical needs, family, and personal future on this earth.

Hard to argue.  I'm not there yet but with God all things become possible.

So, you must be okay with slavery, right? Jesus never spoke out against it and the New Testament condones the practice:

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ; not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women, knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free. And, masters, do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.” (Ephesians 6:5-9)

“Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are members of the church; rather they must serve them all the more, since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties.” (Timothy 6:1-2)

“Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to talk back, not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior.” (Titus 2:9-10)

“Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh.” (Peter 2:18)

[Angrboda]

Oh, and while we're at it, traditional theology generally holds that such understanding is unreachable, thus the negative way.  So not only are your assertions questionable, they're not even consistent with mainstream religious thought.

I have no idea how common or popular the negative way is. While it works for the more mystical and/or esoteric speculations of someone like me, most evangelical types do want and seem to need doctrinal certainties. I get push back from those types, too, not just on AF from skeptic. I would not call the negative way mainstream even if it it is a well established path within the Christian religion.

That wasn't my meaning. I only meant that it is mainstream that God is mysterious and our attempts to understand him are anthropomorphic and imperfect, which is why some choose apophatic approaches to theology.

[h4ym4n]

There are no human souls in gods kingdom/heaven to date, right?

Really not sure.   Is "heaven" outside of the dimension of time?

Are you a bible type of believer?

What flavor believer are you?

[h4ym4n]

Really not sure.   Is "heaven" outside of the dimension of time?

Are you a bible type of believer?

What flavor believer are you?

Where’d you go tjdisc?