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Politics & ReligionWell Since every damn forum has one. Might as well leave it out there. This place is loosely moderated and should not be entered if you're weak of heart.
Well... people get together for different reasons. I spend a semester with an ultra-reform Jewish congregation in St Paul, MN, during college and not only was the rabbi a rather obvious and unabashed lesbian but during my survey it turned out that nearly half of the adult members were atheists. Mainly they came together for community and to practice the rituals of their culture/faith/ethnicity, and those that had children were there to expose their children to that aspect of Jewish culture and to give them the choice of being 'in the faith'.
There are a lot of reasons to attend services on a regular basis that have absolutely nothing to do with heaven or hell, and some are more agreeable than others (a lot of business can be done during after service coffee and donuts).
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The rat always knows when he's in with weasels. Here you lose a little every day.
I remember when a million was a million. They all have ways to make you pay.
~ Tom Waits
Thank god I'm not cool, I can do anything I want ~ Fourstring Gewsleesta
You may be missing the point. Churches, for the most part, are communities.
You don't just go to church on Sunday morning. You join the community. Which provides, at least in theory, an opportunity to serve God, your fellow man and your community and be with like minded individuals.
Wow, we are all acting like adults in this thread. I don't here anyone saying we are wacko's for believing in some "mythical" higher power. And no crazies saying we are all going to hell. Bravo everyone.
Its so rare that we can all come together and have a rational discussion in here.
<tear>
Edit: And no, I don't know anyone who says if you don't go to church, you will go to hell.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shah269
I was born in Iran, I don't believe in forgiving nor forgetting. I believe in getting even. Pay back is gonna be a bitch...
Well, I worship the Great Spaghetti Monster, so I cast no stones. Some people have their Jewish zombie carpenter, some people have their scroll, some people have their book, some people have chicken bones and rum spitting. *shrug* They're all exactly the same thing, in essence, and humans are plenty nuts without getting into the relative merits of organized religion.
__________________
The rat always knows when he's in with weasels. Here you lose a little every day.
I remember when a million was a million. They all have ways to make you pay.
~ Tom Waits
Thank god I'm not cool, I can do anything I want ~ Fourstring Gewsleesta
Where to start? I don't want to sound like I'm rambling.
I was a youth minister in a church for a number of years and was highly involved in the goings on of that church. About 10 yrs ago I resigned from my post and distanced myself from that organization due to the bible being taken out of context on many facets. I stopped believing simply what I was being taught by the minister etc, and started reading the bible for myself. So one thing is not to believe everything you hear even if it's coming from a "qualified" man of god. I was literally a sheep being lead astray for lack of a better term. I could go into many a boring detail but I will spare the reader.
Since then I am no longer a member of a specific church nor have a desire to be. I don't believe that you have to go to church every sunday to "get into heaven". That falls into working your way into heaven and of course that's not how it works.
And it is nice that there is no flaming going on, but I suspect that there are certain individuals out there that will be more than happy to when they see the title of the thread.
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Sportbikes. Squid tested, mother disapproved!
Sportbiking IS the sport of kings!!
A Knight in shining armor is just a poser.
God never intended for anyone to be a religious fanatic and attend church every Sunday. What He intended was a relationship with His creation which we are all a part of.
When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment He replied" You shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart soul and strength and the second commandment is likewise, to love your neighbor as yourself." Relational, not religion.
But has anyone kept the Ten Commandments and do you know what they are?
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
When you are alone and have time to think about things what pops into your mind most of all? Well, that is your god.
2. You shall not worship any graven images.
Is your bike number one on your list or how about you house, job or car?
3. You shall not take God's name in vain.
God is holy and His name should not be used lightly.
4. Remember to keep the sabbath, to keep it holy.
The sabbath is Saturday not Sunday. Christians worship on Sunday because that is the day Jesus rose for the dead.
5. Honor your mother and father.
This is to be done while you are a kid and as long as your parents are living.
6. You should not kill.
If you fail to help someone in dire need is this not helping one to die?
7. You shall not commit adultery.
I bet no one has done this, right?
8. You shall not steal.
Ever taken something that didn't belong to you? Nothing?
9. You shall not bear false witness.
No, never said a bad think about anyone behind their back. Not even a little white lie. Right!!!
10. You shall not covet.
Ever wanted anything that didn't belong to you or you just wanted something so badly you just couldn't stop thinking about it?
The church has never been about buildings, buses, budgets or anything other than the gathering together of like-minded people who understand that we all are sinners by nature and by choice. The church is not a country club for saints but a hospital for sinners, None are good, no not one.
The cheep and easy way to live your life is to say you don't believe there is a true God who alone is holy and pure. Thats easy. But remember there will be a day of judgement. Will you be ready?
To go to church is just a way of helping each other along the path of life and keep pointed in the right direction.
Ephesians 2:8-9 does say that. Good works will not get you into heaven. Faith alone in Christ alone is the ticket into heaven. Good works is just a natural end result of that faith.
Ah, multiple translations.
We are, however, agreed that the Bible does encourage a belief in God.
__________________
The rat always knows when he's in with weasels. Here you lose a little every day.
I remember when a million was a million. They all have ways to make you pay.
~ Tom Waits
Thank god I'm not cool, I can do anything I want ~ Fourstring Gewsleesta
Haven't been to church in a long time. I went for coffee with the pastor. Turns out he wanted to talk about the married woman i was having an affair with. true or not it was something HE never should have done.
You may be missing the point. Churches, for the most part, are communities.
You don't just go to church on Sunday morning. You join the community. Which provides, at least in theory, an opportunity to serve God, your fellow man and your community and be with like minded individuals.
And, when I was growing up @ Bethel Church in North Mississippi you got some really good fried chicken at homecoming every year.
They havea word for such insanity...i think its cult?
I did a portion of regular church attendance with an Ex years ago, and i've never got it. Its like a "community" where you do activities...that suck harder then if you did them without the church.
Like movies? yeah they do that, but its filled with god propoganda and demonizes all that is suggestive.
like music? Heck yeah they got that....except they spew god into every other sentence and the songs are pretty uncreative.
like stories? They got one book chalk full of fairytales...but they push it as real
like sports? Heck yeah they got that...except its always a pussified version of what you could do without church
Ill never get the nonsense that people use to try and justify the "chuch activity"
What the fuck is the point of a joining a community where you do meet people of varied beliefs and values?? But i suppose that just goes to show why religtards are always so narrow minded. Their entire community is based on group denial/bigotry.
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"I dont see holy wars fought in the name of Satan"- Glenn Danzig
Haven't been to church in a long time. I went for coffee with the pastor. Turns out he wanted to talk about the married woman i was having an affair with. true or not it was something HE never should have done.
shoulda told him to go fly a pope kite. Sounds like the douche needs to mind his business.
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"I dont see holy wars fought in the name of Satan"- Glenn Danzig
The church has never been about buildings, buses, budgets or anything other than the gathering together of like-minded people who understand that we all are sinners by nature and by choice.
Religion may not be about those things, but "the church" (as in organized religion) certainly has been, since it's inception. Organized religion has always been used as a tool to control people by way of holding the keys to the kingdom, as it were.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stan Miller
The cheep and easy way to live your life is to say you don't believe there is a true God who alone is holy and pure. Thats easy.
I'd say it's far easier to go through life convinced that you'll be reunited with lost loved ones and be rewarded with eternal life without pain in some heavenly place.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stan Miller
But remember there will be a day of judgement. Will you be ready
Typical intolerant and overly dramatic scare tactics designed to pray on people's fears.
