About religion, faith, and salvation

The creation story is beyond my belief, Adam & Eve disobey god after eating fruit of good and evil. Suddenly, Adam & Eve are full fledged sinners and cast out of Eden. God invents sin, then comes Jesus who according to the Bible forgives sin. The sin that god cursed mankind so humans are indebted to god for his forgiveness and ultimately spend eternity with the same god that made this mess in the first place.
When I played Christian, I was miserable, I didn’t know who I was only what I was I was supposed to be.
You cannot allow people or beliefs dictate who you are. I had to reject Christianity to free myself of it’s control over me. I live differently now, without the worry of conforming my life to the strict confines of religion.
I am much better off living without the clutter of a religious overhead.
 

This is one of those posts where I think beforehand about answering. My answer might upset too many folks so I shall keep it to myself.
 
Robb.hisself said:
I've never been able to figure out what it is that I am supposed to be saved from. Others do seem to think they need to be saved from something. I've often wondered why people think this way and whats in it for them.
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I think religious people blame the devil for thoughts they shouldn’t be entertaining instead of taking responsibility themselves.
I could be wrong. I ‘hope’ I’m wrong.
 
First people blame God then they blame the christians for not being good enough people. There seems to be no end to this finger pointing. And I don't see that it's getting anything resolved either.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
This is one of those posts where I think beforehand about answering. My answer might upset too many folks so I shall keep it to myself.
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O.K. Then I will take the plunge and you can follow. Priests, Doctors, and Lawyers are all the same. Priests say they can get you into heaven. Doctors say they can cure you or relieve your pain. Lawyers say they can get you off.

They all have one thing in common. They guarantee NOTHING. So you are left wondering - what do they really know? Uncertainty breeds doubt and confusion. So the parishiener never really knows for sure. The patient never really knows for sure. And, the accused never really knows for sure. All they are left with is hope. Hope that someone knows the right answer. So to have hope they only have faith to go on. And, that really isn't much, is it?

So rather than rely on all these charlatans maybe we should just rely on what we know. Otherwise we are simply victims of HOPE.
 
Robb.hisself said:
O.K. Then I will take the plunge and you can follow. Priests, Doctors, and Lawyers are all the same. Priests say they can get you into heaven. Doctors say they can cure you or relieve your pain. Lawyers say they can get you off.

They all have one thing in common. They guarantee NOTHING. So you are left wondering - what do they really know? Uncertainty breeds doubt and confusion. So the parishiener never really knows for sure. The patient never really knows for sure. And, the accused never really knows for sure. All they are left with is hope. Hope that someone knows the right answer. So to have hope they only have faith to go on. And, that really isn't much, is it?

So rather than rely on all these charlatans maybe we should just rely on what we know. Otherwise we are simply victims of HOPE.
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Well, this would ALL be hogwash to me personally . I’ve never had a priest tell me he can get me to heaven? Why? I’ve never asked.

I’ve never had a doctor say they can cure me? In fact, I’ve had doctors make some huge mistakes regarding my mind & body.

I’ve also never asked a lawyer to get me off? I’ve never gotten into that kind of trouble to need it.

But I’m NOT left wondering. I don’t need a priest, minister, doctor or lawyer to fix me cause I ain’t broken. Some folks try to convince me that I am but I take no notice of them. I’m not asking for promises. In fact, I’m not asking for anything. When I seek, I find.
 
Was just reading something related to this in Galatians 5. It very well sums up the transformation I saw in my own life. That transformation is my evidence. The “law” became written on my heart. (Hebrews 10:16, Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:26) It was this “Grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8-9), and not my own doing (works) that made me a New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Galatians 5: 19-24
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
I think religious people blame the devil for thoughts they shouldn’t be entertaining instead of taking responsibility themselves.
I could be wrong. I ‘hope’ I’m wrong.
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There is something to what you say here. We are always accountable for our actions. Every action has a good or bad consequence. But as a Christian I rely on the Holy Spirit, and if I am wise, will do so on a daily 24/7 basis.
 
Round and round we go, Stephen King should write a book "The Carousel."

I understand why those of faith wish to discuss this topic, but why do those who claim otherwise care to continually debate the subject? Is it that they want to believe in something bigger than themselves and just want to be persuaded?
 
Robb.hisself said:
I've never been able to figure out what it is that I am supposed to be saved from. Others do seem to think they need to be saved from something. I've often wondered why people think this way and whats in it for them.
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Be saved from hell and damnation. And the evil one we call the devil.
 
Gardenlover said:
Round and round we go, Stephen King should write a book "The Carousel."

I understand why those of faith wish to discuss this topic, but why do those who claim otherwise care to continually debate the subject? Is it that they want to believe in something bigger than themselves and just want to be persuaded?
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It's always a pleasure to discuss all that God has done for us. And continues to do for us out of love. And those that choose to listen will benefit.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
Well, this would ALL be hogwash to me personally . I’ve never had a priest tell me he can get me to heaven? Why? I’ve never asked.

I’ve never had a doctor say they can cure me? In fact, I’ve had doctors make some huge mistakes regarding my mind & body.

I’ve also never asked a lawyer to get me off? I’ve never gotten into that kind of trouble to need it.

But I’m NOT left wondering. I don’t need a priest, minister, doctor or lawyer to fix me cause I ain’t broken. Some folks try to convince me that I am but I take no notice of them. I’m not asking for promises. In fact, I’m not asking for anything. When I seek, I find.
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So you know who your Savior is, don't need any help finding him.
 
fancicoffee13 said:
Be saved from hell and damnation. And the evil one we call the devil.
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But the problem with that is what if one does not believe in the devil, hell, or damnation? In my opinion 'the devil made me do it' is just a cop out that puts the blame on someone or something else. I believe people 'create' god to be whatever they want him/her to be and then they create to devil to be what ever they want that to be as well. Basically, people cannot live without god or the devil. But, what if they don't exist. Imagine what that would mean and how you would live. People have to lean on something - god and the devil. Can you stand on your own?
 
Robb.hisself said:
But the problem with that is what if one does not believe in the devil, hell, or damnation? In my opinion 'the devil made me do it' is just a cop out that puts the blame on someone or something else. I believe people 'create' god to be whatever they want him/her to be and then they create to devil to be what ever they want that to be as well. Basically, people cannot live without god or the devil. But, what if they don't exist. Imagine what that would mean and how you would live. People have to lean on something - god and the devil. Can you stand on your own?
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I KNOW there is a God and there is a devil. There is a choice to be made because after you die, you have sealed your fate, no chance of making a choice then And that fate is eternal.
 
hearlady said:
Jesus and his colleagues.
Not being flip and admitting right now that I know very little of anything on this subject.
However, I do know faith.
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Well to know more, I have read the Bible and learned a lot. I have also done a search on the history of the Bible and how it came about through the prophets.
 
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