Rose65
Well-known Member
- Location
- United Kingdom
I feel the same.
Certainly perfect peace and comfort are not found here on earth. Our time here is fleeting and full of woe.
People are Leaving their Churches in Droves Today
- Thread starter Dubee
- Start date
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Certainly perfect peace and comfort are not found here on earth. Our time here is fleeting and full of woe.
Rose65
Well-known Member
- Location
- United Kingdom
Nature is God's immense creativity.
We are 'fearfully and wonderfully made'.
Rose65
Well-known Member
- Location
- United Kingdom
Faith.
Rose65
Well-known Member
- Location
- United Kingdom
Jesus promises we will be with Him in heaven if we accept Him as Saviour. That's more than enough for me. I know it will be beautiful beyond my imagination.Can't
Mr. Ed
Be what you is not what you what you ain’t
- Location
- Central NY
Christianity and the Bible somehow persuaded people to believe with only word of mouth and text. This information allegedly happened before I was born, as far as I know the christian story taken from the bible is false with an underlying element not easily discovered but its there and people refuse to accept religion as a negative component to society.
If you look at the people attracted to extravagant mega churches which can easily be passed as P.T. Barnum greatest show on earth because people enjoy entertainment. The greater the budget the greater the show.
I want to know how religion all came about. Not believing in Christianity and my skepticism of religion, there must be other people who question the validity of faith and religion besides me. Most people are born into a designated belief system and continue with it based on fear of god. get over it you may need to reassess your idea of god by asking yourself what you really know about, not what you were led to believe but an honest determination.
If you look at the people attracted to extravagant mega churches which can easily be passed as P.T. Barnum greatest show on earth because people enjoy entertainment. The greater the budget the greater the show.
I want to know how religion all came about. Not believing in Christianity and my skepticism of religion, there must be other people who question the validity of faith and religion besides me. Most people are born into a designated belief system and continue with it based on fear of god. get over it you may need to reassess your idea of god by asking yourself what you really know about, not what you were led to believe but an honest determination.
Mr Ed, there are a lot of good books out there that validate that religion and Christianity is man-made. But the best book I read was Thomas Paine’s book, “The Age of Reason”. I highly recommend it. He helps make sense of it all.
For those who want to know more about the history of religion, here is a quick read for you.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_religion
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_religion
And here is the history of Christianity. Pay special attention to the part about the Crusades, a very violent five centuries of Rome trying to indoctrinate the world.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity
Jamala
Senior Member
- Location
- Butterfly from Herts/UK
Dubee....If Wikipedia is your preferred source of information, then you are in trouble.
Since it is not considered a reliable source, the use of Wikipedia is not accepted in many schools and universities in writing a formal paper, and some educational institutions have banned it as a primary source.
Since it is not considered a reliable source, the use of Wikipedia is not accepted in many schools and universities in writing a formal paper, and some educational institutions have banned it as a primary source.
PeppermintPatty
🐢. 🐳. 🐢
- Location
- Canada
Most people can’t imagine life without an ego and even the ones that can, probably would not be capable of expressing this state of consciousness.
It would be similar to trying to explain dreaming to someone who never remembers their dreams. It’s not an easy thing to explain in mortal terms.
Those who have experienced this state often express it as a unconditional loving intelligence beyond anything they’ve ever experienced before.
Maybe our soul shreds all earthbound life experience which we seem to hang onto, and WE become part of the whole oneness. If that makes sense. Lol
I thought I posted this a while ago but clearly I didn’t. (Sorry)
Did you know Hitler was born a Catholic?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_of_Adolf_Hitler
Did you also know that during the Holocaust, the Roman Church did nothing to stop the incineration of the Jews? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...pius-xii-ignored-reports-holocaust-180974795/
And in 2003, the scandal of Pedophila by priests broke out, and the church tried to cover it up, and unfortunately it still exits, not only in the Catholic Church, but other churches as well.
I only bring these facts up because so few know their church history. They can quote passages from the Bible, but they have no idea the origins of their church’s doctrines and dogmas, which is what they put so much time and money in to. It’s an organized, tax exempt religion. Just quoting the Bible and memorizing prayers, is not enough. It’s like knowing the history of your country and its laws. Freedom came at a deep price, and we must always know how we paid for it. Like Jesus paid for your sins, or did he?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_of_Adolf_Hitler
Did you also know that during the Holocaust, the Roman Church did nothing to stop the incineration of the Jews? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...pius-xii-ignored-reports-holocaust-180974795/
And in 2003, the scandal of Pedophila by priests broke out, and the church tried to cover it up, and unfortunately it still exits, not only in the Catholic Church, but other churches as well.
I only bring these facts up because so few know their church history. They can quote passages from the Bible, but they have no idea the origins of their church’s doctrines and dogmas, which is what they put so much time and money in to. It’s an organized, tax exempt religion. Just quoting the Bible and memorizing prayers, is not enough. It’s like knowing the history of your country and its laws. Freedom came at a deep price, and we must always know how we paid for it. Like Jesus paid for your sins, or did he?
It’s just a brief history.
Gosh, Dubee, you've mentioned Thomas Paine about a dozen times now. Did you read, "The Age Of Reason" all the way through? Did you know that although he rejected Christ, by the end of the book he professes a belief in God. He was a Deist. He also tried to spread a conspiracy theory that George Washington was a corrupt man working for the French. I think maybe you've been indoctrinated to put our founding fathers on a pedestal and they were all just human.
let's hold the "faith" - I struggle like many as a 'christian' . Have had my highs and lows, but I believe that once we made the choice as adults to accept Christ [because no matter what way you look at it new born babies can't] then unless we commit the unforgivable sin and it's mentioned there in the NT we are always on his side no matter how large or small. That's my opener!!
I have just come across Crossway.org https://www.crossway.org/. I do not work for them or even consider them the best yet. But from many readings and researchs I've made they certainly appear strong with a good firm christian base. They are American and their beginnings and growth make for an interesting story. They produce and send out thousands of bibles all over the world and I believe in many cases for free and are now producing other booklets covering many topics. I have so far found them easy to read [and I have read much over my christian walk]
I am not being paid by them to say these things just doing my usual time to time research on the christian life in general. May Christ be with you and yours in Gods name : Davey
I have just come across Crossway.org https://www.crossway.org/. I do not work for them or even consider them the best yet. But from many readings and researchs I've made they certainly appear strong with a good firm christian base. They are American and their beginnings and growth make for an interesting story. They produce and send out thousands of bibles all over the world and I believe in many cases for free and are now producing other booklets covering many topics. I have so far found them easy to read [and I have read much over my christian walk]
I am not being paid by them to say these things just doing my usual time to time research on the christian life in general. May Christ be with you and yours in Gods name : Davey
Mr. Ed
Be what you is not what you what you ain’t
- Location
- Central NY
Perhaps my interest in religion and christianity is vindication for a lifetime of uneasiness regarding the church and christian faith. The social circle I inherited because of my father all seemed happy and joyous on the outside and for the life of me I could not capture the elation other christians claimed they had. If I am or was a christian why did it not last?
The other thing is listening to sermons and christian teachers nearly all of my life, key phrases and concepts are repeated over and over not to exclude anyone from joining the cause of combating sin. Where did sin come from? According creationists Adam and Eve disobeyed god to creat the first sin. Is that what really happened or was sin created to ensure the need for humans to worship god and receive forgiveness via christian beliefs?
I don’t what I beleive regarding god, as far I can tell nothing proves or disproves the existence of god. In my lifetime there have been moments of large scale christion conversions from gifted preachers and teachers but in my mind these religious superstars were merely selling a bill of goods based on emotional need. It’s like insurance, if you don’t join, there is nothing we can for you in hell.
The concept of hell is equally non provable as heaven, but according to certain religious everyone is doomed for hell and all of the bad things put into our minds by religion. Fortunately religion can save you from hell by joining the cause to eradicate sin from the world. Religion: Give us tithes and possessions so we can put them to better use and in return you will receive a place in heaven with your Heavenly Father. The title Heavenly Father is no mistake, how many people relate to the need for loving father when many earth bound fathers, not all, are wrapped up in their jobs, or an absent father, an abusive father? It seems god the father is a perfect example of fatherly love while human fathers sometimes let you down, god is there and a huge selling tool for recruiting members.
The other thing is listening to sermons and christian teachers nearly all of my life, key phrases and concepts are repeated over and over not to exclude anyone from joining the cause of combating sin. Where did sin come from? According creationists Adam and Eve disobeyed god to creat the first sin. Is that what really happened or was sin created to ensure the need for humans to worship god and receive forgiveness via christian beliefs?
I don’t what I beleive regarding god, as far I can tell nothing proves or disproves the existence of god. In my lifetime there have been moments of large scale christion conversions from gifted preachers and teachers but in my mind these religious superstars were merely selling a bill of goods based on emotional need. It’s like insurance, if you don’t join, there is nothing we can for you in hell.
The concept of hell is equally non provable as heaven, but according to certain religious everyone is doomed for hell and all of the bad things put into our minds by religion. Fortunately religion can save you from hell by joining the cause to eradicate sin from the world. Religion: Give us tithes and possessions so we can put them to better use and in return you will receive a place in heaven with your Heavenly Father. The title Heavenly Father is no mistake, how many people relate to the need for loving father when many earth bound fathers, not all, are wrapped up in their jobs, or an absent father, an abusive father? It seems god the father is a perfect example of fatherly love while human fathers sometimes let you down, god is there and a huge selling tool for recruiting members.
CarolfromTX
Senior Member
- Location
- Central Texas
Well, during Covid, governments sure did do their best to shut down churches. We have several mega churches and a lot of small ones in this area so I question your initial premise. How big is a drove, anyway? 
I prefer to use Britannica above and beyond Wiki
Yes. All that is true. He also wrote “Common Sense”, that helped the Founding Fathers write up the Constitution.
Jamala
Senior Member
- Location
- Butterfly from Herts/UK
I have a slight problem with Paine...you see, his works related to the 17th century...am thinking his "reasoning" may not be quite as relevant today.
As a matter of fact Thomas Jefferson did convince him not to publsh any more of his work early 18th century. Perhaps, even Jefferson thought he was becoming redundant!
That’s possibly be true. Yet the core of Paine’s book, “The Age of Resaon”, is the critical point that the story of Jesus is flawed with unreasonable stories, which makes the story so unrealistic and untrue.
lets face it all we have available tomes and tomes of material on "The Christ" and one cannot simple come to the conclusion that the story of Christ is flawed. The Jews were/are meticulous in their accountings etc - read up about the family geneologies of Mary and Joseph going back to Adam and Eve even - there are no mistakes there. We sit with our boxes and boxes of books and read and read and read but in the end have to make up our own minds or let others take over our decision making for us? - i know where I stand on that one!
Friedrich Nietzsche > Quotes > Quotable Quote
“This is precisely why the Jews are the most disastrous people in world history: they have left such a falsified humanity in their wake that even today Christians can think of themselves as anti-Jewish without understanding that they are the ultimate conclusion of Judaism.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche, The Anti-ChristGotcha Hook Line & Sinker
yes wouldn't be too keen to hang around with him as a mate - judaism continues today as does christianity they are both on differerent paths of evolution - Christ was a Jew once for just part of the story and enactment but became something much bigger and wholesome and never set out to teach the world about Judaism - it just happens to be a small part of a larger story
officerripley
Well-known Member
- Location
- Porlock, Calif
Sounds like one of my favorite science fiction books, Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke. (Won't say anymore because spoilers but altho the limited tv series wasn't bad, the book was better.)Maybe our soul shreds all earthbound life experience which we seem to hang onto, and WE become part of the whole oneness. If that makes sense. Lol
Friedrich Nietzsche > Quotes > Quotable Quote
“This is precisely why the Jews are the most disastrous people in world history: they have left such a falsified humanity in their wake that even today Christians can think of themselves as anti-Jewish without understanding that they are the ultimate conclusion of Judaism.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche, The Anti-Christ
Gotcha Hook Line & Sinker
Yes, sadly this is so true, but that does not give Christians the right to hate Jews. They, too, are a product of a man-made, flawed religion. All religions are man-made, and flawed. This is why so many people are waking up and leaving their churches. They see the truth of religion. Man can worship God, our Creator, without an organized religion.
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