one of my good freinds is pushin christianity on me, and i'm really starting to like how it makes me feel

Its a vice just like any drug

well its not a vice, a vice has negative consequences to your life, this just tells you to be a good person

it teaches you to judge people, thats not positive in my opinion

read the talmud of jmmanuel before you go down the wrong path OP

if you like how it feels, embrace it? or you can grab a razor and cut yourself if you prefer

Ya i hear ya on that one, and i think thats why people are repeled by it, but as far as i understand it, it just says to focus on yourself and lead by example, i think too many people get a moral authrotiy over people when they get deep into it

lol

^THIS^

Without a belief system, you're a feather in the wind. That might sound like freedom, but in reality it makes you slave to the whims of the wind.

I have found the Methodists to be the least judgmental. And, have always been curious about the Lutherans (not very popular in this area). Stay away from the Baptists and Church of Christ people, though - very judgmental and often hypocritical.

Edited because I still apparently can't spell.

Last Edited by Tawandaaaa on 11/24/2011 01:35 AM

but another thing, if your not drinking or taking any drugs or having affairs or lying and cheating, its kinda hard not to notice how other people do that without seeing a problem in it, thats not neccesarily judging, now if i were to to tell you either do what I say or your going to hell doesnt make sense but to just subtly point out that what their doing is wrong is another thing entirely, it depends on your deffinition of judging

yikes

True. One of my biggest dilemmas right now is trying to teach my kid to be an upstanding citizen without inadvertently teaching her to judge others. I mean how do you say to your kid "don't act like that" or "don't do that" without automatically putting down others who do so?

So Glad You are on Your Path:) ive seen your Replys:) Dont let anyone shake You up :) i liked Your resopnse to judging:) Beautiful reply:) Bless You Friend on Your Walk:)

i guess try and explain the consequences of why doing certain things are wrong, how they all lead to a bad path, instead of just hoping they trust you? idk thats a tough one though theres no book on how to raise a kid

thanks

How about the bible? tells you all you really need to know.

I think your right, I just started reading it again today

And can't you understand that is most of the problem today? Why do you let humanism destroy what is right and moral? Why have you let the ones bringing down our culture dictate and make you feel as if you are judging others whilst trying to instill morals and values? Look around you - how do you think teenage girls think that there is no shame in getting pregnant at 14, or experimenting in sex or covering their bodies with tattoos? Can you not see that others have already given your kids those messages? And yet YOU are worried that others will think that they are judging????
YOU have already succumbed to the beast and taken the mark, yet you cannot see that.

Have strength and conviction.
"but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,[a] it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea"

Just ask him few questions:
1. What percentage of Christians are going to heaven on average
2. If all sins of believers are continuously getting forgiven, why cannot god forgive one extra sins for non believers(that is of "not believing God")
3. What percentage of priests are involved in child abuse ,etc , will they make it to heaven ?

puh-leeese!

i'm 21 and i have a four year old, this is what they were talking about earlier about judgement

how can anyone answer those questions. god's the only one who would ever know, and catholocism is different than christianity

Revelation 21:27
"And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that is unclean, or practices abomination, or speaks lies: but only they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Revelation 20:15
"And if anyone's name was not found written in the Lamb's book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

The exact number is 144,000 that are sealed into this destiny of the children of Israel.
"And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." Revelation 7:4

Jesus first century disciples, who were first of all chosen from among the jewish people, Israel, were instructed first to call fellow jewish people to become disciples. "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" Matthew 10:5, 6

After Christ's death commanded to call people of all races of mankind to become Christians."But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8

God did not choose only natural jewish people to become Christians nor to only go to heaven, for he is not partial. "God is no respecter of persons. But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable with him" Acts 10:34, 35

Gentiles, that is non-jewish people that were not also proselytes, for the first time became disciples of Christ with holy spirit pour upon them. This in fact was an anointing by holy spirit. "On the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 10:45

Upon becoming a Christian disciple of Christ all Christians were considered Israel, in a spiritual sense. "For in Christ neither circumcision (of the natural jewish people) availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision (of the Gentile races), but a new creature (as in being born again spiritually)." Galatians 6:15

Thus both natural Jewish/Israelite Christians and Gentile Christians are considered the Israel of God.
"And as many as walk according to this rule...the Israel of God." Galatians 6:16

"For ye is not a jewish, which is one outwardly (physically); neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh. But he is a jewish, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the latter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Romans 2:28, 29

Therefore, these 144,000 would make up Christians of all races, jewish people and Gentiles of the nations, as children of Israel. "
--------------------------------------…

The Lamb, Christ Jesus, stands on Mount Sion with these 144,000 with his Father's name on their foreheads. (This is a spiritual Mount Sion in heaven. John 14:2, 3; Revelation 14:4; Hebrew 12:22)
"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand having his Father's name written in their foreheads." Revelation 14:1

"And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth." Revelation 14:3

This is an interracial and international Israel of God of Christians who, as it were, sing a new song by their unique experience. "they sung a new song...redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;" Revelation 5:9
--------------------------------------…
In a nutshell, there are 144,000 christians chosen for heavenly life amongst all races. The first ones were natural jewish people but afterward amongst the other races to make up the entire group. Again, sense God is not partial there are many more who will gain salvation. There numbers are beyond 144,000 and incalculable. They will inherit the paradise earth. Revelation 7:9, 14, Psalms 37:29, Acts 24:15

She's in Christian school. I think that's enough religion. I have to do enough damage control from that alone. Had to ban one kid from calling the house last year because she'd call 10+ times/day and tell my kid that she was going to hell because she didn't go to HER church. We are talking 10 year old kids here. Kids that truly don't know anything other than what has been drilled into their head. Is that how Christians are supposed to act? I don't think so. It's one thing to teach your kid and quite another to merely brainwash them to the point where they can't make logical conclusions on a topic.

I'm not talking about drugs and sex. Those are easy topics to teach a child are wrong without having to degrade those who do them. She can watch the news and figure out that kind of lifestyle leads nowhere. I'm talking more along the lines of work hard, be appreciative, help those in need, do unto others. When you teach a kid the value of hard work, you inadvertently teach them to judge lazy people by their lack of work ethic. If you teach them to appreciate the things they been given in life, you inadvertently teach them to believe others who haven't been as fortunate are somehow less-worthy. It's a catch-22.

Christianity (at least the one that the Bible tells us) has nothing to do about making one a "good person"

There are millions of "good people" that attend protestant and catholic churches alike....as well as some muslims, hindus, taoists, budhists and the like. But they are self righteous and judgemental and don't have the Spirt of God.

A true minister of Christ 'should' tell you you are a depraved sinner...which you are...and nothing good lives in your flesh and that without Jesus Christ....you are nothing.

But yes...if Jesus calls you (and you can't come to him without Him drawing you), He is just and faithful to forgive your sins, but it is something that you can not get by yourself.

Look at Paul (before he was Paul the apostle)....He did everything he could to destroy christians and the doctrines of Jesus Christ. He wasn't looking to "come just as I am...down the isle and pray some sinners prayer"....He was trying to destroy everything Jesus held dear (His word and His saints)

God knocked Paul (aka Saul) off his horse, blinded him and talked to him that He was persecuting God when He tried to destroy Jesus Christ and His Saints.

You don't come to God and become a "good person" because you want to.......God draws you to Himself.

Christianity is not a self help "religion" like all others are....it's a process where God's words eviscerate any notion that you are a good person in yourself and He draws you to Himself.

There will be no saints of God at the white throne judgement that will tell God of how well they kept the commandments or were a good person.....those people that do that are the ones that will be cast into the lake of fire.

"Good" people's religions are of the devil.

Look at the bible and you will see the story of the Cross of Jesus in many of the well known people:

1) Adam and Eve: Sinned, knew they were naked...tried to cover up with fig leaves, God killed an animal and gave them animal skins as a temporary covering (until Jesus). Someone other than Adam and Eve had to die in their place to cover their sins. Adam and Eve's fig leaves didn't cut the mustard with God.

2) Cain and Able: Able "got it"...he learned from his parents about Substitution of an animal for sacrifice as a symbol of Jesus Christ's ultimate sacrifice in the future. Cain didn't "get it" and got angry at God and his brother because he wanted to do it his way. The result was murder of his brother. Religions (not Jesus's way) ends up in more sin and death

3) Last Plague in Egypt. Any not applying the blood of a spotless lamb to their doorpost of their dwelling had the angel of death kill their firstborn child. Very symbolic if you read where the blood was put.....perfect picture of a crucified Christ's blood being spilt on the cross.
Note: these people who were spared this plague didn't go on and on about how they worked for God's favor. They would have been slain if they did.

I hope you see what Jesus wants to show you and not what the devil does through crazy Religious nitwits who aren't saved.

The simple answer is if you choose to believe it: Jesus is Good. Organized religion is not so good. Make sure you don't get caught up in doctrinal BS.

OP.

Consider this first.

The utter contradiction about GOD they are trying to destroy your sanity with before you take on ore step.

There is NO HELL of eternal torment..

Here are some really good reasons.

It takes total nutjob to believe in hell.

Read on.

This is what the fake christianity of today is going to ask you to swallow.


According to Christianity, eternal suffering awaits anyone who questions God's infinite love. That's the message we're brought up with, believe or die. "Thank you, forgiving Lord, for all those options."

They say that when god was in Jerusalem he forgave his murderers, but now he will not forgive an honest man for differing with him on the subject of the Trinity. They say that God says to me, "Forgive your enemies." I say, "I do;" but he says, "I will damn mine." God should be consistent. If he wants me to forgive my enemies he should forgive his. I am asked to forgive enemies who can hurt me. God is only asked to forgive enemies who cannot hurt him. He certainly ought to be as generous as he asks us to be.

An Inuit hunter asked the local missionary priest: "If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?" "No," said the priest, "not if you did not know." "Then why," asked the Inuit earnestly, "did you tell me?"

God so loved the world that he made up his mind to create and then torture forever a large majority of the human race

Some conservative Christians argue in favor of hell by calling it "God's great compliment." "Compliment?" If hell is such a "compliment" then what does God do when he wants to "insult" somebody?—

The fear of hell is the basis for the modern Christian faith

Given headaches, backaches, toothaches, strains, scrapes, breaks, cuts, rashes, burns, bruises, PMS, fatigue, hunger, odors, molds, colds, yeast, parasites, viruses, cancers, genetic defects, blindness, deafness, paralysis, mental illness, ugliness, ignorance, miscommunications, embarrassments, unrequited love, dashed hopes, boredom, hard labor, repetitious labor, accidents, old age, senility, fires, floods, earthquakes, typhoons, tornadoes, hurricanes and volcanoes, I can not see how anyone, after they are dead, deserves "eternal punishment" as well.

Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time! But He loves you!

As a tot I was given the usual terrifying mixed message: a) God is love; and b) If you don't believe how much he loves you, you will stand in the corner for eternity.-

Who will say with confidence that sexual abuse is more permanently damaging to children than threatening them with the eternal and unquenchable fires of hell?

Made in the image of God, all humans have a moral sense, a judicial sentiment. Even the unredeemed cringe when the Holocaust is reviewed. Our moral intuition rejects the idea that anyone, human or divine, who endlessly inflicted pain on another could be called "good Few people, if they really had the authority, would condemn anyone, even their worst enemy, to a burning, scorching, tormenting, eternal hell. Yet, they expect God to do it! Those who impute such actions to God, as to make Him resemble the worst of beings, find themselves practising downright Demonism.
And yet this same Deity says to me, "resist not evil; pray for those that despitefully use you; love your enemies, but I will eternally damn mine." It seems to me that even gods should practice what they preach.

Listening to her father preach a hellfire sermon, the pastor’s daughter said, “I wish Jesus was as loving as my father.”

I am not afraid of any god in the universe who would send me or any other man or woman to hell. If there were such a being, he would not be a god; he would be a devil.

An idea, which has terrified millions, claims that some of us will go to a place called Hell, where we will suffer eternal torture. This does not scare me because, when I try to imagine a Mind behind this universe, I cannot conceive that Mind, usually called "God," as totally mad. I mean, guys, compare that "God" with the worst monsters you can think of -- Adolph Hitler, Joe Stalin, that sort of guy. None of them ever inflicted more than finite pain on their victims. Even de Sade, in his sado-masochistic fantasy novels, never devised an unlimited torture. The idea that the Mind of Creation (if such exists) wants to torture some of its critters for endless infinities of infinities seems too absurd to take seriously. Such a deranged Mind could not create a mud hut, much less the exquisitely mathematical universe around us.

God cannot send to eternal pain a man who has done something toward improving the condition of his fellow-man. If he can, I had rather go to hell than to heaven and keep company with such a god.