When censorship due to personal bias stands in the way of relevant discussion and dialogue. A matter of integrity in religious discourse.

John 13:34 King James Version (KJV)
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

If a thread strays from the above guideline, I stay out of it and pray for that poster.

:JesusHug2:

Haha, religion is for slaves

God damn, fucking freemasons are fucked

Is that the same way harry hugs aids patients while his people are stabbed to death

When I first came to this forum, I didn't really know what to think of it, but have been a paid member for the last 4 years now, after being an AC for about as many.

I used to be offended by lots of different people and I did offending myself, both knowingly and otherwise.

Right away, when becoming a member, I wanted to ignore or ban people, because I could!

After carful consideration however, I realized something.

Limiting others, was limiting myself.

I adopted a policy to NOT limit myself. This included, not banning people from my thread as long as they were on topic and respectful, even if their opinions were not in alignment with my own. As long as they were on topic they stayed.

I guess that is the whole point of this thread. I see soooo many offended people on here. I understand. I used to be that way myself.

NOW I AM JUST OFFENDED THAT PEOPLE ARE OFFENDED.......LOL

Considering this is a GLOBAL forum......it's going to be difficult to NOT be offended here. There are too many people from too many various walks of life and experiences for everyone to be happy. That also is what makes GLP great! What better way to learn about yourself and others.

Just stop limiting yourselves, by limiting others.

That person you block, might prevent you from learning something you actually wanted to know.

I also don't go into non religious threads and start dropping scripture or religion arbitrarily. I do try to stay on thread topic. Sometimes, it comes out anyways, but not always consciously.

I also create threads that have no religious connotation or content at all.

Just a reminder, it isn't a BIAS to ban someone from a thread for being off topic.

I respect your right to feel as you do, but I ask for the same courtesy.

Bookmarking this one, will try to contribute and behave.

That is a good policy I suppose.

I look at it this way.

If the thread topic interests me, I open it and read. If I disagree, I let them know and I let them know why. I try to do so using scripture.

The reason I don't always just walk away from a contentious thread however, is this;

If there is a conflict of religious view, each view needs to present a solid argument. (There could be many!!) Sharing THE WORD OF GOD, is what "Christians" do! That is what they are called to do!

Additionally, everyone's faith is different and at different stages of understanding. The greater number of differing views on a given topic opens people up to greater awareness of differences and encourages them to seek clarification and truth. What some people are actively discussing, others are actively reading and silently formulating and solidifying their own personal faith.

What we share, may be the enlightenment others are seeking.

I don't want to limit myself or others from that discovery!!

I also wouldn't want to allow false teaching that isn't biblical or scriptural, to be the only message going out.
It is therefore my resolve to present the truth as I know it alongside falsity as I understand it, so that others who may be following, can make up their own mind on the matter.

Thank you.

To be honest, I don't know how far the thread will go. A lot of people just can't be bothered with decency now days.

Threads like this tend to make people uncomfortable, because it forces them to evaluate themselves and a lot don't like what they find and blame others for pointing it out.

Introspection is good though.

It's one of the steps in the process of how educated people become so.

Last Edited by Osmium76 on 08/14/2018 04:57 PM

I agree with you and I do that too. I just get out of the Bible debates when it starts to get hateful. I have only seen that recently and it is mainly because of a few that I am not going to name. Rather than continue on it discussions like that, I bow out and pray for that person(s).

Last Edited by NOLAangel on 08/14/2018 05:14 PM

Of course!

Those people, in those instances, will have a seared conscience if they truly are one of God's people, or if they are being called by him.

If not, well, that is on them. We can't save ourselves or other people.

That is why Jesus/Messiah gave himself up as a sacrifice. Only He can shelter us from Gods Wrath. Let it not be said that He doesn't know us!!

You, I, them, all have equal opportunity to do what is right. It's a choice I watch my own children struggle with, but I can't make it for them.

Osmium76...


...very, very, well said!...


Be Well,

Michael

Thank you!

You too!

Good post.

Bump for later to study it.

Thanks!

This place has taught me a lot about myself and how I respond and interact with others. Its a great discussion forum, as long as the discussions are knowledgeable and civil. That goes for all thread types.

LIGHT DOESN'T CAST A SHADOW.

1 John 2 King James Version (KJV)
2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.


24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Amen.

Many conflicts could have been avoided if they told the truth about Adam and Eve in the "garden" back then, its like misunderstanding page 1 of a 1000 page flight manual written by 10 different tribes waring eachother.

Religion as a whole, is a very convoluted topic. I will give you that.

Only those with true interest in the scope of it will be drawn to unravel the mysteries biblical scripture holds. If it isn't for you or you want to discuss a different topic or alternative belief system that is your prerogative, but this thread isn't the place for it.

This thread is primarily to do with how fellow believers, that share similar faith, are meant to treat one another according to scripture.

That being said, I truly despise the ambiguity of the term "Christian", but for the sake of this thread, we will use that term as a generic catch all for the people this thread is meant to "advise". I welcome feedback or testimony from those individuals or those with interest in sharing their own views on this topic.

Amen, AMEN!

Living in the world while being separate from it is a conscious choice.

Do you do what is popular, or do you do what is right?

This is a struggle we all have. We all are no different in that regard.

May you have a blessed day!

In addition to the comments I added inline, above....

Questions for you.

Who compiled the bible into it's currently accepted form?

How do you resolve the "Jesus & Mary" story with the Sumerian & Egyptian stories, which are nearly identical, though predate the bible stories by, at least, thousands of years?(I'm quite serious & will leave a tab open on this thread to read your responses.)

How do you deal with writings, proven to be historically contemporary & in some cases proven to have been penned prior to works included, such as those found in the Nag Hammadi Codices?

I have more, having been raised in a strict religious home(I was raised as a Jehovah's Witnesses but left when I was 18) & having read the bible, cover to cover, at least 3 times, but we'll call this a good start. Oh & if Baloney shows up, which I'm sure he will, don't expect me to remain courteous & respectful.

I am a Christian in that I believe the teachings of Christ--specifically that the Kingdom of heaven is within us, and that God is the spirit of Truth, and that the Truth shall set us free. God is also Love. Also his sermon on the Mount, and his disclosure of whom the Synogogue of Satan was/is composed--the deceivers and murderers who still control this world. We are "saved" from our natural animal nature when we fully accept and understand the Truths shown to us by Christ.

The OT is composed of myths and stories, many acquired during the Babylonian Captivity. The Gods of the OT are often spiteful, inconsistent, and two faced. The contradictions in both the OT and NT are too frequent to proclaim the bible as "the infallible Word of God". The word of God is simply whatever is True.

Last Edited by MarPep on 08/14/2018 09:42 PM

Try this on for size

[link to www.concordant.org (secure)]



It's a stretch to call the stories "near identical".



Merely perception. Proven?

Would love to see the so-called proof.

Got a link? Or 3 or 4?

In reality, either you believe in God, Jesus and what the Bible states or you don't.

And folks who DENY the existence of God have been trying for THOUSANDS of years to discredit it.

The archaeological evidence in SUPPORT of the Bible is massive.

I know exactly who and what you are talking about. That is why, when I witness that happening, I will no longer go into those types of threads. It is inexcusable, IMO, and cowardly, to open a discussion and disallow an opinion solely based on the fact one does not agree or that someone else makes a good point.

It says much about the character of the one who would do such a thing. Personally, I've no time for such games. There are plenty of other honest people with which to have real discussions. I welcome opposition, because that is what tests ad strengthens our faith and ideas.

It is a weak minded person who cannot stand in their own convictions and needs to conceal and hide that which challenges their argument.

Some interesting verses which show the differences between the Gods of the OT and the God of the NT:

GE 4:15, DT 32:19-27, IS 34:8 God is a vengeful god.
EX 15:3, IS 42:13, HE 12:29 God is a warrior. God is a consuming fire.
EX 20:5, 34:14, DT 4:24, 5:9, 6:15, 29:20, 32:21 God is a jealous god.
LE 26:7-8, NU 31:17-18, DT 20:16-17, JS 10:40, JG 14:19, EZ 9:5-7 The Spirit of God is (sometimes) murder and killing.
NU 25:3-4, DT 6:15, 9:7-8, 29:20, 32:21, PS 7:11, 78:49, JE 4:8, 17:4, 32:30-31, ZP 2:2 God is angry. His anger is sometimes fierce.
2SA 22:7-8 (KJV) "I called to the Lord; ... he heard my voice; ... The earth trembled and quaked, ... because he was angry. Smoke came from his nostrils. Consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it."
EZ 6:12, NA 1:2, 6 God is jealous and furious. He reserves wrath for, and takes revenge on, his enemies. "... who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and rocks are thrown down by him."

-_________________

2CO 13:11, 14, 1JN 4:8, 16 God is love.
GA 5:22-23 The fruit of the Spirit of God is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
His Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth” (John 14:17

Last Edited by MarPep on 08/14/2018 10:09 PM