Y'all mofos need Jesus

[Man Called X]

What was suppose to be about an earthquake and turned into a religion debate thanks to someone....

nice title change whoever did it!

That was me. Xenforo apparently gives the OP the ability to change thread titles. It's under a little drop down menu at the top that will say Thread Tools. Really love that option.

 

[The Oi]

I've said this before, but I don't like the term "religious" because it has a negative connotation to me. I'm just talking about me personally, but I feel it is just comes with the assumption that it is false. For example, when I see "christians" becoming ritualistic, HAVING to do things and doing everything a certain way etc., I see that as religious and a bad thing. I don't want to get too deep here, but the point is that all of that stuff is wrong and unnecessary because all you have to do is accept Jesus. It is that simple. While many churches try to make it difficult and like to condemn you.

I don't think people really understand God's grace, love, and favor and how you are righteous through God because God is good. It can't be earned and as humans especially, we can never be perfect. The reason many people don't understand it is the fault of the churches. I think non Christians or athiests can even sense the BS some churches spew and when a church is dead. I know it sounds bad that I'm a christian knocking churches right now, but this is truth. People know truth when they hear it. I wouldn't dare go to most churches because they are spiritually dead, might do you more harm than good. Find a church that is spiritually alive and preaching truth. I don't know how to explain it, but I think you can sense it. No church is perfect, but some are way better than others. Non-denominational could be a good place to look.

I have had many spiritual experiences and I have known God is real, pretty much from the start. Is was something I never struggled with. But how could you believe me? If I told you some of the things I have encountered, you wouldn't believe me or say it wasn't real or make something up. So I guess it requires some sort of faith no matter what. But the whole thing is, I can't convince and don't want to convince you, it is something that you have to experience yourself to understand. I would just want to do my best to help point you in the right direction. You can never force anybody to believe anything. That is always a choice you yourself have to make.

Just have to say that this is an awesome, awesome take on spirituality/faith/religion.Thank you.

As a sidenote, I can say that the one church I actually enjoyed going to in Orlando had the feel that you're describing. There was a live band that played for the late mass (somewhat poorly but WGAF?). People dressed comfortably. The homilies were always interesting. People clearly had fun and enjoyed going to it. It was a Catholic mass, in that the prayers were there and the rituals, etc. But it didn't feel forced and it didn't feel like you HAD to be there.

Above all, I don't recall I single time that I felt like I was told by the Pastor what I needed to do to be a good person. Seemed like every homily was focused on becoming a better person and even moreso, looking outside of yourself and helping others. The guy was funny, very energetic and genuine.

If I'm going to involve myself in faith then it's to become a better person and to help those around me and enjoying myself during the process. I see no justification for a religion taking the enjoyment out of living life even for the hour you're in there, hell ESPECIALLY while you're in there.

 

[Deezus]

I've said this before, but I don't like the term "religious" because it has a negative connotation to me. I'm just talking about me personally, but I feel it is just comes with the assumption that it is false. For example, when I see "christians" becoming ritualistic, HAVING to do things and doing everything a certain way etc., I see that as religious and a bad thing. I don't want to get too deep here, but the point is that all of that stuff is wrong and unnecessary because all you have to do is accept Jesus. It is that simple. While many churches try to make it difficult and like to condemn you.

I don't think people really understand God's grace, love, and favor and how you are righteous through God because God is good. It can't be earned and as humans especially, we can never be perfect. The reason many people don't understand it is the fault of the churches. I think non Christians or athiests can even sense the BS some churches spew and when a church is dead. I know it sounds bad that I'm a christian knocking churches right now, but this is truth. People know truth when they hear it. I wouldn't dare go to most churches because they are spiritually dead, might do you more harm than good. Find a church that is spiritually alive and preaching truth. I don't know how to explain it, but I think you can sense it. No church is perfect, but some are way better than others. Non-denominational could be a good place to look.

I have had many spiritual experiences and I have known God is real, pretty much from the start. Is was something I never struggled with. But how could you believe me? If I told you some of the things I have encountered, you wouldn't believe me or say it wasn't real or make something up. So I guess it requires some sort of faith no matter what. But the whole thing is, I can't convince and don't want to convince you, it is something that you have to experience yourself to understand. I would just want to do my best to help point you in the right direction. You can never force anybody to believe anything. That is always a choice you yourself have to make.

This is an extremely good post. I'd OS rep you if I could.

 

[ewizacft]

When you wrote that you do not believe that miracles in the New Testament it reminded me of Thomas Jefferson. Do you know what he did with the Bible? Not that your situations are the same it just popped in my head. I have been hesitant to respond because what one person may see as evidence others do not. Walter White put it quite well and most likely better than I could have done. You are obviously willing to look for truth which makes things easier then when dealing with others. How do I point you in the right direction is the question to which I do not have an answer. I also know that it will not be just me that helps you if you ever do get there.

I am willing to accept information that comes from the New Testament that reads objectively, like a history book. I think there's an agenda even to history books, so I am hesitant to saying I'm ALL that confident that it's true. But most of the way through, it reads pretty reasonable.

I do not know what you accept and what you reject because we have not got that far. How do you determine what is history and that which may be someone inserting their agenda? If they wrote something that seems unreasonable to you, does that mean that it did not happen?

Best put, all passages that read like Christ being an extraordinary human being who lived his life as close to perfect as any human being had before, I can buy. I see no reason to believe that there wasn't a man named Jesus Christ that was an extraordinary person, or that he helped others and lectured and bravely went against the grain in a crumbling society.

Anything that's described in the Bible that the last 2000+ years of science would prove impossible, I do not believe. And I feel that way because I don't believe that the person called Jesus of Nazareth was the son of God and I strongly doubt that God exists. And I feel that way about Jesus and God, because all empirical evidence I'm exposed to points me to that conclusion.

Since you believe Jesus was just a man your conclusion here is reasonable. If Jesus was what he claimed to be, would it be possible that your conclusion is incorrect?

Put it this way...if you could SHOW me evidence of God doing something NOW that either myself or others whom I trust could perceive, I'd be open to further consideration. I accept a fair amount of information from history books as being true, because the sources have proven reasonable. I feel it's only fair that if I'm willing to accept other history from that time that why shouldn't I accept, or at least be open to history that was reported from that time by other sources? So the tone of the reading plays a part. If it seems like history, maybe it's history.


Above anything else though, I trust the scientific community to get things right. Science is specifically set up to prove itself wrong and there's a million fail-safes in place and a great deal of intelligent people champing at the bit to prove new theories wrong. It seems to me that the vast majority of the time that research reaches the general public, it's gone through so much scrutiny that if it's not true, the truth will come out shortly after.

Everything I've seen from a scientific basis indicates to me that there should be some physical evidence of God existing or an explanation of how someone could achieve things that are impossible. Show me scientifically how water could be turned to wine with the touch of a hand or food could multiply in seconds. What would physically need to happen to someone to cure blindness at the snap of a finger? Apply that to any and all of the miracles. If there's not a scientific explanation for how something happened, I don't believe it happened. If someone says "there's no rational explanation for why this happened," with enough research an explanation is nearly always given for what happened all the way down to a cellular level when it involves people living through gruesome accidents for example.

I've just not seen anything that sways me farther towards believing something that has no concrete proof of itself than from not believing it exists.

This is where things get tricky. If I were to show you a miracle it would be something that is physical, that which can be seen. How could I say that God did this and you not explain it with a scientific reason? A miracle could happen in front of both of us and God could be the reason for it happening, but you could show be the scientific/physical reasons why that event occurred even though God was the cause of the chain of causes of the miracle. You say, “If there's not a scientific explanation for how something happened, I don't believe it happened”. I have a problem with this because there can be knowledge that is currently not known by men. If you are saying that the event is impossible it comes from your view that there is no God. This is a logical conclusion, but you are shutting out the other possibility that there is a God. I know that this make it seem that you have to believe on just blind faith which would be illogical. There is evidence and faith for whichever side you hold. God is a spirit not physical. How am I going to show you physical evidence of a non physical being? Asking me to do so seems illogical to me.


Walter White is right. You will have to find it on your own but at the same time I want to push you in the right direction. Please do not take my questions and responses as an attack. I just hope that my poor communication is more helpful than a hindrance.

 

[seasoned vet]

dang i just hi-jacked this thread and i have all you people talking about me?

if you cant go through this thread from the 1st page and read and see the accuracies not only in the world that pertain to the scripture, but even on this board alone, then you really cant see.. but thats ok, there was a time i couldnt see neither, but the Lord gives sight to the blind.

John 9:25 one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

The Lord has done great things with me. He capable of great things with you. but you have to accept Him in your life.

i will pray that yall give yourselves to the Lord for salvation. because without Him, you are headed to a place you dont want to be, a place that i dont want you to go. i dont know exactly how bad it is, but i know enough that its not a place that you will want to be for a second, let alone eternity. ever burn yourself for a split second? yea, that hurts.. now imagine your whole body on fire for eternity, but not just that, in a terrifying place, a place with demons, satan himself, being tortured day in - day out- round the clock, no rest, no breaks, no water, no nothing. hell aint no joke. i wouldnt wish that on my worst enemy.

and no, hell is not something i think about, really ever. all i think about is pleasing the Lord, His love, His blessings, what all Hes done for me because Hes done a LOT, more than i can even imagine. and His blessings are not done yet. i know He has something great in store for me. i wish all of you could experience His love because you will never look back to your old lifestyle of sin again. just like me. i was a sinner, a thirsty sinner. sin is what i craved, its what i thought about day and night... now? i cant even think about sin. and when i do, its straining. God is good.

a healthy lifestyle isnt just eating right, it isnt just working out or running. it isnt just eating right AND working out. to live healthy is to live healthy spiritually, also. 1st and foremost.

you have to filter your life, what you read, what you listen to, what you watch, just like you have to filter what you eat if you are trying to be and stay in shape.

you have to be careful what you take in your body, from food, to smoke, to alcohol. you have to be careful to not do anything that physically harms your body. and sex does just that. your body is Gods temple, and if you have casual sex, that is a sin that is harmful to yourself, also, who you have it with. sex is a filthy act. its bad for your body and mind. trust, if anybody knows its me. now? celibacy is the best way to live. my mind is healthy, im not sin starved, im not flesh starved, constantly in pursuit of my next "victim". now i have peace, God is GOOD! the LORD IS MY SAVIOR! amen!

 

[Soda]

God is a spirit not physical. How am I going to show you physical evidence of a non physical being? Asking me to do so seems illogical to me.

Asking others (or showing them the way) to buy into something without actually having any real evidence is pretty illogical as well. And I'm not saying that as an insult. It's more of a juxtaposition from your perspective. As in to raise the question of, how can you believe something that doesn't show tangible evidence?

 

[Soda]

dang i just hi-jacked this thread and i have all you people talking about me?

if you cant go through this thread from the 1st page and read and see the accuracies not only in the world that pertain to the scripture, but even on this board alone, then you really cant see.. but thats ok, there was a time i couldnt see neither, but the Lord gives sight to the blind.

John 9:25 one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

The Lord has done great things with me. He capable of great things with you. but you have to accept Him in your life.

i will pray that yall give yourselves to the Lord for salvation. because without Him, you are headed to a place you dont want to be, a place that i dont want you to go. i dont know exactly how bad it is, but i know enough that its not a place that you will want to be for a second, let alone eternity. ever burn yourself for a split second? yea, that hurts.. now imagine your whole body on fire for eternity, but not just that, in a terrifying place, a place with demons, satan himself, being tortured day in - day out- round the clock, no rest, no breaks, no water, no nothing. hell aint no joke. i wouldnt wish that on my worst enemy.

and no, hell is not something i think about, really ever. all i think about is pleasing the Lord, His love, His blessings, what all Hes done for me because Hes done a LOT, more than i can even imagine. and His blessings are not done yet. i know He has something great in store for me. i wish all of you could experience His love because you will never look back to your old lifestyle of sin again. just like me. i was a sinner, a thirsty sinner. sin is what i craved, its what i thought about day and night... now? i cant even think about sin. and when i do, its straining. God is good.

a healthy lifestyle isnt just eating right, it isnt just working out or running. it isnt just eating right AND working out. to live healthy is to live healthy spiritually, also. 1st and foremost.

you have to filter your life, what you read, what you listen to, what you watch, just like you have to filter what you eat if you are trying to be and stay in shape.

you have to be careful what you take in your body, from food, to smoke, to alcohol. you have to be careful to not do anything that physically harms your body. and sex does just that. your body is Gods temple, and if you have casual sex, that is a sin that is harmful to yourself, also, who you have it with. sex is a filthy act. its bad for your body and mind. trust, if anybody knows its me. now? celibacy is the best way to live. my mind is healthy, im not sin starved, im not flesh starved, constantly in pursuit of my next "victim". now i have peace, God is GOOD! the LORD IS MY SAVIOR! amen!

And boom. You've described a place that has no evidence of existing as if you've been there. You've then assigned us to that place and basically told us that we're not worthy of your lofty status. Then you welcome all to join.

I'm pretty sure that while you've asked us to take a step back and look, you haven't yourself. You said "hell ain't no joke".... How the hell do you know?

"Pull your pants down son and let me touch it, God said this is right. I would know, because I read the bible. No questions!"

 

[seasoned vet]

atheists are naive. you only believe what you see. thats pretty narrow minded, stubborn and visionless.

you think the world is so simple that everything is what it seems? that there is nothing more to this world and universe than what meets the eye? you think the depth of life is merely physical?

you believe something that no man has ever seen. the theory of evolution. a idea that was birthed by a man that refused to believe.

Jesus walked the earth and His miracles and works are well documented, even outside the Bible.

proof of God is everything around you. intelligence. it takes intelligence to create intelligence. it took intelligence to create your phone.. but something way more advanced than your phone or any earthly technology for that matter, the human body, even something as simple as a seed! you telling me it took intelligence to design that phone or laptop, but the human body and LIFE is merely an accident?

by saying that, you are saying that life is meaningless.. because it came out of nowhere from nowhere and nothing.. but that is illogical.

 

[Soda]

atheists are naive.

Arrogant.

 

[The Oi]

Seasoned vet,

What do you do for a living?

 

[Walter White]

Just have to say that this is an awesome, awesome take on spirituality/faith/religion.Thank you.

As a sidenote, I can say that the one church I actually enjoyed going to in Orlando had the feel that you're describing. There was a live band that played for the late mass (somewhat poorly but WGAF?). People dressed comfortably. The homilies were always interesting. People clearly had fun and enjoyed going to it. It was a Catholic mass, in that the prayers were there and the rituals, etc. But it didn't feel forced and it didn't feel like you HAD to be there.

Above all, I don't recall I single time that I felt like I was told by the Pastor what I needed to do to be a good person. Seemed like every homily was focused on becoming a better person and even moreso, looking outside of yourself and helping others. The guy was funny, very energetic and genuine.

If I'm going to involve myself in faith then it's to become a better person and to help those around me and enjoying myself during the process. I see no justification for a religion taking the enjoyment out of living life even for the hour you're in there, hell ESPECIALLY while you're in there.

That is why I like my church. You don't have to dress up. Some people do a little but I never do. Everybody is welcome. Which seems like an obvious function of the church, but I hear all the time of people not being accepted or kicked out of churches for whatever BS religious reason. It is cool, we have some bikers that go to my church that wear their leather vests and one dude had a pink mohawk. They get it. We are all just humans, you know? Nobody better than anyone else, and we all need God the same. That is why it seems pretty stupid when people aren't welcome to a church because of "sin" reasons or whatever. Wouldn't they need God/help more in those situations? That is why it was the priests and pharisees that condemned Jesus himself. Because of religion.

God didn't create religion, humans did.

 

[ewizacft]

Asking others (or showing them the way) to buy into something without actually having any real evidence is pretty illogical as well. And I'm not saying that as an insult. It's more of a juxtaposition from your perspective. As in to raise the question of, how can you believe something that doesn't show tangible evidence?

Did you skip over the part where I said

If you are saying that the event is impossible it comes from your view that there is no God. This is a logical conclusion, but you are shutting out the other possibility that there is a God. I know that this make it seem that you have to believe on just blind faith which would be illogical. There is evidence and faith for whichever side you hold. God is a spirit not physical. How am I going to show you physical evidence of a non physical being? Asking me to do so seems illogical to me.

Perhaps my poor communication is the problem. I basically said what you are saying. Faith without evidence is illogical. There is faith and evidence for the existence and non-existence of God. I have never been to Jerusalem. I have no tangible evidence that it exists. Does it exist? Others have told me that it does and I believe them. Should I not believe that it exists until I observe that place with my own eyes?

 

[Randolphkeys]

I would be interested to find out if Seasoned Vet is the last of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing... a sect of Christianity believed to have died off in the 19th century because members swore an oath of celibacy. I'd also like to know about his profession, along with the origin of this anger and spite in his heart.

 

[Soda]

Perhaps my poor communication is the problem. I basically said what you are saying. Faith without evidence is illogical. There is faith and evidence for the existence and non-existence of God. I have never been to Jerusalem. I have no tangible evidence that it exists. Does it exist? Others have told me that it does and I believe them. Should I not believe that it exists until I observe that place with my own eyes?

I didn't miss anything and perhaps I just didn't consume your post as you intended. I've also got no problem with you wanting to believe what you see as logical, right or just.

On the bolded.. It's well established that a city of Jerusalem exists on this planet. We're not talking about the same kind of "tangible". No, you can't touch Jerusalem at any moment, but it's there for touching as soon as you take the plane ride to get there.

I'd be floored if I saw a real "physical" miracle that didn't have any other explanation other than divine intervention. I'd re-think my seriousness about my religion if I were to ever see that. I saw evolution brought up in here.. I don't want to get into a whole discussion about it, but I believe it because physical beings are evolving due to their surroundings every day on this Earth through today and it will continue tomorrow.

 

[Man Called X]

The tree is still in my backyard. Pisses me off.