xjwsforChrist

CHARIKLO SAID

Bless you, glad you feel so at home!

LOZ SAID

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:12 pm Post subject:
I don't see the need for any of us to be nasty or unfriendly here. Perhaps I'm missing something but isn't everyone here welcome to comment respectfully? What did Chappy say that prompted such response?

Loz x
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Don't let anyone put you down, and don't do it to yourself.

CHARIKLO SAID

Yes, I think you might be either missing, or misinterpreting something, Loz.

TEC SAID

I hope you don't mind if I comment on some of your thoughts, Noni, even though they were addressed to Shelby. I quite like your thread. You are giving us an opportunity to speak for our faith in Christ and what HE teaches us... which is often not at all what some religions or faiths teach. On our own we might not even think to discuss some of these things, because we know that these are not what Christ teaches.



I can see that. Someone trying to preach to me for whatever reason doesn't really bother me, per se. I don't need to listen if I don't want to listen. If it is in a church, I don't need to go into that church. If it is on the internet, I don't need to open that thread or read their post. If it is on my doorstep, I can say, no thanks. (or not answer the door, or hide until 'they' leave, lol) Or I can discuss my own views with them. How i react to someone preaching to me is entirely up to me.

I can be annoyed by some atheists who say that this is what bothers them about religion... when they are also saying that their view is the only right or meaningful view. That is the same thing, lol.

Forcing our faith or view upon another is not what we are called to do by Christ.



Same with those who state that people believe in God because they are afraid of death or some such thing. It doesn't really bother me anymore. It used to... because it is not true and perpetuates a lie... but now I just discuss what is true, at least as pertains to me, and people can accept that or not.

The only reason that i have ever thought an "atheist" hates or is angry with God is due to the things that they, themselves, have said. This person could not actually BE an atheist though. Unless they are angry at a concept... but that is a lot of energy to expend on something fake, imo.




I think it depends on what they say about God, and what they say about themselves and their transition from faith to no faith.

It certainly cannot be a blanket statement.



Can't... or at least it doesn't make any sense to me. If there is anger and hatred shown toward God (or that they say they have) then that might mean that they are not actually atheists at all. Otherwise it doesn't make much sense.



Yes, I understand this as well. Not a fan of it myself, for the harm and the lies about God that much of its leaders have perpetuated throughout history.

That anger at religion sometimes bleeds over to be angry at anyone who has faith or who perpetuates faith or witnesses to Christ, because of the harm religion has caused. I understand that. It is not what you will find those who follow Christ DO, though. When people take the time to learn otherwise and are still angry at those with faith, then the reason for their anger or contempt gets kind of confusing.


peace to you!

tammy

TEC SAID


Yes, everyone is welcome to comment and ask questions respectfully.


Peace to all of you,
tammy

LOZ SAID

Good. Thanks Tammy, that's what I thought.

Loz x
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Don't let anyone put you down, and don't do it to yourself.

PTERIST SAID

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:53 pm Post subject:
***People say I am a weird atheist though***

I would say, you are an honest and friendly atheists ....yes, the friendly atheists !

Don't forget, I don't believe anyone here is preaching a specific religion, but a relationship with God.
It s not a matter of being "good" in our own strength or coercion or conformity, but a matter of being CHANGED in a newness of life, that our creator died to give us. A simple request, asking for that change is all that's needed, if you feel compelled to do so.
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Shalom

MEDEWTYSENU SAID

@ Chariko.

I'm not an anarchist. I believe in a Theocracy. Every other form of government or rulership has been tried by man and all have failed miserably because of one common denominator. They were operated by imperfect men.

My definition of a Theocracy is the same as the one promised in the Bible, direct rulership over mankind albeit with the use of intermediaries who are themselves spirit creatures who have proven their loyalty before being appointed. They were once human and so know the frailties of the flesh and are in a position to accurately asses another persons past/present actions without undo bias. Since it's likely they could read the figurative heart and mind then nothing could be kept hidden from them (just as Jesus knew what people were thinking "in their hearts" when they tried to entrap him).

Jesus said that we should store our treasures up in heaven, where neither moths, rust nor thieves break in. This was also a commentary in my opinion about human governments and how they are subject to corrupting influences.

YSandFSofC
Morgan
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"Those that matter don't mind and those that mind don't matter"--Dr. Seuss

MEDEWTYSENU SAID

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:15 am Post subject:
My apologies Chariko, that reply was meant for Noni, not you.
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"Those that matter don't mind and those that mind don't matter"--Dr. Seuss

CHAPPY SAID

Thank you, Morgan,

I was very surprised when I saw my name there!

MEDEWTYSENU SAID

Your name has been in my mind because I have felt bad about offending you over the discussion concerning the current head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Such is why my post was a Freudian Slip apparently.
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"Those that matter don't mind and those that mind don't matter"--Dr. Seuss

NONI SAID





Umm I never said it was here that it has happened to me. It has happened and it continues to happen, so much so that I most of the time refuse to discuss religion and belief with most people. You never see me involved with those discussions because I believe what I believe, and everyone else believes what they believe and arguing about it does neither side any good. I think it pushes people further onto their own side of the coin. I also try to fight my own confirmation bias by reading articles about what religions teach and where that teaching comes from. I listen to my religious friend talk about god and their beliefs with cometary from me about what I believe.

Anyway I have to go for a bit. I have to go visit a friend of mine. I will explain more tomorrow.

My roommate Chappy has recommend a book to me called The Handmaids Tale, a fictionalized tale about what it would be like to live in a theocracy in America, which I intend to read and then come back to this discussion to give my thoughts on the book later. Chappy and I had a great discussion about what a theocracy would mean and she had some great insights for me. She studied the bible a lot more than I ever did. Being a born in I didn't really need to because it was fed to me on a thrice weekly basis. TTYL

THESILENCE SAID


http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/social/ ... ret-Atwood
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 4:20 am Post subject:
I actually thought the book When She Woke by Hillary Jordan spoke more to life in America as a theocracy than The Handmaid's Tale did.
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Just a clever, quiet, unusual entity living in near equanimity.

NONI SAID


I can't seem to be able to fix an error in my post above. I meant when I wrote " I listen to my religious friend talk about god and their beliefs with cometary from me about what I believe." to add "without any" to that sentence so it should read as follows...



Please believe me that I never talk bad about someone for their spiritual beliefs or argue with them about god. If someone asks me what I believe, I am honest with them and tell them I do not believe in god, but I never act like people are stupid or dumb for not sharing that belief and I never belittle a persons faith. I simply state it as a fact.

QUENTIN SAID

NEVER!!!...A theocratic government creates more lawlessness among the ruled than good.

When Oliver Cromwell deposed king Charles Stewart the II { having Charles beheaded in the process } he, Cromwell, established such a from of rule.It was a heavy yoke laid upon the people of the realm. When Cromwell died his body was not even cold as people stumbled over themselves to bring the Stewart's back to the throne
A theocracy is man rule, being God rule in name only. It defeats its own purpose.




[/i]
_________________
Vinegar tasts better in freedom
than honey in slavery

How can you unterstand a thing unless you know it?
How can you know a thing unless you understand it?