Religion

[bbsam]

The Apostle James I believe said faith without works is dead. It's not enough to just believe. Satan believes too. Jesus made it very clear that we have to do God's will, false prophet or not. And the Bible makes it clear that not everyone who claims Christianity will be saved. That those saved are a clear minority. If it were just a matter of belief it would be wonderful. But we do have to live a Christian life. Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement."

Performing works to prove ones faith is pathetic.

Faith compels action. It compels the sinner to repent and to be reborn again, failure after failure.

 

[bbsam]

No attempt is being made, you having faith is not the important thing,

Nothing in my post alludes to a belief that God does not allow babies in heaven. Quite the contrary I believe God bestows his Grace on all born that die in infancy, regardless of their parents belief's, and I believe God bestows his Grace to all unborn, aborted babies. I hope my belief pertaining to babies is crystal clear.
I was pursuing a line of questioning to reveal what I anticipated would be flawed theology, @bbsam chose not to answer the questions and chose to make untrue claims or assumptions of my beliefs.

Jesus warned about Pharisees.

 

[It will be fine]

What I do know about Christianity is that it had a civilizing influence on a very brutal world. We can point to all the hypocrisy, etc but ultimately most people trying to live by a moral code has allowed the world to move forward, to progress. Whether you love it or hate it it made the world a better place. Pushing all that aside hasn't improved things.

That argument doesn't hold up. Plenty of civilizations arose without Christianity. China, Japan and India come to mind. It's very debatable if convincing billions of people to believe in a mass delusion has made the world a better place. Faith allows good people to commit atrocities, like protecting child rapists so they can continue to rape.

 

[bbsam]

That argument doesn't hold up. Plenty of civilizations arose without Christianity. China, Japan and India come to mind. It's very debatable if convincing billions of people to believe in a mass delusion has made the world a better place. Faith allows good people to commit atrocities, like protecting child rapists so they can continue to rape.

I wouldn’t call viewing porn an atrocity, but yes I should do better.

 

[It will be fine]

I wouldn’t call viewing porn an atrocity, but yes I should do better.

Not in general, but maybe that weird stuff you watch.

 

[vantexan]

Performing works to prove ones faith is pathetic.

Faith compels action. It compels the sinner to repent and to be reborn again, failure after failure.

Then we are in agreement.

 

[Old Man Jingles]

Ask the folks about that order. Christians had to build smaller churches than the mosques because they couldn't outshine the mosques. Families with more than one son had to give up a son to Ottoman Army and he was forced to convert. Any dissent was brutally put down. People converted to Islam to get better treatment and pay less taxes. 500 years of domination in SE Europe and they're still paying for it.

You are aware that the Christian church during the same period didn't allow any other religions under penalty of death. Islam did allow other religions in conquered lands .. Christians slaughtered even other Christians whose sect wasn't exactly like theirs. Ever hear of the Inquisition? Ever hear about The Cathers?
The Christian's even killed within their own sect such as the 'Noble Knights' of the Templar simply to get their wealth they accumulated during the ruthless crusades.
Ask some of the conquered lands (Colonies) about the brutality they suffered under Christian rule.

 

[Old Man Jingles]

Performing works to prove ones faith is pathetic.

Faith compels action. It compels the sinner to repent and to be reborn again, failure after failure.

Those two assertions appear to overlap although I agree with your point.

 

[Old Man Jingles]

Jesus warned about Pharisees.

Come down and listen to the Southern Baptists scholars if you desire to meet Pharisees.

 

[Old Man Jingles]

Not in general, but maybe that weird stuff you watch.

It's kinky ... And maybe weird on occasion.

 

[bbsam]

Come down and listen to the Southern Baptists scholars if you desire to meet Pharisees.

I’m sure we’ll meet up with them in Houston. The Lutheran youth gathering seems to draw their ire every three years. Strange thing for them to get upset about but they do.

 

[Old Man Jingles]

I’m sure we’ll meet up with them in Houston. The Lutheran youth gathering seems to draw their ire every three years. Strange thing for them to get upset about but they do.

Seems normal to me.
They are really serious about their scripture.

You know why Southern Baptists don’t have sex standing up?

 

[bbsam]

Seems normal to me.
They are really serious about their scripture.

You know why Southern Baptists don’t have sex standing up?

No why?

And how does a group of 12 to 18 year old kids learning about Jesus assault their sensibilities?

 

[Old Man Jingles]

You know why Southern Baptists don’t have sex standing up?

No why?

They don’t want anybody to think they are dancing.

 

[Old Man Jingles]

And how does a group of 12 to 18 year old kids learning about Jesus assault their sensibilities?

Strip club?

 

[pickup]

You sound like Martin Luther.

I think bbsam meant The Martin Luther from a few centuries ago.

 

[vantexan]

You are aware that the Christian church during the same period didn't allow any other religions under penalty of death. Islam did allow other religions in conquered lands .. Christians slaughtered even other Christians whose sect wasn't exactly like theirs. Ever hear of the Inquisition? Ever hear about The Cathers?
The Christian's even killed within their own sect such as the 'Noble Knights' of the Templar simply to get their wealth they accumulated during the ruthless crusades.
Ask some of the conquered lands (Colonies) about the brutality they suffered under Christian rule.

What you don't get is Jesus never asked anyone to kill in his name. There are Christians who believe that all killing is wrong but I believe murder is wrong, defending yourself, your family, your country isn't murder. But at any rate the Crusades were a reaction to Islam conquering the Holy Land. The Inquisition was actually fairly limited and was a reaction to heresy at a time when the Church was under great duress because of, you guessed it, Islam. Not saying it was right but it's incorrect to compare what happened in Christian Europe with what happened with Islamic conquest. Not on the same scale. Islam allows for conquest and domination of unbelievers. Christianity doesn't. Those who do such things in his name are actually not being faithful to the Christian faith. I've seen Christian bashers say Hitler was a Christian. Hitler put many ministers and priests in prison, executed quite a few. What he and his henchmen did wasn't Christianity and they will pay for it. Islam apologists try to say ISIS and others are corrupting a religion of peace. But the Koran clearly spells out killing those who resist domination. Islam isn't even peaceful amongst itself. But it has different sects and I've seen first-hand people living in peace. But those Muslims lived under communist rule for decades and just about had their religion tamped down to where they are just nominally Muslim. They even drink alcohol and eat pork. Much different from Muslims in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan who fervently believe they must push Islam on everyone else. There are Muslims in the U.S. who've assimilated nicely into our culture and contribute greatly. There are Muslims in the U.S. who've murdered their own children for acting too Western. I'm not worried about the former. And I'm not going to point to mistakes and sins committed by Christians in the past to prove some kind of moral equivalency. I'm concerned about that fairly large percentage of Muslims who believe that Western culture is evil, that Sharia law must be enforced, and any place that refuses to yield must be destroyed. It's insanity to let a million refugees into Europe without knowing who they are, and there's been a surge in crime everywhere in Europe where they've settled, as well as terrorist attacks. Hillary wanted to let hundreds of thousands in the U.S.. I've no problem with a Muslim doctor or engineer being allowed with his family to move to the States. Average man on the street? Not a good idea. Amazing that snide remarks get made all the time about American rednecks but liberals act like the Muslim poor are all saints who must be allowed in. Insanity.

 

[BrownArmy]

What you don't get is Jesus never asked anyone to kill in his name. There are Christians who believe that all killing is wrong but I believe murder is wrong, defending yourself, your family, your country isn't murder. But at any rate the Crusades were a reaction to Islam conquering the Holy Land. The Inquisition was actually fairly limited and was a reaction to heresy at a time when the Church was under great duress because of, you guessed it, Islam. Not saying it was right but it's incorrect to compare what happened in Christian Europe with what happened with Islamic conquest. Not on the same scale. Islam allows for conquest and domination of unbelievers. Christianity doesn't. Those who do such things in his name are actually not being faithful to the Christian faith. I've seen Christian bashers say Hitler was a Christian. Hitler put many ministers and priests in prison, executed quite a few. What he and his henchmen did wasn't Christianity and they will pay for it. Islam apologists try to say ISIS and others are corrupting a religion of peace. But the Koran clearly spells out killing those who resist domination. Islam isn't even peaceful amongst itself. But it has different sects and I've seen first-hand people living in peace. But those Muslims lived under communist rule for decades and just about had their religion tamped down to where they are just nominally Muslim. They even drink alcohol and eat pork. Much different from Muslims in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan who fervently believe they must push Islam on everyone else. There are Muslims in the U.S. who've assimilated nicely into our culture and contribute greatly. There are Muslims in the U.S. who've murdered their own children for acting too Western. I'm not worried about the former. And I'm not going to point to mistakes and sins committed by Christians in the past to prove some kind of moral equivalency. I'm concerned about that fairly large percentage of Muslims who believe that Western culture is evil, that Sharia law must be enforced, and any place that refuses to yield must be destroyed. It's insanity to let a million refugees into Europe without knowing who they are, and there's been a surge in crime everywhere in Europe where they've settled, as well as terrorist attacks. Hillary wanted to let hundreds of thousands in the U.S.. I've no problem with a Muslim doctor or engineer being allowed with his family to move to the States. Average man on the street? Not a good idea. Amazing that snide remarks get made all the time about American rednecks but liberals act like the Muslim poor are all saints who must be allowed in. Insanity.

Oh, FFS.

I’m glad you have an amazing narrative about what you personally believe.

I wish you would just leave it at that.

This is case-in-point why y’all Bible-thumpers bum me out.

Believe whatever you want to believe, but keep it the to yourself.

 

[BrownArmy]

I don’t push Celtic myths on you, do I?

Cú Chulainn

 

[Old Man Jingles]

Oh, FFS.

I’m glad you have an amazing narrative about what you personally believe.

I wish you would just leave it at that.

This is case-in-point why y’all Bible-thumpers bum me out.

Believe whatever you want to believe, but keep it the to yourself.

The teachings of Jesus are relevant to everyone.
As Gandhi said, “I like your Jesus very much ... I don’t care for you Christians much at all.”
That was from memory but that’s the gist.

Most religions are fine ... the humans suck.