Christians on PH?

Author
Discussion

ciege

424 posts

99 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
Nanook

So, you’re not religious, but you believe that Jesus is the son of God, and you go to church once a week?

Yes, as I said it's the definition of religion I have a problem with. Just as I see Richard Dawkin as, as much a religious leader as Billy Graham etc.


You also disagree with various things the bible teaches, and some of the laws it sets out?

I said I believe in the two commandments which when Jesus was asked which are the most important, he replied love God and love your neighbor, I don't disagree with anything in the Bible, I have trouble keeping much of it, and some of it has been manipulated to suit human aims. So for example in one translation it can say that homosexuality is wrong, in another the same verse will read, sexual deviancy is wrong...I would say, someone is Gay, how should I respond, the answer to me is, treat them as you would want to be treated...!


I don’t go to church and I don’t believe in God. I’m not religious. You are. It just sounds like you’re not very committed to it.

Committed to what, going to Church, yes probably, which Church, if I go to Church every day, would you be more happy?

Am I committed, I believe in God and pray and thank God for the good things in my life. If I need to go to Church more often for this to be more true, then this isn't something I believe in.

I agree with you here, for some people they go to church and this is enough, I'm not like that, for me you're either in or out. If you're in (believe in Jesus) then you just do, regardless of whether or not you stand in the street, go to church or not. I would like to think that Jesus didn't want people to go through the motions, he wanted them to believe in him. Indeed towards the end of the bible there is a whole book which warns about exactly that. People who claim to follow him and abuse that position, this is the very religion that I'm not part of.

To me, having faith and being religious are two very separate things.


Incredibly illogical. People just pick the bits that suit them, and go with that. Anything they don’t like, or might be a bit hard to live with, day to day, they just don’t bother. It’s kinda funny.

No I accept fully my failings and in ability to live a better life, I'm just very thankful for Jesus and what he did.

I also appreciate that Christianity is one of the few faiths in which I as a failure am excepted and that no one by their actions can be better than I.

I don't pick anything, I know that coveting my friends wife is a wrong, I just trust in the Lord that he already knows that I cannot be perfect.

Again I think the larger question here is what do people really want from a Christian, someone who acts in a perfect way, no one can do that forever, it's humanly impossible.



What do you think heaven is? You talk about it like a place where everyone comes together in the afterlife. Can you explain how that might work? If you believe in it, you must have thought about it. If I live to be 90 years old, will I bump into my Dad who died at 55?

I've no idea, however I think age is a human concept, heaven is a place where you feel loved and are at peace, a very similar concept I guess to how you might see death.


Are the people that bh killed still going to love her, do you think?

Yes, they would be filled with love, they would love her and forgive her, they would not accept or forget what she had done.

She would feel their love and yet be fully aware of what she had done and the pain she had caused. That would be amazing for Keith and Her. He would filled with forgiveness and yet justified in the knowledge she knew what pain she had caused. He would know she finally saw her act in the entirety it was.

She too would know this, she know how much she took from Keith and his mother. She see the pain and suffering we all have and his mother searching for him. She'd know that pain and feel it. And yet at the same time she'd be loved and forgiven.

To me, that's some heavy st right there.!!!



Most people I know that are into religion can’t really explain why. A lot of them, I think, are scared. We’re mortal. We live, we die, there’s no proof at all of anything else. Just belief, that people use to make themselves feel better.

My parents and friends do not have any faith. I had a strange experience which I have never had again, when I looked for an explanation Christianity appeared to answer the experience I had had. Then the more I considered the faith, the more the building blocks for this life made sense and the areas in which as a Christian I should concentrate my efforts where far more rewarding than others.

Being a Christian gave me a sound basis and understanding for many of my life's concerns and priorities.


Sorry if I’m being rude, it’s just unusual to get to have a chat about such things and get rational responses, I appreciate your time.

You're not being rude at all, I love talking about my faith, I have a 6 year old daughter who's learning about the Hindu Creation Story at the moment which is really interesting and I'd like to read more about it.

Anyone who is closed minded about anything is an idiot and I've no time for them, if you're fascinated even though you're just curious, that's more than enough for me smile



Mr. H

985 posts

147 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
I think what Ciege is getting at the the difference between religion and having a personal relationship with God.

It's easy to be religious by going to church and being morally upstanding. In the Bible these religious people were called Pharisees and we still have lots of them today who think they are doing well but they actually haven't got to the heart of the message.

Whereas true Christianity is having a personal relation with God and trusting that Jesus died to save us from our sins. It is because of what he has done that we can freely come to God.

Using an earlier example, someone with tattoos can have a deep, loving relationship with God which is why we see many people who don't fit the stereotype. On the other hand, someone who gives away all their money, lives all the rules etc may never truly know God because they are caught up in being religious.

SpeckledJim

31,608 posts

253 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
Ari said:
SpeckledJim said:
How does a God-fearing Christian sleep at night having spent £100,000 on a car, when a malaria net is £2.50 and saves lives?

Aren't they honestly worried about justifying decisions like that to St Peter?
Odd question. confused

I'm not remotely religious but even I can see that the two aren't mutually exclusive - owning a £100,000 doesn't stop you buying malaria nets.
St Peter
"hey-up Dave. I'm St Peter, you're dead, and I suppose you'd like to come in?"

Dead Dave
"Ciao Pete, I did think the ground was coming up to meet me a bit fast, so 'dead' does make a bit of sense. Yes, I would like to come in, please."

St Peter
"OK, a bit of admin. In April 2016 you read an article about the effectiveness of malaria nets, and later that week, bought a new Range Rover..."

Dead Dave
"Umm, yes, I did."

St Peter
"Well, if you'd kept your old Range Rover and put the money into the malaria nets you read about, there would be 10 children alive on Earth today who are actually now in here with me, J and the big G."

Dead Dave
"Crikey. I see what you mean. But it was the V8 Autobiography, with the perforated hide. Really nice..."

St Peter
"Get lost, Dave. There's loads of this stuff in your file. Really rubbish Christianing. You knew the craic. We told you the good news, and you nodded along, and ignored it. You even sang the right songs on Sunday! You were taking the piss! Bye."


shakotan

10,697 posts

196 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
Vaud said:
I am an atheist but with a view that many of the stories in the bible are good moral codes, if that makes sense?
The same moral codes exist outside of religion. I've never been religious but also never killed anyone, stolen anything, or shagged another man's wife.

Eric Mc

122,032 posts

265 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
shakotan said:
The same moral codes exist outside of religion. I've never been religious but also never killed anyone, stolen anything, or shagged another man's wife.
You're not Jason Bourne then?

shakotan

10,697 posts

196 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
DrSteveBrule said:
Low Pro said:
I understand that some of you guys really have a issue with Christ, but ask questions if you really want to know more.
I've got a question:

If we were eating lunch and you started to choke on some food, would you want me to carry out the Heimlich manoeuvre or pray?
Similarly, why does God hate African babies so much?

What did he have against James Bulger or Elizabeth Fritzl?

Or, for that matter, millions of Jews...?

Low Pro

Original Poster:

200 posts

161 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
SpeckledJim said:
Ari said:
SpeckledJim said:
How does a God-fearing Christian sleep at night having spent £100,000 on a car, when a malaria net is £2.50 and saves lives?

Aren't they honestly worried about justifying decisions like that to St Peter?
Odd question. confused

I'm not remotely religious but even I can see that the two aren't mutually exclusive - owning a £100,000 doesn't stop you buying malaria nets.
St Peter
"hey-up Dave. I'm St Peter, you're dead, and I suppose you'd like to come in?"

Dead Dave
"Ciao Pete, I did think the ground was coming up to meet me a bit fast, so 'dead' does make a bit of sense. Yes, I would like to come in, please."

St Peter
"OK, a bit of admin. In April 2016 you read an article about the effectiveness of malaria nets, and later that week, bought a new Range Rover..."

Dead Dave
"Umm, yes, I did."

St Peter
"Well, if you'd kept your old Range Rover and put the money into the malaria nets you read about, there would be 10 children alive on Earth today who are actually now in here with me, J and the big G."

Dead Dave
"Crikey. I see what you mean. But it was the V8 Autobiography, with the perforated hide. Really nice..."

St Peter
"Get lost, Dave. There's loads of this stuff in your file. Really rubbish Christianing. You knew the craic. We told you the good news, and you nodded along, and ignored it. You even sang the right songs on Sunday! You were taking the piss! Bye."
The mistake your making is equating salvation to works. I am saved not because of the good I have done but because my hope is in Christ. No man/woman will ever reach the standard of "good" because we are all sinful, therefore if you sell all you have to the poor so you can say in pride I have saved lots of people from death then your no better than when you started.

However when you trust in Christ ie believe he is the son of God all of his perfect life is account to you, you are in Christ (which is mentioned in Corinthains)

Now... When a Christian is doing things like serving the poor etc they are doing not to say "hey I'm amazing", they say it because I myself have been served let me serve you.

Added to this though a Christian will say let me help you but let me tell you something far more important, the Gospel of Christ which saves people from death.

Evangelism is said to be like one beggar telling another beggar where to find the bread.
Really is that simple

Apologies for my spelling I am a bit dyslexic

ciege

424 posts

99 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
Also lots of people are asking why if there's a God does he allow babies to die and James Bulger to be murdered.

As a Christian I know God is upset when such things happen, he created the world to be perfect and it isn't.

However why is it God's doing when bad things happen?

Also people will then say okay so it isn't God's doing, however why can't he stop it, he can stop anything.

Then you have to ask, okay so where does he step in...

Child Killing - Yes
Rape - Yes
Abuse husband gets hit over the head - not sure
Attempted rapist gets shot - not sure
I want a Campervan - no
I have cancer - perhaps
I have cancer but I'm a rapist - no
I have cancer and I'm a rapist but I have a cure for cancer - yes/no/not sure

You see it's not as simple to say God allows this to happen therefore he is bad or doesn't exist.

Things happen, God weeps.

Jesus says, believe in me and treat your neighbor as you want to be treated and that's it in essence.

As others have said we have a new covenant, God will not intervene again (flood) he'll leave us to it...child kills, internet porn and facebook and all....


SpeckledJim

31,608 posts

253 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
Low Pro said:
SpeckledJim said:
Ari said:
SpeckledJim said:
How does a God-fearing Christian sleep at night having spent £100,000 on a car, when a malaria net is £2.50 and saves lives?

Aren't they honestly worried about justifying decisions like that to St Peter?
Odd question. confused

I'm not remotely religious but even I can see that the two aren't mutually exclusive - owning a £100,000 doesn't stop you buying malaria nets.
St Peter
"hey-up Dave. I'm St Peter, you're dead, and I suppose you'd like to come in?"

Dead Dave
"Ciao Pete, I did think the ground was coming up to meet me a bit fast, so 'dead' does make a bit of sense. Yes, I would like to come in, please."

St Peter
"OK, a bit of admin. In April 2016 you read an article about the effectiveness of malaria nets, and later that week, bought a new Range Rover..."

Dead Dave
"Umm, yes, I did."

St Peter
"Well, if you'd kept your old Range Rover and put the money into the malaria nets you read about, there would be 10 children alive on Earth today who are actually now in here with me, J and the big G."

Dead Dave
"Crikey. I see what you mean. But it was the V8 Autobiography, with the perforated hide. Really nice..."

St Peter
"Get lost, Dave. There's loads of this stuff in your file. Really rubbish Christianing. You knew the craic. We told you the good news, and you nodded along, and ignored it. You even sang the right songs on Sunday! You were taking the piss! Bye."
The mistake your making is equating salvation to works. I am saved not because of the good I have done but because my hope is in Christ. No man/woman will ever reach the standard of "good" because we are all sinful, therefore if you sell all you have to the poor so you can say in pride I have saved lots of people from death then your no better than when you started.

However when you trust in Christ ie believe he is the son of God all of his perfect life is account to you, you are in Christ (which is mentioned in Corinthains)

Now... When a Christian is doing things like serving the poor etc they are doing not to say "hey I'm amazing", they say it because I myself have been served let me serve you.

Added to this though a Christian will say let me help you but let me tell you something far more important, the Gospel of Christ which saves people from death.

Evangelism is said to be like one beggar telling another beggar where to find the bread.
Really is that simple

Apologies for my spelling I am a bit dyslexic
Sounds like you are taking a bit of a chance if you are gambling that God's overall 'be good, try your best' doesn't extend to wasting all your money on selfish crap, when you could be literally saving lives with it.

Considering the blink of an eye we spend on Earth and the eternity of bliss on offer, I'm not sure I'd be taking the risk.

Why not just be Very Very Good. It's only 80 years, isn't it?


Mr. H

985 posts

147 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
shakotan said:
Vaud said:
I am an atheist but with a view that many of the stories in the bible are good moral codes, if that makes sense?
The same moral codes exist outside of religion. I've never been religious but also never killed anyone, stolen anything, or shagged another man's wife.
Genuine question: Where do you think human morality comes from?

If we are all evolved from animals then why are humans the only species which don't follow the rules of nature? i.e. survival of the fittest. Why do humans say it's not ok for the strong to kill the weak the same way in which animals and all of nature work. We have morals which do not align with nature/survival of the fittest/natural selection and I believe this is because we are all made in the image of God. The book I mentioned a couple of pages back goes into this more and better than I can articulate. Even if you don't agree with me, it's an interesting question to ask yourself.

ciege

424 posts

99 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
Mr. H said:
Genuine question: Where do you think human morality comes from?

If we are all evolved from animals then why are humans the only species which don't follow the rules of nature? i.e. survival of the fittest. Why do humans say it's not ok for the strong to kill the weak the same way in which animals and all of nature work. We have morals which do not align with nature/survival of the fittest/natural selection and I believe this is because we are all made in the image of God. The book I mentioned a couple of pages back goes into this more and better than I can articulate. Even if you don't agree with me, it's an interesting question to ask yourself.
As a Christian too I'm less convinced by this argument. Apes have family units, so do, do the bluetits and ants in my garden. they don't kill one another.

I agree human morality is strong, however we still have survival of the fittest, living near Hull any weekend night you'll see this in action first hand.

For me, it's the clear simplicity and beauty of the Christian message which leads me to believe this faith is the closest to understanding the nature of God.

Also I'm especially intrigued by things the Phi (golden ratio) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio to me this speaks of a designer and planner to everything.

That and the fact the Genesis is a perfect match to the Big Bang Theory which we're only now beginning to explain.


Anthony Micallef

1,122 posts

195 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
ciege said:
Also lots of people are asking why if there's a God does he allow babies to die and James Bulger to be murdered.

As a Christian I know God is upset when such things happen, he created the world to be perfect and it isn't.

However why is it God's doing when bad things happen?

Also people will then say okay so it isn't God's doing, however why can't he stop it, he can stop anything.

Then you have to ask, okay so where does he step in...

Child Killing - Yes
Rape - Yes
Abuse husband gets hit over the head - not sure
Attempted rapist gets shot - not sure
I want a Campervan - no
I have cancer - perhaps
I have cancer but I'm a rapist - no
I have cancer and I'm a rapist but I have a cure for cancer - yes/no/not sure

You see it's not as simple to say God allows this to happen therefore he is bad or doesn't exist.

Things happen, God weeps.

Jesus says, believe in me and treat your neighbor as you want to be treated and that's it in essence.

As others have said we have a new covenant, God will not intervene again (flood) he'll leave us to it...child kills, internet porn and facebook and all....
How do you know? Where is the evidence?

ciege

424 posts

99 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
Anthony Micallef said:
How do you know? Where is the evidence?
Which bit?

shakotan

10,697 posts

196 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
ciege said:
Also lots of people are asking why if there's a God does he allow babies to die and James Bulger to be murdered.

As a Christian I know God is upset when such things happen, he created the world to be perfect and it isn't.

However why is it God's doing when bad things happen?

Also people will then say okay so it isn't God's doing, however why can't he stop it, he can stop anything.

Then you have to ask, okay so where does he step in...

Child Killing - Yes
Rape - Yes
Abuse husband gets hit over the head - not sure
Attempted rapist gets shot - not sure
I want a Campervan - no
I have cancer - perhaps
I have cancer but I'm a rapist - no
I have cancer and I'm a rapist but I have a cure for cancer - yes/no/not sure

You see it's not as simple to say God allows this to happen therefore he is bad or doesn't exist.

Things happen, God weeps.

Jesus says, believe in me and treat your neighbor as you want to be treated and that's it in essence.

As others have said we have a new covenant, God will not intervene again (flood) he'll leave us to it...child kills, internet porn and facebook and all....
What a cop-out.

God created Man (alledgedly), therefore he created cancer, rapists and murderers. To suggest he has no control over such things begs the question "then what is the point of God at all?"

ciege

424 posts

99 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
shakotan said:
What a cop-out.

God created Man (alledgedly), therefore he created cancer, rapists and murderers. To suggest he has no control over such things begs the question "then what is the point of God at all?"
Why is it a cop out, would you want a God that took over and didn't give you free will?

He didn't create rapists, he created man, man choose to sin.

He knew man could not help but sin and had a choice, he could kill us all as he did in the past - the flood.

Instead rather than break his promise he sent he son, who we promptly nailed to a tree for saying how nice it would be, for every to get along.

He did this, just so us dirty rotten sinners could get close to him again.

He made us, we messed it all up - the snake and apple thing.

He let his son die for us.

Why is that a cop out??

The point of God, is that he is our father and we are not listening to him, despite everything he does for us in creation and laws etc. and despite sacrificing his son for us.

I think he's done plenty, I think people are just simply choosing not to see what he's done.

But I appreciate why you would think this, not being a Christian, without faith it's the logical answer.

kowalski655

14,640 posts

143 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
Low Pro said:
snip....
Apologies for my spelling I am a bit dyslexic
Are you sure its not Dog you believe in then? rofl

ciege

424 posts

99 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
Agreed - I would argue my faith has some facts and I'm sure other would argue stuff they hear makes them feel good.

Being human is about being a collection of electrical signal, muscles, tissue and stuff...

But then again humans and bananas share 50% of their DNA, I think we're something more than DNA...

Dan_1981

17,391 posts

199 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
Where do you stand on evolution & all that stuff?

Dinosaurs etc?

That and God creating us all in his image from someones Rib?

shakotan

10,697 posts

196 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
ciege said:
shakotan said:
What a cop-out.

God created Man (alledgedly), therefore he created cancer, rapists and murderers. To suggest he has no control over such things begs the question "then what is the point of God at all?"
Why is it a cop out, would you want a God that took over and didn't give you free will?

He didn't create rapists, he created man, man choose to sin.

He knew man could not help but sin and had a choice, he could kill us all as he did in the past - the flood.

Instead rather than break his promise he sent he son, who we promptly nailed to a tree for saying how nice it would be, for every to get along.

He did this, just so us dirty rotten sinners could get close to him again.

He made us, we messed it all up - the snake and apple thing.

He let his son die for us.

Why is that a cop out??

The point of God, is that he is our father and we are not listening to him, despite everything he does for us in creation and laws etc. and despite sacrificing his son for us.

I think he's done plenty, I think people are just simply choosing not to see what he's done.

But I appreciate why you would think this, not being a Christian, without faith it's the logical answer.
Last time I recall, man didn't create cancer, or Ebola, or flesh-eating parasites, or malaria, or...

Do you see where I'm coming from?

Plus what about the victims of those who "chose" to sin. I take it God doesn't care about them very much? It's not like they chose to get raped/murdered/tortured/oppressed ad infinitum...



Edited by shakotan on Tuesday 28th June 15:40

Monkeylegend

26,389 posts

231 months

Tuesday 28th June 2016
quotequote all
ciege said:
Lot's of stuff about God
ciege, if God created earth/the world, why did he wait so long to create man?

You refer to God as he,does this mean God is human or does he take some other form?

Silly questions I know, but as a non-believer I often ponder these things. Am I missing something here?