Religion Questions??

[WilyWestbrook0]

The only reason I resent it is because certain people feel that they have the right, privilege and duty to attack me and try to change me because I have different spiritual and philosophical beliefs than they do.

This happens to everyone of any conceptual persuasion. People who think that only Christians do this are greatly mistaken. No human beings are good at keeping their ideas to themselves. You and a couple of other posters have been quite outspoken against Christianity and the Bible on these forums. Do you mean to tell me that you and all other non-Christians aren't interested in trying to persuade others to your views?

[ensbergcollector]

I have a question for you, do you have a religion?

Also I was curious about revelation, all of those beasts and creatures confuses me and I don't do organized religion but I know a few people at DUKE and Cambell divinity schools (I do God on my time I guess you could say). So I don't have a pastor I could ask these with.....well I do I just don't make time to do it. Also I know many pastors/rabbi who get together w/ others when they have questions themselves about the Bible/Tanakh that they don't understand their interpertation, do you?

There are numerous ways to interpret a lot of revelation. There are parts that are simply giving us a glimpse into Heaven but the rest is, in a lot of ways, metaphor and imagery. I think the point of revelation is more about the holiness of God and his desire to redeem us then it is about what the numbers mean and all the other debates. Now, I enjoy debating, but as far as what we are to glean from it, I plead I don't know the answer.

[walt55054life]

The older definition of "jealousy" is earnest concern, which is not a sin, and has nothing to do with differing standards applied to human and God jealousy. Only in the last few centuries has the primary use of the word changed to what it means now, much the same way that "nice" used to mean miserly, but no longer is that the primary understanding of the word. Blame humans and their tendency to change language meaning for that, not what the writer of the Biblical verse wrote.

As for gatorboymike's other concerns, it looks primarily like the Old Testament is what bothers you, especially the many laws condemning people to death, etc. Actually, this is entirely understandable, and it's one of the reasons I experience difficulty in faith daily (I think many Christians are dishonest with how strong their faith is; either that or I struggle greatly with doubt more than I should). It's much easier to focus on what Jesus said, such as "love your enemies," and "turn the other cheek" instead of "an eye for an eye" (the latter of which itself is an Old Testament law). The Jesus principles are what draw most people into Christianity, and are also responsible for the view of a loving and forgiving God. It's reconciling the different testaments that is perhaps the most difficult aspect of Biblical faith. You can't say that the Westboro people are adhering more to the Bible more than others have, only that they are adhering more to literal Old Testament interpretation; they certainly aren't adhering to Jesus' primary principles.

I want to second this for gatorboy, and say you pointed out a great point that I had forgot about. God sent his son to suffer as we humans do to prove to us that he is almighty and that he doesn't make exceptions. For me it's he is God and there is a reason why

[ensbergcollector]

What happens to atheist, agnostics, devil worshippers, and people from other religions when they die? Do they all go to hell? Is there only one God?

And also, since you are a minister, would you ever baptize a ™™™™™™™ child who's parents were not married when the child was conceived?

If you believe the bible, then yes, those who have refused to accept God will go to Hell. Now, everyone focuses on the fire image of hell. In reality, hell is simply a complete absence from God.

I would absolutely baptize a child whose parents were not married. I would have no issue with that whatsoever.

[OnePimpTiger]

what does being saved mean?

It means accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior.

I was willing to be civil until you made it personal in my other post.

That had nothing to do with my personal feelings or beliefs. I'm happy to let you post as much of your hate as you want because it only works against you and shows how hypocritical you're being. That thread was shut down because it was unnecessarily offensive, malicious, and absolutely nothing good would come out of it. I wouldn't have replied to it at all otherwise...the post itself did more good than anything I could have said.

god torturing Job just to win a bet with Satan,

God has never given in to temptation, so that's not what happened. And it didn't involve killing thousands of people.

god destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, god killing the entire world in the great flood,

God has never said he won't punish evil...in both cases, evil was so abundant that vast measures were taken. Evil being punished is a pretty common theme across all religions, but if you don't believe it, then there's not much I can say to change your mind.

god instructing his followers to rove the countryside murdering every infidel they see,

I don't quite remember that one, you'll have to show me where that is.

god bringing plagues upon the Romans,

Actually it was the Egyptians and they were enslaving and causing suffering to God's people...so he saved them. Also didn't involve killing thousands of people.

god forcing the Hebrews to suffer in the desert for 40 years,

They had turned away from God after he had led them out of captivity. He was showing them they were still in control. Again, didn't involve killing thousands of people.

What about all of these:

People thinking for themselves? Kill thousands of people.
People asking you too many questions? Kill thousands of people.
People wanting evidence of your existence? Kill thousands of people.
People not giving enough money to the church? Kill thousands of people.
People having same-sex attractions? Kill the entire planet.
Game delayed due to rain? Kill thousands of people.
Dinner cold? Kill thousands of people.
Bored? Kill thousands of people.
Just killed thousands of people? Kill thousands of people.

No examples of those?

[WilyWestbrook0]

What happens to atheist, agnostics, devil worshippers, and people from other religions when they die? Do they all go to hell? Is there only one God?

My family and I have an exceptionally unconventional view on this to which conventional Christianity can be quite hostile. We believe there is an intermediary stage between human death and an afterlife, thus giving everyone the opportunity to make their final choice. If this weren't the case, what would happen to people like babies who died early, for instance? Babies do not have the full awareness to make a spiritual choice and be responsible for it. Some think they "all automatically go to heaven," but this is disturbing, because that would give people a reason to kill all their babies before growing up to ensure they get to heaven!

We also do not believe hell is eternal, which is perhaps our most controversial view. There are a host of reasons for this which I may attempt to cover at another time if people are interested.

[ensbergcollector]

Yeah that's something I've thought a lot about too. Like I said before, I don't think any religion has it all right. And how do we know God, Allah, etc aren't all the same entity being interpreted differently? That's why I don't think it's right to criticize someone else's religious beliefs, because they may be the same as yours with a different name. Obviously there are differences in religions, but at the core, they're pretty much the same for the most part. And the differences could just be differences in interpretation.

I will take the opposing view and disagree with this. If you are familiar with Christianity and Islam, they are not the same God nor do they claim to be. In order to be a Christian, you accept that Jesus was the son of God. It all hinges upon that belief. However, since islam doesn't make the same claim, then you cannot reconcile both together.

[gladdyontherise]

i can't agree with the bible at all, why you ask....well, i'm jewish
so i will never read it or care to do so, i've already had my bar mitzvah and read from the torah (same type of thing as the bible)

but here's my question, if the bible is so right and everything, why did he create people who have killed millions and millions of jew's since the existence of humans. what did jew's do wrong? because they wanted there own country? i'm lost.....

and also, not saying all, or trying to start fuss, but of any religion that i have seen or heard of, christians just hate jew's. not trying to start problems, i'm stating this is the case i've read since the begining of time in textbooks are from real world expierence

also there is so much torture to jew's. i get harrassed about being jewish alot, and for no other reason than its a minority religion and christians think they are better (or most do)

anyone care to answer my questions?

[WilyWestbrook0]

ie anger is a sin(anger in western culture is viewed as completely different than how is was viewed 2 thousand years ago

Anger per se is not a sin, but some of the actions we take while angry can be. If anger per se is a sin, then Jesus becoming upset at the people in the temple would obviously become a problematic passage.

[walt55054life]

i can't agree with the bible at all, why you ask....well, i'm jewish
so i will never read it or care to do so, i've already had my bar mitzvah and read from the torah (same type of thing as the bible)

It's actually called the Tanakh as the Torah are only the first 5 scriptures--just pointing that out not meaning to be a jerk

but here's my question, if the bible is so right and everything, why did he create people who have killed millions and millions of jew's since the existence of humans. what did jew's do wrong? because they wanted there own country? i'm lost.....

I think man evolved as it states man came from the soil(is my explaination of how man evolved form something God did create) anyway I'm not sure why God created a lot of things and don't have an answer for that I still spin in my brain about this sometimes.

and also, not saying all, or trying to start fuss, but of any religion that i have seen or heard of, christians just hate jew's. not trying to start problems, i'm stating this is the case i've read since the begining of time in textbooks are from real world expierence

You should watch "Constantines Sword" might answer some of your questions. Jews have been hated before there were christains (egyptians)

also there is so much torture to jew's. i get harrassed about being jewish alot, and for no other reason than its a minority religion and christians think they are better (or most do)

I have been to the synagaoge before and I would say that jews think they are better than christians, and christains think they are better than muslims, and muslims think they are better than buddists---that make sense, we all believe our religion is better, but I agree I think most Christians don't like the Jewish faith b/c they don't believe Jesus is the son of God and they supposdivley (sp) put him to death<--(once again watch "constantines sword")

And I am sorry you take crap for being Jewish I hate that.