'What religion are you?' poll discussion

Mr.Harley_Quin

Adrian, you stagger me! You seem to understand the misery that cults bring, the backwardness of it all and yet you continue to prattle on about god. You are making it up to suit youyrself.

Try this. What would make you accept god is all in your head and not a real entitiy?

adrian_clark

Mr.Harley_Quin wrote: »

Adrian, you stagger me! You seem to understand the misery that cults bring, the backwardness of it all and yet you continue to prattle on about god. You are making it up to suit youyrself.

Try this. What would make you accept god is all in your head and not a real entitiy?

For many years I lived believing that god is a construct of mankind to create meaning to a seemingly pointless existence, i.e. the universe came from nothing and we are going to nothing and the unintelligent, through a process of natural selection somehow became intelligent. I thought that believers in god, the spiritual realm, and evil were deluded and believed the philosophical notions of Karl Marx, that religion was the opium of the masses, Sigmund Freud's idea that religion was a comforter and Niezsche's convincing writings where he challenged the motives of people who believed in God. If someone professed a love for a neighbour or stranger he would ask, "what's your motive for loving that person?" the idea being we all have a motive or a vested interest that drives our desire to love, to be moral, to show compassion.

Of course these ideas were constantly reinforced by the world around me. Each day I would be preached at through current affairs programmes, DJs on Radio One sharing their ideas, theatre, books, and the cinema. We live in a predominantly atheistic culture dominated by an educated liberal elite living with the impression that through their greater knowledge than the working classes they can solve the world with democratic politics and great causes. It's staggering how we pursue these agenda of social engineering and still families are wrecked by adultery, men failing to pursue their responsibilities, leaving many children without fathers. Women are forced to bring up children alone without the protection, service, dignity and respect offered by a faithful husband. Violence on our streets increases, our youth are uncontrolled, ill educated, the !!!!!! industry that abuses and exploits women and fuels a global sex industry is financed from the rural urban corner shops of Great Britain, Europe and the USA. We are leaving for the next generation of legacy of mess of greed and selfishness and many love it, support and preach about it's virtues of freedom and self determination while ignoring the poverty, suffering and abuse that surrounds us.

The point is that while living through all this train wreck of a world, while enjoying the vices it offered I kept seeing clues for there being more to it than just the physical world. That beyond my nerve endings, beyond the very tips of my fingers there was something more. However, the world's religions never offered a satisfactory answer. It wasn't until three years ago that I turned from what the world was offering to the poor galilean construction worker, who worked with his Step-Dad out in the Middle Eastern sun swinging a hammer, and who claimed to be God. Once I came into a personal relationship with Him, as the living God, creator of all things, the clues fell into place. What had seemed absurd; seemingly rational, educated, thoughtful people claiming that they had a Father in Heaven became a reality. So now I know He loves me, that I will spend all of eternity in His presence, that one day he will create a new earth and heavens and we will have new bodies to his glory.

I know that this seems too good to be true. It reveals that God is unlike any person who as ever lived and unlike any false god invented by any religion. Perhaps this is what scripture means when it refers to God's attribute of holiness, which means he is both different and good. I really don't mean to preach or offer advice simply share the news that Jesus Christ is who he said was, God, and did what he said he came to do; make mankind's religions obsolete and offer people His forgiveness for sins and new lives with hope, meaning and purpose.

Mr.Harley_Quin

Nothing anyone can do for you, Adrian. You have been taken. I hope you are happy, but please don't fill your kid's heads with it. If you fancy taking a break, please read some Carl Sagan books. His humanist view strikes me as far better than mumbo-jumbo.

Good day!

seven-day-weekend

Carry on, Adrian Clark, you are doing so well, declaring the love of Jesus to people who do not understand, just as he commanded us to.

May the Lord bless and keep you.

Salaam

Adrian, "Jesus Christ is who he said was, God" - not according to the following verses:
1. John 20:17 Jesus said I ascend to my God and your God. [Jesus has a God according to him]
2. John 8:28 Jesus said, "I do nothing of myself” [Can a God be this dependant?]
3. John 14:28 Jesus said, "My Father (GOD) is greater than I am" [So, how can Jesus himself be a God?]
4. Matthew 24:36 Jesus told his followers that no one (including Jesus) knows when the judgment day will come, only GOD knows.
5. John 5:30 Jesus told his followers that he couldn’t do a single thing of his own.
6. John 5:32 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. [Is this not talking about two separate entities?]
7. Luke 5:16 Jesus prays to God. [If Jesus was God, then why he is praying to God?]
8. Matthew 26:37-39 Jesus fell on his face and prayed to his GOD like Muslims do.
Notice: How the list contains explicit verses and/or words uttered by Jesus himself.

Vaila

i find all religion complete and utter bullsh-t, especially christianity, its flaws are too obvious , its one of the newest religions out there,utter mind controlling nonsense!!

adrian_clark

arran_m wrote: »

i find all religion complete and utter bullsh-t, especially christianity, its flaws are too obvious , its one of the newest religions out there,utter mind controlling nonsense!!

These are thoughts that are prominent in our culture and stem from a 300 year enlightenment experiement where it was envisaged science and logic would explain away God. These ideas have been reinforced by a raft of 20th century philosophers. The theory that religion is mind controlling found particular favour with the followers of Karl Marx who was a father to modern communism and from whom many of today's politicians, who favour state intervention and social engineering projects, took ideas.

Christianity is of course not new. The father of the early Christian Church is Abraham from the tribe of Israel who lived many thousands of years ago. The early Israelites were waiting the Christ who God promised way back in the garden (Genesis 3:15). I agree that those who claim Christianity have done much to bring shame upon themselves but you would be mistaken to reject Jesus Christ and all He did for you because of the sorry and corrupted behaviour of men. It was just those kind of cowardly men who brutally tortured and murdered Jesus. And men like that are doing the same today around the world to innocent people.

There is no mind control. You have complete free will to reject his promises just as people today who serve him by feeding and caring for widows, orphans, the homless and the poor have the option to but choose not to despite knowing that they risk persecution, prison and torture.

The point is that it is not mankind's false religions and failing oppressive political theories that promise life, it is Jesus: "I am the Truth, the Life and the Way, no one comes to the Father but through me". Do you see? He made an exclusive truth claim, it is Him or the nonsense, theories, ideas and religions the world offers.

Eventually every knee will be bow and every tongue confess. In the meantime you have the gift of life and your free will to make your choice. Choose well friend. Whatever nation, tribe, ethnicity or language you are an image bearer of God. You are loved beyond all measure with the same equal dignity, value and worth as any other man and woman that lives or will live. Have a good day.

Mr.Harley_Quin

arran_m wrote: »

i find all religion complete and utter bullsh-t, especially christianity, its flaws are too obvious , its one of the newest religions out there,utter mind controlling nonsense!!

Whilst I admire your stance, it would help if you were closer to the mark. Christianity came from Judaism (this is why it is funny when christians decry jews) and Islam popped up a few hundred years later when it was clear that this holy book scam really worked.

Then there is the Morman church and that was made up in 1840. Then there is the real nonsense like Scientology from the 1950s and of course Heavens Gate in the 1990s.

You see how this just keeps rolling. Before the big three there was Hinduism and Roman gods. It is a sad fact that humans need to cling onto something.

Mr.Harley_Quin

Salaam wrote: »

Adrian, "Jesus Christ is who he said was, God" - not according to the following verses:
1. John 20:17 Jesus said I ascend to my God and your God. [Jesus has a God according to him]
2. John 8:28 Jesus said, "I do nothing of myself” [Can a God be this dependant?]
3. John 14:28 Jesus said, "My Father (GOD) is greater than I am" [So, how can Jesus himself be a God?]
4. Matthew 24:36 Jesus told his followers that no one (including Jesus) knows when the judgment day will come, only GOD knows.
5. John 5:30 Jesus told his followers that he couldn’t do a single thing of his own.
6. John 5:32 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. [Is this not talking about two separate entities?]
7. Luke 5:16 Jesus prays to God. [If Jesus was God, then why he is praying to God?]
8. Matthew 26:37-39 Jesus fell on his face and prayed to his GOD like Muslims do.
Notice: How the list contains explicit verses and/or words uttered by Jesus himself.

SOOOOOOO, if you can see that the bible is shot full of errors, why can't you not see the same is true of the Koran? If they are wrong then the basis of these cults is wrong.

Red_Doe

Harley Quin, I admire your arguments a great deal, but even quoting common sense at a religious fanatic is a waste of time I`m afraid. They`re too frightened to look at any other truth but their own.
I`ve been a lifelong pagan but always kept myself to myself, yet when christians (and the occasional Islamist) have enquired about my beliefs, they tend to be the ones threatened by them, and afterwards I`ve been subject to much haranguing, verbal beating around the head, and in one or two cases, actual threats.
It never bothered me. I`ve learned to just walk away from them, because they invariably will quote at you from their man-written books ignoring the fact there are undoubted errors and political and personal agendas in these creeds, parrot-fashion, leaving you frustrated that it`s like talking to the proverbial (red doe chap 1 verse 2) brick wall.
I personally have no problem with whatever individuals want to believe. Where it becomes a problem to me is when they preach at me, trying to convert me, and failing that, continue onto veiled threats, or when these creeds impact on the world at large practicing a religious terrorism that people and governments are too damn scared to confront for fear of the inevitable backlash and cry of oppression and intolerance.
Then, I get snarly.
Fun debate though, leaves me smiling at Adrian trotting out the same old same old and wondering if he has one individual, independant thought.