CHRISTIANS

[Dzone]

Re: CHRISTIANS

^indeed Klash.
There are many people who would RATHER BE RIGHT than BE HAPPY.

Quite sad really.

This topic is important. It poses many questions that people should be thinking about and should be talking about.

People will not all agree and that is reality.

.

We would all greatly benefit by letting go of any and all judgmental attitudes which I believe are all rooted in fear. Be it fear of not being accepted, fear of being alone, fear of abandonment, fear of the unknown...

[Sal Paradise]

Re: CHRISTIANS

Thanks guys.

It's funny because I've never really been confronted about what is "right or wrong" from what some would call a bible thumper or much anyone for that matter. I've had discussion with others but I respect their right to personal belief as much as I do my own.
I've told others this before and my personal awareness and beliefs of some of the things I post about actually started when I was in the third grade and certain individuals of the religion that I was brought up in could not answer simple questions from a 3rd grader.
As I grew older the questions became greater and the answers fewer and even less logical. Not saying that faith is supposed to be a logical thing - probably far from it.
But I needed more.

I came to a lot of these personal beliefs from simply being, watchign the world as I see it, reading other "sacred" texts, etc.
I hold no prejudice for anyone and their beliefs as I expect that same respect in return.

The honest truth - in my opinion - is there is no right or wrong regarding faith specifically.

Sort of like the serial killer who truly believes they're doing the work of GOD - are they wrong in their faith?
It sounds like a simple answer but it isn't. They are wrong by society and wrong by most peoples viewpoint but it makes one think.
Of course I can't honestly say if any of the individuals such as these truly believe what they're doing is right or more using it an a piss poor excuse/reason - but it makes for an interesting thought.

They are doing right by what they truly believe are they going to be judged harshly when they? If of course that is even what happens.
Are the suicide bombers doing what they do in the name of their GOD wrong??
Different people have different realities and different beliefs of what happens to their souls after this version of life. And as uncomfortable as it may makes us and as much as we may say it's wrong by their belief and faith they are doing the right thing.

It's kind of F'd up when you think about that.
The root of the problem starts many times with those who simply cannot be understanding of others having a different point of view for what ever reason and trying to get everyone to fall in line with their beliefs - sort of like missionary work to being Christianity to the areas of the world who are still considerd pagan and godless. What right do they have to do so? Why does it benefit anyone to go to a third world country in the jungles and try to be the life of Christ to them? Did they need it? Who really give s flying Fawk if a 83 year old woman in the jungles of Brazil who eats monkey brains and grubs ever finds GOD?
Maybe it's the fear that there can and will be someone with a differnt belief or faith that Dzone mentioned. I don't know.

Sorry if that went off on a tangent - I just start babbling and forget to stop sometimes.


That being said I should stop or I'll end up going on all night and we'll never bring it back to point!! LOL!!


Sal

[Klash]

Re: CHRISTIANS

Thanks guys.

It's funny because I've never really been confronted about what is "right or wrong" from what some would call a bible thumper or much anyone for that matter. I've had discussion with others but I respect their right to personal belief as much as I do my own.
I've told others this before and my personal awareness and beliefs of some of the things I post about actually started when I was in the third grade and certain individuals of the religion that I was brought up in could not answer simple questions from a 3rd grader.
As I grew older the questions became greater and the answers fewer and even less logical. Not saying that faith is supposed to be a logical thing - probably far from it.
But I needed more.

I came to a lot of these personal beliefs from simply being, watchign the world as I see it, reading other "sacred" texts, etc.
I hold no prejudice for anyone and their beliefs as I expect that same respect in return.

The honest truth - in my opinion - is there is no right or wrong regarding faith specifically.

Sort of like the serial killer who truly believes they're doing the work of GOD - are they wrong in their faith?
It sounds like a simple answer but it isn't. They are wrong by society and wrong by most peoples viewpoint but it makes one think.
Of course I can't honestly say if any of the individuals such as these truly believe what they're doing is right or more using it an a piss poor excuse/reason - but it makes for an interesting thought.

They are doing right by what they truly believe are they going to be judged harshly when they? If of course that is even what happens.
Are the suicide bombers doing what they do in the name of their GOD wrong??
Different people have different realities and different beliefs of what happens to their souls after this version of life. And as uncomfortable as it may makes us and as much as we may say it's wrong by their belief and faith they are doing the right thing.

It's kind of F'd up when you think about that.
The root of the problem starts many times with those who simply cannot be understanding of others having a different point of view for what ever reason and trying to get everyone to fall in line with their beliefs - sort of like missionary work to being Christianity to the areas of the world who are still considerd pagan and godless. What right do they have to do so? Why does it benefit anyone to go to a third world country in the jungles and try to be the life of Christ to them? Did they need it? Who really give s flying Fawk if a 83 year old woman in the jungles of Brazil who eats monkey brains and grubs ever finds GOD?
Maybe it's the fear that there can and will be someone with a differnt belief or faith that Dzone mentioned. I don't know.

Sorry if that went off on a tangent - I just start babbling and forget to stop sometimes.


That being said I should stop or I'll end up going on all night and we'll never bring it back to point!! LOL!!


Sal

That's why faith, any faith, needs to be recognized as what it is: a belief that is not consistent with reality and that is not supported by any facts or logic. Faith is a nice word for the irrational. When this type of thinking is used in any other aspect of life, other than the metaphysical, it is called psychosis. Is it not?

This is one of the main problems with our society today. When "faith" is accepted as a tool of cognition their is no way to have an intellectual debate. Persuasion is not possible; persuasion requires the use of facts and logic. Faith requires coercion and bribery. Once you accept faith as an a way to gain knowledge, you approve of the same process and make more acceptable the faith of a man that thinks it "god's will for him to go on a murdering spree"; for how are we to know what knowledge he has gained from his faith. Christians will think this comparison is ludicrous but is there really any difference in the way Jihadists treat infidels and how YHWH/Jesus/Holy-Spirt will treat infidels. The only difference is Jihadist's Allah allows his followers to begin tormenting the infidels before they die; where as Christians save the tormenting for their god.

I probably shouldn't have had that red bull earlier!

[TheChosen1]

Re: CHRISTIANS

My ex-girlfriend? I love her to death. But she was, what I called, hardcore Christian. That is, she believed in doing good so much that she neglected reality.

Too often, we'd go to Target or a grocery and while finding a place to park, she'd see a kid and tell me, "Go see what's wrong with him, he looks lost." Formerly being of LE, you can pick a person's game in a split second and I'd tell her, "Don't worry about him, he's okay." Of course this happened one night while I was with her and her kids (10 yr. old daughter and 9 yr. old son). She ignored me when I parked my SUV and she walked over to see if the boy (approx. 13 yr. old) was indeed lost. Instead, she returned telling me that he was asking people for money so that he can get his brother a PS3 game for his birthday.

Being that she ignored my suggestion, I let her have it as best I can without raising my voice in front of her kids. I explained to her that it's all a game. "People look lost so that people like you would show concern. You were lucky tonight that it was only a begging kid with possibly a faux story about wanting to get a birthday present for his brother. Next time, it might be someone who wants to rob you and me and even carjack me. Then what?" She gets upset with me and says, "WOW, thanks for scaring the kids like that." I replied with a sarcastic smile, "Well I'm sorry to scare the kids with my words but it's alot better than having them seeing a guy put a gun to their mom's head, wouldn't it? With all due respect to your Christian belief baby, you really should watch the news on TV or read a newspaper and see how stuff like that happens. Trust me, I read alot of reports like that on our teletype when I was on the force. And what's worst, you want to volunteer me to bring a lost looking person somewhere. So there, you're jeopardizing me and your kids."

On that note, she realized exactly what I was saying and assured me that she'd be more careful next time.

[daved150]

Re: CHRISTIANS

wow...church of dave just avoids all this bulshyt...too much stress...live and let live...you dont go to hell unless you deserve it...chilax! it'll be cool

[Dzone]

Re: CHRISTIANS

^LMAO! You got dat right bro...but whats more fun to talk about than the devil and hell and thats sorta shiyt? LOL.

[Sal Paradise]

Re: CHRISTIANS

^LMAO! You got dat right bro...but whats more fun to talk about than the devil and hell and thats sorta shiyt? LOL.

I tend to agree! It's a lot of fun when you get a group of people with some similar and some opposing views as long as it stays civil and respectful.

I have some pretty whacked ideas about some of this stuff and if any or all of it means a damn thing anyway.

But I'll let this go for a bit before I start down the road of "Sal's Twisted Reality"!! LOL!!


Sal

[Dzone]

Re: CHRISTIANS

I tend to agree! It's a lot of fun when you get a group of people with some similar and some opposing views as long as it stays civil and respectful.

I have some pretty whacked ideas about some of this stuff and if any or all of it means a damn thing anyway.

But I'll let this go for a bit before I start down the road of "Sal's Twisted Reality"!! LOL!!


Sal

Awww come on Sal, dont hold back...we want to hear more!!!letr er rip man!

[Dzone]

Re: CHRISTIANS

Yeah, intellectual honesty isn't a very popular characteristic in religion. It's ironic the one thing that my spiritually superior family is most ashamed of me for is the one thing I am most proud of - escaping the dogmatic chains of religion; the religious will relentlessly use fear and guilt to keep you from escaping their intellectual prison.

haleluyah to that brutha!

When you subscribe to a religion, you substitute nebulous group-think for focused, independent thought. Instead of learning to discern truth on your own, you’re told what to believe. This doesn’t accelerate your spiritual growth; on the contrary it puts the brakes on your continued conscious development. Organized Religion is the off-switch of the human mind.

[daved150]

Re: CHRISTIANS

Yeah, intellectual honesty isn't a very popular characteristic in religion. It's ironic the one thing that my spiritually superior family is most ashamed of me for is the one thing I am most proud of - escaping the dogmatic chains of religion; the religious will relentlessly use fear and guilt to keep you from escaping their intellectual prison.

yea....no shyt...they got plenty of things too be ahamed of you about....why that?...jeez.

[horsepwr]

Re: CHRISTIANS

haleluyah to that brutha!

When you subscribe to a religion, you substitute nebulous group-think for focused, independent thought. Instead of learning to discern truth on your own, you’re told what to believe. This doesn’t accelerate your spiritual growth; on the contrary it puts the brakes on your continued conscious development. Organized Religion is the off-switch of the human mind.

spiritual growth; Of course being one of the main reasons we're here too, for those that believe we continue, or the "spirit" conitnues on. As some of you have seen me point out the fact that electricity, which is what keeps us alive and activates brain activity, never dies. Electricity does not ever end. So that electricity within us. That tiny bit of electricity, that leaves our body lifeless, does in fact continue.

But point is. When one enters into blind faith, and believes that all is already known, and laid out for us...that the outcome is already known. Then, why even begin. What's the point of life then?
So, yeah, I agree with you, dzone, about the "shut off" of spiritual growth once engaged in blind faith.

That's a whole lotta life wasted. Time lost, and spiritual growth stalled, huh. How ironic can it get? I'm not claiming to know the unknowns by any means, but that's another good point. I'm not claiming to know the unknowns.

[Klash]

Re: CHRISTIANS

yea....no shyt...they got plenty of things too be ahamed of you about....why that?...jeez.

[Sal Paradise]

Re: CHRISTIANS

Awww come on Sal, dont hold back...we want to hear more!!!letr er rip man!

I'll have to put a little time into it - but I should have some general thing soon.

Can't take that much time out of the work day but maybe this evening.



Sal

[Dzone]

Re: CHRISTIANS

I wanted to take a second and say that I didnt intend to make this a post ripping on Chirstians in general. I think there are some issues that a lot of Christians need to become aware of. Nor should this thread be construed as a rejectioon of my own personal faith.

We have such a limited view and understanding most if not all of the time in regard to the bigger picture of life, but our greatest power is this: how we choose to react or respond to a thing. Otherwise, we can only guess and cannot see the full web of life that is connected to a person. I suppose this is why we should never cast judgment on a person because we have no idea where they have come from , what is going on with them, what has happened in their life to bring them where they are now, what tests they are having to face and why, what they need to learn...and so on.
This is also why love should be the foundation of everything we think say and do.

Love encompasses forgiveness, understanding, willingness, compassion, faith and hope. This is why Jesus said it is the greatest commandment.

Fear is the opposite of love and encompasses hate, jealousy, intolerance, resentments and keeps us alienated and from achieving our full potential as human beings.

cool man

[daved150]

Re: CHRISTIANS

I wanted to take a second and say that I didnt intend to make this a post ripping on Chirstians in general. I think there are some issues that a lot of Christians need to become aware of. Nor should this thread be construed as a rejectioon of my own personal faith.

We have such a limited view and understanding most if not all of the time in regard to the bigger picture of life, but our greatest power is this: how we choose to react or respond to a thing. Otherwise, we can only guess and cannot see the full web of life that is connected to a person. I suppose this is why we should never cast judgment on a person because we have no idea where they have come from , what is going on with them, what has happened in their life to bring them where they are now, what tests they are having to face and why, what they need to learn...and so on.
This is also why love should be the foundation of everything we think say and do.

Love encompasses forgiveness, understanding, willingness, compassion, faith and hope. This is why Jesus said it is the greatest commandment.

Fear is the opposite of love and encompasses hate, jealousy, intolerance, resentments and keeps us alienated and from achieving our full potential as human beings.

cool man

dude....i aint done 'shrooms in forever!!!!!