10 Nov 05
Religion causes violence? no. Religion is often used as an excuse? correct. protestants and catholics, used in the broadest senses of the words possible, in ireland and muslims on 9/11 and in the London Bombings.
i'm sorry, but the only connection these people have with religions is that they say they are memebers. but anyone can say they are a christain. anyone can go to church (although few terrorists do...), however there is more to Christainity than that. it's a way of life. you are a Christain7 days a week, not just on a sunday between 11am and noon! the same holds for muslims, buddhists etc.
As Christains we are called to make disiples of other nations, not to blow up other nations. We are called to love our neighbours, not kill them...
10 Nov 05
Originally posted by geniusYou cannot dsimiss the responsibilities of these men by saying they are not true Christians or true Muslims. The fact of the matter is that they follow a religion, you may think it is wrongly interpreted, they do not. Religion in whatever form is still responsible for creating them.
Religion causes violence? no. Religion is often used as an excuse? correct. protestants and catholics, used in the broadest senses of the words possible, in ireland and muslims on 9/11 and in the London Bombings.
i'm sorry, but the only connection these people have with religions is that they say they are memebers. but anyone can say they are a christain. ...[text shortened]... er nations, not to blow up other nations. We are called to love our neighbours, not kill them...
10 Nov 05
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Originally posted by Starrmani'm not saying that they do not follow these religions, but that they meerly claim to. it's a bit different with the muslims, but in irelandthe majority of those claimining to to unionist and protestant/ repbulican and catholic do not attend church, do not read the bible etc. the only reason that people think they are Christains is because they tell people, although their loves do not reflect this in the slightest.
You cannot dsimiss the responsibilities of these men by saying they are not true Christians or true Muslims. The fact of the matter is that they follow a religion, you may think it is wrongly interpreted, they do not. Religion in whatever form is still responsible for creating them.
religion is not creating them, how can you claim this? as for the radical muslims, they are, well, radical. religion may be shaping them, but few muslims would call that religion islam. it is a perversion of islam. how many christains would call jahova witnesses christains? mormons?
10 Nov 05
Originally posted by geniusPerhaps the various religions should be more discerning on both their membership and their recruiting methods then. Until they are, the responsibility for these claiming-christians still lies with the church and the church has a duty to work towards an end to such problems. Do you believe, for example, that Ian Paisley is doing his best to bring understanding and acceptance?
i'm not saying that they do not follow these religions, but that they meerly claim to. it's a bit different with the muslims, but in irelandthe majority of those claimining to to unionist and protestant/ repbulican and catholic do not attend church, do not read the bible etc. the only reason that people think they are Christains is because they tell people, although their loves do not reflect this in the slightest.
10 Nov 05
Originally posted by StarrmanDo any of your friends attend church on a regular basis? I don't have a single friend or acquaintance in my age group that does, apart from some family.
Perhaps the various religions should be more discerning on both their membership and their recruiting methods then. Until they are, the responsibility for these claiming-christians still lies with the church and the church has a duty to work towards an end to such problems. Do you believe, for example, that Ian Paisley is doing his best to bring understanding and acceptance?
10 Nov 05
Originally posted by Starrmanthe membership critera for being a christain is simple. love jesus and ask him to forgive your sins. anyone can do it. there is no select membership, there is noone too lost.
Perhaps the various religions should be more discerning on both their membership and their recruiting methods then. Until they are, the responsibility for these claiming-christians still lies with the church and the church has a duty to work towards an end to such problems. Do you believe, for example, that Ian Paisley is doing his best to bring understanding and acceptance?
but anyone can claim to be a christain. anyone. even kirk!
10 Nov 05
Originally posted by Bosse de NageNo, none. I have a friend who was brought up a catholic and who still gets guilty enough to attend things like Xmas Mass and Eater services etc. But that's it.
Do any of your friends attend church on a regular basis? I don't have a single friend or acquaintance in my age group that does, apart from some family.
10 Nov 05
Originally posted by geniusYes but in any other realm, people would be called out and asked to prove in some way that they actually were. In religion you can claim what you like, when you like and there is no standard against which to assess either your commitment or your understanding of said religion. Don't you think the church should discern somewhat, or is it all about numbers?
the membership critera for being a christain is simple. love jesus and ask him to forgive your sins. anyone can do it. there is no select membership, there is noone too lost.
but anyone can claim to be a christain. anyone. even kirk!
10 Nov 05
Originally posted by Bosse de NageI see where you're going and I suppose you are right, but it's once you start ascribing definitions and doctrine to it that things start to require more than just an idle sense of spirit.
Would you say that that your friends are devoid of spirituality?
10 Nov 05
Originally posted by Starrmanwhy would it all be about numbers? on judgement day we shall not be asked "how many people did you convert?" (although turning people away from christ is bad. very bad. i forget the exact quote, but i think it's better from said person to have meerly died), we're gonna be asked "i was naked, did you clothe me? i was hungry, did you feed me?..."etc
Yes but in any other realm, people would be called out and asked to prove in some way that they actually were. In religion you can claim what you like, when you like and there is no standard against which to assess either your commitment or your understanding of said religion. Don't you think the church should discern somewhat, or is it all about numbers?
numbers is a meerly earthly thing. why would we bother about earthly things when there is heavenly things to bother about?!?
10 Nov 05
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Originally posted by geniusErm, because if you don't take care of the earthly things you might become a religious beggar bothering people for their shirts?
numbers is a meerly earthly thing. why would we bother about earthly things when there is heavenly things to bother about?!?
Traditional kabbalah states that you can only start mystical practice when your physical reality (home, job, family) is secure. What use is an afterlife-obsessed waster to anyone?
Of course that "spiritual poverty" may well be a source of power, but that applies only to professionals.