Stilkon asking for respect is no different from you asking for respect, Max, the two of you are equal, in fact, we all are.
Ever wonder why both homosexuality and religion are both grounds for protective treatment?
I think we forgot about religion.
I think it is kind of interesting that I ended up becoming a Christian because I wanted to live a tranquil, amicable life like my residence assistance friends (Buddhist leaning), but never could.
The RAs would frequently talk me out of my attitude against the campus fellowship. I especially wanted the follow the example of one Rachael Meads, but I could not. Then I became a Christian and I stopped having anger management problems at individuals or categories of people.
I did thinking about the charity and foreign students thing too.
No, it is not a Christian thing to refuse them, but it would have been more consistent with the behavior of my parents, who were Lutheran only in name.
Somehow I am doubting they would have done as well for themselves if they could have been talked out of their treasures on earth.
Ever wonder why people who are more successful often hold on to their money better?
I'm not thinking like a Christian I am thinking like a, well, a Marsh.
Part of the success was an accident anyway, CJ. Mom thought she'd give up a promising career (secretary, tax, legal, something like that) after she had kids. It took her 13 years to have the first, me. I'm not sure if her idea of retirement was some secluded area of WV, but I'm sure it was Dad's idea. I know that they had prepared for things like retirement for absolutely years before I was born. Like people should. And they almost never carried a credit card balance. Like people should.
To what extent people should be generous with their money, and to whom and for what purpose, I guess is really a personal decision.
What do Dostum and Palpatine have to do with Christianity?
Wow, that Dune guy (the Baron?) looks like Fat Bastard!
How about a parallel thread Why Christianity (or any religion) Can Be Positive Too?
Everything has good and bad qualities, everything imperfect people are involved in making....
and every religion you see, like the moon, there is a side you do not see, unless someone tells you about it. Notable examples are Christianity and Islam.
Leviticus: that was then (it was terrible reading, but the world has moved on)
Jesus: this is now
Jesus: the idea is if you are trying to go in the right direction, He will launch you there, just keep looking up.
Now I did watch a particular episode of NOVA on intelligent design and I saw a bunch of self-proclaimed Christians acting like a bunch of chimpanzees (who are actually more violent than your usual primate, especially in groups)....
But there are SOME... Christians who derive a sense of peace out of it all and it kind of ruins peace to hate somebody, why would I get off of my cloud nirvana to go hot and bothered and phone up a death threat against someone?
I'll stay on my cloud. It's really nice believing the world, yes, is messed up, but not forever, and there is something better than it, and Someone wants to rescue you, but you have to want to be rescued.
So it doesn't seem like hate at all to a genuine Christian, but you really have to look hard to see them.
I'd celebrate it the same in June..... here comes Santa Claus on his horse and wagon bringing gifts for the kids..... he has no beard because it is so hot..... and he is thin too.
Reminds me of my sociology textbook of a Christmas display in Nigeria or something.... how the British concept of Christmas (winter gear) diffused to that African country (where it is hot in December) ....
I'd celebrate it the same in June..... here comes Santa Claus on his horse and wagon bringing gifts for the kids..... he has no beard because it is so hot..... and he is thin too.
Actually, no. Christmas in the southern hemisphere IS celebrated in the equivalent of June - and (big & fat & jolly) Santa has the full Coca-Cola outfit, COMPLETE with beard, all the shops have snow scenes and there are wooden snowmen for the kids to stick in the garden....
Let's be sure to distinguish between the pure religious aspect of it and the politicized American Republican aspect of it- I will be glad when Bush goes home in 2009, too. Sometimes it is necessary to specify which religion is wrong and why.
I don't think the Catholic church had tithing as such but they do have planned giving. Some other churches are still very strong on tithing and guilt trips are laid on people to get them to tithe.
The early Americans used to make children read so that they could read the Bible (and interpret it by conscience).
2 Corinthians 9:7 (Whole Chapter)
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Guilt trip? Read that, and you take a trip.
Yes, tenaciouscj, you are right about that verse, and I felt really bad about having given mathematically 10% of gross income between June 1994 and February 1997.
There was a curious moment at a church in Hedgesville WV, we were talking about characteristics of cults, one was compulsory giving,
and then I asked, "but I am tithing and I have to, right?"
That was kind of like the time I asked if Jesus washed the feet of a disciple, and men took the example of Jesus, should not a man change a diaper?
Uh, uh, uh, uh.....
Most of the idea of going to church is fellowship, someone to watch your back, because the faith teaches you have an Enemy like a roaring lion looking to devour people (Satan). He can't take away your salvation, but he could help you commit suicide (people debate whether suicide would render salvation void), or could otherwise incapacitate you so that you are unable to share the Good News and help other Christians.
In other words, one badly injured Christian, or in spiritual warfare terms, one for the M*A*S*H unit, stat.
Other purposes of going to church would include
* praising God
* learning something about the Bible
* learning about the lives of your fellow Christians
* an opportunity to pass the plate
* get emotionally turned on by watching someone get baptized (signed on to the faith)
* confessing sins (depends on church) out loud at confessional or silently at the altar
* sharing rituals such as cracker bits and grape juice (Baptist) (body and blood of Jesus) (V8 would actually resemble blood better), some Christian churches may substitute a wafer or real alcohol, and may use a shared cup or pieces off a shared loaf of bread
I was at a funeral in a Catholic church. My boss was not Catholic or even Christian or religious but his brothers or father asked for the religious service. I declined (honestly) the Catholic wafer: I am a general Protestant (oh no, how did I get in there?).
I am equally extremely comfortable in a Methodist or Baptist setting, very comfortable in a Seventh Day Adventist setting (minus the carnivorous nature I need to suppress), and somewhat comfortable in a Lutheran setting, although the ritual is kind of like a starched shirt to me. It's been years since I have been in an Assembly of God church and the experience was painful but I think if I gave it a chance it would be comparable to Methodist or Baptist. I am probably non-denominational Protestant Christian.
Sometimes, can't your OCD make you susceptible to giving compulsively for the wrong reason? Then you feel taken. Anyone else think so?