7 replies to this topic

[chgolatin2]

I'm more spiritual than Religious for a reason, during my studies in College I took a class in theology. We've learned that in this beautiful world of ours we have over 3,500 different styles of religious faith, such as Christianity, Catholics, Muslim, Mormons, etc etc and the list goes on. We also studied about how religion was created or was forced unto those that were called "beast" such as the Indians and others to name a few. Catholics & so called Christians, murdered, poisoned, beat, raped and killed those that didn't believe in "Their" religious teachings, so basically these so called "Crusaders" we no different than radical muslims of today. Also, if some of you are not aware. Catholics created a man made law that "Priest" were not allowed to get married to any woman due to the fact that is their was a divorce, the woman or better said "Wife" would reap the benefits and riches of the Catholic Churches. I often wondered why a MAN that decides to become a Catholic priest endures such a horrible experience. Wasn't a MAN & WOMAN created for a reason? Hmmmm?

Also, these radical Catholics & Christians are a bunch of hypocrites, sinning, raping and abusing little boys and girls, having affairs outside of their marriages, getting rich of the poor and demanding 10% offerings from their members in Church. Do these people know that some of their members are in dire need of serious help? Such as unemployment, divorces, drug addiction, etc etc etc and they dare demand money from those that can't and if you don't give you will be looked upon like a sinner or a bad person! Church, Religion, Priest, should consider working their faith for FREE and not demand, ask, or passed the plate of offering 3 or 4 times during mass, that's just crazy and abusive. Also, why are Christians on T.V doing commercials, buy this, call our "Prayer Hotline" and give whatever you can give to us! These people are becoming RICH, MILLIONAIRES and on what basis??? Religion and Hypocrisy! Now I am not saying that I don't believe that their is a God, however, I choose to believe in Spirituality rather than being forced to believe that I'm a so called "Sinner" base on someone else's doctrines.

Faith should be a personal thing, between you & your God! You don't owe anything to anybody, however you should be grateful EVERYDAY that you wake up and have another day and another opportunity to do what's RIGHT! Besides, life is meant to be lived to a complete FULLEST! Your not guilty or a sinner, your a human individual with certain attributes and lastly, NOBODY and I MEAN NOBODY is PERFECT!!!

[\SHINE/]

Yup I agree with you on a lot of things bro, In fact your spirit lives within your body and not a religion. In fact GOD's Spirit the HOLY SPIRIT is a spirit and not a religion also. In fact Man's problem is pride and he set's him self up as GOD in his own life CHURCH and everything else and never seeks GOD's face and dies to all that is of man and the flesh. When we get rid of our Religous ways and views and surrender all our Plans, GOD's Spirit will then be able to connect with our spirit and take 1st place in our lives

There for you get the problem of most religions being hipocritical and condeming others with the stench of self righteousness wich is infact destible in the sight of GOD. (PRIDE ) which says i'm better than those Sinners. Religon says this is the only way, your way is lost. But GOD says I am the way not your religion!

And in fact all are short of the glory and unclean in his sight, But thank God if we place our faith in Christ , HIS BLOOD and the Finnished work of his CROSS God see's Christ's righteousness and his covering over our lives. We are then covered with his Glory and acceptable in his sight no matter who we were or what we have done.

You don't need man's religion to be spirital, A hunger in your heart for GOD is all you realy need. God can take care of the rest in our lives that will be for our good. Man and most relgions will try to do that and fail misserabley.

Those with a true heart for GOD will be more interested in giving and helping others than what he can receive. (religions included!)

Imho.

peace brotha.

[piotr]

my thoughts, although not exactly on point with the above:

organised religion tends to be about money and power, to varying extents but i'd say that its across the board, all "faiths". from one point of view organised religion is the business of making money from spiritualism / faith. not to say that money / politics / power is the only purpose of it. but no doubt organised religions' "currency" so to speak is significantly devalued and tainted by this. nevertheless, ask yourself how is the word meant to be spread, people saved etc etc without taking in money in order to grow and reach out to those who need help? consider what's been going on with the catholic church in latin america last 20 years.

thats one of the great contradictions of mainstream organised religion in my view, although possibly an inescapable one, of faith and the propogation of faith being intertwined with corporate structure, business whatever you want to call it

piotr

[chgolatin2]

AMEN!!!

[VIP 101]

Religion is a control mechanism set in motion to control the people!! All laws are based on religion, here it's Catholic/Christian, the middle east is on the Qur'an ect.. Roman Emperor Constantine's people needed to unite because there where way to many Pagan religions in his land causing alot of grief. Constantine himself didn't get baptised til on his death bed!! Constantine believed in the Sun God (I do believe) right up til he was on his death bed! There are people who say Constantine made up the Catholic Religion to unite his people. Either way, the bible probably has some Pagan influence in it. By the way the Catholic Church is the 3rd biggest Corp in the world, did you know they invested in weapons during the war. Thou shall not Kill, wtf? lol don't get me started..

http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/...w-of-investing/

[chgolatin2]

"Religion is a control mechanism set in motion to control the people!" Yes indeed, very true! Has anyone seen the Book of Eli? Pretty interesting concept, just pay attn to the bad guy that want's the "book" to control the people and have power over them. Church is a business where Pastors, Preachers, etc ask for 10% from their member's salary. Amazing! The weirdest thing is that some if not most people that attend church services are either in bad times, hurting financially, emotionally, spiritually, mentally and the list goes on. Meanwhile they past the "offering" plate around for money. I don't see Pastors, Preachers or whatever you want to called them "starving or hurting" in fact, I have seen with my own eyes a Pastor wearing a brand new "Rolex" I'm pretty sure that with the money he paid for that watch he could of fed a few needy people if not many, in fact he didnt pay for it, the church members did! WTF~ is wrong with this picture?

[VIP 101]

The collection Plate lol. We all have to PAY for forgiveness. That has to be one of the easiest ways to make money. I'm going to have to look up how that started. Look up Archeology facts and you'll start to see a very different picture. You know what the book says, now find out how and who made it and judge for yourself. My brother (Christian) and I talked about this and he agrees the flaws are there, but he's convinced that the message is the same. The book has helped alot of people, it's meant for what YOU get out of it, not anyone else. That's the problem my brother says, is that everyone thinks there right when it was meant for what it means to YOU as an Individual and not everyone else. I personally think Jesus was trying to get his throne back by claiming he was a descendant of King David and they glamorized the story to make him godly like (With heavy influence from the Sun God Apollo). He would of been literly King of the Jews, Son (Descendant really) of David!

Messiah is an Aramaic word that means “the anointed” (Bible Dictionary: Messiah). In Old Testament times, kings were anointed to their offices, as were priests, high priests, and prophets (Cf. 1 Samuel 10:1, Exodus 40:15, Leviticus 21:10, 1 Kings 19:16). It is, therefore, fitting that Jesus is called the Messiah—the Anointed One—for He is Prophet, Priest, and King. David was anointed when he became king of Israel, and he, as heretofore quoted, “united the tribes into one nation.

[DragonRider]

I'm more spiritual than Religious for a reason, during my studies in College I took a class in theology.
Faith should be a personal thing, between you & your God! You don't owe anything to anybody, however you should be grateful EVERYDAY that you wake up and have another day and another opportunity to do what's RIGHT! Besides, life is meant to be lived to a complete FULLEST! Your not guilty or a sinner, your a human individual with certain attributes and lastly, NOBODY and I MEAN NOBODY is PERFECT!!!

If no one is guilty or a sinner then what exactly did Jesus take to the cross with him?

NOBODY and I MEAN NOBODY is PERFECT!!!

That is the whole point of the bible and proves the need for a savior. Saying that Nobody is perfect is the same as saying we have all sinned and fallen short. It is the essence of why we are separated from the one true God and the reason we need to be reconciled.
We serve a God who chose to reconcile us back to himself while "NOBODY and I MEAN NOBODY is PERFECT"
And he accomplished that by taking on our sin and shame for us to the cross. Jesus himself took the wrath we ALL deserve for our "NOT BEING PERFECT," so that he could forgive those who were willing to accept the free gift of his saving grace.
It is utterly amazing that a God who is so Holy he cannot bear to look at sin, so just that he has to judge sin, came up with a plan to save us from his judgement. He chose to take our sin and the judgement on himself. What other god does this? What other religion does this?
Does accepting that free gift make us perfect? NO, but it makes us righteous and it only does that because even that righteousness is a free gift from God. It isn't anything we have earned, so no man can boast or be proud. Everything we have in God is something we accept as a gift.

Does that make the Christian religion perfect? NO, because the church is still managed by fallen, imperfect men and women.

Now I am not saying that I don't believe that their is a God, however, I choose to believe in Spirituality rather than being forced to believe that I'm a so called "Sinner" base on someone else's doctrines.

If you believe there is a god, who specifically is he? Isn't claiming to be "spiritual" just a denial that there is one true God? After all, you don't have to name him.
No one wants to FORCE you or anyone else to believe you are a so called "Sinner"
Christianity is meant to expose everyone to the truth. Part of that truth is to get us to recognize that we are in a state where we need forgiveness to be reconciled to a God who cannot bear the sight or stench of sin.
Until we recognize that we are sinners, we don't know that we NEED God.
The Bible teaches that steel sharpens steel and in the same way God has chosen to use imperfect, fallen, sinful men to sharpen each other. We educate each other that we are sinners and need the forgiveness of God not only to be reconciled to him, but also to live "life to the complete FULLEST."