would have to be something besides a prop he would actually have to open it

Did you know religion was only mentioned in the Bible 3 times and none in good context.

Where as faith, love, following God ect is numerous occasions





Religion is nothing but man made rules meant to oppress others "in the name of God" and while some intentions are good, over all religion is not.


This from a "Baptist" minister. AWESOME

Last edited Sat Mar 17, 2012, 09:05 PM - Edit history (1)

causes or systems of beliefs that are held up with too much ardor or extremism. Faith in the true teachings of Jesus become secondary and the compassion for others is lost. That is what happens to right wing religious fanatics when their positions become "my way or the highway." They want to push their own agendas, which are many times contradictory to what I understand to be a true Christian position.

and I think he was sending a message without naming names!

the way you did?

Here is my problem: I have many, many Christian friends and acquaintances who consider themselves "conservatives" because of their beliefs. I cannot fathom how they can justify as Christians the positions taken by politicians like Santorum, Bachmann, Palin, etc. Yet, they do support some of those types and some even have fallen for the teabaggery foolishness.

How do I know this? Facebook, with all of its shortcomings, irritations, and faults, can be a real eye opener when you watch people you know click the "like" option for right wing radical political sites.

Lewis Black said the other night that if you really believe in God you'll believe that he will handle the punishment thing. I don't need to usurp him.

and oh so on target!

That's where I saw the video. I recommend it to anyone who missed it.

My favorite, of course, is Matthew 25: 41-46.

Because it is so much more lyrical....the new versions seem dumbed down and clumsy to me...

Rom.2

[1] Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
[2] But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
[3] And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
[4] Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

[19] And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
[20] An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
[21] Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
[22] Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
[23] Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
[24] For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written

I like the NLV the best.


Our church used to be a Baptist church but about 2004 they changed from a Baptist to just a non-demoninational truth seeking church that wants to follow God.

Since we did that, we have gone from two services on Sunday to three on Saturday and in April are adding a 3rd service on Sunday as well.

I believe people are getting tired of "religion" and just searching for their path.

But it is ironic that people call themselves fundamentalist when the fundamentals of Christian religion is far from them...they actually in most cases do the opposite of what Jesus told them to do.
So congratulation and I hope it works for you.

The Bible can justify ANYTHING.

what our pastor was saying tonight!

No, I'm not making that up...!

This link is offered to elucidate, but it is not an endorsement in any fashion:

http://www.catholicity.com/commentary/carlin/05386.html

why am I not surprised

It seems like so many of the politicians are Christian but constantly support abuses against the least among us. It's made me question if any of them have actually read the book for themselves or if they have simply relied upon the word of others, Left Behind novels and Charlton Heston movies.
Maybe some of the more influential Churches have learned over time it's better not to possibly offend someone powerful by focusing too much on compassion & forgiveness and instead laying on that fire & brimstone from the Old Testament that makes them feel justified and leads to larger donations.

the infallibility of the Pope.

Most Bibles hither and yon are "King James" and iterations of that--which means, they're "Prod" books--created by Protestants and thus not correct.

Again--not an expert, that's just a sense I get from the bit of this-n-that I've heard over the years.

The scripture does not mean what you say it means. What it actually means is (insert belief here)

The scripture is referring to other sects, not my sect, therefore the scripture does not apply to me and what I am doing.

The scripture is actually a metaphor for (insert belief here) and not intended to be taken literally.

Look! Over there! A gay person!

that it is just a method of controlling people

It's also amazing how so many self-styled "Christians' only seem to follow the Old Testament instead of the New.

Occupy Wall Street. It is scathing in its criticism of people who oppress and cheat the vulnerable.

The earlier books have a lot of "the wrath of God" stuff and document old tribal customs (Leviticus almost reads like an anthropological study), but the later prophets say a lot of things that the would give the right-wingers pause if they ever bothered to read them.

To say that the Old Testament is all fire and brimstone is disrespectful to the Jewish tradition of fighting for social justice, which goes all the way back to the Hebrew prophetic tradition.

so this argument falls flat with them...they look at you with dopey doe eyes and spout the verses they care about that supports their ignorance....

and can't back it up

that Jesus never mentions abortion or homosexuality but continually condemns greed.