thats not really a christian thing but a western thing. i mean just going to barnes you see shelves of books on zen buddhism and sufism etc. its easier to be spiritual than to be orthodox. plus given the extreme materialism that we're all inundated with...the spiritual aspect is sorely missing.
That's basically his argument, that the spiritual aspect is what's being 'marketed' because the masses are not interested in the core doctrine. He calls it "capitalists preaching quasi-Chrisitanity" (he often cites Joel Olsteen to make his point, and says that's why he's so popular, because he stays away from the core stuff because he understands it will turn people away, and he will lose money).
If you like to read, I recommend "Vanya- A True Story" by Myrna Grant It is a biography of a Russian Soldier who was a Christian. Great account of Christianity with actual photos. link If you are interested and care to email, I would be glad to send you a copy. Thanks for the discussion.
What are your prejudices? LOL! That's a good one! It's pretty apparent that you are more interested in feeding your prejudices rather than genuinely educating yourself. Fine by me, that's your prerogative.
<b>adeelsiddiqui then quit with the smartass coments</b> Such as...? <b>And? Dont christians believe that people who do not take jesus as a savior are hellbound?</b> Some do and some don't. I'm more comfortable with the group that doesn't get hung up on the One Way track. <b>Utter destruction is worse than hell? didnt know that, Always thought that hell was the worse of the worse.</b> I didn't say it was or wasn't worse than hell. In my world, sinners get to enjoy their sins, at least, without having utter destruction rained down upon them. <b>Your criticism was pretty broad and didnt seem to single out terrorists or fanatics.</b> My first comment was on the textual use of "we." Apparently, it means something different to Muslims but I hadn't seen it really explained up to the point where I raised the question. It is later referred to as the Royal We meant to include God and his Angels. <b>Pretty hypocrytical if you ask me...</b> Obviously you can think what you want but I'll say this: I'd rather have peace-loving Muslims living on both sides of me than a Lamb of God and any other ilk of Christian Fundamentalist. Why are people so threatened by the asking of a simple question? All of the questions about Christianity posed here do not offend or irk me. Get a grip, people.
Durn, I thought I saw a question mark in there somewhere. Your arrogance is going overboard. Why not engage the discussion rather than assasinate the participants? You take yourself way to seriously....
I fully appreciate these are difficult questions and I'm not asking them to try to stump the pastor or anyone else. I am honestly interested in questions regarding faith and religion and how as humans we address those issues. Its largely how people answer these questions is why even in a single religion we have denominations and sects that get so divided that people will kill each other over them. I think understanding is important and if you're not even willing to ask questions there will never be understanding between people of different or even the same faith.
You're giving me ideas, Sishir Do I like to read? I am a book nerd if you've ever seen one Thanks rhester, I will make sure to get around to it, always appreciate your time and your insight.
Well, let's see, off the top of my head, there's hindu Tamil Tigers in sri Lanka (hindu) and Sinhalese buddhist counterparts. Actually there's all sorts of Hindu nationalist violence and thuggery all across India, pretty much always directed at muslim minorities. Until very recently, there were catholics and protestants railing on each other in Northern Ireland. There's christian Karen rebels in eastern burma that have been at war for a while. There's a spate of Buddhist/Muslim violence in southern thailand. There were good orthodox bosnian serbs exterminating muslims a few years back. Not to mention assorted christian fanatics like Eric Robert Rudolph murdering people in the name of god. Anyway, the fact that you've tried to artificially limit the time frame does nothing to salvage your worthless argument. If you think Islam has a monopoly on religious violence, now or ever, quite simply - you're an idiot. Extremism of all kinds causes violence. Why you think Islam is any different from other religions in this regard indicates that you either have insufficient mental capacity or are just trying to amuse yourself by being a piece of lead. Either way I think I'll let you have the patented "giddyup last word" and drop the subject.
Here is an account of the formation of the Bible It should be understood that it is from a decidedly non-christian source, but it factually alligns with what I know from other sources. This is a page that contains many schismatic or simply discarded texts. As does this page, which includes a greater number of the more radical texts including Zoroastrian and Hellanistic syntheses.
i think your posting this to create controversy, as it seems youve posted part of an ayya, but if you're not could you give me the chapter and verse numbers? oh and those posters trying to explain this, dont do it unless you have the proper knowledge, there are a lot of qurans going around after 9/11 that have been modified, so who was it copied by? oh and giddyup you're a real tough guy, sitting behind a computer and talking crap about someones religion
What no mention of al-Qaeda or OBL or any of his rivals and cohorts? Talk about "artificial limitation." Of course there are wack-jobs of all stripe. It has more to do with their psyche than their religion. But to deny that Islam-fascists dominate the world headlines with regards to violence is absurd. Ask the US. Ask Spain. Ask Great Britain. Ask Bali et al. Sam, you act like I am the first and only person in the world to question the self-description of Islam by Muslims as a religion of peace. I'm not prepared to say it is or it isn't but there is ample evidence worldwide for a couple decades now that completely legitimize the question. I'll trade you Eric Rudolph, Terry Nichols, and The Lambs of God for the entire al-Qaeda network of cells. Now who will sleep better at night? No one has escalated the violence like these Islamo-fascists have. Do you deny that, too?
You're absolutely right; I've never read anything critical of Christianity on this board before. You act like I've opened a can of worms. The world is rapidly coming to this conclusion based on the escalation of violence. Nasty things said about Christianity don't inflame me; why should Muslims be so sacrosanct? It's a freakin' discussion board afterall... Did you fail to notice that I invited myself to have neighbors who represent this "crappy" religion? Stop being so emotional.
True, I could have just called it garbage.... Wait, God is talking to me now, he is saying...hold on....yes....yes...ok, I will write it.... God just told me that all religious text is bunk, and that everyone will find out the truth when they each die...... He also said he doesn't need money, so no need to tithe.... DD
That's your opinion and you're free to it, hope it doesn't come back to bite you in the arse in the "next life"
thank you so much for this. i thought i had read ALL the extra-biblical accounts...but i had not read the letter from Jesus to King Abgarus. wow. and fascinating that Caiphas, the high priest when Jesus was crucified, is credited with writing one of the infant gospels.
How could it? I don't need 69 virgins..... God gives everyone free will.......and why does he/she care if you believe in religion? I believe in God, just not religion..... And, I certainly don't believe in one that is manufactured by man to explain the unknown to the ignorant masses. DD
Based on biblical accounts of the nature of God, I don't see how freedom and worshipping God mesh; if anything fits the worship of idols and/or lesser gods. Freedom is disorder.
