Depends on time, place and customer base. Augusta National golf course comes to mind as an ongoing contemporary example, though I have to admit to not knowing of any others.
This antichrist actually agrees with you to a small extent - "modern Christianity" does seem a little bogus. It's all about "personal interpretation" and people moulding the "living faith" to suit their needs and match their own innate beliefs. Bogus bogus bogus. But you know what? It's becoming the popular choice in this day and age, so you (and "traditional Christians" like you) are fighting a losing battle here. And hey, at least the modern version of your faith tries to make itself more palatable to the rest of the world Traditional and modern, both intolerant of each other's views. Both going at each other, thinking they have a monopoly on truth. Both unwilling to step outside the boundaries of their rigidly defined worldviews. But it's none of my business really.. so please, continue fighting. There's only place for one side in heaven
Were it not for the Battlestar Galactica backstory, Scientology would be looking pretty good right about now.
Dude, you are so far removed from "christianity" you are only making a mockery of yourself. Please shut up.
Again, I have never seen a so-called homosexual community waging war against God. You can believe that God is against homosexuality all you want, and in the end mayber you are right(that isn't my belief, but only God can judge). Even if you are there still is no war being waged. I most certainly am not against Christ. But again you may judge me to be so, though your judgement isn't what is important, and matters little. It is to a higher power that I will answer. You spoke about modern churches, but there are old fashioned churches too, that believe it is wrong from people of different races to marry. There are older churches who believed that slavery was ok and justified by the bible. There are both old and modern churches that believe that showing love is the best way to spread Jesus' message. They believe that referring to war while addressing a significant portion of the population that God loves isn't really follwoing the message of Jesus. After all the Prince of Peace didn't get that name by going to war against someone.
In all fairness, he's far removed from what you think Christianity is and should be. You can't claim to have a grasp on truth any more than he does, just because your moral stance allies you more closely with the "good" Christianity. This Christianity's message of love and peace is less harsh, certainly. It's gaining popularity in these "enlightened" times, and it suits the needs of modern society more. Unfortunately, that doesn't make it more credible than what we commonly call the "twisted" versions. Because God, if He exists, could really be intolerant - or evil, even. Nobody knows. All your senses may rebel against that possibility, but that doesn't mean it can't be true I just defended someone who believes I'm going to hell. Ain't the world crazy? Or maybe it's just me
No. Either the words in the bible have a message or they don't. It's like what rhester said: read the "red words" and get your message there. I debated writing out some long-winded response as to why joptamc is completely in the wrong, but then decided it was not worth the effort. Suffice to say I am fairly certain that you know that christ's message has little to do with homosexuals going to hell. Depending on what kind of idiotic response joptamc comes up with next I may still deign to go off on said rant, but at the moment it's not worth my time. True. No one truly knows what god thinks, or what the "truth" is. But the distinction is that joptamc thinks he does. All right, I'll bite. Note that you brought this upon yourself, univac: The above statement is so wrong I had to break it out into parts. It's perverse twist on jesus' message of love for all sinners. 1) How the **** does this weirdo know who god lets into heaven? Show me where jesus says "I welcome sinners of all nations, except homosexuals. They suck. In fact, screw them, they're going to hell." You are right, univac. No one knows, which is the reason the bible instructs one not to judge. "Let he who is without blame... " 2) In the christan faith, heaven is reserved for those that believe that jesus died for their sins. Not just those who "change" their homosexual ways. That doesn't make any sense. If people sin all the ****ing time, how is any man more guilty than another man? It's bull**** nonsense meant to make some r****ded backwoods ignorants feel better about their own shortfallings. It's latching onto the whole "we're all bad, but he's worse" mentality that is the fundamental starting point for bigotry and collectivism. It's completely opposite to the notion that "all have sinned and fallen short". In essence, joptamc has just described himself as the new-version of the pharisee in the "pharisee and the tax collecter parable". 3) You pray for the sinner, you don't condemn him. How is that "making disciples of all nations"? I hear "you're going to hell" does not exactly reach out as well as "we are all sinners but I know how to help". Say what? jesus "welcomes sinners of all nations". Where does the bible say god just doesn't care about some people? Joptamc and god must be close buddies, because I sure as heck didn't know that god just randomly "ceases to communicate" with some people. What the heck? How is the homsexual community waging any more of a war than every sinner? They don't have to win anything, just believe. You know, the whole "salvation through faith alone" thing? Correct. And he doesn't accept joptamc's frequent masturbation in the shower either, but both are redeemable through faith. Everyone sins, and christians try not to, but they do. They struggle with it. The christian homosexual cannot change the fact that he is a sinner. But that doesn't mean he has to be perfect or heterosexual to achieve salvation. What a bunch of bigotted and misconstrued nonsense. I just wrote a frikkin treatise on a faith I don't believe in anymore, so I understand. Seriously though. Look what religion breeds... I mean read these posts from joptamc again and really think about the hate and elitism, the bigotry, the distortion, and the collectivist mentality throughout. Look at where fear and illogic can lead humanity. Look at the past and all of the terrible things done in the name of "god". For christians, a god that preached love for one's neighbor, and love for one's enemies. What a twisted, twisted joke. More cynical and pessimistic than ever, rhad
Whoa rhad. All I'm saying is that even if a faith resonates with one's moral position, it doesn't necessarily mean it's the truth. It seems to me that you know this too, because you apparently agree with many aspects of the "good" Christianity - and yet you've rejected it. Right? So we're actually on the same page here. jopatmc's views, to me, are wrong - if that wasn't sufficiently clear. But that doesn't make the opposing Christian views right. The words of the Bible might not say homosexuals are going to hell. (Not Christian homosexuals, anyway ) But they do say homosexuality is a sin.. correct? And the words of the Bible also say heaven is reserved for those that believe in Jesus, which means Gandhi et al are burning down below.. correct? If a message is mainly good, but has some contradictory elements that tarnish or at least confuse it, explaining them away with the flexibility of interpretation doesn't give it more credibility. Not in my book, anyway. Maybe God is an evil prankster, and those contradictory elements were inserted for a reason. My point is, WE DON'T KNOW. So we should not be quick to condemn others based on what we think is right Yup.
Yeah I know. I went off. It happens. Of course we are. I was put in the unenviable position of debating "real christianity" with a fake christian as a recovering christian myself. Sort that out. Hrmmmm. even in the bible some things are pretty cut and dry, but I'll agree that religious "truth" is not a concrete thing. Thus the previous comment about the distinction between my "views" and joptamc's views. I concur. I think some of my other posts would tell you that I do not believe in a "one religion". I believe in connection (not sure if that's the right word, but it will work for now), whatever way you find it. But I was raised VERY christian, and therefore know quite a bit about it. A good part of the reason I escaped christianity was because of idiots like joptamc; and consequently I'm quite attuned to pointing out where they are (from a chrisitan standpoint) definitively wrong.
If you live up this way or are ever up by The Woodlands, shoot me an email and you can have a few on me. trey@mcglaunenterprises.com
I am way down in Clear Lake, it may have to be a few rounds prior to a rockets game. Central location and all.
Man, all you fools are down in Clear Lake or way on the west side of town. I haven't been downtown in a while. We need a Clutch gathering at Live soon, haven't done that in a while.
