WHY THE INJUSTIS

[swymir]

Was it Paradise Lost I remember it from than?

That book was even more confusing than the Bible.

[Mafia Salad]

I remember nine levels of Hell in The Devine Comedy. And I can't recall the structure Dante had for Purgatory.

Could that be it?

[formerly known as hf]

I wasn't flaming christianity pie

I wasn't flaming anyone

I just want you to realise that the bible, because it has been translated, used, abused, by people is no longer the true word of God, a shadow of it, to a more or lesser extent. Hence, people pick and choose what they want from it.

I could probably justify anything using one translation of the bible or another, the same with the Q'ran.

"If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives."
(Leviticus 20:13 NAB)

[SekoETC]

There may be a God, but if there is, he does not want me to sit in Church for an hour every Sunday and listen to another man's interprutation of the bible.

Not all Christians go to church every Sunday, some even believe every man should be their own priest. But there are people who don't have the time or intelligence to study Bible on their own, so they rather take it ready-chewed from someone else. This way misinterpretations may spread, but still, being in faith alone is much harder than among like-minded friends. Going to church is like going to gym or aerobics class, if you were exercising at home instead you'd soon start lazying out and forget about it in a week or two.

[Chris Johnson]

I could probably justify anything using one translation of the bible or another, the same with the Q'ran.

Strictly speaking the Q'ran is supposed to be read in the orginal Arabic by a Muslim (as the Torah is read in Hebrew by a Jew) , translations into other languages are not seen, by believers, as true representations of the word of God.

Maybe Christains should go back to an earlier text such as the Vulgate Bible and read it in the orginal latin (... yes who needs a reformation anyways .. all went down hill after that if you ask me ...)

[Pie]

Those would be some old people who recall that.

And those levels are in the bible somewhere. I read it once, but it was a long time ago.

Actually.... the gosples were made by 36A.D. i think thats tree years after the death of crist.

Oh, and H.F, i wanted to say that people also translate the bible to HARM the bible. Leav things out.. and such.

And If your talking about the fith gosple.......... I don't think the gosple of timothy is at all posible or true.(It has a talking cross in it.)

oh, and jo, God was giving them a warning about what the people that the conquerd did wile they were gon... and god was giving them a warning not to do it. I mean.. this is some weird stuff that they did.. the people who were in their land... well... you can find it yourself.

Also, New testimant, the laws changed. If slapeth your checheth, turneth to the othereth cheketh.

[SekoETC]

By latest cultural interpretation, "to turn the other cheek" didn't mean being submissive but instead was a defiant gesture. You see, slave owners tended to backhand their slaves, in which case the hit lands on the right cheek. But when you turn your left cheek, they would have to hit you with the palm side, thus recognizing you as an equal.

One source found here, though I read it in a printed article:

http://www.flick.com/~liralen/faith/cheek.html

[Stan]

I don't believe that interpretation. The Bible clearly puts that phrase into context. The New Testament is about forgiveness not retribution or defiance.

Jesus Himself exemplified this. As God who became Man He could have taken Himself off any cross a Roman soldier nailed Him to, but He didn't. It is clear the meaning of "turn the other cheek".

Those who blindly turn there face from Christianity without really understanding it does themself a HUGE disservice. It is spawned from arrogance that no one, even God, can tell them what to do.

They want to claim that Christians are arrogant because they claim to have the only answer to getting to heaven. To that I say truth is truth. Christianity is about completely denying oneself for others...that's the definition of love, by the way. And knowing that we aren't worthy to spend eternity with God, but because He wants us to, He's provided a way.

He won't force anyone to accept the gift, then it wouldn't be a gift. It must be accepted freely. A Christian's job to share this news. Not force it on anyone or to be God's secret police or God's legal counsel.

It is the Christian's job to be a witness to what God has done in their life. When they are harassed or spit on or called a fool, that builds their riches in heaven.

For those that won't ever accept the gift, you'll learn the folly of your ways. For those that will believe someday...Eternity will be yours and I can't wait to spend time with you in heaven.

[Okud]

I find all religions distasteful and dangerous, and I find the way religious people brainwash their children from their first years of life really disturbing. It's sad how they grow up to be just another blind follower of what ever deity their country/town worships. They all know the ultimate truth and anyone who doesn't share their beliefs "doesn't see the light, blah blah blah"
Gimme a break

*goes to create another "worship Mumu our father" IG religion*

[Stan]

*shrugs*

What will/have you taught your children? Someone else's beliefs or values? That's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard.

"I'm smarter than you and all the stupid religious people." "I believe in nothing...uh...or everything...or...uh...nothing..." "The way you teach your children something is stupid. You should let them grow up learning from their friends and the rest of the world...that's much better than teaching your children what you believe."

Double

[SekoETC]

Christianity is about completely denying oneself for others...

Umm, God says you must love others as you love yourself. No more, no less, but equally. Since if you put everyone else on the first place and forget to take care of yourself, soon you'll be in no shape to keep caring about the others. ... Or did I read you wrong?

[Stan]

Jesus says "Great love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

He also says "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good would it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul"

I interpret those to mean that you should deny yourself for the benefit of others.

How do you interpret it?

[SekoETC]

For the second one, it means that earthly things, including your life, hold no meaning compared to the eternity by God that follows if you stay in faith. There are two ways of dying. When right in the beginning God said to Adam and Eve that they would die if they eat the fruit of that one tree, he didn't mean a, instant, physical death but that eventually they'd die and that would be the end of it. No salvation.

About the second one, I'm not sure, maybe you should put down where to find it so that I can read it in my own language?

---

Who has read chronicles of Narnia? In the last book, two bad guys (or animals - I think they were a donkey and a dog) are given a chance to enjoy the feast laid out by Aslan. But they only see a dirty stable and moldy hay and dung. I believe it's the same thing with Heaven, a person with no faith couldn't find enjoyment in there.

Sometimes I've been thinking what if Hell is in fact being aware of the existance of God and knowing you were wrong, and living with this knowledge for all eternity. Knowing that there's a being that Is justice and gentleness, and you will never get to see Him. Though, my mom says it's not so but who knows?

Also, the visions of hell may be visions of a future war, or even the end of Earth as the sun expands to swallow it. Many things are limited by the vocabulary of the one who passes on the story.

[Stan]

I don't know for sure, but I think it is John 15:13...or 13:15...guessing.

[formerly known as hf]

What will/have you taught your children? Someone else's beliefs or values? That's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard.

I'd have them taught a range of things, and then have them given the confidence to make their own decisions, and have confidence in those decisions when they make them.
Religious dogma taught as school material undermines a child's potential for feeling confident in making their own decisions about some of the most omportant questions in life - they are not taught to question what they are told to believe, and are frowned upon if they do question it, hence reducing confidence about making any decisions for themselves.