Interesting read on the decline of religious faith in children.

[Maggot]

Sums it up pretty well.



Why American Children Stopped Believing in God | National ...
www.nationalreview.com › 2020/12 › why-american-c...

4 hours ago — ... American Children Stopped Believing in God. By Cameron Hilditch ... In a report released earlier this year from the American Enterprise Institute, Lyman Stone tracked the history of religious belief, behavior, and association in the United States since the Founding. It's a magisterial work, and I encourage ...

 

[awonder]

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

 

[Sierra770]

Thanks for sharing.

 

[clcustom1911]

Bad parents, social media, commie principles taught in school which denounce organized religion.


Change my mind.

 

[Sierra770]

You forgot social club type churches more interested in being popular than being impactful.

 

[HMRamateur]

I wonder how I fit into this then. I am baptized catholic, gone through communion, went to a catholic school until grade 10. I was taught from a young age by my mother to think for myself, in everything, so maybe that's where the change happened. I couldn't take the hypocrisy of every authority figure around me. I was given the choice to change schools as a teenager and I took it, after my sister was given the same choice because of dealing with teachers who constantly put her, and her abilities down. Shitty parents? Doubtful. Shitty leadership/mentors/role models? More likely.

If I had to categorize where I am now, I would probably say agnostic theist. With so many different religions, and different variations of God, who am I to say the version of God I have been brought up to worship is the right one? To me, there very well could be a God, but I have a hard time believing in any version explained to me from another human.

 

[W54/XM-388]

I wonder how I fit into this then. I am baptized catholic, gone through communion, went to a catholic school until grade 10. I was taught from a young age by my mother to think for myself, in everything, so maybe that's where the change happened. I couldn't take the hypocrisy of every authority figure around me. I was given the choice to change schools as a teenager and I took it, after my sister was given the same choice because of dealing with teachers who constantly put her, and her abilities down. Shitty parents? Doubtful. Shitty leadership/mentors/role models? More likely.

If I had to categorize where I am now, I would probably say agnostic theist. With so many different religions, and different variations of God, who am I to say the version of God I have been brought up to worship is the right one? To me, there very well could be a God, but I have a hard time believing in any version explained to me from another human.

Your experience is in no way unique.
Most established religions have long ago completely strayed from what their founding spokesperson for said Deity wrote.
Most established religions are all about power and control and wealth with the dressings of religion.

If you ever happen to be looking back at your childhood and want to have a bit of fun seeing how much you were lied to, do this:

Assuming you only read English and not ancient Greek and Hebrew, get an original King James version of the bible as well as the early version of the Douay–Rheims version.

Then start at the beginning and go all the way through and read it from the beginning.

Take note of these distinct differences:

1. The recorded direct words of God and direct statements where one of the verified prophets specifically said this specific statement is the word of God.
(ALWAYS read this as simple direct literal specific stuff without all the BS about lawyers explaining it away or adding to it or making derivative rules.)
In this same part include the direct specific words of Jesus as well as His actions, assuming at the beginning that as part of God He had the authority to modify and clarify at will any previous statement by God).

2. Writings, opinions and suggestions by well respected characters
3. History and events.

You'll probably find most of what you were taught as a child, does not match up to the parts of number 1.
You'll also find probably a lot of stuff that is part of 2 (just opinions of men) is taught as rules of God.

Then do a bit of research on the ancient Roman religions in vogue about 300 A.D. and such, specifically the worship of the Sun god.
Also check out the pagan Roman religious symbols and rites etc. especially about the Sun god.
Check out the average dates for important ancient Pagan yearly religious celebrations.

Long journey and many get furiously mad at the suggestion.

But you'll quite possibly find that what you chose to reject was specifically all the stupid teachings of humans.

 

[Rthur]

Ask Alexa who JC was.
Try it with some other deities.
Notice a difference?
Amazing how hard some have worked to eliminate something
that doesn't exist to them.

R

 

[HMRamateur]

Your experience is in no way unique.
Most established religions have long ago completely strayed from what their founding spokesperson for said Deity wrote.
Most established religions are all about power and control and wealth with the dressings of religion.

If you ever happen to be looking back at your childhood and want to have a bit of fun seeing how much you were lied to, do this:

Assuming you only read English and not ancient Greek and Hebrew, get an original King James version of the bible as well as the early version of the Douay–Rheims version.

Then start at the beginning and go all the way through and read it from the beginning.

Take note of these distinct differences:

1. The recorded direct words of God and direct statements where one of the verified prophets specifically said this specific statement is the word of God.
(ALWAYS read this as simple direct literal specific stuff without all the BS about lawyers explaining it away or adding to it or making derivative rules.)
In this same part include the direct specific words of Jesus as well as His actions, assuming at the beginning that as part of God He had the authority to modify and clarify at will any previous statement by God).

2. Writings, opinions and suggestions by well respected characters
3. History and events.

You'll probably find most of what you were taught as a child, does not match up to the parts of number 1.
You'll also find probably a lot of stuff that is part of 2 (just opinions of men) is taught as rules of God.

Then do a bit of research on the ancient Roman religions in vogue about 300 A.D. and such, specifically the worship of the Sun god.
Also check out the pagan Roman religious symbols and rites etc. especially about the Sun god.
Check out the average dates for important ancient Pagan yearly religious celebrations.

Long journey and many get furiously mad at the suggestion.

But you'll quite possibly find that what you chose to reject was specifically all the stupid teachings of humans.

That's pretty much how I feel. The teachings of humans is what I have come to reject. The word of man is what we have been fed, but told it is the word of God.

 

[Maggot]

Your experience is in no way unique.
Most established religions have long ago completely strayed from what their founding spokesperson for said Deity wrote.
Most established religions are all about power and control and wealth with the dressings of religion.

If you ever happen to be looking back at your childhood and want to have a bit of fun seeing how much you were lied to, do this:

Assuming you only read English and not ancient Greek and Hebrew, get an original King James version of the bible as well as the early version of the Douay–Rheims version.

Then start at the beginning and go all the way through and read it from the beginning.

Take note of these distinct differences:

1. The recorded direct words of God and direct statements where one of the verified prophets specifically said this specific statement is the word of God.
(ALWAYS read this as simple direct literal specific stuff without all the BS about lawyers explaining it away or adding to it or making derivative rules.)
In this same part include the direct specific words of Jesus as well as His actions, assuming at the beginning that as part of God He had the authority to modify and clarify at will any previous statement by God).

2. Writings, opinions and suggestions by well respected characters
3. History and events.

You'll probably find most of what you were taught as a child, does not match up to the parts of number 1.
You'll also find probably a lot of stuff that is part of 2 (just opinions of men) is taught as rules of God.

Then do a bit of research on the ancient Roman religions in vogue about 300 A.D. and such, specifically the worship of the Sun god.
Also check out the pagan Roman religious symbols and rites etc. especially about the Sun god.
Check out the average dates for important ancient Pagan yearly religious celebrations.

Long journey and many get furiously mad at the suggestion.

But you'll quite possibly find that what you chose to reject was specifically all the stupid teachings of humans.

Religion? Bah, Humbug. A bunch of crap cooked up to manipulate and control the weak and ignorant..


"I'm going to tell you what my religion is. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Period. Terminato. Finito."

Gene Wilder

 

[Maggot]

Ask Alexa who JC was.
Try it with some other deities.
Notice a difference?
Amazing how hard some have worked to eliminate something
that doesn't exist to them.

R

I dont fuck with Alexa or any of that stuff. Enlighten us.

 

[Rthur]

I dont fuck with Alexa or any of that stuff. Enlighten us.

I don't have one, check Crowder video.

R

 

[ManUtdManiac]

religion was and is the original tyranny on Man. Don't think, believe. Don't question, comply. Don't deviate, conform. Oh, and by the way, for some reason ordinary men have the ear of God and we need to listen to them...

please, keep that superstitious shit elsewhere.

Anyone with the simplest interest in history and critical thinking can see the control mechanism, hypocrisy and tyranny in religion.

Kids grow up badly because of bad parents, poor culture or in unlucky circumstance where certain behaviors are necessary for survival.

IMHO.

 

[W54/XM-388]

religion was and is the original tyranny on Man. Don't think, believe. Don't question, comply. Don't deviate, conform.

So pretty much exactly what humans have done to other humans for all of existence, using whatever excuse was available.

Those who claim they are "free from religion" are some of the most insanely harsh religious zealots.

Communists and Militant Atheists are dogmatic religious zealots in their chosen religions and hatreds of other religions.

Just look at the Carbon Cult religion and their zealotry and how they believe pretty much convert or die...
Just look at the Covid cult sheep members, you must obey without question, logic, complaint or else....
Look at the SJW Cult and their zealous belief in whatever the priests of their faith tell them and their persecution of all who won't bend the knee to them.
For historical context the National Socialists, as well as the Soviet Socialists were their own full on religions of "humanism" or such.
The Chinese Communists are a full on brutal totalitarian religion of conformity to their chosen dogma, very much in the obedience or die.

Humans want to dominate and control other humans and force others to do as they say.

Even within the same "umbrella," "religion", you'll find there always becomes factions or sects that want to dominate.

Pretty much the only way to have freedom is to make sure that there is a lot of competing sects / groups / theories. That way you have a bit of a stalemate, while each want to be in charge, they more than anything else want to make sure the others don't get to be in charge and tell them what to do.

 

[ManUtdManiac]

W - I don't disagree with what you've said. We have a desire to form hierarchy and dominance and there is a tendency to conform and absolve individualism for the 'better of the group'. In some cases, especially war time, this is a necessary mechanism and we reward extreme examples of this behavior with medals and commendations, both military and civilian.

We are able to construct perfect ideals, we execute them imperfectly because life is messy.

Your last paragraph is: checks and balances.. which included the seperation of church and state, because what else is a church than a supreme dictator..?

 

[Sniperwannabee]

Bad parents, social media, commie principles taught in school which denounce organized religion.


Change my mind.

bingo

 

[Maser]

Kids nowadays strive so much be liked/loved by total strangers on social media, they have forgotten or never were taught they are always loved in the eyes of God. I'm not a perfect parent by any means, but my wife and I feel it's very important to keep religion in our son's lives. Leftists are trying to erase our American history on a daily basis so it's no surprise they're trying to keep Judaeo-Christian beliefs away from the future generations.

 

[jcam]

There is also a problem of Biblical illiteracy which is surprisingly high among those who identify themselves as people who believe in God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Please check the above verses if it is similar to what your Bible says.
Merry Christmas.

 

[Jscb1b]

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

 

[candyx]

If you have ever spent time in a hospital with terminally ill children it sort of rocks your belief in God.

 

[W54/XM-388]

If you have ever spent time in a hospital with terminally ill children it sort of rocks your belief in God.

Only if you have listened too much to the pious platitudes of humans who tell you that all should be always be happy, in love love, with posperity prosperity and an easy life.

If you read the entire book front to back carefully for yourself, it won't be a problem for your faith.

 

[Sierra770]

Only if you have listened too much to the pious platitudes of humans who tell you that all should be always be happy, in love love, with posperity prosperity and an easy life.

If you read the entire book front to back carefully for yourself, it won't be a problem for your faith.

I like the cut of your jib on this topic, sir.

 

[Deleted member 113831]

I wonder how I fit into this then. I am baptized catholic, gone through communion, went to a catholic school until grade 10. I was taught from a young age by my mother to think for myself, in everything, so maybe that's where the change happened. I couldn't take the hypocrisy of every authority figure around me. I was given the choice to change schools as a teenager and I took it, after my sister was given the same choice because of dealing with teachers who constantly put her, and her abilities down. Shitty parents? Doubtful. Shitty leadership/mentors/role models? More likely.

If I had to categorize where I am now, I would probably say agnostic theist. With so many different religions, and different variations of God, who am I to say the version of God I have been brought up to worship is the right one? To me, there very well could be a God, but I have a hard time believing in any version explained to me from another human.

Religion never saved anyone. There is a God, He sent his Son to accomplish what you could not. His sacrifice is your salvation.

It is as simple as that. If you can't believe that, then nothing else matters.

 

[Deleted member 113831]

Only if you have listened too much to the pious platitudes of humans who tell you that all should be always be happy, in love love, with posperity prosperity and an easy life.

If you read the entire book front to back carefully for yourself, it won't be a problem for your faith.

Every denomination, every human, is subject to error. The word of God is not in error, our understanding of it may very well be. The earnest study of the word itself, shines light on error.

I have been fortunate enough to be apart of some wildly differing congregations in my life...none of which had everything correct in my opinion.

I do not believe that I have it all figured out either. In fact, if I thought I did, I would have to be a liar.

The God that you can fully understand is really no bigger than you are.

 

[Slash0311]

I wonder how I fit into this then. I am baptized catholic, gone through communion, went to a catholic school until grade 10. I was taught from a young age by my mother to think for myself, in everything, so maybe that's where the change happened. I couldn't take the hypocrisy of every authority figure around me. I was given the choice to change schools as a teenager and I took it, after my sister was given the same choice because of dealing with teachers who constantly put her, and her abilities down. Shitty parents? Doubtful. Shitty leadership/mentors/role models? More likely.

If I had to categorize where I am now, I would probably say agnostic theist. With so many different religions, and different variations of God, who am I to say the version of God I have been brought up to worship is the right one? To me, there very well could be a God, but I have a hard time believing in any version explained to me from another human.

In an attempt to have a civil conversation (as many of these religion threads break down into personal attacks) I'll say believe in the Bible and not what man says.

Many men over the years have perverted the word of God for personal gains. But God remains rock solid.

Much of the problem is that the Bible is difficult to understand in parts. That leaves many that are unfamiliar with it to seek out someone to help them understand the message in it. That opens the door to problems.

At the end of it all God will remain long after man dies not. We must have faith in that.

 

[DarnYankeeUSMC]

Religion? It's against my religion to be a part of a religion.
Relationship. and you can keep your rules, regulations and cult like rituals.
It's funny how many Christians will tell you Jesus came as the ultimate sacrifice and end the practice of following all the Jewish laws. Then they practice the laws of the baptist, methodist, episcopalian.........

 

[Lange Carabine]

W - I don't disagree with what you've said. We have a desire to form hierarchy and dominance and there is a tendency to conform and absolve individualism for the 'better of the group'. In some cases, especially war time, this is a necessary mechanism and we reward extreme examples of this behavior with medals and commendations, both military and civilian.

We are able to construct perfect ideals, we execute them imperfectly because life is messy.

Your last paragraph is: checks and balances.. which included the seperation of church and state, because what else is a church than a supreme dictator..?

Thats because many people today do not have a biblical understanding of what a church really is. To them the word "church" brings to mind a building.
The root meaning of "church" is not of a brick and mortar structure where people gather to go through the motions of worshiping their god, it is the people themselves.
It's ironic that when you ask someone what church they attend most usually identify a building rather than the body of believers.
The word "church" comes from the Greek word "ekklesia", which is defined as an assembly or called out ones.
The true church is the body of Christ, made up of true believers, of which He is the head. Ephesians 1:22-23.

 

[Lange Carabine]

Religion is just believes, Different people with differ believes and different god(s). To each man his own. Religion sure saves if you practice it. The words of the Lord with is love, peace and forgiveness is the solution to everything.

Practicing religion cannot and will not save anyone. If it could OT Jewish law wouldve been sufficient for salvation in and of itself.
Graveyards the world over are filled with loving, peaceful, forgiving people who died and went straight to hell because they mistakenly believed their good works alone were enough to earn them citizenship in Heaven. Sadly, they now know different.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church at Ephesus(Eph. 2:8-9), tells us "for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God not of works, lest any should boast".
If we could save ourselves through good works(practicing religion) then it wouldn't have been necessary for Jesus to die on Calvarys Cross for the remission of the sins of man.
We are saved only by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone.

 

[HeavyAssault]

I'm amazed at the amount of people who allowed the workings to be used to abuse children YET they asked for forgiveness. I'm not sorry I turned my back on an organization that was caught moving pedophiles around from church to church allowing abuse to continue. THEN they had the audacity to send the message out thru "priests" to ask for FORGIVENESS. I never went back to any place that is a "house or worship".
SO for those who hold that faith/worship so close.....remember YOU are told to turn the other cheek.

I tell you all this as a man who was sitting down range weeks after 9/11. After a month of flying night after night I asked God one thing....please just allow me to get home to my family. I'll do my mission with no error, no short cuts, headstrong into the beast....

I sit here typing.....that's all I needed was to have the faith in my own heart.
Preach what you want, practice how you want.....I do me, you do you.

 

[ManUtdManiac]

The bibe, torah, quran etc, are all works of man, for other men to read and then for some to say "I know the will of God and by the way, it's super mysterious but trust me on this you all need to do the following things or it's hell and damnation..."

When assessing works of fiction the reader needs to engage in a willing suspension of disbelief in order for the plot to work out and the twists to be acceptable, otherwise, fiction would be limited and largely dull. In reading so called works of 'god', the reader does the same thing, accepts otherwise easily refuted events that hold no relation to reality or science, yet it's called 'faith'.

The hypocrisy, the contradictions, the utter bloodthirsty nonsense in the vast amount of religious texts makes them marvelous works of unbelievable storytelling where it not for the willing suspension of disbelief.

Human lives have been so challenging, so random in their outcomes and without navigable course that our minds, superb machines of pattern and form recognition software, must have some explanation for it all. 'Does god play dice...?' coming to mind.

I'll take your hell in the afterlife for freedom from judgement and coercion of your superstitions in this life. We've seen ISIS, the conquistadors, the reformation, the inquisition and many others and that, is hell, man made, man perpetuated.

we are all gods, we are all angels, we are all devils and demons - dominant over ourselves. We choose which we want to be unless nature in her savage indifference, has chosen for us by the chemistry of our brains and physiology of our bodies.

I will say though that if Cantona ever set up a Church of the Blessed Boot and Holy Ball I'd probably at least pay it a visit for the chance of a selfie with the man himself...

 

[nexusfire]

Religion? Bah, Humbug. A bunch of crap cooked up to manipulate and control the weak and ignorant..


"I'm going to tell you what my religion is. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Period. Terminato. Finito."

Gene Wilder

Show me evidence that the resurrection did not happen. I'll save you the time, there is none. Change my mind.

 

[ManUtdManiac]

Show me evidence that the resurrection did not happen. I'll save you the time, there is none. Change my mind.

show me the evidence that I didn't sleep levitated 6ft about my bed or make coffee without moving. I'll same you the time, there is none...

How can you disprove something that never happened in the past? How do you even feel that that challenge is either logical or even evidentiary of anything?

 

[Rthur]

The bibe, torah, quran etc, are all works of man, for other men to read and then for some to say "I know the will of God and by the way, it's super mysterious but trust me on this you all need to do the following things or it's hell and damnation..."

When assessing works of fiction the reader needs to engage in a willing suspension of disbelief in order for the plot to work out and the twists to be acceptable, otherwise, fiction would be limited and largely dull. In reading so called works of 'god', the reader does the same thing, accepts otherwise easily refuted events that hold no relation to reality or science, yet it's called 'faith'.

The hypocrisy, the contradictions, the utter bloodthirsty nonsense in the vast amount of religious texts makes them marvelous works of unbelievable storytelling where it not for the willing suspension of disbelief.

Human lives have been so challenging, so random in their outcomes and without navigable course that our minds, superb machines of pattern and form recognition software, must have some explanation for it all. 'Does god play dice...?' coming to mind.

I'll take your hell in the afterlife for freedom from judgement and coercion of your superstitions in this life. We've seen ISIS, the conquistadors, the reformation, the inquisition and many others and that, is hell, man made, man perpetuated.

we are all gods, we are all angels, we are all devils and demons - dominant over ourselves. We choose which we want to be unless nature in her savage indifference, has chosen for us by the chemistry of our brains and physiology of our bodies.

I will say though that if Cantona ever set up a Church of the Blessed Boot and Holy Ball I'd probably at least pay it a visit for the chance of a selfie with the man himself...

You think because you don't prescribe to a religion you are without faith and
avoid dogma.
Clearly you are a nonbeliever but feel compelled to set the record straight for those who would
believe.
Religion is a not a word you'll find in the Bible.

R

 

[Lange Carabine]

The bibe, torah, quran etc, are all works of man, for other men to read and then for some to say "I know the will of God and by the way, it's super mysterious but trust me on this you all need to do the following things or it's hell and damnation..."

When assessing works of fiction the reader needs to engage in a willing suspension of disbelief in order for the plot to work out and the twists to be acceptable, otherwise, fiction would be limited and largely dull. In reading so called works of 'god', the reader does the same thing, accepts otherwise easily refuted events that hold no relation to reality or science, yet it's called 'faith'.

The hypocrisy, the contradictions, the utter bloodthirsty nonsense in the vast amount of religious texts makes them marvelous works of unbelievable storytelling where it not for the willing suspension of disbelief.

Human lives have been so challenging, so random in their outcomes and without navigable course that our minds, superb machines of pattern and form recognition software, must have some explanation for it all. 'Does god play dice...?' coming to mind.

I'll take your hell in the afterlife for freedom from judgement and coercion of your superstitions in this life. We've seen ISIS, the conquistadors, the reformation, the inquisition and many others and that, is hell, man made, man perpetuated.

we are all gods, we are all angels, we are all devils and demons - dominant over ourselves. We choose which we want to be unless nature in her savage indifference, has chosen for us by the chemistry of our brains and physiology of our bodies.

I will say though that if Cantona ever set up a Church of the Blessed Boot and Holy Ball I'd probably at least pay it a visit for the chance of a selfie with the man himself...

Have you ever actually read in its entirety the Bible, Torah, Quran, ect?

 

[nexusfire]

show me the evidence that I didn't sleep levitated 6ft about my bed or make coffee without moving. I'll same you the time, there is none...

How can you disprove something that never happened in the past? How do you even feel that that challenge is either logical or even evidentiary of anything?

You levitating in bed is not a historic, widely witnessed event that the most powerful government in the world at the time spent a couple of centuries trying to quell. All but 1 apostille died for what they said they witnessed. Wouldn't you think at least one if them would rat out the rest to save their own life? Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were all separated by distance when they wrote their account of the time they spent with Jesus. The apostille Paul was a Jesus hater and persecutor but yet he wrote most of the new testament. This is like Barack Obama suddenly coming out and professing his belief in Donald Trump. We can get into the Big Bang and evolution next if you want to.

 

[Moe Ron]

“To one who has faith no explanation is necessary. To one without faith no explanation is possible.”

St. Thomas Aquinas

I’m in the latter category.

 

[yakstone]

Religion as defined by most is created by man to dominate / control others.
A relationship with Christ is another topic all together.
There is more evidence that Jesus Christ walked this earth than there is that Caesar ruled Rome.
As Christ himself said, "Love one another as I have loved you." This is how I try to live my life.
The second part of that is John 3:24; "I assure you that those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life."

We as humans think we are so smart with our Science. How many times has that gone sideways?

 

[Campguy308]

As Christ himself said, "Love one another as I have loved you." This is how I try to live my life.

Me too. But someone above said theres graveyards full of people that are burning in hell for eternity beause that's ALL they did for 20-85 years or so.

 

[ManUtdManiac]

You levitating in bed is not a historic, widely witnessed event that the most powerful government in the world at the time spent a couple of centuries trying to quell. All but 1 apostille died for what they said they witnessed. Wouldn't you think at least one if them would rat out the rest to save their own life? Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were all separated by distance when they wrote their account of the time they spent with Jesus. The apostille Paul was a Jesus hater and persecutor but yet he wrote most of the new testament. This is like Barack Obama suddenly coming out and professing his belief in Donald Trump. We can get into the Big Bang and evolution next if you want to.

no one witnessed the resurection. It, allegedly, happened in a tomb. Then there were three women outside who said they saw him come out. Some undisclosed time later he appeared at a building where some of the disciples were and showed himself. The accounts of the event were not written in any timeframe of immediacy or relevance such that they would stand up as bona fide eye witness accounts.

I went to a fundemental christain school from the age of 8 to 18. I used to know the bible inside and out. Pure fiction was my take on it from a relatively early age but the violence was entertaining.

I'm not trying or interested in disproving Christianity. To do so would be pointless because you're asking for proof of a believe system that expressly skews proof-based belief - "Happy are those who believed without seeing" said JC to doubting Thomas for having the temerity to be amazed at seeing his first zombie....

What's also interesting, from a non-viability of the whole proposition is that while folks like W say "you'd have no issue for God if you didn't think all had to be rosey" is that the message of JC is exactly that - "don't sweat the corporal life, love me and it'll be roses in the next (totally unquantifiable or verifiable) life..." really, that's not wishful thinking...?

Most of the professed christians here have applauded the injuries of Antifa - with delight at their suffering, and some have said that unless they voted for Trump (hardly a good man) they would do nothing to save the lives of those in danger of dying or would actively do harm to them. I can't remember seeing a christian (or jew, or muslim etc) actively being what they say I should be or loving their enemy unless it's loving their suffering or death.

Whatever. YOu want better kids, make parents accountable for the education and behavior of children. Either more people will use contraception or they'd give a fuck about their kids.

 

[Lange Carabine]

Me too. But someone above said theres graveyards full of people that are burning in hell for eternity beause that's ALL they did for 20-85 years or so.
That was me.
If you ask the question what does one have to do to get to heaven the overwhelming response will be some form of "be a good person".
However, the Bible teaches that being a "good person" is not enough to get anyone into heaven.
In order to get into heaven a person must recognize that they are a sinner and have fallen short of the glory of God(Romans 3:23).
They must obey the command to repent of their sins and place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.(Romans 10:9)
There is no other way to get to heaven.
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes into the Father except through me.-Jesus Christ(John 14:6)
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12).

 

[Maggot]

Show me evidence that the resurrection did not happen. I'll save you the time, there is none. Change my mind.

I never said that.

The Resurrection may or may not be factual. I tend to think it is (factual).

What said was that religion is crap, and I stand by that. All religion)s) are crap because they take a simple truth, such as "Do unto others" and embroider it with a lot of horseshit which is used to manipulate and control the ignorant and weak and frightened.

 

[BLEE]

Most folks have never read the Bible, much less studied it. Some people say there is no God. These people see evil and say, "There is no God." People don't understand that God has given us free will and turned us loose. Nothing that is evil, on this earth is God's will. He ALLOWS the evil to exist and happen, as part of our free will. Maybe he will allow Biden to subject us to tyranny, to bring us back to Him. Faith in Him, guides us through, even unto death, to eternity with Him, in peace and perfection. Without faith, hope and love, we may as well live to please our carnal instincts, regardless of consequence.. "eat, drink and be merry!" Some of us would be extremely violent. We all have our human tendancies. Without God there is no morality, no ethics, no "golden rule". Rest assured He exists and his plan is being fullfilled, every second of the day. How arrogant we are to believe we can understand the mind of God. That being said, he gave us all we need to know, with perfect instructions, in the Holy Bible. It doesn't matter who doesn't believe it. The truth remains, as it always has been and always will be.

 

[Lange Carabine]

no one witnessed the resurection. It, allegedly, happened in a tomb. Then there were three women outside who said they saw him come out. Some undisclosed time later he appeared at a building where some of the disciples were and showed himself. The accounts of the event were not written in any timeframe of immediacy or relevance such that they would stand up as bona fide eye witness accounts.

I went to a fundemental christain school from the age of 8 to 18. I used to know the bible inside and out. Pure fiction was my take on it from a relatively early age but the violence was entertaining.

I'm not trying or interested in disproving Christianity. To do so would be pointless because you're asking for proof of a believe system that expressly skews proof-based belief - "Happy are those who believed without seeing" said JC to doubting Thomas for having the temerity to be amazed at seeing his first zombie....

What's also interesting, from a non-viability of the whole proposition is that while folks like W say "you'd have no issue for God if you didn't think all had to be rosey" is that the message of JC is exactly that - "don't sweat the corporal life, love me and it'll be roses in the next (totally unquantifiable or verifiable) life..." really, that's not wishful thinking...?

Most of the professed christians here have applauded the injuries of Antifa - with delight at their suffering, and some have said that unless they voted for Trump (hardly a good man) they would do nothing to save the lives of those in danger of dying or would actively do harm to them. I can't remember seeing a christian (or jew, or muslim etc) actively being what they say I should be or loving their enemy unless it's loving their suffering or death.

Whatever. YOu want better kids, make parents accountable for the education and behavior of children. Either more people will use contraception or they'd give a fuck about their kids.

So, you claim to know the Bible inside and out? Congratulations, that puts you on the same level as satan and his demons.
Jesus never said a believers life would be all peachy rosey. In fact He taught just the opposite in Matthew 7:14.
You can no more disprove Christianity that you can prove your disbelieve in what it teaches or that God doesnt exist.
However, I do agree with what you say about the words/deeds of some "christians".
Unfortunately what Christianity teaches and what Christians do are two entirely different things.

 

[chrome]

If you read the entire book front to back carefully for yourself, it won't be a problem for your faith.

That exact strategy (reading it 2.5x, front to back twice, and triple tapped the old testament) is what forced me to leave the faith and the church.

 

[BLEE]

So, you claim to know the Bible inside and out? Congratulations, that puts you on the same level as satan and his demons.
Jesus never said a believers life would be all peachy rosey. In fact He taught just the opposite in Matthew 7:14.
You can no more disprove Christianity that you can disprove your disbelieve in what it teaches or that God doesnt exist.
However, I do agree with what you say about the words/deeds of some "christians".
Unfortunately what Christianity teaches and what Christians do are two entirely different things.

Those of use who are exposed to the Spirit, have to make a choice, to believe, repent and recieve salvation, or not. Like all choices, this one has consequences, but uniquely, this one has eternal consequences. How sad it would be to go through this life, believing that it's over at death. Make the choice to receive life, eternal! If I die, today, I'll see you Christian brothers, on the other side!

 

[chrome]

Show me evidence that the resurrection did not happen. I'll save you the time, there is none. Change my mind.

That is not how proving something works. We do not accept claims as true because we can't prove a negative. We would live in chaos if we accepted all negative claims as true because we couldn't disprove them.

This is a fundamental failure in thinking, and maybe a good example to the root cause of the article. Maybe children are being taught to think more critically?

 

[ManUtdManiac]

That is not how proving something works. We do not accept claims as true because we can't prove a negative. We would live in chaos if we accepted all negative claims as true because we couldn't disprove them.

This is a fundamental failure in thinking, and maybe a good example to the root cause of the article. Maybe children are being taught to think more critically?

Heaven forbid....

 

[ManUtdManiac]

Those of use who are exposed to the Spirit, have to make a choice, to believe, repent and recieve salvation, or not. Like all choices, this one has consequences, but uniquely, this one has eternal consequences. How sad it would be to go through this life, believing that it's over at death. Make the choice to receive life, eternal! If I die, today, I'll see you Christian brothers, on the other side!

believe in me or suffer an eternity of unimaginable and never ending suffering.

yeah, just feeling that love...

what does an ordinary guy like me, who doesn't hurt people, steal or cheat, deserve that fate for just because I don't 'repent'.

It's coercion and fear mongering on a sociopathic and demagogue level. It's reminds me of that scene in the movie The Green Mile. Where the gentle giant killed that murderous pedo and saw what he did to those two little girls and he said "He used their love for eachother to keep them quiet while he killed them". The whole coercion of 'do this, now, in this otherwise seemingly insignificant life, or else you and your family will suffer horribly without end...".

What. The. Fuck.

If I ever see that Spririt, I hope a .45 would kill it.

Anyway, time enough spent on this rabbithole. Adios.

 

[Maggot]

Most folks have never read the Bible, much less studied it. These people say there is no God. These people see evil and say, "There is no God." People don't understand that God has given us free will and turned us loose. Nothing that is evil, on this earth is God's will. He ALLOWS the evil to exist and happen, as part of our free will. Maybe he will allow Biden to subject us to tyranny, to bring us back to Him. Faith in Him, guides us through, even unto death, to eternity with Him, in peace and perfection. Without faith, hope and love, we may as well live to please our carnal instincts, regardless of consequence.. "eat, drink and be merry!" Some of us would be extremely violent. We all have our human tendancies. Without God there is no morality, no ethics, no "golden rule". Rest assured He exists and his plan is being fullfilled, every second of the day. How arrogant we are to believe we can understand the mind of God. That being said, he gave us all we need to know, with perfect instructions, in the Holy Bible. It doesn't matter who doesn't believe it. The truth remains, as it always has been and always will be.

Thats not exactly true.

I studied the bible, accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit, all that stuff, knew the golden rule and tried to live by it yet I was still one of those very violent you speak of. One night I was wondering why life seemed so fucked up and it hit me like a pool cue between the eyes...

"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction."

If you want to change whats coming in, change what youre putting out.

Thats what I live by, basic science, basic logic. I dont deny the other its just that is what spoke to me enough to make me change.

 

[chrome]

Thats not exactly true.

I studied the bible, accepted Christ and the Holy Spirit, all that stuff, knew the golden rule and tried to live by it yet I was still one of those very violent you speak of. One night I was wondering why life seemed so fucked up and it hit me like a pool cue between the eyes...

"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction."

If you want to change whats coming in, change what youre putting out.

Thats what I live by, basic science, basic logic. I dont deny the other its just that is what spoke to me enough to make me change.

Similar evolution for me.