flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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But it is absolutely our duty to try to convert others.

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 husker,

I am trying to be polite here. Do you think that you are going to reach anyone by beating them over the head with your Bible?

flan

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 I've not beaten anyone with anything.  I speak the truth.  Some hearts are cold and do not listen.

Ohfour wrote:

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flan327 wrote:

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huskerbb wrote:

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But it is absolutely our duty to try to convert others.

---

 husker,

I am trying to be polite here. Do you think that you are going to reach anyone by beating them over the head with your Bible?

flan

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un, husker's NAME her is huskerbb.  If you wish for people to take you seriously, you should practice your own demands... 

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 I demanded nothing. I'm not a Mod.

I could not care less what certain people's opinions of me are.

flan

apple wrote:

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Imagine a thread started called "The Christian Delusion".

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 It warms my "cold" heart...

flan

Christian, Let My Transgender People Go! (When Bigotry Uses the Bathroom) ( 1 2 3 4 ) (Preview)



Remember this one? We were called bigots right in the title.

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

---

In fact, i have posted many threads on religious with some of them questioning the Church, God, etc. I have No Problem discussing this but I guess the butt hurt never ends.

---

 You never get butt hurt do you.

Religious discussion never brings out the best in people...same with politics. 

VetteGirl wrote:

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The only thing I don't understand about atheists is when they say that Jesus was a great teacher but not the son of God.

I mean honestly, if you think about it, if he isn't the son of God than he is just a raving lunatic who rambled on about raising the dead and doing other impossible things. If someone were walking the streets today saying that stuff they might be committed.

So either he's the almighty son of God or he's a crazy man. Right? Just my two cents.

---

 No not really, some believe that Jesus was a prophet, he is also in the Quran as a prophet. Not a lunatic. :)

Ohfour wrote:

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apple wrote:

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Imagine a thread started called "The Christian Delusion".

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We've had many of those... 

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 More than I can count. 

Tinydancer wrote:

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Christian, Let My Transgender People Go! (When Bigotry Uses the Bathroom) ( 1 2 3 4 ) (Preview)



Remember this one? We were called bigots right in the title.

-- Edited by Tinydancer on Tuesday 7th of June 2016 02:10:12 PM

---

 BY THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE

flan

apple wrote:

---

VetteGirl wrote:

---

The only thing I don't understand about atheists is when they say that Jesus was a great teacher but not the son of God.

I mean honestly, if you think about it, if he isn't the son of God than he is just a raving lunatic who rambled on about raising the dead and doing other impossible things. If someone were walking the streets today saying that stuff they might be committed.

So either he's the almighty son of God or he's a crazy man. Right? Just my two cents.

---

 No not really, some believe that Jesus was a prophet, he is also in the Quran as a prophet. Not a lunatic. :)

---

 That doesn't change her point.  To believe he was a prophet requires a belief in God as well - either the Christian or the God of Islam.   But if you don't believe - then he would have been stark raving mad, and so would all the people who witnessed his miracles and believed and recorded them in the Bible. 

flan327 wrote:

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Tinydancer wrote:

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Christian, Let My Transgender People Go! (When Bigotry Uses the Bathroom) ( 1 2 3 4 ) (Preview)



Remember this one? We were called bigots right in the title.

-- Edited by Tinydancer on Tuesday 7th of June 2016 02:10:12 PM

---

 BY THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE

flan

---

 JUST LIKE THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE

Tinydancer

Lexxy wrote:

---

VetteGirl wrote:

---

The only thing I don't understand about atheists is when they say that Jesus was a great teacher but not the son of God.

I mean honestly, if you think about it, if he isn't the son of God than he is just a raving lunatic who rambled on about raising the dead and doing other impossible things. If someone were walking the streets today saying that stuff they might be committed.

So either he's the almighty son of God or he's a crazy man. Right? Just my two cents.

---

I believe Jesus was a real man.  I do not believe he was the son of God.  Mary got knocked up the same way everyone else does.  I think she was shunned & that is why Jesus was born in a barn.  The Inns weren't all full.  She was just not welcome.

I believe Jesus was a very charismatic man & had a following much like other charismatic men in history.  I don't know if he was delusional or possibly tripping on ergot or something similar. 

---

 Very brave of you to say so. :)

I agree though, you can, and many do believe in the prophet and not that he is the son of God. 

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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If you only acknowledge Him as a man and not the Son of God and God Himself, then you are in error no different than an atheist or heretic.

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I've admitted to being an atheist.  Or an agnostic at the very least. 

Lawyerlady wrote:

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Lexxy wrote:

---

Lawyerlady wrote:

---

Lexxy wrote:

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VetteGirl wrote:

---

The only thing I don't understand about atheists is when they say that Jesus was a great teacher but not the son of God.

I mean honestly, if you think about it, if he isn't the son of God than he is just a raving lunatic who rambled on about raising the dead and doing other impossible things. If someone were walking the streets today saying that stuff they might be committed.

So either he's the almighty son of God or he's a crazy man. Right? Just my two cents.

---

I believe Jesus was a real man.  I do not believe he was the son of God.  Mary got knocked up the same way everyone else does.  I think she was shunned & that is why Jesus was born in a barn.  The Inns weren't all full.  She was just not welcome.

I believe Jesus was a very charismatic man & had a following much like other charismatic men in history.  I don't know if he was delusional or possibly tripping on ergot or something similar. 

---

 And all the witnesses to his miracles?  And those that watched him die, and yet be alive 3 days later?  The Centurian?

 

 

 

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He was charismatic & had them believing in his miracles.  We've seen mass following several times in our own history.  He didn't really die.  You've heard of dead ringers.  Same thing.  I'll be honest & admit I don't know what The Centurian is. 

---

 The Centurian was one of the Roman guards that caused and witnessed Christ's death on the cross.  After witnessing Christ's death, he became a devout Christian. 

---

Thanks.  I don't know what went through his mind but I would guess guilt & regret. 

Lawyerlady wrote:

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LOL. Burn!

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 Ummm...okay...

flan

Tinydancer wrote:

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Did you not get it? You blamed the author for the title of the other article so I showed it right back to you that this article was also titled by the author. Poor little atheists. They sure can give it but they can't take it.

-- Edited by Tinydancer on Tuesday 7th of June 2016 04:33:46 PM

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 Oh, please enlighten me.

Yes, the author of THIS article named it. So what? He's an idiot who thinks bananas are a "miracle" of God, when in reality, they are not edible without human intervention.

flan

Lexxy wrote:

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Tinydancer wrote:

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Did you not get it? You blamed the author for the title of the other article so I showed it right back to you that this article was also titled by the author. Poor little atheists. They sure can give it but they can't take it.

-- Edited by Tinydancer on Tuesday 7th of June 2016 04:33:46 PM

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That is a bit general don't you think?  I have always been respectful of Christians beliefs here & IRL. 

---

 Consider the source.

I wish members of every religion would mind their own business. I don't care how or if you (general you) worship.

flan

flan327 wrote:

---

Lexxy wrote:

---

Tinydancer wrote:

---

Did you not get it? You blamed the author for the title of the other article so I showed it right back to you that this article was also titled by the author. Poor little atheists. They sure can give it but they can't take it.

-- Edited by Tinydancer on Tuesday 7th of June 2016 04:33:46 PM

---

That is a bit general don't you think?  I have always been respectful of Christians beliefs here & IRL. 

---

 Consider the source.

I wish members of every religion would mind their own business. I don't care how or if you (general you) worship.

flan

---

That pesky Constitution huh?  

Lexxy wrote:

---

Lawyerlady wrote:

---

Lexxy wrote:

---

Lawyerlady wrote:

---

Lexxy wrote:

---

VetteGirl wrote:

---

The only thing I don't understand about atheists is when they say that Jesus was a great teacher but not the son of God.

I mean honestly, if you think about it, if he isn't the son of God than he is just a raving lunatic who rambled on about raising the dead and doing other impossible things. If someone were walking the streets today saying that stuff they might be committed.

So either he's the almighty son of God or he's a crazy man. Right? Just my two cents.

---

I believe Jesus was a real man.  I do not believe he was the son of God.  Mary got knocked up the same way everyone else does.  I think she was shunned & that is why Jesus was born in a barn.  The Inns weren't all full.  She was just not welcome.

I believe Jesus was a very charismatic man & had a following much like other charismatic men in history.  I don't know if he was delusional or possibly tripping on ergot or something similar. 

---

 And all the witnesses to his miracles?  And those that watched him die, and yet be alive 3 days later?  The Centurian?

 

 

 

---

He was charismatic & had them believing in his miracles.  We've seen mass following several times in our own history.  He didn't really die.  You've heard of dead ringers.  Same thing.  I'll be honest & admit I don't know what The Centurian is. 

---

 The Centurian was one of the Roman guards that caused and witnessed Christ's death on the cross.  After witnessing Christ's death, he became a devout Christian. 

---

Thanks.  I don't know what went through his mind but I would guess guilt & regret. 

---

 The Church and the Bible actually tells you quite eloquently. 

Martyr Longinus the Centurion, who stood at the Cross of the Lord

Commemorated on October 16

Troparion & Kontakion

The Holy Martyr Longinus the Centurion, a Roman soldier, served in Judea under the command of the Governor, Pontius Pilate. When our Savior Jesus Christ was crucified, it was the detachment of soldiers under the command of Longinus which stood watch on Golgotha, at the very foot of the holy Cross. Longinus and his soldiers were eyewitnesses of the final moments of the earthly life of the Lord, and of the great and awesome portents that appeared at His death. These events shook the centurion’s soul. Longinus believed in Christ and confessed before everyone, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Mt. 27:54).

According to Church Tradition, Longinus was the soldier who pierced the side of the Crucified Savior with a spear, and received healing from an eye affliction when blood and water poured forth from the wound.

After the Crucifixion and Burial of the Savior, Longinus stood watch with his company at the Sepulchre of the Lord. These soldiers were present at the All-Radiant Resurrection of Christ. The Jews bribed them to lie and say that His disciples had stolen away the Body of Christ, but Longinus and two of his comrades refused to be seduced by the Jewish gold. They also refused to remain silent about the miracle of the Resurrection.

Having come to believe in the Savior, the soldiers received Baptism from the apostles and decided to leave military service. St Longinus left Judea to preach about Jesus Christ the Son of God in his native land (Cappadocia), and his two comrades followed him.

The fiery words of those who had actually participated in the great events in Judea swayed the hearts and minds of the Cappadocians; Christianity began quickly to spread throughout the city and the surrounding villages. When they learned of this, the Jewish elders persuaded Pilate to send a company of soldiers to Cappadocia to kill Longinus and his comrades. When the soldiers arrived at Longinus’s village, the former centurion himself came out to meet the soldiers and took them to his home. After a meal, the soldiers revealed the purpose of their visit, not knowing that the master of the house was the very man whom they were seeking. Then Longinus and his friends identified themselves and told the startled soldiers to carry out their duty.

The soldiers wanted to let the saints go and advised them to flee, but they refused to do this, showing their firm intention to suffer for Christ. The holy martyrs were beheaded, and their bodies were buried at the place where the saints were martyred. The head of St Longinus, however, was sent to Pilate.

Pilate gave orders to cast the martyr’s head on a trash-heap outside the city walls. After a while a certain blind widow from Cappadocia arrived in Jerusalem with her son to pray at the holy places, and to ask that her sight be restored. After becoming blind, she had sought the help of physicians to cure her, but all their efforts were in vain.

The woman’s son became ill shortly after reaching Jerusalem, and he died a few days later. The widow grieved for the loss of her son, who had served as her guide.

St Longinus appeared to her in a dream and comforted her. He told her that she would see her son in heavenly glory, and also receive her sight. He told her to go outside the city walls and there she would find his head in a great pile of refuse. Guides led the blind woman to the rubbish heap, and she began to dig with her hands. As soon as she touched the martyr’s head, the woman received her sight, and she glorified God and St Longinus.

Taking up the head, she brought it to the place she was staying and washed it. The next night, St Longinus appeared to her again, this time with her son. They were surrounded by a bright light, and St Longinus said, Woman, behold the son for whom you grieve. See what glory and honor are his now, and be consoled. God has numbered him with those in His heavenly Kingdom. Now take my head and your son’s body, and bury them in the same casket. Do not weep for your son, for he will rejoice forever in great glory and happiness.”

The woman carried out the saint’s instructions and returned to her home in Cappadocia. There she buried her son and the head of St Longinus. Once, she had been overcome by grief for her son, but her weeping was transformed into joy when she saw him with St Longinus. She had sought healing for her eyes, and also received healing of her soul.

WYSIWYG wrote:

---

WYSIWYG is a strange kind of Christian. He doesn't believe the Bible is the word of God so agreeing with him should be easy for you.
- Tinydancer

_________________________________

I don't believe it to be the absolute and infallible Word of God. In that you are correct.

I believe it to be a group of men's best attempt to put to written word, the messages that God gave them. Some of those men inadvertently interspersed the True Message of God with their own biases and hatreds. I believe I once here compared it to the kindergarten game of "telephone". God whispered into a few people's ears, and then what God said was diluted over time and retelling and translating.

---

 But if it isn't the perfect word of God, how do you know which parts to believe? Just pick and choose?