but i've been "saved" so i'm good right? at least from your way of thinking

I think I was a priest in a last lifetime. Perhaps that explains my distaste for the word fornication

No I don't believe in once saved always saved.

Actually it still does. Stop reaching... First off you're assuming that a person can stand up and walk around in a whale's stomach. You're also assuming a person doesn't drown/suffocate before it reaches an gastric acid filled organ that is ment to digest.

however the religion that I was raised in that is what it is....so your saying that your belief is right and that one wrong?

Just to clarify-Jews don't even say "Adonai" unless praying. They say "HaShem". which means the name. even weirder, the Chabad people, who are more than orthodox, won't even refer to God as HaShem without good reason. They add a letter, in song, for instance, and Sing "HadaShem", which doesn't mean anything. they take the commandment very seriously about the name of god, even spelling "God" as "G-d". I guess the idea is "why take chances?"

But the G-d thing is just ridiculous in my opinion. Nothing sacred about it. It stems from the German Gott.

The prohibition to verbalize the name of the supreme being is an extremely old custom that dates back to a time when God was referred to as "el." Prayers have been found on the walls of Egyptian caves addressed to "el." The result of this ancient tradition can still be seen in the names of cities, for example, Bethel . . . . the house of God.

I almost married a Jewish lady, and I asked her about this she told me it was respect for "G-d".

el was also a babylonian god. in hebrew it is a direct translation of "god", not the name of god, per se. I forgot to mention, that the longer version of "elohim", which is a plural form, also has a prohibition. when not praying, religious jews will say "elokim".



the policy is "why take a chance?" as i stated.

That I did not know. there was a Saint Nicholas BEFORE there was a Jesus

so to speak, if he attended constantinople, then he helped rewrite the nt that we have today.

And I'm just stating my opinion. Get over it.

The policy is "Why take a chance?" Filled with undying faith, of course.

I have had the opportunity to meet many orthodox types in my life, and yes, their faith in God was palpable. deep, very deep people.

I know the policy but originally, it was to keep the unpronounceable name, sacred. Once again, it's just my opinion, that Gott, is not sacred, because it isn't the original Hebrew. Just a Teutonic invention.

Even so, an "Why take a chance?" position is hardly compatible with faith.

what is wrong with you people? it was just my take.

i say, if you believe, then believe, but don't dare attempt to pour it down my throat(figuratively speaking), this is something that Christianity has been guilty of in the past, and no offense to Muslims, but Islam is doing the same thing now.

I believe what i believe as much as anyone, though i am not any one denomination of religion, those that i have talked, like Gideon Mage said, tend to be very pious.

No I don't. But why would you care. lol. If God is fake to you?

Is this a safety net to you?

Not at all, but I find it funny that anyone could be so sure that what they were raised with is the right choice just because it is what you were raised with. don't you find it odd that even within the "christian" faith there are so many differences? how do you explain that? your right eveyone else is wrong? probubly becuase to think your wrong would mean your faith and beliefs are based on something that isn't right or true

did you read the Bible about something like this :

Let’s look at this Scripturally

Jesus understood that when people heard the Word of God they would react in different ways – from total rejection to total acceptance. He explained it in ‘The Parable Of The Sower’. I have quoted the Matthew 13:3-23 Scripture here, but the same parable can also be found in Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:4-15.

Matthew 13:3-9:
3 Then [Jesus] told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
9 He who has ears, let him hear.” [NIV]

The Disciples wanted to know what this parable meant and Jesus explained.

Matthew 13:18-23
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” [NIV]

For people who believe that “once saved, always saved” I rhetorically ask: how do you relate your beliefs to Matthew 13: 20-21? If a man cannot lose his salvation then why would Jesus say: “When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away”?

once saved always saved- fact or fiction?

This is commonly a Baptist belief. I was not raised baptist. And these scriptures can sum up why this could not very well be true in all cases.

Ha ha. I am not afraid I am wrong. lol.

why don't you go by your local catholic church talk to the priest and tell him that you think his faith is wrong......ask him about the scriptures......perhaps he can help you understand that a child who is baptised, and confirmed will be recieved into the kingdom of heaven.....but then again maybe you know more then the Catholic church

A child is not for sins until the age of usually 10. In cases of Judasim it is at their 13 yr birthday.

A child will inherit the kingdom of Heaven no matter what.

I would not tell a Catholic church they are wrong- nor anyone. I am saying I believe in a different way. Not the once saved always saved.

So tell me how come you are right and everyone else is wrong? are you omnipotent? or just afraid to look else where?

Who said I thought everyone else was wrong. I had scripture to back up my claims. You had nothing but heresay? Perhaps I would listen to someone who had something to add in defense to the arguement.

I never once said a Pagan, Muslim, jew, or anyone is wrong- just different in beliefs.

But what I said was in my Christian beliefs backed up in scripture I showed was right.

Hearsay? I have twenty plus years of Catholic church and CCD classes, a baptism, first communion, confession, confirmation and talking to priests to back it up....It's funny how you claim that you don't say it's wrong yet you say you don't believe it.....Do you know who the Pope is? he would tell you that someone baptised into the catholic church, who is confirmed into the catholic church is able to receive last rights therefor getting into heaven for god will forgive his sins, even if he only confesses on his death bed which in all honesty consists of saying bless me father for I have sinned blah blah blah......the church whether i agree with it anymore or not follows the belief that those who are in the church family are welcome in gods kingdom. True strict catholics would say that you are going to hell because you are not catholic....how does that sound to you?

A person who confesses at his death bed will go to Heaven because he has confessed. This is why. If he did go and sin constantly with no remorse or confession a person would most likely not be a christian. Anyone can ask for forgiveness and ask Jesus in their heart. But only then can they be reassured the eternal life in Heaven.

I am sure some would say I would go to Hell. But how does that correlate with the Bible and the scripture John3:16- Whosever will?

You choose to follow the bible, if you choose to think that killing people is the right punishment and that everything is a sin that's your call. But don't give me the high and mighty attitude about anything because it is all a lie. You are no more likely to understand another idea of god then you are to understand that you can't twist things to suit your own needs about everything else. The bible is what it is, it is a work of fiction that was used to control people, torture and murder....it has been used to support more ideas of hate then anything else I can think of and yet people still sit and say oh you should believe because you'll be this or that or what not. You choose to believe as you wish. You choose to follow that book, but then make a choice to follow completely and quit with your own spin to try and make it a kinder gentler god and admit that it is used for hate and to keep people giving money to those who are smart enough to use it to their own advantage

What was high and mighty? It is what I believe. As well as others and their belief. They will do the same as I.

They potray their belief as beautiful.

A wiccan and the Goddess is beautiful. I speak to my friend who is wiccan and he says stuff about her in a way just as I do my God. It is no different. The thing is because Christians are what some call. Evil. Because today modern society wants people to accept everything. Accepting everything is fine. But when you include everything in your life is when it may turn out badly. Not everyone is supposed to be submissive, not everyone is supposed to atheist or deist.

No everyone should have their own faith in something that is true to them....Believeing in what someone else tells you, or believeing in something that you read in a book isn't faith it's following.............

So are you saying that we as a human race should make our own beliefs based upon what we feel? That is just what an atheist is. It is something that others do also.

Faith in the Bible or any religion is fine because people feel this way in their hearts. If not they would be something else. It is faith. It is what you feel within.

an athiest doesn't believe in anything. But sorry I do believe that if you use what you have been taught and programed into from the time you were a child then it isn't faith it's a habit it's following what you were taught to feel what you were told that you should feel. Just like anything else........and that's not real to me

But with the formation of the Bible, people did exactly that . . . . they formed their own beliefs based not on what they felt, but what best served their mission, cause or interests. We now know that the New Testament, only as an example, is riddled with additions, corruptions and editing. Monks in the early church were adept at this, so much so that one was called the "Great Bible Forger." The earliest known copy of Mark, discovered by Dr. Morton Smith of Columbia University, does not contain the resurrection scene. That, too, was an addition made to support Christian doctrine. The concept of the Holy Ghost appeared through a political process of bishops voting its concept into existence. There was no divine inspiration in these processes or something "felt in the heart." Christianity was not created from that inspiration and certainly did not grow by heartfelt missions. It was propagated by violence, deception, conquering, enslavement, threats and murder. And these were not athiests . . . . these were the good Christians thumping their chests and telling others about faith and what you need to feel within. Little has changed and zealots still thrive upon such falsehoods and declaiming them as the works of Satan. In that respect, perhaps they are right.

101 We are built on beleifs, take a look at your beleifs you will see your self there. You look but you don't see, you see only what religon has taught you this is not an insult in any way, you filter your understandings through religon you have made up your mind that this is your truth and you have all these reasons why, REligon isn't anything more than one sided history, man trying to understand himself and not doing a very good job of it , maybe some metaphors but life is simple, relgion is dressing it up in incomplete understandings and fear and guilt and blame take all that out and you'll see it for what it is. Seek outside the box (religion) or stretch it to include new understandings add on to the ones you have let go of the ones that don't serve you. Namaste sheri

I believe in many things. I have seen outside the box. But I don't believe it serves me any purpose. What does one do?

Look at things through a different perspective?

Walk the shoes as a person who is opposite of what you truly are inside?

I do not understand what I would have to leave behind.

leave behind? you don't really. Girl you can't look outside the box and expect to learn anything. what does that mean to you anyway? It's not about changing it's about knowing for sure that the ideas and beliefs that you have are your own and not just what you are expected to believe or not something that you follow because it is what you were taught or raised with, or safe even. Life isn't safe it's taking risks and following your heart to where ever it leads. And if you are lucky finding yourself along the way. Yes it isn't for everyone some people find it safer to sit and read that book and say yes that makes sense that works and live in the little plastic bubble that that creates......it's when that bubble doesn't work for you that you have a problem and you begin to search and question instead of follow and just listen

101 Religon is a construct its not who anyone is really (you can think you are), you may have been taught you are , but its an understanding that mankind has decided is the "truth", You are part of a construct that says don't question meaning you can question about the material with an available answer that is biblical in nature, the bible is the handbook on everything , in and of itself its not possible, it discounts everything except what is in the bible, many call this learning 101 but it isn't. namaste Sheri

I told my dear friend Mako today that I am going to do some research on the Bible. To more of an extent then I have. I am curious to the answers I find and what I will see.

do you have something against real world learning instead of just from that book? don't you know what it says? what do you think would happen if you looked somewhere other then that book? I don't think you will turn into a toad or an ugly duck or something if you take a leap of faith and try to find information of knowledge from a place other then the good book....or are you afraid of what you might find?

Who said 101 doesn't read other books?

I have looked into numerous things. I just think that it all stems back to the God.

I read a lot about a lot of things.

What is it that a person should read? I have read Davinci code, a book on surviving the rain forest- it talked about gods and shrinking heads and other things, I read books on saving money, cleaning, organizing.

I don't get it?

101 a dear friend of mine recommended a great book called the ABC's of learning and it says everything has its place one should know really good wisdom as opposed to really bad , you can't disount one without the other, Many of us have done this and have out grown the bible, it cetainly has its purpose, you have to know what you aren't in order to know what you are possibly but beyond that IMO.... of course everyone has ther own take Namaste Sheri

Interesting. I did a little research on it and it was believed to be called Sea of Reeds, which would lead to more debates on what that means exactly. I have also discovered that the chariots they rode on during this whole event, were not even made by man until some time much later.

What were the unicorns and dragons before the mistranslation?

Amy

The Bible can be read numerous times over and over. This does not mean everyone outgrows it by finding truth.

The Bible is simplistic explanation of what was in the days of old. God knew he could not tell the writers of the Bible about such modern ideals- this would scare them and simply confiuse their finite minds. As we evolve as species we understnadb modern life. The Bible is simple in terms. And is not meant to explain modern day sciences or reasoning. But a base line for right and wrong.

and you need that book to tell you right from wrong? you can't figure it out on your own?

You can read it numerous times?
It is a 2000 year old book!. How come we roll our eyes at our parents advice thinking it is dated, and then turn around and put so much stock into a 2,000 year old questionable document?





What religion employs scientists?

It was written by MEN. There is no evidence of divine inspiration or any Godly influence. Luke was contracted to write his work! There is nothing about human evolution to lend understanding to a work that is the gathering of some ancient writings forming an Old Testament and completely unfounded writings compiling a New Testament about a man whose very existence cannot be proven.

101 you actually beleive God has preferences???You actually beleive that there would be things god wouldn't want you to know or you couldn't handle?? this concept keeps one ignorant, What is truth 101? how would you define it?? Namaste sheri

Turtle, I have read it at least 2 times. Maybe more.

Religion that employs scientists- the Christian university. 1 example.

Wouldn't you say a doctor knows the science of medicine- christian doctors.

Iaapac- who said Luke was paid? source please.

Sherri- God allows us to explore - he does- this is free will. But to me ignorance as a teen was bliss. I was happier not knowing stuff that was out to hurt me. I don't believe not knowing is so bad. There is a time. My time happended after I was 18.

I still am a little ignorant about other religions.

bacca- the right and wrong is learned by yourself- this is just written down. Parents teach right and wrong - what is the difference?

Scientology?