sublime_serenity75 Posted December 30, 2005 #1 Share Posted December 30, 2005 ...should I accept Jesus Christ as my personal savior? Why should I be born again? I am willing to entertain any and all opinions on this as I have yet to make up my mind on this matter. Although I've stated previousy that I'm an atheist, I agree with another member of this board who states that I'm more of an agnostic than anything else. I am very familiar with Christian beliefs as I've been a Lutheran, Mormon, and Methodist in previous years. The bigget problem I have with christianity and religion in general is the following points: *Your religion is partly due to geography. If the christian members here were born in Asia, they would be Buddhist. If they were born in India, they would be Hindu. If you were in Japan, perhaps you would follow Taoism or Shintoism. How is this not the case? *Part of becoming "born again" is to have a new found feeling. A swelling from within the heart if you will. With that being said, Muslim, Buddhist, and other religious followers note the same feeling. How are your feelings any different or more valid than theirs? *Christianity in many respects hasn't been *progressive* enough to me. Interracial marriage, slavery, women's rights, as well as gay marriage are issues where organized religion have moved at a snail's pace, although in 90% of the cases I list previously, no one thinks twice about interracial marraige. A great case of "changing morals" brought about by people and dragging the church into the 20th century. Please answer these concerns as well along with your reasoning as to why I should accept Jesus Christ into my life. If you are agnostic/atheist-feel free to state why I shouldn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1667832 Posted December 30, 2005 #2 Share Posted December 30, 2005 You shouldnt accept anything into your life simply on what others have said. You have to research for yourself, find out what works for you, what makes you feel right inside. Well thats my thought anyway. God Bless, Aale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sublime_serenity75 Posted December 30, 2005 Author #3 Share Posted December 30, 2005 You shouldnt accept anything into your life simply on what others have said. You have to research for yourself, find out what works for you, what makes you feel right inside. Well thats my thought anyway. God Bless, Aale. Okay, I can accept that. At the same time, I can get warm fuzzies at a mosque, a synagogue, Mormon temple, Lutheran chapel, or a Buddhist shrine. Heck, I get warm fuzzies at the coffee place and library. How is one to judge whether any of these warm feelings that "makes me feel right inside" more valid than the others? Ohhhhhhh, the condundrums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelekiah Posted December 30, 2005 #4 Share Posted December 30, 2005 *Christianity in many respects hasn't been *progressive* enough to me... Please answer these concerns as well along with your reasoning as to why I should accept Jesus Christ into my life. I believe that Christianity is a bit outmoded. Gay marriage is an excellent example. But the thing is, Jesus is not responsible for women's rights or a ban on gay marriage. That's people in power who are partially responsible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1667832 Posted December 30, 2005 #5 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Okay, I can accept that. At the same time, I can get warm fuzzies at a mosque, a synagogue, Mormon temple, Lutheran chapel, or a Buddhist shrine. Heck, I get warm fuzzies at the coffee place and library. How is one to judge whether any of these warm feelings that "makes me feel right inside" more valid than the others? Ohhhhhhh, the condundrums. Well, some people say that all religions are ultimately one, as they follow a basic principle of a higher power or acknowledging something deeper in the world. Which faith do you agree with most? Which are you willing to abide by for the rest of your life? Which do you think is the truth? And completely, which will give you peace? God Bless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1667832 Posted December 30, 2005 #6 Share Posted December 30, 2005 I believe that Christianity is a bit outmoded. Gay marriage is an excellent example. But the thing is, Jesus is not responsible for women's rights or a ban on gay marriage. That's people in power who are partially responsible. I agree. In the end, its a lot like a popularity contest really. Which group outnumbers the other groups? The biggest, the majority, usually makes the rules, despite faith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelekiah Posted December 30, 2005 #7 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Ah yes, may the biggest steeple win. Popularity does not equal validity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1667832 Posted December 30, 2005 #8 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Ah yes, may the biggest steeple win. Popularity does not equal validity. True that. In the end, its not "A state under God," but rather, "A state catering to whatever we want." I dont think religion can modernise. Thats my opinion anyway. It can in some ways, and cant in others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelekiah Posted December 30, 2005 #9 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Right like that passage in Leviticus. I'm paraphrasing here... "If a man lieth with another man, his blood shall be upon him". How the hell do you modernize that? You can't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1667832 Posted December 30, 2005 #10 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Right like that passage in Leviticus. I'm paraphrasing here... "If a man lieth with another man, his blood shall be upon him". How the hell do you modernize that? You can't. Science can evolve with religion, Im sure God supports education and knowledge. But see that kind of stuff wouldnt work. Its a "Gods way or the highway" situation. And if you make that law, you would have to follow through with other laws of the sort. Its different from laws like, thou shalt not kill. Thats just human morals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelekiah Posted December 30, 2005 #11 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Well stoning gay people for example...I don't consider that a part of human morality. However, there was an homosexual that was hanged a few months ago. Shocks me that that still goes on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1667832 Posted December 30, 2005 #12 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Well stoning gay people for example...I don't consider that a part of human morality. However, there was an homosexual that was hanged a few months ago. Shocks me that that still goes on. Neither. I think the law should be something along the lines of, do what you want, just dont advertise it. In a world with this many people, the only thing we, as a population, can do, is simply accept people's differences. People will think differently, act differently, do many things differently. The easiest and most peaceful path is acceptance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelekiah Posted December 30, 2005 #13 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Whoops, I just remembered they do kill gay people. I just wrote that in my previous post. I forget which country punishes them. But I guess in a way it *is* modern. How amiss of me. Your religion is partly due to geography. I agree here. That makes it more interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1667832 Posted December 30, 2005 #14 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Well depending on what part of the world you are in, yes and no. In places like America, England and Australia, you have LOTS of nationalities and LOTS of faiths. Its a mixed bag. In other countries, I agree with you. I think it does make it more interesting, you know, travelling to a new place where people have their own dogmas, own style almost. It helps keep ancient knowledge alive, by not introducing other faiths with other ideas. And in no way did I mean that in a racist manner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelekiah Posted December 30, 2005 #15 Share Posted December 30, 2005 It helps keep ancient knowledge alive, by not introducing other faiths with other ideas. And in no way did I mean that in a racist manner. It didn't sound racist at all. In fact I think some faiths don't need to be tampered with. Just to maintain their purity really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1667832 Posted December 30, 2005 #16 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Yeah thats what I thought. Some faiths have amazing architectural structures, and just even the way they design the country. I think that shouldnt be changed or altered or modernised. If we modernise everything, the entire world will end up being the same. I think culture and faith makes the world rich in history. That sort of stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Paranoid Android Posted December 30, 2005 #17 Share Posted December 30, 2005 (edited) Firstly, what has been said is the best suggestion you could have. Do your own research and find what's good for you. That said, I would like to point out that Christianity isn't about feeling warm and fuzzy. At least, not in my opinion. I am well aware there are churches out there that concentrate on lovey-dovey touchey-feely type emotions, filled with Charismatically themed imagery and the like. I for one find that these churches concentrate on the wrong thing. As I said, Christianity isn't an emotion, a way to feel "good". CHristianity is all about Jesus' death on the cross. I've been to some churches where the songs don't even mention God and they are sometimes something you might even hear on LoveSong Dedications on 106.5 (aussie radio station FYI). The obvious danger (for a Christian at least) is that focusing on these emotions leads to dependence on these emotions, so when you feel "bad", well, God obviously isn't with you. So, as I say, Christianity isn't about how you feel, but about what God has done. Ok, to wrap it up, just do your own research. Feelings are misleading. As the Jedi say "Your thoughts betray you, don't trust them" All the best with your search Regards, PA Edited December 30, 2005 by Paranoid Android Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelekiah Posted December 30, 2005 #18 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Modern can equal ugly anyway You take an old-fashioned mosque, or church, and I can see the beauty in it, as opposed to a modern bricked one. There is a lot of grandeur to some things but I appreciate the time and effort put into the structure of places or the images in religious manuscripts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1667832 Posted December 30, 2005 #19 Share Posted December 30, 2005 CHristianity is all about Jesus' death on the cross. I've been to some churches where the songs don't even mention God and they are sometimes something you might even hear on LoveSong Dedications on 106.5 (aussie radio station FYI). Just to add...I REALLY like making fun of that radio station. Modern can equal ugly anyway You take an old-fashioned mosque, or church, and I can see the beauty in it, as opposed to a modern bricked one. There is a lot of grandeur to some things but I appreciate the time and effort put into the structure of places or the images in religious manuscripts. I totally agree with you here. For me, modern equals fast. Everything built is just fast. Old Mosques and Churches are utterly amazing, because each structure was built with care. Each detail took time. Now its like you just put cement then shove on some bricks and presto, you got yourself new apartment blocks, which look horrible. I think its the fact that older things have the human touch in them. Some man or woman actually used their hands and imagination to make it. Thats what modernity doesnt have. The human touch. We can turn that ^ into a lovesong dedication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelekiah Posted December 30, 2005 #20 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Religion has brought about the most beautiful architechture in the world, and ironically has helped humans destroy themselves and each other. It all depends on how one interprets the text, or how one is moved. [attachmentid=22066] But I think to pray in this place must be pretty moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueryAnalyzer Posted December 30, 2005 #21 Share Posted December 30, 2005 (edited) I don't know why you asked this... You are predisposed to analyze religion to the fullest, so there is none who can satisfy you, I am certain about that. I would suggest being only spiritual, like Alfred Russel Wallace, co-discoverer of evolution by natural selection. I am certain he had more conflicts with religion than those that you have... "I am thankful I can see much to admire in all religions" - Alfred Russel Wallace Edited December 30, 2005 by QueryAnalyzer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Paranoid Android Posted December 30, 2005 #22 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Just to add...I REALLY like making fun of that radio station. I do too. I was just using it as an example Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1667832 Posted December 30, 2005 #23 Share Posted December 30, 2005 (edited) Agreed. I think that nowadays there is far too much information for people to handle. There's too many ideas being planted in their psyche, and they dont end up following their religion correctly. Most, if not all, religions preach peace, dont they? Praying in that place would be breathtaking. I would have no trouble slipping into Enlightenment. [attachmentid=22070] How much time and effort would that have taken, to simply inscribe that. [attachmentid=22071] Amazing detail and structure. Edited December 30, 2005 by Aaleyah-Abqurah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramster83 Posted December 30, 2005 #24 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Yup thats why i absolutely love Europe and the Middle East. Historic buildings of religious influence that i can just stare at all day. Down here in Sydney, Australia...Our history isnt very rich, but you can clearly see old from new- St.Mary's Cathedral in Sydney City is a sandstone building of Gothic architecture and i've been in it, its breathtaking. PS- Sometimes small is cute Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Umbarger Posted December 30, 2005 #25 Share Posted December 30, 2005 I agree with the earlier statements about older buildings have a certain charm to them as opposed to most modern buildings. The Temple in my hiome town was a thing to see. It was old and it had the aura of histoy. The new Temple just looks like almost every other church in the state. Just a building with four white walls. It is bigger and all but, it doesn't have that same feel to it that the older one had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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