religious

[Benfleet A1]

I think I will repent all my sins on my deathbed, just in case.

 

[OldBlueLady]

I think I will repent all my sins on my deathbed, just in case.

Which is exactly why Henry VIII made his confession (or indicated his agreement to it in any case) on his death bed in the traditional RC way!

 

[Benfleet A1]

Which is exactly why Henry VIII made his confession (or indicated his agreement to it in any case) on his death bed in the traditional RC way!

Then who am I not to follow his lead. Good for the goose and all that.......

 

[MK Shrimper]

On your first point, as I said in reply to a previous poster (and not yet got a response) is what you would be prepared to accept as empirical evidence?

On your second point, the answer indicated by the Bible is "No, He won't" - God has demonstrated His love through the sacrifice of His Son - it is down to us in this life to accept that or not and take the consequences in eternity of our choice - not an answer that many people will like but it that is the message of Christianity - the problem with God is that He does not always fit our defintion of how we would like Him to be.

You see this is one of the major problems I have with religion. It's your way or the highway isn't it?

So what about the vast amounts of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Bhuddists, Zoroastrians, Scientologists etc etc....? Is there a seperate Heaven for these believers or does a christian god send them downstairs to the hot place?

And as for evidence, how about he pops down and does a few magic tricks, ala Derren Brown. That'll do me, I'd be down the nearest church to beg forgiveness for my sins of being a (I like to think anyhow) decent enough bloke who's done nobody any major wrongs, y'know no murders or genocides, unlike say.... The Catholic Church?

 

[fredheim_holm]

I think I will repent all my sins on my deathbed, just in case.

All well and good if the Christian way isn't right, but if it's true Jesus was God then that won't work unless you're trully sincere in repenting.

 

[adam3811]

well, well, well..

that's taken me about 30 minutes to *vaguely* read through all of your lovely posts... :stunned:

I'm going to be honest, I didn't get down to the grimey bottom of every single post, but alot of it has been quite interesting!

Didn't know that it would all get going like it did.. but that's good :)

I'm just glad that not many people actually looked at the link that I put on the original post... might be a few more opinions on that!

 

[Benfleet A1]

All well and good if the Christian way isn't right, but if it's true Jesus was God then that won't work unless you're trully sincere in repenting.

I can be very convincing. :cool:

 

[Reading Shrimper]

it is as Stephen Hawking say's these day's a matter of perception..

Indeed, Prof. Hawking, one of the most intelligent and thoughful people alive today, is a believer in God having reached his own conclusions through a process of rational thought and study.

This thread has some fascinating argument and counter-arguments, but also raises some of the most common ammunition thrown by people with strong opinions on both sides of the divide. I personally am a Christian - something I decided upon during my twenties having read the Bible alone. My parent are agnostic and I have had no 'indoctrination' or 'brainwashing' in my childhood to label me as a 'sheep'. Having said that I respect those who do not believe - but it is also sad how many people will get on their high horse to deride Christianity by arguing the case of Evolution and Darwinism - of which they know no more about than than the Bible in the first place.

 

[sufcintheprem]

You see this is one of the major problems I have with religion. It's your way or the highway isn't it?

So what about the vast amounts of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Bhuddists, Zoroastrians, Scientologists etc etc....? Is there a seperate Heaven for these believers or does a christian god send them downstairs to the hot place?

And as for evidence, how about he pops down and does a few magic tricks, ala Derren Brown. That'll do me, I'd be down the nearest church to beg forgiveness for my sins of being a (I like to think anyhow) decent enough bloke who's done nobody any major wrongs, y'know no murders or genocides, unlike say.... The Catholic Church?

I wish there was a scientologist on here because I have literally no idea how anyone can possibly associate themselves with it. A lot of the core beliefs make sense but the organised campaigns of hate towards those who dare to publicly argue against it is disgusting and the Church of Scientology does little to distance itself from them

 

[MK Shrimper]

I wish there was a scientologist on here because I have literally no idea how anyone can possibly associate themselves with it. A lot of the core beliefs make sense but the organised campaigns of hate towards those who dare to publicly argue against it is disgusting and the Church of Scientology does little to distance itself from them

I was using the term to make a point.

To me Scientology is just as valid a religion as any other. The others are just as bonkers and have just been around a bit longer, that's all.

 

[fredheim_holm]

I was using the term to make a point.

To me Scientology is just as valid a religion as any other. The others are just as bonkers and have just been around a bit longer, that's all.

The funny thing about Scientology is that it has no scientific backing. It's just taken the name and made up some stories.

(my opinion)

 

[blues_r_best]

The funny thing about Scientology is that it has no scientific backing. It's just taken the name and made up some stories.

(my opinion)

Same can be said about all religions in the world

 

[Reg Martin]

You see this is one of the major problems I have with religion. It's your way or the highway isn't it?

So what about the vast amounts of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Bhuddists, Zoroastrians, Scientologists etc etc....? Is there a seperate Heaven for these believers or does a christian god send them downstairs to the hot place?

And as for evidence, how about he pops down and does a few magic tricks, ala Derren Brown. That'll do me, I'd be down the nearest church to beg forgiveness for my sins of being a (I like to think anyhow) decent enough bloke who's done nobody any major wrongs, y'know no murders or genocides, unlike say.... The Catholic Church?

OK, I'll try to respond to each of these points as best as I can:

It's not 'my' religion but it is what I've come to believe is the truth.

As to the 'highway or my way', that is what the Bible indicates and I am well aware that this offends people but I don't believe I should keep quiet about what I believe to be the truth because of that.

I believe the difference between other religions and Christianity is as follows - other religions are Man's attempt to reach God by means of good deeds and religious rituals, whereas Christianity is God reaching out to Man by sending His Son to die for our sins.
I believe that Muslims, Hindus are in exactly the same situation as me, ie, they need to accept what Christ has done for them.

There is no doubt that the Catholic Church has done lots of evil things but it was religious authorities that Jesus had the biggest problems with. The church establishment down the ages has often been at the forefront of persecuting Christians for believing in what the Bible says and not what the church establishment may try to say has superseded it.
I believe the behavior of other people who claim to be followers of God is no excuse nor get-out clause for any of us in the eyes of God.

This is obviously a subject on which we are unlikely to agree on in the near future but whenever it comes up on the ShrimperZone I am going to continue to argue for what I believe in as best I can.

 

[Napster]

GK Chesterton put it best - he said when the playwright enters the stage, the play is over.

 

[Firestorm]

To me the important evidence question is not that of the existance of god, ask a religious person that and they can generally explain someting away, but the evidence to disprove another religion. Ie. Ask a Catholic to prove that his god exists yet a Muslims god doesn't...

Whether there is a god or not, the original belief is likely to started from the same story. So would all religions please stop trying to eliminate (by conversion etc) the other ones and the world may be a better place.

 

[MK Shrimper]

GK Chesterton put it best - he said when the playwright enters the stage, the play is over.

Well, GK Chesterton was full of it, 'cos Shakespeare regularly acted in his own plays :p

 

[sufcintheprem]

I was using the term to make a point.

To me Scientology is just as valid a religion as any other. The others are just as bonkers and have just been around a bit longer, that's all.

Of course, but other religions seem to appreciate the need to distance themselves from radicalism whereas sicentology, I believe, has a department for maintaining public image which in real terms seems to be persecuting non-believers (Office of Special Affairs).

Their policy on fair game summarised

 

[OldBlueLady]

Can I just ask, at what point in this and why did Teeside Shrimper beomce Charlie Farnsbarns?

 

[Benji91]

So im not religious at all - i went to a catholic school but having experienced what the religion had to offer it wasnt for me.
One of my closest friends is very religious. We have had many conversations on religion, but one in particular i was interested in hearing some other opinions.

Praying

Now my friend tells me (like some other people have said on this thread) that in times when life is getting too much they will pray for guidance, and through the prayers they receive the guidance.
I always say that in those times i think things over to myself and figure out the best course of action weighing up the pro's and con's and come to my conclusion.

So for those that pray on a regular basis, im interested (and not in a smug ill prove you wrong kind of way) how your prayers are answered

 

[Firestorm]

So im not religious at all - i went to a catholic school but having experienced what the religion had to offer it wasnt for me.
One of my closest friends is very religious. We have had many conversations on religion, but one in particular i was interested in hearing some other opinions.

Praying

Now my friend tells me (like some other people have said on this thread) that in times when life is getting too much they will pray for guidance, and through the prayers they receive the guidance.
I always say that in those times i think things over to myself and figure out the best course of action weighing up the pro's and con's and come to my conclusion.

So for those that pray on a regular basis, im interested (and not in a smug ill prove you wrong kind of way) how your prayers are answered

If you talk to God , its called Praying
if God talks to You, its called schizophrenia