Religion!

OK, so in another topic, religion came up.  So what are your beliefs, opinions, thoughts, confusions, questions? And of course keep it civil, don't judge or bash, if you think something is offensive, stick "in my opinion" in front, so you can't get in poo.

Original Post by azirra:

Original Post by merylwhite1:

Original Post by azirra:

Original Post by pgeorgian:

okay, i'm taking a poll: how many non-christians know which fishes i'm referring to? 

I bet youre talking about the miracle of the loaves and fishes. (Did I win? )

One or two fishes and one or two loaves of bread get magically multiplied by Jesus into hundreds - or at least dozens - of loaves and fishes, and they feed a whole huge group of hungry people. No way science can explain away that one.

In fact, sorry to get nerdy, but there's a law called the Law of Conservation of Energy which basically says you cant take a blob of matter and turn it into a blob of even more matter - which is exactly what the story boils down to.

My partner is a chef struggling to get his food costs down. Is there an email address for this guy who can magically whip up fish and bread for the masses? I know there'd be a job vacancy for him if he's available...

 jesus.h.christ@gmail.com

He can whip up some wine to go with it too!

Dang I wish that was my party trick. If he can magic up new shoes too, my boyfriend might have some serious competition.

Original Post by azirra:

Original Post by pgeorgian:

okay, i'm taking a poll: how many non-christians know which fishes i'm referring to? 

 

I bet youre talking about the miracle of the loaves and fishes. (Did I win? )

One or two fishes and one or two loaves of bread get magically multiplied by Jesus into hundreds - or at least dozens - of loaves and fishes, and they feed a whole huge group of hungry people. No way science can explain away that one.

In fact, sorry to get nerdy, but there's a law called the Law of Conservation of Energy which basically says you cant take a blob of matter and turn it into a blob of even more matter - which is exactly what the story boils down to.

you win, azirra!  come to vancouver and collect your prize (loaves, fishes, figs, wine, and maybe if you're lucky a little rack of lamb on the 'cue). 

isn't it interesting that so many atheists know the bible so much better than so many christians....

Original Post by pgeorgian:

isn't it interesting that so many atheists know the bible so much better than so many christians....

Maybe because non-christians can look at the whole bible objectively, rather than focusing on the parts they feel like (ie, the ones that don't contradict with science).

yeah.  either that or they don't read it and just listen to the dude behind the pulpit.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by azirra:

I bet youre talking about the miracle of the loaves and fishes. (Did I win? )

you win, azirra!  come to vancouver and collect your prize (loaves, fishes, figs, wine, and maybe if you're lucky a little rack of lamb on the 'cue). 

I would love to! Sounds really yummy - and Vancouver is awesome.

i like fish

Original Post by watergirl:

i like fish

 Me to.  And it goes well with bread and wine.

I asked which fishes because there are several miracles related to fish in the Bible. I'd list them but since you all know the Bible that would be redundant.

I am curious to know if there is anyone here of Native American descent that practices any of their healing rituals?  

Or maybe these fish...

 http://www.evolvefish.com/fish/emblems.html 

;) I have the "Darwin" one on the back of my car.

Original Post by change_in_sc:

I asked which fishes because there are several miracles related to fish in the Bible. I'd list them but since you all know the Bible that would be redundant.

I am curious to know if there is anyone here of Native American descent that practices any of their healing rituals?  

 I'm 30% Native american and I smoke um peace pipe. Is that what you mean?

As soon as I heard you mentioned the miracle of the fishes, I figured you meant when Christ fed the masses with a few fish and a loaf of bread. I can't imagine anyone with any kind of background in Christianity thinking of a different miracle off the top of their head.

I'd also like you to list the scientific proof of this or any of the other miracles for which you say you have proof.

*sigh* I am so tired of the double standards on this forum.  I wouldn't assume to know what you think so why is it ok for you to do that with me or anyone else for that matter? 

As far as your statement, I never mentioned the miracle of fishes. Someone else asked "what about the fishes?"and yes I asked them to be specific. The miracle of the fish and loaves of bread (which actually happened twice) did come to mind. But also the miracle of the fisherman that had been fishing all day without catching anything; casting their net again and it getting so full that it broke came to mind as well.

As far as scientific proof, as I stated before there were about 6 books that I read (a few were given to me by an agnostic friend) that went into great detail. IMO the authors proved their theories (which seemed to be unbiased) but as someone else stated books aren't proof.

Original Post by change_in_sc:

*sigh* I am so tired of the double standards on this forum.  I wouldn't assume to know what you think so why is it ok for you to do that with me or anyone else for that matter? 

Who shot who in the what now?

My two cents...

The experience of God, and Jesus Christ, has to, at some point be independent of what others tell you and what you see at church. If not, you are just following stuffy rules and tradition. I did not have my first experince w/ God at churh....

And Christians are often well intending but far from perfect people who have a lot more to learn about treating other right. In the process of attempting to do so, they often turn off people- which to me is the greatest tradgedy becuase I believe God is real and wants us all to love him above all else. I don't think about heaven or hell, it is not my focus in life, but I do think about how I can treat people so well, they feel as if they have experienced a piece of heaven, becuase God's love is in me.

Based on this, I wrote a poem a few years back:

My Apology

This is for every stone

That broke your heart before your bones

And the words that made you feel

That nothing you clung to was even real



It is for every glare and sigh,

Banners of hate flown in the sky

Cruelness they said was from above

And all in the name of love



It is for your confusion and anger

As they told you your soul was in danger

For the truth pounded into you,

As they forced you to believe it was true



Sitting in seats too high for you to reach,

leaving you wondering how to mend the breach

And believed you could do it on your own,

Showing disappointment with every effort blown



For every church you left feeling the same,

Still bound, heavy, burdened or lame,

As you stood on the edges, waiting for acknowledgement,

Even a smile, yet your hopes were blackened by judgement



I apologize for the imperfection,

That sends you running in the opposite direction,

But since we are all one body,

I will start by apologizing for me.

Taryn

2006

i like what you said and the way you said it taryn

very nice

taryn, that is beautiful.

Taryn,

That has got to be one of the most effective and moving witness of faith that I have seen in a long time.

Thanks for sharing!

Taryn that was amazing! You put everything so beautifully.

Yes some Christians are overzealous but all of us shouldn't be judged based on their actions. I am an Army brat so I grew up with and fortunately now work with Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists, etc. and have learned from all of them. Some are jerks others are awesome but it would not be fair to put them in a box and say that's how all of them behave or to taunt them for their beliefs.

Your welcome everyone.

You guys have an awesome day, ok?

I have got to say I agree with that poem above.

There are reasons why people believe in God...other than just "he saved lives, he died for the world". You can't really put that into your own perspective when it happened so long ago and it is written in such a short account. Faith is something which has an individual reason/meaning for each one.

But I've got to say, at my lowest point (eating disorder) when I was really the lonliest I've ever felt, for a while I couldn't accept that God existed. I just thought, what is the point?

It takes such a long time to come to terms with something like faith. Especially if all you can remember is going to church on sunday and being raised to understand it. I never really accepted any of those verses and stuff when I was younger, I just let it sail past my head.

Personally, I think my recovery from the ED was my reason for having a stronger faith. Things definately aren't perfect and recovery was definately the second hardest thing I've experienced, next to the ED. But I personally just think that a lot of the recovery had to do with my belief in God.