Christians, what are you afraid of?

it doesn’t require you to believe in anything, yet it’s convinced you to doubt anything you can’t see or prove and faith is an obstacle. If that works for you ...great, but I think faith opens doors to more understanding.

 

Your reply reveals that you have never actually read the fairy tale that you claim to believe in. If there was a celestial Judgment Day you would be tossed into the lake of fire.

The real Ten Commandments is the easiest story in the Bible to understand because it is laid out in a linear fashion, which reveals itself in Exodus chapter 34:11-28. ALL of the biblical stories illustrate one or more of those specific commandments in action. Therefore, if a person is ignorant of that he will never understand what any of the stories are really about. The stories themselves don't have to make logical sense because that is not their real purpose. Their real purpose is to teach complete obedience and total loyalty to the Boss (God, the chief priest, the emperor, the king, the family father). If the Boss tells a person to do something the person is supposed to do as told regardless of what he is told to do. The Bible is intended to brainwash people into complete obedience and total loyalty.

Cite any biblical story and I can explain which of the Ten Commandments it is about. Some stories show the positive effects of following a commandment and others show the negative effects of disobeying the commandment.

The miracles are based on Exodus 34:10.

 

There is only one set that fit the criteria.

1. They must be written on stone tablets. Two sets satisfy that requirement.

2. There must be no more than 10 commandments in the set. Two sets satisfy that requirement.

3. They must be called the Ten Commandments. Only one set fulfills that requirement and that is the set in Exodus 34:11-28.

 

There's a joke that goes something like, "an atheist, a vegetarian,

If you dont know everything, then why are you trying to tell me what I should think? Start with that, and when you have answered that you can tell me how much or how little I know.

And try not to sound like the penguin, who is just projecting his neuroses onto me.

 

I am not telling you what you think. You have shared what you think. A lot of broad brush biased assumptions. And there, you did it again.

 

You're wrong.
I have a perfect understand of "faith."
I simply choose to deal in reality.

 

Uh huh. So, how many Christians have been murdered by atheists in your fantasy world?
I on the other hand can point towards millions murdered by Christians for NOT being Christian.

WHAT, exactly, am iI to be fearful of with"God?" That I won't go to "Heaven," a place that does not exist? That "God" will send me to "Hell?" Another place that doesn't exist? So, if I toss a few hundred bucks at some Priest can I buy my way out of "God's" bad graces? Common practice for centuries in the Catholic church. No "Heaven," no "Hell," no ability to act in reality. Seems beyond fear your "God" is pretty impotent. Maybe Viagra might help.

 

They fear other beliefs. Whatever they are. Baptists are afraid of Lutherans. Lutherans are afraid of Catholics. Catholics are afraid of Jews. ALL of them are afraid of "heathens"

Why? Because in their belief system there is only one path. If that path is wrong then everything they believe is wrong.

When one's existence is based on myth threats to that myth are existential.

 

Understanding of what, exactly? You see, I'm not attacking faith. I'm attacking the compulsion to force the beliefs on others.

 

And you have shared what you think. There, you did it again.

 

And you are wrong. Yes, I believe there is only one way. If I was a "universalist" I would not be a Christian.Still doesn't explain why the faith of others makes me afraid.
There are many Denominations and most have a good many Christians in them, but the denomination doesn't make them "Christian".I fail to see how atheists and agnostics or even Satanists would cause me to be afraid. All the belief systems you could possibly mention does not distract from the Gospel of Christ one bit. So why would there be fear? I like all those people. I don't have to go along to get along though. If they want to ask me why I believe the way I do, I am free to tell them. If they don't ask, it's not my job.

 

I want to know how do you force belief on others? Do you tell them what to believe and then waterboard them until they confess??? Then what is the follow up? A quiz every day then corporal punishment if they stray?? Only God can change a heart. Christians can only plant seeds. Is that what you don't like? You plant seeds of unbelief in a lot of your posts. I just pray they don't take root....but I don't feel compelled to track you down! You can't force your unbelief on anyone. You know where Christianity really prospers?? Not in the U.S.....we have it too easy. Places like Communist China where you can get prison or death for the Faith. That is where God does His greatest work.
They can't force their unbelief on anyone!

 

I was born into a very similar environment .. some of my relatives being of the Cloth .. 8 years of Seminary - learning Ancient Greek, Latin, Hebrew - Missouri Synod - Lutheran.

For me it started with passages like in proverbs it says it is better to go with a prostitute - than to sleep with another mans wife.

Not that this passage condones prostitution - but if you must do what you must do .. better to go with a Harlot than Adultery.

So in one translation Good News - Bible it says "a prostitute can be had for the price of a loaf of bread - but Adultery will cost you all you have (your life)

In the KJV however "On account of a Harlot - a man is reduced to a piece of bread"

And I am like whooaaa there - Someone is trying to change the meaning of this passage it looks like.. and after a long journey .. and a number of decades .. I found out that this is what exactly was going on.

So if some asks me - "Do you believe the Bible is the Word of God" - my answer is "which Bible" and which word of God ?

What happens is this. When you teach someone that if you "Question" or "Disbelieve" certain tenets of some holy book - the worst thing the mind can imagine will happen (eternal torture in the afterlife) - this fear gets rooted deep in the subconscious.

Later when the adherent comes across information that conflicts with dogma, a fear response is triggered - and the adherent will try to avoid the "Bad Thought".

I can go into more detail about how sophisticated mind control techniques work -- but this is the beginning .. and that is what these folks are afraid of - a fate worse than death .. one is tortured not just for a few days - but ever and ever and ever .. note that the mind does not do well with the concept of infinity/for ever.

 

Get the stake ready

 

I don't doubt you have a "perfect understanding" of your own limited notion of "faith".

Furthermore, your claim that Buddhism doesn't require you to believe anything is false.

 

Oh, goodie. Which heretics will we be burning - the theists or the atheists?

 

What a snowflake...

 

My broad brush statements are gleaned from your broad brush statements.

 

They can't see the forest for the trees!

 

Do you know reality?....and you're saying others don't?

 

I like both versions of Proverbs you quoted. I think there is Godly wisdom to be gleaned from both! So do you strain out a gnat and swallow a camel?

I don't understand detractors occupation with hell. Sure it is there and many live it in this life. Some are attracted to focus on it. However when one understands the reality of heaven, it is not even a consideration. If we could comprehend in our World the reality of true love, as a human race hate would never be a consideration. Something about human nature.....we just can't comprehend in this life.

 

Which are?

 

Evidently not...


"What is truth?"

Silly Roman...

 

According to the fairy tale, the Jesus character never did answer that question.

 

Sometimes I think Pilate was the smartest one in the bunch.

He must've really pissed Tiberius off to wind up in that shithole...