Even if I believed in some kind of god, I would not necessarily attend a church, because that god would probably not be the same as what organized religions tell people to believe in. People act like the bible and Christian churches have some kind of authority, yet they do not. Not a one of them.
Yup.... by the time of the Bar Kochba Revolt there may have been 400,000 Messianic Jews living in the Roman province of Judaea. Rabbi Akiva and Simon Bar Kochba had the answer though..... tell them that as soon as they get rid of the Romans that they will expel them as well....................... that was a great way to get them on board to assist in winning against the Romans............. http://www.politicalforum.com/index...000-did-the-majority-convert-to-islam.392139/ First century church may have numbered 400,000... did the majority convert to Islam? Giving their Rabbi some credit for asking a good question might have been a more productive approach though?!?! http://www.politicalforum.com/index...ll-members-of-the-military-and-police.464405/ An apology to all members of the military and police! ..... I just want to say that I am truly sorry for all those years that I was close to believing in near total pacifism! Rabbi Jesus/Yehoshua once asked a question of the Scribes and Pharisees that should have made it obvious to me that an extreme situation can call for drastic action by a Christian or Jew who feels called into a life in the military or police! Mark 3:4 "And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace." I am almost certain that Rabbi Jesus/Yehoshua was referring to the situation faced by the Machabees when Greco - Syrian armies were attacking Jewish communities on the Sabbath. One community had refused to fight back....but the Machabees....in my opinion correctly judged that this is a violation of an admonition by King Solomon: Ecclesiastes 7:16 "Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?" Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible, First Book Of Machabees Chapter 2 ... "So they gave them battle on the sabbath: and they were slain with their wives, and their children, and their cattle, to the number of a thousand persons. [39] And Mathathias and his friends heard of it, and they mourned for them exceedingly. [40] And every man said to his neighbour: If we shall all do as our brethren have done, and not fight against the heathens for our lives, and our justifications: they will now quickly root us out of the earth. [41] And they determined in that day, saying: Whosoever shall come up against us to fight on the sabbath day, we will fight against him: and we will not all die, as our brethren that were slain in the secret places."
It's about socializing and interacting on a personal level with fellow Christians, and important part of being a community and a church. Is your name in real life 'Sheldon' by any chance ...?
Socializing is fine but having a religious leader telling everyone how they should live and what they should believe is just wrong. Why should one person be granted the "power" to interpret the Bible for everyone else?
So make up your own bullshit and see how many will show up at your place. Nobody is forced to attend church that I know of, so your post makes no sense; nobody 'grants' anybody power, many of the leaders are educated more than the average layman, etc., and people would rather listen and read their works. You think churches are like little military camps and have officers running around telling everybody what to do or something? lol I think you're neurotic, like that little girl in the religion forum who has the imaginary impressions of Christians not much different than your projections.
Good a reason as any? In fact I can't think of a better one! Way back when, my parents sent me to Sunday school - they thought!! Instead I'd have pre-arranged with my mates to go newting, or for a group bike-ride into the countryside. The mater and pater never did find out!!
An "education" in superstition from Jerry Falwell's Liberty University has about the same amount of credence as a "degree" from the phony Trump University. You are correct that no one is "forced" to attend church and We the People should all be thanking our Founding Fathers for building that Wall of Separation Between Church of State which provides us with that right to be free from religion.
I's be willing to bet they found out but just chose their battles instead of fighting every one. This is what I did with my kids, we as parents always found out.
It is not freedom "from" religion it is freedom "of" religion. It means we a free to choose any religion we would like. It means the government can't force us to be Catholics or any other. It also means the government can't force us to worship in any religion if we don't want to.
I don't want anyone to show up at my place. I am saying you don't need a church to get into heaven. You can worship in your own heart and you don't need a priest to be forgiven for your sins, you can ask God directly.
There is no freedom OF religion WITHOUT freedom FROM religion. Think about it. That is the definition of freedom FROM religion.
I had to select other because I could not select more than one. The two choices that best satisfy for are that last two selections that begin with No. I am not a Christian by any stretch of imagination, and two, I am not a religious person. I live according to set principles that in the English are defined as morals.
You live according to set principles that YOU consider "morals".......not everyone has the same idea or definition of "morals"...
No that is the definition of freedom of religion because the government does not dictate what religion we can use. For some on your side they want the government to prevent everyone from following a religion. Because this is a free nation you are free to not partake of any religion but you are not free to prevent others from choosing religion. Look at the constitution and you will see freedom of religion not from.
Complete and utter NONSENSE! More nonsense on your part. No one has ever prevented others from choosing a religion in this nation. The Wall of Separation is the government of We the People that is entirely free FROM religion.
note how jgoins failed to back up his claims with any manifest proof - but that is par for the course on this right wing forum
Are you and Derideo_Te not trying to persuade people to give up all religion? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion_in_the_United_States Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
Please provide links and quotes from my posts advocating that others must give up their religious beliefs. You won't because you CAN'T! Your allegation was something that you just pulled from your nether regions as a kneejerk reaction to being exposed for posting complete and utter nonsense.