AJ113

Now now, Biff, we may live thousands of miles away but there is no need for this discrimination, are we not all the same in the eye of the potato?

Rational BAC

I am too much of an egotist to have a problem with poor self image. (Just ask my ex-wife)

I probably am one of those theists who it would be impossible to deconvert. What would anyone be deconverting me from since I have so few core beliefs? How could anyone deconvert me from such a "feel good" religion?------and I think it is a "feel good" religion-------(even many Fundies agree with that one, although for completely different reasons.)

Why am I here?

1------To learn as much as I can about Christianity and other religions. Best place I have found for that.

2------I was seriously shocked when I first came on to this forum as to how many atheists thought ALL (or almost all) Christians were fundies. I knew that wasn't true. Was trying to show that that idea was wrong.

I did learn to appreciate that it depends on where you live in this country how easily you could get such a silly notion. I did learn to feel a lot of empathy for those atheists in this nation that are surrounded by fundies.

Calzaer

Ya know, Jesus had some choice words about divorce... did the Holy Spirit tell you to ignore those before or after the hearing?

Rational BAC

I am definitely not Catholic----although half my extended family is --so I do understand that position.

(Funny thing anymore is that most Catholics today pay little attention to the sanctity of marriage. Times they are a changing.)

And have you forgotten that I am a cherry picking Christian?

rfwu

I totally agree with you! Although I am an Agnostic, I do understand that there are MANY Christians who are genuinely nice people. I'm not sure how many exactly, though. It's the fundies that try to impose their beliefs on us that scare me. But to tell you the truth, some Atheists scare me too! My belief is that there is a good and bad side to every group! That's why I sided with Agnosticism instead, because they tend to be more moderate than Atheists. (Look at the Soviets!)

Calzaer

Seems kind of odd that someone who calls himself a Christian would ignore the direct teachings for Christ Himself in the name of the Cherry Spirit...

Rational BAC

I do take much more seriously the "purported" direct teachings of Jesus than the rest of the Bible.

I don't take the OT seriously at all. I read Paul's writings with a LARGE grain of salt. And I think Revelation is absolutely ridiculous.

But when you think as I do that the Bible is errant, a man-made work with no divine inspiration----with 300 years of corruption, additions, subtractions, man made and very fallable attempts to tie everything together by committee into a canon-----

----but still and all the only source for any kind of record of the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus--(and that part I do believe by faith---lived, was God come down to Earth, died and was resurrected)--------

Then of course I also cherry pick from what Jesus "said". ------I pay a lot more attention to that part however.

I believe that Jesus just wanted to make us better than we would be. Perfection is just a practically unrealizable goal. Do the best you can. That is all anyone can do.

Biff the unclean

And what is that supposed to mean? The word "faith" doesn't carry much weight around here, just another way of say "credulity." You reject most of the bible on the grounds that it is errant but still accept it when it tells a primitive magical myth. The same myth that you reject from the many other religions of the time. Why when you pride yourself on being able to see through the errant bible do you shut your eyes at the most transparent part?

Calzaer

Because the Holy Spirit talks to him personally and tells him what the Real Bible consists of and what it was SUPPOSED to say.

Makes me wonder why he doesn't just compile the TRUE Bible based on his direct contact with the Holy Spirit and start a new sect of Protestantism based on the REAL teachings of Christ.

Rational BAC

I wouldn't say that the Holy Spirit actually "talks" to me personally. Just believe I am guided in my choices by the Holy Spirit. That is his job isn't it? What else has He got to do?

Have no plans to start a new Protestant sect. Too little of a dogma. MY church would believe by faith that Christ lived, was God come down to Earth in human form, died by crucifixion, and was resurrected --------

-------as for the rest of it--everybody could believe whatever they wanted to. Don't think that kind of church would have any cohesion.