AthenaAwakened

Great idea

Helpmabob

On the contrary, Hindus recognise a God who created the earth; Buddhists admire the teachings of Jesus; Muslims use the Old Testament. I’m not sure why you feel that Christians will take umbrage or be in the least bit surprised that others are happy, superficially or otherwise. A quick reading of the Psalms shows the kind of trial and turmoil that is to be expected along the christian path, but complaining to God is not the way as Job showed.

Nero's Boot

Nice dodge.

--now get a divorce and disown and hate your entire family NB

SkyDancer_0202

Hence all those who "witness" are sadistic

Nero's Boot

They mirror their sky-tyrant perfectly, then.

--"Believe in Me, love Me to the exclusion of all else, or I will torture you forever and ever." NB

lpetrich

There are actually important differences.

Islam teaches:
God (Allah) is not a Trinity
Allah didn't produce offspring
Jesus Christ was 100% human
Jesus Christ did not die on that cross but was instead lifted up into Heaven, with a fake being crucified in his place.
Jesus Christ did not die for anybody's sins
Jesus Christ was one of Mohammed's predecessors
Jesus Christ not as great as Mohammed
The Xian Bible had gotten corrupted
The Koran was perfectly preserved

xaxxat

Please explain to me how one can genuinely love on command...

:huh:

4 billion

I find the excessive use of the word love, by the followers of the big Fairy tale, to reveal they have no understanding and value of it.

4 billion

here are some important similarities

The formation of Adam and Eve

The expulsion from the garden of Eden

The life of Abraham

The crossing of the sea and escape from Egypt

Noahs Ark

Joseph and his vomit coat

Moses and the Ten Commandments

The story of Lot

Creation of the universe in 6 days

The story of Jesus their saviour

The story of Zachariah

The story of David and Goliath and Saul

The angel Gabriel

The holy Spirit

King Solomon

Jonah and the fish

God is Allah

Allah is God

JohNeo

If I may answer your question...

Happiness and joy to me is:

- Knowing that I, and my "soul" if you like, are nobody's property.

- Not worrying about whether I'm worshipping the right god or gods...having no doubts whatsoever because I don't worship any.

- Not having to be anywhere in particular on Sunday mornings, except maybe at the cafe with my wife, a newspaper, a cup of coffee and an egg dish.

- Doing with that 10% of my income as I see fit--be it giving to charities, taking a vacation, or just socking away

- Knowing that I'm going to screw up as everyone else does, but taking responsibility, learning from my mistakes and not having to believe that someone was nailed to a cross because of me.

- Knowing I'm not going to Hell, because there is no such thing.

- Knowing that if there is a heaven for the Pat Robertsons, Bennie Hinns, Fred Phelps, James Dobsons, Jim Bakkers, as well as all the Popes and child-molesting priests throughout the ages, I don't have to spend eternity with them!

I don't worry too much about "success," if what you consider "success" to be impressing others, climbing the corporate and social ladder. I believe in making smart decisions for myself, and sometimes those smart decisions involve passing up opportunities that more materialistic, success-starved people would jump at (Christians not excluded of course).

I have better things to do with my life than trying to make a name for myself, trying to conform to societies' expectations, and being top dog. I don't have to believe in the Bible or Jesus to come to that mindset either.

JN