Fundamentalist Christianity is fear-based?

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Animal2692

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What forms the concept of godliness without God? If you don't know a good God, you don't know what godliness is, because the word is useless.

But if we were to look at what godliness is, or what we see godliness as; holiness, peace, love, joy, truth, soundness of mind, compassion, humility, grace, forgiveness, and so on, we have the character of Jesus Christ, and if we want those things in our life, seems to me like He is the right place to look.

God as a noun is a very infantile way of looking at things. There doesn't have to be an outside agency for life, life itself is enough. Life is all there is. If one says that life has a creator, then the question arises who created the creator? And if the creator can be there without being created then why can't life? All this jumping from God A created God B to God B created God C is unnecessary. Life just is as it is and it is godly. Scientists are already starting to come to realize that the universe just may be infinite. God as a noun is a very dangerous word responsible for countless atrocities throughout human history. I think that word needs to be ditched and replaced with something more relatable such as godliness.

And yes, Jesus was one of the embodients of those qualities. So was Buddha. So was Ramana Maharshi. There is something to learn from all of them
 

prism

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Yeah, you fell for their scare tactics...that's how they get you. Hell is a scare tactic for the church to control the masses. Without controlling people, they have no power. And the only hell there is, is the one you make. Between heaven and hell, I would rather be in hell with all the fun people such as The Rock, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix. Heaven would get way too boring for me

Will heaven have heavy metal music or death metal music? Is it going to come with a body that I can go to the gym and lift weights for? Is it going to come with hot women on the beach? Probably not

Your religion also tells you that very few will make it to heaven. So that means that the majority of Christians are going to hell statistically speaking, since the path is so narrow to heaven.

I'm afraid I've got bad news for majority of Christians. Matthew 7:13 says here:
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.". So even if you think you're saved and going to heaven, your chances are akin to those of winning the lottery

Not to mention that other religions have their own hell too. So now you also gotta be careful about which religion you pick. But hey it gets even worse, they all think they're #1
I think I heard all this growing up under an atheistic father and a secular school system. You are only proving Christ's case that 'few will find it'.
 

Animal2692

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I think I heard all this growing up under an atheistic father and a secular school system. You are only proving Christ's case that 'few will find it'.

Secularism has brought so much to humanity in the form of technology, accomplishments, and science. I'm not fully atheistic because I do have an idea of God, but it's not the usual mainstream childish view of it in the form of a sky daddy. And Christ said many things and spoke in parables.

Christianity had an overhaul in the 1500s with Protestantism by dismissing the pope and church as the ultimate authority. I think another reform is necessary and it's coming...and that is no longer taking the Bible as the ultimate authority...but as a guide. Enter progressive Christianity. In fact, Protestantism was seen as progressive Christianity by the Catholics when it first came about.

Protestantism has already altered Christianity to such a significant degree that it has paved the way for modern progressive Christianity thanks to it.

Before any Protestant comes to me claiming the Bible is the ultimate authority, I shall inform them that they are already a heretic along with the thousands of other Protestant denominations in the eyes of the Catholic Church. It's as if they took the pope and church out so they can solely rely on their own interpretation of the Bible. 200 Christian denominations in the U.S. and 45,000 globally? Enough said.
 
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DuckieLady

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All this jumping from God A created God B to God B created God C is unnecessary.
This concept doesn't exist.

The just "is" understanding comes from God himself because he is.

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."

“And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am.."

Buddha and Ramana. Okay. We see that differently, but let's say that they have those qualities.

Neither paid the price for you. Neither loved you so much to die on the cross for your sins. Both might even philosophy about love or spiritual concepts, but neither of them ever claimed to love you as Jesus did.
 

farouk

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This concept doesn't exist.

The just "is" understanding comes from God himself because he is.

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."

“And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am.."

Buddha and Ramana. Okay. We see that differently, but let's say that they have those qualities.

Neither paid the price for you. Neither loved you so much to die on the cross for your sins. Both might even philosophy about love or spiritual concepts, but neither of them ever claimed to love you as Jesus did.
@LadyofFireandLace The Gospel as per John 3.16 is simply amazing, that God's Son could reach down the way He did to lost sinners....
 
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Bob Carabbio

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Yeah, you fell for their scare tactics...that's how they get you. Hell is a scare tactic for the church to control the masses. Without controlling people, they have no power. And the only hell there is, is the one you make. Between heaven and hell, I would rather be in hell with all the fun people such as The Rock, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix. Heaven would get way too boring for me

Reminds me of the old joke about Bill Gates:

Bill dies and stands before St. Peter at the Pearlies.

St. Peter says: "I don't know what to do with you. On the one hand you invented Microsoft Word and Excel; for these you should go to the heaven. On the other hand you invented Windows 8, so maybe you should go to Hell."

Gates pipes up, "Let me decide. I'm an adventurous guy; I might surprise you."

St. Peter shrugs "All right, but you have to try Heaven first". Gates agrees.

He visits Heaven, which is a really mellow place where everybody lays around on clouds, eats grapes, and listened to their choice of peaceful music.

Then he checks out Hell, where he finds a big orgy/party. All kinds of wild sex, loud rock music, and drugs-taking is going on. Gates opts for Hell.

Pete says: "Are you sure ?"

Bill is anxious and yells "Absolutely!"

"Ok, St. Peter says, snaps his fingers and Gates disappears.

Instantly Gates is being hung against a wall, with flames burning his body, lashes tearing his flesh and birds pecking at his eyes. Gates Screams out to St. Peter: "This wasn't the Hell you showed me before! Where's the party??? Where's the music??? Where's the girls??"

"OH!! - Sorry Bill" - Peter says - "That was only the Demo"
 
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Animal2692

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This concept doesn't exist.

The just "is" understanding comes from God himself because he is.

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."

“And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am.."

Buddha and Ramana. Okay. We see that differently, but let's say that they have those qualities.

Neither paid the price for you. Neither loved you so much to die on the cross for your sins. Both might even philosophy about love or spiritual concepts, but neither of them ever claimed to love you as Jesus did.

So Jesus is superior because he paid the price and to hell with Buddha and Ramana. "My God is better than your God". You are showing me a clear example of the same trap religions fall into and the source of so much conflict between them. This guy here though, he paid the price. Your guy? Invalid. Maybe Buddha was wiser to not to go around saying he was God and get killed for it. It's all so ridiculous

It's funny because as a kid growing up, many grown ups have said the same thing many are saying here. But none if it could ever stick to me and I was so young. I would go to church and couldn't contain my laughter from looking around at everyone else with serious long faces. And when people would look me in the eyes trying to get me to take it seriously, I knew something was wrong with them. Including my own family
 
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Animal2692

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Reminds me of the old joke about Bill Gates:

Bill dies and stands before St. Peter at the Pearlies.

St. Peter says: "I don't know what to do with you. On the one hand you invented Microsoft Word and Excel; for these you should go to the heaven. On the other hand you invented Windows 8, so maybe you should go to Hell."

Gates pipes up, "Let me decide. I'm an adventurous guy; I might surprise you."

St. Peter shrugs "All right, but you have to try Heaven first". Gates agrees.

He visits Heaven, which is a really mellow place where everybody lays around on clouds, eats grapes, and listened to their choice of peaceful music.

Then he checks out Hell, where he finds a big orgy/party. All kinds of wild sex, loud rock music, and drugs-taking is going on. Gates opts for Hell.

Pete says: "Are you sure ?"

Bill is anxious and yells "Absolutely!"

"Ok, St. Peter says, snaps his fingers and Gates disappears.

Instantly Gates is being hung against a wall, with flames burning his body, lashes tearing his flesh and birds pecking at his eyes. Gates Screams out to St. Peter: "This wasn't the Hell you showed me before! Where's the party??? Where's the music??? Where's the girls??"

"OH!! - Sorry Bill" - Peter says - "That was only the Demo"

Is that supposed to be some fetish story Christians tell themselves to get off to? Ohhhh poor Bill Gates, he paid the price! Little did he know...justice at LAST. Look at him now suffering the wraith of the Almighty God muahahahaha

That sure gets people riled up to become Christian the very next minute

Bill Gates and all the farmland he owns. All that money he's invested into covid. That evildoer sent by Satan himself. Let's concoct a story where our dreams come true of him so WE the good guys can feel like WINNERS. Round of applause

I wonder if Christians have dartboards of Bill Gates at home and whenever they've had a bad day that's the first thing they come home to
 
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DuckieLady

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So Jesus is superior because he paid the price and to hell with Buddha and Ramana. "My God is better than your God". You are showing me a clear example of the same trap religions fall into and the source of so much conflict between them. This guy here though, he paid the price. Your guy? Invalid. Maybe Buddha was wiser to not to go around saying he was God and get killed for it. It's all so ridiculous
Well maybe it's worth asking why there's history of people being martyred because they saw him proving himself in miracles and in death, and they were not afraid to witness despite knowing they could be killed. People don't choose a martyrs death for fables. And Biblical archeology exists if you don't believe what I'm saying. Did Jews make Jesus up for fun knowing they would be murdered?

Your guys didn't raise anybody from the dead and it wasn't recorded in historical letters. Ours was.

Jesus didn't die on the cross because he went around saying he was God; he paid the price on the cross because it was for you and me; if we chose to accept Him.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

He was not an accidental death. He was a gift from the Father of Lights.
 
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Animal2692

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Well maybe it's worth asking why there's history of people being martyred because they saw him proving himself in miracles and in death, and they were not afraid to witness despite knowing they could be killed. People don't choose a martyrs death for fables. And if Biblical archeology exists if you don't believe what I'm saying. Did Jews make Jesus up for fun knowing they would be murdered?

Your guys didn't raise anybody from the dead and it wasn't recorded in historical letters. Ours was.

Jesus didn't die on the cross because he went around saying he was God; he paid the price on the cross because it was for you and me; if we chose to accept Him.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

He was not an accidental death. He was a gift from the Father of Lights.

It gets even crazier when you look at it as God sent his son to his death. And Christians will go, "Awww, he sacrificed his son for us! That's how much God loves us." No he does not. No father would send their child to their death let alone knowing that they would suffer. Now people will say well Jesus is God you moron! Ok so let's think about that for a second...God sent God to sacrifice God to save humanity from God. Sounds crazy? Because it is! And we are all also paying for someone else's sin (Eve). But no, it's because we inherited that sinful state. There is no end to the amount of rationalization of these irrational beliefs. The Muslims laugh in the face of original sin and for good reason. Everything Eve did was a curse for the rest of us. Heaven forbid it was because of her that we are intelligent creatures. Nope, we are fallen rotten scum.

People will be martyrs for all sorts of crazy things if it means giving their already empty lives some sort of meaning. This has happened across many religions, not just Christianity.
 
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prism

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Secularism has brought so much to humanity in the form of technology, accomplishments, and science. I'm not fully atheistic because I do have an idea of God, but it's not the usual mainstream childish view of it in the form of a sky daddy. And Christ said many things and spoke in parables.

Christianity had an overhaul in the 1500s with Protestantism by dismissing the pope and church as the ultimate authority. I think another reform is necessary and it's coming...and that is no longer taking the Bible as the ultimate authority...but as a guide. Enter progressive Christianity. In fact, Protestantism was seen as progressive Christianity by the Catholics when it first came about.
Secularism and progressive Christianity are just the ancient hiss of "Hath God said?"

Protestantism has already altered Christianity to such a significant degree that it has paved the way for modern progressive Christianity thanks to it.
Jesus said 'He would build His Church' Mt 16:18 made up of redeemed peoples from every nation tribe, tongues and peoples.

Before any Protestant comes to me claiming the Bible is the ultimate authority, I shall inform them that they are already a heretic along with the thousands of other Protestant denominations in the eyes of the Catholic Church. It's as if they took the pope and church out so they can solely rely on their own interpretation of the Bible. 200 Christian denominations in the U.S. and 45,000 globally? Enough said.
So on what basis does Rome proclaim those who hold to Sola Scriptura as heretics?
 
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lforrest

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It gets even crazier when you look at it as God sent his son to his death. And Christians will go, "Awww, he sacrificed his son for us! That's how much God loves us." No he does not. No father would send their child to their death let alone knowing that they would suffer. Now people will say well Jesus is God you moron! Ok so let's think about that for a second...God sent God to sacrifice God to save humanity from God. Sounds crazy? Because it is! And we are all also paying for someone else's sin (Eve). But no, it's because we inherited that sinful state. There is no end to the amount of rationalization of these irrational beliefs. The Muslims laugh in the face of original sin and for good reason. Everything Eve did was a curse for the rest of us. Heaven forbid it was because of her that we are intelligent creatures. Nope, we are fallen rotten scum.

People will be martyrs for all sorts of crazy things if it means giving their already empty lives some sort of meaning. This has happened across many religions, not just Christianity.
You're all over the place with non sequiturs. Makes it difficult to debate, but if your intention is to rant against the sky that works.
 
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Animal2692

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You're all over the place with non sequiturs. Makes it difficult to debate, but if your intention is to rant against the sky that works.

Hey, whatever floats your boat. I understand it's tough to justify and debate a loving father sending his only son to die and suffer.
 
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Animal2692

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Secularism and progressive Christianity are just the ancient hiss of "Hath God said?"


Jesus said 'He would build His Church' Mt 16:18 made up of redeemed peoples from every nation tribe, tongues and peoples.


So on what basis does Rome proclaim those who hold to Sola Scriptura as heretics?

Fundamentalist Christianity is a dying breed, it's on its way out due to the internet and education. Islam is actually getting close to overtaking it here by 2040 and I'm glad the #1 religion will get kicked off its spot so that it can humble more followers.

Every Catholic I've spoken to considers protestants to be heretics since Sola scriptura is a short way of saying "I'm going to interpret the Bible the way I want."
 

Michiah-Imla

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@Animal2692

Look to it that you’re not who this scripture describes:

“But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” (Jude 1:17-19)
 

Animal2692

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@Animal2692

Look to it that you’re not who this scripture describes:

“But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” (Jude 1:17-19)

I'm sure the Qu'ran also has a verse along those lines to condemn those who don't follow it. It's all a joke. How do people not have the critical thinking to see how every religion thinks it is #1 and condemns anyone who doesn't follow it to some sort of hell? It's so blatantly obvious. I love watching Christians and Muslims go at it in debates, it's like I'm the one having the last laugh. Or watching protestants say that Mormons aren't real Christians and Mormons condemning them back

Typical Christian: denomination doesn't matter, faith in Jesus does
Also Christians: the Catholics worship statues instead of Jesus and the Mormons aren't true Christians

What a JOKE. I don't just poke fun at Christians, but all organized religion. It's all one giant spiritual pissing contest
 
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lforrest

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Hey, whatever floats your boat. I understand it's tough to justify and debate a loving father sending his only son to die and suffer.
The Father knew what would be the end result. Victory over death. God didn't suffer permanent loss.
 

Animal2692

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The Father knew what would be the end result. Victory over death. God didn't suffer permanent loss.

Ah but suffering on the cross and bleeding out to death is perfectly loving of the Father towards Jesus. When does the rationalization ever end? It only takes a normal person to see how sick that is. I always thought it was sick as a child when all of these other adults around me kept trying to justify it. Be a rebel, not a sheep
 

Michiah-Imla

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What a JOKE.

Take heed dear soul!

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

Read the King James Bible and acknowledge the truth so that you may:

“recover [yourself] out of the snare of the devil… taken captive by him at his will.” (2 Timothy 2:25-26)