I saw this thought expressed...

[Willie T]

In all of the world's religions, you can take away the founder and still have the religion. You can take Buddha out of Buddhism and still have the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold Path. You can take Mohammed out of Islam, and still have the Five Pillars of Action and the Six Articles of Belief. And yes, tragically, you can take Christ out of that misnomer of "Christian religion," and still have the doctrines and the programs and the organizational machinery that masquerade as the "church." Liberal theologians within the "Christian religion" have indicated that it does not matter whether there was ever an "historical Jesus," as long as the "religion" benefits a person psychologically and ethically. On that premise of subjective religious impact being the existential essence of the "Christian religion," they go about "demythologizing" the New Testament scriptures to reduce them to psychological and ethical tenets.

The hypothetical question might be asked, "If God could and would die tonight, what would happen to the 'Christian religion' tomorrow?" The answer is "Nothing!" The "Christian religion" would keep right on functioning, because Jesus Christ, as God, is not the essence and the dynamic of what they are doing anyway! If God were to die tonight, it would be "business as usual" for religion tomorrow. It does not require God in Christ for the "Christian religion" to function; just man and money!

Do you think this has any merit?

 

[Philip James]

Do you think this has any merit

Well, I can't speak for my scattered brethren, but as a Catholic , all I can say is : if Christ is not raised then we are the most wretched of men....

Peace be with you!

 

[Enoch111]

Do you think this has any merit?

None whatsoever. Just foolish ramblings which should be ignored.

 

[justbyfaith]

True Christianity cannot exist without a living relationship with the living Christ...

 

[Willie T]

All fine statements. But probably not what he was talking about. I believe he was talking about the Christian RELIGION as exercised at most American churches.

 

[justbyfaith]

All fine statements. But probably not what he was talking about. I believe he was talking about the Christian RELIGION as exercised at most American churches.

That was understood from the getgo...

So I would indicate that there is a difference between religion and relationship.

 

[amadeus]

...…….
The hypothetical question might be asked, "If God could and would die tonight, what would happen to the 'Christian religion' tomorrow?" The answer is "Nothing!" ..................

But if in spite all of his hypotheticals the scripture contains truth...?

"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Col 1:17

It seem then that if God could and would die everything else would cease to exist.

 

[Philip James]

. I believe he was talking about the Christian RELIGION as exercised at most American churches.

Again as a Catholic, if our Husband is dead, then we are lost...

But Alleluia! Christ IS risen!!

Peace!

 

[quietthinker]

In all of the world's religions, you can take away the founder and still have the religion. You can take Buddha out of Buddhism and still have the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold Path. You can take Mohammed out of Islam, and still have the Five Pillars of Action and the Six Articles of Belief. And yes, tragically, you can take Christ out of that misnomer of "Christian religion," and still have the doctrines and the programs and the organizational machinery that masquerade as the "church." Liberal theologians within the "Christian religion" have indicated that it does not matter whether there was ever an "historical Jesus," as long as the "religion" benefits a person psychologically and ethically. On that premise of subjective religious impact being the existential essence of the "Christian religion," they go about "demythologizing" the New Testament scriptures to reduce them to psychological and ethical tenets.

The hypothetical question might be asked, "If God could and would die tonight, what would happen to the 'Christian religion' tomorrow?" The answer is "Nothing!" The "Christian religion" would keep right on functioning, because Jesus Christ, as God, is not the essence and the dynamic of what they are doing anyway! If God were to die tonight, it would be "business as usual" for religion tomorrow. It does not require God in Christ for the "Christian religion" to function; just man and money!

Do you think this has any merit?

We are told that strong delusion will abound. Liberal Theology is just that. These proponents get lost in their own imaginations; they have not known the living God.

 

[shnarkle]

just man and money!

Do you think this has any merit?

Christ pointed out that you can work for God or you can work for Mammon (the personification of money). He drew the line with the first cent. So we can lament the tragedy of so many false preachers in their mega churches sucking in millions upon millions of dollars from suckers, but they're no worse off, or farther away from Christ than the beggar holding onto his last ten dollar bill.

God created a world of abundance, and yet we work under a banking system that creates scarcity. It's Satanic to the core, and the antithesis of God's commandments.

Human beings are the only species on this planet that pays to live here. Which not only refutes the theory of evolution, but a place in heaven for those who place their trust in money rather than the providence of God.

 

[Willie T]

None whatsoever. Just foolish ramblings which should be ignored.

So, you feel that if there were no God, your religion would continue operating just the same as it does today? In effect, the absence of God would have no affect upon it? You just might be right. It seems not too many "Christian religions" are based upon the Spirit of God actually living within our spirits and being shown to the world through our behavior. They seem to go more on structured rules and accepted, required and expected actions.

 

[bbyrd009]

Well, I can't speak for my scattered brethren, but as a Catholic , all I can say is : if Christ is not raised then we are the most wretched of men....

Peace be with you!

you will see Him come down the same way you saw Him go up is usually reserved to those Standing There though, huh. We would rather misunderstand and even misquote the v than see, usually, i guess.

Ah, but i guess the ignoring the v when it is brought up is at least an improvement over the old "you will see Him come down the same way they saw Him go up" arg

 

[bbyrd009]

i am once again minded of my codependence here; becoming aware of it and taking steps to overcome it have made a world of difference in more easily becoming The Observer, ob-server, Who is imo knocked unconscious so to speak in codas. Ah ok not imo i guess, or not just imo.

if you are reading this, you are prolly coda too. One indication would be your reaction to reading that sentence, should go w/o saying that the more dismissive you are reading that as possibly applying to you, the more likely it is that it does apply. Codependency is a False Crown that we put on as a defense, which gives a false sense of service while retaining a modicum of control, that in the end makes us slaves and victims.

If you are double-minded it will even be revealed in your beliefs, bc you wont be able to clearly state your understanding of your vision for the future, and you wont realize you are contradicting yourself in trying.

Are you going to heaven, are you getting raptured, are you going to New Jerusalem tomorrow?
What you are most assured of happening tomorrow, that vision that you hope in, if you have one?
Where all your hope currently is? I dont mean to discourage anyone but that surely is not going to come about, like that picture in your head anyway.

Beliefs are great but the only thing God or anyone else cares about is what you do, and the only judgement is for your works, yeh? little chilluns, dont get fooled

 

[bbyrd009]

it has been noted that codas often have a special relationship with their pets--whom they do treat as equals, give birthday parties for, etc--and a codas pets will reveal the owner in social situations; the pets will be maladjusted socially. too. I can quote the abstract but its a pain to try to read, dunno about any articles derived from it though

Coda will polarize you, and make you more autistic or asperger's, more left-brain-only or right-brain-only, which i dunno if this has been abstracted yet dont recall reading one but it will be...but if you are reading this it should prolly be noted that you fall somewhere on the bell-curve of the "autism-asperger's" spectrum, these terms likely just describe the two extremes

 

[Nancy]

But if in spite all of his hypotheticals the scripture contains truth...?

"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Col 1:17

It seem then that if God could and would die everything else would cease to exist.

Good point John.

 

[Faither]

In all of the world's religions, you can take away the founder and still have the religion. You can take Buddha out of Buddhism and still have the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-fold Path. You can take Mohammed out of Islam, and still have the Five Pillars of Action and the Six Articles of Belief. And yes, tragically, you can take Christ out of that misnomer of "Christian religion," and still have the doctrines and the programs and the organizational machinery that masquerade as the "church." Liberal theologians within the "Christian religion" have indicated that it does not matter whether there was ever an "historical Jesus," as long as the "religion" benefits a person psychologically and ethically. On that premise of subjective religious impact being the existential essence of the "Christian religion," they go about "demythologizing" the New Testament scriptures to reduce them to psychological and ethical tenets.

The hypothetical question might be asked, "If God could and would die tonight, what would happen to the 'Christian religion' tomorrow?" The answer is "Nothing!" The "Christian religion" would keep right on functioning, because Jesus Christ, as God, is not the essence and the dynamic of what they are doing anyway! If God were to die tonight, it would be "business as usual" for religion tomorrow. It does not require God in Christ for the "Christian religion" to function; just man and money!

Do you think this has any merit?

I see your OP as a perfect description of Satan's kingdoms here on Earth. The ones he tried to tempt Christ with. Nothing more.

 

[bbyrd009]

I see your OP as a perfect description of Satan's kingdoms here on Earth. The ones he tried to tempt Christ with. Nothing more.

but note they are always the other guy's problem, yeh? It's also the ones he still uses to tempt christ imo

 

[Enoch111]

So, you feel that if there were no God, your religion would continue operating just the same as it does today?

The hypothetical question is totally absurd, therefore the answer should be "Nothing". God is not subject to death. Christ chose to die for mankind.

The hypothetical question might be asked, "If God could and would die tonight, what would happen to the 'Christian religion' tomorrow?" The answer is "Nothing!"

Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer.

 

[justbyfaith]

Jesus is God so He already died.

Thing is, He didn't stay in the grave...He is alive!