The Religion Thread

[bannination]

I guess it is beating a dead horse, after all, Mr. B refuses to address any points made. I'd say that any points on the matter of religion or gay marriage (or quite clearly just his feelings) from Mr. B should be dismissed completely since he's failed to backup his position in any way. It's quite clear to me and my experience that the average nonbeliever knows more about christianity than the average christian. Judging from the way states are voting for equality, most people are tired of their crap!

I think people like Mr. B deserve a warm thank you for helping to accelerate change! People are starting to refuse to accept non-answers - "this god did it", "that god did it", "the man behind the curtain did it". "I don't have to explain my beliefs to you, but you better follow my beliefs." NOPE!! Not anymore! These people can't ruin peoples entire lives, or take away their happiness anymore "just because."

Now if we could get everyone else to move beyond this tribal gang bullshit, and get some world peace in here, that would be great! All the death caused by religion is sickening!

END RANT.
Next beer please.

[Mr.B]

re-posted with edited comments

[bannination]

When, in reality, did the horse die?

When Mr.B chose to go on the warpath for post after post after post because he took offense over my posting a universally known and indisputable truth about some mainstream and some fringe Christians blaming the victims of accidents or natural disasters if there's any blemish on their Christian-defined "morality".

Not that Mr.B will ever admit it, his choices are somehow always my fault.

As far as that goes, I think he was indisputably caught in a lie. Ether that, or playing dumb and trolling.

[Mr.B]

First you insisted: "..... Christians routinely blame the victims......."

Then you back-flipped to: "...... some mainstream and some fringe Christians blaming the victims...."

See....? I knew you had no clue. Pat Robertson is hardly a mainstream voice for Christianity....."fringe" I would agree with.

"Not that Mr.B will ever admit it, his choices are somehow always my fault."

[bannination]

First you insisted: "..... Christians routinely blame the victims......."

Then you back-flipped to: "...... some mainstream and some fringe Christians blaming the victims...."

See....? I knew you had no clue. Pat Robertson is hardly a mainstream voice for Christianity....."fringe" I would agree with.

"Not that Mr.B will ever admit it, his choices are somehow always my fault."

Yeah, he's not mainstream at all, he's just broadcast in 180 countries in 71 different languages, that's all.


"Robertson's book The New World Order (1991) became a New York Times best seller....." yup, not mainstream....

[Mr.B]

"Yeah, he's not mainstream at all, he's just broadcast in 180 countries in 71 different languages, that's all.
"Robertson's book The New World Order (1991) became a New York Times best seller....." yup, not mainstream....

Duh.....
I didn't say I've never heard of him; I don't care to listen to or read his material. It's not required reading or watching if you're a Christian.

[O Really]

"Yeah, he's not mainstream at all, he's just broadcast in 180 countries in 71 different languages, that's all.
"Robertson's book The New World Order (1991) became a New York Times best seller....." yup, not mainstream....

Duh.....
I didn't say I've never heard of him; I don't care to listen to or read his material. It's not required reading or watching if you're a Christian.

I think Pat Robertson is a bit of a loon, but he does have a big following. But what, from your standpoint, represents the mainstream of Christianity?

[Mr.B]

"Note: Mr.B, you are welcome to say anything to me you wish in your childish and pathetic obsession. However, DO NOT insert things - words, emoticons, whatever - in your supposed quotes of me that make it look like I posted them. That is a battle you will lose."

oooohhhh...the big bad monster mouth-piece of the forum has spoken!

Do you really think that others will believe that I 'actually' posted those words? If you do, you're a bigger idiot than I thought you were. Also, do you not think that others have enough sense to know that I added that crying emoticon into your quote? If you don't, you're a bigger idiot than I thought you were.

Your childish and pathetic obsession with being picked on is funny....change all my posts you wish; it only enforces the knowledge of what an immature, insecure, whiny brat you are. As far as me being obsessed with you.....only in your dreams.

[bannination]

That moment when a Christian realizes their beliefs are messed up. (Short, 38 seconds). :thumbsup:

[O Really]

"Yeah, he's not mainstream at all, he's just broadcast in 180 countries in 71 different languages, that's all.
"Robertson's book The New World Order (1991) became a New York Times best seller....." yup, not mainstream....

Duh.....
I didn't say I've never heard of him; I don't care to listen to or read his material. It's not required reading or watching if you're a Christian.

I think Pat Robertson is a bit of a loon, but he does have a big following. But what, from your standpoint, represents the mainstream of Christianity?

So, Mr.B - are you going to answer the question, or not? It's not a trick.

[neoplacebo]

Billy Graham? Franklin Graham? Jerry Falwell? Jimmy Swaggart? George Zimmerman? Ray Rice? Little Richard? Maybe the "mainstream" is actually a lot of minor streams....

[Mr.B]

"...... what, from your standpoint, represents the mainstream of Christianity?...are you going to answer the question, or not?

The "mainstream" of Christianity is Jesus Christ. I don't believe any of today's well-known speakers, preachers, denominations, or religions fill that bill; so I guess that personally I don't regard any person, action, or movement to be the "mainstream of Christianity".

If I had to select one individual that I would really consider is grounded in The Word of God, it would be Billy Graham. There may be others with the same 'conversation', but I'm not aware of them.

[O Really]

"...... what, from your standpoint, represents the mainstream of Christianity?...are you going to answer the question, or not?

The "mainstream" of Christianity is Jesus Christ. I don't believe any of today's well-known speakers, preachers, denominations, or religions fill that bill; so I guess that personally I don't regard any person, action, or movement to be the "mainstream of Christianity".

If I had to select one individual that I would really consider is grounded in The Word of God, it would be Billy Graham. There may be others with the same 'conversation', but I'm not aware of them.

OK, that's a reasonable answer. So Christian churches whose philosophy and beliefs are most similar to Billy Graham's would represent the mainstream of US Christianity, right?

[neoplacebo]

"...... what, from your standpoint, represents the mainstream of Christianity?...are you going to answer the question, or not?

The "mainstream" of Christianity is Jesus Christ. I don't believe any of today's well-known speakers, preachers, denominations, or religions fill that bill; so I guess that personally I don't regard any person, action, or movement to be the "mainstream of Christianity".

If I had to select one individual that I would really consider is grounded in The Word of God, it would be Billy Graham. There may be others with the same 'conversation', but I'm not aware of them.

OK, that's a reasonable answer. So Christian churches whose philosophy and beliefs are most similar to Billy Graham's would represent the mainstream of US Christianity, right?

I sort of think the "mainstream" of Christianity is, like Billy Graham, about to expire. It appears to be rather fractured with all the different extremists on various positions.....you got your snake handlers, your poison drinkers, corporate sort of religious organizations, your vile and misguided factions like Westboro Baptist, jackrollers, hairballers, Jehova's Witnesses, Mormons on bicycles. It's all pretty confusing actually. The mainstream has been co opted.

[O Really]

Yeah, there are a lot of varieties, some more sentient than others. But I always considered Catholicism to be the mainstream of Christianity as a whole - certainly has the most members. As to Protestants, it doesn't seem to get more mainstream than Presbyterians and Episcopalians.

[Mr.B]

"So Christian churches whose philosophy and beliefs are most similar to Billy Graham's would represent the mainstream of US Christianity, right?"

Not necessarily. If it came to selecting one as a representative, my personal choice would be Billy Graham. I've watched many of his crusades and have never heard him, like Franklin, go off on some personal tangent in regards to lifestyles, politics, etc. (For Vrede: If he has, I've not heard them)

"I sort of think the "mainstream" of Christianity is, like Billy Graham, about to expire. It appears to be rather fractured with all the different extremists on various positions.....you got your snake handlers, your poison drinkers, corporate sort of religious organizations, your vile and misguided factions like Westboro Baptist, jackrollers, hairballers, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons on bicycles. It's all pretty confusing actually. The mainstream has been co opted."

You said it...! Billy Graham isn't going to be around much longer, and sadly, his style is disappearing. Nowadays, you've got fringes as you've described, including 'faith healers', holy-water pushers, and anything else that comes along solely to separate you from your money.

As a member of a church that is not aligned with any Association, Convention, etc., we do not ascribe to the rantings of TV personalities, gimmick hawkers, etc.; instead we concentrate on the salvation of the individual using the KJV as our guide. Numbers of members is not our game, numbers of souls saved is, regardless whether they are members, or become members of our church.

[Mr.B]

"Yeah, there are a lot of varieties, some more sentient than others. But I always considered Catholicism to be the mainstream of Christianity as a whole - certainly has the most members. As to Protestants, it doesn't seem to get more mainstream than Presbyterians and Episcopalians."

Each of those you described are curiously different in ideologies though.

I've not really delved into the differences enough to go into detail, but there are differences, mainly in attitudes, personal lifestyles and habits, etc.

[O Really]

I've not really delved into the differences enough to go into detail, but there are differences, mainly in attitudes, personal lifestyles and habits, etc.

I think when you do delve, you'll find the differences are primarily cosmetic, in ritual and custom, and not significantly different in substance, considering you're talking about an omnipotent and infinite entity.

[Mr.B]

"Boz Tchividjian"...is he a Russian? Never heard of him either.
You may continue your "gouging" now; you're not bothering me with your silly mess.

[Mr.B]

"It's no surprise that tens of thousands of Christians hate real religious freedom and the constitutional guarantees of it."

Taking a poll again? You're one busy(body)person. "Tens of thousands" is a far cry from tens of millions, wouldn't you say?
So how does this awesome revelation relate to me? Those "tens of thousands" don't answer to me....how 'bout you?