The Religion Thread

[bannination]

I think that's the crux of the problem, real believers that do more research eventually turn into atheists or agnostics. That was my experience and the experience of lot of people I've met in my life.

The biggest mistake you can make as a believer is actually read and understand the bible which you state your beliefs on, doesn't matter if your Christian, Muslim, whatever.

I don't think more study necessarily leads to atheism or agnosticism, although as you note, it certainly can. I think another possibility is one realizes this topic of "god" - all powerful, creator of the universe - is much more complicated than most think. So you can learn not necessarily that everything in the Bible (or Qu'ran, or Vedas) is wrong, but that nobody has it all right. Portraying an entity considered to be "god" (or "God") as some humanoid who plays with the lives of individual humans and might even care who wins the NASCAR race is incredibility over-simplified and disrespectful to the entire concept of infinite existence.

I didn't really mean to give the impression that all that study it would turn to atheists, but my opinion is a great many do.

[Mr.B]

I suppose that one day we'll find out who's right and who's wrong.

Nope, you'll just live your life hating other people because of a fairy tale, and when you die things go black. The end.
Make the most of what you have now and love everyone, cause that's all there is.
... and even if not, you lived a better and more moral life than you would have as a Christian.
No need to wait, just describe why all other religions are wrong and yours is correct. Then apply that same principle to your own.

Hating? Why do you say it's hating? Why do you lump all Christians together? Dislike of a lifestyle is not hate for the person.

Some denominations do believe that all goes black...until the resurrection. Others believe you join the Lord upon death; I prefer not too speculate, just wait my turn.

BTW, the Lord does not condemn one to hell for not being a "good" little boy or girl; one is condemned for blasphemy and wicked living. One's good works that's touted and bragged about will not necessarily get you to heaven either; nor will lack of memorizing the Bible or fully understanding every verse condemn you.

Let me ask you...do you love, honestly love, everyone?

[bannination]

Some denominations do believe that all goes black...until the resurrection. Others believe you join the Lord upon death; I prefer not too speculate, just wait my turn.

Another thing I don't get. Why wait?

[JTA]

Some denominations do believe that all goes black...until the resurrection. Others believe you join the Lord upon death; I prefer not too speculate, just wait my turn.

Another thing I don't get. Why wait?

Offing yourself is not acceptable. Surely there are loopholes though, right? Like putting oneself in precarious situations.

[Mr.B]

Some denominations do believe that all goes black...until the resurrection. Others believe you join the Lord upon death; I prefer not too speculate, just wait my turn.

Another thing I don't get. Why wait?

Wait for what? According to JTA's reply, are you suggesting one take his own life rather than wait until the appointed time?

According to some denominations, that would be a sure way NOT to find out if heaven exists...

[bannination]

Some denominations do believe that all goes black...until the resurrection. Others believe you join the Lord upon death; I prefer not too speculate, just wait my turn.

Another thing I don't get. Why wait?

Offing yourself is not acceptable. Surely there are loopholes though, right? Like putting oneself in precarious situations.

Exactly, dangerous sports, occupations. Deep diving as a hobby.... eating the most fatty foods you can find.

You know, I've heard it's not acceptable, but have no idea what they use to justify that. Probably some old testament stuff that doesn't apply any more if they're lucky.

[Mr.B]

Beats me.

[bannination]

Happy Easter!

[JTA]

Christians were way ahead of times with the whole zombie fad. Eat that, Walking Dead.

Happy zombie Jesus day everyone.

[O Really]

Christians were way ahead of times with the whole zombie fad. Eat that, Walking Dead.

Happy zombie Jesus day everyone.

Interesting you said that - I was thinking about the various choices to make the Christian mythology work with logic. First, there is the problem of whether Jesus actually "died" - mutilation of earthly body notwithstanding - since Jesus was also God. And besides, part of most Christian belief is that the soul doesn't die anyway, just because the body does. So when Jesus reappeared, it was either in spirit form, i.e., a "ghost" or he actually reanimated his old body, in which case he would have been ... a zombie. So the body was reported to be missing, but the reappearance was not reported to be zombie-like. My guess is the body was snatched, and the reappearance was somewhat enhanced by imagination and distress. Or it really was a ghost. I've got no problem with that as a theory, but majority Christian thought doesn't believe in ghosts and considers such things to be evil occult. So no matter what the truth - zombie, ghost, or imagination - the Christian version(s) need some work in consistency.

[JTA]

Christians were way ahead of times with the whole zombie fad. Eat that, Walking Dead.

Happy zombie Jesus day everyone.

Interesting you said that - I was thinking about the various choices to make the Christian mythology work with logic. First, there is the problem of whether Jesus actually "died" - mutilation of earthly body notwithstanding - since Jesus was also God. And besides, part of most Christian belief is that the soul doesn't die anyway, just because the body does. So when Jesus reappeared, it was either in spirit form, i.e., a "ghost" or he actually reanimated his old body, in which case he would have been ... a zombie. So the body was reported to be missing, but the reappearance was not reported to be zombie-like. My guess is the body was snatched, and the reappearance was somewhat enhanced by imagination and distress. Or it really was a ghost. I've got no problem with that as a theory, but majority Christian thought doesn't believe in ghosts and considers such things to be evil occult. So no matter what the truth - zombie, ghost, or imagination - the Christian version(s) need some work in consistency.

If Jesus were to appear today in his zombie form, do you think he would get a knife to the head like in the movies?

[O Really]

Probably, because his reanimated body wouldn't resemble the stylized version of Jesus that has been around since 1300 or so. A short swarthy probably beardless zombie might not be recognized by the faithful.

[JTA]

Probably, because his reanimated body wouldn't resemble the stylized version of Jesus that has been around since 1300 or so. A short swarthy probably beardless zombie might not be recognized by the faithful.

[JTA]

Since we're discussing the finer points of zombie science and Jesus theology, if someone were to come back from the dead, how would one know whether said corpse was in fact a zombie or Jesus round 2. Is there some form of quick test one could perform before ramming a knife through his skull and sending him back to the dead/heaven"

[bannination]

Since we're discussing the finer points of zombie science and Jesus theology, if someone were to come back from the dead, how would one know whether said corpse was in fact a zombie or Jesus round 2. Is there some form of quick test one could perform before ramming a knife through his skull and sending him back to the dead/heaven"

I don't think so. Have no fear though, if it's zombie, a knife through the head usually kills those.... where as if it was Jesus, surely it wouldn't?

Then again, hanging on a cross killed him in record time. I don't know.

[rstrong]

Actually, Jesus was thrown out of a church in Sweden today.



No word on how they determined that he wasn't the real McCoy. Perhaps they went with Jesus's teachings and not the later Book of Revelation.

[bannination]

[O Really]

Since we're discussing the finer points of zombie science and Jesus theology, if someone were to come back from the dead, how would one know whether said corpse was in fact a zombie or Jesus round 2. Is there some form of quick test one could perform before ramming a knife through his skull and sending him back to the dead/heaven"

I don't think so. Have no fear though, if it's zombie, a knife through the head usually kills those.... where as if it was Jesus, surely it wouldn't?

Then again, hanging on a cross killed him in record time. I don't know.

There might be something to the zombie line of thought. Zombies are reanimations of dead bodies, but not usually a reincarnation of the body's former owner. But zombies are portrayed, fairly or unfairly, as having an appetite for living human flesh.

And then we have John 6:53, "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."

[Mr.B]

One of the most shocking World War 1 images photographers saw after the bombing smoke cleared was this
dead man laying underneath a crucifix that had strangely been left unscathed.

[bannination]

Since we're discussing the finer points of zombie science and Jesus theology, if someone were to come back from the dead, how would one know whether said corpse was in fact a zombie or Jesus round 2. Is there some form of quick test one could perform before ramming a knife through his skull and sending him back to the dead/heaven"

I don't think so. Have no fear though, if it's zombie, a knife through the head usually kills those.... where as if it was Jesus, surely it wouldn't?

Then again, hanging on a cross killed him in record time. I don't know.

There might be something to the zombie line of thought. Zombies are reanimations of dead bodies, but not usually a reincarnation of the body's former owner. But zombies are portrayed, fairly or unfairly, as having an appetite for living human flesh.

And then we have John 6:53, "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."

What's cool is he's a reverse zombie too, he doesn't mind if you eat him.

"Take this and eat it, for this is my body."