The Christian Thread

Epignosis wrote: StyLaZyn wrote: Slartibartfast wrote: StyLaZyn wrote: I must have missed that thread. Although a Gnostic Thread could be very interesting. Atheists believe in nothing, so it would be either an empty thread or a thread dismissing all other religions. A common misconception that atheists don't believe in anything or believe in nothing, they just dont belive in a the. It was actually a tongue in cheek comment. about the nothing. Athiests come in various colors. I am almost an atheist, in that I believe if there is a divine being, it has never played any direct part in our lives and it has no conscious like ours. Some atheists are out to crush all religions. Others just live their lives with select input because it strengthens their views. And other still, evade all discussions on faith. Like you say, it's not that they don't believe in anything. I'm sure they believe in human existence as a result of chance. That is a belief, just not a religion. Then you're almost a Deist, not an atheist.

That depends on the point of origin. I used to be a hard core Christian. I am moving away from organized religion.

Slartibartfast wrote: StyLaZyn wrote: I must have missed that thread. Although a Gnostic Thread could be very interesting. Atheists believe in nothing, so it would be either an empty thread or a thread dismissing all other religions. A common misconception that atheists don't believe in anything or believe in nothing, they just dont belive in a the.

It was actually a tongue in cheek comment. about the nothing. Athiests come in various colors. I am almost an atheist, in that I believe if there is a divine being, it has never played any direct part in our lives and it has no conscious like ours. Some atheists are out to crush all religions. Others just live their lives with select input because it strengthens their views. And other still, evade all discussions on faith. Like you say, it's not that they don't believe in anything. I'm sure they believe in human existence as a result of chance. That is a belief, just not a religion.

Ricochet wrote: Epignosis wrote: StyLaZyn wrote: Vibrationbaby wrote: I just eliminated myself from this thread because I would just stir up unecessary s***. Like, how come there isn't an atheist , Hindu, Judaism, Islam, etc...thread? You never see those threads do you. Apparently no one took the initiative to make one. Wasn't The Atheist Thread (despite not being an "appreciation" thread from the beginning) quite enough?

I must have missed that thread. Although a Gnostic Thread could be very interesting. Atheists believe in nothing, so it would be either an empty thread or a thread dismissing all other religions.

Epignosis wrote: StyLaZyn wrote: Vibrationbaby wrote: I just eliminated myself from this thread because I would just stir up unecessary s***. Like, how come there isn't an atheist , Hindu, Judaism, Islam, etc...thread? You never see those threads do you. Apparently no one took the initiative to make one.

Wasn't The Atheist Thread (despite not being an "appreciation" thread from the beginning) quite enough?

StyLaZyn wrote: Vibrationbaby wrote: I just eliminated myself from this thread because I would just stir up unecessary s***. Like, how come there isn't an atheist , Hindu, Judaism, Islam, etc...thread? You never see those threads do you.

Apparently no one took the initiative to make one.

Diaby wrote: Epignosis wrote: Diaby wrote: Thank you for your kind posts. He's better this day than he was tomorrow – that's a hopeful improvement.   Robert: I hope once I will be like you, somebody who has always fully trust in God. I wish He sends you solutions for those hardships you're going through. Forget people who say faith is "blind belief."  I only have faith because God has helped me in the worst of circumstances. Just know Jesus will care for you also, friend.  I will also be praying for you grandfather, and for you as well.   Lots of thanks, my friend.   My grandfather passed away on Monday. I'm sad but also grateful to God because He didn't let him suffer too much. He is in a better place now I know.

As someone who recently lost a grandparent, you have my sincerest condolences and prayers.  God bless his soul.

Epignosis wrote: Diaby wrote: Thank you for your kind posts. He's better this day than he was tomorrow – that's a hopeful improvement.   Robert: I hope once I will be like you, somebody who has always fully trust in God. I wish He sends you solutions for those hardships you're going through. Forget people who say faith is "blind belief."  I only have faith because God has helped me in the worst of circumstances. Just know Jesus will care for you also, friend.  I will also be praying for you grandfather, and for you as well.

Thank you for your kind posts. He's better this day than he was tomorrow – that's a hopeful improvement.

I have learned this:

Through many hardships, God has delivered me, even if those deliverances were never "comfortable."

Our existences are all but to the glory of God, which means if it honors him that my life is snuffed out this very instance, then I will be gone.

For many, that is a harsh truth (notice all the followers who left Jesus in John chapter 6), but I know it to be true. 

After a long, long time of only having 8 dollars in my savings account, I came into some money this week.  A fair bit of money.  And despite my pride, I knew in my heart it would not last.

God, who's glory will not be stolen, decided in his wisdom today that I should be issued a notice from the apartment complex from which we rent our 2nd story home, that my wife can no longer care for children (nevermind that this is ONLY because the people downstairs are jerks who complain when we're only walking up here).  This is our main source of income.  It means, she either forfeits her income, or we forfeit our home.

Hardships come upon believers only so God can show Himself faithful in delivering them from difficulty.  I have every confidence He will do so this time.  He's never failed!

I have gone from being enraged an hour ago, to feeling at peace with the writing of this post.  Praise be to God.

First, prayers go to Diaby and his grandfather, I hope for a speedy recovery.

Epignosis (great nickname, I am sure you know what it means...) has set a good and constructive thread.

In my opinion, even if I have never full read the bible, if someone takes out all the teachings of Christ will understand that everything is said and done to make people better. This is what Christianity is all about, however, people in charge of Churches don't always act as they were taught... but that is another story.

I would like to share my thoughts about some comments on this thread (randomly):

Indeed, Christianity is the ''continuation'' of another religion, even though people don't want to accept that.

Christian belief is on the decline, especially in the UK (where I live now) where people have almost forgotten about God (any God)

In my head, one of the reasons that the world is getting worse and worse is the absence to some belief (not only Chrsitianity). Most religions (if not all) teach that you should love and care about your ''neighbours'', do good and no harm etc. If you have never been taught such values, how are you supposed to use them in your life? (I don't say that all people who are Atheists etc. will be bad).

The developed world is short of values because it has forgotten God and started believing in another one (money)

Just a few initial thoughts, please feel free to comment, criticise etc.