My hairdresser talks openly with me what a struggle he had as a youngster... into adulthood. His mother was very religious and was so upset when she found out . He loved her so, and when she was dying , she still didn't give him her blessing .... just said she'd pray for him . He and his partner have been together for years and are very committed to each other . Their dogs are their " children" ...it's the same with the 2 gals that live behind me.... 3 dogs . They can't help how they were born any more than babies with disabilities can . We are all children of God , " Blessed are the children who come unto me....."
Question (Morals)
- Thread starter Ashlea
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I think homosexual people deserve not only to be treated equally and fairly, but to be considered equal, not just tolerated. They are people just like us. I do not think homosexuality is wrong in any way, shape, or form. It has nothingto do with me what anyone else's love life consists of. If were in that situation I would not want to be treated unfairly, but I also wouldn't want to have to be judged at all. Grammy, that was very well said.
No one owns the copyright of marriage. If two people want to get married, whether it's two men, two women, or a man and woman, if they love eachother, I say let them!
No one owns the copyright of marriage. If two people want to get married, whether it's two men, two women, or a man and woman, if they love eachother, I say let them!
Regarding homosexual couples . . . Some of the strongest, most devoted relationships I have seen were between two men or two women. I honestly consider the pledge that these people have made to each other to be stronger than most heterosexual "marriages". I have never met them, but my dad knows a lesbian couple who have been together since high school. They are now almost 60 years old. They've been together through prejudice, mockery, abuse, acts of hatred from those who view them as sinners . . . They've been through bankruptcy and a period of homelessness. And they still mean the world to one another. That's devotion; you don't need a document to confirm it.
Ok. After reading Tessas response I have this to say.
My boss is Jewish, he attends Shul everyday, he and his family observe all their holy days and are truly devoted to God. By telling me that he will go to hell because he doesn't beleive that Jesus was the son of God, I no longer have any interest in this so called "loving" religion.
So thank you for helping me here. I no longer have an internal conflict. I want nothing to do with such a vengful and dictatorial religion. You can have it. I still believe there is a higher power, I just do not appreaciate the way Christianity is so intolerant of any thing other than what it says. Times have changed people. 2000 years ago women had no rights, that has changed, why is it that Christanity cannot move with the times as well?
I am out now. Thank you for making this all so clear to me. I want nothing to do with a belief system that casts good honest people in to hell fire and damnation for not accepting Jesus and then takes child molesters and murderers into heaven for repenting at the last second!
My boss is Jewish, he attends Shul everyday, he and his family observe all their holy days and are truly devoted to God. By telling me that he will go to hell because he doesn't beleive that Jesus was the son of God, I no longer have any interest in this so called "loving" religion.
So thank you for helping me here. I no longer have an internal conflict. I want nothing to do with such a vengful and dictatorial religion. You can have it. I still believe there is a higher power, I just do not appreaciate the way Christianity is so intolerant of any thing other than what it says. Times have changed people. 2000 years ago women had no rights, that has changed, why is it that Christanity cannot move with the times as well?
I am out now. Thank you for making this all so clear to me. I want nothing to do with a belief system that casts good honest people in to hell fire and damnation for not accepting Jesus and then takes child molesters and murderers into heaven for repenting at the last second!
Ashlea is assuming that all Christianity believes the way Tessa and her religion do. (And I haven't gone back to read what Tessa says, so I'm not agreeing that Tessa stated that). There are many, many denominations in the Christian faith. They all believe, as far as I know, that Jesus Christ died for our sins. I grew up in a denomination that definitely does not believe that you have to have ever even heard of Jesus Christ to have eternal salvation. The denomination I grew up in believe the verse where the Bible says His people are in every nation, tongue, kindred, etc. They don't send out missionaries to try to 'save' people because they don't believe they have that power. It is very hard to lump all Christian denominations into one pot. Even in the Christian world, though, alot of people think all Christians believe that.
I try not to get in to many religious discussions on-line. As I was brought up (in the church that I grew up in), you can't talk someone into believing. So, I'm not trying to convince anyone to believe how I believe. I just thought it was importation to say that I was brought up a Christian, and I still follow the Christian faith. I do not think that all Jewish people will go to Hell, and the Christian church that I grew up in (and the church that I attend now that is another denomination) do not believe that either.
I do think it's unfortunate that everyone, including Christians, think all Christian denominations believe the same thing. There is the basic belief of Jesus Christ and that he died for our sins, but there are differences. Even growing up in the Christian world, people attempted to 'save' me on many occasions, so I know how that is. No one from my church did that, though....at least not once they heard the church's beliefs on salvation and agreed with their interpretation of the Bible on that subject and became part of the church.
I try not to get in to many religious discussions on-line. As I was brought up (in the church that I grew up in), you can't talk someone into believing. So, I'm not trying to convince anyone to believe how I believe. I just thought it was importation to say that I was brought up a Christian, and I still follow the Christian faith. I do not think that all Jewish people will go to Hell, and the Christian church that I grew up in (and the church that I attend now that is another denomination) do not believe that either.
I do think it's unfortunate that everyone, including Christians, think all Christian denominations believe the same thing. There is the basic belief of Jesus Christ and that he died for our sins, but there are differences. Even growing up in the Christian world, people attempted to 'save' me on many occasions, so I know how that is. No one from my church did that, though....at least not once they heard the church's beliefs on salvation and agreed with their interpretation of the Bible on that subject and became part of the church.
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Every religion is pretty intolerant of any thing other than what it says, unfortunately.
With that being said, there is a wide spectrum of "Christianity." Not all denominations believe the same thing, obviously.
Well said, mjb.
Overall, I thought mjb's post was great. It's important to realize that not all Christian denominations view the world, God, the Bible the same. Different branches were created for different reasons.
Ashlea, I really think you should branch out and do your own research and not rely on ONE post to change your view dramatically. Like mjb said, not all Christians may believe what Tessa and her denomination do, there are many out there.
With that being said, there is a wide spectrum of "Christianity." Not all denominations believe the same thing, obviously.
Well said, mjb.
Overall, I thought mjb's post was great. It's important to realize that not all Christian denominations view the world, God, the Bible the same. Different branches were created for different reasons.
Ashlea, I really think you should branch out and do your own research and not rely on ONE post to change your view dramatically. Like mjb said, not all Christians may believe what Tessa and her denomination do, there are many out there.
I am aware that there are different demononations, but I was not aware that not all of them beleive that you have to accept Jesus as the son of God to be able to enter heavan. Thank you for telling me that.
Right now I am happy with what I beleive, it is not intolerant or damning of other religions, I beleive that there is a God and He will always be there for me. Thats is that. I think that any demononation that says good honest people go to hell can basically have that little piece of "wisdom" all to themselves.
Right now I am happy with what I beleive, it is not intolerant or damning of other religions, I beleive that there is a God and He will always be there for me. Thats is that. I think that any demononation that says good honest people go to hell can basically have that little piece of "wisdom" all to themselves.
If there are different demoniations of christianity, and each takes a different stand point...
..does that mean that in each others eyes, the other guys are wrong?
This is something that totally baffles me...
I mean, if it's all true, and there is god, and all this stuff happened in the past - why is everyone so divided on it?
And surely you can't ALL be right, which means, 99.9% are behaving incorrectly to what was originally preached..
Or is it just the act of worshipping god that matters? And if that is the case, as long as you believe, why does it matter what you do? (within reason of course but for eg - homosexuality, sex before marriage, images of god.. whatever etc etc)...
..does that mean that in each others eyes, the other guys are wrong?
This is something that totally baffles me...
I mean, if it's all true, and there is god, and all this stuff happened in the past - why is everyone so divided on it?
And surely you can't ALL be right, which means, 99.9% are behaving incorrectly to what was originally preached..
Or is it just the act of worshipping god that matters? And if that is the case, as long as you believe, why does it matter what you do? (within reason of course but for eg - homosexuality, sex before marriage, images of god.. whatever etc etc)...
Also, according to the Bible (and logic, I suppose), many people lived and died before Jesus lived on the earth. My Christian church does not believe that all those people are in Hell or will go to Hell because they didn't hear the name of Jesus. This particular church and denomination believes that when the Bible says that Jesus said that He came to save all that the Father (God) gave to him and will not lose one, that He was able to do just that. The belief is that the Father gave him people from all times, too, including the time before Jesus lived on earth.
I'm not sure how other Christian denominations handle that, but I know each church/denomination is just not all the same.
I'm not sure how other Christian denominations handle that, but I know each church/denomination is just not all the same.
No, we're not all right if we don't believe the same thing. But the belief in Jesus having died for the sins of his people is what makes us all Christians, I think....followers of Christ.
I think all Christian religions base their beliefs on the Bible. Everyone does not interpret the Bible the same way, though. That's where the differences come in.....interpretation of what the Bible is saying.
There are different 'denominations' (I don't know if that's what they call them) in the Jewish religion, too. I don't know about the other religions of the world, and whether they're all united. I would doubt every Moslem believes exactly the same way as all the others.
I think all Christian religions base their beliefs on the Bible. Everyone does not interpret the Bible the same way, though. That's where the differences come in.....interpretation of what the Bible is saying.
There are different 'denominations' (I don't know if that's what they call them) in the Jewish religion, too. I don't know about the other religions of the world, and whether they're all united. I would doubt every Moslem believes exactly the same way as all the others.
Oh, oh, oh!!
And other stuff that baffles me - I hope someone can shed some light.
Creationism vs evolution.
Also - dinosaurs.
I remember our old RE teacher didn't believe in dinosaurs. She didn't believe in them!! Never mind all the fossils etc etc..
Sorry - I know this is a tangent, but it FASCINATES me.
And other stuff that baffles me - I hope someone can shed some light.
Creationism vs evolution.
Also - dinosaurs.
I remember our old RE teacher didn't believe in dinosaurs. She didn't believe in them!! Never mind all the fossils etc etc..
Sorry - I know this is a tangent, but it FASCINATES me.
I think if you believe, then it matters to you what you do and how you act. But, I think that's it.....if you are following any religion, you probably are learning about their beliefs, and I think all religions teach morality. So, if you're devout in any religion, it probably matters to you that you live by their moral standards as closely as you can.
T
Apart of being a Christian is believing in Christ. To be a Christian means to be "Christ-like".
But how many people are "good". What makes them a "good" person? Surely not any person on this world will live a sin free life. So which sins are better than others? What makes a person that lies better than thatperson over there that steals? Which one is "good"? Or, does God see all sin as equal?
But how many people are "good". What makes them a "good" person? Surely not any person on this world will live a sin free life. So which sins are better than others? What makes a person that lies better than thatperson over there that steals? Which one is "good"? Or, does God see all sin as equal?