Was Jesus a victim of self aggrandizing suicide?

[rback33]

What sadie described is one of the very reasons you rarely find me in one. I have seen that happen as well. They seem to think that just being there makes them a christian....

Mine is the NIV... I was once taught (in college) that the King James was an inferior translation because it was translation of a translation or some shit like that... basically the NIV was not as far removed from the original Aramaic text or what ever it was written in..

 

[Johnfromokc]

Mine is the NIV... I was once taught (in college) that the King James was an inferior translation because it was translation of a translation or some shit like that... basically the NIV was not as far removed from the original Aramaic text or what ever it was written in..

LOL...Never heard that before. I've looked at them side by side and while I didn't go page by page for a 100% comparison, one was spot on with the other. Of course after years of study I personally consider all "holy" books of the Abrahamic religions fictional. There are lots of wise sayings and comfort to be found in them if that's what you seek.

Know what I really like about this place? Notice the civil discussion! There's passion, but most everyone is being respectful to each other. Loving this!! :thumbup

 

[cam elle toe]

LOL...Never heard that before. I've looked at them side by side and while I didn't go page by page for a 100% comparison, one was spot on with the other. Of course after years of study I personally consider all "holy" books of the Abrahamic religions fictional. There are lots of wise sayings and comfort to be found in them if that's what you seek.

Know what I really like about this place? Notice the civil discussion! There's passion, but most everyone is being respectful to each other. Loving this!! :thumbup

tee hee hee....wait till the usual "mass debaters" arrive.:cool

 

[sexysadie]

tee hee hee....wait till the usual "mass debaters" arrive.:cool

shhhhhhhhhhhhh you don't wanna totally ruin the surprise do you?...lol


Nahhhhhhhhhhhh we're all good people, we just have to come to terms with the fact that we all have different beliefs.

 

[rback33]

tee hee hee....wait till the usual "mass debaters" arrive.:cool

I am with John here on this so far. I LOVE how this has gone. Now if these "mass debaters" end up being masturbaters of forum debate... they will not be having much fun. Trolls won't be fed.

 

[rback33]

shhhhhhhhhhhhh you don't wanna totally ruin the surprise do you?...lol


Nahhhhhhhhhhhh we're all good people, we just have to come to terms with the fact that we all have different beliefs.

I wish everyone could do that. I am totally cool with agreeing to disagree. Hell, my gf and I have religious and political beliefs that are pretty opposite. We however RESPECT those differences and accept each other as is.

 

[Aries]

I agree. I've been reading and I'm impressed.:thumbup

 

[Johnfromokc]

I am with John here on this so far. I LOVE how this has gone. Now if these "mass debaters" end up being masturbaters of forum debate... they will not be having much fun. Trolls won't be fed.

Yeah, the vibe here is so much better than where we fled from. Too many old geezers there, set in their ways. Rubbed off on everybody. Wish we'd have discovered this place years ago - but then some valuable lessons have been learned along the way, so it's all good. :nanajig::banana2:
I freaking love these banana's!

 

[cam elle toe]

Wheres that cute little "zips lips" smiley one of your lot used.

*insert that here*

 

[rback33]

LMAO I love those two!


And these...

:eng_mofo:stickit::urstupid::gives::asshole:

 

[AUDRAA]

Yeah, the vibe here is so much better than where we fled from. Too many old geezers there, set in their ways. Rubbed off on everybody. Wish we'd have discovered this place years ago - but then some valuable lessons have been learned along the way, so it's all good. :nanajig::banana2:
I freaking love these banana's!

well you are in the debate section also which is one of the most loosly moderated sections here because it can get so heated at times

 

[sexysadie]

I wish everyone could do that. I am totally cool with agreeing to disagree. Hell, my gf and I have religious and political beliefs that are pretty opposite. We however RESPECT those differences and accept each other as is.

I know I've said this before but I'm saying it again, the closest friends I have, the ones I hold closest to my heart are those who've challenged me on a topic we disagree on. We've learned to live with our differences, agree to disagree, so to speak, but we don't allow that to get in the way of a good healthy conversation....lol..that's what makes our friendship special.

 

[Aries]

Wheres that cute little "zips lips" smiley one of your lot used.

*insert that here*

 

[Johnfromokc]

Wheres that cute little "zips lips" smiley one of your lot used.

*insert that here*

Couldn't locate that one but how about these:

 

[cam elle toe]

Thats the one. He shall be my new totem:thumbup

 

[cam elle toe]

Couldn't locate that one but how about these:

I like to see and hear it still:cool

 

[Joe the meek]

No, I don't attend church anymore, the last time I was there a man who walked in off of the street, in need of some guidance or perhaps a friendly face, was shunned and turned away like he was dirt on the bottom of those big shot, money grubbing, holier than thou hypocrites who call themselves christians, shoes. People like that so often believe that since they attend church once or twice a week in their furs in their big cars that they've already bought their 'get into heaven' free card without having to resort to being caring human beings.....I was disgusted and I never looked at the church in the same way again. God was definately nowhere to be found in that buiding on the day a congregation of so called christians turned their backs on a man who so obviously needed their help.

You shouldn't let the lack of action on a church's part deter you from still looking for another church that will fit your needs spiritually.

What I'm about to say is fact. People are "stronger" (trying to obtain a goal set forth by the organization) when they work together than when they work on their own.

Oh, and some people do wear shorts and sandals to church, and some people actually know where every penny they donate goes to in ensuring that the money is being spent to help others than to just let the minister drive a fancy car. Takes time and work, no way around it.

 

[Joe the meek]

I think that's true to the extent that obviously if you're a nice person, other people will treat you well, whereas if you're an asshole then you have to get used to others being equally nasty in return.

However, in the grander scheme of things, attitude only seems to affect how individuals respond to you. Good people still get sick and die, or are in horrible accidents, or lose the people they love, etc etc, and people who are far less pleasant still prosper and live long lives.

I'll agree with you to an extent.

First off, I believe the God as I know does let bad things happen to good people. There is no "tally" as far as good deeds that gets you a "pass" in life. Heck, even in the Bible, some of the people who were the instruments of God had so much crap thrown in their lives that it was ridiculous, and yes, sometimes "bad" people prosper. There are many bad things that happen to good people. Question everyone seems to have who doubts there is a God is why would a "good and just" God let bad things happen? Perhaps the simple answer is we were kicked out of Eden. The harder answer lies somewhere IMO in that you can't have joy without pain in the earthly life we live.

As far as being nice? Personally I don't think you have to be nice by societies standards, but you should be honest with both yourself and the people you come into contact with (and my wife will admit that sometimes I'm more honest than I need to be with people I meet, even in church LOL). I've found that sometimes when you're honest, sometimes people don't take it as being nice (then again, perhaps it's in the way you present the truth as you know it LOL). This may sound corny, but some time ago I decided to make both personal and business decisions on what I sincerely felt was the "right thing" to do. Did I get my ass handed to me at times for doing so? Heck yes. But what I've noticed is that if I do what I feel is "right", although at that time the decision I made may not of seemed like the best one, in time everything actually worked out for the better. I think people want the "quick fix" and want everything solved at that moment. Fact is, we're only on this earth for a blink of an eye, but 80 years can still seem to drag on when you're living it, but it always seems that we want the solution right or fix "right now" as of yesterday, and that rarely happens.

 

[Joe the meek]

I've been going to a UU church the last couple months. Many of the people there have that view.

And the question I would have is what makes their view the "right one"?

 

[sexysadie]

You shouldn't let the lack of action on a church's part deter you from still looking for another church that will fit your needs spiritually.

What I'm about to say is fact. People are "stronger" (trying to obtain a goal set forth by the organization) when they work together than when they work on their own.

Oh, and some people do wear shorts and sandals to church, and some people actually know where every penny they donate goes to in ensuring that the money is being spent to help others than to just let the minister drive a fancy car. Takes time and work, no way around it.

It wasn't just the clothes it was the attitude that they were better than everybody else. I swear, sometimes I wonder if being a member of a church could actually ruin some relationships with God. I guess it could if you allow yourself to get lost in it.