Relationships and religion

[Russ]

Hey, U2 are pretty good! "With or Without you" is an all-time classic.

Yeah we do all the dancing, francing, falling about etc. If that's not what some people are comfortable with then they don't need to go

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Interesting thought though, some people on here have commented that hell is a metaphor for being seperated from god (a very good description of what I believe the bible means when it talks about hell).
Of course, that would only be hell to christians who want to be with god (think about it), non-christians who have never been in touch with god, or don't want to be in touch with him wouldn't be phased.

PS Towny, I'll get you a cape and mask so you can look notorious

Even if hell was simply separation from God and all the fire and brimstone was mere metaphor, I think it will be a little worse than you suggest for those who go there - before going, they will have stood before God, and seeing as God lives in heaven, they will therefore have had a brief taste of paradise and seen how fantastic it is. So they will know what they are missing.

PS - Cool, can it have a mysterious logo and little wings on the sides of the mask like Daredevil or something?

[Bifta]

Just out of curiosity, back in the era the bible was set, god was pretty overt in his actions, plagues of locusts, burning bushes, miracles here, there and everywhere, what happened? There are plenty of events in the bible that these day's could not be attributed to anything other than a miracle, e.g. the parting of the Red Sea ... was it the crucifixion that put an end to all this wondrous behaviour?

Originally Posted by Bifta

Just out of curiosity, back in the era the bible was set, god was pretty overt in his actions, plagues of locusts, burning bushes, miracles here, there and everywhere, what happened? There are plenty of events in the bible that these day's could not be attributed to anything other than a miracle, e.g. the parting of the Red Sea ... was it the crucifixion that put an end to all this wondrous behaviour?

Miracles still happen. Right now, a friend's daughter who should by now be dead due to oxygen starvation at birth is over a year old and developing with increasing normality. At every stage, doctors have said 'she'll never be able to ... ' and at every stage, she has proved them wrong. Of course, a lot of people are praying for her.

On a global scale, the Bible takes major events, some of which are chronicled in other writings, and discusses them from God's point of view as revealed through Prophets. There are not so many people claiming to give God's perspective on wars, famines and the like today - this doesn't mean that there is no Divine perspective or activity, it just means we're not hearing it.

IMO of course.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by towny

Miracles still happen. Right now, a friend's daughter who should by now be dead due to oxygen starvation at birth is over a year old and developing with increasing normality. At every stage, doctors have said 'she'll never be able to ... ' and at every stage, she has proved them wrong. Of course, a lot of people are praying for her.

On a global scale, the Bible takes major events, some of which are chronicled in other writings, and discusses them from God's point of view as revealed through Prophets. There are not so many people claiming to give God's perspective on wars, famines and the like today - this doesn't mean that there is no Divine perspective or activity, it just means we're not hearing it.

IMO of course.

Scientific explanation .... I'm talking about events that could almost literally only be described as miracles, why do they not happen anymore?

Originally Posted by Bifta

Scientific explanation .... I'm talking about events that could almost literally only be described as miracles, why do they not happen anymore?

There could be a scientific explanation, on the other hand, there might not. You can't discount the possibility that it's a miracle.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by towny

There could be a scientific explanation, on the other hand, there might not. You can't discount the possibility that it's a miracle.

Oh for god's sake, just answer the question directly or don't bother, you know what I'm talking about ... in 2000 odd years we've had nothing that's compared to some of the events relayed in the bible, why?

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Bifta

Oh for god's sake, just answer the question directly or don't bother, you know what I'm talking about ... in 2000 odd years we've had nothing that's compared to some of the events relayed in the bible, why?

There are a couple of answers ..

1) The bible is a work of complete fiction
2) Over the years over-zealous interpreters have "spiced" the bible up
3) God who?

It was because up until 2000 years ago people still refused to believe and listen to God's word even thought he sent the miracles. He then sent His son as a last chance and it worked (mostly). From a certain point of view you may be correct in saying that the miracles stopped when Jesus left. However if someone is determined to stay with a scientific frame of mind then there's little we can say or do that will make them see different.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Russ D

It was because up until 2000 years ago people still refused to believe and listen to God's word even thought he sent the miracles. He then sent His son as a last chance and it worked (mostly). From a certain point of view you may be correct in saying that the miracles stopped when Jesus left. However if someone is determined to stay with a scientific frame of mind then there's little we can say or do that will make them see different.

Thank you...

There were events as I pointed out that could not be given an explanation based on science ... I'm sure God would prefer people to worship him than not believe him in so why not just send one almight miracle, get everyone on his side and everyone can live happily ever after?

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Bifta

Thank you...

There were events as I pointed out that could not be given an explanation based on science ... I'm sure God would prefer people to worship him than not believe him in so why not just send one almight miracle, get everyone on his side and everyone can live happily ever after?

The reasoning behind this not happening (yet) is that He wants use to CHOOSE Him, rather than rely on something He sends, this is the basis of 'faith'. To be honest He could send just about any kind of miracle and there'd still be people trying to explain it away with science (which of course, they are entitled to do.)

Anyway, for more 'miracles', read Revelations to find out what happens after the rapture - there'll be plenty then

[kronas]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

That's what I mean, with the splintering of christianity, you have lots of groups despirate to keep followers, so will bend and flex and move with the times.
With a religion such as Islam, you have Islam and that's it (ok there's a couple of varients but not the hundreds christianity has), you don't have a church leader worrying that if he doesn't have any followers for his take on their religion he'll not get the prize at the end.

the reason islam does not need to 'bend or flex' is because it works more on the belief system there are set terms like the imams in what you need to do to get to paradise



The down side of that as you say, is you get ignorance and opression, the religion doesn't move with the times.

you are right the religion and atmosphere of muslims has taught them to opress women ill tell you something a women is NOT allowed to have a freindship with a man even it was strictly a freindship i know that relationships often build with women due to the person(s) likeing each other other but i do not think like that im happy to be freindly with anyone who is freindly with me as JUST a freind if the relationship turns in to something much more then so be it

Originally Posted by Xaccers

As I said, it's more a way of life than a one day a week religion, and that's fine if there's no reason to live any other way, but in today's world there are other ways to live, and if the religion doesn't change, you get a conflict with how the people want to live and how the religion tells them to live

yes i have conflict with religion it does not move on with the times so the faliure to lure potential members is evident to see


[QUOTE=Escapee]Now the thread has been brought to light again, I just wanted to tell the religious people that said it would not work that they were

Originally Posted by Xaccers

wrong.

In fact things are flourishing.

told you it would good luck for the future

Religion is probably a subject u shouldnââ‚à ‚¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t argue about because those who do believe in god will carry on be3lieving & those (like me) who arenââ‚ ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t religious in the least probably wonââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t start believing in anything no matter what people say to them,. Arguments about religion just go round & round & round at in the end no one wins & people start to fall out with each other

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Russ D

Anyway, for more 'miracles', read Revelations to find out what happens after the rapture - there'll be plenty then

I think not, I don't believe most of whats relayed in it.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by dieselking

Religion is probably a subject u shouldnââ‚à ‚¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t argue about because those who do believe in god will carry on be3lieving & those (like me) who arenââ‚ ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t religious in the least probably wonââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t start believing in anything no matter what people say to them,. Arguments about religion just go round & round & round at in the end no one wins & people start to fall out with each other

no-one is arguing, I'm asking questions and people are answering

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Bifta

I think not, I don't believe most of whats relayed in it.

That's up to you. I certainly am not in the habit of trying to proactively convert anyone.

Originally Posted by Bifta

no-one is arguing, I'm asking questions and people are answering

And that's the way it should be - much kudos to you for saying that, but there are some on this site who ask question PURELY to try and shoot us down...you really have to pity such attitudes.