Christ our King

[gerryh]

The reasoning still escapes me. I mean, the guy purportedly died for everyone's sins, so that should have been the end of the god's vengeful activities. What's left should be the messages that the live dude shared with people. If the dude was real and actually did come back, what would be his plans, revisiting what he taught before? Dying again to cover people's sins? Once wouldn't be enough?
But then, religious reasoning has always been a bit eccentric, I guess. Can't see it changing any (at least not very soon).

I really can't see you as being this stupid, so the only conclusion I can draw is that you are being a troll.

 

[L Gilbert]

Suit yourself. Although, just because I have the nuts to question the reasoning in your religion's dogma, it doesn't make me either stupid or a troll.

 

[SLM]

I posted the verses because it is the season to celebrate Christs birth. There was no "ulterior" motive on my part. That being said, I did know that some posters would not be able to let it go. However, I'm not going to NOT post a thread because of the brain dead.

I didn't mean to imply that was the reason you posted it, just that I was sure you knew what to expect. Past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour and all.

 

[darkbeaver]

THE STABLE AND


"So Hannah conceived, and at the turn of the year she bore a son."--I Samuel I, 20.
"And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bride- groom cometh!"--Matthew XXV, 6.
"Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright."--Franz Gruber.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

The reasoning still escapes me.

Me too, for the most part. But for those who believe, no reasoning is necessary, for those who don't, no reasoning is convincing. I do, however, understand that Jesus' dying for everybody's sins doesn't in itself absolve anyone, it just provides the means, people have to actively take the right steps and believe the right things themselves too. Otherwise they remain unredeemed and, at least according to some, will spend eternity in the lake of fire after Jesus' return for failing to accept and act on the message correctly. Jesus' return is not to reiterate the message of salvation and be sacrificed again, it's the end of the world stuff , the final judgment, the final battle between good and evil, the victory of good, and the establishment of the god's kingdom everywhere.

You can get a very watered down version of that from the United Church, or a thumping bloody violent one from fundamentalist extremists, and pretty much anything in between depending on what sect you choose, and there are thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of them. It's always seemed unnecessarily complicated to me, if god wanted to forgive everyone's sins he could have just done it, without that awful torture and sacrifice of what amounts to himself. Maybe that was the last kick from his Old Testament personality, that character seemed to require a lot of bloody sacrifices to get anything done.

 

[Spade]

I have been reluctant to enter the discussion, in part because of a deep respect for my pagan brothers, but especially because the Christmas season brings more closely together friends and family to celebrate what makes us truly human. However, thank Thor, today is not the Sabbath, so I shall. To begin, Gerry, I respect your position, at least your in-their-face pacifism. And, Dexter, the resident theologian and apologist...; well, what can I say?!

A more sagacious, and less deferential observer than I, wrote, " Embrace the message, not the hocus-pocus!" The message is more universal, and can be embraced by Christian and non, believer and sceptic. That message is of brotherhood and community, charity and respect, pacifism and non violence, forgiveness and love. Unfortunately, that message has been obscured by the obstinate assertion that the only route to salvation is belief in the impossible, and unceasing proselytising. The Dalai Lama has rightly pointed to the ministry of Catholic sisters among the poor and dying; in counterpoint, he has gently admonished Christians for trying to convert, wisely asserting that the spiritual beliefs of other cultures and peoples are theirs to preserve.

And so, in the spirit of the season, and not wishing to add to the First Noble Truth - Happy New Year!

 

[gerryh]

A more sagacious, and less deferential observer than I, wrote, " Embrace the message, not the hocus-pocus!" The message is more universal, and can be embraced by Christian and non, believer and sceptic. That message is of brotherhood and community, charity and respect, pacifism and non violence, forgiveness and love. Unfortunately, that message has been obscured by the obstinate assertion that the only route to salvation is belief in the impossible, and unceasing proselytising. The Dalai Lama has rightly pointed to the ministry of Catholic sisters among the poor and dying; in counterpoint, he has gently admonished Christians for trying to convert, wisely asserting that the spiritual beliefs of other cultures and peoples are their to preserve.

And so, in the spirit of the season, and not wishing to add to the First Noble Truth - Happy New Year!

and Happy New Year to you too Spade.


Now, as for the above, you, and the Dalai Lama are so right. I am not of the opinion, unlike some of my other Christian brothers on this site, that people like the Dalai Lama, Ghandi, or even Dexter are going straight to hell. I am sure that the bigoted a$$holes that think that mouthing Christian platitudes and "I accept Christ as my saviour" all the while hating and condemning those that don't think as they do, will get a big surprise (and not the good kind) when Christ does "come again". There will be a lot of "ya but, ya but, ya but" going on.

 

[Goober]

Posts, 3, 26 and 27 were the best so far.

 

[talloola]

A more sagacious, and less deferential observer than I, wrote, " Embrace the message, not the hocus-pocus!" The message is more universal, and can be embraced by Christian and non, believer and sceptic. That message is of brotherhood and community, charity and respect, pacifism and non violence, forgiveness and love. Unfortunately, that message has been obscured by the obstinate assertion that the only route to salvation is belief in the impossible, and unceasing proselytising. The Dalai Lama has rightly pointed to the ministry of Catholic sisters among the poor and dying; in counterpoint, he has gently admonished Christians for trying to convert, wisely asserting that the spiritual beliefs of other cultures and peoples are theirs to preserve.

And so, in the spirit of the season, and not wishing to add to the First Noble Truth - Happy New Year!

a lovely post, and 'happy new year' to you.

 

[L Gilbert]

Me too, for the most part. But for those who believe, no reasoning is necessary, for those who don't, no reasoning is convincing. I do, however, understand that Jesus' dying for everybody's sins doesn't in itself absolve anyone, it just provides the means, people have to actively take the right steps and believe the right things themselves too. Otherwise they remain unredeemed and, at least according to some, will spend eternity in the lake of fire after Jesus' return for failing to accept and act on the message correctly. Jesus' return is not to reiterate the message of salvation and be sacrificed again, it's the end of the world stuff , the final judgment, the final battle between good and evil, the victory of good, and the establishment of the god's kingdom everywhere.

You can get a very watered down version of that from the United Church, or a thumping bloody violent one from fundamentalist extremists, and pretty much anything in between depending on what sect you choose, and there are thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of them. It's always seemed unnecessarily complicated to me, if god wanted to forgive everyone's sins he could have just done it, without that awful torture and sacrifice of what amounts to himself. Maybe that was the last kick from his Old Testament personality, that character seemed to require a lot of bloody sacrifices to get anything done.

lol That "end of days" stuff is still unreasonable. There are loads of people who do not believe in the Christian god and Haysoos. Judeo-Christian dogma has it that all those good people would be sent to oblivion, too, I guess. As far as I can tell, the only two major religions that would sacrifice an awful lot of humanity just because of unbelief in their particular versions of a god are Christianity and Islam.
Insensible and unconscionable, IMO. But as you say, where belief is concerned logic and reason are inapplicable and ineffective.

I've settled on a date for my new birthday; October 10 sounds cool. Maybe if I'm lucky I can keep two birthdates.

I have been reluctant to enter the discussion, in part because of a deep respect for my pagan brothers, but especially because the Christmas season brings more closely together friends and family to celebrate what makes us truly human. However, thank Thor, today is not the Sabbath, so I shall. To begin, Gerry, I respect your position, at least your in-their-face pacifism. And, Dexter, the resident theologian and apologist...; well, what can I say?!

A more sagacious, and less deferential observer than I, wrote, " Embrace the message, not the hocus-pocus!" The message is more universal, and can be embraced by Christian and non, believer and sceptic. That message is of brotherhood and community, charity and respect, pacifism and non violence, forgiveness and love. Unfortunately, that message has been obscured by the obstinate assertion that the only route to salvation is belief in the impossible, and unceasing proselytising. The Dalai Lama has rightly pointed to the ministry of Catholic sisters among the poor and dying; in counterpoint, he has gently admonished Christians for trying to convert, wisely asserting that the spiritual beliefs of other cultures and peoples are theirs to preserve.

And so, in the spirit of the season, and not wishing to add to the First Noble Truth - Happy New Year!

Yeah, Mr. Gyatso is a pretty cool dude, IMO.

Oh, yeah, and a happy and healthy new year to allayez.

 

[Bremusa]

Well I thought the original post was lovely and just a nice thing to put up.
Thank you
Bremusa

 

[1an]

The reasoning still escapes me. I mean, the guy purportedly died for everyone's sins, so that should have been the end of the god's vengeful activities. What's left should be the messages that the live dude shared with people. If the dude was real and actually did come back, what would be his plans, revisiting what he taught before? Dying again to cover people's sins? Once wouldn't be enough?
But then, religious reasoning has always been a bit eccentric, I guess. Can't see it changing any (at least not very soon).

Anyway, Gerry, I was just commenting and questioning about the oddities. I wonder if it's possible to have my birthdate changed from Feb to Sept. I prefer the fall over the winter.

You can celebrate your birthday whenever you like. The date we celebrate the birth of Jesus, or the queen come to that changes reality not one jot. If anything it just proves the stupidity of humankind who can't do anything right, so understanding Christianity is going to be totally beyond most peoples capability.

THE STABLE AND


"So Hannah conceived, and at the turn of the year she bore a son."--I Samuel I, 20.
"And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bride- groom cometh!"--Matthew XXV, 6.
"Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright."--Franz Gruber.

Prophesy fulfilled and Christ (the third person of the Trinity) revealed in the Old Testament.

Good post.

 

[Walter]

I'm not going to NOT post a thread because of the brain dead.

I call them drones.