here is another one....religion

Okay, speaking of different religions, have you all seen the Betty Butterfield vignettes on youtube? It is this man dressed in drag "Looking for the Lord" at various churches because her optometrist diagnosed her with low self esteem. They are pretty funny. Here are some of the links:

UU (Unitarian Universalist):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNiibrDY ... ed&search=

Catholic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxwpV80w ... ed&search=

Episcopalian:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8vJZZFF ... ed&search=

LDS (Mormon):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ulRnhZnkeM

Methodist:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ske3bYcL7f0

[Stella]

Thanks Lily! You have such great answers for everything!

That was going to be my next question - What do they DO at the meetings if you can't teach anything? It makes sense that it would be more of a philisophical discussion.

I had SO take this quiz as well (our answers were very similar) and I asked him why they hadn't put in a question asking how important ritual and tradition are to you. It's my favorite part of the Episcopal service. I know a lot of people get annoyed with the Sit, Stand, Sing, Sit, Stand, Recite, Sit, etc, but I love it.

[DrWahoo]

That's how I feel. And it's not just Christians - people of other faiths as well. If I ask a person how they feel about a subject and they tell me what the church says - I don't like it. If a person looks at what the church says, evaluates it on their own (which, of course, is likely to include a lot of the same idealogies), and decides they agree -- okey dokey! I just want to know it's how YOU feel, not something that was swallowed part and parcel b/c that is what the church said.

A lot of what I believe about Christianity comes from my own studies. I took alot of religous studies courses, just to test what I believe. There is also a great book by Lee Strobel (a former Atheist) called "The Case for Christ" where he presents archelogical and scientific facts about Christ. If anything I am Christian because it is the only religion that says there is one way to heaven. I have nothing to lose by trusting Christ, but everthing to lose if I don't. Almost every other religion says there is more than one way to heaven, so if you choose Christ and your wrong no big deal. But if you don't trust Christ and your wrong then hell is a very real reality.

[DrWahoo]

Thanks Lily, I didn't know that was what my belief was, but I am looking it up right now.

Lily for President!!!

Jodi

[samssugarmomma]

There are many world religions and I believe that they are all "right".

I was taught that God was understanding and that Jesus died for the sins of all people...and that includes being raised in the *wrong* religion or not being raised in a religious household and growing up with no faith.

I believe that even people who have not found God have a place with Him...because He created them, gave them life and has walked beside them during their lowest times whether they asked him to or not.

No one has the right to decide the ultimate fate of anyone else. That's just stupid.

Kris

This is exactly how I feel.

Kate

[DrWahoo]

There are many world religions and I believe that they are all "right".

I was taught that God was understanding and that Jesus died for the sins of all people...and that includes being raised in the *wrong* religion or not being raised in a religious household and growing up with no faith.

I believe that even people who have not found God have a place with Him...because He created them, gave them life and has walked beside them during their lowest times whether they asked him to or not.

No one has the right to decide the ultimate fate of anyone else. That's just stupid.

Kris

I wish this idea was true, that everyone has a piece of the truth. In fact I pray that if there is a heaven, everyone on this board would go there. But if you are a Bible believing Christian, this sentement simply doesn't align with what the Bible says. Either the Bible is true or its false. Either Christ is a liar or He speaks the truth. According to THE BIBLE there are no grey areas when it comes to salvation.
Now to be clear I NOR ANY OTHER CHRISTIAN decided the rules for who goes to heaven. Again if it were up to me things would be different.

According to THE BIBLE there are no grey areas when it comes to salvation.

Depending on how it's interpreted ....

ahhhh - the grey area!

[pstone]

Just because some read the bible as prose does not mean it is not poetry to others.

The world is perfect, it has always been perfect, it will always be perfect. It is only man that chooses to see it otherwise.

[Flynn]

Dr. Wahoo Said:

I wish this idea was true, that everyone has a piece of the truth. In fact I pray that if there is a heaven, everyone on this board would go there. But if you are a Bible believing Christian, this sentement simply doesn't align with what the Bible says. Either the Bible is true or its false. Either Christ is a liar or He speaks the truth. According to THE BIBLE there are no grey areas when it comes to salvation.
Now to be clear I NOR ANY OTHER CHRISTIAN decided the rules for who goes to heaven. Again if it were up to me things would be different.

Life is simply not this "easy or straightforward." There are no rules in the sand everyone has to abide by --- hence freewill.

The Bible was written by people. People are fallible. People have agendas. People put their own "spin" on things whether they intend to or not. Good grief -- some of what the Bible says about women is just ---SCARY!!!!

To think my neighbor who is a wonderful human being, parent, daughter, mother, etc is going to hell becauase she is Hindu is just so silly!!!!!!!!
Ghandi went to hell by your description. I think not.

Christ is either a liar or "he speaks the truth?" He hasn't literally SAID anything for a very long time. Everything we humans THINK he said is because someone wrote it down the way they THOUGHT it happened. See my above point about people being fallible.

It's just NOT that simple.

[Stella]

There are many world religions and I believe that they are all "right".

I was taught that God was understanding and that Jesus died for the sins of all people...and that includes being raised in the *wrong* religion or not being raised in a religious household and growing up with no faith.

I believe that even people who have not found God have a place with Him...because He created them, gave them life and has walked beside them during their lowest times whether they asked him to or not.

No one has the right to decide the ultimate fate of anyone else. That's just stupid.

Kris

I wish this idea was true, that everyone has a piece of the truth. In fact I pray that if there is a heaven, everyone on this board would go there. But if you are a Bible believing Christian, this sentement simply doesn't align with what the Bible says. Either the Bible is true or its false. Either Christ is a liar or He speaks the truth. According to THE BIBLE there are no grey areas when it comes to salvation.
Now to be clear I NOR ANY OTHER CHRISTIAN decided the rules for who goes to heaven. Again if it were up to me things would be different.

This is YOUR truth, not necessarily THE truth.

[MrsC]

Re: here is another one....religion

[quote="mom2three"]why to christians feel the need to go to undeveloped countries to indigious (sp?) people and convert them?

In answer to this, two of my granduncles (Catholic priests) spent years in Africa helping communities. They are highly educated, brought communities together by building schools, churches, teaching people how to grow their own crops, raise their own animals. They gave these people a chance to live a much better life and it wasn't about forcing religious views upon them.

Personally, I rarely discuss religion. It's an area that nobody is going to agree on and everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. It's more a cultural thing than about one's beliefs. I'm Catholic but if I was born into another religion, I would probably follow another religion.

deleted, don't think this comes off how I want it to on paper

I am very wary when it comes to mission work in Africa. Christian missionaries are part of what ripped the continent of Africa to pieces and divided it into 54 or so states with no rhyme or reason to them.

not to belittle what is most-likely the very good work done by Sharon's extended family ...