Originally posted by jaywillI still don't see how maturbation is a sin, all that i have gleaned from your evangelical posturing is that some how masturbation is a habit, and is therefore it is a sin.
I am an evangelist. And I intend to help people believe in the Gospel of Christ
You should not be quick to assume that your attitude about masturbation has not already been tried. Don't think that some Christians have never adopted that kind of attitude.
Jesus said [b]"He who commits sin is a slave to sin." You could substitute "He who commits ...[text shortened]... nt to labor that much just to tickle your atheistic curiosity for its own sake.
As i asked above, i bite the skin around my fingernails habitually, by your very defintion it is therefore a sin, or am i missing something? I also habitually exercise, which has the same physiological effect as masturbation, a release of serotonin, does that mean exercise is a sin?
What happens if i only masturbate a few times a year and not habitually, am i then not a sinner?
Your analogy between masturbation and crack cocaine was a poor one. Crack cocaine wasn't around when the scriptures were written masturbation was, therefore if it was such a big deal it surely would be mentioned in the Bible. But it isn't.
I find it amusing that God, the creator of everything, would be concerned by what me and my willy got up to in private. Utterly ridiculous.
Originally posted by daniel58I've read the bible many times daniel. You'll have to forgive me, but, I find this thread absolutely ridiculous and my posts should be an obvious reflection of that. I can understand why you would assume me ignorant of the bible, but, such is not the case.
I would be wrong or I am wrong? I repeat you apparently have not, when you "reread" the whole thing again, then you can post on this thread and THEN tell me what you think.
Originally posted by Hand of HecateMary was preserved from sin by a special act of God, and that because she didn't have concupiscence like the rest of us and was filled with God's grace, she was able to avoid any personal sin as well.
I've read the bible many times daniel. You'll have to forgive me, but, I find this thread absolutely ridiculous and my posts should be an obvious reflection of that. I can understand why you would assume me ignorant of the bible, but, such is not the case.
The Immaculate Conception means we believe when Mary was conceived, she was kept from inheriting the state of original sin by a special act of God. This is the analogy most often given to explain it (from the link below):
Basically, we believe Mary was born in the state that Eve was. We often call Jesus the new Adam for obvious reasons, he helps us out of that pit that Adam fell into in the first place, and we call Mary the New Eve, because while Eve said no to God, Mary said yes. She was really the first person to accept Christ, though in a very literal way, lol! Also, we call Mary the New Ark, because just as the Ark of the Covenant was a vessel that was considered holy, was not to be touched by impure hands, and held within it the most precious and holy of all things on earth, so too did Mary. She had within her the very body of our Lord, and how much more infinitely worthy of being kept free from contact with any vessel that has a stain of sin is He than mere objects! It seems fit that the vessel that was to carry him should be pure and untouched by any kind of sin, even original sin.
Originally posted by daniel58I'm afraid you operate with an entirely different perception of reality than I do my friend.
Mary was preserved from sin by a special act of God, and that because she didn't have concupiscence like the rest of us and was filled with God's grace, she was able to avoid any personal sin as well.
The Immaculate Conception means we believe when Mary was conceived, she was kept from inheriting the state of original sin by a special act of God. This i ...[text shortened]... ssel that was to carry him should be pure and untouched by any kind of sin, even original sin.
Thank you though for your elaboration. At the risk of continuing this debate unnecessarily, you are calling out teachings of the Catholic Church rather than the word of the bible. The bible refer's to Mary as being full of God's grace. Does this mean she was without sin? There is no reference in the bible about her being the New Eve, this is an invention of the Catholic Church is it not? Much of this appears to be supposition rather than literal truth as written in the bible.
Anyway, you are obviously free to believe what you want, I would just challenge you to evaluate your beliefs objectively.
Originally posted by Hand of Hecatehttp://www.dougbrittonbooks.com/onlinebiblestudies-irritationandangermanagement/showrespectevenifothersdonotdeserverespect.php
Blow thyself demon.
I'd encourage you to read this page with an open heart, with an eye toward answering the two closing questions:
Who is someone you have had trouble respecting?
Which of these insights will help you treat him or her with more respect ... even if he or she has not "earned" your respect?