Religion keeps you in your place.

Originally posted by Halitose
It kinda destroys the whole point of Christianity then, because a prophet can't save mankind by dying.

How does he save mankind? I don't remember the bible having a happy ending?

Do you mean the last time 'round? Well we have no proof that
he was the son of God but we do know his values and moral codes
have shaped our present and still stand strong. Does that count?

And was it his dying that influenced people or his returning from the
dead? Surely this is the difference between a prophet and the son
of God.

Originally posted by Thequ1ck
How does he save mankind? I don't remember the bible having a happy ending?

john 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who beleives in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

alternatively, once again read the verse in John you gave me. He is the resurrection and the life. bescially he died to save us. However, that wasn't the end of it. he rose again, conquering death!

Originally posted by Thequ1ck
How does he save mankind? I don't remember the bible having a happy ending?

Do you mean the last time 'round? Well we have no proof that
he was the son of God but we do know his values and moral codes
have shaped our present and still stand strong. Does that count?

And was it his dying that influenced people or his returning from the
dead? Surely this is the difference between a prophet and the son
of God.

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

It was the very act of dying on the cross that bought mankind redemption.

Originally posted by genius
john 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who beleives in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

alternatively, once again read the verse in John you gave me. He is the resurrection and the life. bescially he died to save us. However, that wasn't the end of it. he rose again, conquering death!

It's an allegory. It never really happened.

Originally posted by Halitose
[b]If a person loves life aren't they loving the same thing as Christians?

Christians love life and the God who created it...

Does a person have to believe in scriptures and texts to be a Christian?

Technically I don't think so, but IMHO to be a Christian in the broader sense of the word, you need to be a follower of Christ.

...[text shortened]... ve listened to my mom who taught me never to interrupt adults when they are having a discussion.[/b]

The whole message of Christ was for people to treat other people decently. That is what following Christ means and yelling I AM A CHRISTIAN doesn't prove anything , neither does that clown act have any value since God isn't insecure.
Simply put an atheist that treats people good is more of a follower of Christ than a "christian" who doesn't.

Originally posted by frogstomp
The whole message of Christ was for people to treat other people decently. That is what following Christ means and yelling I AM A CHRISTIAN doesn't prove anything , neither does that clown act have any value since God isn't insecure.
Simply put an atheist that treats people good is more of a follower of Christ than a "christian" who doesn't.

Was Christ, God in your opinion? Do you pray like he taught you to?

Simply put an atheist that treats people good is more of a follower of Christ than a "christian" who doesn't.

I agree with you there, but does that mean an atheist who treats people good goes to heaven?

Christ said He was the way, the truth and the life, nobody comes to the Father, but through Him.

Originally posted by David C
It's an allegory. It never really happened.

Were you there? You don't find any historical evidence compelling enough to believe it, because it's either biased or doesn't make your cut for historical evidence. Just because others find the evidence compelling don't make them wrong.

Originally posted by Halitose
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

It was the very act of dying on the cross that bought mankind redemption.

Any form of discipline requires example to be made.
How does this make him the son of God?

Originally posted by frogstomp
The whole message of Christ was for people to treat other people decently. That is what following Christ means and yelling I AM A CHRISTIAN doesn't prove anything , neither does that clown act have any value since God isn't insecure.
Simply put an atheist that treats people good is more of a follower of Christ than a "christian" who doesn't.

I would say that this is the most sensible way of looking at it.

The truth 'Believe in God, God is life, God is'.
The lie 'Follow the Bible or you will never reach God'.

Originally posted by Halitose
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

It was the very act of dying on the cross that bought mankind redemption.

He died because he was executed for delivering a message that the devout followers of the OT said was blasphemy..

Only if you can free yourself of labels can you see the word in the light of truth.

Seek the word, you will find it waiting, leave the rest behind they have their own paths to follow. Don't teach what you don't know, avoid the stumbling blocks.

Originally posted by Thequ1ck
I would say that this is the most sensible way of looking at it.

The truth 'Believe in God, God is life, God is'.
The lie 'Follow the Bible or you will never reach God'.

The word I speak of is the word of Christ and not all of it is in the bible.

Originally posted by howardgee
All you freaking God-botherers probably do not realise that religion is used to stop you from questioning the status quo.
It encourages you to accept your lot in life and not challenge the financial inequalities in society.
God made you the way you are, and who are you to question his wisdom by protesting about injustices around you.

After all, in the ...[text shortened]... is castle,
The poor man at his gate,
He made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate."

Here comes the rant.

Originally posted by Thequ1ck
I would say that this is the most sensible way of looking at it.

The truth 'Believe in God, God is life, God is'.
The lie 'Follow the Bible or you will never reach God'.

so you don't beleive the bible, yet you beleive in God?...

so, how did you learn about God?

Originally posted by frogstomp
The whole message of Christ was for people to treat other people decently. That is what following Christ means and yelling I AM A CHRISTIAN doesn't prove anything , neither does that clown act have any value since God isn't insecure.
Simply put an atheist that treats people good is more of a follower of Christ than a "christian" who doesn't.

i see what you're saying, i think, and agree with some of it. yes the most important thing in christianinty is love, but you also need faith and hope (1 corinthians 13). You also need to Love Jesus and ask him for forgiveness.

Originally posted by genius
so you don't beleive the bible, yet you beleive in God?...

so, how did you learn about God?

Originally posted by frogstomp
[b]The whole message of Christ was for people to treat other people decently. That is what following Christ means and yelling I AM A CHRISTIAN doesn't prove anything , neither does that clown act have any value since God i ...[text shortened]... need faith and hope (1 corinthians 13). You also need to Love Jesus and ask him for forgiveness.

[/b] My definition of God is that God is everything, maybe what
others would call the universe.
I believe God to be omnipotent but not sentient.

I don't believe in the Bible because it is outdated and allures
to control mechanisms. It speaks of vengence and immorality
and by doing so breathes them into our young.

I believe in doing what is right and it is not difficult to see what
that is. Animals seem to grasp it naturally without having God
plant a seed amongst them.

How did I learn about God?
You have assumed that I have some knowledge of God and
how God works, I don't. I know nothing about God other than
we would not be here without God.

What do you imagine/believe God to be?

edit : Sorry about the bold, don't know how to turn it off.
edit2 : Thanks

Originally posted by Thequ1ck
My definition of God is that God is everything, maybe what
others would call the universe.
I believe God to be omnipotent but not sentient.

I don't believe in the Bible because it is outdated and allures
to control mechanisms. It speaks of vengence and immorality
and by doing so breathes them into our young.

I believe in doing what is right and ...[text shortened]... o you imagine/believe God to be?

edit : Sorry about the bold, don't know how to turn it off.

put a "[/$b]" at the start of your text, just remove the "$"