ahh, that all men would be ABLE to think for themself without being accused of merely 'following' others

life is experience, it is absorbing information around us and information in books and coming to our own conclusions about what we can make sense of

thinking for ourself can coincide with LEARNING from books,,,even to the point of 'following' that which makes sense in those books

Everyone has their own idea of what they think "born again" means.

(As do I. -- But I'm not going to go into that.)

My experience with people who proclaim to be 'born again' Christians is that they are walking around in La La land because they have very strict and strong ideas about what "born again" is and means, and if you don't fit into that description...then you aren't.

But one thing I have learned is that you can't really get through to or communicate with "born again Christians" at a 'real' level.

They still look at most people as if they "just don't understand" what a real "relationship with God" is. They are "special" they are "gifted" they are "spirit filled" and nobody who is not "spirit filled" and born again, can understand what that is,or what they are etc. etc. blah blah blah.

They hold themselves above and apart from everyone with the delusion that they are so above everyone in a spiritual sense. They are the 'chosen few' they are raptured, born again, spirit filled people and they and only they have the ability to "understand" God's word.

That is so much a delusion of grandeur --and yes, self righteous attitude -- that I can only just shake my head and hope they never come out of that stupor because it might shock them into a coma they may never recover.

I have nothing against people who want to live their lives with their head in the clouds spouting they have a personal relationship to God. If that is what makes them happy and feel special, that's really fine with me.

But when you start telling people that they do not have and cannot have a personal relationship with God because they do not believe the doctrine of the Christian faith just as they do, then I'm sorry. I have to tell them that they don't know what they are talking about.

a "Will" that contain a legacy of words based on faith would imply in the realm of Law that you were left nothing ...but the good part is that you don't have to worry about paying an "Inheritance Tax"

"mylifetoday"...you still have made no distinction as to how your love is any different than hate ...never saying anything positive with constant negative criticisms about those you claim to Love points to anger issues on a sociopathic level

"mylifetoday" ...The Ten Commandments is what make Christianity a Religion because they are laws handed down by God ...without them Christianity would be a Philosophy or a Cult

There's no negative criticism done. We are ALL sinners, that would also include the speaker, in this case this time me. We all have our faults, no one's claiming to be better then another, no one's downing another for something. We're just trying to show the path to be forgiven for these "mistakes, mishaps, ect", faults if you will. We are no better then you, we are all equal. We have all fallen short of the glory of God, we all sin. We're merely showing the path to again, be forgiven for these "faults". They will be washed away as they never happened.

Not true. The believers are put into the category "Christian" because of the none believers. We aren't in the long run the strange alienated belief. We in the long run are the beliefs that have held since the beginning of time. Yes, not the exact beliefs as there was an ending to one covenant and an installment of another. But all in all, our beliefs have been there since the beginning of time. So in all reality the none believers are the "philosophy or a cult", cause they are the one's that have branched off from us, loosing the faith. Then continuing the lack of faith with their children and so forth.

To reititerate what Jeannie said earlier, this type of stuff is exactly the problem with the hardcore religious, because it puts your truth above all others. If you wanna believe these things, fine be my guest, that's your own path. But when you start to say, we must do such and such things to be forgiven and saved and lump us in with you, that's where I have a problem.

We can respect what you believe, so long as you respect ours too. This kind of thing isn't that to me.

Even if you're included, it is nevertheless our beliefs, OUR beliefs. These beliefs can not effect you any other way but the way you allow it to effect you. If you don't believe as we do, as you've mentioned before, why does it matter what we believe then? What harm does it bring to you, from what we believe? What could what we believe have any form of harmful effect on you in anyway shape or form?

It's not that, I just don't take kindly to being put into a box I don't want any part of. You have your beliefs, that's fine, but when you start to expect others to conform to it in order to have the truth, that's where you cross the line.

All and any belief does this. It's not about being hardcore or anything. If someone believes in something, that then infers all other beliefs being trumped, all other beliefs being false, thus putting their belief above all others. Why would you take a belief that you seen to be at the bottom? The least moral, the least loving, the one that makes the least sense. Why would one take that belief?

lol, sorry but you've misunderstood someone somewhere. No one's putting you in a box, no one's trying to conform to any beliefs. This is a "Chat" forum and or a "discussion" forum. We're all just chatting and or discussing things about our different beliefs. It's called sharing with one another. No one expects you to believe as they do, unless of course you choose to. But nevertheless that isn't the reason of saying something, we're all just sharing. Just sharing and getting to know one another on a deeper level then just "Hi, my name is Cowboy."

Ok fine, why can't you say "I BELIEVE......." rather than say.....God is this and we are this, etc etc?

Cowboy I don't care what you believe, really. But don't go around calling the rest of us "sinners."

If you want to believe that stuff, believe it. We know all about how Christians believe that everyone is a "sinner." Its nothing new.

You are preaching when you say:
"We're just trying to show the path to be forgiven for these "mistakes, mishaps, ect", faults if you will.

We know all about your path and your path is YOUR path but it is not OUR path. We don't want forgiveness from your alien god. We don't want to go up into his alien ship or go live and worship him in his alien paradise.

I hope that is clear enough.

Why should it be needed? We're in a Religion Chat forum, EVERYTHING that is posted in this forum is on a belief eg., "religion" chat forum. A "religion" can not be proven scientifically, and is why it's in the religion category or else it would be an exact fact. Takes faith eg., belief. So again, anything to everything said, spoken about, or anything along those lines are on a belief level.

Truly, I'm all for anyone who wants to believe in spiritual things and worship whatever deities they choose. But if their are going to become arrogant ******** about it then I'd rather not be around them.

I don't hang around with criminals, barroom drunkards, abusive people, racists, or religious zealots who think they speak for God. I can do without ignorant people in my life, thank you.

By the way Jeannie your hair looks really nice.

<---- Hot Guru

If you don't care about another's beliefs, then may I ask why you are in a "General" religion forum? Religions of all beliefs come to this forum, so you'll in turn have contact with the different beliefs.

And no, still no preaching. Me stating ""We're just trying to show the path to be forgiven for these "mistakes, mishaps, ect", faults if you will" Is my belief. You don't have to believe it, if you believe it or not is mute. It is irrelevant to the discussion.

Well your so-called "chat" sounds like preaching to me.

Why do you think we want you to share your belief? If you had a sandwich made out of dog biscuits and tried to share it with me, I would have to decline. No thanks, I don't want it. If you like it so much you eat it. But don't tell me that its good for me, and act like you think you are doing me a favor. Yuck.

We choose not to believe as you do. Don't think we have not heard all that dogma and rhetoric before a million times from a millions voices all wanting to "share" their belief with others.

There are those who believe that Lucifer is the god that created mankind, therefor it is very possible that you are worshiping Lucifer.

In any case, what ever alien created humankind, I don't want to worship him. I don't care what his name is.

I am the high priestess of the Universal Life Church of Brutal Truth and Honesty and I would hope to bring some people to their senses.

I freely admit I am here to try to save your soul from an eternity of service to Lucifer, your creator.

That's preaching. Yep I'm here to preach. Like it or not.

Ok then, I'll ask you what I asked in my last post. Then why are you in a "general" religion chat forum? If you do not care of other people's beliefs, why go to a place where you'll be talked to about them? And again, that is fine you don't wish to believe as I do. If I tell you, I think the color blue is the greatest color, is that me saying you have to believe so as well? No, just sharing a person view of something. That is what is being done in this forum, just sharing a personal view on the subject at hand. Not saying you HAVE to believe, or anything. Just sharing and getting to know one another on a deeper level.