Abra i wouldnt put it past you to say such things. I think that happens when you play one side of the fence, it doesnt allow you to be very open minded, more-less critical

I think there's a time when conclusions are in order. After you've studied something for the bulk of your life and you've seen that it can't be made to work, I think it's rather foolish for someone to claim that you aren't being 'open-minded' simply because you've come to conclusions that they may not like.

Being open-minded also means to consider other possibilities. Yet people who cling to a single dogma and refuse to look outside of it, or consider that it might not be true itself, are the one’s who are refusing to be open minded.

Of all the religions and philosophies that I’ve studied Christianity has the least merit. In addition to its own inconsistencies, there is also the fact that much of what Jesus taught can be traced back to Buddha. It has also been clearly shown that there were a myriad of Mediterranean mythologies prior to the story of Jesus which where clearly along the same story line.

How much evidence does a person need before they come to a conclusion?

From my point of view Christianity is no less mythological than Greek Mythology, yet no one would claim that a person is not open minded for not considering Greek Mythology. Everyone seems to be in consensual agreement that the religion of the Ancient Greeks has no merit.

Would you say that those people are not open minded?

Let’s face it Kalamazoo, you didn’t even know that the Jews were God’s chosen people. How little can a person possible know about their own religion and still claim to be knowledgeable of it?

It’s clear to me that you are believing in something that you know very little about. Is that being open minded, or just plain silly? I ask you?

Are you open to the possibility that the religion could be bogus? If not, then why even bring up the topic of being open minded in the first place?

he did not forsake him he let his son die for our sins so that we would be closer to God. You need to read your bible more before you make comments like that!!!!!!!!!!! Because while he was on the cross he also told his father "forgive them father for they know not what they do."

/////Being open-minded also means to consider other possibilities. Yet people who cling to a single dogma and refuse to look outside of it, or consider that it might not be true itself, are the one’s who are refusing to be open minded.
/////

Sorry Abra its called 'Moral beliefs' thinking out side the box expecially relating to religion. You know setting standards, afterall your in a "RELIGION" fourm granted to disregard such religion. open the mind outside of the 5 senses God has blessed you with

////Of all the religions and philosophies that I’ve studied Christianity has the least merit. In addition to its own inconsistencies, there is also the fact that much of what Jesus taught can be traced back to Buddha. It has also been clearly shown that there were a myriad of Mediterranean mythologies prior to the story of Jesus which where clearly along the same story line.//////

What again you fail to realize that Christianity was way before, Jesus. Abra you clearly mistaken. yes, should i be in awe?

//From my point of view Christianity is no less mythological than Greek Mythology, yet no one would claim that a person is not open minded for not considering Greek Mythology. Everyone seems to be in consensual agreement that the religion of the Ancient Greeks has no merit. //

Well then again your not really opening you mind beyond the the "typicall" life of a human are you? Worked a 9-5 for 20 years are retiring on Social Security and are now posting on such a website, should this have merit? Have you really lived? Granted you have done such studies which i commend, but has your life went beyond the material world? Should my religion have no merit because i am able to do such?


///" Being open-minded also means to consider other possibilities. Yet people who cling to a single dogma and refuse to look outside of it, or consider that it might not be true itself, are the one’s who are refusing to be open minded.
///

Sorry Abra its called 'Moral beliefs' thinking out side the box expecially relating to religion. You know setting standards, afterall your in a "RELIGION" fourm granted to disregard such religion. open the mind outside of the 5 senses God has blessed you with

///Of all the religions and philosophies that I’ve studied Christianity has the least merit. In addition to its own inconsistencies, there is also the fact that much of what Jesus taught can be traced back to Buddha. It has also been clearly shown that there were a myriad of Mediterranean mythologies prior to the story of Jesus which where clearly along the same story line.////

What again you fail to realize that Christianity was way before, Jesus. Abra you clearly mistaken. yes, should i be in awe?

//From my point of view Christianity is no less mythological than Greek Mythology, yet no one would claim that a person is not open minded for not considering Greek Mythology. Everyone seems to be in consensual agreement that the religion of the Ancient Greeks has no merit. //

Well then again your not really opening you mind beyond the the "typicall" life of a human are you? Worked a 9-5 for 20 years are retiring on Social Security and are now posting on such a website, should this have merit? Have you really lived? Granted you have done such studies which i commend, but has your life went beyond the material world? Should my religion have no merit because i am able to do such?

///you didn’t even know that the Jews were God’s chosen people. How little can a person possible know about their own religion and still claim to be knowledgeable of it?

It’s clear to me that you are believing in something that you know very little about. Is that being open minded, or just plain silly? I ask you?

Are you open to the possibility that the religion could be bogus? If not, then why even bring up the topic of being open minded in the first place?
///

Yes your right, without knowning everything about my religion i should call it names, your right. WE are too evidence based and "i have to know everything" society. Wouldnt that make us God if we knew everything? Ahh this again comes down to faith, or love in a sence. I may not necessarily understand or agree with everything but ill take the Lords word on it to not lead me in the wrong direction. I noticed you were never married. Maybe lack of faith? Looking out side the Box Abra am i really so bad on taking a stand in my life?

I....ummm...ummmm...ummmm.... Ah... never mind

?

My statement is if Jesus and God are one how can he forsake himself? As was stated by someone before was he just talking to himself.




Your way out of line Kalamazoo. Think to yourself wwjd?

Kalamazoo:

As I have understood, it is quite important to you for one to be open-mided... I believe we would agree on this...yes?

With that in mind, I would like to make a suggested read for you, my friend... understand that this suggestion is in NO WAY an attempt at anything other than helping you truly obtain what you pursue... open-mindedness...

That being the case, you should have no problem reading this, because of your open-mindedness.

'The Four Agreements' by Miguel Ruiz...

This is a fairly 'quick' read, and can be accomplished in just a few hours time. It is also not critical that one should agree with the 'mechanics' of the Toltec wisdom to understand the agreement aspect of it...

A very 'enlightened' book... indeed!!!

I do think to myself, and i believe alot of emotion expressed on JSH pretains to self, im far not out of line Rabbit. ill leave it at that.

Ahh im very bad on my book reading, i find it hard to get into such books, however might you have a website of the book? I havent heard of such book, maybe you have a overview on the book?

The article I posted is cutting edge child psychology. It has nothing to do with religion.

There's alot of folks on here who make posts like this which are designed solely to do nothing but insult believers. Of course, we both know Jesus was praying not for himself but for the souls of those who persecuted him. So ask yourself, who are these posters trying to convince? Possibly themselves? Better to turn the other cheek and let them talk amongst themselves. As it says in Ecclisiastes "Also, pay no heed unto all things said lest thou hear thy servant curse thee, for oftentimes thou knowest that in thine own heart thou thyself likewise hast cursed others";^]

Should i interalize this Turtle?

Only you can decide what you do, but I recommend saving speak for those who don't use insults as an arguement, it goes no where and serves nothing but to embolden those who would insult us. Just my humble;^]

Where did I ever say anything was a bad thing?

I think you’re passing your own judgments on things and then pushing those judgments onto me.

I merely suggested that it seems silly for anyone who adheres to a single doctrine to accuse others of not being open minded. I passed no judgments on that whatsoever. It’s merely an unbiased observation.



Again, you’re passing your own conclusions onto me. Christianity did not exist before Jesus. Christianity broke off from Judaism. Judaism is the original religion, not Christianity.

Islam is based on the same folklore as well. As far as I’m concerned they are all just one big religion that simply fell apart and continue to fall apart to this very day. Christianity has fallen into two major camps itself; Catholicism and Protestantism. And Protestantism has been falling into literally thousands of individual sects, and continues to do so today.

So before you stand in awe of anything perhaps you should exam the history of your religion a bit more closely.

oh sure, i agree. Somtimes though it does go somewhere, even if the person im talking to isnt the one thinking. Other people only watch the threas which i believe can provide some insight, granted i have learned through experience to be rather humble id say, but then again i have at least i think another 60 years to work on it =)

Kalamazoo stated:

Ahh im very bad on my book reading, i find it hard to get into such books, however might you have a website of the book? I havent heard of such book, maybe you have a overview on the book?



<<<<<<< ...'such' books? >>>>>>>


I will break it down as the book clearly states... however, without the furthered adjacent understanding(s) within the context, the 'breakdown' may be mute...

Agreement #1.) Make your words impeccable... say what you mean and mean what you say.

Agreement #2.) Never assume ANYTHING... just ask

Agreement #3.) Take nothing personally... understand the evidence behind the principle of what an agreement actually is.

Agreement #4.) Always do your best... knowing that the measure may differ from day to day, never-the-less...do your best.

I do apologize such i did not mean in that way. I happen to like this word and over-use it from time to time.


Ahh yes i can definatly interalize those 4 agreements.. On both a spiritual and worldy sence. Might you know where i can find this book?

Seems silly, is it really that silly? Do we really need 100% proof that somthing is true to believe such? I think we take evidence for granted somtimes. Lets me honest, Photoshop, And magic tricks. WE can always disregard truth with saying anything like this. Even if we see it for our own eyes, it can still be incorrect. Does it make me silly, that even though it may not make 100% sence to me, nor may i agree with everything the bible talkes abou.? I still do understand that i will not be lead down the wrong path and understand that i know in my lfie i will not know everything, but i do know God is real. My faith in my God goes much deeper than Photoshop and Magic tricks =). Again Abra Love is very close to faith, wouldnt you agree? Is love silly Abra?






Even if i proved such statments wrong would i really be making a point

Purpose Driven then Abra what is your purpose in the religion fourms if you have no such thing?

I’m not an atheist. I was able to separate a believe in God from a believe in a religious dogma many years ago. Just because I denounce a particular mythology doesn't mean that I denounce God.



Again, this is your world view being pushed onto me. I don’t see love as having anything at all to do with faith. For me love is very real and can be seen, felt, and shared in the actions of myself and others. No comparison with faith at all.

I think you’re just jumping to a lot of conclusions based on your own world view, which has nothing at all to do with my world view.