Born Again

[MurphtheSurf]

Ever since the appearance of Misty, and after reading her "Let the children Decide" thread, I noticed how the term "born again" is thrown about like so many banana peels.
So, what I would like to ask is;

What is born again?
Who is born again?
How does one become born again?
Is being born again a personal choice, or is this choosing from someone or something else?

I'm interested in your thoughts on this and Bible backing if possible would be lovely.

 

[it's_sam]

I see it as growing from who you were to who you are and whatever that means. But i know it isnt seen as such to most.

 

[Willamena]

Wikipedia is our friend.

In Christianity, born again refers to the spiritual rebirth (regeneration) of the human person, contrasted with the physical first birth everyone experiences. The origin of the term "born again" is the New Testament: "Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again.' "[Jn 3:3 TNIV] [1] It is a term associated with salvation in Christianity.

 

[MurphtheSurf]

Wikipedia is our friend.

The trouble with Wikipedia is that they are just another web site of opinions, just like this place.

 

[it's_sam]

Well with that "description" along with mine technicaly anyone that has paused their thought and said " ya know... you may be right" has been born again. This would also explain free will, making the choice to see what you did not see. This would also explain heaven is for everyone if you chose to accept it. This would explain "the truth will set you free". should i keep going?

 

[Misty]

The idea that if you aren't 'born again/saved' you will go to hell isn't mainstream Christianity, but the province of the Christian fundamentalists.

 

[Wandered Off]

The trouble with Wikipedia is that they are just another web site of opinions, just like this place.

Aren't pretty much all spiritual concepts opinions?

 

[Misty]

Aren't pretty much all spiritual concepts opinions?

In my opinion, yes they are.

 

[it's_sam]

Aren't pretty much all spiritual concepts opinions?

Absolutely so, but does that mean it's wrong?

 

[Wandered Off]

Absolutely so, but does that mean it's wrong?

No, but it means criticizing Wiki as "just a site for opinions" seems odd when opinions are all you can get anywhere on this topic.

 

[Misty]

They could be right, there is always that possibility, like there could be fairies at the bottom of my garden! It is more a question of probability, imo.

 

[Skwim]

"Born again" is one of those feel-goody terms that arose to further separate the believer from the heathen by giving him a needed sense of being special. "Are you born again? Oh, I'm soo sorry. I am

Me and Jesus are buds."

 

[Misty]

"Born again" is one of those feel-goody terms that arose to further separate the believer from the heathen by giving him a needed sense of being special. "Are you born again? Oh, I'm soo sorry. I am

Me and Jesus are buds."

My husband reckons if you were confronted by someone asking you if your were 'born again/saved' you should ask them if they had had sexual intercourse that day as it would certainly take the wind out of their sails!:yes:

 

[it's_sam]

Moving this from "you vision of hell"
In regard to your "born again" misty. When i was 18 I was in a crowd of guys that i had the most connection with out of my choices available. I didn't agree with my parents veiws of religion and i was scrutinized by others for the parts i did hold on to. I spent my time doing drugs and just simply trying to fit in. I had been beaten up by these boys because one of them had a video camera and wanted to tape someone being beat up. I had a "real" friend that i had to pass by on my way home that took about 20 of his friends down to straighten this out so i thought it was taken care of. I moved in with these boys and i was still being abused by the ones i considered my closest friends. One day when one of the younger ones threw my bed and belongings out the window and i had to literaly stop myself from hitting him because i knew i wasnt gonna stop if i started. I left this place and all that i had built with it and i whiped my slate clean of this filth and began anew. I threw my pack of smokes in the bushes and quit for 4 years till i fooleshly started up again. I quit abusing drugs to forget about the pain i endured, and I was done taking the abuse to feel like i am accepted. I found it in myself that no matter what people think, God excepts me and gave me life to prove it. This was how i was born again

 

[Misty]

Moving this from "you vision of hell"
In regard to your "born again" misty. When i was 18 I was in a crowd of guys that i had the most connection with out of my choices available. I didn't agree with my parents veiws of religion and i was scrutinized by others for the parts i did hold on to. I spent my time doing drugs and just simply trying to fit in. I had been beaten up by these boys because one of them had a video camera and wanted to tape someone being beat up. I had a "real" friend that i had to pass by on my way home that took about 20 of his friends down to straighten this out so i thought it was taken care of. I moved in with these boys and i was still being abused by the ones i considered my closest friends. One day when one of the younger ones threw my bed and belongings out the window and i had to literaly stop myself from hitting him because i knew i wasnt gonna stop if i started. I left this place and all that i had built with it and i whiped my slate clean of this filth and began anew. I threw my pack of smokes in the bushes and quit for 4 years till i fooleshly started up again. I quit abusing drugs to forget about the pain i endured, and I was done taking the abuse to feel like i am accepted. I found it in myself that no matter what people think, God excepts me and gave me life to prove it. This was how i was born again

Good for you.

 

[Engyo]

What is born again?
Who is born again?
How does one become born again?
Is being born again a personal choice, or is this choosing from someone or something else?

I'm interested in your thoughts on this and Bible backing if possible would be lovely.

I have no Biblical backing for my Buddhist viewpoint (of course); but one of my favorite bumper stickers adorns a friend's car:

Buddhist: Born Again, and Again, and Again, and Again..........

 

[Eliot Wild]

The trouble with Wikipedia is that they are just another web site of opinions, just like this place.

Well, I agree with Willamena and Wikipedia. I was raised in a Southern Baptist household and that is specifically what was taught to me about being "born again".

Oh, but wait, that is just my opinion.

No offense, but by asking your questions in the OP, did you really expect to get something other than opinions?

 

[blackout]

When I was "born again"
I found I was Left Hand Path.

Funny how that went.

 

[blackout]

I have no Biblical backing for my Buddhist viewpoint (of course); but one of my favorite bumper stickers adorns a friend's car:

Buddhist: Born Again, and Again, and Again, and Again..........

LOL! So true.

Works for us Setians as well.

Xeper and Remanifest!

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Apparently, I have a strong desire to be born again, as I've spent much of my time and enegy on trying to get back inside vaginas. I've yet to find one large enough to facilitate this goal though. The search must go on.