My year to be Christian?

[Riders]

Despite all the fighting I have done up here with Christianity and my criticism just today I do miss church.

I miss going to church and I'm trying to be closer to my Christian sisters who both want me in church.

I did visit the United Methodist and I think they are pretty nice but then again gave me a suggestion to read the book The Rebel Gospel that it was different.

But at the end of that video the so called radical Minister had a talk with a conservative Republican minister of the same denomination I believe and told him how they have both Republicans and LIberals at his church and hey were not that different and were about the same as a conservative church.

That killed their witness. They also have changed. 7 years ago when I visited they had the lighting of the candles and a few rituals that they now don't do. They have cut out some of the ritual and frankly I don't like their service much with out it.

I did have someone tell me here that Quakers, they had gone to the church for awhile, and though they were pretty laid back were also into quoting scripture talking Christianity.

But this church in Dallas
says some of them are Jewish some believe in Jesus and not believe he is God and some are Christians who believe Jesus as God. Its really Christian and Judeo is what was said to me. They also allow people to practice other religions as long as they practice Quakerism at the church.SO you can be both Quaker and another religion but its not really a Universal church.

Its like a liberal Christian church that offers up Jewish beliefs as well as Christian and hey I'm up for that. They are kind of new ageee too. They believe in the inner light which I do too/ My sister I think one of them does not like the Quakers. My Dad was Primitive Baptist though and he said Quakers were Ok.

 

[Phantasman]

Christ never taught rituals. Orthodox created them.

 

[shunyadragon]

Despite all the fighting I have done up here with Christianity and my criticism just today I do miss church.

I miss going to church and I'm trying to be closer to my Christian sisters who both want me in church.

I did visit the United Methodist and I think they are pretty nice but then again gave me a suggestion to read the book The Rebel Gospel that it was different.

But at the end of that video the so called radical Minister had a talk with a conservative Republican minister of the same denomination I believe and told him how they have both Republicans and LIberals at his church and hey were not that different and were about the same as a conservative church.

That killed their witness. They also have changed. 7 years ago when I visited they had the lighting of the candles and a few rituals that they now don't do. They have cut out some of the ritual and frankly I don't like their service much with out it.

I did have someone tell me here that Quakers, they had gone to the church for awhile, and though they were pretty laid back were also into quoting scripture talking Christianity.

But this church in Dallas
says some of them are Jewish some believe in Jesus and not believe he is God and some are Christians who believe Jesus as God. Its really Christian and Judeo is what was said to me. They also allow people to practice other religions as long as they practice Quakerism at the church.SO you can be both Quaker and another religion but its not really a Universal church.

Its like a liberal Christian church that offers up Jewish beliefs as well as Christian and hey I'm up for that. They are kind of new ageee too. They believe in the inner light which I do too/ My sister I think one of them does not like the Quakers. My Dad was Primitive Baptist though and he said Quakers were Ok.

Does the security blankey come with batteries or an extension cord.

 

[Riders]

Which security blanket???????????

 

[Riders]

Christ never taught rituals. Orthodox created them.

Singing hyms is a ritual Baptism is ritual,so is communion

 

[shunyadragon]

Which security blanket???????????

Clinging emotionally to past relationships and nostalgia to determine what to believe or belong to.

 

[Phantasman]

Singing hyms is a ritual Baptism is ritual,so is communion

Singing in unison is a ritual, just as chanting is. Communion is a (physical) ritual ending with John the Baptist. Jesus explained that the "water baptism" is a spiritual choice to be born again. He didn't baptize his disciples in water, nor the thief on the cross. It is a physical ritual. Communion is spiritual, not physical. Eating the body of Christ is to eat his words, drinking his blood is the Holy Spirit. Bread and wine does nothing for spirit, which Jesus said is "life".

To rely on physical "things" holds us to this physical world, which Jesus taught us to reject.

 

[shunyadragon]

Christ never taught rituals. Orthodox created them.

Not true. Jesus Christ endorsed the ritual of Baptism, and the recitation of the Lord's Prayer on a regular basis, at least. . . . and it is possible that the last supper can be interpreted as ritual based on the words of Jesus.

 

[sojourner]

Christ never taught rituals. Orthodox created them.

Of course he did. He baptized, he instituted the table ritual. What do you think these are?

 

[Riders]

Clinging emotionally to past relationships and nostalgia to determine what to believe or belong to.

AHa laugh out loud, I thought you were a Christian criticizing me.

To be perfectly honest I'm always happy when I'm in church, I have always loved the socializing at church the rituals its nice.But to some degree I know what your talking about why sell my soul to the devil or the church to feel the same things I use too.

However I am getting old. I am 51.AT this age I think about death more and yea death awalys scares me even though I don't believe in hell.

However all that being it said. My sisters don't consider the Quakers groups as Christian.There are different kinds of Quakers groups some are Athiest like the UU churches. Its a Universal group.

On the other hand if you go to one like I go to which is Christian Jewish liberal Christian,they expect you to be Christian or Jewish while your at church but you can be involved with other religions, in my case Zen meditation.So its kind of a cross between liberal Christian and Jewish and Universal, its both.

So iy makes me happy that they are a combination of both. But my 3rd oldest sister says its not Christian at all she doesnt like them. My other sisters probably feels the same way but in her case she would rather be in a Quaker meeting then the UU church because she feels its closer to being Christian.
But my other sister wont be happy unless I'm in a traditional conservative Republican church.So ir does me no good anyways with one of my sisters. SO its partially UNiversal so it is sticking to some of my original beliefs.

They are also unprogrammed which is huge for me.I went to a UU church that was unprogrammed no minsters for years in part because of my past with abusive pastors in the Pentecostal church. SO it does stay with my original intent not to be in a church with a pastor.My old UU church knows who they are because of that.

My old Pagan UU church I had to quit going to, New leaders took over 5 years ago wasn't leading the church right and they kicked out 5 older leaders of the church. They are still UU but have lots of complaints against them. I have thought of going to Unity instead which may still be on the table. Unity is a mix of Christianity new age and Universalism I like it was well.

 

[Phantasman]

Of course he did. He baptized, he instituted the table ritual. What do you think these are?

Who did Christ dip in water? What table ritual? Giving thanks for food? Physical or spiritual food? What ritual do you perform for giving thanks on the air you breathe? The water you drink?

The mystery Christ spoke of evades you.

John:
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Jesus tells them what the bread is. You are seeing it like those Jews who walked away. And the church has you following the OT fathers, the ones Jesus said were dead.

 

[shunyadragon]

AHa laugh out loud, I thought you were a Christian criticizing me.

To be perfectly honest I'm always happy when I'm in church, I have always loved the socializing at church the rituals its nice.But to some degree I know what your talking about why sell my soul to the devil or the church to feel the same things I use too.

However I am getting old. I am 51.AT this age I think about death more and yea death awalys scares me even though I don't believe in hell.

However all that being it said. My sisters don't consider the Quakers groups as Christian.There are different kinds of Quakers groups some are Athiest like the UU churches. Its a Universal group.

On the other hand if you go to one like I go to which is Christian Jewish liberal Christian,they expect you to be Christian or Jewish while your at church but you can be involved with other religions, in my case Zen meditation.So its kind of a cross between liberal Christian and Jewish and Universal, its both.

So iy makes me happy that they are a combination of both. But my 3rd oldest sister says its not Christian at all she doesnt like them. My other sisters probably feels the same way but in her case she would rather be in a Quaker meeting then the UU church because she feels its closer to being Christian.
But my other sister wont be happy unless I'm in a traditional conservative Republican church.So ir does me no good anyways with one of my sisters. SO its partially UNiversal so it is sticking to some of my original beliefs.

They are also unprogrammed which is huge for me.I went to a UU church that was unprogrammed no minsters for years in part because of my past with abusive pastors in the Pentecostal church. SO it does stay with my original intent not to be in a church with a pastor.My old UU church knows who they are because of that.

My old Pagan UU church I had to quit going to, New leaders took over 5 years ago wasn't leading the church right and they kicked out 5 older leaders of the church. They are still UU but have lots of complaints against them. I have thought of going to Unity instead which may still be on the table. Unity is a mix of Christianity new age and Universalism I like it was well.

First, I am 71, and I do not consider myself getting old, and that is a dead end thought.

I do not consider UU pagan, that is a false generalization of a diverse spiritual institution. The one church you describe is odd, and needs more explanation. This sounds like a slam from a very biased perspective.

 

[Earthling]

It sounds to me like the last thing you expect out of Christianity is Christ. A nice cozy get together with family and friends with candles, music and some sort of laid back ceremonial ritual is more to your taste?

 

[sojourner]

Who did Christ dip in water? What table ritual? Giving thanks for food? Physical or spiritual food? What ritual do you perform for giving thanks on the air you breathe? The water you drink?

The mystery Christ spoke of evades you.

John:
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Jesus tells them what the bread is. You are seeing it like those Jews who walked away. And the church has you following the OT fathers, the ones Jesus said were dead.

Yeah, well, thanks for vomiting disparate bible verses at me. Yes. Jesus participated in a ritual washing called “baptism.” And yes, giving thanks for a meal is a ritual blessing.

 

[Phantasman]

Yeah, well, thanks for vomiting disparate bible verses at me. Yes. Jesus participated in a ritual washing called “baptism.” And yes, giving thanks for a meal is a ritual blessing.

Enjoy.

 

[Riders]

First, I am 71, and I do not consider myself getting old, and that is a dead end thought.

I do not consider UU pagan, that is a false generalization of a diverse spiritual institution. The one church you describe is odd, and needs more explanation. This sounds like a slam from a very biased perspective.

Sorry about the age comment your right. UU Pagan church means this, Some UU churches have one religion they use rituals from and when they celebrate holidays they celebrate from one religion they claim. But they accept all regardless of religion and do teach and give sermons that apply to all religions.

So my old church wa s a Pagan church belonged to CUUPS Coven of Unitarian Universalist Pagans so we would open service by calling on the 4 corners and casting a circle and sometimes casting a spell. But and we always celebrated the new moons every month, Summer Solstace, Beltian, Winter Solstace all of it.

We had one thing in common with the un programed service at Quakers, they have no paster when they have a sermon they get someone to speak, but I believe they only give a sermon once a month. At UU we had someone different give a talk every week. SO tahts what I meant, some UU churches are Pagan and belong to CUUPS look it upon the net. There are 3 Pagan UU churches in Tx.

 

[metis]

First, I am 71

Just a spring chick.

 

[metis]

It sounds to me like the last thing you expect out of Christianity is Christ. A nice cozy get together with family and friends with candles, music and some sort of laid back ceremonial ritual is more to your taste?

Is sarcasm and being judgemental more to your taste?

 

[Milton Platt]

Despite all the fighting I have done up here with Christianity and my criticism just today I do miss church.

I miss going to church and I'm trying to be closer to my Christian sisters who both want me in church.

I did visit the United Methodist and I think they are pretty nice but then again gave me a suggestion to read the book The Rebel Gospel that it was different.

But at the end of that video the so called radical Minister had a talk with a conservative Republican minister of the same denomination I believe and told him how they have both Republicans and LIberals at his church and hey were not that different and were about the same as a conservative church.

That killed their witness. They also have changed. 7 years ago when I visited they had the lighting of the candles and a few rituals that they now don't do. They have cut out some of the ritual and frankly I don't like their service much with out it.

I did have someone tell me here that Quakers, they had gone to the church for awhile, and though they were pretty laid back were also into quoting scripture talking Christianity.

But this church in Dallas
says some of them are Jewish some believe in Jesus and not believe he is God and some are Christians who believe Jesus as God. Its really Christian and Judeo is what was said to me. They also allow people to practice other religions as long as they practice Quakerism at the church.SO you can be both Quaker and another religion but its not really a Universal church.

Its like a liberal Christian church that offers up Jewish beliefs as well as Christian and hey I'm up for that. They are kind of new ageee too. They believe in the inner light which I do too/ My sister I think one of them does not like the Quakers. My Dad was Primitive Baptist though and he said Quakers were Ok.

Many people go to church to please family or friends (or just to stop the constant nagging about it). Many others go because of the socialization, or for business contacts, etc.

 

[shunyadragon]

Just a spring chick.

Yep!