Tell me about your religion

[Reverend Rick]

Peace Seeker, Dawny, thanks for posting. If it is OK, I would like to ask you both some questions tomorrow.

 

[Mike182]

In your ceremonies, do you consecrate a protective circle or use incense, wands, daggers, bells, candles, chalice or other things? Do you practice these ceremonies alone or am I way off here?

no, you are on track here

in my daily practise, i visualise a circle and a pentegram in each corner of the room, and i don't use any tools for this.

in my special practises, i will use tools, like a dagger, salt, candles, incense, water and oil, alcohol (mead), biscuits, statues, and occasionally herbs. these work in parallel to the visualisation in the practise, but in my opinion the tools have no power in and of themselves. basically, in my mind, i can get into serious ritual mode if i have a space set out and specifically made available for that work, it's a psychological thing.

if i'm doing an offering to a Deity i will normally just use mead and biscuits, but rarely i have used something else if the working demands something else (i used tea and sugar at one point)

 

[zenzero]

All creation is the same but appears different. The appearences too keep changing as everything is moving always in a flux. These forms also changes its form from one to another by evolving THE basic essence reamins the same which may be called conciousness. Religions are just methods or ways of reaching the goal.
here too the differences are only in appearances not in essence and the important thing is to get to its essence by any suitable method whcih is individual and each individual could have his own WAY which IS his or her religion.
Love & rgds

 

[yuvgotmel]

Do you believe in Astral travel?

Oh definitely... If you want to get in on Astral Travel talk, I have a current thread on Lucid Dreaming and OBEs going on in the Divination category under Magic or Esotercism. Also there are a few of us who often talk about this subject in the RF chatroom.

 

[giant space amoeba]

Are you sure that you are not Agnostic? No insult intended, you just sound more like an Agnostic to me. Perhaps I do not understand. Any comments would be welcome.

Actually im convinced that there is no form of deity or spiritual force, the god concept makes no sense to me in the end and i beleive it cannot exist. Just hard to explain why i think that. I do have my reason. But im open minded to the fact i could always be wrong, i doubt that though.

Call it what you will.

(Actually me and a fellow "atheist" freind are having a debate - he beleives atheism is no different to agnosticism).

 

[may]

I appreciate this fact too.

yes ,obeying God as ruler does not lead us to take up arms against our brothers . so as Jesus said , all will know that you are my disciples if you have love among yourselves. many religions that claim to be christian kill their own brothers by learning to kill and then they go to another part of the world and kill another christian:no: i am glad i am not part of that sort of religion as it goes against what Jesus taught. many prophecies are being fullfilled right now when it comes to not learning war .
Isa. 2:2-4: "It must occur in the final part of the days that the mountain of the house of Jehovah will become firmly established above the top of the mountains . . . And he will certainly render judgment among the nations and set matters straight respecting many peoples. And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore." (Individuals out of all nations must personally decide what course they will pursue. Those who have heeded Jehovah’s judgment give evidence that he is their God.) yes as Jesus said .............all will know that you are my disciples. yes actions speak louder than words sometimes.

 

[eudaimonia]

(Actually me and a fellow "atheist" freind are having a debate - he beleives atheism is no different to agnosticism).

Weak atheism isn't any different. I sometimes call that "agnostic atheism".

But atheism and agnosticism are two separate issues in that the first deals with what one believes or not, and the second with what one knows or not.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[giant space amoeba]

Weak atheism isn't any different. I sometimes call that "agnostic atheism".

But atheism and agnosticism are two separate issues in that the first deals with what one believes or not, and the second with what one knows or not.


eudaimonia,

Mark

Yes i use that argument with him. Im still not sure whether im a weak atheist or not.

I dont think anyone can know anything 100% without absolute solid proof. Im convinced there is no god, im sure of it ( that is where my own reasoning leads me)... my guess im a weak atheist.

 

[may]

I have always been impressed with the Jehovah's witnesses, you folks walk the walk and not just talk the talk. My question for you is why do you believe that only 144,000 will be in heaven? I was taught that number was for 12,000 of each of the 12 tribes of Israel and that the non Jew's in heaven would be without number. Anything you could share with me about this would be greatly appreciated.

we believe that the 144,000 are spiritual israelites , and yes these will be going to heaven to rule with Jesus christ , they are from all nations of the earth , and yes some of them included in this number are fleshly Jews,
Jesus said to those in line for this sealing: "Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32) Other scriptures, such as Revelation 6:11 and Romans 11:25, indicate that the number of this little flock is indeed limited and, in fact, predetermined.
Although the natural Jews and Jewish proselytes were given the first opportunity to be chosen for spiritual Israel, only a minority of that nation responded. Jehovah therefore extended the invitation to the Gentiles. (John 1:10-13; Acts 2:4, 7-11; Romans 11:7) now non-Jews could be sealed with God’s spirit and become part of the congregation of anointed Christians. (Ephesians 2:11-13; 3:5, 6; Acts 15:14)
the listing here in
Revelation 7:4-8.
is not for the purpose of identifying fleshly Jews by their tribes but to show a similar organizational structure for spiritual Israel. This is balanced. There are to be exactly 144,000 members of this new nation—12,000 from each of 12 tribes. No tribe in this Israel of God is exclusively royal or priestly. The whole nation is to rule as kings, and the whole nation is to serve as priests.—Galatians 6:16; Revelation 20:4, 6 and for the most part the book of revelation is highly symbolic. and the great crowd spoken of in revelation 7;9-10 will not be part of this 144,000 spiritual israelites ,they are without number, these ones have the hope of inheriting the paradise earth. but they also put their faith in Jehovah God and Jesus christ they also listen to Jesus voice John 10;16
And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd........... yes as John 10;16 says they have one shepherd and they are in unity with the little flock of 144,000 because they listen to the voice of Jesus .the gathering of this great crowd in revelation 7;9-10 is happening right now.

 

[Reverend Rick]

A desire for religious equality and religious rationality.

I have always thought that there has to be many paths to God. I'm not sure how that works, but cannot see spiritual people burning in hell because they picked the wrong religion or misinterpreted the scriptures.

If you have any additional comments, I would love to hear you expand on this.

 

[Reverend Rick]

A desire for religious equality and religious rationality.

I have always thought that there has to be many paths to God. I'm not sure how that works, but cannot see spiritual people burning in hell because they picked the wrong religion or misinterpreted the scriptures.

If you have any additional comments, I would love to hear you expand on this.

 

[michel]

I have always thought that there has to be many paths to God. I'm not sure how that works, but cannot see spiritual people burning in hell because they picked the wrong religion or misinterpreted the scriptures.

If you have any additional comments, I would love to hear you expand on this.

I couldn't agree more; it has always struck me as totally absurd to say that only one religion can be right.

 

[Reverend Rick]

I can no longer comfortably consider myself a Pentecostal Christian however I am a Christian who embraces the Trinity.

The Trinity really is my religion. God Almighty...Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

As far as living my life is concerned, I believe I'm to love. I believe I'm to carry my own cross and look to Christ for everything...every triumph, every woe. I'm to repent for my shortcomings and rejoice in the Lord always while anxiously awaiting His return.

And that pretty much sums it up. It's a day to day battle. Often times an uphill struggle.

I have nothing against the Pentecostals, but find attending their services a little chaotic. Have you ever attended a Baptist church? Many still anoint and practice laying of hands without the speaking of tongues disrupting the service (JMHO).

Have you ever attended a Pentecostal service where there were snakes?

 

[Reverend Rick]

All creation is the same but appears different. The appearences too keep changing as everything is moving always in a flux. These forms also changes its form from one to another by evolving THE basic essence reamins the same which may be called conciousness. Religions are just methods or ways of reaching the goal.
here too the differences are only in appearances not in essence and the important thing is to get to its essence by any suitable method whcih is individual and each individual could have his own WAY which IS his or her religion.
Love & rgds

When did you come to realize your beliefs? How long have you been practicing them?

 

[athanasius]

Wonderful post! I have heard that to convert, it is suggested for the person to stop reading the King James Version of the bible. Is this true and if so why?

Not really. We do not tell people that they shouldn't read the KJV. The King James version the bible is fine, except it is missing 7 books in the old testmament. Catholics have thier own editions of the bible but they do not prevent someone from using other translations except maybe the Jehovah's witness translation which is really a horrible transliteration and distorts the message. I would recommend the RSV-CE Revised standard Version Catholic Edition that is the one my theology classes use. My teachers always said the best bible is the one you'll read.

The Peace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

IN Jesus the King through Mary the Immaculate Queen,
Athanasius

 

[Katzpur]

I have always thought that there has to be many paths to God. I'm not sure how that works, but cannot see spiritual people burning in hell because they picked the wrong religion or misinterpreted the scriptures.

If you have any additional comments, I would love to hear you expand on this.

I already touched on this in my answer to your question, "What separates your religion from others?"

I said, "The unique thing about my religion, in my opinion, is that it manages to reconcile two truths which, upon first glance, appear to be in direct opposition. These truths are: (1) There is a "true" religion on the earth today, one which is authorized by Jesus Christ and which teaches that it is only through Him that we can re reconciled to God, and (2) God has designed a plan whereby the vast, vast majority of His children will ultimately come to realize the validity of the first statement."

To elaborate a little further, we do not believe that our eternal fate depends solely on the relatively brief 80 or so years we spend on Earth. Death is not the final curtain, after which we are destined to either Heaven or Hell. Mortality is an essential part of God's plan for each of us, but it is only part of that plan. During the period of time between a person's death and his resurrection, his spirit continues to exist as a cognizant entity and can still learn, grow spiritually, and exercise free will. While I believe that Jesus Christ alone is "the way, the truth and the life," I believe their are many paths that will all ultimately lead the pure in heart to an understanding and acceptance of this fact. For some it will be during this earthly life, but for others it will be later on.

 

[Reverend Rick]

This thread has had a good run. I feel I know each of you a little better. We are truly a diverse group.

 

[michel]

This thread has had a good run. I feel I know each of you a little better. We are truly a diverse group.

We are, and that is thevalue of difference; it allows us all to grow - by exchanging ideas, and by not going through life tunnel visioned.

 

[may]

I have always thought that there has to be many paths to God. I'm not sure how that works, but cannot see spiritual people burning in hell because they picked the wrong religion or misinterpreted the scriptures.

If you have any additional comments, I would love to hear you expand on this.

no worries, no one is going to burn in hell it is not a bible teaching . it is a manmade doctrine not based on accurate bible knowledge. the God of the bible does not burn people in a litral hellfire , it would not come up into his heart :no:

 

[may]

Catholics have thier own editions of the bible but they do not prevent someone from using other translations except maybe the Jehovah's witness translation which is really a horrible transliteration and distorts the message.

The Peace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

IN Jesus the King through Mary the Immaculate Queen,
Athanasius

getting back to what the bible really teaches is the way to go , with no manmade tradtions to cloud the thought, and for me i can see very clearly that the Jehovahs witness bible is a very good translation which does not cloud the thought with manmade tradtions. so if the catholics prevent people from reading Jehovahs witness bible it most be because they want to keep people in the dark , because there manmade traditions are more important to them . but Jehovahs witnesses are after the pure word of God .
Read the Bible Online very good indeed i would say