The Demise of Religion

[Quetzal]

Yes you are correct. That explains why many big cities with strict gun laws have lots of gun crime. Oh wait...

Yeah, those gun laws don't do anything. Do you know I know? Because it hasn't gone down but went up. And it's pretty obvious.

It's so absurd to call someone a "gun nut" because they wish to defend themselves. I guess that's a bad thing nowadays. Some people don't enjoy being at the mercy of criminals, but I guess some do. It's like calling someone a "kooky conspiracy theorist" whenever someone questions the government. THAT is asinine.

The one piece of the puzzle you are missing is the principle of population density in cities. Crime, as a whole, is higher in cities. This is due to the large number of people crammed into a smaller space. I could easily cite a country with strict gun laws and they have very little gun violence, but that doesn't help the discussion because there is an entirely new set of circumstances that makes it different. This applies to large cities as well.

 

[Robert William]

Boy, isn't that the truth!

Jesus wants me to have this jet.
​

"Pastor Creflo Dollar has spoken to God, and God wants him to buy a $65 million private jet.
His congregation, thus far, has obliged his every whim."
source​

According to Creflo's theology, if he gives me a million dollars, then he should get five times back, I like that, but I think if he did he would remain short one million dollars. LOL

 

[URAVIP2ME]

People are just as spiritual as ever, I think, but they are tired of organized religion telling them what to think and do.

But just how organized is so-called organized religion ?
The religious landscape is changing and shifting but does that make a person spiritual ?
Even if affiliated with religion, but now thinking spiritual but Not religious as in having a new style inside of a person.
Being distrustful of both political and religious many disengage to be spiritual but Not religious.
That broader spectrum hosts a list of issues to be spiritual about such as environmental or health issues too BIG to solve.
Such issues that ' we have to do something' to control water, air, etc. sounds more like earth-day worship instead of thinking about God's kingdom as a real government headed by Christ Jesus as king (President ) of God's kingdom government which will soon govern over earth for 1,000 years. The so-called religious world, religious groups, have ignored God's purpose and promise regarding: earth.
- Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18; 2 Peter 3:13. What we are nearing is the soon coming ' time of separation ' of Matthew 25:31,32.
When living people on earth can survive the coming great tribulation of Revelation 7:14 and continue to live on earth right into the start of Jesus' coming millennium-long day of governing over earth.
Instead of ' organized ' religion telling what to do, people need to think about what Jesus is telling us to do as found in the 1st-century scriptural writings for us.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

It's the teaching of the Catholic Church. In the Book of Revelation, you have a vision of the martyrs standing beside the Throne of God:
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; (Revelation 6:9)
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. (Revelation 12:11)
The Catholic Church teaches about the baptism of blood. When someone dies for Jesus, all his sins are forgiven and he has access to Heaven. It's as if he was baptized again. That everyone can be saved only by the sacrifice of Christ is another thing but I'm talking about something else; about martyrdom being a sort of a sacrament akin to baptism or a confession. If you die for faith, all your sins you committed before are pardoned.
The term "baptism of blood" was introduced in the times of the early church when many catechumens were martyred before they could be baptized. Their martyrdom was a substitution for formal baptism.

Thank you for your reply.
Definitely 1 John 1:7 shows it is Jesus' shed blood that forgives sins.
And the one being faithful unto death - Revelation 2:10 - receives the ' crown of life ' - ( Matthew 24:13 )
Those who are part of the first or earlier resurrection - Revelation 20:6 - serve in heaven as kings and priests - Revelation 5:10
But the majority of mankind - John 3:13 - will have a healthy physical resurrection back to life on earth. - Acts 2:34
While on earth Jesus only resurrected people back to healthy life on earth. That was a sample preview, or coming attraction, of what Jesus will be doing on a grand global scale during his millennium-long day of governing over earth.
Since the way to heaven is only open for baptized Christians, then the majority of people who have ever lived and died will have a healthy physical resurrection restored back to life on earth with the opportunity to live forever on earth. Their ' crown of life ' so to speak, will be everlasting life forever on earth as originally offered to father Adam before his downfall.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

For thousands of years people have claimed these are the end of days. Obviously not a single one has been correct.

People's guesses do Not make the Scriptures as wrong, but makes imperfect people's guesses as wrong.
One clue is Matthew 24:37 likening these ' last days of badness on earth ' to Noah's day.
The earth was full of violence and immorality.

Since the Supreme Court's ruling, are Christian now outlaws ?
Is anyone who agrees with Romans 1:26,27; 1 Corinthians 6:9 now a law breaker ?

Never before in history has the international proclaiming of Matthew 24:14 been done on such a vast global scale.
Notice too the adjective that Luke uses to describe earthquakes at Luke 21:11
In the last 100 years we have seen more-and-more GREAT earthquakes happening even in the form of tsunami's.
So, earth-wide conditions or events, coupled with the global preaching work - Acts 1:8, shows more than ever we are nearing the soon coming ' time of separation ' of Matthew 25:31,32 before Jesus, as Prince of Peace, will usher in global Peace on Earth among men of goodwill.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Men wrote those things, not God.

The last time I looked around the only ones I noticed on earth that write are: people.
God used humans as his secretaries or penmen to write down His thoughts.
What the Bible teaches is that Bible writers were inspired by God to write down God's thinking - 2 Timothy 3:16,17

 

[Quetzal]

The last time I looked around the only ones I noticed on earth that write are: people.
God used humans as his secretaries or penmen to write down His thoughts.
What the Bible teaches is that Bible writers were inspired by God to write down God's thinking - 2 Timothy 3:16,17

Perhaps, but a very dangerous line of thought.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Since the Supreme Court's ruling, are Christian now outlaws ?

No. You are extremely paranoid if you think so.
People had the same concerns over the abolishing of slavery and racial segregation, and giving women rights.
You concerns are overstated, and in a generation or two people will wonder what could compel people to such hatred.

 

[Quetzal]

No. You are extremely paranoid if you think so.
People had the same concerns over the abolishing of slavery and racial segregation, and giving women rights.
You concerns are overstated, and in a generation or two people will wonder what could compel people to such hatred.

I find it funny that many Christians believe that they are under fire now. The reality is that they are still one of the more protected groups in the country/world.

 

[Skwim]

The last time I looked around the only ones I noticed on earth that write are: people.
God used humans as his secretaries or penmen to write down His thoughts.
What the Bible teaches is that Bible writers were inspired by God to write down God's thinking - 2 Timothy 3:16,17

Wow, then considering profusion of denominations that have arisen because of the various interpretations of his writings, he really needs a remedial class in God Skills 101. IMO, any god so inept as to produce a document wherein his word is so easily distorted as to breed disparate and incompatible factions of belief hardly merits adoration, much less praise. But then, maybe your standards aren't that high.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I find it funny that many Christians believe that they are under fire now. The reality is that they are still one of the more protected groups in the country/world.

Even when I was a Baptist they felt they were under fire. Having to share this world, be fair to those who don't share their views, and not having their way are viewed by many of them as a sign the world is out to get them and persecute them and surely making Christianity illegal is not too far away.

 

[Whiterain]

I'm all for the demise of religion, all of them until the Gods procure themselves. They seem rather reluctant to show themselves to their followers.

How could any being deal with the constant need and demand of their followers and be illusive in the public eye if they are real.

I would go absolutely insane knowing millions of people need me.

But anyway, witch technology and the internet it would be really easy for a God to reach his or her followers.

For some people it wouldn't be good enough but I think it's the most practical approach. God needs a twitter or a youtube.

"Thought about eradicating Mankind today, I got over it..." I find it hysterical.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Wow, then considering profusion of denominations that have arisen because of the various interpretations of his writings, he really needs a remedial class in God Skills 101. IMO, any god so inept as to produce a document wherein his word is so easily distorted as to breed disparate and incompatible factions of belief hardly merits adoration, much less praise. But then, maybe your standards aren't that high.

The ' profusions of denominations ' was expected according to Acts 20:29,30 that from within false shepherds dressed in sheep's clothing would fleece the flock of God.

Weren't the religious leaders of the 1st century corrupted, so it should Not surprise us that is the same today.
Today's so-called ' man of the cloth ' is the ' man of sin ' the ' son of perdition '(destruction ) of 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8

Jesus also gave us the illustration of how genuine ' wheat ' Christians would grow together over the centuries with the fake ' weed/tares' Christians until the harvest time or the soon coming ' time of separation ' of Matthew 25:31,32.

So, it is Not God who is inept, but rather people who distort or ignore the 1st-century teachings of Christ.
Clergy often put words in Jesus' mouth, which were never there, as if they are some sort of holy ventriloquists. Instead of Jesus' agenda - Luke 4:43 - clergy often have a political agenda, even using the pulpit as a recruiting station so parents will sacrifice their young on the Altar of War as it that was a sacrifice to God. That does Not make the Bible as wrong, but makes the false clergy as wrong.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

I'm all for the demise of religion, all of them until the Gods procure themselves. They seem rather reluctant to show themselves to their followers.
How could any being deal with the constant need and demand of their followers and be illusive in the public eye if they are real.
I would go absolutely insane knowing millions of people need me.
But anyway, witch technology and the internet it would be really easy for a God to reach his or her followers.
For some people it wouldn't be good enough but I think it's the most practical approach. God needs a twitter or a youtube.
"Thought about eradicating Mankind today, I got over it..." I find it hysterical.

That hellish picture you posted is of religious-myth teachings.
The Bible's hell is simply the stone-cold grave where the dead sleep in death.
Jesus taught ->sleep in death - John 11:11-14
So, while the dead Jesus was in the Bible hell or grave Jesus was in an unconscious sleeping state - Acts 2:27
Jesus was well educated in the Hebrew Scriptures which also teach a sleep-like state in death - Ecclesiastes 9:5
The Psalms also teach sleep in death - Psalms 146:4; 115:17; 13:3; 6:5
The prophet Daniel also looked forward to being awakened from death's sleep - Daniel 12:2,13
So, since the Bible is Not written ABC like a dictionary, then one can see what the Bible really teaches by studying the Bible by subject or topic arrangement. Since the Bible has cross-reference verses and passages then one can compare them and see the difference between a religious-myth teaching about a permanent hell and the temporary Bible's hell or grave.
The temporary Bible's hell/grave ends up cast into a symbolic ' second death ' for emptied-out hell. - Revelation 20:14

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Even when I was a Baptist they felt they were under fire. Having to share this world, be fair to those who don't share their views, and not having their way are viewed by many of them as a sign the world is out to get them and persecute them and surely making Christianity illegal is not too far away.

Since judgment starts with the religious ' house of God ' - 1 Peter 4:17 - then it should Not surprise anyone that Christendom (so-called Christianity ) will be the first under attack.

* In Ezekiel's day God used the Babylonian political forces to capture His apostate people holding them in captivity for 70 years.
* In the first century God used the Roman armies as his arm of the law to go against apostate Jerusalem in the year 70.
* Today, the United Nations sees a hauntingly dangerous religious climate brewing, and with backing the UN can be strengthened to be God's modern-day long arm of the law to carry out His will against all run-afoul religious groups, not just apostate Christendom.

 

[Skwim]

The ' profusions of denominations ' was expected according to Acts 20:29,30 that from within false shepherds dressed in sheep's clothing would fleece the flock of God.

Well, isn't that ducky. God produces a document he knows will be misread and lead people down the path to hell. One would think a competent god would be able to do far better than this.

So, it is Not God who is inept, but rather people who distort or ignore the 1st-century teachings of Christ.

And being omniscient he actually knew they would, didn't he. You do recognize, don't you, that this borders on the sadistic.

Clergy often put words in Jesus' mouth, which were never there, as if they are some sort of holy ventriloquists. Instead of Jesus' agenda - Luke 4:43 - clergy often have a political agenda, even using the pulpit as a recruiting station so parents will sacrifice their young on the Altar of War as it that was a sacrifice to God. That does Not make the Bible as wrong, but makes the false clergy as wrong.

All of which makes makes boarding the right train a crap shoot doesn't it. One would think a truly loving good would at least put up directional signs of some kind.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Well, isn't that ducky. God produces a document he knows will be misread and lead people down the path to hell. One would think a competent god would be able to do far better than this.
And being omniscient he actually knew they would, didn't he. You do recognize, don't you, that this borders on the sadistic.
All of which makes makes boarding the right train a crap shoot doesn't it. One would think a truly loving good would at least put up directional signs of some kind.

First of all, it was Satan and Adam who used their free-will choices to break God's law.

Creating us as free-moral agents God made us able to choose for oneself to love and serve God or not.
God is Not a Bully trying to force people to obey His laws. - Deuteronomy 30:19

Wasn't the ' do not eat ' a directional sign in Eden ?
Wasn't saying ' do not eat ' from God's one tree like having a no trespassing sign ?
How can ' do not eat ' be misread, so to speak, or be misunderstood ?
The whole Bible is a directional sign leading us to -> everlasting life.

Remember: Jesus taught sleep in death - John 11:11-14 - so the Bible's temporary hell is only the stone-cold grave where the dead sleep in death until resurrection day, or Jesus' millennium-long day of governing over earth in righteousness. The Bible' hell or grave comes to a final end when biblical hell is cast empty into a symbolic ' second death ' for emptied-out hell - Revelation 20:13-14.

 

[Skwim]

First of all, it was Satan and Adam who used their free-will choices to break God's law.

Irrelevant.

Creating us as free-moral agents God made us able to choose for oneself to love and serve God or not.
God is Not a Bully trying to force people to obey His laws. - Deuteronomy 30:19

Have you ever been in the position of choosing between alternatives, but not given the tools to make the proper choice? This is where your god has left his people.

Wasn't the ' do not eat ' a directional sign in Eden ?
Wasn't saying ' do not eat ' from God's one tree like having a no trespassing sign ?
How can ' do not eat ' be misread, so to speak, or be misunderstood ?

Not talking about your Adam and apple scenario. We're talking about the failure of his "word," the Bible.

The whole Bible is a directional sign leading us to -> everlasting life.

Yet, considering the plethora of denominations it has spawned---see HERE---it has failed miserably.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Irrelevant.
Have you ever been in the position of choosing between alternatives, but not given the tools to make the proper choice? This is where your god has left his people.
Not talking about your Adam and apple scenario. We're talking about the failure of his "word," the Bible.
Yet, considering the plethora of denominations it has spawned---see HERE---it has failed miserably.

The Adam and Eve scenario is from God's Word the Bible.
God's Word (Bible ) is our tool -> Psalms 119:105

That ' plethora of denominations ' was spawned by false clergy. - Acts of the Apostles 20:29-30
Jesus also forewarned us so that we would be forearmed when Jesus gave us the illustration or parable about how genuine ' wheat ' Christians would grow together with the fake ' weed/tares ' Christians until the harvest time , or the soon coming ' time of separation ' of Matthew 25:31-32.

The 1st-century teachings of Christ are different from the false clergy teachings - 2 Thessalonians 2:2-8
As in Jesus' day, today clergy often teach church tradition, or church customs, as if Scripture. - Mark 7:1-7,13; Matthew 15:9

 

[Whiterain]

Well, skat, I'm ready to shoot myself in the mouth.


All this religious talk, it's usually worth it's weight in manure when it comes to a point, in contemporary ideology.

You're God's not going to represent the day in need. It's centuries of argument and no God representing the day, only bathing in Man's grotesque termoil. Certainly that's not what 'God' had in store for us, eternal feud.

Divine Intervention is some sadistic sick skat that was invented.

No sympathy for fools but when they're raised from childhood to be a fool it's just sick.

All of this is sick. Religion is something you're supposed to have on the back burner anyway.

No sympathy for fools they say.