What are your thoughts on Christianity?

[Heyo]

My only questions simply with no judgement : What has your experiences been with other Christians, bad? Horrible experience at a church one time? Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand? What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

Christian and Christianity are words without meaning. As others already pointed out, the label tells you nothing about how a person will behave or what they think about important matters - or what they think a Christian or Christianity is.
So, if they don't know, how can I?

I can deduce some things about a person from the time and the way they tell me they are a Christian (or any other religion for that matter). E.g. how confident they are in talking about things they know little about.

 

[Marcion]

What do you decide is better Christianity, or No Christianity? What are your thoughts on Christianity?

Hi Matthew. As I discussed in my last topic, I'm more of a fan of Jesuism, the Jesus before syncretic Christianity took off in the second century so to say.

The dechristianized (much truncated) tantric Yeshua

I have no problem with people choosing Christianity, as I have no problem with people choosing Mormonism or Jehova's Witnesses.

 

[Clara Tea]

There are many people from different backgrounds from around the world. Let me welcome you by thanking you for stopping by. Considering the historical backgrounds of human beings ~ Along with their culture, their surroundings they grew up in, the people they knew in and through their childhood, unto adulthood, and understanding the person and the very own individually unique experience of life by and through each and every choice that is made by us as human beings. Who are living souls in human bodies ~ Unless you believe that we are something else of course.

Was not sure where to really put this because just curious about other people from other religions and their thoughts about Christianity, their thoughts about the Christian God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who was the Son of God, who died and paid for the entirety of the human race the price of sin by death on the cross as an innocent man (who loved ~ the entirety of the human race) ~ Was buried and was risen again by God - the Father, and that if anyone believes they may inherit the ability to become children of God (John 1:12).

(This just biblical fact when it comes down to reading the Gospels of Christ in the bible which talks about Jesus Christ ~ His life, death, burial and resurrection)

If you do not believe or understand that it is okay, that is my only presentation of my only understanding of the Gospel of Christ - in the general sense of why Jesus Christ had come ~ Which was also to fulfill the old testament prophecies, and to defeat Satan overcome - death, sin, satan, grave, hell/she'ol and all of these things, which are talked about in the Revelation as well.

(My view may be wrong ~ am expressing my view of what scripture does say ~ in above text ~)

If you do not believe or understand this either that is okay.

My only questions simply with no judgement : What has your experiences been with other Christians, bad? Horrible experience at a church one time? Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand? What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

Hopefully anyone who reads all of this, you understand! Thank you for your time and God bless all of you here and your families - of course if you do not believe ~ Still may everything be okay with you at home, and your family, and your friends, take care!​

When murdered, and buried, he popped up out of the ground. Mom had the same problem with little Jesus....bathed him, and he floated....stood on infant Jesus to finally bathe and Baptize him.

He looked a lot different when he rose from the dead (proving that he's the same person that they buried, because it shows that they were not trying to disguise him to hide his identity). He was Jewish (looked Arabic, like all Semites) when he was buried, and blond with red eyes when he popped out of the ground. Now, centuries later, after mixing DNA, Jews can be blond.

It's a good thing that Jesus was the son of God, because if Mary (mom) had fooled around on elderly Joseph, she would have been stoned to death.

"Why hath thou foresaken me," Jesus asked God? Was it Jesus's idea to die for the sins of humanity? Or, was it God's idea to allow his son to be murdered as mean vengeance for forgiving sin (couldn't God merely forgive without being so mean)? Is God loving or mean? Apostles, at the time, thought that Jesus was talking to Elijah, not God. What changed their minds? Who interpreted Jesus's death as taking away the sins of mankind? Was it God, or was it an apostle? Could the human apostle be more right than God? Could the human apostle be wrong? The bible was written over a hundred years after the death of Jesus and the apostles. I suppose the bible was written by divine psychic knowledge. Genesis 1:25 says that man was created before animals. Genesis 2:18 says that man was created after animals. Why are there contradictions in the bible is the bible is perfect? Should we believe a bible that has contradictions and has been known to have been rewritten by kings and popes?

Many Christians today are more intersi

I was Christian. My family is Christian, Roman Catholic to be precise. Christianity in its purest and original form is quite beautiful. Christianity today however, actually starting in the early centuries, is not Christianity but Paulism. It's a corruption and embellishment of what Jesus taught. "Red letter" Christianity, aka Jesuism, is true Christianity as far as I'm concerned.

Is Paulism a-paul-ing?

 

[MatthewA]

Thank you for all of you and your thoughts about Christianity.

 

[loverofhumanity]

There are many people from different backgrounds from around the world. Let me welcome you by thanking you for stopping by. Considering the historical backgrounds of human beings ~ Along with their culture, their surroundings they grew up in, the people they knew in and through their childhood, unto adulthood, and understanding the person and the very own individually unique experience of life by and through each and every choice that is made by us as human beings. Who are living souls in human bodies ~ Unless you believe that we are something else of course.

Was not sure where to really put this because just curious about other people from other religions and their thoughts about Christianity, their thoughts about the Christian God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who was the Son of God, who died and paid for the entirety of the human race the price of sin by death on the cross as an innocent man (who loved ~ the entirety of the human race) ~ Was buried and was risen again by God - the Father, and that if anyone believes they may inherit the ability to become children of God (John 1:12).

(This just biblical fact when it comes down to reading the Gospels of Christ in the bible which talks about Jesus Christ ~ His life, death, burial and resurrection)

If you do not believe or understand that it is okay, that is my only presentation of my only understanding of the Gospel of Christ - in the general sense of why Jesus Christ had come ~ Which was also to fulfill the old testament prophecies, and to defeat Satan overcome - death, sin, satan, grave, hell/she'ol and all of these things, which are talked about in the Revelation as well.

(My view may be wrong ~ am expressing my view of what scripture does say ~ in above text ~)

If you do not believe or understand this either that is okay.

My only questions simply with no judgement : What has your experiences been with other Christians, bad? Horrible experience at a church one time? Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand? What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

Hopefully anyone who reads all of this, you understand! Thank you for your time and God bless all of you here and your families - of course if you do not believe ~ Still may everything be okay with you at home, and your family, and your friends, take care!​

Nice to meet you! I believe wholeheartedly in Lord Jesus and was Brough up as a Catholic. I loved Jesus and am very grateful for those who sacrificed their time to teach us about His life and teachings of love towards all.

After my adolescence, I wandered into atheism as I could not accept the disunity between the sects. Something seemed wrong that they all believed in the same Jesus and same Gospel yet shunned one another.

Then I came across the Baha’is who said that God sent a Teacher or Prophet for each age and that all the major religions are true and therefore all humankind are brothers and sisters? That made a whole lot more sense than only accepting one sect and rejecting the other 5 billion people as misguided or sinners or not saved.

Then I looked into this Faith further and discovered that in all the major religions, a messiah or second coming of their Founder was expected in the last days. I found this was in the scriptures of The Bhagavad-Gita, the Bible, the Quran and other scriptures too.

Then I heard about a Person Who appeared in Persia in 1863 Who proclaimed to the kings of the earth and the world’s religious leaders, that He was that long awaited Promised One of all religions Who would bring peace and God’s Kingdom to this world.


In my heart, I had a sample of Christ’s spiritual DNA embedded from my early love fir Jesus and when this sample and the sample of that Promised One matched identically, I rejoiced with exceeding gladness that my Beloved had once again been made manifest on earth.

And according to the scriptures He indeed came with a ‘new name’ - Baha’u’llah.

Christians are beautiful and sincere people I have found and have always treated me most kindly. I sometimes go to their church and pray with them.

 

[firedragon]

There are many people from different backgrounds from around the world. Let me welcome you by thanking you for stopping by. Considering the historical backgrounds of human beings ~ Along with their culture, their surroundings they grew up in, the people they knew in and through their childhood, unto adulthood, and understanding the person and the very own individually unique experience of life by and through each and every choice that is made by us as human beings. Who are living souls in human bodies ~ Unless you believe that we are something else of course.

Was not sure where to really put this because just curious about other people from other religions and their thoughts about Christianity, their thoughts about the Christian God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who was the Son of God, who died and paid for the entirety of the human race the price of sin by death on the cross as an innocent man (who loved ~ the entirety of the human race) ~ Was buried and was risen again by God - the Father, and that if anyone believes they may inherit the ability to become children of God (John 1:12).

(This just biblical fact when it comes down to reading the Gospels of Christ in the bible which talks about Jesus Christ ~ His life, death, burial and resurrection)

If you do not believe or understand that it is okay, that is my only presentation of my only understanding of the Gospel of Christ - in the general sense of why Jesus Christ had come ~ Which was also to fulfill the old testament prophecies, and to defeat Satan overcome - death, sin, satan, grave, hell/she'ol and all of these things, which are talked about in the Revelation as well.

(My view may be wrong ~ am expressing my view of what scripture does say ~ in above text ~)

If you do not believe or understand this either that is okay.

My only questions simply with no judgement : What has your experiences been with other Christians, bad? Horrible experience at a church one time? Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand? What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

Hopefully anyone who reads all of this, you understand! Thank you for your time and God bless all of you here and your families - of course if you do not believe ~ Still may everything be okay with you at home, and your family, and your friends, take care!​

Good post.

Let me give you my reasons and I hope you will take it as a discussion and not offensively, which I think you will.

1. The Gospel of John you are quoting above has redaction, no association with Jesus and his supposed time of life, no known authorship, and a cloven relationship to the other synoptics. Thats a scriptural issue I have.
2. The idea of Jesus having to die, be killed and risen again in order to overcome sin or/and salvage humanity is in conflict with the idea of a God who should be able to do that as he is and always has been.
3. I dont know if you are a trinitarian, but if you are, it is a 4th century establishment after consultation and a government driven consensus beginning from the beginning to the 4th quarter of the 4th century. I have problems reconciling God the father and the other two, if they are contingent upon one another, contingent upon the father alone, or grounded. If they are then they cannot be deemed coequal. Thats a logical problem to me. Also many would try to deify Jesus through the NT to justify the trinity but there is no deification of all three at the same time anywhere in the NT.

Just three points.

Thank you.

 

[ChristineM]

You learned to read on The Colour of Magic?
Heh...figures.

But there must be a story in there somewhere. When I was a teacher, The Colour of Magic was rarely assigned to 5 year olds as reading material...

[edit]So, I went back and read your other posts. Makes a lot more sense now. Still can't imagine Colour of Magic would be the easiest book to learn on, but it's interesting at least, and that's obviously important!! I reckon TP would have gotten a kick out of your story.[/edit]

Yeah,i was in my mid teens when i learned to read. Not well, i missed a lot, but enough to get by.

And TP was a great educator, all life is on the discword.

 

[viole]

There are many people from different backgrounds from around the world. Let me welcome you by thanking you for stopping by. Considering the historical backgrounds of human beings ~ Along with their culture, their surroundings they grew up in, the people they knew in and through their childhood, unto adulthood, and understanding the person and the very own individually unique experience of life by and through each and every choice that is made by us as human beings. Who are living souls in human bodies ~ Unless you believe that we are something else of course.

Was not sure where to really put this because just curious about other people from other religions and their thoughts about Christianity, their thoughts about the Christian God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who was the Son of God, who died and paid for the entirety of the human race the price of sin by death on the cross as an innocent man (who loved ~ the entirety of the human race) ~ Was buried and was risen again by God - the Father, and that if anyone believes they may inherit the ability to become children of God (John 1:12).

(This just biblical fact when it comes down to reading the Gospels of Christ in the bible which talks about Jesus Christ ~ His life, death, burial and resurrection)

If you do not believe or understand that it is okay, that is my only presentation of my only understanding of the Gospel of Christ - in the general sense of why Jesus Christ had come ~ Which was also to fulfill the old testament prophecies, and to defeat Satan overcome - death, sin, satan, grave, hell/she'ol and all of these things, which are talked about in the Revelation as well.

(My view may be wrong ~ am expressing my view of what scripture does say ~ in above text ~)

If you do not believe or understand this either that is okay.

My only questions simply with no judgement : What has your experiences been with other Christians, bad? Horrible experience at a church one time? Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand? What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

Hopefully anyone who reads all of this, you understand! Thank you for your time and God bless all of you here and your families - of course if you do not believe ~ Still may everything be okay with you at home, and your family, and your friends, take care!​

I stopped believing in Jesus because I realised that He has the same evidence as Apollo, and I always considered it odd to believe in Apollo,

Ciao

- viole

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

What has your experiences been with other Christians, bad? Horrible experience at a church one time? Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand? What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

I've only met a very few Christians who seemed to match what I have been told a Christian should present and "be" according to their faith. One was a pastor as a church my family attended for quite some time. He was open, honest, curious, sensitive and tried his hardest to present nothing but good.

However - even this particular pastor had to make the obligatory sermons denouncing homosexuality, and tacitly supported the preaching of many other ridiculous articles of "faith" - like turning the pulpit over to other pastors-in-training of the church who did things like openly bad-mouth the ideas of "secular humanism," literally call people to do strange things like speak in tongues, and tell stories about things "God was telling them" and, in their story, when they kept getting denied on that path, switched it around to state that it must have been Satan telling them to pursue whatever the heck it was.

There was also one particular service during which a particularly outlandish, outspoken and eclectic member of the church stood up, went to the front, and began speaking as if he were Jesus in the first-person. He was promptly grabbed and dragged forcefully out of the church, kicking and screeching - and that "good" pastor was among the ones doing the dragging.

It was in that moment that I realized that even this good pastor, a man I found to be very grounded in reality, was STILL prone to harboring hypocrisy and double-standards - and from what I could tell, it was all the fault of his adherence to his faith. The man they dragged out was making claims no more outlandish than the pastor himself made on a regular basis in church - how could this pastor possibly know that the man wasn't the second coming of Christ? How could he know that the man hadn't been imbued with the spirit of Jesus in that moment? What evidence did he have against that proposition? The same sorts of evidence he would ask me to provide against the ideas of his God's reality, no doubt - and yet here he was, dragging the man out.

Christianity brings out the worst in people in many ways, honestly. I have seen it time and time again. Passive aggressiveness, incredulity at even the most common or well-intentioned things that aren't explicitly "Christian," claims made without regard to any ability to discern the truth of the things being said, calls of "amen" going up around the church after some of the most inane statements I have heard in my life, people crying and writhing with "the spirit" which I have never once seen come to any actual result other than the further confirmation of these people's own biases, missionaries thinking that they know better than everyone else on EARTH what "the truth" is and believing themselves oh so righteous for going around convincing others of things that they themselves have no business believing, let alone propagating, people truly believing that their own, personal opinions have the backing of some higher power. There is no end of intellectual travesty to be had in Christianity, even as there is also good being done by its adherents - though, even that usually not without some form of attempt to convert/convince.

On the whole, I simply don't like Christianity. I find it quite terrible, and the people who practice it quite insufferable when they are bent on working it into every aspect of their lives and relationships.

 

[Riders]

Sure. I was in the United Pentecostal Church which taught me to speak in tounges and Jesus' name only(excluding baptism in the name of Father Son and Holy Ghost) baptism and going by their strict dress code, all of that is a requirement to get into heaven. They did not believe in the Trinity, they are oneness and sexually repressive, said ugly things about women and sexuality. It was very abusive and they preached at me to give them money all the time, and I gave way too much of my money to them.

However, that was 21 years ago and I am past it. It was very abusive it's true. But I do not believe in Jesus, as a God or the God. I do think he lived, and there have been one or two writings about him from that time. But it doesn't prove he was raised from the dead. I do believe he was crucified by the romans, Then later on his followers made him into a myth by making up the raising from the dad story.

I do like the culture of some churches, such as the Catholic church, I like their culture. I also like the culture at the United Methodist Church. They said I could go thre without being pressured into converting to Christianity. So after the covid is over, I may go there. They are very nice. So I don't believe all Christians are bad.

Just let me add this about the United Methodists, You can not join their church without being a Christian. But if you want to come every week as a visitor and not become Christian they are ok with that. I personally don't need to be a member of a church though. Someone asked me once if I didn't feel like I was taking advantage of them since I don't believe the way they do. The answer is no because when it comes to politics and the community things they do I agree with them. Take for instance they told me they were going to the Gay Pride day together, and I was gonna go with them. That would be one example.

 

[metis]

What has your experiences been with other Christians, bad?

Sometimes bad but most of the time good.

Horrible experience at a church one time?

I left the fundamentalist church I grew up in because of it's anti-science and anti-Catholic agendas, plus its overt racism.

Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand?

Depends on interpretations.

What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

Since I am one, mostly positive.

 

[Sand Dancer]

My only questions simply with no judgement : What has your experiences been with other Christians, bad? Horrible experience at a church one time? Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand? What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

​

I was a Christian for 28 years and I have seen good and bad. Narrow minded Christians are doing a disservice to the religion. The Christ-like ones are a breath of fresh air. Mostly church was not bad, as long as politics were not brought into it. There are lots of things I no longer agree with in the Bible. I didn't really look at the context of the Bible most of the time I was Christian and that's probably a pretty common experience.

 

[Rival]

I didn't really look at the context of the Bible most of the time I was Christian and that's probably a pretty common experience.

Whenever I tell Christians that Jesus didn't fulfil the Jewish messianic expectations I'm always met with the same answer: which?

It's truly baffling. Many don't know what those expectations are, so how they know Jesus fulfilled them I have no idea.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

[QUOTE="MatthewA, post: 7145779, member: 71919.......... and the very own individually unique experience of life by and through each and every choice that is made by us as human beings. Who are living souls in human bodies ~ Unless you believe that we are something else of course. [/QUOTE?]

'Christendom' (so-called Christian but mostly in name only) often teaches a separate living soul in a human body.
I find Adam was a living soul, a living person, and at his death ALL of Adam returned to dust - Genesis 3:19
Adam went from non-life, to life, and returned back to non-life - Genesis 2:7.
ALL of Adam was mortal, and at death there was No post-mortem penalty, No double jeopardy.
Mortal Adam could only live forever as long as he did Not break God's Law.
So, like Adam our eternal living forever is dependant on listening to God.
Jesus calls some people to have a heavenly resurrection - Revelation 20:6; Revelation 2:10; Daniel 7:18
Jesus also calls most people to be part of the humble meek people to inherit the Earth - Matthew 5:5.
Not a polluted Earth but a beautiful paradisical Earth - Psalms 37:9-11; Revelation 22:2; Isaiah 35th chapter.
In other words, the majority of people are still being offered 'everlasting life on Earth' as originally offered to mortal Adam before his downfall.

 

[Alex22]

Being a former orthodox Christian, I have very negative views about Christianity. I never believed in any of its claims even as kid in Sunday school

 

[Twilight Hue]

There was never anything unique with Christianity nor with its adherents. Nothing that ever stood out.

No light of the world.

No salt of the earth.

It was an eye opener in the day when I suddenly realized that Christianity really wasn't all that different when compared with others that are out there.

 

[firedragon]

Christian and Christianity are words without meaning. As others already pointed out, the label tells you nothing about how a person will behave or what they think about important matters - or what they think a Christian or Christianity is.
So, if they don't know, how can I?

I can deduce some things about a person from the time and the way they tell me they are a Christian (or any other religion for that matter). E.g. how confident they are in talking about things they know little about.

I dont really get you on this. Christianos means a little christ. Like a big boss and small boss where the small boss is the representative of the big guy. This type of language is prevalent everywhere. It simply means follower of the messiah in understanding. This word by itself does not describe his whole theology if that is what you are questioning, and no word can I suppose. Its the same with "Jew" which does not describe a theology by default. Well, there are Jewish Christians who identify themselves as such in order to identify with their heritage though they changed the theology. This applies across the board I think.

Unless I misunderstood you.

 

[Heyo]

I dont really get you on this. Christianos means a little christ. Like a big boss and small boss where the small boss is the representative of the big guy. This type of language is prevalent everywhere. It simply means follower of the messiah in understanding. This word by itself does not describe his whole theology if that is what you are questioning, and no word can I suppose. Its the same with "Jew" which does not describe a theology by default. Well, there are Jewish Christians who identify themselves as such in order to identify with their heritage though they changed the theology. This applies across the board I think.

Unless I misunderstood you.

I think you didn't misunderstand but you might not have put my answer in relation to the question. The question was about experiences with Christians.
In that light you could see my answer as ""Christian" is not a category that is helpful to discern between people. They behave just like non Christians, their variety is the same as the general public. There is nothing special about Christians for all practical purposes."

 

[firedragon]

I think you didn't misunderstand but you might not have put my answer in relation to the question. The question was about experiences with Christians.
In that light you could see my answer as ""Christian" is not a category that is helpful to discern between people. They behave just like non Christians, their variety is the same as the general public. There is nothing special about Christians for all practical purposes."

AH. Then I did misunderstand you. Apologies.

I do agree and disagree on that point you made. But I have nothing to contribute with some validity but anecdotal experiences which may look like a fallacy if I do. So I shall leave you to it.

Heyo in some languages means "That Person". Like "Him" or "her".

Have a nice day.

 

[Colt]

There are many people from different backgrounds from around the world. Let me welcome you by thanking you for stopping by. Considering the historical backgrounds of human beings ~ Along with their culture, their surroundings they grew up in, the people they knew in and through their childhood, unto adulthood, and understanding the person and the very own individually unique experience of life by and through each and every choice that is made by us as human beings. Who are living souls in human bodies ~ Unless you believe that we are something else of course.

Was not sure where to really put this because just curious about other people from other religions and their thoughts about Christianity, their thoughts about the Christian God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who was the Son of God, who died and paid for the entirety of the human race the price of sin by death on the cross as an innocent man (who loved ~ the entirety of the human race) ~ Was buried and was risen again by God - the Father, and that if anyone believes they may inherit the ability to become children of God (John 1:12).

(This just biblical fact when it comes down to reading the Gospels of Christ in the bible which talks about Jesus Christ ~ His life, death, burial and resurrection)

If you do not believe or understand that it is okay, that is my only presentation of my only understanding of the Gospel of Christ - in the general sense of why Jesus Christ had come ~ Which was also to fulfill the old testament prophecies, and to defeat Satan overcome - death, sin, satan, grave, hell/she'ol and all of these things, which are talked about in the Revelation as well.

(My view may be wrong ~ am expressing my view of what scripture does say ~ in above text ~)

If you do not believe or understand this either that is okay.

My only questions simply with no judgement : What has your experiences been with other Christians, bad? Horrible experience at a church one time? Something you found in the bible you did not agree with, or do not understand? What are some of your thoughts on Christianity?

Hopefully anyone who reads all of this, you understand! Thank you for your time and God bless all of you here and your families - of course if you do not believe ~ Still may everything be okay with you at home, and your family, and your friends, take care!​

The Original, pre-cross Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, taught, lived and preached by the miraculous person of Jesus of Nazareth, changed after the rejection and death of Jesus. Christianity is a religion ABOUT Jesus, the religion OF Jesus was about whole hearted dedication to the Father and doing his will; salvation by Faith not sacrifices.