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Post by Josh on Oct 10, 2011 20:15:14 GMT -8
 ;D |
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Post by freebirdro on Oct 10, 2011 20:22:39 GMT -8
I think that is pretty funny. Most of it seem to be quite right. It would be interesting to expand the list.javascript:add("%20;D")
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Post by Josh on Oct 10, 2011 21:46:54 GMT -8
I was thinking that too  |
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Post by Josh on Oct 11, 2011 17:41:18 GMT -8
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Post by robin on Oct 12, 2011 7:24:25 GMT -8
Perhaps that what Jesus meant when he said "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches." — Matthew 13:31–32 |
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Post by Josh on Oct 12, 2011 8:25:10 GMT -8
In some ways, except I don't think he meant that each branch think itself better than the other, or especially as the "the only true branch".
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Post by robin on Oct 12, 2011 12:19:29 GMT -8
In some ways, except I don't think he meant that each branch think itself better than the other, or especially as the "the only true branch". However, it's only natural to think that our beliefs are closer to the truth that beliefs that are held by other Christians denominations. I just wish that each group could maintain the same level of love for Christians of other denominations as they do their own. I find it a little difficult to respect certain groups, but my love for them should not depend on whether they agree with my theology. |
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Post by carebear on Oct 13, 2011 21:04:53 GMT -8
It's good to learn the good from all the denominations and always walk in love. Hard to do, but good rule of thumb.
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Post by stevekimes on Oct 14, 2011 16:02:33 GMT -8
Any of you read Richard Foster's excellent book Streams of Living Water? It gave me the paradigm to explain how the different denominations could be different and all following Jesus.
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Post by atheist jon on Oct 15, 2011 20:06:17 GMT -8
Hi carebear, You state that "It's good to learn the good from all the denominations and always walk in love.". I have no problem with that. It's an admirable sentiment and wise too. But who is going to decide on what the 'good' bits are? You could sit down with a few people and pick from each of the denominations which edicts, dogma and worldviews that you percieve as being the good ones and start afresh. Then what have you got? One more denomination. Isn't that more or less how so many came about in the first place? Hello everybody, by the way.  My name is Jon and I'm an atheist. |
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Post by stevekimes on Oct 16, 2011 8:49:28 GMT -8
Hi jon! I feel like we are in AA.
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Post by Josh on Oct 16, 2011 18:07:42 GMT -8
Hi carebear, You state that "It's good to learn the good from all the denominations and always walk in love.". I have no problem with that. It's an admirable sentiment and wise too. But who is going to decide on what the 'good' bits are? You could sit down with a few people and pick from each of the denominations which edicts, dogma and worldviews that you percieve as being the good ones and start afresh. Then what have you got? One more denomination. Isn't that more or less how so many came about in the first place? Hello everybody, by the way. My name is Jon and I'm an atheist. Yes, that's pretty much why we have denominations/ sub-groups. I don't think it's a bad thing (it can be seen as a strength even) as long as we retain some humility that on any given debatable issue we could be wrong or we could have some more learning to do. I realize that's a big "as long as". A lack of humility is at the heart of why the different divisions within Christianity often times look more like fractures than streams or branches. |
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Post by atheist jon on Oct 17, 2011 16:24:16 GMT -8
Humility? I think there are many, many denominations that are badly in need of more than just a little humility. Maybe that is exactly why some of the other streams or branches broke away in the first place and formed the more benign and consequently acceptable groups of Christians. More acceptable to me anyhow. Although groups may have broken away under fairly amicable conditions, there have been some pretty ugly fractures too. In fact I think the word 'schism', although used in more general terms nowadays, has its origins in religion. I would imagine that most splits come from one group judging another group to be either too liberal or too fundamental in their outlook. Or maybe because ones current wife won't produce a boy and there is a hot young wench waiting on the sidelines who is very ambitious and fancies the title of 'Queen'. But then what do I know? I am just a humble atheist after all. |
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Post by atheist jon on Oct 17, 2011 16:44:39 GMT -8
stevekimesHi Steve. lol Yes, it does rather sound like I am about to bare my soul. Unfortunately I don't accept either the concept of a 'soul' nor would I accept that there is a higher power. So I guess that the AA is just another club that I would not be allowed to join even if I wanted to. Or indeed NEEDED to.
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Post by Josh on Oct 17, 2011 18:58:18 GMT -8
Although I have a lot of love for the Church of England, that definitely goes down as one of the WORST reasons in history to start a new church.  |
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Post by atheist jon on Oct 19, 2011 23:36:58 GMT -8
By the way, surely many Christians that detached themselves from more fundamental groups did so because they found their practices and worldviews to be offensive and contrary to their own moral standards. Does that not indicate an extra-biblical source of morality? Something innate within us. But I'm sure you have got a thread somewhere here pertaining to where our morals come from and so I won't get so far off topic here. I'm just sayin' is all. ................ As you Americans would say. |
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Post by Josh on Oct 20, 2011 6:32:00 GMT -8
That's an interesting angle you bring up, I'm going to start a new thread on it here: (a link to a whole bunch of threads on the morality question) aletheia.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=moralityFeel free to jump in anywhere or if it's too daunting, just start a new thread. (I don't expect anyone to have to read it all- I have no problem re-treading some ground, and in the process learning new things) |
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My name is Jon and I'm an atheist.