General Chat

Can I ask why it is that people feel the need to praise God, why is it that he would want that, what point is there to this? Wouldn't it be better it if we were just kind to each other? I know of many stories of folk who seem to praise the Lord, but are evil to there families and other folk.

Lynda,a very good point,I too feel like that:-))

Hello everyone! Yes, I too think the Bible can be interpreted in many different ways. It was written for everyone and since we're all different, it's not surprising we all pick different things up from it. Yes Vonny, I too think Jesus is disgusted at the way 'things' have 'turned out'. As you say, he came to put a few things 'straight' but mankind hasn't moved forward very much since he 'left'. OC I have often discussed Faith and yes, I think that people either have Faith or they haven't. It is a difficult one. For instance there are still peoples on this earth who haven't even heard of God, but they believe in their 'spirit'. However, I do also think that with time and experiences, some people can actually 'acquire' Faith (for want of a better word). Here's a little poem I have often read called : FAITH Doubt sees the obstacles; Faith sees the way. Doubt sees the darkest night; Faith sees the day. Doubt dreads to take a step; Faith soars on high. Doubt whispers, 'Who believes?' Faith answers, 'I'. Anon Hi Denise, You are correct in thinking I'm an RC. Still am and I go to church regularly (although now I don't feel guilty if I miss now and then like I did in the 'old' days) in spite of disagreeing with things the Vatican come out with. Did you read my first entry on 21 June? I too love 'God' as he's called in the Christian religions, but I believe He's for everyone - not just for RC's like me! I can say that I have met very few priests who actually get through to people. I'm thinking of one in particular who was REALLY down to earth. Someone you could talk to about anything. He'd lived through all sorts - and I mean ALL SORTS - before being ordained at 41. I think that priests should all be 'obliged' to live in the real world for a while after coming out of the seminary to get experience of what life is really like 'outside', before taking their final vows. Thanks again Lynda for this GREAT thread.

Hi again Lynda! You asked about praising & worshipping God, and why do it. Well, I would say that similar to our relationship with other people there are lots of facets to a relationship with the living God. When we meet up with a friend we tell them good news, sometimes we cry & moan, we ask for their help or support and we might need to apologise, or just thank them for being our friend! Its like that with God, but when that 'friend' has died in your place, forgiven you all the bad stuff, and given you a new lease of life- well, you just WANT to sing, speak and shout about how grateful you are! The Bible says God is so good that if we don't praise him, the stones themselves will cry out his praise! I also believe that praise is a powerful weapon, like prayer, in winning battles over negative feelings, situations or problems- I try to DECIDE to worship God, however I feel. It's not about whether I feel like it, He is always worth my praise! But Lynda, I agree that this lifestyle is empty if it isn't continued into everyday life, loving & caring for others in a way that show what God's love is like. Denise

Suppose there is another, possibly higher, form of life out there in the universe? - There could be; probably is. Would they be loved, by God, more than us? Would they regard us as a lower form of life, as we now regard chimps, dogs, fish or even insects? It’s a bit of a cheek to suppose that God would give preference to this planet. I cannot envisage God as an old Caucasian man, with a long white beard, up in the sky somewhere. As a child, I often gazed up at the sky and tried to figure out which bit would be heaven, and where would hell be. I did not realize then that, even to the 17th century after Christ, the Catholic Church regarded the earth as the centre of the universe around which the sun and stars revolved and beyond the panoply was heaven. Souls could travel there is a direct line. Any opinion to the contrary could be dealt with very brutally (in the name of God, of course) To borrow from Plato, I view God as 'a rational essence, a free-floating, eternal intelligence'. I think he puts it perfectly. All life on this planet had a common source and it would seem to me to be somewhat arrogant to claim that God resembles or is in the form of our particular species. And other life-forms in the cosmos may object. Personally, I do not think that God, as a cosmic intelligence, would give individual attention to any nation of people let alone an individual. Its odd, though, that every race or cult claims God to be on their side. They should get it in writing. That is only a personal feeling. I am no more likely to be right than anyone else as I have no hot-line to heaven. Neither has the Pope nor the Chief Rabbi let alone Abu Hamza. leen

Hello again Lynda. Thank you for this lovely thread and all the interesting discussions. Thanks to everyone for their input and for staying 'friends' even maybe some one has said something we've disagreed with. I like that. You asked why the need to Praise God. A simple question: How would you feel if someone gave you something or did something quite fantastic for you? You would shower them with praise and thanks am I right. Well that's how I feel about God. He created me - He gave me life and He did something no one else could do - He paid the price for my sins when He died on the cross. Forgave me and welcomed me into His family and now keeps a place for me when it is my turn to go 'home'. I can feel and do nothing but praise Him. Dorothy

Len. God is spirit and we should worship him in spirit and in truth. regards David

Hello Dorothy, thanks for your thoughts on my question. You asked me.... 'How would you feel if someone gave you something or did something quite fantastic for you? You would shower them with praise and thanks' I have thought about this, and yes I would thank them for there kind deed, but once I'd done that I don't think I'd feel the need to keep thanking them, nor would I think they would want me to keep on doing it. You say that God paid the price for your sins, I don't think I have ever done anything, that someone else needed to pay for my sins, pretty sure I've not done anything that awful, not suggesting you have, but if God created us, where does it say that he wanted us to constantly praise him? If you take the debate further. My husband and I created our children, they don't constantly praise us for doing so, in fact having children is probably a selfish act, you create for yourself, not for the child, after all they didn't ask to be born, which is why I believe we should care for our children, they never asked to be here, although of course most of us are quite happy to be here. I really struggle to think if there is a God, he'd want us to praise him, I think he'd rather us get on with each other, while on this earth, then if thre is a next life and we meet him, we can say thanks for that life, it was great. That's what i'll do if I met him. Lynda (p.s if i say it myself this is a bloomin good thread:))) Thanks everyone for the debate)

william, I must ask you a question, why do you say you are not a good person? I think of myself as human being with human traits, Im not perfect,I make mistakes, but Im most certainly not a bad person, Im just curious as to why you say it. Regards Roxanne

Hi Roxanne, I'm not a good person because I have bad thoughts, say bad things and do bad things. Maybe not very much, maybe not very often (though that's a matter for debate!) - but they're there. God, who made me, is entirely perfect. He defines what 'goodness' is. He cannot abide the presence of anything tainted by sin. Even my goodness - cutting the garden for an elderly neighbour, helping a colleague who's having a rough time, whatever it may be - is tainted. I become proud that I'm helping my neighbour - maybe I don't voice the pride...but it's there. Maybe I get a quiet sense of superiority and ability from helping my colleague. I can even manage to get proud about being 'humble' enough to write all of the above. This is why I say that I am not a good person. God defines goodness and I don't measure up. Kind regards, William

Just caught up again.... Like Linda, I have problems with exactly WHY we have to worship God. If he is so absolutely perfect, he certainly would not demand our worship, or indeed anything else from us. The other thing which bothers me a lot - we are told that if we truly repent of all our sins (even if that isnt till we are dying) then God will forgive us and take us in. Bit unfair on those who have lived good lives. And, does this also mean that if I go to heaven, I will have to rub shoulders with the likes of Myra Hindley and Fred West? I'd really rather not, if its all the same to you. OC

Why we should worship - here's God's explanation: Psalm 100 1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. William

Hi William, Thanks for answering. I have to say I agree with what you have said, I am sure most people can say,If honest, that we all have nasty thoughts even if we dont act on them. So none of us are 'good' in that respect. Regards Roxanne

I see this was nudged on 08/07/2006 at 21:36:37, must be a good thread then:)) While I'm here, I saw the film The DaVinci code last night, there was a bit about Opus Dei, and about how followers, flagellate, I also saw being done , on a documentary on Italy, where a Town do this every year, where so many folk do it, blood runs along the Streets from the wounds, whats that all about? Lynda

Hi Lynda, it's so good to see your thread back again. I've just been catching up, enjoying a good read of everyone's views and wishing I could express my gratitude to Christ as well as others have done on here. I saw the Da Vinci Code and was sickened by those flagellation scenes - so offensive and repugnant - far removed from the Bible's teaching that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. So why would an (educated) monk tear his own flesh to pieces? The practice strikes me as evil. Not that those who do it are evil, but why would anyone, however devout, think it necessary or pleasing to God? Christ himself, according to scripture, subjected himself, in our place, to all the punishment that was necessary to satisfy divine justice. Those poor misguided souls in the documentary about the village in Italy, shedding blood until it ran in the gutters - what appalling unnecessary suffering! As for the monk in the film, this was sinister and pretty horrible.

Sternozzzz I think that you will find that Darwins Theory about us evolving as apes was just that, a theory brought about by the death of his eight year old daughter Annie........ *During Annie's long illness Darwin had read books by Francis Newman, a Unitarian evolutionist who called for a new post-Christian synthesis and wrote that 'the fretfulness of a child is an infinite evil'. With Annie's death Darwin lost all faith in a beneficent God and saw Christianity as futile. For three years he had deliberated about the Christian meaning of mortality* Faith being the operative word here,as it cannot be logically proven, but can mean believing unconditionally. Julia

Hi Lynda,Was the film any good? Ive read the book which was fantastic, Im looking forward to seeing the film but sometimes its a let down after the book, whats your opinion? Its extreme isent it,beating yourself until you bleed, I find it hard to believe that some people actually think its what God would want,WEIRD!! Roxanne x

Hiya Roxanne, I thought the film was rubbish, in fact I didn't even see the end, thought the acting was appaling, couldn't take it seriously. Haven't read the book. though. Lynda x

Hi Lynda, Thanks for your input about it, Its always the way with films that are taken from books,the book is worth reading! I can recommend it! Roxanne x

I would like to believe that we will see our loved ones again.So I am holding on to that to help me losing my parent's and sister.