General Chat

Mandy, 'Good man' is the one thing Jesus can't be called. He is either the Son of God who He claimed to be, and confirmed in power by the resurrection, or he was an evil deceiver, falsely claiming things which weren't true. Janice

At my CofE school, we were taught that Jesus's teachings and the New Testament superseded what had been written in the Old Testament, hence the Jewish faith is based upon the Old Testament, and the Christian faith is based upon the New Testament. We were also taught quite specifically that you cannot call yourself a Christian if you don't believe that Jesus was the Son of God or if you don't believe in his resurrection. Personally, I don't believe in religion, as every religion I've studied seems to take the basic truths and beliefs and turn them into whatever it wants them to be. However, Paul, I don't think you could necessarily expect to go as a newcomer to any kind of place of worship, not take part in what was going on (in your case, praying) and expect the regular adherents of that type of worship not to notice that you were new there and behaving differently. >*|*<

Am with Mandy on this issue!!

Davo has just reminded me why I turned my back on institutionalised religion!

Paul, The Christadelphians don't believe in the deity of Christ so I don't know why they consider themselves to be Christians. Isn't this one of the most fundamental aspects of the Christian faith? Janice

Viviene The Roman Catholic Douay bible also says:---- John 14:6 Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. David

lol Davo. No I don't have problems with shellfish at all but then I don't have a problem with a lot of the things that Leviticus proclaims as detestable or abominations:) I take it you've not trimmed your beard or had the hair on the sides of your temple cut ?:)

Am I right in thinking that a certain Christian path (Cant remember which one) does not believe that Jesus is the son of God? Is this path a mislabled faith?

OOh David (oops) Thats seems a little to narrow in view for me!

You sure she didn't mean some of the stories in the religion go the same way? A lot of different story's in different religions are the same, but with different names. Apparently (although never read this myself) Jesus is a hindu 'saint' (Don't know what the word is in Hindi), and the story of Jesu, in the Hindu faith is similar to those of the Christian faith.

David If you have been as ill as I have after eating shellfish, I think you'd agree with Leviticus. David

David, there have been a lot of people through the ages who have said that, why do you believe this man above others. Even in recent years there are one or two names I recall. The Reverent Moon, Paul Manson, David Icke, I can't remember the name but the guy who persuaded all those people in America to commit suicide. They all thought they had the only path to heaven. The bible is diferent to all branches of the Christian religion. The Catholic bible is diferent from the Protestant one. The Mormans have their own version as does the Church of Latter day Saints. The book was written by men many years after Jesus passed to spirit, if as you say it was written by God then they must have been communicating with the other world. Vivienne

Last week I had to show a letting agent round our church manse. I invited her to our church. She said it is not my religion. When I asked what her's was, she replied 'A Budhist' She then went on to say the her 'teacher' said that all religions go the same way. I had to disagree with her, as my teacher said 'I am the Way, The Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father, but by me.' David

I was only saying you cant generalise people like that..... geeze.

I'm quite happy discussing religion and feel very comfortable with my own beliefs (if not always with the actions of members of my church) but I have no wish to convert anyone - I respect other religions as much as mine because from my understanding they all have the same ultimate intentions. Personally I don't think it's ever a good idea for a Christian to use the Bible to condemn another's way of life or their belief system. For example, Leviticus 19 tells us not to trim our beards or the hair at the sides of our temples while shellfish are detestable in Leviticus 11. Hmmmm.

I often feel uncomfortable about discussing religion - as an atheist many of the people I know aren't and often give me a hard time! I'm not sure quoting the bible to support your views is such a good idea, as it is full of contradictions and different interpretations! (have read it tho') Cheers Kaz

You cant generalise christians into a group like that. Maybe most Christians aren't yes, thats probably right, but some obviously are! Its the same as saying ALL hindu's are Veggie, and ALL Budhists wear Orange Robes! No I wasn't in a parralel universe, and No they hadn't mislabled themselves. They were praying, singing christian hymms and everything else. Although they did annoy me a bit with the tutting, I respect them because they are 100% sure of their faith. I think its wrong to say they aren't Christians.

I don't feel uncomfortable discussing religion at all. I don't share a lot of beliefs with most religions but I'm fascinated by them. I respect all people with deeply held beliefs - I've been to weddings etc in almost all denominations of Christian churches, in a synagogue, in a Sikh Temple, a Mosque and a Hindu temple. I've also been at a Wicca handfasting. I think whatever you believe is up to you but I have a problem when religions try to interfere in secular law and alter the law of the land to suit their specific beliefs. Fortunately in our democracy this doesn't happen often, unlike other places. eg the USA and the Middle East. Gwynne

Wendy & Dave it's because of opinions like yours that I say I am proud not to be a Christian anymore but I have some very good Christian friends [one of them a Methodist minister ] who are happy to accept my beliefs, whilst not willing to believe themselves. Vivienne

Vivienne Jesus was not a medium, but what he claimed to be, the Creator, manifest in Human Flesh. He said, Before Abraham was... I AM. David