RELIGION

[Miguel]

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Can I interfere for a moment, the thread is quite long already and there are just too many pages to read, what is the argument all about? Is this Religion vs. Religion?

[Vertical Horizon]

yep, what's argument about?

[nvr_mind]

I overheard a little baptist kid teased by grown-ups. Â*On the later part she asked "Are you Christians?" Â*
"We are Christians, we are catholics" the grown-ups said.
"Catholics are not Christians." she said
"We are Christians" they insisted.
"No you're not"
"We are very Christians"
"Catholic are not Christians, because they worship idols" she retorted.

The grown ups stopped on their feet. They don't know what to say, but still managed to grin at the innocent child. Â*I would have like to snatch the kid from them coz she probably has good intentions but its not really quite polite doing so.

I believe that religious affiliation will not make you a christian. Â*But by being affiliated to a certain group, will lead you to abide by the teaching of the group. Â*The kid mentioned above, have immediately made a sweeping generalization. Â*Probably of her ignorance of church history.

Just like in the past, non-catholics are branded as heretics. Â*Bible-believing christians are tried for questioning the authority of Rome. Â* Â*Likewise, in Protestant countries, catholics are persecuted because of their allegiance to Rome. Â*But they are not like that in the early centuries. Â*There might have been schisms but no murders, heresies, but judged consistent to the apostles teachings. Â*Then the bible. Â*Why form the bible when popes could make decrees here and there? God must have a plan. Â*Why are there catholic teachings not consistent with the scriptures

Arrogance, pride - is that the religion now? Â*We have a savior who was hanged on the cross to save mankind from eternal damnation. Â*Who can save us? Â*Who can show us the way - Â*The Catholic church who was led by God to form the Bible, or the Bible itself? Â*Some protestants claim that theirs is the correct interpretation. Â*They can't even agree among themselves. Is the bible itself the only source of Christian faith? Â*Most protestants agree on this.

Romans 10: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

1 Peter 1: 24For,
Â* "All men are like grass,
Â* Â* Â*and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
Â* the grass withers and the flowers fall,
Â* Â* Â* 25but the word of the Lord stands forever." Â*And this is the word that was preached to you.

Traditions, church leaders - they will fade away. Â*The word of the Lord written in the bible is the gauge/standard that we are to follow. Â*Can I follow the teachings of the church where I belong? Â*If it's consistent with God's word, then yes! Â*If not, then I have to ask myself if i rightly belong to the group, or ask if this group rightly belongs to God.

[MrBiddle]

And so the parents said "But we don't worship the idols or the saints or Mary, we merely honor them?"

and the child, never less wiser said, "Why did Ingrid Bergman say she worshipped Bogey in Casablanca? Why does Frank Sinatra sing that his lover is all he worships, longs for and adores? Doesn't worship mean extravagant love and a greater form of honor and veneration"

Fly Me to The Moon
and Make me Play among the stars
Let Me see what spring is like on
Jupiter and Mars...

[misfit]

the thread is going nowhere. i stopped reading it altogether.

[MrBiddle]

It's going to CASABLANCA....

A sigh is just a sigh... A kiss is just a kiss... The fundamental things of life as time goes by...

[Miguel]

the thread is going nowhere. i stopped reading it altogether.

Yup, me too, I can't understand what is trying to prove here.

[Cardinal Bunal]

The Catholic church who was led by God to form the Bible, or the Bible itself? Some protestants claim that theirs is the correct interpretation. They can't even agree among themselves. Is the bible itself the only source of Christian faith? Most protestants agree on this.

No one knows it but the one who wrote it - Rev. 19: 11 - 13

Who knows the thoughts of God but the Spirit of God? - 1 Cor. 2: 11

Therefore it is the breath of God, the Spirit that gives us understanding, NOT wisdom from old age - Job 32: 8

[Empress_Of_Drac]

Religion is just a mere type of organization or institution...and it should not be the full basis of our beliefs and philosophies in life...

[Cardinal Bunal]

Religion is just a mere type of organization or institution...and it should not be the full basis of our beliefs and philosophies in life...

In what most perceive today to be the definition of "religion" that is correct, but again and again it is written in the Scriptures that blameless religion is helping others in need and keeping oneself free from corruption.