Posted on 07/12/2004 11:38:24 AM PDT by free biscet
FROM THE CELEB ATHEIST LIST
Ron Reagan Jr., Talk Host ent Internet Movie Database
Ron had a short lived talk show a few years ago. On one show, he interviewed Charles Manson at Manson's current cell of residence. Manson began "preaching" his "message". During it, he turned to Reagan and asked, "Do you believe in god?" "No, I do not," Ron responded.
--CDA
These differences were enough for Christians to torture and kill each other over throughout Christian history.
I've been in multi-denominational bible studies with all Protestant and Catholic denominations represented.
And I've seen Protestants tell Catholics that they're going to hell because they're not following the Gospel and are not Christian. A large number of those of other denominations don't consider Mormons to be Christian. Face it, you can't tell another person he's not a Christian, because right now, somewhere, there's another Christian who'd tell you that you are not a Christian because you don't believe exactly as he does.
I have no beef with either athiest or people of other religions, except those who are ordered by their dogma to slaughter all who disagree.
If you find yourself in a burning building, a mine disaster , a forest fire , a hurricane or any other threat to yourself and those around you and are pretty convinced that you have found an escape route, an exit or a shelter for refuge from the danger, isn't it your duty to tell the others about it? Wouldn't it be an act of gross criminalty and irresponsibility to say nothing?
It does extend to other Christian sects, who seem to have lost their way, absolutely.
On the other hand if there is a hereafter, as I believe there is, those in error will have an eternity to mourn their choice.
Ouch!! Not Pascal's Wager again.
Who do you think you can convince with that "argument"?
More red herrings. There are no significant disagreements on the core gospel theology between the mainstream denominations including Catholics. Ignore the fringe elements and cults. Also accept that there will always be points of contention on many theological points. Also where there is man, there are sinners and there will be corrupt people from time to time who will at times infiltrate. Don't let all this noise distract you from the core gospel.
Christians can't judge specific individuals and their eventual salvation because we have no idea of whether they will or will not convert later in life. We are called to spread the gospel to all. But we are also called to discern truth from falsehoods and can tell real Christians from phonies. Generally speaking, a believer is Christ-centered and non-believer is man-centered.
All one really needs to know is the core gospel - which is to accept Christ as your Lord and master, submit to him through faith, ask for forgiveness and you will be saved.
There you go with the defining again. What you consider fringe elements and cults consider themselves Christian, and possibly don't consider you to be Christian. You may have accepted Christ, but you don't follow his teachings (as they interpret them, of course).
I don't have to convince anyone, I'm just required to tell the truth as I see it and let each person make their own decision.
Like I said earlier. If God wanted to force himself upon us, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
It's clear to me. That doesn't mean it is clear to anyone else. It being so clear to me, though, I just have trouble understanding why others can't see it.
Tag line check.
Hawking is talking about eventually using gene-sifting and cybernetics to allow us to compete with the machines that we will eventually produce. Current estimates are that "smarter than the humans" AI will pop up around 2050 or so.
You had it, but you lost it, thankfully.
GO ANTS!
The Republican convention needs to at least ask
Michael Reagan to have some part, a short speech,
something to counter this revoltin' development.
The ironic thing is that Pres. Reagan himself would
not have wanted aborted babies to prolong his already
long life. In 1983, he was in his eighties and ready
to go if it was time already. He had a long life, and
even a peaceful life even at the end, even though he
didn't recognize everyone all the time.
God gave man a brain to think, discern and judge. Jesus warned of false prophets and cults. Paul wrote about it extensively in the first century. It is not hard to look at the core central beliefs of Christianity and discern cults and false prophets. We are called to do that.
This "defining" you seem to have a problem with is defined by Christ and is based on a common standard called the Bible. I am not defining anything when it comes to the core gospel which is to accept Christ as your savior through faith, repent and you will be saved. This is so broad that it is accepted by all mainstream Christians and Mormons. There will always be theological disagreements and sinful man will never agree on anything. That's why it's critical to focus on the core as taught by Christ and not throw the baby out with the bath water.
Somebody finally got it.
That was what I believed, yet you said I couldn't have been a real Christian.
If you truly believed and were converted then you wouldn't be an atheist now. Being saved is more than just intellectual exercise. Christ performs the salvation, not man. Christ also works in his timeframe, not ours so maybe you just were not ready yet. I'd say there is hope for you. For an atheist you seem far too interested.
"You had it, but you lost it, thankfully."
Christians have never been given the authority to kill-just the opposite. But after we run out of cheeks to turn, it's "Katy bar the door!"
Thankfully? To whom are you thankful?
Tell me F.J., is that Christian of you? (Careful, a wrong answer will cost you all your points)
One thing you might consider. If you are not a Catholic, in full communion with Rome, you have already chosen the "wrong" side of Pascal's Wager. (You might want to reevaluate living in anticipation of the Rapture)
"No real Christian could have converted." There you go again.
I'd say there is hope for you.
Of course there's hope for me, since I broke free of the bonds of religion. You really should try lack of blind faith, it's refreshing, seeing for the first time without dogmatic filters.
For an atheist you seem far too interested.
Too interested in Christianity? Maybe my real calling is to Allah since I study Islam too. :) (Oh HELL no!)
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