Posted on 03/05/2011 5:29:44 AM PST by WPaCon
Lately, there seems to be a lot of conflict on the religion forum. Much of this has been between Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox. To show that we are all united as Christians and to reduce animosity, I hope we can all agree to one of 4 following statements:
1) I am Catholic. I love Orthodox and Protestant Christians. I consider Orthodox Christians and Protestants to definitely be Christian. All Christians need to work together to defeat our common enemies-- specifically Islam, liberal postmodernism, and totalitarian communism.
2) I am Protestant. I love Orthodox and Catholic Christians. I consider Orthodox Christians and Catholics to definitely be Christian. All Christians need to work together to defeat our common enemies-- specifically Islam, liberal postmodernism, and totalitarian communism.
3) I am an Orthodox Christian. I love Catholic and Protestant Christians. I consider Catholics and Protestants to definitely be Christian. All Christians need to work together to defeat our common enemies-- specifically Islam, liberal postmodernism, and totalitarian communism.
4) I am a non-believer. I love Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians. I consider Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and Protestants to definitely be Christian. All Christians need to work together to defeat our common enemies-- specifically Islam, liberal postmodernism, and totalitarian communism.
I feel confident that most freepers agree to at least one of these statements, even if they do not say so.
If you agree with any of these statements, please feel free to say so.
Thanks!
Good try. After nine years, I’m convinced it’s a pretty lost cause, which is why I now avoid the religion forum, good Catholic that I am. After about the 10th time of trying to explain the difference between worship, veneration and devotion, the urge to give up is pretty overwhelming. Never mind the ignorance of the Council of Carthage or any other part of pre-1500 history.
I modified #4 a bit
4) I am a non-believer. I don’t mind some Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians. I couldn’t care less whether or not Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and Protestants are definitely Christian. All people who would uphold the rights of the individual need to work together to defeat our common enemies— specifically Islam, liberal postmodernism, any sort of collectivism, and damn dirty hippies.
I modified #4 a bit
4) I am a non-believer. I don’t mind some Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians. I couldn’t care less whether or not Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and Protestants are definitely Christian. All people who would uphold the rights of the individual need to work together to defeat our common enemies— specifically Islam, liberal postmodernism, any sort of collectivism, and damn dirty hippies.
I modified #4 a bit
4) I am a non-believer. I don’t mind some Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians. I couldn’t care less whether or not Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and Protestants are definitely Christian. All people who would uphold the rights of the individual need to work together to defeat our common enemies— specifically Islam, liberal postmodernism, any sort of collectivism, and damn dirty hippies.
Triple post!
My bad, I actually have no idea how I did that...first time though. :)
5) I am an agnostic who yearns for the early days of FreeRepublic when it was just a conservative website.
details details..:)
“Town hall” style open threads have always been raucous. It’s how free speech sounds. Sometimes it isn’t pretty, but there is nothing to be gained and much to be lost in silencing it.
Remember the wise words of Rodney King.."Cant we all just get along??"
One of the gifts of the constitution is the ability to speak freely and debate ideas and beliefs... silence is a false peace..
If that’s not to your preference, stick to the ecumenical, devotional and caucus threads. That’s how freedom of religion and association sounds.
Exactly.. if our new member does not like debate then he needs to stick to caucus or ecumenical threads..
I hope no reader will suppose that "mere" Christianity is here put forward as an alternative to the creeds of the existing communions—as if a man could adopt it in preference to Congregationalism or Greek Orthodoxy or anything else. It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall I shall have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not in the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place from which to try the various doors, not a place to live in. For that purpose the worst of the rooms (whichever that may be) is, I think, preferable.
It is true that some people may find they have to wait in the hall for a considerable time, while others feel certain almost at once which door they must knock at. I do not know why there is this difference, but I am sure God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait. When you do get into your room you will find that the long wait has done you some kind of good which you would not have had otherwise. But you must regard it as waiting, not as camping. You must keep on praying for light: and, of course, even in the hall, you must begin trying to obey the rules which are common to the whole house. And above all you must be asking which door is the true one; not which pleases you best by its paint and paneling.
In plain language, the question should never be: "Do I like that kind of service?" but "Are these doctrines true: Is holiness here? Does my conscience move me towards this? Is my reluctance to knock at this door due to my pride, or my mere taste, or my personal dislike of this particular doorkeeper?"
When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them. That is one of the rules common to the whole house.
We have both been members a long time..and I never remember a time when the discussion of religion or doctrine was not a part of the mix ..
I believe from the scriptures that the salvation of most of humanity is planned by God and that he will not consign people to eternal death based on ignorance of Christ, deception, or not being called yet by Jesus Christ to his fellowship. Eternal death IS the fate for those who willfully, knowingly and with a clear and proper understanding turn their back on Jesus Christ.
As such we do have ONE common enemy....Satan the devil who is the underlying cause of all divisions and deception.
Our memories obviously differ...but I could be wrong (that’s an agnostic trademark, admitting to the possibility of being in error)
So in effect obeying Christ and taking the gospel to the world damns more than it saves.. wonder why Jesus would have sent them out knowing that ?
Where is you rascal, topcat?
Religion was one of the factors leading to the foundation of America.. so not wonder it remains a conservative interest
Not at all. And this isn't a reference to any of my fine friends on Freerepublic whom I believe to be Christian brothers and sisters or potential Christian brothers and sisters, but Jesus Christ himself said:
Mat 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
Mat 7:23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Clearly there are false Christians and this will increase the closer we get to the return of Christ.
Even the Apostles stated this!
As stated on this thread:
Church History: The Didache [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Didache 1.1 is clear enough: "There are two Ways, one of Life and one of Death, and there is a great difference between the two Ways." This implies one of the most basic (and necessary) principles of the Christian life: by God’s grace, strive to do good and avoid evil.
So I am totally dumbfounded when Christians posting on this site, slur, slander, post non-truths or half truths about other churches.
It just blows me away! (But I'll stay.)
#1.
Thank you for this thread.
I’ve been on FreeRepublic for ten years. You don’t need to have a ten year posting history to observe and correctly report obvious facts.
This will be my last post before a Lenten fast from FR. I hope many of our Catholic and Orthodox Caucus also observe this Lenten fast.
May you all have a blessed Lent and Easter.
I’m taking Lent off too with only a quick peek at the ping lists late Sunday night to see prayer requests.
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