Joel Osteen is the one that preahes all those "cotton candy and fuzzy duck" sermons I was talking about. God is love ,but he is also a God of "fire and brimstone" to. People want to feel good without being good ,it don't work that way!

We are are in trouble, it is only by grace that we get a chance anyway.

Evil Monkey:

I am with you on the Tooth Fairy thing, it just teaches you that you can sell your body parts for money :P

And Santa, I gave up on him last year, I sooo didn't get that car I wanted and I was good all year :)

uh...correct me if I am wrong but you do just compose to nothing.

I believe that when you die, your "soul "goes into that of a baby being born. You know, for every death a baby is born? too many people experience the been there, done that thing before. Like going into a store for the first time and you know where everything is and you know that you have done all that before. The feeling of Deja Vu.

My existence is by no means worthless, I live a good, fun-filled, love filled life. And I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

AMEN Revolution!

Are you sure about the long hair of Jesus? The pictures we have are of 15th to 16th models , no description of Jesus can be found. The picture of the Last Supper by Da vinci include models who had posed for him before , it has been said that Da vinci was homosexual and part of those models where his lovers , I don't know that for sure though.

The Bible says that "vengeance is mine saith the Lord".

That is why Jesus came and died for our sins , because God that we could not keep all of his laws.

I do believe that God is love , but there is still a side of him that judges.

The Bible is plain on the ones who will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

If there was to be no judgment for sin then why bother at all , the Bible says to fear God and I do .

As long as I have a blog and my Faith I will still continue to preach the Love of God with the Hellfire and Brimstone that goes with it. If it gets to you so be it if not then may God have mercy on you.

first, hi Darrick, I finally signed up for one of these things! Secondly, if you know you're gonna disagree with him why do you keep reading his stuff? Darrick you know I love you but just make him unimportant to you.

It isn't the religion that is skewed, it's people's interpretation of it that is flawed. It is a topic that cannot be debated, because it involves a large amount of perception. Religion only becomes an issue when it is imposed on the population against their will. The founding father's understood the religion problem and were smart enough to leave it out of government. Sure they didn't count on people trying to keep prayer out of school and many of the other religious debates of our day, but I would bet that Thomas Jefferson didn't meet many people of different faith either.

Personally, I believe that their is a unifying truth that we are unaware of that connects all religions throughout the planet and the universe. I believe that mathematics is God's language. I believe that an evil force does exist in the universe and darkness follows it. I feel that God is light because light is the only constant in our universe. I feel that Jesus did walk the earth and that he did perform the miracles in the New Testament. Just seems a little funny to me that a group of men would have devoted their life to a cause and risk life and limb in the process if these miracles did not happen. There are so many questions that I wish I knew the answers to many of which are found nowhere in the bible. There must be a greater purpose for all of this. For all we know we could be riding on a microscopic subatomic particle surrounded by other subatomic particles that make up our universe. Everything is relative to your point of view. People take everything too seriously. If we as individuals would stop concerning ourselves with who other people pray to and worry more about number one then we would probably be able to coexist a lot easier.

Michael you don't like Joel Osteen because he isn't preaching hell fire and damnation. I got news for you buddy, Christianity is a religion of forgiveness for mistakes, peace, and love. I think you are leaning on the Old Testament too much. Someone has taken you off the path if you support war and you don't think what Joel does is spectacular. There are plenty of people in the world that just need a hug. Some people have been physically, mentally, and emotionally scared by people from their past. They need someone to care about them and forgive them when they mess up. We all have problems and we all are not good, some more than others, but we all fall short.

Michael, you wrote:

"Are you sure about the long hair of Jesus?"

Well every church that I have ever attended and that includes some catholic masses, have the long haired Messiah hanging from the cross, looking almost like he should be on the cover of a romance novel ala Fabio. I am sure that he had long hair...ALL the men in the bible had long hair, Noah, Moses etc. So if having long hair is a sin (as revolution pointed out), why do they all have long hair?

I don't understand why alot of people need to believe in something, why not use your conscience and do what is right. It is pretty simple.

Why do people need to go to church every Sunday, need to preach to others, need to believe in a book that has been changed many times that you really can't believe it is the truth.

I have gone to churches and they have mentioned the Trinity.... um thats not in the Bible.. Yet it is one of the top things they talk about... 7th day adventists worship Ellen G White's moronic opium induced ramblings and the Old Testament Laws more than Jesus and the New Testament Laws. I mean, how can you really believe this stuff?

Wouldn't it be far simpler to use your heart and be kind to people? If you know it is wrong or unsavory, Don't do it? Why is this always a need to push Faith, Belief, and Fear into it. Seems to me it would cause stress, anxiety and death... hmm sounds like hell to me. Doubt Jesus lived like that.

Evil Monkey,

I believe "this stuff" because when I look outside my window and see the trees, the grass, the clouds in the sky and everything that sits upon this beautiful earth...I know in my heart that there is a God and he is bigger than you and me.

Evil Monkey and dc_0725,

I was saddened to read your comments earlier on in this post about not believing in God, let alone Jesus Christ. I don't want it to come across that I'm preaching to you or judging you. I just hope that reading these blogs will plant a seed in your heart and that one day you will see that there is a God, he loves you and has a plan for you.

Very interesting set of opinions. Kinda runs the whole spectrum.

EM I understand your opinion. It seems totally incongruent that a God of love would use fire and brimstone. Trust me, that one has confounded folks for centuries. I think the answer lies in the nature of God. One has to accept the premise that God is completely Holy, without sin, without doubt. One also has to accept the premise that God created the universe, including man. That would also include man being His highest creation.

I'm no great theologian, but the more I read and look at it from an intellectual standpoint, the more I'm convinced. I would challenge you to open your mind and study, not just read the Bible, but work through some type of Bible study. And if you come to the same point you are now, then you have just that much more knowlege of how we think.

Evil Monkey and dc_0725,

I was saddened to read your comments earlier on in this post about not believing in God, let alone Jesus Christ. I don't want it to come across that I'm preaching to you or judging you. I just hope that reading these blogs will plant a seed in your heart and that one day you will see that there is a God, he loves you and has a plan for you.

-- Posted by saveit on Mon, Sep 17, 2007, at 4:23 PM

EXCUSE ME, But I never said I didn't believe in GOD. I just no longer believe in Santa...read the comment correctly before making such judgements. k? thanks. But I don't believe that your Messiah was Jesus..Sorry but if you read the book you treasure so much, you will see that he fullfilled not a single prophecy the Messiah was to fulfill in order to be the Messiah. Hey if you want to believe the bible, believe all of it, not just the parts you like the best.

ABSOLUTELY NOT, because the things he DOESN'T DO is justified by his faith... Or not!

I guarantee you, he will say that none of that applies to today's world.. Yet he uses other verses in those VERY SAME BOOKS to preach his hatred...

LOL.. Another "random thought" about Noah's Ark and the "flood"

We now know, for example, that Mount Everest is the highest mountain "under the whole heaven." It reaches an altitude of 29,028 feet, which would be a height of 348,336 inches. For enough rain to fall in a period of 40 days to reach the peak of this mountain, the cloud formations would have to drop 8,708 inches of rain per day uniformly over all the earth. This would amount to 363 inches per hour or six inches per minute. Can any reasonable person believe that it once rained continuously for 40 days and nights at an average rate of six inches per minute? A rainfall of six inches in one day is a veritable downpour. What would six inches per minute sustained for 57,600 continuous minutes be like?

And Michael, take the time to answer EACH AND EVERY single question.. Instead of generalizing each question as "....well faith, is all you need."

It would just be enlightening to hear your opinion on each tidbit of info....

Laura, this is why I like his blogs, because I ask a multitude of questions that he never seems to be able to answer.

Love you too! ;)

God made the laws so man would fail , and he made the plan of redemption from the start in his Son Jesus Christ. I abide by the moral laws not the food laws or the others . It would be impossible to keep all 613 for anybody , except my Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Bible says there will be famines , to honor your father and mother means to take care of them in their old age.

Last time I checked a chicken only had two legs.

God said it is finished and stepped back, If you could see through all of your ranting , ever since the fall of man Satan has been in charge the rule of the world was turned over to him.

He has been in charge ever since , he thought by having Jesus put to death he had won ,but in reality he had sealed his own fate , for it was God's whole plan.

First two chapter of Genesis , Genesis God is in charge ,and we exist in paradise.

Last two chapter of Revelation ,God is in charge and we are back in paradise.

All in between is the struggle to find the way back.

Jesus Christ said "I am the way the truth and the life and NO ONE comes to the Father except by me".

That says it all for me ,there are a great many good people , but being good don't get you to Heaven.

Relying on what happen at the Jordan river and Calvary and then when he arose. If we can't believe in his resurrection then our faith is in vain.

The four corners mean North , South, East and West Does not say flat just 4 corners.

Feet in the Bible can also mean a females private parts.

As for the rest of the ones you mentions those were for specific reasons .To keep those kind of sea foods fresh you need good refrigeration ,they did not have it back then God took care of them.

W ho is to say that the trees and shrubs that are poisonous now existed back then ,remember the ground was not cursed until after man sinned.

At least God did make laws for slavery and selling of children back then what laws cover them now.

As far as my daughters go ,attack me all you want ,but don't bring them into it!

The 144,000 are the the truly chosen Jews and the great multitude are the ones saved from the great tribulation and go in the the rapture.

We all will answer to God for our sins and transgressions, but those who are covered by the water of the baptism of Jesus and the blood of Calvary will be told "well done my son or daughter I have a mansion waiting for you"

All the rest ,well I kind of envision like on the old gong show ,a big lever as pulled and down you go all the way to the bottomless pit to reside with Satan forever ,by the way he isn't in charge of Hell he's a tenant the same as everybody else that goes.

Then all that is destroyed and only the NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH WILL EXIST. Which I and countless others will live eternally.

There will be no memory of the ones who didn't make it because there will be no tears in Heaven.

I wear glasses , I eat seafood and I have had a vasectomy just in case you were wondering.

Faith does not hurt to have when sick either.

As far as Noah's ark ,Bible says it happened ,it happened .

dc_0725,

I apologize. I made an assumption that I shouldn't have.

I want to wish everyone a blessed Lord's Day and pray that you attend a church of your choosing ,the name of it doesnt matter at long as it praises God almighty. The churches need to quit keeping to themselves and ban together to make a difference. The non-believers stick together close that "brothers and sisters in Christ do" They even make better friends sometimes, don't figure?

That is the last paragraph in this blog. He wasn't preaching to you. He was calling on Christians to band together.

Nice try LauraSFT, thing is you won't be able to tell these people anything. They have turned a deaf ear to reason.

Back to the blog: LET'S BRING BACK THE CHAIN GANG! I really think that is just the kind of embarassment some of those guys need. Also, enough of this "good time" b.s. no more of it.

may I suggest a game of flag football Michael? LOL

Why is it that you can bring up a subject that is not addressed in the blog and I can't? I have talked to Darrick. I was trying to express to him the seriousness of Michael's position, I think it worked. I do not look for debate. I really can think of much better things to do with my time.

Bring up wife swap, and watch how much it is exactly that I DO NOT CARE! You do not know the story, yet you are passing judgement....hmmmm, sounds a little twisted to me!

I wasn't changing the subject, dear. I was expressing to DARRICK the seriousness of faith by comparing it to the seriousness he feels (or anyone feels) when someone attacks the very core of their being.

Stolen25, I am not scared of the pit of snakes. I am not in the pit!

Revolution, I have spoken to Darrick, it is ok. You can let it go. Not only is he grown up enough to talk it out, he is grown up enough not to have you talk for him. Thank you though, you beast you! lol, that came from your friend. She called you a beast!

No according to her own definition a few months back that is the epitome of a "bad friend". That is what I was told I was to my best friend for not pointing out her faults.

As she will fight for him, blindly so to speak. Michael will apparently fight for Christianity. That is a good point. The one I was trying to express was that anytime you take something that is near and dear to someone's heart and put it on the chopping block we get defensive, that is how you define who you are. All you have in this life is who you are. Who you will be remembered as being. I am estactic that she is so loyal, everyone needs a friend like that. Notice how loyal Michael is to HIS God. HIS God by HIS definition.

You must only understand why they felt those actions were necessary. ----that is what I said.

That means: Darrick knows why I felt those actions were necessary. I understand that he thinks they weren't I also understand that he knows in my opinion they were.

If you must tell my life story on here, go ahead. I have nothing to be ashamed of. Only one problem YOU DO NOT KNOW ME! Hard to tell alot about me if YOU DO NOT KNOW ME!

Even though I highly respect Revolution, let's attempt to get this back on topic.

I am all for the chain gangs, we lock these people up and give them food, a college education, cable TV, conjugal visits, weight training and it's all free for them. I can see why prison doesn't deter anybody. I am all for the death penaltly, it should be used on a hourly basis until all horrible crimes are stopped.

JMHO

Vindicated, I am right there with you on that.

I also think that repeat offenders ought to get no choice at doing the worst jobs on the chain gang. I do not think that if you have been booked into the jail more than twice you ought to get any kind of "good time". Did you know that you get good time for showing up to jail on time. As in, if you go to court and the judge says "report to Bedford County Jail on the 20th at 7 O'clock" and you show up on time it's like an automatic two or three days off your time? THAT IS ABSURD.

Honestly, I would like to see some ladies mud wrestle. Hell's Kitchen was awesome this year, Pickup Artist is good too. I didn't think I would like it but they did turn it into a pretty wholesome show. I like Project Runway too.

Oh I used to love Extreme Home Makeover but I just spent the whole hour crying lol..

and yes Evil Monkey, Hell's Kitchen was awesome this year and I can't wait for Kitchen Confidential to start on Wednesday, can't get enough of ole Chef Ramsay :P

and yes prison deters me also, I don't look so good in orange ;) but like you said, that existence is better than what some of them have. They should put them to work the first day they are in, paving roads, rebuilding houses, painting, doing some good hard labor and then let's see if they come back. I heard from one person that had to go to jail for a DUI that he spent all his time sleeping and watching TV..how crazy is that? And what exactly did he learn? Driving drunk just gets you some much needed sleep and time to catch up on your soaps.

I love reading these blogs, but I would not normally get into these discussions because people are mean on here. But I did want to make a comment to Revolution - Laura did not make me question Darrick's sexuality - you did. I took Laura to mean you as generally not him specifically. Maybe I did not read it the way it was meant or the way everyone else read it, but that is how I took it.

Wow, this blog has gotten crazy...

I wished I didn't work 16 hour days then perhaps I would have more time to respond ;)

Awww darrick don't you think Michael ever thinks about you?

I bet he does..I'd be willing to bet the entire time he is writing his blogs he is thinking.."ok How is darrick going to rip this apart...Ah-Ha I got him now, he can't rip this up." LOL

Disclaimer: I hope you realize I am just kidding around with you..I couldn't help myself, you left yourself wide open..lol

Revolution,

First, I want to thank you for this discussion. It has been quite a learning opportunity for me.

Rules of the Old Testament:

The "Rules" of the Jewish people in the Old Testament were given to them by God because Jesus had not come into the picture yet. They had no other way of salvation other than by following those rules. After Jesus died for our sins, the rules were no longer needed because it is through his death that we enter Heaven. This is why the New Testament is followed by Christians.

Clean/Unclean Animals

Paul declared no food is unclean all food is clean: Rom 14:13 - Rom 14:14 (NIV) 13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. Rom 14:20 - Rom 14:21 (NIV) 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

1 Cor 10:25 - 27 (NIV) 25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." 27If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.

Perhaps if some of us would step off our pedestals, and realize what hypocrites we are, then maybe...comments such as "You can change the topic, but NOT when it brings up someone's personal life which is noone on here's business. It's not even your business.

Posted by Revolution"

wouldn't be on here. Which, Revolution I find it hilarious when you state that, considering the many times you and others have brought my personal life into blogs that have nothing to do with the topics. Perhaps it is best if we all practice what we preach instead of

"I BELIEVE in God, I just don't believe you can pick and choose what you want to live by, which "law" you obey and which one don't."

Revolution,

May I ask a few questions of your faith? I believe I understand that you are of Jewish beliefs.

Do you (Jewish community) practice blood sacrifices? Or are those obsolete according to today's Jewish laws?

I'm curious to understand where you're coming from.

dc_0725:

Are you Jewish? Because the is the same belief that I have. If you really really read the bible, especially the first 5 chapters you will see that Jesus was not the Messiah and we don't believe that at all and yet we are still God's Chosen People. I would go through the list of the prophecy's that he was to fulfill but I won't waste my time because noone wants to expand their minds and perhaps learn something that goes against what they have been brain-washed to believe.

And before any assumptions are made, Yes I believe in God.

-- Posted by Revolution on Mon, Sep 17, 2007, at 9:16 PM

This is how I knew you were Jewish. I only have one log in name.

I compared it to TWO other things! Thank you!

Okay so I am going to put my two cents in here and then drop the subject. Don't care if you agree with me, this is just my opinion and mine alone.

But, we live in the "Bible Belt" and have you ever noticed that the SOUTH has more devestating natural disasters than any other part of the country. From Hurricanes, Massive Tornadoes, forest fires, droughts, flooding in Texas, Oklahoma (yes part of the bible belt), the hottest summer on record in Tennessee, and yes even earthquakes. Sure the North sees it's fair share, but nothing compared to what the "Bible Belt" experiences. NOW according to what most Christians say, all those things occur because God is mad. And if you look at the North, most if not all are of Catholic and Jewish faith. Doesn't this make anyone think that we may have it all wrong? And maybe God is trying to open our eyes.

This is just my opinion. But just take a minute, before you type in your reply, to think about what I said.

That's good stuff, Revolution.

I'm eager to look into this.

Matthew 7:1

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

John 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

And in regards to his mother WHO NO ONE KNOWS B/C I HAVE NOT MENTIONED HER NAME! I was also talking about YOUR mother, your kids or anything that you consider close to your heart!

You are done responding to me b/c you know that I am going to call you out on your stuff and not let you be the "bully" of this board! I am not attempting to get you angry I am telling you that if someone came to you and asked you why you believe in your children, you told them then they responded with telling you that they lie frequently as most kids do and that sometimes when you aren't looking they even go so far as to flip you off! That wouldn't bring out your "fighting side"?

Just so you realize, I didn't start this conversation between the two of us, YOU DID. I hardly think it is fair to strike up a conversation for the sake of argument then when you decide the argument isn't in your favor back out and tell the other to "back off and leave you alone".

First and foremost-the Jews are God's chosen people and Israel will be blessed.

Second ,according to my Jewish studies if you don't keep all the Torah then you are guilty of all.

Judaism does not need Christianity to prove itself , but Christianity does need Judaism.

I attempt to live the Bible the best I can , but if I could I would not have needed a Savior.

In my studies the only laws carried over were the ones wrote on the heart, not on stone. People should want to follow God's ways because they want to not because they have to.

The laws were giving to Israel because they asked for them.

Posted by Revolution on Wed, Sep 19, 2007, at 1:18 PM

The long and very informative comment that you left at that time was AMAZING!!!

And I notice that NOBODY has been able to PROVE that Jesus fulfilled ONE SINGLE SOLITARY PROPHECY... And it is equally amazing to be shown that dividing "God" into three separate beings is considered idolatry...

It's just funny how people (Christians) who aren't his chosen think they have all the answers because some ficitonal character was created just like in many romance novels...

There aren't many books in the world with as many authors as the "Bible" that are SO PERFECT, it is without mistake, better yet a single contradiction...

I find it absolutely hilarious that the first four books in the New Testament are simply THREE SEPARATE PEOPLE'S opinions of a few events... And NONE of them are exactly the same. Now that is ironic, a few events are seen by four different authors, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.. and NOT A SINGLE one of those four books recorded events ver batim, because each one involves different interpretations....

DON'T READ ALL THESE UNLESS YOU FEEL IT IS NECESSARY.. BUT A BOOK WITH THIS MANY FLAWS IN IT, IS CONSIDERED PERFECT??? HOW COULD THERE BE ONE SINGLE MISTAKE IN A BOOK IF IT IS "GOD'S WORD"?

Who incited David to count the fighting men of Israel?

(a) God did (2 Samuel 24: 1)

(b) Satan did (I Chronicles 2 1:1)

In that count how many fighting men were found in Israel?

(a) Eight hundred thousand (2 Samuel 24:9)

(b) One million, one hundred thousand (IChronicles 21:5)

How many fighting men were found in Judah?

(a) Five hundred thousand (2 Samuel 24:9)

(b) Four hundred and seventy thousand (I Chronicles 21:5)

God sent his prophet to threaten David with how many years of famine?

(a) Seven (2 Samuel 24:13)

(b) Three (I Chronicles 21:12)

How old was Ahaziah when he began to rule over Jerusalem?

(a) Twenty-two (2 Kings 8:26)

(b) Forty-two (2 Chronicles 22:2)

How old was Jehoiachin when he became king of Jerusalem?

(a) Eighteen (2 Kings 24:8)

(b) Eight (2 Chronicles 36:9)

How long did he rule over Jerusalem?

(a) Three months (2 Kings 24:8)

(b) Three months and ten days (2 Chronicles 36:9)

The chief of the mighty men of David lifted up his spear and killed how many men at one time?

(a) Eight hundred (2 Samuel 23:8)

(b) Three hundred (I Chronicles 11: 11)

When did David bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem? Before defeating the Philistines or after?

(a) After (2 Samuel 5 and 6)

(b) Before (I Chronicles 13 and 14)

How many pairs of clean animals did God tell Noah to take into the Ark?

(a) Two (Genesis 6:19, 20)

(b) Seven (Genesis 7:2). But despite this last instruction only two pairs went into the ark (Genesis 7:8-9)

When David defeated the King of Zobah, how many horsemen did he capture?

(a) One thousand and seven hundred (2 Samuel 8:4)

(b) Seven thousand (I Chronicles 18:4)

How many stalls for horses did Solomon have?

(a) Forty thousand (I Kings 4:26)

(b) Four thousand (2 chronicles 9:25)

In what year of King Asa's reign did Baasha, King of Israel die?

(a) Twenty-sixth year (I Kings 15:33 - 16:8)

(b) Still alive in the thirty-sixth year (2 Chronicles 16:1)

How many overseers did Solomon appoint for the work of building the temple?

(a) Three thousand six hundred (2 Chronicles 2:2)

(b) Three thousand three hundred (I Kings 5:16)

Solomon built a facility containing how many baths?

(a) Two thousand (1 Kings 7:26)

(b) Over three thousand (2 Chronicles 4:5)

Of the Israelites who were freed from the Babylonian captivity, how many were the children of Pahrath-Moab?

(a) Two thousand eight hundred and twelve (Ezra 2:6)

(b) Two thousand eight hundred and eighteen (Nehemiah 7:11)

How many were the children of Zattu?

(a) Nine hundred and forty-five (Ezra 2:8)

(b) Eight hundred and forty-five (Nehemiah 7:13)

How many were the children of Azgad?

(a) One thousand two hundred and twenty-two (Ezra 2:12)

(b) Two thousand three hundred and twenty-two (Nehemiah 7:17)

How many were the children of Adin?

(a) Four hundred and fifty-four (Ezra 2:15)

(b) Six hundred and fifty-five (Nehemiah 7:20)

How many were the children of Hashum?

(a) Two hundred and twenty-three (Ezra 2:19)

(b) Three hundred and twenty-eight (Nehemiah 7:22)

How many were the children of Bethel and Ai?

(a) Two hundred and twenty-three (Ezra 2:28)

(b) One hundred and twenty-three (Nehemiah 7:32)

Ezra 2:64 and Nehemiah 7:66 agree that the total number of the whole assembly was 42,360. Yet the numbers do not add up to anything close. The totals obtained from each book is as follows:

(a) 29,818 (Ezra)

(b) 31,089 (Nehemiah)

How many singers accompanied the assembly?

(a) Two hundred (Ezra 2:65)

(b) Two hundred and forty-five (Nehemiah 7:67)

What was the name of King Abijah's mother?

(a) Michaiah, daughter of Uriel of Gibeah (2 Chronicles 13:2)

(b) Maachah, daughter of Absalom (2 Chronicles 11:20) But Absalom had only one daughter whose name was Tamar (2 Samuel 14:27)

Did Joshua and the Israelites capture Jerusalem?

(a) Yes (Joshua 10:23, 40)

(b) No (Joshua 15:63)

Who was the father of Joseph, husband of Mary?

(a) Jacob (Matthew 1:16)

(b) Hell (Luke 3:23)

Jesus descended from which son of David?

(a) Solomon (Matthew 1:6)

(b) Nathan(Luke3:31)

Who was the father of Shealtiel?

(a) Jechoniah (Matthew 1:12)

(b) Neri' (Luke 3:27)

Which son of Zerubbabel was an ancestor of Jesus Christ?

(a) Abiud (Matthew 1: 13)

(b) Rhesa (Luke 3:27) But the seven sons of Zerubbabel are as follows: i.Meshullam, ii. Hananiah, iii. Hashubah, iv. Ohel, v.Berechiah, vi. Hasadiah, viii. Jushabhesed (I Chronicles 3:19, 20). The names Abiud and Rhesa do not fit in anyway.

Who was the father of Uzziah?

(a) Joram (Matthew 1:8)

(b) Amaziah (2 Chronicles 26:1)

Who as the father of Jechoniah?

(a) Josiah (Matthew 1:11)

(b) Jeholakim (I Chronicles 3:16)

How many generations were there from the Babylonian exile until Christ?

(a) Matthew says fourteen (Matthew 1:17)

(b) But a careful count of the generations reveals only thirteen (see Matthew 1: 12-16)

Who was the father of Shelah?

(a) Cainan (Luke 3:35-36)

(b) Arphaxad (Genesis II: 12)

Was John the Baptist Elijah who was to come?

(a) Yes (Matthew II: 14, 17:10-13)

(b) No(John 1:19-21)

Would Jesus inherit David's throne?

(a) Yes. So said the angel (Luke 1:32)

(b) No, since he is a descendant of Jehoiakim (see Matthew 1: I 1, I Chronicles 3:16). And Jehoiakim was cursed by God so that none of his descendants can sit upon David's throne (Jeremiah 36:30)

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on how many animals?

(a) One - a colt (Mark 11:7; cf Luke 19:3 5). "And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments on it; and he sat upon it."

(b) Two - a colt and an ass (Matthew 21:7). "They brought the ass and the colt and put their garments on them and he sat thereon."

How did Simon Peter find out that Jesus was the Christ?

(a) By a revelation from heaven (Matthew 16:17)

(b) His brother Andrew told him (John 1:41)

Where did Jesus first meet Simon Peter and Andrew?

(a) By the sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18-22)

(b) On the banks of river Jordan (John 1:42). After that, Jesus decided to go to Galilee (John 1:43)

When Jesus met Jairus was Jairus' daughter already dead?

(a) Yes. Matthew 9:18 quotes him as saying, "My daughter has just died."

(b) No. Mark 5:23 quotes him as saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death."

Did Jesus allow his disciples to keep a staff on their journey?

(a) Yes(Mark6:8)

(b) No (Matthew 10:9; Luke 9:3)

Did Herod think that Jesus was John the Baptist?

(a) Yes (Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:16)

(b) No (Luke 9:9)

Did John the Baptist recognize Jesus before his baptism?

(a) Yes (Matthew 3:13-14)

(b) No (John 1:32,33)

Did John the Baptist recognize Jesus after his baptism?

(a) Yes (John 1:32, 33)

(b) No (Matthew 11:2)

According to the Gospel of John, what did Jesus say about bearing his own witness?

(a) "If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true" (John 5:3 1)

(b) "Even if I do bear witness to myself, my testimony is true" (John 8:14)

When Jesus entered Jerusalem did he cleanse the temple that same day?

(a) Yes (Matthew 21:12)

(b) No. He went into the temple and looked around, but since it was very late he did nothing. Instead, he went to Bethany to spend the night and returned the next morning to cleanse the temple (Mark I 1:1- 17).

The Gospels say that Jesus cursed a fig tree. Did the tree wither at once?

(a) Yes. (Matthew 21:19)

(b) No. It withered overnight (Mark II: 20)

Did Judas kiss Jesus?

(a) Yes (Matthew 26:48-50)

(b) No. Judas could not get close enough to Jesus to kiss him (John 18:3-12)

What did Jesus say about Peter's denial?

(a) "The cock will not crow till you have denied me three times" (John 13:38).

(b) "Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times" (Mark 14:30) . When the cock crowed once, the three denials were not yet complete (see Mark 14:72). Therefore prediction (a) failed.

Did Jesus bear his own cross?

(a) Yes (John 19:17)

(b) No (Matthew 27:31-32)

Did Jesus die before the curtain of the temple was torn?

(a) Yes(Matthew27:50-5 1;MarklS:37-38)

(b) No. After the curtain was torn, then Jesus crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last (Luke 23:45-46)

Did Jesus say anything secretly?

(a) No. "I have said nothing secretly" (John 18:20)

(b) Yes. "He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything" (Mark 4:34). The disciples asked him "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given" (Matthew 13: 1 0-11)

Where was Jesus at the sixth hour on the day of the crucifixion?

(a) On the cross (Mark 15:23)

(b) In Pilate's court (John 19:14)

The gospels say that two thieves were crucified along with Jesus. Did both thieves mock Jesus?

(a) Yes (Mark 15:32)

(b) No. One of them mocked Jesus, the other defended Jesus (Luke 23:43)

Did Jesus ascend to Paradise the same day of the crucifixion?

(a) Yes. He said to the thief who defended him, "Today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43)

(b) No. He said to Mary Magdelene two days later, "I have not yet ascended to the Father" (John 20:17)

When Paul was on the road to Damascus he saw a light and heard a voice. Did those who were with him hear the voice?

(a) Yes(Acts9:7)

(b) No(Acts22:9)

When Paul saw the light he fell to the ground. Did his traveling companions also fall to the ground?

(a) Yes (Acts 26:14)

(b) No (Acts 9:7)

Did the voice spell out on the spot what Paul's duties were to be?

(a) Yes (Acts 26:16-18)

(b) No. The voice commanded Paul to go into the city of Damascus and there he will be told what he must do. (Acts9:7;22: 10)

When the Israelites dwelt in Shittin they committed adultery with the daughters of Moab. God struck them with a plague. How many people died in that plague?

(a) Twenty-four thousand (Numbers 25:1 and 9)

(b) Twenty-three thousand (I Corinthians 10:8)

How many members of the house of Jacob came to Egypt?

(a) Seventy souls (Genesis 4&27)

(b) Seventy-five souls (Acts 7:14)

What did Judas do with the blood money he received for betraying Jesus?

(a) He bought a field (Acts 1: 18)

(b) He threw all of it into the temple and went away. The priests could not put the blood money into the temple treasury, so they used it to buy a field to bury strangers (Matthew 27:5)

How did Judas die?

(a) After he threw the money into the temple he went away and hanged himself (Matthew 27:5)

(b) After he bought the field with the price of his evil deed he fell headlong and burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out (Acts 1:18)

Why is the field called "Field of Blood"?

(a) Because the priests bought it with the blood money (Matthew 27:8)

(b) Because of the bloody death of Judas therein (Acts 1:19)

Who is a ransom for whom?

(a) "The Son of Man came...to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). "Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all... "(I Timothy 2:5-6)

(b) "The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright" (Proverbs 21:18)

Is the law of Moses useful?

(a) Yes. "All scripture is... profitable..." (2 Timothy 3:16)

(b) No. ". . . A former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness... "(Hebrews 7:18)

What was the exact wording on the cross?

(a) "This is Jesus the King of the Jews" (Matthew 27:37)

(b) "The King of the Jews" (Mark 15:26)

(c) "This is the King of the Jews" (Luke 23:38)

(d) "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" (John 19:19)

Did Herod want to kill John the Baptist?

(a) Yes (Matthew 14:5)

(b) No. It was Herodias, the wife of Herod who wanted to kill him. But Herod knew that he was a righteous man and kept him safe (Mark 6:20)

Who was the tenth disciple of Jesus in the list of twelve?

(a) Thaddaeus (Matthew 10: 1-4; Mark 3:13 -19)

(b) Judas son of James is the corresponding name in Luke's gospel (Luke 6:12-16)

Jesus saw a man sitat the tax collector's office and called him to be his disciple. What was his name?

(a) Matthew (Matthew 9:9)

(b) Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27)

Was Jesus crucified on the daytime before the Passover meal or the daytime after?

(a) After (Mark 14:12-17)

(b) Before. Before the feast of the Passover (John 1) Judas went out at night (John 13:30). The other disciples thought he was going out to buy supplies to prepare for the Passover meal (John 13:29). When Jesus was arrested, the Jews did not enter Pilate's judgment hail because they wanted to stay clean to eat the Passover (John 18:28). When the judgment was pronounced against Jesus, it was about the sixth hour on the day of Preparation for the Passover (John 19:14)

Did Jesus pray to The Father to prevent the crucifixion?

(a) Yes. (Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42)

(b) No. (John 12:27)

In the gospels which say that Jesus prayed to avoid the cross, how many times did 'he move away from his disciples to pray?

(a) Three (Matthew 26:36-46 and Mark 14:32-42)

(b) One. No opening is left for another two times. (Luke 22:39-46)

Matthew and Mark agree that Jesus went away and prayed three times. What were the words of the second prayer?

(a) Mark does not give the words but he says that the words were the same as the first prayer (Mark 14:3 9)

(b) Matthew gives us the words, and we can see that they are not the same as in the first (Matthew 26:42)

What did the centurion say when Jesus dies?

(a) "Certainly this man was innocent" (Luke 23:47)

(b) "Truly this man was the Son of God" (Mark 15:39)

When Jesus said "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me ? " in what language did he speak?

(a) Hebrew: the words are "Eloi, Eloi ….."(Matthew 27:46)

(b) Aramaic: the words are "Eloi, Eloi ….. "(Mark 15:34)

According to the gospels, what were the last words of Jesus before he died?

(a) "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" (Luke 23:46)

(b) "It is finished" (John 19:30).

When Jesus entered Capernaum he healed the slave of a centurion. Did the centurion come personally to request Jesus for this?

(a) Yes (Matthew 8:5)

(b) No. He sent some elders of the Jews and his friends (Luke 7:3,6)

(a) Adam was told that if and when he eats the forbidden fruit he would die the same day (Genesis 2:17)

(b) Adam ate the fruit and went on to live to a ripe old age of 930 years (Genesis 5:5)

(a) God decided that the life-span of humans will be limited to 120 years (Genesis 6:3)

(b) Many people born after that lived longer than 120. Arpachshad lived 438 years. His son Shelah lived 433 years. His son Eber lived 464 years, etc. (Genesis 11:12-16)

Apart from Jesus did anyone else ascend to heaven?

(a) No (John 3:13)

(b) Yes. "And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven" (2 Kings 2:11)

Who was high priest when David went into the house of God and ate the consecrated bread?

(a) Abiathar (Mark 2:26)

(b) Ahimelech, the father of Abiathar (I Samuel 1:1; 22:20)

Was Jesus' body wrapped in spices before burial in accordance with Jewish burial customs?

(a) Yes and his female disciples witnessed his burial (John 19:39-40)

(b) No. Jesus was simply wrapped in a linen shroud. Then the women bought and prepared spices "so that they may go and anoint him [Jesus)" (Mark 16: 1)

When did the women buy the spices?

(a) After "the Sabbath was past" (Mark 16:1)

(b) Before the Sabbath. The women "prepared spices and ointments." Then, "on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment" (Luke 23:55 to 24:1)

At what time of day did the women visit the tomb?

(a) "Toward the dawn" (Matthew 28: 1)

(b) "When the sun had risen" (Mark 16:2)

What was the purpose for which the women went to the tomb?

(a) To anoint Jesus' body with spices (Mark 16: 1; Luke 23:55 to 24: 1)

(b) To see the tomb. Nothing about spices here (Matthew 28: 1)

(c) For no specified reason. In this gospel the wrapping with spices had been done before the Sabbath (John 20: 1)

A large stone was placed at the entrance of the tomb. Where was the stone when the women arrived?

(a) They saw that the stone was "Rolled back" (Mark 16:4) They found the stone "rolled away from the tomb" (Luke 24:2) They saw that "the stone had been taken away from the tomb" (John 20:1)

(b) As the women approached, an angel descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and conversed with the women. Matthew made the women witness the spectacular rolling away of the stone (Matthew 28:1-6)

Did anyone tell the women what happened to Jesus' body?

(a) Yes. "A young man in a white robe" (Mark 16:5). "Two men ... in dazzling apparel" later described as angels (Luke 24:4 and 24:23). An angel - the one who rolled back the stone (Matthew 16:2). In each case the women were told that Jesus had risen from the dead (Matthew 28:7; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:5 footnote)

(b) No. Mary met no one and returned saying, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him" (John 20:2)

When did Mary Magdelene first meet the resurrected Jesus? And how did she react?

(a) Mary and the other women met Jesus on their way back from their first and only visit to the tomb. They took hold of his feet and worshipped him (Matthew 28:9)

(b) On her second visit to the tomb Mary met Jesus just outside the tomb. When she saw Jesus she did not recognize him. She mistook him for the gardener. She still thinks that Jesus' body is laid to rest somewhere and she demands to know where. But when Jesus said her name she at once recognized him and called him "Teacher." Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me..." (John 20:11 to 17)

What was Jesus' instruction for his disciples?

(a) "Tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me" (Matthew 2 8: 10)

(b) "Go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (John 20:17)

When did the disciples return to Galilee?

(a) Immediately, because when they saw Jesus in Galilee "some doubted" (Matthew 28:17). This period of uncertainty should not persist

(b) After at least 40 days. That evening the disciples were still in Jerusalem (Luke 24:3 3). Jesus appeared to them there and told them, stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). He was appearing to them "during forty days" (Acts 1:3), and "charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise ... "(Acts 1:4)

To whom did the Midianites sell Joseph?

(a) "To the Ishmaelites" (Genesis 37:28)

(b) "To Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh" (Genesis 37:36)

Who brought Joseph to Egypt?

(a) The Ishmaelites bought Joseph and then "took Joseph to Egypt" (Genesis 37:28)

(b) "The Midianites had sold him in Egypt" (Genesis 37:36)

(c) Joseph said to his brothers "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt" (Genesis 45:4)

Does God change his mind?

(a) Yes. "The word of the Lord came to Samuel: "I repent that I have made Saul King..." (I Samuel 15:10 to 11)

(b) No. God "will not lie or repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent" (I Samuel 15:29)

(c) Yes. "And the Lord repented that he had made Saul King over Israel" (I Samuel 15:35). Notice that the above three quotes are all from the same chapter of the same book! In addition, the Bible shows that God repented on several other occasions:

i. "The Lord was sorry that he made man" (Genesis 6:6)

"I am sorry that I have made them" (Genesis 6:7)

ii. "And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do to his people" (Exodus 32:14).

iii. (Lots of other such references).

The Bible says that for each miracle Moses and Aaron demonstrated the magicians did the same by their secret arts. Then comes the following feat:

(a) Moses and Aaron converted all the available water into blood (Exodus 7:20-21)

(b) The magicians did the same (Exodus 7:22). This is impossible, since there would have been no water left to convert into blood.

Who killed Goliath?

(a) David (I Samuel 17:23, 50)

(b) Elhanan (2 Samuel 21:19)

Who killed Saul?

(a) "Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.... Thus Saul died... (I Samuel 31:4-6)

(b) An Amalekite slew him (2 Samuel 1:1- 16)

Does every man sin?

(a) Yes. "There is no man who does not sin" (I Kings 8:46; see also 2 Chronicles 6:36; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; and I John 1:810)

(b) No. True Christians cannot possibly sin, because they are the children of God. "Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God.. (I John 5:1). "We should be called children of God; and so we are" (I John 3: 1). "He who loves is born of God" (I John 4:7). "No one born of God commits sin; for God's nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God" (I John 3:9). But, then again, Yes! "If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (I John 1:8)

Who will bear whose burden?

(a) "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2)

(b) "Each man will have to bear his own load" (Galatians 6:5)

How many disciples did Jesus appear to after his resurrection?

(a) Twelve (I Corinthians 15:5)

(b) Eleven (Matthew 27:3-5 and Acts 1:9-26, see also Matthew 28:16; Mark 16:14 footnote; Luke 24:9; Luke 24:3 3)

Where was Jesus three days after his baptism?

(a) After his baptism, "the spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days ... (Mark 1:12-13)

(b) Next day after the baptism, Jesus selected two disciples. Second day: Jesus went to Galilee - two more disciples. Third day: Jesus was at a wedding feast in Cana in Galilee (see John 1:35; 1:43; 2:1-11)

Was baby Jesus' life threatened in Jerusalem?

(a) Yes, so Joseph fled with him to Egypt and stayed there until Herod died (Matthew 2:13 23)

(b) No. The family fled nowhere. They calmly presented the child at the Jerusalem temple according to the Jewish customs and returned to Galilee (Luke 2:21-40)

When Jesus walked on water how did the disciples respond?

(a) They worshipped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God" (Matthew 14:33)

(b) "They were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened" (Mark 6:51-52)

NOW, if this were a scientific study or an "agnostic" belief system, most "Christian's" would quickly point out just how flawed their ways of thinking are... But when it is PROVEN that their very foundation is a complete and total book of contradictions, then it isn't so "near and dear to the heart"...

Jesus said that some would seek after wisdom and some would seek after signs . I live on faith in something better ,it is all I have.

TO LauraSFT:

You love to prove Revolution wrong, even if it is just a small sentence. and of course you wouldn't shut up about it, being boastful and thinking you got one up on her. So prove her wrong in the thought out comment disproving Jesus. I have read all of you over and over again wanting to know about this and why doesn't she believe, blah, blah, blah, but where are all you now? She has proven you all to be wrong and you can't prove otherwise...LOVE IT!!!! In order to prove her wrong, you will have to prove the bible wrong. She got you on that one. All of you, the only thing you can come up with Mr. Bell is faith. We all have some type of faith, but in the end, it has to have some kind of facts built behind it. I have faith my bills will be paid, but the FACT is, if I don't work they won't be.

So I say.."VIVA LA REVOLUCION!!!"

Belief can be used for any idea or religion. Belief seeks no support from reality. Christianity teaches what is not real. Contrary to Christianity's own goals, they teach that defectors, finding other religions more emotionally appealing, is proper. Christianity's tenet of "blind faith" would require them to allow Christians to follow another religion and deny Jesus, if they followed faith. How can they argue? They are not based on reason, so a system of faith other than Christianity cannot be argued as wrong. An incoherent and contradictory position. If however Christianity attempts to lodge reason to justify Christianity as the supreme religion, they thereby deny their principle of blind faith, as they have demonstrated an attempt to justify their religion via reason, and not faith.

Deuteronomy, 24:16; "There will not be killed fathers for sons (sins, nor) are sons killed for father's (sins). Each man in his own sin will be killed."

This verse teaches that the theory of the death of Jesus on behalf of others' sins is contrary to God's own words. God's system is just, only the one who sins pays the price, not another. God teaches us intellectually sound ideas that are reasonable and conform to justice.

In the most important of all areas - our belief in God's word - Christianity asks us to abandon reason. Sinai was orchestrated by God to achieve a proof of God's existence and His desired system for man. No other religion can make such a historically proven claim. God intended man to use his reason and arrive at the correct life. Christianity asks man to violate God's intent and abandon reason, living by faith.

A Rabbi once noted, the claim by Christianity to be a religion of love is an attempt to deny an underlying religion of hate. Jesus in effect murdered God, as Jesus' existence replaced God's existence. Calling their religion one of love attempted to deny Christianity's true, hateful and aggressive ideology displayed by the Crusades, Christianity's creed of eternal damnation for those who deny Jesus.

As a permutation of the previous corruption, Christianity places nuns and priests on pedestals. Part of their aura is their deprivation of sex. Christianity seeks to create saints by praising those who abstain from areas in which man feels shame or guilt. Conversely, Judaism does not deny man's powerful urges, but asks man to channel those urges to the proper partner, and only at the appropriate times and circumstances. Judaism does not wish man to be steeped in desires, nor to deny his desires. Judaism directs man to the proper balance of satisfaction and abstention. Man is taught to guide his desires, not to follow them blindly. This practice redirects man's energies towards the higher goals of pursuing wisdom and justice. Man finds true satisfaction only when he engages his true self - his intelligence. Current accounts of priests sodomizing children demonstrate Judaism's accurate view on the need for sexual satisfaction, and the repercussions of those who deny real desires. Judaism teaches reality, Christianity teaches lies, in the most fundamental area. It may very well be that the "virgin birth" story was written to deny the sexual in connection with Jesus, from his "conception". The contradiction of nuns and priests is that on the one hand, they claim their life's work to be God's will , i.e., their existence is a good. On the other hand, their abstinence does not allow new children to enter the world, who themselves could become nuns and priests. If they feel human existence is a good when one is a nun or priest, their very abstinence prevents other nuns and priests from being born and continuing their work.

The Torah teaches that we are not to follow a prophet who goes against God's word:

Deuteronomy, 18:19, 20. "And it will be the man who does not listen to My words, but who speaks in My name, I will inquire from him. However, a prophet who sinfully speaks a matter in My name which I did not command to speak and he speaks in the name of other God's, you must kill that prophet."

Jesus spoke against God's laws in God's name, attempting to change what God said. God's Torah teaches that this crime is so great it deserves death.

God's Torah, and reality, requires one to use his mind, seeking proof for one's actions. Torah is built on rationale, containing proofs so man may function in accordance with intelligence, leading a life, which is pleasing and reasonable. Man, being so impressed with the sensibility of the tenets of Judaism, is encouraged to derive much benefit not only in actions that are good for oneself and society, but as one engages one's mind, one discovers new insights which offer the most satisfying life. Intelligence is the one faculty God gave man and no other being. God desires that mankind enjoy life, and use intelligence alone to study reality and perceive wisdom, which affords a person the greatest existence.

Man you people have a bad case of selective reading...... I said I will not debate over religion. It is not up for debate in my book. My employer really doesn't care b/c my work is done.

What exactly are we getting punished for?

-- Posted by saveit on Wed, Sep 19, 2007, at 1:15 PM

Saveit:

Perhaps that is for you to pray and figure out, because all I know is that no other part of the country suffers God's wrath with such destruction, death and devestation as the "bible belt" I just find that highly curious.

Perhaps it is the holier than thou, preaching of a angry mean God, that has him a bit stirred up.

JMO

It's not b/c I can't it's b/c I DON'T WANT TO! I had rather not debate about such things that are tied in with my emotions and feelings, thanks for the invitation though.

Nobody is intending to shake your faith... Have a nice day. Argue with yourself.

saveit... I said it was ALOT of information... and some of it hard to understand. But the simple truth is it is all factual information and in and of itself contradictions...

I just don't understand MOST religions, honestly... Every book written about a certain faith has some sort of leniancy to one's own beliefs. Including, but not limited to, my very own. I am just glad you are trying to read and understand something new instead of simply relying on faith. I have faith, we all do. But faith alone does not cause me to believe.

oh I like this quote also:

"I feel, like all modern Americans, no consciousness of sin and simply do not believe in it. All I know is that if God loves me only half as much as my mother does, he will not send me to Hell. That is a final fact of my inner consciousness, and for no religion could I deny its truth." ~ Lin Yutang

"Religion easily--has the best bull story of all time. Think about it. Religion has convinced people that there's an invisible man...living in the sky. Who watches everything you do every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a list of ten specific things he doesn't want you to do. And if you do any of these things, he will send you to a special place, of burning and fire and smoke and torture and anguish for you to live forever, and suffer, and burn, and scream, until the end of time. But he loves you. He loves you. He loves you and he needs money." ~ George Carlin

OH SO TRUE!!!

I know what Revolution is saying about this verse and that one don't match as this is a conversation I have heard before.

This is my thing....I take the bible as a whole. A guide. Not word for word instructions. I don't look for things to contradict themselves, I don't feel it is necessary.

My ideas are...God loves everyone, of every creed, color, religion, geographic location and sexual orientation (and many many others I am forgetting at the moment). The general idea of the bible is for man to be good to mankind. Do good deeds, or at least try. I do not personally claim to know verse for verse. However, I do know the general idea of the bible. As a whole the idea is kindness, love and patience. That is why I will not debate religion. It to me is not one group of people doing things the right or wrong way, but a guide for conduct. I can not now, nor will I ever debate about that.

Actually I think that what I do is the polar opposite of cherry picking! Say what you will, call my foundation weak. You have no idea what my foundation is. If what you mean by "strike you down" is to correct you, you are right we do believe he will correct you. I don't think in my whole life I have ever heard one Christian refer to God as evil or sadistic.

Many preach hellfire and brimstone, and God creating all the natural disasters that kill so many innocent men, women and children and he does so because he is mad? Sounds evil to me.

The God I know is a loving, peaceful, gentle God, that is watching humans destroy themselves. He has nothing to do with it. and by "strike you down" I didn't mean "correct you" I meant "kill you where you stand"

Looks like we know the same God, so why are you so hateful towards me?

why yes I do know what they say about people who assume....I also know someone else who says that regularly!

Oh so you know my dad? because that is all he ever says. Seems to be a very popular saying.

I don't know what I am supposed to be giving up. You must be slightly confused or crazy. Because I really don't think you have met my dad. Hard to meet someone that has been dead for 10 years. I guess I should have asked "So you knew my dad?" That maybe would have helped you out a bit.

Nope, just said I knew someone else who said that often...you sound a bit paranoid to me. lol. have a nice day! :)

Suppose you were an omnipotent god, and you demand worship, such as the Christian God. Would you give proof of your existence to those who wished to follow you? I imagine for Jehovah that it would be quite simple to perform a continual sequence of verifiable miracles. It would be quite logical in practice too, for it would keep God's followers from delusion and doubt. There is no such luck with Jehovah though. He demands absolute fidelity without any demonstration of his existence. The only so called record of his existence is the bible. I think it pretty much goes with out saying that not only is the bible 2,000 years out dated, but it is also very unoriginal. Any Christian who proposes that the bible is indeed evidence for God's existence is proposing a double standard. For there are many books which claim to be actual accounts of a higher power. With this in mind, why not believe in Allah from the Koran? Could it be because your faith is what determines your belief and not your so called "factual" book?

Let's examine what faith is. The definition of faith is hope for a circumstance or thing that is not proven to be true. There is no virtue in accepting something on faith, since it may very well be false, and it is clearly not virtuous to believe the false. Faith has also been proven through out history, time and again, that it is equivalent to massive hysteria; IE: Crusades, Burning Times, Inquisitions, Holy Wars, etc. On a grand scale faith, thus far, has only proven to be an intellectual weakness, and a significant barrier to scientific and moral progress. With all of this in mind, how can God possibly expect us to view faith as the greatest way to glorify him, let alone demand this of us?

Most importantly, the point to remember here is that if we don't believe in him, we go to Hell, and this is a greater evil than a lack of the "virtue" of faith or a stunting of science, or anything else conceivable. If God is truly concerned about the good, he will do what he can to keep us from Hell, and withholding vital information from us is the exact opposite of this.

The point of all that is to say, that a lot of Christians have used the "bible" to vote for Conservatives who have war agendas....

It just doesn't make sense to me..

Well I most certainly wasn't expecting that...

But it is definitely appreciated! Have a great weekend (what's left of it)...