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Post by Admin on Mar 30, 2020 15:57:12 GMT
Radical Love & Forgiveness. www.renewedassembly.com/radical-forgiveness-love-for-your-enemies/tarajohnsonstories.com/radical-love-radical-forgiveness/i get put off by Christianity with all the Devil / Demon / Hell / Judgement / Damnation stuff. & as the only true religion / path. i also look at the history of Christianity & it doesn't seem very loving on the whole. Seems that so much of the Bible has also been changed / altered. i look at things going on in the World & how much of so many troubles, sectarianism, violence, hatred, war & death are religiously motivated. Christ as a teaching for unity consciousness / radical love & forgiveness, non judgement, service to all life, OK.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2020 17:36:38 GMT
I think religion is used to control and divide people, but Jesus was all about love and forgiveness. A lot of Christians seem to agree that many in the Church are not loving and are not acting as they should by His teachings. It's the powerful and corrupt who use faith to justify their actions and turn people on one another. I think it talks about the corrupt in the Church in the Bible (am a novice reader but am sure have read it).
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Post by Admin on Mar 30, 2020 17:47:03 GMT
I think religion is used to control and divide people, but Jesus was all about love and forgiveness. A lot of Christians seem to agree that many in the Church are not loving and are not acting as they should by His teachings. It's the powerful and corrupt who use faith to justify their actions and turn people on one another. I think it talks about the corrupt in the Church in the Bible (am a novice reader but am sure have read it). The Sheep and the Goats en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sheep_and_the_Goats
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Post by Admin on Mar 30, 2020 17:48:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2020 17:53:15 GMT
I think religion is used to control and divide people, but Jesus was all about love and forgiveness. A lot of Christians seem to agree that many in the Church are not loving and are not acting as they should by His teachings. It's the powerful and corrupt who use faith to justify their actions and turn people on one another. I think it talks about the corrupt in the Church in the Bible (am a novice reader but am sure have read it). The Sheep and the Goats en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sheep_and_the_GoatsI read this earlier today.
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Post by Admin on Mar 30, 2020 17:55:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2020 18:25:48 GMT
As far as holy texts go, the fact that they are often not clear as to what the meaning is leads to different interpretations. Do you go with what it personally means to you, how it presents itself to you, or an 'official' version one denomination teaches? I can read something and think it means this, and someone else says it means that. I suspect I favour how it speaks to you. But at the same time have found myself interpreting it in a way that fits my world view. Which is maybe a bit egotistical, as I am bound to be wrong about a lot of things. But am not sure anyone has all the answers. Humility is important, and churches which claim they know what is right, need to be aware that they might be wrong. If had read the text at a young age I might not have formed an opinion of the world, and might have let the words speak freely to me.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2020 18:40:44 GMT
I should think the ones who hate other groups in society have been taught the teachings and Biblical stories in a very unloving way. It says something about that as well, that the method by which you have learnt them will influence how you practice your faith and what you believe to be true (I think).
There are good and loving Christians out there, as I know some. I also know ones that are not very loving. Maybe personal interpretation is the best way of learning it.
Just to be clear, I am a novice reader of the Bible. You will have more knowledge of the texts than me, Admin. But as far as Christians go, have met loving and non loving ones.
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Post by Admin on Mar 30, 2020 18:46:36 GMT
As far as holy texts go, the fact that they are often not clear as to what the meaning is leads to different interpretations. Do you go with what it personally means to you, how it presents itself to you, or an 'official' version one denomination teaches? I can read something and think it means this, and someone else says it means that. I suspect I favour how it speaks to you. But at the same time have found myself interpreting it in a way that fits my world view. Which is maybe a bit egotistical, as I am bound to be wrong about a lot of things. But am not sure anyone has all the answers. Humility is important, and churches which claim they know what is right, need to be aware that they might be wrong. If had read the text at a young age I might not have formed an opinion of the world, and might have let the words speak freely to me. This is it - & if you grew up with the Vedas, Koran, Buddhist sutras, Talmud, or other religious texts your World view would be different again. How much is cultural / conditioning & how much relates to actual reality? How much is education / intelligence / intellect / what we have read & how much something else? How much is personal belief system / personal subjective experience & how much something else? How much do words / language / symbol relate to actual reality? & what part does imagination play in it all? What variables are there with mental illness? Or just human consciousness / the brain in general - is the human condition capable of fathoming such questions / answers / areas? Is science or philosophy better able to answer such questions?
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Post by Admin on Mar 30, 2020 18:49:58 GMT
Just to be clear, I am a novice reader of the Bible. i'd suggest objectively reading it. However try some other religious texts 'holy' books as well. i suppose it all becomes deeply personal as to what people think / feel & believe / perceive / experience about truth & reality.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2020 18:58:53 GMT
Just to be clear, I am a novice reader of the Bible. i'd suggest objectively reading it. However try some other religious texts 'holy' books as well. i suppose it all becomes deeply personal as to what people think / feel & believe / perceive / experience about truth & reality. I think a religious studies course at university would be interesting. Comparative theology. My personal belief is that there are many paths to God.. and only one, but he has a different name depending on what you know/have been taught. I might be wrong. But if nothing else, Jesus did preach tolerance and compassion for others. A lot of Christians are not tolerant or compassionate, as with people of all faiths. I was arguing with someone recently who said that you could never be a good person if you were not a Christian. I got very angry. But that is their belief. Is not very loving.. and not what all Christians think of 'non-believers'.
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Post by Admin on Mar 30, 2020 19:00:04 GMT
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Post by Admin on Mar 30, 2020 19:11:29 GMT
i'd suggest objectively reading it. However try some other religious texts 'holy' books as well. i suppose it all becomes deeply personal as to what people think / feel & believe / perceive / experience about truth & reality. I think a religious studies course at university would be interesting. Comparative theology. My personal belief is that there are many paths to God.. and only one, but he has a different name depending on what you know/have been taught. I might be wrong. But if nothing else, Jesus did preach tolerance and compassion for others. A lot of Christians are not tolerant or compassionate, as with people of all faiths. I was arguing with someone recently who said that you could never be a good person if you were not a Christian. I got very angry. But that is their belief. Is not very loving.. and not what all Christians think of 'non-believers'. The World's Religions, originally titled The Religions of Man, is a book written by religious studies scholar Huston Smith; is a good read. i hold to the existence / faith in a God / Source / Great Spirit - spiritual realms & realities - soul / psyche. Does it need to involve specific beliefs / holy books / rituals / religions / spiritual systems / dogmas etc? Spiritual but not religious en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_but_not_religiousNothing wrong in it being all inclusive - Unitarian Universalism en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian_UniversalismPerennial philosophy en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_philosophywww.theosociety.org/pasadena/ts/pere_wis.htmWould think as well that doing good / spiritual principles are universal - Golden Rule en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_RuleList of basic, universal spiritual principles www.allisnow.com/blog/spiritual-principles/Non duality is also universal - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nondualismwww.enlightened-spirituality.org/3_levels_of_nondual_Reality.html
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2020 19:16:15 GMT
Thank you for all the links. xxx
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Post by Admin on Mar 30, 2020 19:19:45 GMT
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