Religion & Spirituality - 30 January 2007

I just recently began to believe in God and was asking people what the rules are for joining a religion and which one I ought to choose. It's all new to me, and I don't know about all these questions popping up, and I don't want to join one that makes it hard to get out of.

I don't want to be Jewish, because people in my town are pretty down on Jewish culture and my Jewish buddy says that they really don't consider you 'in' anyways if you're a convert.

I wanted to try Hindu first, because it seems pretty good. And I got a book at the library with good pictures, but no Hindu church or whatever in my town.

There is a church (I don't know if Christian or Catholic...are they the same?) but it's pretty far from my house-- they took my license after the car crash. I was a drunk and a criminal but I saw God appear. It's pretty far, but no one in the town really wants to give me a ride since I destroyed a lot of the town. I want to start there.

Also a mosque in town, but 2nd choice

2007-01-30 05:25:23 · 9 answers · asked by The Smuggler 2

ok yesterday i asked about communion and why its socially acceptable being a form of ritualistic cannibalism. many of the serious questions responded with. "we do it to remember him" or quoted the verse "...do this in rememberance of me..."

now my question here is, so you justify pretending to eat people by saying it will help you remember them. do you honestly believe eating people (or at least pretending to) will help you remember them? do you pretend to eat your deceased family so you can remember them too? or does it only work with Jesus...?

2007-01-30 05:25:10 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous

Bible has strong words for people who say there is no God. It says they are fools. I wonder whether other religious and holy books share the same view about these people who say there is no God. If they do, one should really start to think whether their belief that there is no God should be abandoned.

2007-01-30 05:24:30 · 9 answers · asked by Ptuan 3

I'm an Atheist, I don't believe in God. This question isn't saying that Atheists shouldn't post in this category, cause quite frankly, I'm the mayor of this category and I'm going to post my questions in here whenever I feel that my question is relevant.

The question specifically is, should any of us be posting questions about Atheism in this category, since Atheism is not a religion.

2007-01-30 05:23:25 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous

I always ask that too then finally found out...Jesus was Gods first creation, he didnt born a son, Son means first created, and when John says The Word was God..It means when he spoke he only said what God told him to say...If God spoke through me you would say "that was God" but Jesus is not God but God put eveything under Jesus...so Jesus is a King but he always reminds us that God ,our father is above all. But Jesus is worthy to be praised too for the father loves him

2007-01-30 05:23:02 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous

It was an amazing deal, the likes of which had never been offered to a group of people before and never would be offered again. These people had already been through a lot, both good and bad. They had spent their whole lives wandering and wondering. It had been far worse for their parents. They had grown up as slaves and had died in sadness, their potential unrealised, in the unforgiving desert. That whole generation, bar two, had now perished and here we find their children standing on the threshold of a new chapter in their lives.

They had trudged around the desert for up to forty years, yet things could have been far worse. They had a ready supply of food and water, their clothes had not worn out and not one of them had suffered so much as a blister in their feet! And they were bolstered by great tales of miracles, involving the parting of great waters, great deliverances from their enemies and everyday provisions. And they didn't travel alone, their God travelled with them. The God who had created them and the World in which they lived, had chosen to lead them personally, through a vanguard of smoke and fire. And this same God now offered them a new deal.

It was to be an end of their fruitless wanderings. A land was being offered to them. A land where they could settle, their lifelong travels finally at an end. A land with streams and refreshing valley springs. A land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey. A rich land, where copper and iron were easily mined. A land where they would lack nothing. And best of all, it would be handed to them on a plate. Vineyards and olive groves would already be established, wells already dug and large flourishing cities would be theirs, as vacant possession.

Their leader, one hundred and twenty years old, surveyed this promised land from a high pace with sadness in his heart. He knew that his days were numbered, that he was at the threshold of death, never to lead his people into this land of milk and honey. But his sadness was not for himself, but rather for the people he had led for forty years. He knew something they didn't. He knew that these blessings would never be fully realised by his people and he knew why.

You see, there were conditions attached, simple conditions. God had offered them a choice between life and prosperity on the one hand, and death and destruction on the other. To claim the former all they had to do was to love him, walk in his ways and keep his laws. This oughtn't have been difficult, partly because these laws were there for their protection, safety and well-being. They were to deserve the latter if they were to ignore these instructions and follow their own ways and turn towards the gods of the people already in the land.

They were offered life or death, blessings or curses. Choose life! pleaded the God who wanted to give them the world, but they didn't listen. True, they entered the promised land and began to conquer it and began to enjoyed the blessings offered. But they chose the dark side, seduced by the gods and the customs of the native people. As a consequence, they took around a thousand years to fully conquer the land offered to them, then proceeded to lose the lot, before being exiled from the land itself, condemned to wander the world right up to the modern era.

Such has been the lot for the Jews. Offered so much, but still going their own way. No wonder they were called a stiff-necked people. The story of Moses and the Children of Israel is not just a cautionary tale, a fable from an uncertain fantasy, conjured up by the mind of man. The story is from the pages of the world's best selling book, the Bible. It is from the fifth section, originally titled 'Words', but saddled with the title, 'Deuteronomy', a name taken from an alien culture hundreds of years after the events took place.

This is the point where we take a deep breath and discuss our frames of reference before we go any further. The Bible - that's my frame of reference. But I can't just leave it at that, as many have looked into that particular book and seen different things. So what do I see there? I see a book that speaks from God's mind to our mind and God's heart to our heart. Whether or not you believe in God is not the issue here, that's between you and Him. Whatever your background, all I ask you is to consider the possibility that there is a God, who chooses to communicate to us through the Bible.

For those of you who may view the Bible as a relic from history, with no more credibility in the real world as The Hobbit, I may be asking you to take a step in faith. But the fact remains that this is the best place to start to examine early Jewish history. Even if you consider it more fiction than fact, it is the Bible, usually in the hands of other people, that has done more to shape Jewish history than anything else.

In the view of many, the explanation from the Bible is the only one that makes sense of the history of the Jewish people to the present day. Political, historical and sociological analysis gets us nowhere on this issue. Jews are an anomaly, mere fossils according to the historian, Toynbee, as mentioned earlier. Most would say that it was the Bible that got them in the mess in the first place, but what the Bible also does is offer hope that everything that has happened to them has been for a purpose and that there is a very real possibility of a happy ending.

2007-01-30 05:22:52 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-01-30 05:21:27 · 8 answers · asked by yourmomm 1

Is G-d the same as God, or is it some reference to Allah or another god?

2007-01-30 05:20:47 · 6 answers · asked by ? 1

My best friend is Wiccan and wants me to use this love spell or potion on a friend of mine that I have a crush on. I wonder if these things really work. What are your thoughts, experiences, etc.

2007-01-30 05:20:09 · 8 answers · asked by Kristen M 1

how can we have free will if god know what is going to happen. are our lives already predestined to be or are we just a random collection of atoms and chemical processes. im sure religious people will say god has a plan for us. you missing the point of the question. the bible says we have free will but god knowing what is going to happen in my life would fundamentally mean that it has already happened and that i really dont have the choice to choose my path. Is it just an illusion that i do have any choice? and if so whats the point of living for anything? let the backlash begin

2007-01-30 05:19:33 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-01-30 05:18:41 · 7 answers · asked by WWTSD? 5

Read a question about muslims not vaccinating their children as innoculations could be made from certain animal products. Lots of muslims agreed with the poster. They say eating koranic food like olives and black seed would stop them having these deadly diseases.

So, every muslim who answered in this fashion would be prepared to see their children DIE because of their own pig-headed beliefs? In the last 50 years we have rid the UK of Polio, Smallpox, Typhoid and many other diseases. These muslims probably take their children to other islamic countries at some time where these diseases ARE prevalent, and their children would develop those diseases - AS A RESULT OF THEM DENYING THEIR CHILDREN TREATMENT. Plus, they may have family from these countries living in the Uk who could well be carriers of these conditions.

This is muslims making life or death choices for their children, based on their own beliefs - sod the child's welfare.

What do you think, the height of selfishness?

2007-01-30 05:18:04 · 5 answers · asked by fistenpumpen 1

Its called the photic sneeze.

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=15801
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photic_sneeze_reflex
http://www.ucsf.edu/humgene/photic_sneeze_reflex.htm

I personally suffer from it, occasionally. I look at the sky or a bright light - and I can't help but sneeze. Driving out of a tunnel this could end up costing me my life!

It's because we're wired wrong. Its an unhelpful reaction to sensory data. Like a programming bug in some computer code. So much for Intelligent Design. You have to choose to worship, a dimwitted, clumsy creator or bin the whole god hypothesis and give evolution a go -

What say you? :-)

2007-01-30 05:16:51 · 68 answers · asked by Anonymous

Such as if the first day of Passover was the day before a Sabbath. Were or are they allowed to work on one?


Exodus 31:15
For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.

2007-01-30 05:14:12 · 5 answers · asked by ? 1

Why couldn't he she or it have made rules like for instance if a person had an intent to harm someone (like innocent children) they would have horrible pain somewhere in their body that would stop them in their tracks. This would be better than the innocent being hurt and abused.

2007-01-30 05:13:53 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous

my grandfather died on sunday from a lung disease. he wasnt a smoker and was never around it. he was on oxegen, and all kinds of other medications. as the illness progressed, he couldnt walk long distances, soon after he couldnt walk at all, after thaat he wasnt even able to speak. he was in so much pain, he would cry and moan in the middle of the night and there was nothing we could do. i prayed for him every night and much of ever day i talked to god and begged him to save my grandfather, i even sent in prayer request to joel osteen. the weekend was the worse, he was gasping for air and he was comatose, it didnt even look like my grandpa. and then sunday he took his last breath. the worse part of this is that he was such a great man, a treasure. he did anything for everone. if you needed somthing, he said yes before he even knew what it was that you needed. he loved unconditionally and never ever had a bad thing to say. he appreciated every day and thanked god for allowing him to live another day (even when he wasnt sick) sounds to good to be true right? its not, that was my grandpa, there is not doubt in my mind that he is in heaven right now. my question is, how could "all loving" god do this? what would he mke such a great man with a heart of gold suffer. why did it have to be him first? i am so angry and cant find an answer that makes any type of sense.

2007-01-30 05:13:53 · 23 answers · asked by Nikki C 2

What is your frustration level with people of opposing beliefs who insist upon getting bits of your beliefs or knowledge wrong?

Monkey question. Grrrrrr....

2007-01-30 05:12:49 · 50 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-01-30 05:12:02 · 21 answers · asked by MrsOcultyThomas 6

1. "god is your imaginary friend"

2. "Your god is just as fake as the tooth fairy"

3. "You think God sent his only son to get beat, tortured, and murdered just so you can commit murder and be forgiven?"

How are these attacks? These are comments that you happen to disagree with. Are you crazy?

2007-01-30 05:11:17 · 18 answers · asked by Black Atheist 1

and that there has never been a god, would all the Christians go on a murder spree, raping and stealing and lying and spitting on the way?

Why/Why not?

If you are Christian and you answer 'no, of course not' can you then PLEASE convince your brethren of the 'without god there are no morals' persuasion to keep their fool mouth shut?

note: I do not think that science will ever prove there is no god because invisible pink unicorns fall outside the domain of science.

2007-01-30 05:10:59 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous

Exodus 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover.

I've never seen them with sandals and staffs around Easter.

2007-01-30 05:09:55 · 4 answers · asked by ? 1

2007-01-30 05:09:27 · 15 answers · asked by STFU Dude 6

I'm interested to know if this is part of your belief.

2007-01-30 05:09:25 · 36 answers · asked by Diarmid 3

Doesn't Jesus warn against building on the sand?

2007-01-30 05:09:15 · 13 answers · asked by Murazor 6

Why does no one ever talk about this? Does this mean only 144,000 will be given eternal life with Christ?

2007-01-30 05:08:46 · 12 answers · asked by amy b 3

http://patriotfiles.org/civilizationcalls.htm

2007-01-30 05:08:30 · 7 answers · asked by Shamus 3

With mans ability to do so much, why is there so many different understanding of Gods word?
Is God blocking out the minds of the wise people and revealing the Bibles secrets to those who have the right heart conditions?
Is that why only a small number can reason from the Bible?

2007-01-30 05:07:10 · 11 answers · asked by papa G 6

The most powerful act anyone can perform is to pray for someone. Of course, the power is not in the praying, but in the release God gives in His perfect
answer to our prayers. Paul provides an example of one of the most effective prayers we could utter. He prays that the Colossian church:

• May be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. What a wonderful gesture to ask God to make clear for family members or friends the precise, exact decisions
He wishes them to make in every circumstance.

• May walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. This means asking that someone’s life will have weight–will count eternally and not temporally.

• May bear fruit in every good work. We should pray for loved ones to remain so Christ-centered that He through them determines their conversation, conduct,
and character.

• May increase in the knowledge of God. Can there be a more precious request than that of wanting someone to grow ever closer to our heavenly Father?

• May be strengthened and sustained with the power of God. Within an evil world system, we need the supernatural power of God to help us bear up under the
strain.

• May give thanks that we already have qualified as saints of God. There is nothing for which we should be more appreciative.

"When satan is knocking at your door; simply say: Jesus, could You get that for me"

<>< When God seems far away,
><> call on Psalm 139
because of the love of god, may we always have a special smile, a sprinkle of love and kindness to shower upon those who god brings into our lives

2007-01-30 05:06:16 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous

I'm making a Christian website, but I can't think of any good names. Any help?

2007-01-30 05:02:55 · 13 answers · asked by nster1 2

Which are based in evolutionary theory.

2007-01-30 05:02:15 · 19 answers · asked by Laptop Jesus 2.0 5