Religion & Spirituality - 1 December 2007

A modern day Christian praying to Jesus, hoping his sick mother will recover.

and

An ancient Roman, praying to Mars, hoping his next battle will go as planned.

Both individuals truly believe(d) that the addressed god is real. Both are sure that all the other gods (the ones worshipped by other cultures, mainly) are false.

How do we reconcile this? Does it make sense, as an atheist, to group Christians, Romans, ancient Nordic tribes, and all other deists into one large delusional group? Or do Christians have something extra, something that convinces them that they are more correct (both in the way they feel and in absolute terms) than their historical counterparts?

2007-12-01 16:24:36 · 13 answers · asked by relaxification 6

filled with kindness? Can't quite explain it can you?

2007-12-01 16:24:34 · 20 answers · asked by no name 4

2007-12-01 16:23:48 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous

While Jesus was dying on the cross for being a false prophet, some Roman soldiers stuck him with their spears. These soldiers who stuck him- Jesus was prophesied to return within their lifetime as well. It is written in the Book of Revelation that "Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, EVEN THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM..." (Revelation 1:7 NASB). Once again, another broken promise, another false prophecy, as Jesus did not return within the lifetime of the soldiers as promised

2007-12-01 16:21:22 · 13 answers · asked by TSIRHC 3

Use logic. Not faith.

2007-12-01 16:16:06 · 20 answers · asked by zyfoxmaster 3

2007-12-01 16:09:00 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous

I know Einstein is dead.

2007-12-01 16:08:47 · 34 answers · asked by Anonymous

I haven't explicitly stated God doesn't exist. I'm neutral on the issue.

2007-12-01 16:08:00 · 17 answers · asked by Darth Nihilus 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6nkLANrVlM

2007-12-01 16:07:45 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in a soul, so to them "judgment" is physical death. To them it has to mean that they will not die. However, we know many Jehovah"s Witnesses have died, so this is not obviously the answer.

What is your take on this?

2007-12-01 16:07:08 · 17 answers · asked by Nina, BaC 7

Isaiah 34:14f
Wildcats shall meet with hyenas,
goat-demons shall call to each other;
there too Lilith shall repose,
and find a place to rest.
There shall the owl nest
and lay and hatch and brood in its shadow

The Jerusalem Bible

2007-12-01 16:06:47 · 9 answers · asked by mw 7

" Most truly I say to you, He that hears my word and believes him that sent me has everlasting life, and he does not come into judgment but has passed over from the death to life."

What this " everlasting life " is and how one can be sure of having it RIGHT NOW as this verse says? It obviously is something that a person can have in this present life.

How this verse can be harmonized with Watchtower teachings sins according to the WT Society, no one can have eternal life until after the thousand-year reign of Christ? And no one can be certain of receiving it even then, because it is something they feel they will merit because of a faithful life and there is always the possibility that thy might fall away before the that time comes.

I see this the way that the Bible teaches we can have an assurance of the eternal life right now.

2007-12-01 16:03:12 · 18 answers · asked by Nina, BaC 7

The Bible, or more specifically a portion of it called the Gospels, tells of a Galilean teacher who taught about repentance in the face of the coming of the Kingdom of God. He was supposed to have been born miraculously of a virgin. The events surrounding his birth, as described in the scriptures, testify to the special status of Jesus. The ministry of Jesus was also punctuated with miracles of healing, of raising the dead and of his control over nature. He was eventually crucified by a Roman court after being betrayed by one of his followers. However, the scriptures also showed that the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate tried his best to release Jesus but through the insistence of the Jews, was forced to have him crucified. On the third day after he was buried, Jesus' tomb was empty and he was seen again alive by his disciples. The epistles of St. Paul teaches that Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for mankind's sins and the original sin of Adam and Eve. Thus was how the Bible described Jesus and his mission. No where was it unambiguously stated that Jesus was God. But Christianity today, again with the exception of some fringe churches, teaches that Jesus Christ is truly God. Where did this dogma come from? It came from an extra Biblical source, the creeds.

2007-12-01 16:02:47 · 11 answers · asked by TSIRHC 3

I would like sadness to stay the hell away from me from now on.

2007-12-01 16:02:14 · 19 answers · asked by Grunty O 2

my mom says that in the bible it states that when god comes to earth and takes us we arent going to remember ppl that we knew. is that true? cuz i dont wanna forget

2007-12-01 16:01:21 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous

I was just wondering....Ateists are, in my expierience, good people. But, how do they know what is moral?

2007-12-01 16:01:18 · 53 answers · asked by chiquita 5

It happens to me a lot.

2007-12-01 16:00:03 · 3 answers · asked by Polka Dot Alley 5

I go to a Catholic church every Sunday, but I am trying to find out what the difference would be if I were to go to a Luthren church instead. Do the churches look different on the inside? Are the sermons or homilies recited differently? Is there Communion in a Luthren church? Do they do anything specific like the Catholics do, such as having peace with your neighbor, making the sign of the cross with the holy water, singing hymns, stuff like that. Please help!

2007-12-01 15:59:08 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

Is that true?

2007-12-01 15:56:29 · 30 answers · asked by Je Marche Drôle 3

i was wondering what the wican belief is and if you have any gods or what? thanks:-)!

2007-12-01 15:55:50 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous

In a recent issue of the New Yorker there is a fascinating article about current research looking in particular kinds of retrovirii (Dec 3, 2007, Specter, M, Darwin's Surprise.)

I'm curious what creationists think about these developments, particularly those who take issue with the idea of common ancestry shared between apes and humans.

I'll briefly summarize what struck me as important.

1. It is clear that certain types of retrovirii have the ability to both modify the host's DNA and cause that change to be inheritable. In other words there are virii out there that have been shown to "infect" an organism such that future offspring are born with the viral DNA as part of their own. This has been demonstrated, duplicated, observed, and is not in any doubt.

2. It is also clear that our "junk" DNA (the vast majority of our genetic code that doesn't seem to "do" anything) is made up at least in part from old retrovirii, rendered impotent over many generations.

2007-12-01 15:55:43 · 5 answers · asked by relaxification 6

Scientology for example - many people say it's a small cult, but others disagree and think it's a religion that's gaining momentum in society (with the aid of hollywood celebrities).

When does a cult stop being a cult and become a religion?

How do we define the difference between a cult and a religion?

2007-12-01 15:53:15 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous

He is my best friend and i dont want to know that he will go to hell when he dies

2007-12-01 15:51:43 · 44 answers · asked by Youth Pastor in Training 1

Provided that Shakespeare did indeed write the plays attributed to him.

2007-12-01 15:51:24 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous

So then why do you blame religion when your the responsible one?

2007-12-01 15:50:03 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

I used to be catholic and now I'm atheist. I still respect all religions, though. What's your view on homosexual sex? Does it earn you a ticket to hell? Did the prophets that wrote the bible only incorporate their own beliefs into the bible? Do you believe that gay people "bear an extra cross"?

2007-12-01 15:50:01 · 15 answers · asked by lalalala 1

Why Bible try to shave the head of un-veiled woman?
1 Corinthians 11:6 KJV: For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

2007-12-01 15:46:12 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous

I asked this a few weeks ago but I want some fresh answers.

2007-12-01 15:46:02 · 25 answers · asked by Defunct 5

I haven't approached the SA about it, but I know they are desperate for "kettle people". I like how much they do with their local soup kitchen, and strong general assistance with housing, bills, etc for those in need in the area. I have donated before.

I know that if ever I did need financial help, I may turn to them.

I don't want to be hypocritical, as I am a staunch dissenter to federal gov "faith based" intiative $ support, which isn't the SA's fault, but I don't want to in any way encourage it, and am not interested in helping gain financial strength to any people that I feel in political arenas would like to see us humanists out of the picture, and the serious (Christian) religious overtones sometimes with those they help. Oh, this just goes in circles - my desire to do good for my fellow people vs. that which may stand against my principles - which are to do good...

A few words of wisdom please?

*People involved with the SA are ~especially~ desired to answer!

2007-12-01 15:45:36 · 10 answers · asked by tigerlilly 3

Is Chuck Norris a Christian ? Is he married?

2007-12-01 15:44:18 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous