Religion & Spirituality - 25 December 2007

2007-12-25 09:38:14 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous

My boyfriend and I are looking to start attending church again. We're both in college on the east coast. We grew up on the west coast, where he attended a Baptist church when he was young and I attended a Lutheran church. We both stopped attending around middle school and would like to find a church again.

We don't really know where to start. He felt like Baptism was kind of extreme in terms of how conservative they were, and I was too young to really understand the nuances of being Lutheran. We're looking for a denomination that's fairly liberal, not too strict in terms of dress code, and not really extreme (ie churches that hate gay people, creationist).

Does it just depend on the church and not the denomination? Should we just start attending different churches to find the best fit? I guess, either way, it would help to know which denomination churches would definitely not fit what we are looking for so we could rule those out when we start looking...

Thank you so much.

2007-12-25 09:37:34 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

me and my fam were talking about it the other night and were wandering what the oldest religion was. if you could give me the dates when the religion started that would be great.

2007-12-25 09:36:04 · 14 answers · asked by *Ruffian* 3

...and what is it that knows what is true? Not 'who is it' that knows what is true? But, What is it? What is the entity that knows and how does it operate?

Who is the knower. Who is the thinker. Who is the controller? It is my self, right?

What is the self, the me the I?


If I say I am this or I am that, is that actually what I am? Or is it something else? Perhaps what I think I am is just a bundle of memories organized into an image that I carry around about myself.

Does the organizing of memories into an image that I have about myself occur in the brain? Is it a material process?

Words and pictures are images, right?

When I think of myself, that is, when I have a picture of myself which I can also put into words and feelings to describe myself, I then have an image of myself.

Am I not using the same faculties when I imagine and describe God.

Imaging and describing, no matter what the subject, seem to be cast from the same stone?

2007-12-25 09:36:03 · 4 answers · asked by David P 2

Whether you believe Christ was born on this very day is beside the point.

So, what IS the point?

2007-12-25 09:35:07 · 9 answers · asked by Molly 6

2007-12-25 09:32:45 · 7 answers · asked by Evanescence 2

According to religion,god gave us intelligence and wants us to use it.So why would it be wrong to use the intelligence that people think god gave us to notice all the inaccuracies and contradictions in the bible that would lead a person who uses the gifts of reason and logic to come to the conclusion that the bible is no more than a good read.

Why would god give us reason and logic then tell us to ignore them and blindly follow the teachings of a book written by man that uses itself as proof of its own authenticity.

Can anyone help me understand this

2007-12-25 09:14:30 · 23 answers · asked by upside 4

Jesus was a real man who believed what he did, lived his life preaching about love and truly living his life in this manner, then suffering and dying on the cross, saying "forgive them for they do not know what they do." Can you even imagine that a human being had this much love inside him and wanted to let others know. How beautiful would a person be that truly believes and lives his life this way? No matter what you do believe, is it wrong to have this much love for all people in your heart?

2007-12-25 09:14:13 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

i was watching this show about the bible, and some ancient texts said somthing about another women by the name of "Lilth", has anyone ever heard of this

2007-12-25 09:09:40 · 17 answers · asked by Checks and Goats 5

Does any one know where I read it? Im not a raceist , I have best friends that are of a different race I was just trying to remember where I read it.

2007-12-25 09:07:43 · 26 answers · asked by littlejewel34 2

Some Forgotten Sayings of Jesus>
Peace be Upon him

Anyone can call God "Father" according to the Bible:
"I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your
God." (John 20:17 RSV 1952)

Jesus, at the end of his mission, made it clear that God is not only his father, but father of all, and God of all, and even his own God whom he worshipped throughout his earthly career.

"We cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15 KJV 1611)

Here the writer is Paul and he made it clear that anyone can address God as "Father." Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:

". . . Do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven." (Matthew 23:1,9 NIV 1984)

According to Matthew, Jesus taught everyone to call God 'Father'. He said to them: "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name . . .' " (Matthew 6:9 NIV)
--------------------------------------...
Jesus made it clear that he is not God

"Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone." (Mark 10:18)

A man had ran up and knelt before Jesus and called him "Good Teacher." Jesus used the opportunity to make it clear to people that they must not praise him more than a human being deserves to bepraised.

Jesus depends on God for Authority: God depends on no one:

"I can do nothing of my own authority" (John 5:30)

"I do as the Father has commanded me." (John 14:31 RSV)

Needless to say, God does not receive commands from anyone.
"The words that I say to you I do not speak of my own authority." (John 14:10 RSV)

"I do nothing of my own authority but speak thus as the Father has taught me." (John 8:28 RSV)
God has full authority, and full knowledge. He cannot be taught, but He teaches.
--------------------------------------...
Jesus is not Equal to "The Father"
"The Father is greater than I." (John 14:28 RSV)
People forget this and they say that Jesus is equal to the Father.
Whom should we believe--Jesus or the people?
--------------------------------------...

Jesus Does Not Know Everything
Speaking of the Last Day, Jesus said:

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." (Matthew 24:36)
--------------------------------------...
Did Jesus Raise Himself up?

God raised him up. (Acts 2:24)
Jesus did not have power to raise himself up. God had to raise him up, as the author of Acts says. ----------------------------------------... Jesus prayed to God: God prays to no one
"Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt." (Mark 14:32)
Jesus fell on his face and prayed to God, begging God to save him from crucifixion. This also shows that Jesus had a will different from God's will. The writers of Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us that it was Jesus's wish to be saved from crucifixion, but it was God's will to let the crucifixion take place.
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)
--------------------------------------...
Jesus did not know the tree had no fruit
He [Jesus] was hungry. And on seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it , he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
(Mark 11 12-13)
When he saw that the tree had leaves, he thought that he might find fruit on it. But when he came up close to the tree he realised there were no fruits. After all, it was not even fig season.
--------------------------------------... Jesus referred to as Servant of God
"Behold my servant whom I have chosen." (Matthew 12:18 In this passage God calls Jesus His servant)
The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus. (Acts 3:13)
For truly in this city there were gathered together against thy holy servant Jesus. (Acts 4:27)
Everyone, except for God, are God's servants. Jesus, too, is God'sservant.

--------------------------------------...
Who was real Worker of Miracles?
Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: (Acts 2:22 KJV)
People say that since Jesus worked many miracles, he must be God. But here we see that God did the miracles; Jesus was the instrument God used to accomplish His work. Jesus was a man whom God approved of.
This means he was a righteous man.
--------------------------------------...
Jesus cannot guarantee positions
"To sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father" (Matthew20:23)
Therefore if we want to secure our position with God in the life hereafter we must turn to God and ask Him.
--------------------------------------...
A Misunderstood saying
I and the Father are one. (John 10:30)
People like to quote this saying, but they forget the followingsaying:
John 17:11 Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
This shows that what was meant was one in purpose, not one in substance as people think. The disciples could not become one human, but they can pursue the same goal. That is to say, they can be one in purpose, just as Jesus and the Father are one in purpose.
--------------------------------------...
Did Jesus say everything John says he said?
John 14:9 Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life.
John 8:12 I am the light of the world.
John 8:58 Before Abraham was, I am.
John 10:7 I am the door of the sheep.
John 11:25 I am the resurrection, and the life.
John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life.
John 15:1 I am the true vine.
Christian scholars tell us that if Jesus had made all these fantastic claims about himself, the first three gospels would surely have recorded them. Mark was written around 70 C.E., followed by Matthew and Luke somewhere between 80-90 C.E. John, written around 100 C.E., was the last of the four canonized gospels. The Christian scholar James Dunn writes in his book The Evidence for Jesus:
"If they were part of the original words of Jesus himself, how could it be that only John picked them up and none of the others? Call it scholarly skepticism if you like, but I find it almost incredible that such sayings should have been neglected had they been known as a
feature of Jesus' teaching. If the 'I ams' had been part of the original tradition, it is very hard indeed to explain why none of the other three evangelists made use of them." (The Evidence for Jesus, p.36)

Similarly, the New American Bible tells us in its introduction, under the heading How to Read Your Bible: >

"It is difficult to know whether the words or sayings attributed to Jesus are written exactly as he spoke them. . . . The Church was so firmly convinced that . . . Jesus . . . taught through her, that she expressed her teaching in the form of Jesus' sayings." (St. Joseph Medium Size Edition, p.23)
What we have in John, then is what people were saying about Jesus at the time John was written (about 70 years after Jesus was raised up).
The writer of John simply expressed those ideas as if Jesus had said them. Rev. James Dunn says further in his book that, almost certainly, the writer of the fourth gospel "was not concerned with the sort of questions which trouble some Christians today -- Did Jesus actually say this? Did he use these precise words? and so on." (The Evidence
for Jesus, p. 43)

2007-12-25 09:04:22 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous

What are some of the major beliefs of the Church of Christ that sets them apart from other Protestant churches?

2007-12-25 09:03:56 · 7 answers · asked by Angela G 2

How good/authentic is it? Is it worth getting?
Thanks.

2007-12-25 08:59:43 · 1 answers · asked by Ymmo the Heathen 7

To the religious and non-religious, may your day be filled with love and blessings. I want to tell everyone that we should uplift each other no matter our ethnicities and religions, or lack of religious beliefs. We are on the same planet, and all human beings who experience love, sorrow, prosperity, and times when we do not have enough. May our spirits unite as one on this day.

2007-12-25 08:55:20 · 12 answers · asked by Sparkles 7

what is the point of a pub quiz?

2007-12-25 08:51:35 · 14 answers · asked by synopsis 7

My husband is constantly putting his mother and his sister and cousin's before me and his children. He spent most of Christmas Eve with them and brought in Christmas with them while the kids and I stayed home. He keeps this family and his other family separated. He knows that I according to God's word am supposed to be first in his life as his wife. His reply to that is "Oh well, that's my family and as long as my mother is alive that's the way it is going to be". He has even tatoo'd his mother's name on his arm. He wants the benefit's of a wife but does not put any effort into the marriage. I pay most of the bills, I make his breakfast every morning before he goes to work, I wash his clothes and even pays his truck note. Most of his money stays in his pocket because he knows that even if he does not give me any money that I will not let the bills go lacking because of the children. I am looking for Christian counseling and advice on this. What do I do??

2007-12-25 08:51:06 · 22 answers · asked by Dae9 3

My husband is constantly putting his mother and his sister and cousin's before me and his children. He spent most of Christmas Eve with them and brought in Christmas with them while the kids and I stayed home. He keeps this family and his other family separated. He knows that I according to God's word am supposed to be first in his life as his wife. His reply to that is "Oh well, that's my family and as long as my mother is alive that's the way it is going to be". He has even tatoo'd his mother's name on his arm. He wants the benefit's of a wife but does not put any effort into the marriage. I pay most of the bills, I make his breakfast every morning before he goes to work, I wash his clothes and even pays his truck note. Most of his money stays in his pocket because he knows that even if he does not give me any money that I will not let the bills go lacking because of the children. I am looking for Christian counseling and advice on this. Whay do I do??

2007-12-25 08:48:34 · 10 answers · asked by Dae9 3

Or would you back out because of fear.

2007-12-25 08:40:19 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous

right, so know that i know that catholic belief is that concecrated communion breat changes into the body of jesus christ, so do catholic vegitariens accept communion bread?
i am not trying to be blasphemous or offend anyone, i genuinly want to know.

2007-12-25 08:38:07 · 10 answers · asked by curious 3

I am. I have been so blessed. Last Christmas I was ill and endanger of losing my lifee, living in a rental home with my family torn apart. This year I am back with my family, well and purchasing my first home. Sitting here waiting for the ham,sweet potatoes, baked beans, rolls and all to cook.
God has been so good to me.
Merry Christmas Everyone and as "Tiny Tim" said,'God Bless Us Everyone!"
Debra

2007-12-25 08:34:01 · 15 answers · asked by Debra M. Wishing Peace To All 7

The only reason I can think of for believing in god is fear of going to hell. I know what hell is, its all they talk about in church. Is there any other reason to believe? Wouldn't god see that my belief out of fear is false and send me to hell anyway?

2007-12-25 08:33:02 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-12-25 08:25:39 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous

I have a damaged bible that has fallen apart completely, and I need to know how to throw it away. I'm afraid to just throw it in the trash because I fear that God might punish me for doing that? Is it o.k. to throw a damaged bible in the trash as long as you don't burn it? Help me, I'm scared!! I need to feel better about throwing a bible in the garbage because it's the holy book. What should I do?

2007-12-25 08:25:11 · 15 answers · asked by Mil █無神論者は神█ 2

i'm setin ronnd da xmas tree today jus tinkin muri christmas ever bodi love yall, unkljak.

2007-12-25 08:22:03 · 13 answers · asked by unkljak123 1

2007-12-25 08:18:13 · 18 answers · asked by O'Papa Smurf! 3

Prove it!! I don't see any proof that He exists, but nor do I see any proof that He doesn't exist. Or is it not necessary to prove nonsensical idea? I guess it is!

2007-12-25 08:17:32 · 18 answers · asked by innocentANDpc 2

so i want to have a general knowledge of everything or at least as much as i can so i was thinking about reading a whole volume of enyclopedias from A - Z, do you think this is the way to go?

2007-12-25 08:13:05 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous

than if it was soley connected to religion.

2007-12-25 08:12:33 · 21 answers · asked by Smiling JW™ 7

What does it mean to know something?

When I say I know this or I know that what does it really mean.

What does it mean when I say I know something.

What does it actually mean, not theoretically, not philosophically, not analytically or psychologically, but what is actually taking place inwardly and outwardly?

What is happening physically, mentally, emotionally... in the body as it were?

And, what is occurring in the psyche? In the brain? In the head?

What allows the being to say I know this to be true or I know this to be false.

What is happening psychologically, in the mind or brain?

If I say it is mystical or mysterious or a gift from God or something one cannot possibly understand, the conversation is over, I have already concluded, I am lost, the inquiry is over, I am blocked.

If I can honestly, with true humility, say "I really don't know," at that moment the brain becomes completely silent, it looks in order to comprehend and begins to see things as they are.

2007-12-25 08:08:49 · 10 answers · asked by David P 2

Should I trust you? Does it matter?

2007-12-25 08:04:22 · 44 answers · asked by ? 6