is like a "template" for creating your own religion? i mean you get a book that can be interpreted thousands of ways. (look at allll the different denominations) u can justify so many different things that others would deem as sins. (look at westboro baptists proclaiming hate on gays, look at the groups who accept gays and all the others).
2007-02-23 07:29:01 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think you might be right. I mean, it's like the untimate "no-fail" religion. Whatever you want to believe, you can twist the Bible's words to you liking- Christians do it every day! Since all we have is one measly 2000 year old book to base it on, it's almost entierly left to interpretation.
And most Christians aren't even inturpreting it themselves! They leave it up to a preacher or pastor to chew it up and spit it back at them.
2007-02-23 07:35:35 · answer #1 · answered by maggielynn 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Dear Chippy,
As Primo said, Christ is our template.
Religion is a manmade thing and their are nearly as many religions as there are men. But a Relationship with the Author of Life is something that we could never dream up in our wildest imagination.
Have you actually read the Bible? I have been reading it from cover-to-cover nearly every year since 1992. Doing so was the BEST thing I've ever done. I have used various translations and have found only minor differences between most of them.
God does make it clear that he abhors the practice of homosexuality but He also abhors adultery, lying on your income taxes, child abuse, etc. He abhors those things because they keep people from being in a right relationship with Him.
I am not positive who said this (maybe C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity or The Screwtape Letters) - The church is the best hiding place for the devil. So yes, there are a lot of people in various churches proclaiming hate but that is all the more reason for each and every one of us to know God's Word so we can be on our guard.
2007-02-23 16:38:13 · answer #2 · answered by JOYfilled - Romans 8:28 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sad part is that you are correct. When man strayed away from the Truth in the 300's. The Truth was watered down with man's traditions and philosophy's. But the good news is that we still have the Truth and we can still follow the whole Truth. We cannot take out what we don't like and insert something that makes us feel good. I know that during the 1800's, the towns and cities would hire the minister and threaten him with termination for preaching something that they didn't want to hear! It is a sad fact, but a fact none the less. In the early 1900's, God poured out His Spirit in a little Church on Asuza street, and it has been pouring out ever since. The Truth shall never waver. We cannot add to or take away from what is written! It is not for private interpretatin. There is only one way to interpretate the Bible and shame on them for not interpretting properly!
2007-02-23 15:46:20 · answer #3 · answered by michael m 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a valid point in one way, however the other guy is right when he said JESUS is suppose to be the one we pattern ourself after.
If you look at the different denominations - probably not even one of 'em has it all together...However, in saying that: there's also ONLY ONE way to interpret the Bible; and that's as the Holy Spirit leads.
You can't twist it to mean different things. The Word is the Word; Man's shortcomings and manipulation of it, is just that: "MAN"
and "MAN" has nothing to do with "Christianity"
seperate the two...then you'll have something pure. God.
2007-02-23 15:51:49 · answer #4 · answered by redglory 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes Jesus is our template- and many go off on different paths being led astray and they get hooked on rituals or rules or take scriptures and form a relegion out of just one--twisting it.
Even Paul in the Bible says there should be no divisions among us, but there are...and even back then he knew there would be. God knew from the beginning many would fall away from the truth- as the scripture says: 2 Timothy 4:3-4 3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
-Also many take the truth and become self righteous and arrogant with it--such as hate- when Jesus tells us to love our enemies and share the truth IN LOVE.
2007-02-23 15:35:34 · answer #5 · answered by Mandolyn Monkey Munch 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have a good point, faith is like a tool or a weapon, whoever wields it chooses how it is used. Unfortunately, this weapon is often in the hands of idiots, like those Westboro heathens.
2007-02-23 15:33:23 · answer #6 · answered by Draco Paladin 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Whats wrong... you woke up angry today coz your corner candy store closed down and so you figure you'd take out all your frustrations on the Christians..??
2007-02-23 15:43:22 · answer #7 · answered by Infamous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is why people talk bad to you- this is the type of question I told you that made you a target.
2007-02-23 15:34:15 · answer #8 · answered by DATA DROID 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yea Chippy.
2007-02-23 15:32:18 · answer #9 · answered by Atheist Eye Candy 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No. Christianity = Christ like.
Religion=mans view points.
2007-02-23 15:35:31 · answer #10 · answered by tlc7412 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋