"If God creates hell and if Jesus is God, then Jesus creates..."

[phjuicy]

Originally Posted by jwawrejko

So the Karma that you believe is that if when good people in this life die, they will be rewarded in some way, either in this life or perhaps another? So bad people will be punished in this life or not be allowed to enter into the next, right? If they enter into the next life that means that this cycle of evil will remain forever. If they are rejected, then eventually only good people will remain. This sounds like it would make a good movie. I'm phoning in the rights as we speak.

I don't believe in "the next life," however the Hindu's do and that's where the Karma we speak of came from. I think we use Karma more loosely today. Just meaning what goes around comes around.

[Neko]

Originally Posted by sunshine5637

I TOTALLY agree with you, Viper.

If you have religious questions you should go to someplace like Bible.com or do a search on Google. What gets me is that people start threads here "to have a debate" ... but the last time I checked, this was not a debating forum.

Besides, it seems the ones who start these threads already have their opinions and when it comes down to it, I believe we all have to agree to disagree. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs.

It's easy to just blithely espouse the tenants of a belief without "backing it up" or providing reason. It is also easy to "back up" tenants of belief with quotes and notions from a man-made book of other people's opinions and perceptions (fill in your own religious text here) (Note: Whereas there is great wisdom to be found in such texts, there are also plenty of jabs and stabs included for less-than-wholesome reasons by the powers that assembled some of these texts to begin with...)

From the Source of our creation we received the ability to think AS WELL AS feel. One should not be mutually exclusive of the other. To integrate the thought process into such matters adds depth to one's convictions (or thoughts) which are otherwise nothing more than notions of fancy. It is imperative to discuss such things to attain enlightenment....whether it be with one's self or in a forum. The inherent advantage of doing so as a group is the sharing of diversity. This can, and often times, DOES lead to heightened clarity and awareness...which takes everyone closer to that which truly is.

[$formyFamily]

Originally Posted by jwawrejko

Yes, but is your supreme Creator God going to do anything about wickedness, or just sit pretty?

No I do not believe in a socialistic creator. My "wickedness" in my responsibility as I bear the burden of it's wickedness if and when I allow it out to play. Thus if I dont want a bunch of crap coming into my life I don't do things that produce the crap. (What you sow you reap, from the Holy Bible)

No one can save me but me, as I feel it is my responsibility to "save myself" and no one elses.

And people don't create their God into a human form, but rather God explains himself as having human characteristics so we can understand Him better.

I feel it's the exact opposite, I feel the writers of the bible created a "God" to fit their human image.

This is nothing new, history is filled with humans creating deities in the image of humans.

[jberry151]

Originally Posted by $formyFamily

No I do not believe in a socialistic creator. My "wickedness" in my responsibility as I bear the burden of it's wickedness if and when I allow it out to play. Thus if I dont want a bunch of crap coming into my life I don't do things that produce the crap. (What you sow you reap, from the Holy Bible)

No one can save me but me, as I feel it is my responsibility to "save myself" and no one elses.

I feel it's the exact opposite, I feel the writers of the bible created a "God" to fit their human image.

This is nothing new, history is filled with humans creating deities in the image of humans.

I am going to pray for you.

[$formyFamily]

Originally Posted by jberry151

I am going to pray for you.

Ok, so your feel the need to pray for someone who prefers to take responsibility for his actions and his lot in life? That must be one heck of a prayer that your gonna say...Thanks any way...

[jwawrejko]

Originally Posted by $formyFamily

No I do not believe in a socialistic creator. My "wickedness" in my responsibility as I bear the burden of it's wickedness if and when I allow it out to play. Thus if I dont want a bunch of crap coming into my life I don't do things that produce the crap. (What you sow you reap, from the Holy Bible)

No one can save me but me, as I feel it is my responsibility to "save myself" and no one elses.

I feel it's the exact opposite, I feel the writers of the bible created a "God" to fit their human image.

This is nothing new, history is filled with humans creating deities in the image of humans.

It's called personification. But God also likens himself to inanimate objects as well, such as to a rock for instance. He uses figures of speech about himself so we can understand his qualities better.

The bible even makes mention of men creating deities, but notice how God feels about it. Read Acts 17:22-31.

[Neko]

Originally Posted by jwawrejko

It's called personification. But God also likens himself to inanimate objects as well, such as to a rock for instance. He uses figures of speech about himself so we can understand his qualities better.

The bible even makes mention of men creating deities, but notice how God feels about it. Read Acts 17:22-31.

But here again....You mean to tell me, "God" actually came "down from the Heavens above" and physically WROTE this stuff himself? No...it was written by man for man....for a multitude of reasons (both self-serving and otherwise....) Doesn't it seem a bit "unreal" that proclamations found in man-made texts are to be absolutely attributed to God's will and decrees when they are limited to the perceptions of man?

[$formyFamily]

Originally Posted by Neko

But here again....You mean to tell me, "God" actually came "down from the Heavens above" and physically WROTE this stuff himself? No...it was written by man for man....for a multitude of reasons (both self-serving and otherwise....) Doesn't it seem a bit "unreal" that proclamations found in man-made texts are to be absolutely attributed to God's will and decrees when they are limited to the perceptions of man?

Very good points my friend, yet you are forgetting about something inherent in the majority of ppl....the more a story is told, especially after centuries of telling it, the more it is believed, no matter how "far-fetched" it may seem or appear.

It's a trait of human nature, the more you hear something, the more you begin to accept and believe it regardless of what it is.

[Neko]

Originally Posted by $formyFamily

Very good points my friend, yet you are forgetting about something inherent in the majority of ppl....the more a story is told, especially after centuries of telling it, the more it is believed, no matter how "far-fetched" it may seem or appear.

It's a trait of human nature, the more you hear something, the more you begin to accept and believe it regardless of what it is.

That doesn't make it right....or "absolute"....as so many ppl would actually go down FIGHTING to support. And I have to wonder......why is it that "written" text is SO much more revered as being "truth" for the masses, but oral traditions are often regarded as "obscure" or "esoteric"....I just find it very bizarre....

[$formyFamily]

Originally Posted by Neko

That doesn't make it right....or "absolute"....as so many ppl would actually go down FIGHTING to support. And I have to wonder......why is it that "written" text is SO much more revered as being "truth" for the masses, but oral traditions are often regarded as "obscure" or "esoteric"....I just find it very bizarre....

Yes I understand how you feel. I truly believe that lots of ppl use and place their position on the written text as a strong part of their identity. I know Christians who would have nothing else in their life if they gave up their beliefs in Christianity. I love these ppl as some of them are my friends and I see them in church every Sunday, and yet their beliefs have become their identity.