I believe in God

[falcon9]

LOVE is not 'winging it' and all of your other opinions could never take away the fact that I base my life on LOVE and that I have an open mindedness that a lot of other people don't. Just because you are unable to categorize me does not take away the LOVE and acceptance that I feel for others. Even you. hahahaha

On the contrary, you catagorized yourself as a "gnostic xtian", not I.  "Love" is a variously, (and somewhat vaguely), defined concept/emotion and as such, does constitute 'winging it' as far as a religious basis goes.

[remediagirl]

LOVE is not 'winging it' and all of your other opinions could never take away the fact that I base my life on LOVE and that I have an open mindedness that a lot of other people don't. Just because you are unable to categorize me does not take away the LOVE and acceptance that I feel for others. Even you. hahahaha

On the contrary, you catagorized yourself as a "gnostic xtian", not I.  "Love" is a variously, (and somewhat vaguely), defined concept/emotion and as such, does constitute 'winging it' as far as a religious basis goes.

Your spelling has been terrible and I have been correcting it today...BTW. This time you spelled categorized wrong.
 You are right. I did categorize myself as a Gnostic Christian. And if you notice I base my LIFE on LOVE. And Christianity is basically based on the LOVE of Christ. It is only your opinion that love is winging it. If a person filters their life through love than it makes it possible to do the right thing such as not stealing, not coveting, not hating, ect. It comes down to this...and this is my opinion....you just can't let someone have an opinion or an outlook on something without trying to make them seem wrong in some way.You enjoy an ongoing debate. This is your prerogative of course but it will not change the fact that some people just choose to LOVE. Whether that be love for yourself, for others, or for God. If you don't find  factual evidence for these things. So what! What have you changed? Nothing.   

[falcon9]

You are right. I did categorize myself as a Gnostic Christian. And if you notice I base my LIFE on LOVE.

I notice that you claim this however, it remains a claim which cannot be substantiated on a text-based forum without listing examples which may or may not be attributed to the emotional notion of "love", (as such would be interpretative attributions and not objective 'facts').

And Christianity is basically based on the LOVE of Christ.

No, xtianity draws largely upon pagan religions, (which had predated xtianity), to form an assimulated conglomeration of mythologies.  The blood sacrifice bit, (soteriology), derives from pagan blood sacrifices to entice the 'g-ds' into making it rain for crops/encourage volcanos not to erupt and such. The xtian "cruxifiction" is based upon earlier nordic mythology regarding Odin "hanging on a tree for nine days to receive the runes" prior to the advent of xtianity.  There are numerous other examples of such xtian plagiarisms extending back prior to the Dead Sea scrolls as well.  In fact, I'd once challenged a catholic bishop to claim one concept which did not have a pagan precursor, (this was at a convention event and he was unable to come up with one as we went through the major religious beliefs together at an 'non-intramural' lunch function).

It is only your opinion that love is winging it.

I could contend that "it is only your", (unsubstantiated), "opinion that love is" not winging it.  However, I've challenged your contention by requesting evidence to support it.  A declarative claim, sans evidence, is unconvincing.

It comes down to this...and this is my opinion....you just can't let someone have an opinion or an outlook on something without trying to make them seem wrong in some way.You enjoy an ongoing debate.

While I do find actual debate to be enjoyable, non-debating religious declarations are less so.  Though I've mentioned this before, you may not have been previously aware that I've supported the option for anyone to hold a reasoned or, unreasoned "opinion", (and that all "opinions" are not created equally).  That said, once a religious adherent publically posts their unsupported religious declarations of "faith", others then have the option to ignore them or, respond in a manner constrained only by FC's TOS and posting policies.  Pointing out the difference between unsubstantiated opinions and substantiated ones is just that, (although unsubstantiated opinions have a greater probability of being inaccurate than substantiated ones do).

If you don't find  factual evidence for these things. So what! What have you changed? Nothing.   

False.  The strangehold the RCC previously had on reason/suppression of scientific advance wa broken by opposing the unreasoning irrationality of religious oppression.  Likely, there will always be those to cling to irrational religious superstitions however, such faith blindness doe not extend to all, (which is why you religious adherents have computers and smartphones created out of the technology resulting from reasoned science and not sacrificing sheep to supernatural egregores).

[gramev64]

I also love the Lord Jesus.  He is my light and salvation. He is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?

[remediagirl]

I also love the Lord Jesus.  He is my light and salvation. He is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?

Amen!! <3

[falcon9]

Declarations of blind religious faith are the insidious propaganda of the holders of irrational superstitions.

I also love the Lord Jesus.  He is my light and salvation. He is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?

Amen!! <3

[remediagirl]

Jesus said, "If your leaders say to you. 'Look, the (Father's) imperial rule is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the (Father's) imperial rule is within you and it is outside you. When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty."

Jesus of Nazareth from the Gospel of Thomas verse 3

This verse is particularly poignant to me. It is, what in my heart, is most synergistic with the Jesus Christ of love that I love. It is however, most opposed to the Christianity that Paul sponsored after Jesus' death.  God the Father is not outside of us and the Kingdom of God is here in us and with us.

Moving deeper into the verse we look at the words "know yourselves". This is the same inscription that the Greeks have over the door of the temple of Delphi. It is indicative of the Greek mind, which seeks to rationally know oneself. Knowing oneself is the product of a meditation. This is opposed to the Eastern thought which would say "Be Thyself" (Osho writes well on this dichotomy). Being thyself requires no thought, but is an emotional state. Buddha says "Love yourself then watch" The prerequisite to mediation and logic is self-love, which is being yourself.

I see both of these concepts present in Jesus' teaching, but the Greek style of self-exploration seems to be dominant. Whether this is a product of translation or the product of misunderstanding of the authors, it is somewhat misleading. One can never know oneself before one is being oneself and loving oneself.

I love Jesus! And the search not only for his true words, but his true meaning consumes me.

[falcon9]

Jesus of Nazareth from the Gospel of Thomas verse 3

“You can not convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it is based on a deep-seated need to believe.”
-– Carl Sagan

[remediagirl]

All the major religions agree on one thing:

That you should treat your fellow man as you yourself would wish to be treated.

This is known as the Golden Rule examples of this are as follows:

Buddhism : "...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353; and “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18

Christianity : "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12, King James Version; and, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31, King James Version.

Confucianism : "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you" Analects 15:23; "Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' -- reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.'" Doctrine of the Mean 13.3

Egyptian (ancient): "Do for one who may do for you, that you may cause him thus to do." The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, 109 - 110 Translated by R.B. Parkinson. The original dates to between 1970 to 1640 BCE and may be the earliest version ever written.

Hinduism : "One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself." Mencius Vii.A.4; "This is the sum of the Dharma [duty]: do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you." Mahabharata 5:1517

Secular Humanism : "(5) Humanists acknowledge human interdependence, the need for mutual respect and the kinship of all humanity."; "(11) Humanists affirm that individual and social problems can only be resolved by means of human reason, intelligent effort, critical thinking joined with compassion and a spirit of empathy for all living beings. "; 4. "Don't do things you wouldn't want to have done to you, British Humanist Society. “

Islam : "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths."

Judaism : "...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.", Leviticus 19:18; "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a; "And what you hate, do not do to any one." Tobit 4:15 6

Wicca : "An it harm no one, do what thou wilt" (i.e. do what ever you will, as long as it harms nobody, including yourself). One's will is to be carefully thought out in advance of action. This is called the Wiccan Rede

So most everyone agrees with this.

The problem between Christians and non Christians is NOT about what is agreed, it is about statements made in the bible, attributed to Jesus Christ himself, and literally fundamental to the situation.

[falcon9]

All the major religions agree on one thing:
That you should treat your fellow man as you yourself would wish to be treated.

You omitted a few - like satanism, (a federally-recognised 'religion'), for instance.

As you mentioned, the concept of the so-called "golden rule" predates the attempts by xtianity to co-opt it, (as that plagiarizing religion has done to other cultures and belief systems).

[2getherwewin]

YES I BELIEVE THERE IS A GOD "I FEEL IT IN MY HEART AND SOUL " AND ONE DAY WE ALL WILL SEE

[falcon9]

YES I BELIEVE THERE IS A GOD "I FEEL IT IN MY HEART AND SOUL " AND ONE DAY WE ALL WILL SEE

That's merely blind faith which lacks evidence that anything will be *seen* "one day".

[kewl4reals]

No need for any atheist to attempt to debate with me about what I believe in. I BELIEVE IN GOD. I REFUSE TO ARGUE ABOUT IT. NO NEED TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO COMMENT ON ANYTHING I POST ON HERE ABOUT THE GOD THAT I KNOW AND SERVE. I WILL ONLY IGNORE YOU. NO NEED TO ARGUE OR DEBATE ABOUT WHAT I BELIEVE IN. NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT THE GOD THAT I KNOW AND LOVE..........

I also do think that there is some sort of higher power out there.  Maybe labeled god

[falcon9]

No need for any atheist to attempt to debate with me about what I believe in. I BELIEVE IN GOD. I REFUSE TO ARGUE ABOUT IT.

That's simply a tacit admission of being unable to support your specious religious beliefs because they are based upon blind faith alone.

NO NEED TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO COMMENT ON ANYTHING I POST ON HERE ABOUT THE GOD THAT I KNOW AND SERVE.

Fortunately, mind-blinded fundies don't get to dictate the content of posted replies here.  If you have the option to spew mindless religious drivel, others have the option to oppose it in the name of reason.

I WILL ONLY IGNORE YOU. NO NEED TO ARGUE OR DEBATE ABOUT WHAT I BELIEVE IN. NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE MY MIND ABOUT THE GOD THAT I KNOW AND LOVE..........

That willfully-ignorant attitude encompasses the concept of blind faith and reveals the cowardice inherent in lacking the courage of one's convictions.  Opposition to the spread of religious mind virii isn't intended to affect those whose infection is too far gone; it's for the majority of others.

"He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; he that dares not reason is a slave."
-- William Drummond

“He that is slow to believe anything and everything is of great understanding, for belief in one false principle is the beginning of all unwisdom.”
-- anonymous

I also do think that there is some sort of higher power out there.  Maybe labeled god
[/quote]

[remediagirl]

Martin Luther King stated it best. Darkness can never drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate can never drive out hate, only love can do that.