I am being sexually fluid right now in my life, so it's a toss up between...
"Hannah and Her Sisters"
"In the Company of Men" and
"James and the Giant Peach."
David_Jay
JoinedPosts by David_Jay
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23
Obey the Superior Authorities God says / God says Satan is controlling the Superior Authorities.?
by smiddy inromans 13 : 1-4 clearly states that the superior authorities are an arrangement from god , defy them and you are working against the arrangement of god at your own peril.. christians are to be obedient to the superior authorities ,"for their is no authority except by god , the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by god .therefore he who opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of god ".
matt.
4 :8-10 shows that all the kingdoms and governments are under satan`s control , jesus never disputed that claim .
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David_Jay
Fisherman,
It should be added that the statement you quote is by no means a representation of the complete Jewish view. In fact it is a bit of an oversimplification.
Though this is an explanation of the Scriptural "Satan," it doesn't mean Jews believe him to be real. "Satan" is generally accepted as a metaphor for the evil inclinations in each of us and the challenges to full redemption of the world in Jewish theology. (See http://judaism.about.com/od/judaismbasics/a/jewishbeliefsatan.htm for more information.)
Thus while the explanation you quoted is how the character is understood in Scripture, many Jews see this as a symbol used for a reality of human life, not an actual angel that is assigned by God to do "evil" in the world.
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Was Adam "born" Circumsized ?
by RubaDub ini guess we have to assume that jesus was circumcised on the 8th day but what about adam?
he was "perfect", so did he have the weenie cut or not?.
i would like to bring this question up at a "get-together".. rub a dub .
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David_Jay
In Judaism, rabbinic custom states that Adam was created circumcised and that all the Jewish male saints had this privilege. However the view is not universal among Jews.
Catholicism does not have any comment on the matter, nor does it have much to say about human perfection as does the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, almost to the point of irrelevance on the subject by comparison.
Due to circumcision not being a requisite to God's grace that justifies (declares righteous for life) for Gentile Christians, the discussion is somewhat absent from other Christian traditions too.
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Petition: Tell Pope Francis It's Time to End Sexual Violence in the Catholic Church
by defender of truth in4,264 signed of 5,000 goal.
tell pope francis it's time to end sexual violence in the catholic church.
with survivors network of those abused by priests, center for constitutional rights.
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David_Jay
As an adult survivor of child abuse myself, I am very much for petitioning and even far more practical action to induce change on the Catholic theater regarding this horrific and disgraceful criminal activity.
But it should be pointed out that the report that bishops should "not necessarily" be the ones responsible to report abuse (which is silly, if you ask me, because if you hear of abuse you should feel it a duty to make sure it is reported regardless of the circumstances) is itself controversial. The document the quote originated from was not officially approved by the Holy See, and the Church has made sure all involved do not follow the very odd advice (which was written by someone in the Church who has made other controversial statements before).
See http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2016/02/15/papal-commission-bishops-must-report-sex-abuse-charges/ for more information.
In the end, however, it demonstrates that upheaval is necessary to rid the Church of this evil. Apparently some people within want the status quo to remain the same, even to the point of trying to make their warped ideas official when they are not. I am not excusing the Church, of course, because there is no excuse for allowing this to happen or go on.
What I am saying is that if I were one of these bad clergymen, I would be frightened. Like the accused bishop who recently got hissed, booed, and faced the releasing of black balloons by Catholics at his appointment, I think Catholics are about to stop waiting for the Church to do anything and take matters into their own hands. Catholics can't be excommunicated or disciplined for kicking priests and bishops out of office and power, and the good Catholics aren't going to leave the Church. They will eventually drag the culprits out and show these idiots that there are more of them than there are good-for-nothing clergy who won't do anything about it. They will take power of appointments out of the hands of the heirarchy like most Prostants have done becuase it is the laity that has the wallets. Many have stopped giving monthly to the Church over this, and money talks loudest in the end...along with well-deserved cold jail cells.
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Help to build a "Guide to Your New Faith"
by Defianttruth ini have seen many people ask the question, "if its not the truth what else is there?
" i imagine that most people want to remain in a christian faith so i want to build a matrix for one to use as a guide in finding a new church if he or she feels a need to worship.
i personally don't attend any church and i will keep my personal beliefs to myself.
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David_Jay
And don't expect a perfect church however. There are none.
There will be always be stupid people who through their stupidity and self-serving attitude will create problems, sometimes serious ones, for other members. Some will disappoint you, even if they be ministers.
There will sometimes be more interest in following church politics and polity than doctrine. It happens. This too is stupid, but it happens.
But you should be able to fight against it, shine a public light on it, and find support to help rid such problems. It may be difficult in some instances, but unlike the Watchtower brand of religion, you should be able to do this without fear you will lose your membership or position. If not, you know what to do. But even in the best of organizations, religious or secular, you will have your share of problems from the stupid.
Yet if it gets downright unbearable, and you can't help but use words like "criminal" and "evil," an exit would be recommended. Neither would it be advantageous to belong to a church, religion, or organization where the majority wear self-deluding blinders to ignore the problems. Even a good garden sometimes has its weeds and bugs, but a good gardener should also be on top of this.
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Help to build a "Guide to Your New Faith"
by Defianttruth ini have seen many people ask the question, "if its not the truth what else is there?
" i imagine that most people want to remain in a christian faith so i want to build a matrix for one to use as a guide in finding a new church if he or she feels a need to worship.
i personally don't attend any church and i will keep my personal beliefs to myself.
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David_Jay
You may also want to note how their theology is built. If they use a multiple array of methods, using critical (analytical) approaches while not dismissing traditional views, you may have found a good group. (Most Christian denominations, Protestant and Catholic, share an ecumenical base of theology that is academically sound while remaining historically based in apostolic tradition.)
If they use a Bible translation produced by an ecumenical board of translators, this is also a good sign. (And if they allow study from several different versions, this is another good sign.)
If they have good relations with other Christian faiths as well as open dialogue with non-Christian ones (yes, even atheists), you are likely in good company.
Of course, it may not be a "church" you feel spiritually called to. Some people go to Temple or a synagogue. It may even be a mosque you choose. So while this post is mainly about those searching for a Christian congregation, rest assured many of these points are universal and can be applied in most religious situations.
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Evolution and Atheism - please help
by Fernando innot being familiar with either, my question is:.
what is the relationship between evolution and atheism?.
i'd love to hear from anyone and everyone, and also from any perspective.. without limiting the conversation in any way, i would of course also appreciate comments that are simple, clear, direct and correct (as i don't have the capacity to do a phd in evolution or atheism)..
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David_Jay
Cofty,
I am still puzzled by your responses. All I can think is that there is something keeping you from reading my comments without some preconceived prejudice.
I am a strong believer in evolution. I even mentioned this in this last post of mine that I am not one to endorse accepting arguments against evolution. That is how I started after providing a link from a Scientific American editorial regarding other non-religious voices on the issue. Apparently the ability to fully read what I state is either a failure on my part in composition or one on yours to fully absorb what is presented or a combination, but I cannot imagine.
I merely mentioned that there are other scientific theories besides evolution that others endorse. Since I am a supporter of the evolutionary theory, your bombastic response is still uncharacteristic of a person who claims to be governed by logic, and your questions are for others.
But it doesn't speak well of us if we cannot tolerate the mere suggestion of the existence of alternative views without repeatedly blowing up with questioning challenges each and every time. Alternative views to ours are not attacks on what we believe, unless we find anything but our own views so fragile that such suggestions are perceived as threats. You can rest assured that the theory of evolution is not in danger of disappearing because others may have alternative, non-religious and equally scientific views. And yes, they are out there, but your convictions still remain the most popular.
Yet if we were once Jehovah's Witnesses then we are already done with people telling us that there cannot possibly be alternative views. The idea that only one or even the majority of voices on this forum have to be in the right is a holdover from the Watchtower system which demands uniformity of thought, practices bullying those who will not conform, and revealing the unreasonableness of those who adversely judge others who don't desire to agree withyou. I am certain that you are not intolerant of other views or missing those days when elders and the Governing Body demanded we think only one way. I think higher of you.
These alternatives were not an attack on you or your beliefs, but people deserve to know about all that is out there. Neither you nor anyone else will ever stop people from learning and choosing to embrace alternative views if they so choose. We should not forget that the more we show our distaste for the mere suggestion of other views and the freedom of thought, the more we and our own convictions will be viewed as unreasonable and unacceptable. And that would be a shame becuase evolution deserves better.
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Obey the Superior Authorities God says / God says Satan is controlling the Superior Authorities.?
by smiddy inromans 13 : 1-4 clearly states that the superior authorities are an arrangement from god , defy them and you are working against the arrangement of god at your own peril.. christians are to be obedient to the superior authorities ,"for their is no authority except by god , the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by god .therefore he who opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of god ".
matt.
4 :8-10 shows that all the kingdoms and governments are under satan`s control , jesus never disputed that claim .
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David_Jay
Kaik is not saying that Satan the Devil is his own opposer.
The Catholic New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) explains in a footnote to Job 1:6 where this new translation has the rendition "the satan also came with them...The Lord said to the satan...then the satan answered...."
"Lit., 'adversary' (as in 1 Kgs 11:14). Here [merely] a member of the heavenly court, 'the accuser' (Zec 3:1). In later biblical traditions this character will be developed as the devil."
The Hebrew terminology regarding an adversarial solicitor in the heavenly court was later applied by Jesus as another name for Beelzebul, the prince of demons accepted by some Jews in the era of the Second Temple. Though a leader among evil forces was developed before the birth of Christ in some Jewish thought, Jesus of Nazareth used the terms "adversary" and "accuser" for this same demonic prince instead of other popular names of the time. Jesus introduced new characteristics to this entity as one that attempts to work against providence and humankind, an enemy of both God and man and not merely a chief ruler among fallen spirits.
The Jewish and Catholic understanding is admittedly different from many who see the Devil as an archenemy of God or someone who is God's equal but evil. Many see all references to these spiritual solicitors as the same "Satan the Devil" proclaimed by Jesus, but that would belie a central teaching of Christianity, namely that part of Jesus' ministry was to unveil this chief demon and make him powerless by throwing light on his machinations which, up till then had been largely unknown to humans.
Catholicism (and some Protestant churches) agree with Judaism that these references in the Old Testament are not the same same "Devil" that Jesus reveals. There is also a growing number of Jews who are part of a movement to reclaim the New Testament as a Jewish work, mainly for cultural reasons. The production of "The Jewish Annotated New Testament: NRSV" is part of this, with Jewish commentators agreeing that Jesus of Nazareth introduced the Devil in his ministry, and thus such an introduction is central to the gospel itself. The words may be the same as used in the Old Testament they note, but the Devil as taught by Jesus was not a member of the angelic court with access to God as in Job. This evil spirit had, according to Jesus, been an adversary of God since the beginning of creation.
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Evolution and Atheism - please help
by Fernando innot being familiar with either, my question is:.
what is the relationship between evolution and atheism?.
i'd love to hear from anyone and everyone, and also from any perspective.. without limiting the conversation in any way, i would of course also appreciate comments that are simple, clear, direct and correct (as i don't have the capacity to do a phd in evolution or atheism)..
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David_Jay
Fernando,
Evolution is not the only scientific theory out there. There are alternative scientific theories and very smart, non-relgious people who do not advocate or support evolution. (See http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/dubitable-darwin-why-some-smart-nonreligious-people-doubt-the-theory-of-evolution/ as a starting point.)
I am not one to endorse criticism regarding evolution or Neo-Darwinism, but it is awfully two-dimensional to believe that the field is as polarized as Watchtowerism has portrayed the world. Science does not have their eggs in one evolutionary basket when it comes to explaining life's origins, neither does it find support in Creationism or some type of religious views. But the Jehovah's Witnesses have done a good job of convincing people that there are only two ways about thinking about most things, compartmentalizing them into "good" or "evil," "truth" or "false," "Jehovah" or "Satan." They have done the same with science, claiming their are only two sides to the issue, "evolution" or "Creation by God." Not true, don't fall into that trap.
Lastly, watch for the attitude from others that suggests that whatever choice you make is wrong. You might not choose to accept religion or God, but evolution isn't the only alternative for atheists, logical thinkers and scientists. Don't allow others to convince you as did the Jehovah's Witnesses that there is only one way to think, especially when it is the view they accept. Think for yourself, outside the box, pushing the envelope with courage. Great thinkers don't follow. Great thinkers lead.
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Would you ever......?
by ctrwtf inlist as an accomplishment on a resume, "i escaped from a mind control doomsday cult?".
sometimes when i reflect on it, the magnitude of this accomplishment amazes me..
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David_Jay
No, because that is also admitting you joined a cult.
Would you hire somebody who you knew once joined a cult if you had to choose between others who have never been in a cult and someone who has?
Would you listen to the opinion of someone who has been in a cult, even though they are out, or would you not always be second-guessing them?
When they talk about their new religion or new conviction or whatever views they had, wouldn't you always be thinking, "Yeah, you're so sure you are right now, but didn't you say the same thing when you were in that cult and trying to get me to join it? Why should I believe you now when you say you're sure you aren't being duped when you swore the same thing as a Jehovah's Witness?"
Yeah. Believe me. It's not a good thing.