Is Christianity a Negative Religion?

Dondi said:
But many here would agree. I used to look at people according to their doctrine to determine if they are a Christian, but now I look for the fruits of their life and the words of their heart.
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Hey Dondi...

Thanx!! :)

I try to do the same... :)

Its all about the LOVE...

Peace
 
Jaded Fool,

Thank you for sharing that story. It takes courage to do what you did, and I commend you.

I also left the church because of its negativity (although my leaving was a lot easier than yours. I have never regretted my decision one bit.
 
Nick the Pilot said:
Jaded Fool,

Thank you for sharing that story. It takes courage to do what you did, and I commend you.

I also left the church because of its negativity (although my leaving was a lot easier than yours. I have never regretted my decision one bit.
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Thanx Nick...

No regrets here... :)

I have peace, hope, and joy in my life now... ironically!! lol :)

Peace
 
Travelling down the Highway to Heaven you see many accidents.

If one "rubbernecks", the traffic slows down. But if you don't look at others, but keep looking down the highway, the traffic keeps moving.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." Hebrews 12:1,2
 
Prober said:
Travelling down the Highway to Heaven you see many accidents.

If one "rubbernecks", the traffic slows down. But if you don't look at others, but keep looking down the highway, the traffic keeps moving.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." Hebrews 12:1,2
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I am hoping I am not one of the accidents along the way... lol :p

Peace
 
Well, I think of this contribution as only a tad tangential. But when I read this prayer in the book I alluded to-"Prayer: a History," thought it would be interesting to share given comments re Christian notions of "original sin," as it seems to speak somewhat to the same notion. It's from the Ojibway:

"Grandfather, Look at our brokenness.
We know that in all creation
Only the human family
Has strayed from the Sacred Way.
We know that we are the ones
Who must come back together
To walk in the Sacred Way.

Grandfather,
Sacred One,
Teach us love, compassion, and honor.
That we may heal the earth
And heal each other."

have a good one, earl
 
earl said:
Well, I think of this contribution as only a tad tangential. But when I read this prayer in the book I alluded to-"Prayer: a History," thought it would be interesting to share given comments re Christian notions of "original sin," as it seems to speak somewhat to the same notion. It's from the Ojibway:

"Grandfather, Look at our brokenness.
We know that in all creation
Only the human family
Has strayed from the Sacred Way.
We know that we are the ones
Who must come back together
To walk in the Sacred Way.

Grandfather,
Sacred One,
Teach us love, compassion, and honor.
That we may heal the earth
And heal each other."

have a good one, earl
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Very nice earl. :) Is that American Indian?
 
Yes Luna. The Ojibway are indigenous folk but I believe the tribe is Canadian originally. earl
 
Thank you earl and InLove. :)


"Sacred One,
Teach us love, compassion, and honor.
That we may heal the earth
And heal each other."

tikkun olam.

The Golden Thread.
 
Nick the Pilot said:
--> Gandhi is the name that comes to my mind when I think of the greatest people that have ever lived. As a matter of fact, he is the example I always use when I discuss one of the other Christian dogmas that chased me away from Christianity.
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So, I'm guessing that the flavors of Christianity that say only Christians go to heaven and all others go to hell is one of those dogmas. (BTW, earl a while ago reminded us all of the bumpersticker: My karma ran over your dogma. Must have been written for Theosophists!)

Want to talk about that here?

I'm something of a heterodox on this topic myself, which means according to some Christians I am also in the handbasket to hell. But I like the saying: you can imagine there is a hell, but you don't have to imagine anyone in it. Anyway, some of those same somebodies also think Mother Teresa is in hell with Gandhi, so you know we can't take that seriously unless heaven is a mighty cold and lonely place.
 
Luna,

You hit the nail on the head. This aspect of Christianity is called Christian exclusivity. Such Christian exclusivity made me want to run for the hills. (I did.)

Quite frankly, the idea that Gandhi is presently sitting in Limbo or Hell just because he did not accept Jesus boggles my mind. (I am quite confident Gandhi is doing no such thing.)

You said,

"...you can imagine there is a hell, but you don't have to imagine anyone in it."

--> I believe Modern Christianity requires such a belief.

"...some of those same somebodies also think Mother Teresa is in hell with Gandhi...."

--> Really?! Why?!

"...so you know we can't take that seriously unless heaven is a mighty cold and lonely place."

--> I have no idea what you are talking about. Please explain.

~~~

Why would a Christian explore non-Christian ideas this thread is bound to raise? What about the danger that it may lead them down a non-Christian path?

This also begs the question you are inferring: How much traditional Christian dogma can a Christian throw out and still call themself a Christian? (Is this "New Thread" time? Nick suddenly hears creepy Haloween music playing on a speaker far away....)
 
Nick the Pilot said:
Luna,

You hit the nail on the head. This aspect of Christianity is called Christian exclusivity. Such Christian exclusivity made me want to run for the hills. (I did.)

Quite frankly, the idea that Gandhi is presently sitting in Limbo or Hell just because he did not accept Jesus makes my stomach turn. (I am quite confident Gandhi is doing no such thing.)

You said,

"...you can imagine there is a hell, but you don't have to imagine anyone in it."

--> I believe Modern Christianity requires such a belief.
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Well, I don't know about Modern Christianity, but such exclusivity as you call it has never been part of my beliefs. And when people tell me I'm not a Christian because of this...well, I just don't buy it. You can ask Thomas about it, but the Catholic Church and the EO Church likewise do not automatically condemn non-Catholics/non-Christians to hell. I suppose I take it futher as I believe, the only thing I can believe, is that one way or another all ends up in harmony with God. I really don't speculate too much about the nuts and bolts of this, but you know that story about the minister teaching a seeker about God's gift of salvation? And to illustrate the minister holds out a dollar bill and says take it, it's yours. And the seeker stands there looking at the dollar as the minister says now, is the gift yours yet? No! It's not yours until you take it! Triumphant music comes on, point driven home, you need to do something, you need to accept God's gift! And the minister puts the bill back in his pocket, smiling at a lesson well taught.

Well, the thing is, God is not that minister. God never puts the bill back in His pocket. Ever. The prodigal son is welcomed home with open arms...forgiven even before he left home and squandered his inheritance. Grace is, by definition, free.

"...some of those same somebodies also think Mother Teresa is in hell with Gandhi...."

--> Really?! Why?!
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Not sure but I think it has something to do with her being a Catholic, rather than a 'real Christian,' and maybe also to do with heretical beliefs like God's unconditional love.

"...so you know we can't take that seriously unless heaven is a mighty cold and lonely place."

--> I have no idea what you are talking about. Please explain.
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Nick, Nick, Nick! Don't be so literal!

~~~

Why would a Christian explore non-Christian ideas this thread is bound to raise? What about the danger it may lead them down a non-Christian path?
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My goodness why would I be at an interfaith site if I was not interesting in actually hearing other views? Besides, I have learned a lot about Christianity from people who considered themselves non-Christians, alterntive Christians, ex-Christians, atheists, heretics...you name it. And finally, God is love and love drives out fear...so what is there to be afraid of?

I am you and you are me and we are he and we are all together. :)

This also begs the question you are inferring: How much traditional Christian dogma can a Christian throw out and still call themself a Christian? (Is this "New Thread" time...? Nick suddenly hears creepy Haloween music playing on a speaker far away....)
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Haha! This is pretty much the main topic of conversation around here much of the time! Anyway...this does not compute for me. The question I have thought about with more interest is what components do you need to make the airplane fly, and what are the limits to interchanging parts before it will no longer get off the ground...or worse yet, lose power in mid-flight.
 
lunamoth said:
And to illustrate the minister holds out a dollar bill and says take it, it's yours. And the seeker stands there looking at the dollar as the minister says now, is the gift yours yet? No! It's not yours until you take it! Triumphant music comes on, point driven home, you need to do something, you need to accept God's gift! And the minister puts the bill back in his pocket, smiling at a lesson well taught.
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My dad used to pull that trick during an appropriate sermon. Kept the money until one sabbath a kid ran down the aisle without hesitation and grabbed it!

He had worked his way up to a twenty by that time so I think that was the last time he did it.
 
Prober said:
My dad used to pull that trick during an appropriate sermon. Kept the money until one sabbath a kid ran down the aisle without hesitation and grabbed it!

He had worked his way up to a twenty by that time so I think that was the last time he did it.
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Lol! Was that kid you by any chance? :D
 
lunamoth said:
And finally, God is love and love drives out fear...so what is there to be afraid of?
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Ask Jesus of Nazareth ... :eek:

... or for that matter, Sir Thomas More ...

... Joan of Arc ...

... Jacques de Molay (from whom we get "Friday the 13th") ...

... even Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

How does that go again, "God, save me from your followers!"

Perhaps you're onto something, luna ... in each case, including that of the Sanhedrin, it was fear was it not, which brought these tragedies about, one way or another. Hmmm ...

The Brotherhood in which Nick does not believe, as he says, uses fear as its chief weapon (I'm smiling as I picture Monty Python and `The Spanish Inquisition' ... yet the levity is only to balance the gravity of my point) ...
 
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