I never understand what Evangelicals are talking about when they say they don't have religion, or that religion is bad. Can one of you please explain this to me.
I was brought up the same way by my parents. I have attended a fundamentlist/evangelical Southern Baptist church for 18ish years from when I was 3 until recently, when I haven't had the time to go to church on Sundays because I have to work. I used to watch movies with magic, I read the Hobbit and the LotR trilogy when I was like 8, about the only cartoon or age appropriate show my parents wouldn't let me watch was Captain Planet (i'm not sure why although I suspect it's because my mom hates environmentalists). Just like now my parents bring my younger sister to see Harry Potter and buy her the books because they know that it will have no bearing on her salvation.
I find comfort there and have faith that it's true. I realize you mock and don't believe. I made my choice. You made yours. I guess we are both content.
right, in the same sense that a child is comforted by his good deeds bringing santa, or a muslim is content knowing his suicide murdering brings virgins. edit: that came off a little mean. i should be nicer and i apologize.
You are assuming all or most muslims want to commit suicide and kill innocent people so that they can have virgins when they die. We all know what I think of people making assumptions. We all know what I also said in this thread of generalizations. People are all different, just because Supafan and I are both Christians doesn't mean we believe the same thing or the same way all the time. All of us aren't puppets either, nobody sees things the same way.
Please understand that I can only speak for myself on this one. A person has to not get to caught up into a church meaning get to involved to where they leave Christ out because they are too busy doing other things inside the church, politics, brown nosing, etc. You also have to be on the lookout for false doctrine and false teachings and the only way to know for sure is to have the holy spirit guide you in all truth. The bible talks about this numerous times.
No offense taken. My grandfather was a practicing Catholic who really embraced religion in the end of his life and I'm pretty sure got "saved". As much as I admire the man, and would like to see him again, I know I can't. He lived his life, shot down kamikazes, lost a finger for the U.S. (in return he got asbestos poisoning from the ship that eventually killed him, but he never complained or regretted it), saved many others from death after the war, and raised a happy family with lots of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When he died his conscious mind ceased existing. All that was left is the body, which of course is breaking down back to nothingness. The energy that was in his cells is in the process of transferring to other states of matter. I accept this as reality. His "afterlife" is in his legacy. His children. The memories. Someday my father will die as well, as will I, and my son. We will have lived our lives, hopefully to the fullest, knowing that this is the one shot we have. Our lives are like a book with an absolute beginning and end. Men are organic creatures, comprised of energy and matter, which is unstable and must eventually breakdown and change states. Our offspring is how we keep the story going. The thought that my grandfather is still living in blissful heaven or horrible hell (you never know who was right, after all. Jews? Muslims? Hindus? Christians?) is not a comforting one to me. I see the need for this hope of heaven at times of death, though, because when you boil it down, religion is the way that humans fill that part of the brain that needs to know the unknowable. The sun and moon were once considered gods, because it was otherwise unknowable at the time. Now, we know so much of life, but so little about death that religion is once again used to fill that void of our understanding. I just accept the fact that there are many things important to humans that we will never know, and keep living my one life not sweating that fact.
Religion isn't neccesarily bad...or good. Islam is a religion...just as Christianity is a religion. Technically, whatever you believe in is your religion...in a way. What I meant when I said it isn't about religion is this...One can practice whatever religion he or she chooses...obey the rules...do the right thing...follow the golden rule...and still not have a relationship with Christ. They are following religion...but are not Christians. And another thing...people seem to make a big deal about the word "saved". It's really simple, though. If you were in a fire, and a firefighter risked...even gave his own life to rescue you...and did rescue you...you were saved. From a Christian point of view, ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, which seperates us from Him. We are in trouble at this point, facing eternity away from the presence of God. Then Jesus steps in...and gives his own life to pay the debt owed for our sin...ALL of our sin. All we have to do is recognize our need for salvation, repent of our sins, and accept the free gift that HE has already given...and we're "saved". However, simple belief in God does not save anyone...Satan believes in God...as do MOST Americans, according to surveys.
